Rise of the Guardians

Lucky Rabbit

Chapter Seventeen: Lucky End

Faustine was out and about with Hop who unlike her 'twin' Thump, was much more outgoing and delighted to be with her mother versus running around and exploring the new world.

Hop was quiet as she looked around. She held her mother's hand, not as willing to leave her side as the others had been. "Mama, where am I supposed to go?"

"Where ever you feel where luck is needed."

"But I don't know where."

Hop and her mother wandered around the random city that Faustine entered. Despite the unfamiliarity of the lands, Faustine wasn't worried.

But after a entire morning of nothing happening, Faustine was a little worried. The others had been easy and quick, so she was bothered that Hop didn't seem to even care about the humans.

It hit Faustine then. "Hmmm…"

She spotted the dog, filthy but still full-figured. She realized it was a lost pet as she watched it rustle in the garbage.

"Honey, what about…" Faustine started to talk to Hop who tore off after the dog. Hop got on its level and spoke softly to it, offering a hand as it licked it and she then promptly hugged it. It's tail wagged once and then it was off, running. Unbeknownst to Faustine but clear to Hop, the luck gathered in the elderly dog as it sought its way back home, coming late into the afternoon as it stilled. Its owner came barreling out, beyond happy that their beloved pet was finally home, assured that it was pure luck that the dog was able to find its new home.

Hop was able to help another, this time a human as the teenaged girl rested on the ground, a tin cup at her side and a sign asking for money. Her eyes had been downcast, her clothes getting old and worn as she seemed to have lost hope. Hop tapped her shoulder just as the girl was about to cry and her face cleared.

It wasn't more than a few seconds when a car drove by, screeched to a halt, backtracked and a frantic woman came running out, sobbing for her runaway daughter. The daughter's arms wrapped around her mother, relieved to have finally been sought for.

"Aww, my little Hopper. You bring luck to the lost and afraid." Faustine hugged her tightly to her chest. "That's my girl!"

"What's your specialty, Mama?"

Faustine shrugged. "Well, I'm sort of a late bloomer. I think it deals with love, though."

"Ah.." Hop went on all fours and began to hop around playfully in some of the puddles. Faustine winced for each splash and every drop that landed on her.

"Well, at least it's not…"

There was a crash of lightning and rain began to fall.

"Raining." Faustine glared at the skies. "What about my luck?!"

The two returned home where Hop was collided with Thump who wanted all the fun details. Thump's eyes grew big with tears as Hop regaled her with the power of luck and the lost.

"That's so sweet!" Thump hugged Hop and then dragged her off to dinner.

"That's the last of them, save for Hitch but I guess he doesn't want to come out with me."

Bunny pulled Faustine to sit next to him. "So how'd it go?"

"I actually had a moment where I thought she wasn't going to find her niche. It made me a little happy, actually, even though it's not what I would've wanted. I mean, I still don't know my specific specialty.."

"But?"

"She deals in luck with the lost. Be it a pet or a child, or probably even an elderly person."

Bunny patted her head. "Aww, mate, you really wanted her to be like you."

"None of them are!"

He once more patted her on the head. She shooed him off. "I don't get it. They found their niche with no problems. When I was younger, and my mother and father working hard to teach me, it was so difficult for me. I could bring luck to others yes, but I couldn't keep it for myself. I didn't have what it took to use the luck whenever I needed it to. But then, I discovered you and it got better. I mean, look at our beautiful children? Your beautiful face and cute little cottontail…"

"My cute little cottontail?" He muttered softly as she continued talking.

"But.. There's still something missing. A name for this, a reason for all of that. I just can't figure it out and I feel like it's such a simple answer!"

"Maybe you're thinking too hard on it."

"Maybe." She shrugged. "I haven't seen much of the trolls. Jack must've scared them."

"Or they're preparing to do something. Even North is having trouble finding that group. The single trolls are fine but there's something about that group that bothers everyone."

"You mean about taking over the world? How old-school is that?"

"There are people out there who want something."

"Yes, yes. Pitch wanted to be known like you, instead of feared. I," She pointed to herself. "Want to be lucky. We're all not going to get what we want. That's not possible."

Bunny rolled his eyes as she became dramatic. "The world is full of wonderful lucky people, and I only have enough to give to the world, not able to keep it." She glared at her bell. "Grrr… I had so much luck when I was pregnant! Then it was taken from me and given to my children."

"Want to have more kids?"

"That's not funny!" She bristled. "I don't want luck just to get pregnant! I want luck that I can use! Like my parents when they need to defend and protect and make spells! Lately, it's just been on my mind and then my head hurts.." Her paws grasped at her head, pulling on her hair.

"All right, all right, you're thinking too hard, kit. Enough. Just sit, take a deep breath, and relax. All right, now count to ten.."

She stared at him with a blank stare, eyes narrowed.

"Well?"

"I'm not counting! I can't get calm! I can't get this or understand it or put it together!" She surged to her feet. "Augh!"

"Look, let's think about the trolls."

"Fine."

She plopped next to him, on her side as she stretched, her spine elongating as she curved into a backwards u shape.

Bunny blinked. "Doesn't that hurt?"

She sat up and lifted a leg to start cleaning herself. "Does what hurt?"

"Don't clean while we're having a conversation!"

"I'm versatile! Remember?"

"I can't take you seriously with your nose in your crotch!"

Bunny turned red as the sound of the children's snickering echoed behind him. "I'll teach you to eavesdrop on your parents! Get back here, you rascals!"

"Feh, I'm still freaking out. E's right, I should just stop thinking about it."

But as she listened to the distant sounds of Bunny losing the fight with the children, she felt bereft. She had wished vainly that she hadn't overheard Bunny's conversation about losing her. She had been confident at the time that nothing would happen but then she began to realize that luck for her was changing and she didn't know why or in what direction.

She looked upwards to the skies and wished to see the Moon. But she had never heard the voice of the Man in the Moon; in fact, none of her kind actually did. But she wanted to have someone tell hers something, a clue or detail, to just feel better about things.

She heard her bell ring lightly as she looked over to see Bunny overrun by the children as they ran all over him. He was on his front, arms crossed as his chin rested on his arms while he waited out the rush of the children. He winced time to time as the children weren't too cautious about their movements and claws were used.

She started to giggle as Bunny noticed this. She put herself in front of him as the children were now playing on him. Axel had an ear in his mouth, tugging anxiously while Hop and Hitch were tapping at his tail, each hit making twitch. Princessa was sitting on his leg, cleaning herself with long strokes of her tongue, dealing with her longer fur. Thump was his head, thumping near his arm in order to encourage him to wrestle with her.

"Having fun?" Faustine bent down, nose to nose to Bunny.

"I'm having a ball," He winced when claws swatted at his tail. "Just fine. Really. You don't have to do a thing."

"All righty, then!" Faustine licked his nose and was gone from sight in seconds.

"I WAS JOKING!"

"No, you weren't!" Came her voice. "Play nice, children!"

"Yea!"

Bunny glared out in general. "I see, this is revenge, isn't it?"

"DADDY!" Thump struck him in the head. "Come on, play!"

"Play? Play? All right then," He surged to his feet. The children looked at each other before tearing off with eagerness.

"When you all break up, I can't get any of you!"

He paused. "And that's probably the point."

Faustine was near an rabbit hole when she heard the sound of scuffling. She saw Hitch running around and smiled as she thought he was looking for a hiding spot. He liked to hide and pop out at his father, as much kittens enjoyed to do. Faustine even did it time to time though his reaction to her wasn't as a joke but something to be chased around about for.

But as she started to relax and clean herself again, there was a strange sound of motion, she heard Hitch's sudden squeak of pain and then a slash of something foreign over her instincts.

"Hitch!" She ran into the rabbit hole, coming to the end and seeing no sign of her son. "E! E!"

"What?" He was dragging himself, surrounded by the children yet again. They all fell off the moment they saw their mother and felt her panic.

"Hitch went into the hole and he's gone!"

It hit both of them, the sharp and awful smell of trolls. Bunny's rage was palpable.

"You stay with the children," Bunny began.

"Not on your life. You all are going to your grandparents!" She used the last of her luck to send them to her parents, both of them looking at surprise to see the children spill at their feet.

"Let's go!" She charged out into the rabbit hole, Bunny at her heels. They came to a dark and cold forest as Faustine shook herself against the sharp wind. The smell was much more stronger and pungent as she glowered.

Bunny held her back, pulling out his boomerangs. "You get to Hitch and take him to safety. I'll take care of the trolls."

"All right," She stayed behind him, low to the ground as they moved slowly. The sounds of a kitten yowling made both of them frantic as Faustine found herself bolting past Bunny.

"No!"

She was on the scene where Hitch was held up by Trow, who had his tongue to have a taste of the 'little morsel'.

She hissed and threw herself at his face, clawing and biting as Hitch fell to the ground.

"RUN!" Faustine screamed as Hitch made a portal and disappeared into the rabbit hole.

She was grabbed and thrown hard as she was struck into a batch of trees.

"Bigger kitty means bigger meal!" Trow hissed, drooling. "You foolish little thing!"

She dashed again, jumping onto him in her maternal rage. She clawed as his eyes as she relished in his screams of pain while she tore out the eyes, drawing gouges and blood.

Another grotesque hand grabbed at her, tightened as she felt several things snapped.

Then came a flurry of power she didn't recognize, all that stemmed from her. It shattered around the trolls, making them run from the site as Trow was lead away by his mate, Strife.

All that power vanished the instant they were gone as she fell into a heap, unable to move.

She was in pain, a pain she didn't recognize. She couldn't breathe right as light fingers danced on her skin.

"Kit… Kit!" Even his voice was distant as she tried so hard to move, to respond.

"Bunny!" Jack landed, followed by North and Sandy as they had been investigating the recent surge of violence against both the elementals and animals in the forgotten forest. "Oh, god.."

"Kit… don't.." His voice was soft as Bunny lifted her in his arms. She felt as if it were now or never to speak as she struggled so hard to do so. He turned her gently to him, hand cupping her head lightly.

"Hitch… safe?" She wheezed out.

"Yes… he escaped." Bunny smiled, watery eyed.

"Good.." Her eyes closed tightly. "E….. I'm… so sorry…"

"It'll be all right, love. Where's your luck?"

"I used it… all.. Up…" Her eyes opened, tears falling. "E…"

"Yes?" "I… love…you….." Her eyes slowly become half-closed as her breath exited and her chest stopped moving.

His grip tightened painfully. "Faustine? FAUSTINE!"