Author's Note: silence…nothing but silence…and then rumbling…Grey comes in crashing through a wall on a wrecking ball… I CAME IN LIKE A WRECKING BALL!
Uhhh…nervous laughter…wow, it's been a while since this was updated, huh? Let's see a good *checks date*…July 4, 2019…wow…4 years…yikes…ummm…first of all, hello! Welcome back to We're Your Family, Too! Second of all, to all of my old readers, if you're still out there, I'm…so…so…SO…sorry for not updating this story for a while. A lot has happened in those 4 years, but really, it came down to having some serious writer's block and being inspired by another fandom (the MCU/Iron Dad). BUT…recently, I've been getting inspiration from ROTG again, and I've decided to just go for it and finish this fic! After all, there's only 4 chapters left, and I always promise myself that fics will not go unfinished. So, in addition to my other fics in the MCU/Iron Dad fandom, I'll be finishing this fic and hopefully getting around to the other ROTG fics I have planned. BUT anyway, I AM BACK WITH CHAPTER 21! I hope you all enjoy it because it's a bit of a doozy! So, buckle up! To all my old readers, welcome back! To any new readers, welcome! You might want to read Believe It (my other ROTG fic that takes place before this) too! Let's get to…REVIEW REPLIES!
Nahau Moondust: More is here! I hope you continue to enjoy the story!
Demi clayton: So glad you're enjoying it! More is coming!
Sofie Rose: Lol, aww I'm so glad you enjoyed this fic! I know it's been a while, but if you're still around, I hope you enjoy what's next.
FrostedDragonHeart: Ahhh yes, DragonHeart! I know it's been quite a while, but I hope you continue to enjoy this fic. Thank you for your review!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything related to Rise of the Guardians.
Chapter 21
The Guardian of Fun immediately decided that there was no more holding back. Perhaps, if he and his other three fellow Guardians could keep Bunny busy by fighting him while using his powers over winter, they could get the sand out of the system quicker. It was a bit of a long shot, but it was one of the few options…maybe even the only option they had.
He had to focus on getting one of his best friends…his older brother figure back. The original Big Four didn't give up on him when he was the Nightmare Prince, so he promised not to give up on Bunny. There had to be a way to break Bunny free. He thought that as he threw yet another snowball in the Pooka's face.
"Come on, ya overgrown furball!" Jack said in a mocking tone. "Give it all you got!" He threw yet another snowball at the corrupted Guardian.
Bunny grunted as he held up his arms to cover his face to protect himself from the other snowball that suddenly was thrown at him. He growled as he looked back at the fearling, but the confusion continued to stir inside him. Why would Pitch create fearlings to conjure up winter-like magic? Why did this magic continue to feel so familiar?
He then got into a battle stance again growling…ready to attack. Was this really Jack or…just a trick?
"What kind of trick is this?" he asked through clenched teeth staring at the fearling very…very intently.
North, Tooth, and Sandy all stood by as Jack and Bunny stared at each other down…ready to help in case Bunny decided to attack again…in case Jack needed help.
"Be careful, Sweet Tooth," Tooth whispered nervously.
"Don't worry, Tooth," Jack said as he kept his eyes on Bunny slowly crouching down and placing his staff on the ground by his feet. He then slowly stood back up holding his hands up as a peaceful gesture. "I know what I'm doing." He then turned his attention to the Pooka looking at his cloudy green eyes. "It's not a trick. It's really me, Bunny, and North, Tooth, and Sandy. We're all here with you."
Bunny froze hearing those names…from that voice. It sounded just like Jack, and North, Tooth, and Sandy…he knew those beings. They were all his friends, but…how would the fearlings know that? Unless it was a trick… Perhaps, it was a trick to get him to let his guard down… That had to be it. He growled again trying to muster up all the hate he had for Pitch Black as his fur bristled.
"This is a trick…" he said. "It has to be."
"This is a trick. It has to be."
The four other Guardians eyed each other nervously as they heard Bunny growl and watched his fur bristle. North eyed Bunny as he kept his eyes trained on Jack, and he had to resist every fiber of his being screaming at him to protect his adoptive son. However, he and Jack briefly made eye contact, and he could tell that Jack wanted him to stay where he was…to let him handle it. Of course, North complied trying his best to make it clear to Jack that he was going to jump in if the situation called for it.
Thankfully, Jack got the message and nodded before turning back to the Pooka in front of him. "It's not a trick," he said keeping his hands up. "I promise, it's not. Pitch is messing with your head. Whatever you're seeing isn't real. He's using your hate against you, Bunny. You have to fight it."
The Pooka relaxed somewhat as he raised an eyebrow at the fearling. Why would it tell him to fight its master? Fearlings were fiercely loyal to the Boogeyman. What made this one any different? Unless…it was true…and this actually wasn't real. However, what if that was part of the trick? He couldn't…wouldn't fall for it, so he growled again as he tensed up when he saw the fearling take a step closer to him.
Jack took another step closer to the corrupted Guardian. However, just as he did so, Bunny growled at him causing him to stop.
"Bunny, listen to him!" North quickly said earning the Pooka's attention.
"Come on, Bunny," Tooth said frantically, "it's us! Please, you have to fight this!"
The Pooka growled as he looked at Tooth and North before turning back to Jack growling even more. "No, no, you're lying," he suddenly said. "Y-You blokes are lying! This has to be a trick! It has to be!"
"Bunny, I'm telling you," Jack said trying to stay calm as he took another step closer, "it's not a trick. Please…Kangaroo…you have to believe me. It's us…your friends…your other family. We're trying to help you. Please…let us help you."
"Kangaroo…"
That made Bunny relax just a bit as he stared at the dark figure in front of him as he moved closer. However, he couldn't bring himself to muster up his rage…his anger…his hate, but…he couldn't. The fearling called him "Kangaroo," and there was only one person who called him that…and as the figure got closer, he could suddenly see…blue eyes appearing through the red haze.
"J-Jack…? F-Frostbite?"
"J-Jack…? F-Frostbite?"
Thankfully, all four of the other Guardians heard that, and they all looked at each other and then back at Bunny.
"I think we're getting somewhere," North whispered. "Keep going, my boy."
Jack smiled and nodded before turning back to Bunny. "Yeah, Cottontail, it's me," he said staying where he was. "I'm here with North, Tooth, and Sandy. We're all here with you, but you have to come back to us. Pitch is messing with you…using your hate against you. Fight it, Cottontail."
Bunny felt himself relax as he widened his eyes as he saw the blue eyes staring at him through the red haze. That was when he remembered that he had a confrontation with the Boogeyman himself. Pitch did this to him, and he glared and growled under his breath. He refused to be the Boogeyman's slave any longer…refused to hurt his fellow Guardians…his best friends. No, he had to break free from the hate sand. So…he shook his head growling and feeling the rage inside him as he fell to his knees gripping the fur on his head. He could feel the pounding in his head getting worse. Whether it was the fact that he was fighting against the hate sand or the hate he was feeling because of the sand, he wasn't sure, but he didn't have time to think about it too much.
"I-I can't…break free…" he said through clenched teeth.
As soon as Jack said what he said to Bunny, the four other Guardians watched as Bunny stopped suddenly and fell to his knees…gripping his head.
"I-I can't…break free…" Bunny suddenly said through clenched teeth.
All four of the other Guardians widened their eyes as soon as they heard the Pooka, and it sparked a small amount of hope inside them. Bunny was trying to fight the green sand, and he was trying with all his might to come back to them.
"He's trying to get through," North whispered to them.
Jack slowly took a few steps closer to Bunny before getting down on his knees in front of him. "Yes, you can," he said gently but firmly. "You can break free. If I can do it, you can do it."
Bunny continued to tremble and shake clearly still trying to fight Pitch's influence. Jack noticed that his hand was reaching for his boomerangs, and he wasted no time in putting his hand on Bunny's stopping him from moving anymore.
"I know you hate Pitch for what he did to your people…to your family," Jack said earnestly, "but you can't let it consume you…and control you. That's not what they would want for you."
"H-How do you…how do you know that…?" Bunny asked through clenched teeth. His paw trembled against Jack's hand, but the winter spirit's hand was barely moving.
"Because that's not what we want for you," Jack replied gently. "We care about you, too, Cottontail."
"He's right, Bunny," North quickly added as he knelt next to his adoptive son and the Pooka. "We do care about you."
"We know we're not Pookas and we're not your biological family," Tooth said gently, "but we love you."
Even though Bunny couldn't see it, Sandy flashed a sand image of Bunny surrounded by Jack, North, Tooth, and Sandy in a group hug.
"Sandy's right," Jack said gently. "We're your family, too. Please, Cottontail, come back to us."
They each rested their hands on Bunny confirming what they were saying…that they were his family too and that they weren't leaving him to suffer alone.
Suddenly, Bunny began to scream, and the green sand began to leave his leg.
He felt their hands on his fur, and it made warmth swell in his chest. North, Tooth, and Sandy had been there ever since he first met them all those years ago. Yes, they were brought together for a common cause…to protect the children of the world, but through all that, they became friends…best friends…family. Then…Jack came along a few months ago, and he got them to bond even more…to take a trip together. They had been there for each other. They cared about each other. They really became a family. They could never replace his biological family, but…they were his family, too. Like Jack, he had two families, and while one was gone, he knew Jack was right. They wouldn't want him to suffer like this. They would want him to be happy…just as his Guardian family wanted him to be happy, and he refused to let Pitch use his hatred…his grief against him…to make him his puppet. He was stronger than this, so as the red haze slowly began to clear along with the fearlings in his vision, he closed his eyes and screamed thinking about how much he loved his two families…how much he loved the children of the world. He could feel the rage leaving his body.
North, Tooth, Sandy, and Jack watched in worry and concern as Bunny screamed at the top of his lungs forcing the green sand to leave his leg…freeing him from Pitch's spell. As soon as the green sand to leave his leg…freeing him from Pitch's spell. As soon as the sand left his body, it floated into the air, and Sandy wasted no time in using his trusty golden sand whips to purify the green sand of hate. Bunny quickly fell to the ground unconscious surrounded by his fellow guardians, and the green sand was turned into golden dreamsand. However, none of them dared to celebrate as they watched the Guardian of Hope…waiting for him to wake up.
"Bunny?" Jack asked gently. "Bunny, can you hear me?"
There was a moment of silence before Bunny groaned as he shifted in Jack's lap, and then…he opened his eyes. Much to the other Guardians' delight, his eyes were back to their normal green color. They were no longer clouded and full of rage…full of hate.
The Pooka opened his eyes slowly and looked up only to see the familiar faces of his fellow Guardians staring down at him with smiles on his face, and he couldn't help but smile in return.
"Hey there, mates," he said tiredly.
"Hey yourself, Cottontail," Jack happily said as his smile widened.
"How are you feeling?" Tooth asked. "Can you sit up?"
"I…I think so," Bunny replied as he slowly sat up with North and Jack's help. "I'm feeling pretty tired though."
"That's to be expected after what you just went through, my friend," North said as Bunny sat up and turned around to face them.
"Yeah, and I probably still would've been going through that if you blokes weren't here," Bunny said scratching the back of his head not even trying to hide his smile, "so…thanks, mates. I…I love you all, too. I-I know I don't say it often, but…"
North, Jack, Tooth, and Sandy wasted no time in gathering Bunny into a group hug.
"Aw, you big lug," Jack said, "I knew you cared."
Bunny rolled his eyes but wasted no time in returning the gesture. Suddenly, he froze when he picked up a scent of a certain enemy of theirs, but it was faint. It was faint, but it was there. "Uhh…am I still losing my mind or was Pitch actually here?"
Jack's eyes suddenly snapped open when he heard Bunny's question. He pulled away and looked around when he realized that they hadn't heard Pitch in quite a while, and there was a reason for that.
"Oh no, Pitch got away!" Jack shouted when he saw that the Boogeyman was nowhere to be seen.
"Shostakovich!" North shouted as he and the rest of the Guardians stood up and looked around the clearing. "He must've run for it while we were helping Bunny."
"Well, we need to find him fast," Bunny interjected, "before he causes any more damage."
"Maybe he went back to his lair?" North suggested.
Sandy shook his head showing a sandy image of Pitch disappearing while the Guardians had their backs turned.
"Sandy's right, mate," Bunny said begrudgingly as he crossed his arms. "Pitch wanted me to keep you all busy for a reason. He wouldn't just go back to his lair for no reason. He's up to something."
Jack thought for a moment. What could Pitch possibly be up to? He was clearly using Bunny as a distraction, and that was when he remembered what happened when they returned from their camping trip…just not even a day ago. That thought alone made his stomach churn as his eyes widened. "Jaime…" he said out loud.
"What was that, my boy?" North asked his adoptive son.
Jack turned back to the other Guardians with his eyes widened. "Burgess…" he said. "He's gone to Burgess. He's going after—"
Tooth gasped as she herself remembered. "Jaime and his friends!" she said.
"Wait, wait, hold on, what are you talking about?" Bunny asked.
Jack quickly remembered that North, Tooth, Sandy, and he were the only ones who knew about the nightmares Jaime told him he and his friends had been having while the Guardians were away camping. They were supposed to go to Burgess to look for Pitch…when Bunny didn't come to the Pole. The Guardian of Hope had no clue what was happening. "Sorry, buddy," Jack said, "you were kind of dealing with the green sand when this happened, but after we got back from camping yesterday, I went to see Jaime. Long story short: he told me that while we were gone, he and his friends were having nightmares…bad nightmares about us."
Bunny's eyes widened as the pieces slowly came together. "Crikey…" he said, "and you think he's going back for more?"
Jack, Tooth, Sandy, and North all nodded.
"Then what are we waiting for? Christmas? Buckle up!" Bunny tapped his foot, and within seconds, the 5 Guardians all fell in the tunnel making their way to Burgess.
The Boogeyman smiled to himself as he stepped out of the shadows in the small town of Burgess. He wasted no time in leaving North, Tooth, Sandy, and Jack to deal with their corrupted Guardian. He was sure—100% sure—that that would keep them busy for a while. The hate that ran through Bunny…the green sand was too powerful. There was no way he would be able to control it, and Bunny would suffer a tragedy—killing his fellow Guardians with his own hands—before his own end. He couldn't wait for that, but for now, he needed to focus on his next task…giving the Last Light and his friends more nightmares…feeding off their fear. It was just too good. He looked at Jaime Bennett's house, and he slowly advanced toward the house ready to sink into the shadows to get in.
However, just as he was about to do that, a hole opened in front of him, and the 5 Guardians emerged.
"Sorry, Pitch," Jack said as he and the others got into defensive stances with their respective weapons, "but there won't be any nightmares happening tonight."
"YOU!" the Nightmare King sneered at the Guardians. "How did you get here? The Pooka is supposed to be—"
"What?" Bunny said with a smirk. "Supposed to be your mindless minion…your puppet? Sorry, ya ratbag, but I'm not letting my hate for you control me…not anymore. It's over, Pitch. Just turn around and slither back under the bed, and we can forget the whole thing."
Pitch growled as he held out his hands summoning his small group of Nightmare horses to emerge from the shadows behind him. "And what if I refuse?"
"Then you are in for a world of hurt," North said with a glare.
"Bring it on, old man," Pitch sneered. "ATTACK!" He and the Nightmares charged.
All 5 Guardians wasted no time in charging. The battle had begun. Frost was fired. Boomerangs were thrown. Wings chopped. Swords were swung. Golden sand whips snapped. All of it was aimed at Pitch's nightmares. The Guardians were tipping the scales. It was far from easy, but they were winning. More Nightmares kept coming from every corner, and Pitch joined the battle with his scythe aiming his blows at the Pooka. One could see that Bunny was worn out after being affected by the green hand of hate for quite some time and the emotional strain the whole ordeal had on him. So, on top of the nightmares coming after him, Bunny was also trying to duck and dodge Pitch's scythe.
Thankfully, just as Pitch was about to deliver another blow on the Pooka, a certain ex-Cossack jumped in the way blocking the scythe with his swords. Pitch stared in shock at the Guardian of Wonder, who glared at him even more.
"Pitch, it's time you learn something," North said through clenched teeth. "Lesson 1: never mess with the Guardians…or the children!" He pushed back causing Pitch to fall backwards.
Before he could charge at North again, the Guardian of Memories popped up in front of him with her fist raised. "Lesson 2," she began with a smirk on her face, "pay very…very close attention to Lesson 1."
Suddenly, two golden whips wrapped around him, and Pitch looked up only to see that it was Sandy…with Jack next to him.
"And Lesson 3," Jack said with a smirk of his own, "the bad guys always lose."
Pitch once again didn't have time to respond as Sandy suddenly threw him back toward the forest right into a tree by the lake. He fell to the ground on the stomach only to look up just in time to see all 5 Guardians advancing on him, and instead of feeling fear, he felt anger…rage as he stood up to face them.
"Give it up, Pitch," Bunny growled as he grabbed his Boomerangs. "You're finished."
Pitch growled. "No…NO! This is not over!" he shouted. "I refuse to surrender to the likes of you."
Then as soon as he said that, more Nightmares appeared out of nowhere and ran toward the Guardians, and before any of them could do anything, the Nightmares tackled four of them…North, Tooth, Sandy, and Jack…to the ground…leaving Bunny standing alone with Pitch.
Bunny looked only to see his fellow Guardians were held down by Nightmares struggling to get up. North's swords and Jack's staff were knocked out of their hands and too far for them to grab. Then he turned to Pitch, who was standing in front of them with his scythe ready to strike. The Pooka couldn't help but smirk at the Boogeyman.
"You know, if you wanted to fight so bad, Pitch," Bunny said as he readied his boomerangs, "all you had to do was ask."
Pitch glared and growled as he gripped his scythe. "I don't know how you managed to overcome the green sand of hate," he said, "but it doesn't matter. You're finished."
Bunny couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat. He was confident that he could hold his own, but he was exhausted. The green sand had worn him out. "Bring it on," he said.
With that, the Guardian of Hope and the Boogeyman began to fight. North, Tooth, Sandy, and Jack could only watch as Bunny threw his boomerang and ducked and dodged Pitch's scythe. North couldn't help but worry as he watched Bunny realizing that he was weakened by the sand.
"Come on, Bunny," North whispered. "Hold on."
Jack watched the fight between Bunny and Pitch, and then he noticed his staff on the ground in front of him. He eyed the Nightmare holding him down on his arms, and then slowly he moved his hand to the staff reaching for it. He had to help Bunny. He had to.
"The sand has weakened you," Pitch shouted to Bunny over the clashing of their weapons. "You're slow, rabbit. You're tired. You should just give up now."
As much as Bunny hated to admit it, Pitch was right. He was slower than normal during this battle, and he was breathing heavier. However, he refused to give up. He couldn't afford to give up now…not when his adoptive family needed him, and his biological family wouldn't want him to. So, he continued. "Sorry, ya drongo," he said with a smirk, "but that's not happening. I will keep fighting you until my last breath."
The battle continued as Bunny threw his boomerangs at Pitch's scythe, and of course, Pitch continued to come after him. He growled as he raised his weapon on again. "That can be arranged!" he seethed. He brought his scythe down…and it hit Bunny in his side.
Bunny screamed as he fell to the ground holding his side feeling the blood on his paws. His side was on fire as the pain raged from the wound.
"BUNNY!" North, Tooth, and Jack shouted in unison.
"BUNNY…NO! NO!" Jack shouted as he tried with all his might to get to the Pooka. However, the Nightmare was holding him down as he practically clawed at the dirt under him. He continued to try to reach for his staff. "Come on, Wind. Come on…" Then, he looked over at Sandy, who was struggling against his Nightmare captor as well. They looked at each other…and smiled as a plan silently formed between them.
Pitch ignored the other Guardians' cries as he walked over to the Guardian of Hope as he curled up in pain. The Boogeyman could feel the fear from the Guardians of Wonder, Memories, Dreams, and Fun and the hatred from the Guardian of Hope, and he loved every minute of it. He smiled as Bunny could barely get up. He conjured up his scythe again. This was it. This was the end for the Guardian of Hope…and the end of the Pooka species. It was a great day. "You have caused enough trouble, rabbit," he said menacingly. "I'm afraid I cannot allow your precious hope to interfere with my plans any longer." He raised his scythe.
"Bunny…Bunny, get up!" Tooth shouted. "Fight!"
"I…I'm…trying!" Bunny said as he struggled to get up only to fall back down as he screamed in pain again. Blood continued to flow, and the pain intensified.
"Bunny, please!" North shouted as tears formed in his eyes.
"I'm…sorry, mates," Bunny said as tears flowed from his eyes. "I…I can't."
"Don't worry, Aster," Pitch said completely ignoring North and Tooth's pleas, "you're going to get the chance to see your family…your little brother…again. You won't be alone anymore."
"Shut up…I-I'm not alone, Pitch. I-I never was…" Bunny said as he trembled from the pain. "I have another family."
Pitch scoffed. "Oh please…" he said, "you consider the Guardians a family? You're worse than Frost."
"You bet I do," Bunny replied managing a smirk through his pain.
"Hmph…any last words, rabbit?" Pitch simply asked.
"Why would I waste my breath on a ratbag like you?" Bunny asked through clenched teeth.
"Very well…" Pitch said. He was ready to deliver the final blow.
"Heads up, Pitch!" a voice suddenly shouted from above.
"What?" Pitch asked as he looked up only to be met with frost being fired right at him. Before Pitch or Bunny could react, the blast of frost crashed down on the Boogeyman…encasing him in ice freezing him solid in ice.
Then Jack landed on his feet behind Bunny with his staff raised at the frozen Boogeyman breathing heavily and glaring at their enemy.
Author's Note: Annnnnnnnnnnd that's all for now, boys and girls! So, Jack has frozen Pitch in ice, so…now the Guardians will have to figure out what happens next…and get Bunny taken care of. But we will find out what happens in CHAPTER 22! 3 MORE CHAPTERS LEFT! And I promise it won't take me 4 years to get the next chapter out. But there are other fics I'm writing, so I do have a plan on how to give all of them the right amount of attention. I hope you all enjoyed this fic! See you in the next chapter! Don't forget to leave a review! Thanks, guys!