Secretly Pooka Chapter 4: Moon Landing, a rise of the guardians fanfic

Secretly Pooka

Disclaimer: I do not own Rise of the Guardians or Gallifrey (Very little is mentioned, but just in case)

Author's note: Sorry for the mean cliffhanger last chapter. Manny was hardly at all mentioned in my last story, The New Tribe. He ended up insisting taking a part in this story. The Lunaroff language is underlined and Old Galacian is italicized and underlined. (On a word doc it was different/ not the Times New Roman font and specifically harder to read).

The word count in this chapter doubled the story word count.

9-6-2014 An unpublished update but my languages (Lunaroff and old galactican) are fixed. Mim's personality is odd (not canon) but I'll post the reason why next chapter.

9-8-2014 The destruction of the Frostfall clan scene is now included (it didn't want to be written before)

Chapter 4: Moon Landing

Jack blinked as the door to his spacecraft opened. There was what looked like a machine with an expression of curiosity, before the lower part of its face opened.

"Are you friend or foe? What language do you speak?"

"Err..." Jack wasn't sure what the robot had asked. Was that what the Lunaroffs spoke? It wasn't attacking yet, so... "Hi. Or is it, Hello?" Jack wasn't sure if he had pronounced the simple word right. Lunaroff was unfortunately not one of the 'stored' languages in the galactic translator. And it had been a long time since Jack had language lessons except for his self-taught human language phrases. The galactic translator was just that, a translator and not a language learner. There had been (nearly instant) language learners, but not only were the ones that Jack had had broken over time, Jack didn't know how to make it work.

"Hello. Are you friend or foe?"

Jack guessed the robot was asking if he was an enemy and hoped he was saying the right word, "Friend?" At his limit of Lunaroff words, Jack tried to change the language, "Do you know Pookan? Or even old Galactican?"

"This unit speaks old Galactican. Are you friend or foe? Data collected says you are eighty percent chance not an enemy."

Jack sighed in relief. At least Jack knew the old intergalactic language of the Golden Age. And... "Not enemy unless you work for Shadow King."

The robot visibly recoiled, hissing, "Never work for Shadow King. This unit is called a Moonbot. What is your term of species?"

A new voice interrupted the conversation between the Moonbot and Jack, "Is it? It is! You appear to be a Pooka!" At the sound of the voice speaking the newer version of Galactican, the Moonbot retreated a few steps.

"Um... Yes I'm a Pooka." Jack admitted cautiously, but omitted his name. After all he had yet to see the owner of the voice.

"Splendid!" And then Jack was twitching, frozen in a daze as an exuberantly eccentric Lunaroff barged or more aptly bounced into the escape-ship and was enthusiastically shaking Jack's paw, ignoring the potential weapon.

"Welcome! Welcome! What's wrong? Moonbot did I break him? I am, concerned!" Yet, the Lunaroff sounded ridiculously unconcerned while trying to get a response from Jack as he pulled the confused young Pooka out of the spacecraft into the Moon Clipper.

"Perhaps proper protocol was not in correct order." The Moonbot sounded faintly chastising.

"Oh! Forgive me young Pooka." At least this time the Lunaroff sounded like he did remotely understand the named emotion, "My name of address is Tsar Lunar. Also called Manny or Mim by my Guardian friends! What is your preferred title of address?"

"...Jack." The young Pooka glanced anxiously back at his safe haven from strangers, already overwhelmed,

"Well Jack do you mean the residents of the Earth any harm?"

"No reason I should, but why do you care?"

"Toot, Toot! I am the First Guardian, Protector of children and their childhood!"

"Is Pitch Black gone then?" Jack asked tentatively, hoping that the former general was no longer around but his hopes were dashed.

In their brief moments of acquaintance, Jack could already tell that the face of seriousness was rather unnatural for the short portly Lunar, "Unfortunately not." The man whispered, pained, "My friend, Nightlight kept Pitch trapped for ages. Until an exploring moonbeam accidentally reawakened them."

Jack could scarcely breath as he listened to Lunar, who had trailed off, "And then?" Jack prompted, "Is Pitch on Earth?"

"Pitch was weakened to the point where he cannot leave Earth. The Guardians make sure of that. He still spreads nightmares, but he no longer kills. He's tried, but the other Guardians have stopped him."

"And what about Nightlight?"

"Ah. He grew up and married Katherine, Mother Goose." A smile grew on Lunar's face, "I'm telling a story aren't I?" Tsar marveled. He had never really been able to tell other children stories before. Lunar didn't ever leave the Moon except on Lunar Moths to see his parents' constellation better. Except for the Guardians, he never really had many visitors at the same time. Hardly any visitors at all really, so it was always a delight to make another friend in the once-a-millennium friendly traveler.

Jack nodded, taking off the breather once he realized he didn't need it, "Could... could I hear more?"

"I wish you would. Come, it is more comfortable inside." Tsar was back to his normally overly cheerful self, "You have stories too yes?"

Jack hesitated, "Yes, but just a moment," ducking out of Lunar's escorting half-hug, running backing into the Pookan spaceship.

Tsar watched puzzled as Jack came out with a bunch of blankets in hand. Quiet awe filled Manny with the utmost happy glee when he watched a lazy ear lift from the bundle, "A Pookan babe!" He whispered.

Jack nodded proudly, "Aloe is going to be two soon. He's already picking up words." Jack's steps bounced slightly in excitement, "He'll wake up soon."

"How old are you?" Tsar inquired as they walked towards a set of doors.

"I'm almost twelve in Pookan years."

"So brave when so young," Tsar gasped, "It's been a long time since I was twelve. The Moonbots, Glowworms, and Moonmice raised me since I was around Aloe's age."

"Really?" Jack asked in surprise as two Moonbots opened the doors for them.

"Oh, yes. My parents, Tsar and Tsarina Lunar sent me away with Nightlight while they fought Pitch..." As the Tsar and the two young Pooka's walked along a corridor, more and more cute little glowing green worms with sailor hats and teddy bear sized mice dressed in naval uniforms were beginning to follow after them, sending curious looks at Jack and Aloe.

"...these are some of the Glowworms and Moonmice who grew up with me. Others have moved on to the afterlife and more have been born since then..." Manny eventually explained after a couple of stories about his childhood. He hadn't picked up any of the social cues of impatient curiosity from Jack beforehand.

"Finally." Jack muttered before speaking up, "What do they do exactly? I mean the glowworms are obviously glowing but do the Glowworms and Moonmice help you with your 'Guardian' work?"

"Hmm? Oh yes, they're my friends! I'm surprised they haven't started talking yet."

"According to proper protocol friends Glowworms and Moonmice were waiting to be introduced." The almost-stuffy Protocol Moonbot was back. Jack thought 'almost-stuffy' because the robot seemed to have issues with making a proper serious or bland face now that they were inside the other part of the Moon Clipper. The robot seemed to have too much emotion and didn't know how to correctly express which feelings beyond confused and happy.

"Ah. Sorry for not introducing you sooner friends!" Speaking of mismatching words and emotions, Tsar apologized to everyone with a beaming smile, "Jack that is Moonbot designation 2462. Most Moonbots help run or fix the ship. Others are my teachers! I've never had a student before... does telling stories count as being a teacher Moonbot 2462?"

"The definition of a teacher is one who teaches or instructs. The dictionary did not include or indicate that teaching is only a particular profession's skill set or subject matter. So Tsar is correct."

"Yay!" Lunar cheered like a child receiving an ice cream cone treat in the middle of summer, "I got it right!" He certainly acted like no other person Jack had ever met.

Adding 'easily distracted' to the list of descriptions for Tsar Lunar that Jack was making in his mind, seeing that Tsar was now conversing with the almost-stuffy Moonbot, designation 2462, Jack knelt down and addressed the short peoples. "Hello, Can you talk?"

Almost syncronized, the Glowworms greeted him with a 'hum'.

"They don't have the vocal chords to speak Galactician. Or any other language really. They just speak in 'hums'." One teddy-bear-like mouse explained. "It's nice to meet you Jack. I am one of the younger Moonmice. I am called Amber. We help Lunar with the wishes and hopes of children. He and the Moonbots watch over children's dreams as well."

"How do you do that?" Jack tilted his head in interest.

"Well... it's a secret." Another teddy-bear-like mouse teased in a whisper.

"No it's not." The first Moonmouse, Amber, scoffed, "Pardon my twin, Andrew. It's quite simple really. Moonbeams keep watch out for our surroundings up here on the moon and down on Earth. Lunar and the Moonbots keep watch out for the dangers that attack children like Pitch although he hasn't been seen in a while. The Glowworms keep the Moon well lit and defended. And the Moonmice read and record the wishes of children from lost balloons and the like."

"I think I won' t be able to understand completely until I see you do it." Jack admitted, sneaking a peek at Manny. He was still occupied with the almost-stuffy Moonbot, "Can I watch?"

"We should wait for Manny." Andrew hesitated.

"Naw." Amber's brown eyes gleamed, "Why should we wait? His workshop's open. It's not like we'll be messing it up. We'll just be doing our jobs."

"Cool." Jack let himself be led out of the current room, down another hallway and into... "Wow," Jack breathed in awe, "This is what Manny sees when he's watching kids?"

Inside the large brass double doors, balloons filled the air while lost toys and rain-stained books littered the ground, Moonmice clearing a path with snow shovels or dancing on the balloons, barely losing any altitude. Moonbots were watching various screens and places of Earth for any sign of trouble. There was what looked like telescopes scattered around in various precarious positions and a giant flashlight dangling from the ceiling.

"Not quite." Amber explained running to the center of the room onto a round dais, "Manny usually stands here either looking like this." One of Amber's feet were half raised, both hands looking like they were directing opposing orchestras. Jack laughed. Encouraged, Amber changed position, "Or like this!" Now the Moonmouse was in an acrobatic position, twirling on a hand upside down. From what he had seen so far, Moonmice understood emotions a lot better than the Moon's other residents.

If Jack hadn't been holding Aloe, he would have applauded or even tried to imitate Amber's smooth motion. As it was, Jack was holding Aloe and glanced down to share his excitement. But while Aloe was still resting, Jack could tell that Aloe would soon be awake by the tell-tale sign of Aloe's arms swinging about. Spending so much time together in the limited space available in the escape-ship, Jack had certainly become aware of Aloe's infant quirks.

Jack preferred being awoken up by words or a hungry Aloe. But occasionally, Aloe's arms would start swinging. Aloe had surprisingly good strength and aim for punches thrown in the babe's sleep.

"I'd love to watch more, but Aloe's waking up. Is there somewhere we can play that's infant proof?"

"Not really." Andrew shrugged, "But just in case, we should choose another room... Like the couch room."

"Aloe's waking up?" Amber squealed as she hurried over, not minding the interruption at all, "He's so cute! Can I help feed him?"

"He actually is eating on his own but you can help me size down the fruit for him." Jack explained as he dodged a flailing limb and sleepy mutters.

"I'd be happy to help. Andrew would too although he's not saying anything." Amber skipped next to Jack while Andrew led the way to a third room.

Interrupting their play, although Lunar didn't seem to notice that he was standing on the fallen castle of couch cushions. With Manny, things could have gone either way. Either way being joining in the playground or doing what he was doing now with the adult tone of voice he was using, "So where are you from Jack?"

Jack wouldn't have admitted that he whined with Aloe and the other young Moonmice, Glowworms, and the young Lunar Moths that had been introduced shortly after the game had begun when the 'castle' of blankets, chairs, and cushions tumbled down. The Moonmice and Lunar Moths were a couple sizes larger than Aloe, while the Glowworms were slightly smaller than Aloe. Oblivious, Manny stood on an overturned chair. "Mannnny! We were having fun!"

Manny blinked and only now noticed the destruction he had caused, "Oh dear, forgive me my intrusion."

"Maybe." Jack folded his arms, raising an eyebrow, "But the castle was built so awesomely and you crashed it!" Many pairs of eyes were gazing at Manny in sadness or disappointment. Lunar gulped. He really didn't want them to be upset...!

"May I offer my apologizes with chocolate milk?" Tsar remembered watching a mother do something of the sort and hoped it worked. It did.

"Chocolate?!" Jack perked up before deflating, "Can I? But what about the side-effects?"

"What side-effects?" It occurred then to Lunar that Bunny used chocolate in battle, "Is it anything like six arms or increased size?"

"Naw. I'm not old enough. Or I am but I'm not my age?" Jack trailed off questioning, "Wait, how did you know that if you weren't old enough to fight in the Fearling Wars?"

"You weren't old enough either!" Tsar automatically accused, pausing, "You were around then?"

"Uh huh. Did you see an adult Pooka in action then?"

"Yep. One E. Aster Bunnymund."

"When? When did you see him?" Jack demanded eagerly, bouncing a little.

"...It's been a long time Jack." Tsar finally answered.

Jack sighed mournfully, "Is he gone then? Aloe and me slept long enough that we're the last ones left?" His voice trembled, tears beginning to pool in bright blue eyes.

"What?! No! He's the Easter Bunny." Tsar really didn't want those tears to form and fall. It was... odd how old and yet young Jack and his little brother made Lunar feel. Manny certainly hadn't had so much direct interaction with other children before. Hmm...

Jack crinkled his nose, tilting his head, voicing slightly in interest, "The Easter Bunny?"

"He's the Guardian of Hope like I am the Guardian of Wishes." Manny explained,

"But why did the scanners only pick up a faint signature, Once! In all the times I looked!" Jack pleaded, "Did he reappear and then die cause he was lonely? Like a phoenix?"

"Oh dear. No, he's still alive. He's just hidden in his well-protected home. He appears once a year for Easter, a holiday to celebrate new life, rebirth and resurrection."

"Certainly sounds like a phoenix," Jack grumbled, glaring suspiciously, "You sure he didn't get stuck as one? Cause mom told me a story about a Pooka getting stuck in the form of a phoenix."

Chuckling at the thought and Jack's indignation, Manny chortled, "Bunnymund a phoenix? No he's a Pooka through and through. Although... there is a certain resemblance to the Australian Kangaroo."

"A kangaroo? Never mind I'll find out later. What about that chocolate?"

"Err." Manny looked like a startled deer. It wouldn't be polite if he retracted his earlier offer, would it?

"I'm just teasing... mostly."

Manny comically sighed in relief, "Is there something else I could get for you?"

"Actually," Jack mused, "Do you have any garlic and parsley flavored mashed potatoes? I like the taste and Aloe can digest them."

"I think one of the Moonbots can whip some up." Tsar bounced with them to the kitchens,

"How did you survive this long?" Tsar asked Jack again while they sat on the dining room table built to cater to Lunar's army sized Moon friends/ family, "Were you sent to the future?"

Airplane-ing a spoonful of taters into Aloe's mouth, Jack replied distractedly, "No, we were in newly redesigned system of cryogenic chambers." Jack handed the spoon to Aloe, turning to his own food. "I woke up a couple of Earth years or Pookan months ago or something like that. The fearlings must have found the others. I haven't-" Jack's choked a little on tears and a bite of asparagus. Andrew, who was sitting on the other side of Jack tried to pound the young Pooka's back until Jack swallowed. Jack nodded his thanks and reached for water. Jack began playing with his food, losing interest in one of his favorite meals, "I haven't watched what happened yet, but I know they... were likely killed and the power and food reserves would have automatically diverted to those still alive in the tubes. It would explain why we weren't woken up sooner. We'd be dead now if we hadn't run out of baby food." Jack swallowed pushing away his plate, "The planet we woke up on... it's sun exploded not all that long after we left the planet."

"Jack, are you okay?" Amber asked.

Jack swayed, "I'm fine... It's just the lack of baby food saved our lives." Jack was paling further under his fur, "And, and..." Jack hiccuped, vision becoming a little dizzy, "Can we stop talking about this?" he asked weakly.

"Yes." Amber replied immediately when the other males took a moment to respond. Scooping Aloe up and placed the baby Pooka in his older brother's arms, standing on her tip-toes and rubbing Jack's back, "You're going through some post-delayed shock. Match your breathing with mine. In and Out. In and Out." The older twin of the two Moonmice soothed Jack to a more calm level.

Andrew gently tickled Aloe's feet causing a chain reaction. Aloe giggled, smiling happily, which caused Jack to cheer up too.

"I'm done with my food. Can we go play now?" Jack asked Tsar for permission, who grinned,

"Certainly. Can I join in? I can be the dragon armed with bouncy balls instead of flames! Raw!"

"Teehee." The Moonmice laughed.

"Ha ha! And I will be the knight!"

"And Aloe can be the Prince!" Amber cheered as the armies of playtime ran after them.

"Aww, but I wanted to be the Prince." Andrew pouted, straitening his navy cap.

"Why don't you be the King instead?" Jack suggested,

"Yes! I'll be the King of the Couches!" Andrew cheered as he bounced onto the Sofa. It was surprisingly bouncy, but Andrew seemed to already be aware of that, rolling in the air as he bounced on the next couch.

"Does someone have a potato chip?" Amber called out to the other Moon inhabitants coming in from the meal.

"Yeah, why?" One of the Lunar Moths had a handful of partially eaten baked potato chips.

"So I can call Andrew a lazy couch potato." Amber cheerfully replied.

"Hey! At least call me an aerobic couch potato! Actually, scratch that, I don't even like potatoes!" Andrew protested.

"Huh. More for me then." The Lunar Moth shrugged and continued eating.

After Aloe took a nap, Jack asked Manny if he knew what has happened to the Pookan homeworld.

"As you know, the purpose of the Pooka was to defend and protect the time line. But after the Pooka's were massacred and the world nearly dead, another race came to live on Gallifrey. The Time Lords. They were another race with an affinity for handling time. Driven from their original home, they settled on Gallifrey because it shimmered with time dust was how my last visitor described it."

"So why is the planet gone?"

"There was another war and save for one survivor that up and goes to protect the time line as much as he can, his people and the planet were also destroyed."

"Oh." There wasn't much Jack could respond to that besides a thrum of sympathy. Jack was fortunate enough to have Aloe, but the last survivor from Gallifrey didn't have any family left.

After a long moment of quiet, Tsar eyed Jack, thinking about something, "Jack, I wish to make a deal with you."

"What kind of trade?"

"Good question. My family's trade was repairing things!" That... Jack hadn't known.

"Not that kind of trade, but that would help."

"With what? Your ship didn't appear to be broken." Tsar questioned.

"I've got family artifacts from the Golden Age and a lot of them are broken."

Tsar thought and thought... from upside down on the chandelier, finally admitting, "I couldn't repair Pookan weapons, but I can repair anything else. Plus if I can't then Bunnymund can."

"If you could repair them, what do you want in exchange?" Jack was honestly curious. It seemed like Manny had everything he wanted on the Moon from a kid's perspective. Then again, Manny seemed the type of person to want something random like Earth rocks.

Startling Jack, who hadn't realized he spoke his thoughts out loud, Manny replied, "That's exactly what the Guardians need! Kid perspective!" And Tsar was gone, scribbling away on Moonbot provided paper.

"Manny?" Jack asked warily,

"Hmm? Hey Jack are you a good storyteller?" Lunar asked distractedly.

"I'm pretty good, why?"

"I need a storyteller on Earth." Tsar ripped a piece of aggravating paper, not facing Jack.

"What about Katherine aka Mother Goose or Nightlight?"

"Katherine and Nightlight moved on together some time ago. Their legacy lives on, Katherine's through Nursery Rhymes and Nightlight's with night lights. Nightlight wasn't much of a talker anyway. But in order for the Guardians to get more or stronger believers in order to fight Pitch more effectively next time they fight, new and old stories need to be told." Manny rambled on, talking more to himself than Jack.

Intrigued Jack asked, "What are you talking about?"

"Toot Toot!" Manny jumped, "I apologize, I forgot your presence." By now Jack was used to Manny's mixed matched tone and emotions. Tsar really was forgetful. Guess that's what happens when you get old.

Jack poked Manny's arm to get him to respond as he had trailed off once again,

A Moonbot jogged up to them saying monotonously, "Pitch has been sighted."

"Lead the way Moonbot 784!" Manny dashed away. Jack assumed Tsar was heading for his workshop and followed, leaving Aloe snoozing away in Amber and Andrew's care.

Pitch had slipped away before Manny arrived. He wasn't very solid currently and the sun had chased him away from spreading too many nightmares.

Tsar sighed as he lowered his guard after several moments of searching.

"Manny?" Jack asked softly from behind him. Tsar looked old when he sighed.

"Hmm?"

"What would being your storyteller mean?" Jack asked.

Tsar brightened, "Traveling and telling stories. Since you are a Pooka you'd live a long time, looking the same age-ish, but we'd need to disguise your normal appearance."

"I've got some shape-shifting crystals." Jack offered.

"That would work. We'd also have to hide you from Pitch. Oh. I've got a magical shielding cloak, but..."

"What's wrong?" Jack asked when Manny hesitated, something heavy dropping in Jacks stomach, "Are there fearlings still hunting the Pooka?"

Manny shook his head, "The last of the fearlings were destroyed by Aster and the other Guardians long ago. But..." Manny sighed for a second time, seeming more ancient than before, "The best way to ensure Aloe's and your safety would be to not tell the Guardians. Pitch has spies in the shadows of their homes with the exception of Sanderson's and Bunnymund's. However, Sanderson is rarely home and it would be hard to travel to and from there without attracting unwanted attention. But if Aster knew there was two young Pookas, it's likely he'd almost never let them leave the Warren. And when you did leave, there are plenty of shadows in Bunnymund's tunnels watching to alert Pitch."

"So if I chose to be your new storyteller... I wouldn't be able to approach Bunnymund?" Jack stumbled back. To come so close... Jack could chose not to become Manny's storyteller... but that didn't seem right. Already Jack had the feeling that this was something he would like to do.

Manny sighed regretfully, "Not as another Pooka, no. And it's not likely he'll let you catch sight of him as a mortal. And being an immortal would open a whole new bag of troubles. For one you wouldn't be able to tell stories without believers. And two with believers, you would have unwanted attention from the other immortals. It wouldn't be forever. Just until a mortal storyteller isn't needed as much anymore."

"I need... I need some time before I finalize a decision." Jack rubbed an ear, troubled.

Back in the Pookan spaceship, the door almost closed, Jack trembled as he played with a disk of information, anxiously rubbing his ear. Gathering his courage, Jack took a deep breath and inserted the copied information, knowing that he would never really be the same afterwards. His father had always said that death changed you when Jack asked about soldiers or later, why Pitch became Pitch.

At first the 'film' recorded the Frostfall clan's take-off. Jack smiled slightly as he remembered each long-gone family member. 'Days' passed, but then... Jack stifled whimpers as the horror film from reality began.

The attack had started in the 'night' rotation of the ship. Jack's mother was the first one to sound the alert, having noticed them on the radar. Those who were taking a rest outside of the tubes woke up almost immediately. On the radar, the numerous amount of fearlings didn't resister so much as individual 'blips' as a wave. The warriors inside of the tubes wouldn't be able to wake up fast enough to man the extra battle stations. The warriors that were awake blasted fearlings into smithereens. But there were just too many, even without the Fearling King there. Mom died first as the fearlings broke into the control room, exposing several Pooka's to the vacuum of Outer Space. Most Pooka's had tough enough skin to battle without atmosphere for a certain amount of time, but unfortunately, Jack's mother wasn't one of them. Six-armed chocolate was brought out and nearly half the 'wave' of fearlings were destroyed. The Pooka fought valiantly and decimated their enemies before the Pooka's began to be overrun. Frightened for their hidden loved ones, the fearlings eventually sniffed out the overall fear of the Frostfall clan and began hunting the helpless ones after mowing the remaining warriors down. Feeding off the fear of the helpless ones, the fearlings broke into the mostly hidden compartments. Then after nearly every soul the fearlings found had passed away, the fearlings drifted away and left the broken Pookan ship, spurred on by the dying survivor's weapon. Jack's father had managed to activate the remaining 'light' on Pookan Spaceship with his hope that some of their clan had and would survive. His father's last words were the Frostfall clan's war cry.

Jack coughed as his body reminded him to breathe, sobbing.

Jack dry heaved over the disposal, tears raining down. When one wave stopped, another thought about his family caused another avalanche of bitter sadness. They were gone and for a while Jack wanted Pitch to feel his pain, but he couldn't hold his thoughts of revenge for longer than an hour. In some ways Jack wondered if his family would be disappointed that he just couldn't hold onto such angry thoughts. The answer came quite fiercely, the thought sounding like his mother after something that could have caused a childhood grudge. Never. I will never be ashamed for your forgiving nature. For your forgiveness, I am proud of you. Remember that. His mom's stories kept coming back to him, particularly the less comical version of the story where a Pooka had gotten stuck as a phoenix and felt the emotions of his perceived enemy, his brother's pain, anguish and regret before he finally forgave his brother. Neither party would have felt so angry or felt such bitter loss that had they set aside their pride and worked out an understanding between them. Revenge brought death to all, but forgiveness gave life and hope to the one who applied it. The one at fault or not at fault might never forgive or become good in turn and because of it, they would never be able to truly live.

Jack would become Manny's needed storyteller. For his fallen family as Jack could forgive, but never forget. If Jack could prevent the same ending to other families, to other children, he would do what was necessary. Fight to Defend. Fight to Protect. That was the chant of Frostfall clan warriors. Jack would become Manny's storyteller and teach his brother that the best retaliation was living on. They had survived and would not squander their gift of life so easily to their family's murderer.

"I'll do it." Jack committed, "Until such time that a storyteller is no longer needed."

Sensing that Jack's heart was as true and pure and before, Tsar Lunar's face softened, "Thank you Jack." They shook hands.

"I'm going to need that cloak you were talking about. Otherwise Pitch will find me the first time I sleep on Earth," Jack said with determination, "Here are the artifacts that I have." Jack shook himself as he handed the storage capsule over, "How long do you need? Or how is it going to work?" Jack used his now empty hand to nervously rub his ear.

"Some of them will take longer than others. How long can the shape-shifting crystals hide your form? It's best if you are not seen as a Pooka at all. Mishaps are fine as long as no one immortal sees." Manny cautioned.

"Three to five non-renewable Earth decades maybe, each?" Jack's eyebrows bunched together as he figured out the math.

Manny held out a hand, "I can make them last about a century. And renewable. It won't take very long." Tsar assured Jack who nodded and handed three crystals over.

About an Earth day later, Jack and Aloe hugged Manny as they reentered the Pookan spacecraft. Jack buckled Aloe into the passenger's seat. Cloaked with the promised magical coat, Jack temporarily exited the re-powered Pookan spacecraft (It could now had enough energy to remain disguised and temporarily repel Pitch [if the craft was noticed] for a couple of centuries).

"Here, these will be useful." Manny handed over the now renewable and re-enegized shape shifting crystals.

"Thank you, I appreciate it. But what about you?"

Tsar Lunar's face softened, "I'll be fine. The moonbeams can relay messages and small objects. You really are special Jack."

"Wait! Wait for us!" Two Moonmice charged into the hanger bay, little backpacks bouncing on their backs, tiny navel uniforms and hats fluttering with their speed.

"Amber! Andrew! You forgot to brush your teeth!" A mothering Moonmouse scolded, chasing after her children with a comb and toothpaste.

"We packed extra already!" Andrew exclaimed as the twins jumped and clung to Jack's legs.

"I know we forgot to ask, but can we come with you?" Amber begged of the taller individuals.

"Sure, but what about Manny?" Jack's hidden emotions relaxed their anxious hold on him. He would have someone, well two someones older than Aloe who would know the truth hidden during his mission.

"I have no problem with it." Manny chuckled, "I had a feeling you would." Manny knelt down on one knee and handed the Moonmice two mini crystals.

"Are these...?" Amber trailed off excitedly as she thanked Manny, putting the crystal on, ignoring her mother's hurried attempts to brush her hair.

"They are! Shape-shifting crystals for non-shape-shifters." Andrew touched the crystal in awe, "Thanks Manny!" Andrew let go of Jack's leg to hug Manny and then pulled his sister into a group hug with their mother.

"Bye Mom!" the twins chorused, Amber hurriedly hugging Manny too and then shaking Tsar's hand,

"We're off to have adventures with Jack!" Amber skipped to the Pookan spacecraft.

To tease them, Jack walked impossibly slow, "Jack!" the twins complained and Jack gave a bark of laughter, speeding up. The twins' mother pulled out and blew into an overly large handkerchief, cheering them on in between sniffles and proud tears. Manny and the other residents of the Moon: Moonbots, Lunar Moths, Moonmice, and Glowworms chuckled as well. (Actually the Glowworms 'hummed' in chorus again, but it counts).

The group of four waved from the cockpit as the hanger bay doors opened, "Bye Tsar! Hope to visit again someday." Jack's eyes sparkled with mischievous excitement.

"I wish you well." Manny waved as the Pookan escape-ship left the hanger, Outer Space's lack of air not really being a problem for Lunar or the other species that lived on the moon.