Enter the Sandman
The walk to the river was both long and grueling.
Sophie had given up a long time ago, forcing the Bunny to carry her for the remainder of the way.
The journey was beginning to wear down the rabbit.
It didn't help that he was also responsible of caring for Sophie at the same time leaving no room for the Pooka to care for himself.
North could easily tell that the Pooka was exhausted.
Stopping, he takes hold of Bunny's arm.
"Give me her. I'll carry her for the rest of the way."
"Nah, it's alright mate. I got her."
Not letting go he coaxes the rabbit in handing over the sleeping child.
Taking a deep breath, he passes the girl over to the man.
"Fine…just make sure ta support her head and if she squirms yoos gotta -"
North couldn't help but laugh at how easily flustered the rabbit was getting with him just holding the little girl.
"Bunny! It's ok! You have to learn to know when to let go."
"Easy for yoos ta say! Wait til you have kids over your own! Then come back and lecture me on how I should be actin'."
"How are you going to be when she grows up and starts dating?"
"Da…datin'! ? Oh nah mate! No dating! Not until she's 21! No…30! Even then they're going ta have to get through me and I bet they never seen a rabbit like me before!"
North laughs along the path as he continues to bother the already flustered Pooka.
It felt as if they were walking endlessly and getting nowhere fast.
North makes the decision to make camp so that they could get some rest before venturing any further.
While making the fire, North would occasionally peek over to stare at the Pooka who was lovingly rocking the girl back and forth as he sang to her 'Peter Cotton Tail."
After several attempts he finally gets the fire going.
Standing up he sits by the rabbit.
Rubbing his hands, he places them by the fire to help warm himself up.
Taking a moment he uses this as an opportunity to further discuss with Bunny about what had happened back at the Catacombs.
"Why did you lie?"
"About?"
"Sophie."
"Come on mate. Bit of strong story ta be tellin' someone yoos just met don't you reckon? Honestly I thought it wasn't any concern of yours at the time that's all."
They've only been together for a short time, but North was finding himself caring more and more for the two.
Fiddling with his fingers he asks,
"Do you trust me?"
The question came off as offensive to the rabbit. Hasn't he already proven numerous times that he did?
"Of course! You reckon I bein' doing this just for the hell of it!?"
Regretting he asked, North pulls away from his questioning.
Ensuring that the girl was asleep, Bunny decides to play along.
"What's really wrong with you? Why are yoos asking me this all of a sudden?"
Embarrassed North clasps his hands together and get's up.
"It's nothing. We should go to sleep."
Walking away he lies by a tree and closes his eyes.
Feeling as though he had missed something, he looks over in North's direction before lying by a rock with Sophie and falling asleep himself.
Sometime that night, the fire had gone out.
The cold wakes North up.
Rubbing his eyes he looks over to notice that Bunny was shivering as he covered the girl with his own body to keep her warm.
Pondering for a moment, he gets up and sits right by the Pooka,
Careful in not waking them, he moves the rabbit over so that he was now resting his head under the man's chin and using his chest as a pillow.
Resting his head back against the rock North closes his eyes as he wraps his arm around the rabbit.
The rabbit slowly flickers his eyes open when he notices the sudden smell of cookies.
Confused, he looks up and is surprised to find himself in the arms of the other man.
Embarrassed, he takes a moment to get his thoughts together.
Without saying a word he smiles and proceeds to bury his face underneath the man's chin.
Peeking down, North smiles as he brushes the rabbit's ears back, placing a soft kiss on the Pooka's forehead.
Deep into the night the trio sleeps soundly underneath the trees.
The moon's light peered through the braches lighting the way for a butterfly making its way through the darkness.
The butterfly lit up with the intensity of a 100 lightning bugs.
Gracefully flying about, it would sparkle bits of sand along the way.
Flying by, it approaches the group landing ever so softly on Sophie's nose.
Tickling her, the girl flutters her eyes open to the surprise of a beautiful butterfly right there in front of her.
Giggling, she attempts to grab it only to have the butterfly flutter away from her grasps.
Flying away in the distance, Sophie is determined in catching it.
Not wanting to wake the Pooka, she carefully wiggles herself free from his grip and takes chase.
Unbeknownst to him, Bunny instinctively pulls North into a hug and buries himself deeper into the crook of the man's neck with the man lovingly returning the hug.
Running through the bushes the girl laughs as she draws closer to the magical butterfly.
Finally out of the forest, she stops when she nearly walks over a pit of sand.
Right in the middle of the pit was a single rose lit up by the moon's light.
The butterfly gently lands on the rose, as it continues to slowly close and open its wings enticing the girl to venture closer.
Sophie has hit one of those crossroads in her young life.
She knew better to know that she shouldn't venture off without her Poppa, but she wanted to catch the butterfly so bad.
Stretching, Bunny reaches down to make sure Sophie was covered and warm.
Patting around, he opens his eyes when he feels nothing.
"Sophie?"
Looking down his eyes widen at the sudden realization the she wasn't there.
"SHIT!"
He pounces off North and in a panic looks around for any signs of the girl.
"NORTH! North wake up!"
North's sleep is suddenly interrupted by all of the rabbit's shouting. He groggily replies,
"Wha…"
"Sophie's gone!"
This instantly wakes up the man, who quickly gets up to help the Pooka in finding her.
"WHAT!? How!?"
"She must've wondered off while we were sleepin'! SOPHIE! SOOOOOOPHIIIIIIEEEE!"
Stopping the rabbit perks up his ears.
Moving them around, he instantly stops them when they pick up the sound of a little girl laughing.
"There!"
He runs full speed leaving North behind.
"Bunny! WAIT!"
Everything was a blur.
By passing an endless sea of trees, he keeps running as the laughter grew louder.
A glow ahead catches his attention.
Picking up the pace he pushes pass a couple of bushes, before approaching to where the little girl might be.
"SOPH-CRICKEY!"
He nearly topples over when he unexpectedly stops right by the edge of the sandpit.
Stepping back he looks around to see the river before him was not an actual river but instead a river of sand.
"What the bloody hell?"
Sophie's laughter forces him to look up in her general direction.
There in the middle of the pit was Sophie edging closer towards the butterfly.
Just as she was about to grab the butterfly the Pooka shouts,
"SOPHIE! STOP!"
Stopping, she quickly turns and looks over to where the Pooka was standing.
North finally catches up and is just as shocked by the sight in front of him.
"Sandy."
He then looks over to where Bunny was looking; causing the man to gape in horror as the girl stood right there in the middle of Sandy's sandpit.
Laughing she happily points to the butterfly.
"Poppa! Pretty!"
"Yes…isn't she a beaut? Sophie I need yoos ta listen to me sweetheart. I need yoos ta come back over here were we are."
She pouts and proceeds to point at the butterfly as if she was trying to tell him that she wanted it.
"I know Sophie, and if yoos think that one's pretty wait till I show you the ones at the Warren! Those are real beauts, but you can only see those if you're a bonzer of a sheila and come here right now."
Biting her lip, she stares intently back at the butterfly.
"But Poppa-"
The butterfly turns and flutters away into the night sky.
Reaching out he stretches out his arm for her to grab hold of.
"Please."
Disappointed that the butterfly has left, she walks over to the bunny.
Breathing a sigh of relief he smiles.
"That's me girl."
But before she could make it to the other side, the floor begins to shake and crumble before them.
Falling to her knees, the girl finds it difficult to get back up.
The Pooka springs to action and hops over to her and grabs her.
"Gotcha!"
Just as he was about to jump to safety the floor underneath him collapses, dragging the pair into the darkness below.
North attempts to run after them, but instead loses his balance as the floor crumbles under his weight.
Giving weigh, he to falls into the unknown.
It was dark and everything hurt.
North painfully opens his eyes to find them in a room entirely made of sand.
He could hear Sophie crying in the distance.
Moaning, Bunny rolls over and presses a hand to his head.
"Ow."
Sitting up he gasps when he sees Sophie lying on her belly crying uncontrollably.
"Sophie…"
Screaming as tears run down her face, she looks around for her Poppa.
The screaming was ear piercing.
A white mouse in a little green uniform hops down from a stand and walks over to the girl.
Pulling out a small baton, he boops the girl in the nose.
"ENOUGH CHILD!"
This causes her to cry harder.
Just as the mouse was about to hit the girl again, he is instead welcomed by a kick from her father.
"Back off!"
Flying across the room, he flattens against the sandy walls.
Irritated, he kneels down to further investigate the girl's injuries.
A cut ran across her left temple as a bump began to form underneath it.
"Aww Butterfly. Don't cry. It's just a little bump."
Holding her, he cradles her in her arms.
The mouse slides off the wall and down to the floor. Rubbing his head, he angrily gets up and points a sword at the Pooka.
"How dare you! I Perez will not stand for such abuse!"
Pulling out a tiny sword he charges towards the pair.
"Like I said, bug off!"
Motioning his leg for another attack, he is surprised to find that he's unable to move it.
Looking down, he sees a hand made of sand taking hold of his leg.
Gasping, he quickly lets go of Sophie as he is violently flung across the room.
North rushes over to them in attempt to help his friend.
"Bunny!"
Suddenly a cage is formed around North.
Another hand grabs Sophie by the cuff of her neck dropping her into a huge empty hour glass.
The walls split open as a tiny orange figure walks out revealing his identity.
For the first time since being in this world, North wasn't surprised.
Frowing his eyebrows, North angrily growls,
"Sandy."
Walking by, Sandy effortlessly lifts a finger to form another hand.
His hands motion for it to wrap itself around the Pooka's neck and drag him front and center.
Pulling himself together the mouse walks over to where Sandy was standing.
Taking a proud stance he introduces himself.
"I am Perez! I will be Sandy's translator for the remainder of the evening."
His bow seemed out of place, considering the situation.
Tightening his grip, Bunny begins to gasp for air.
North grasps at the bars and shouts,
"Let them go Sandy! It's me you want!"
Turning his attention to the man, his eyes widen. He couldn't believe it. After all these years Kris Kringle was within his grasps.
His shocked looks quickly changes to a look of anger.
"What the hell are you doing here!?"
It was a bit weird having the mouse interpret Sandy's thoughts, but he had to admit that it made it a lot easier to understand him.
"I'm here to see Pitch."
Both the mouse and Sandy give the other a look.
The pair laugh, as North grew even more annoyed.
Wiping a tear, the mouse strolls over to North and points to him with his tiny sword accusingly.
"What business do you have with Pitch?"
"I need his help. I am not from here. I was told that he is the only one who can get me back to my world."
Speaking on his own behalf the mouse asks,
"You honestly think we're supposed to believe that!?"
Unimpressed Sandy crosses his arms.
The mouse resumes his translating duties.
"Sandy says that you better start explaining yourselves or things are about to go from bad to worst real quick."
"Like I said my business is with Pitch. I have no quarrels with you."
Smiling Sandy wiggles his hand in the direction of Sophie.
Sand begins to trickle into the hourglass, pouring over the girl as it seeped down to her level.
The mouse claps his hand and excitedly explains,
"You better hurry up before time runs out for you and your friends!"
"I'm telling the truth!"
Sandy removes the cage and holds North up by the neck.
Little images appear above too fast for the mouse to translate.
"He doesn't like being toyed with especially by you."
Taking his fist he pounds it menacingly at his hand.
"If it's a death wish you want it's a wish he'll happily grant!
Gasping for air, North retorts,
"You…want me? Come… and get me!"
Letting go of the hand grasping around his neck he reaches down and pulls out his sword.
Swinging it around he cuts the hand off and drops to the floor.
"Show me what you got Sandy!"
Forming a line of sand spikes, he flings it in North's general direction.
Seeing an opportunity, Bunny kicks up and elbow strikes the sand hand causing it to decimate.
Landing down, he runs across the walls dodging Sandy' attacks.
Pounding the glass, Sophie looks over to the Pooka for help.
"Poppa!"
"Hold on Butterfly! Poppa's coming!"
Reaching down he picks up a sand spike, and swings it like a bat directly towards the hour glass.
Before the spike could make contact, a sand hand takes hold of his torso flinging him across the room.
North strategically slashes at everything Sandy throws at him.
Snarling, Sandy raises his hands to form a huge ball of sand.
Striking down, the sand flattens and stretches with the intent to crush his nemesis.
Jumping up just in time to avert the attack North runs up towards Sandy.
"SANDY!"
Slashing forward his sword is welcomed by a wall of sand.
Meanwhile Sophie was trying her best by stepping up on the sand as it accumulated below her. She was inching closer to the top and with no room for her to escape she'll surely be killed.
Bunny bounces off the wall and races towards Sandy.
"NORTH!"
Nodding North throws his sword at Bunny who catches it gracefully.
Leaping forward he takes a stab at slashing down the Sandman himself, only to be greeted by a sea of sand.
Pinning the Pooka down to the ground, the sand begins to cover his body inch by inch.
Taking a gulp of air, his face is soon caked with sand.
Smiling, Sandy quickly turns around as North nearly strikes him down with his sword.
He was so close.
Sandy pauses as he feels something drip down his face.
Pressing a hand over his cheek, he is shocked to see blood covering it.
Striking up, North stares in awe as Sandy grabs hold of the sword by his bare hand.
The mouse hides behind the hourglass as he announces,
"Ohhhh you got him angry! You don't want to see him when he gets angry!"
An explosion of sand rips through the room creating a tidal wave effect.
The hourglass topples over, shattering as it makes contact with the floor.
The sand washes over the Pooka freeing him of its hold.
Coughing madly, he gasps for air that his lungs so desperately needed.
North stands his ground as Sandy sits a top of his massive sand wave waiting to strike down North and his team.
He makes eye contact with North who is holding on to the side of his ribs due to an injury he sustained from the previous attack.
Bunny rushes over and cradles the girl, wiping the sand off her face.
"Butterfly! You alright?"
She weakly looks up and moans.
Pressing his lips against her forehead, he soon realizes the problem.
"Aww Sophie…you have a fever."
Peering over North is pleased to see that both Bunny and Sophie were alright.
Not wanting to see them in any further danger, North steps up an makes Sandy a proposition.
"Sandy! You want a fight I'll give you one, but to be fair they're nothing but distractions. You and me! One on one! Right now!"
The idea intrigued him enough to consider it.
"He says that before you go and start a war you better know exactly what you're fighting for!"
"I do! It's for them!"
Throwing his sword he grasps the handle by one hand and flings it directly at Sandy.
The attack was enough for Sandy to agree.
He easily moves out of the way before raising the sand beneath Bunny and Sophie.
Not entirely comprehending on what was happening, Bunny shouts over to North,
"What are yoos doin'! ? You'll be killed!"
He doesn't look the rabbit in the eye. He simply replies.
"Take care of Sophie. I'll be there soon."
Sandy shoots up the pair back towards the surface.
"NORTH!"
It was just them now.
Raising a hand North waves for the Sandman to come over.
"Let's dance!"
An army of spikes peer behind Sandy.
Smiling he nods his head.
The spikes rain down on the man as he dodges each one.
Running by he picks up the sword Sandy had discarded earlier.
Turning around he throws the sword again in Sandy's general direction.
His sand easily swats the sword to the side.
Looking down North witnessed the sand reabsorbing itself in order to protect Sandy.
"What if…"
The sand attacks came none stop. Running at full speed, North continues to dodge and block each and every attack. With all eyes focused on North he runs back to where Sandy had discarded one of his swords earlier.
Standing right by it North shouts,
"Hey Sandy! Catch!"
Throwing his other sword, Sandy reabsorbs the sand in order to block the attack.
The sword ricochets off the wall of sand and drops to the ground.
The mouse gasps.
North watches intently at the sight above him.
With a look of shock Sandy glances down to see a sword going right through his heart.
He had accidently absorbed the discarded sword into the sand he attended to use to block North's attack with.
Floating down, all of his creations begin to collapse around them.
The mouse rushes over to Sandy's side.
"Sandy!"
It pained North to do it, but he had no choice.
Walking over he looks down to give his 'friend' a solemn look.
"Sandy…"
With a weak smile he motions for the mouse to translate.
The mouse was now in near tears as he attempts to translate Sandy's dying words with composure.
"He…sniffle…he says that he hasn't fought that way in years. It was good to have gone out this way. Thankfully it wasn't under Kris Kringle's hand. I wouldn't want to have given him that pleasure of watching me die. I knew the moment I saw you that you weren't him. There is a light in your eyes. Something we all lost a long time ago."
He winces clutching onto his chest. Despite being near death's door he continues.
"To get to Pitch, you're going to have to go through the Enchanted Forest. Only those with a heart of Gold can reach Pitch's lair. You'll know if you're headed in the right direction when you've find a small cabin resting on a hill top. That cabin used to be Pitch's and Kris' home. Very few people know this but they're brothers. When Kris began to hunger for power, Pitch appointed me as Guardian of this entryway. My job was to keep Kris at bay, preventing anybody planning to use Pitch's power for evil from getting through. After you reach the cabin, Pitch's lair isn't too far off, about a day's worth of travel."
In disbelief North slams his fist against a nearby wall.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner!?"
He smiles warmly at North.
"I had to make sure. I couldn't chance it. It's my job as a Guardian after all to protect and maintain the balance of this world. Good luck North…and goodbye."
His eyes shut as a glow begins to cover his motionless body.
The mouse steps away as Sandy's body dissolves into specks of gold.
Gathering together, they swirl around before shooting towards the sky.
Alone, the mouse removes his hat and sadly looks down with tears in his eyes.
"Bye Sandy."
Picking up his sword, North looks back at the mouse.
"Come, you travel with us now."
"What? Really?"
"Yes. Any friend of Sandy's is a friend of mine."
Perking his little ears he runs after North as they make their way back up to the surface.
WHEW! What a chapter! Hope you guys are enjoying it as much as I am! Please review! Love to know your thoughts. Thanks guys!