The Brothel
The portal opens spitting North out in the process.
Falling face first into mud, North coughs and wipes his face clean.
Getting up on one knee, North coughs a little bit more before taking a look at his surroundings.
One thing becomes very apparent to him; wherever he was it wasn't the North Pole.
The area had a grungy look, it was dark out and the rain was beginning to pick up.
Without his jacket and hat, he quickly looks for shelter.
In the distance he can see what appears to be a pub.
"Hmm…looks like I'm in Scotland."
Nearing the pub, he notices two people casually standing outside smoking.
Flicking his cigarette, the man pulls the woman into a passionate kiss, blocking the door.
Seeing as they are adults, North attempts to simply walk through them to reach the pub.
As he casually attempts to stroll in, North is surprised to make physical contact against the couple.
The woman and man fall against the door as North falls backwards.
The man's hat falls nearby where North has fallen.
Rubbing his head, North looks up and is shocked by what he sees.
That man was a fox!
"What the hell do you think you're doin'!? Bumping into me like I'm some schmuck!"
The wolf like woman laughs, and wraps her arms around the man.
Just as she was about to make a smart remark at North, her face fills of terror.
"OH MY GOODNESS! Mr. Claus!"
She pushes the fox out of the way to help lift North up.
"You know me?"
"Of-OFCOURSE! Who doesn't know you!?"
The fox rushes over and helps to clean North up.
"I'm-I'm so so sorry ! I didn't know! I SWEAR!"
Confused, North tries to make sense of the explanation until he is pulled inside the pub.
Music filled the room as numerous animals and Guardians filled the bar. Everybody was appearing to have a good time. To his dismay there were even humans mingling among the Guardians.
From the corner of his eye he catches a man lifting a sprite as he carried her upstairs.
It was clear to him that he was in a brothel.
Clearly embarrassed, North attempts to leave but is stopped by the woman.
"Don't you worry yourself none ! We'll make sure that your suite is ready in no time!"
Within ear shot he hears a woman casually ask for him by name.
"Kris?"
Turning around, he faces a beautiful Minotaur like woman strolling over to him in a barely there sheer gold outfit. Her body would appear human if it weren't for the horns protruding out of her head, and her hind legs being part bovine.
She graciously takes his hand and kisses it. Smiling, she glances over to the wolf with intent to kill.
"How DARE you Noma, not inform me that was here!?"
With a back slap she sends Noma crashing to the floor.
Rubbing her cheek, the wolf tries not to cry.
"I'm..I'm sorry my lady Kama Sutra! Please forgive me!"
Just as she was about to hit the wolf once more, her wrist is grabbed from behind. Shocked she turns around to see North himself taking hold of her.
"That is enough!"
North looks deep into the minotaur's red eyes to show that he was serious..
Smiling she pull she her arm away.
"Very well, . I wouldn't want to disrespect you in your establishment."
His big blue eyes widen.
She brushes her long red hair out of the way, and seductively walks up a stairway.
"Shall I lead you to your suite?"
Once again his curiosity gets the better of him as he uses the opportunity to try and find any type of information he'll need to figure out what was going on.
"Ah yes. My suite."
Smiling, she further goes up the stairs leading North to the second floor.
Reaching into her bra, she reveals a beautiful key.
"Why don't you use this time to freshen up, and I'll go fetch your toy."
North was about to answer, but was distracted by the sight of a little girl in her lime green pajamas playing in the hall way.
Looking in the direction he was staring, Kama snarls.
Pulling herself together, she pushes North back into his room.
"See you in a little bit !"
She closes the door, and locks it.
Putting the key away, she stomps over to where the little blond girl was playing.
Taking notice of the woman heading in her direction, the girl panics and runs in the opposite direction.
"Get back here you little brat!"
The girl runs full speed into a room, closing it behind her.
Scared, she rushes into the other room where a Pooka sat talking alongside a Dingo.
She rushes over to the bed and grabs hold of the Pooka's leg.
Confused, he stops talking to his friend to care for the child.
"What's got yoos spooked butterfly?"
Knowing full well where the girl resided, Kama violently pushes the door open.
Looking up, the trio stares towards the door.
"What the hell Kama!?"
"Don't you speak to me in that tone Pooka! That little brat was in the hallways again! I warned you that if I saw her there one more time I would throw her runt ass out of here!"
The Pooka and Dingo stand in unison.
Staring her straight in the eyes, the Pooka takes a stand.
"I like ta see yoos try."
Staring at both the rabbit and dingo, she stares down at the little girl who was hiding behind the rabbit's leg.
"Fine! But one day you won't be there to protect her and that's when I'll see to it that she's fed to the wolves!"
Reaching into her bra she reveals a key.
"Oh and by the way. Claus is here. I know how much you LOVE his visits."
The Pooka's eyes widen.
"Wh-WHAT!? He's here? NOW!?"
"Yes, and I would suggest you behave this time, if you don't want to be left all bloody and beaten like the last time."
She slams the door leaving the pair alone with the girl.
The Dingo is the first to break the ice.
"Sorry mate. If yoos like, I know the missus is clear of tonight and can watch over the liddle ankle biter."
"Thanks Irwin."
Bending down he picks up the little girl and places her on his lap.
"Now Sophie, how many times have I told yoos not ta play in the hallway?"
The girl doesn't answer, her big beautiful green eyes fill with tears as she sobs into the rabbit's chest.
"Aww butterfly. Don't cry. You know I don't like it when yoos cry."
He gently pulls her away from his chest and looks her in the eye.
"It's because of that mean ugly bull am I right? Don't worry Soph. One day Poppa's gonna get us out of here and then yoos can play in a field of butterflies as long as yoos want with nobody tellin' you no."
Sobbing she picks up her head to meet his.
"Wi-willy?
"Yes, really."
He smiles down at her and gives her a soft peck on her forehead.
"Poppa's gotta work tonight sweetie. Yoos gonna be stayin' with Auntie Frita. You'd like that right?"
The girl protests and flops her head on his chest.
"No."
He laughs, it's not like she really had a choice.
"Come on now. Be a bonzer of a sheila and go with Uncle Irwin. I'll see yoos in the mornin'."
She pulls the rabbit into a hug, and he lovingly returns it.
With a kiss on her tiny forehead, the Pooka passes the girl over to the Dingo.
The Dingo was about to carry her out, but pauses and turns towards the Pooka.
"You be careful cobber. Hate ta keep her longer than necessary cause her Poppa chose to tongue lash at his maker. "
"You know me all too well Irwin. Send me love ta Frita and thank you."
He closes the door and begins to get ready.
North was in awe of the suite. Everything was exquisite. The bed was bigger than a king size. The sheets were made of silk and a beautiful shade of red. The pillows were lined with gold, and full of a lovely design that must have taken days to thread. The room smelled of fresh baked cookies, and by the bed stand was eggnog. Smiling, he walks over and pours himself a glass.
Taking a sip, he can instantly taste the alcohol.
"Whew! That's good!"
Taking another sip, he peers over to the door that has just opened.
His piercing blue eyes bulge.
A rabbit's foot steps in, soon follows the Pooka.
He sadly enters wearing a spiked dog collar, along with a red robe and red thong.
Shyly looking away, his ears are flattened back.
"Hello ."
With no warning an enormous laughter fills the room.
The Pooka's ears perk up. Looking up he sees North pounding the bed with one hand and holding his belly with the other.
"HAHAHA! BUNNY!? WHAT ARE YOU WEARING!?"
Taken aback and embarrassed, Bunny looks down at his attire, and then looks up a bit annoyed.
""What do yoos mean? You picked this out for me."
North couldn't help it. He couldn't stop laughing."
Rolling his eyes, Bunny walks over to the glass and takes a sniff.
"Are yoos rotten?"
"No! It's-It's just you look so silly! HAHAHA!"
He was trying to remain calm, but his Pooka pride was proving to get the best of him.
"Wha-what do yoos mean silly!? I'll have you know that it was you who picked out this absurd outfit so maybe it's you who's bein' silly!"
At that moment he wished he could take it back.
Stepping back, he presses himself up against the door.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean that !"
Wiping a tear, North gets up and pulls himself together.
"Sorry for what?"
Walking over to the rabbit, Bunny tenses as North raises a hand.
"Why are rabbits always so nervous?"
He playfully gives Bunny a pat in the cheek.
The rabbit was stunned by the gentle affection.
North returns to his eggnog.
Suddenly a realization hits North, putting down his glass he turns to face the Pooka.
"How did you get here?"
"Um…I walked over from my bedroom."
"No! How did you get to this world?"
Bunny gives the man a quizzical look.
"Well, my momma met my poppa and then they-"
"What? No! I mean THIS world!"
"I'm sorry . I honestly have nah idea what you're talkin' about."
Pushing for answers he asks a couple of more questions to assess the situation.
"Where are Tooth, Sandy and Jack?"
Finally! Answers he could answer.
"Oh! Tooth's probably residin' in her headquarters by the city. Sandy is buckerin' it up in some cargo area by the river and Jack is rumored ta be living it up underground along with his fellow bandits."
"Why?"
"Uh…No disrespect, but did you hit your head on something? You're the biggest mob boss out here. Tooth works for you, Sandy has been at war with you for the past 5 years after he betrayed you, and Jack has been on the run after stealing from your companies. He runs the biggest bandit mob out there."
Taking a seat, North takes in all this new found information. He didn't simply travel to another place, but he managed to travel to another dimension.
Peering up he makes eye contact with the Pooka.
"And you?"
The question seemed to hurt the rabbit.
"Me? I'm just a lonely Pooka tryin' ta make a livin' for both me and my daughter."
"Your daughter?"
He sadly nods his head.
Pouring another glass of eggnog he signals for the rabbit to sit next to him.
Nervous at first he, he does as he is told.
Taking a seat by the fireplace he removes himself of his prop wear.
Free of his costume, he takes the glass and sips from it.
North could simply tell by looking into Pooka's eyes that this wasn't his Bunny.
His eyes were filled with fear, and his body showed signs of years of abuse.
Looking down at his glass, the rabbit solemnly asks,
"You're really not him are yoos?"
"No."
"I can tell. He's never this nice. Only cruel."
He nearly jumps when North suddenly takes his hand. Shocked he looks up into ice blue eyes.
Reaching over, North brushes back a batch of fur from the bunny's head.
There was a huge scar running from the top of his head down to his cheek.
"I'm sorry."
Wincing his eyes shut, he gently takes North's hand and pulls it away.
"Not your fault."
Silence takes order of the room until North asks the Pooka for a favor.
"Bunny I need your help. I need to find a way to get back to my world."
Pondering for a solution, his ears begin to perk.
"The only person who could help you is the wizard Pitch."
"Pitch!?"
"Yea! I've heard stories that he was so powerful that had banished him. I don't have a clue of where he might be now though. Rumors has it that he resides somewhere by the Enchanted Forest."
"How do I get there?"
"You would talk ta Tooth. She knows everythin' about the city. It's her job to keep tabs of the place while you're away."
"Can you take me to her?"
"I'm sorry mate, but I can't."
"Why not?"
"See, I have an ankle biter of me own."
"You can take her with you."
"No, she's just a bite size. The travel-"
A sound of some type of disturbance right outside catches his attention.
Getting up Bunny rushes towards the door.
He opens it peeking his head outside.
He can clearly hear screeching coming from the lower level and smell smoke.
Looking over the banister, he sees black sand creatures destroying the place and killing whoever they could get their hands on.
"Sandy…"
North rushes out just in time to see the Pooka jump down to the lower level.
Looking back North sees a pair of swords.
Smiling he reaches over and takes hold of them
"Don't mind if I do."
Bunny looks around desperately trying to find a familiar face in the mayhem.
He sees a man slumped over in the ground under a beam, despite all the blood covering his face he knew exactly who that was.
"IRWIN!"
Rushing over he tries to lift the beam, but he was too weak.
"Aster, leave me. Frita…Sophie. They're downstairs."
He stops and solemnly takes his friend's hand.
"Irwin…thanks mate."
He was already gone.
A little girl's scream brings him back to reality.
"Sophie!"
Pushing through all the people he rushes down a flight of stairs.
At the end of the hallway lied Frita motionless, as a monster walks over towards the little girl.
She is screaming to the top of her lungs, with tears streaming down her face.
"SOPHIE!"
He runs at full speed leaping in the direction of the monster.
Slowly turning around, the monster is met with a kick to the face.
Seeing an opportunity, Bunny leaps over and grabs hold of the little girl.
He tucks her tightly in his arms and jumps into a nearby closet.
Closing it, he attempts to calm the little girl.
Sobbing uncontrollably she begins to grab patches of his fur in an attempt to clutch onto him.
"Sophie! Sophie. We're goin' ta play a game! I need yoos to close your eyes and hum Peter Cotton Tail. Can you do that for me? "
Pulling herself together, she can't help the hard sobs that came in between.
She sadly nods her head.
"That's my girl."
Looking around he finds a messenger bag.
"Might come in handy."
After quickly strapping on the bag and not wanting to waste anymore time, he grabs hold of his daughter.
Lifting her up, He holds her tightly as she buries her face in the crook of his neck.
"Ready?"
She gives a soft nod.
"Here we go!"
He burst through the door and quickly looks around. Two monsters detect his presence and run towards him.
"Crickey!"
He runs back towards the staircase to see North fighting off a couple of the sand demons.
He runs upstairs to help.
"Bunny!
"On it!"
Strategically he places Sophie down and rushes over.
Grabbing hold of a heavy vase, he throws it violently at the creatures head.
The now headless creature collapses turning into a pile of sand.
Running back the Pooka scoops up the girl and runs towards the window.
"Come on!"
He grabs a nearby table cloth and covers the frightened girl with it.
"Bunny what are you doing!?"
"Getting' outta here!"
He runs full speed only turning around in the last second so that his back made contact with the window. It explodes allowing the Pooka to fall through as he gracefully flipped around and land on his feet.
Taking note North follows.
He roughly lands by the Pooka and runs for cover.
The trio hides behind a couple of bushes and stare at the direction in front of them.
North couldn't believe that Sandy was responsible for all of this destruction and mayhem.
"I'll take yoos ta Tooth. If Pitch knows a way to brin' you back to where you came, he might be able to help me after all.
Sophie begins to cry again.
It was only then that North had noticed her.
Before he could ask, Bunny lifts the girl and walks away.
Taking a deep breath, North gets up and follows him.
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