Author's Note: Just for the record, this is our interpretation of what happened to the Pooka race. Please do NOT be mean about this chapter. We did our best to write this and our interpretation may not be yours but we have our opinions and you have yours. We just don't want to feel bad because somebody decides to put a rude comment. This is going to be yet another two part story but we hope you enjoy it anyways.
P.S. The parts of the story will have different chapters but will still be part of the whole story. Enjoy!
Bunny snores softly, lost in peaceful sleep with the occasional twitch of the ear. That peaceful sleep was broken when a small mass decided to jump on him. "Daddy, daddy! Wake up! You promised I could help you with the eggs today!" Bunny grumbles and pushes the small body off of him. He sits up to find himself staring into small, green eyes. The smaller Pooka giggles. "Your fur is all messed up!" Bunny couldn't help but smile. "I wonder why, ya little ankle-biter." He ruffles the young one's ears, earning him a few giggles. "Alright, Arinya. Let's go eat breakfast before mum gets irritated." Bunny chuckles, making Arinya giggle as well. They walk into the little kitchen area to see a feast waiting for them. "Geez, Kala. You didn't need to make so much." A young, feminine Pooka huffs and crosses her arms. "Arinya is a growing boy and you need to eat to keep up your energy!" Kala glares at him, ears flat against her head. Bunny hops up to her and gives her a little nuzzle. "Alright, alright, calm down, would ya?" Kala rolls her eyes, but smiles nonetheless. "Just eat."
After they ate, Bunny, Arinya, and Kala went outside for a family outing. As they walked down the street something felt… weird. Bunny cautiously looked around while Kala and Arinya just kept walking, enjoying the beautiful morning. Arinya looked up at his father and looked at him curiously, "What's wrong? Do you not like us doing this anymore?" Bunny snapped out of his wariness and smiled at his son, "Why wouldn't like us going on family outings? It brings us closer together. Don't ya like that ya little kangaroo?" "Oh I do! It's just you look upset." Kala looked at Bunny when she heard this. Bunny waved his hands, "No, no. Everything's fine." When he smiled Kala looked at him, shooting him a, 'what's up? What is putting you on edge' look. "Everything is fine I assure you." Kala and Arinya shook it off and looked in front of themselves again. Bunny stayed wary though, he couldn't shake this feeling that something was very, very wrong. It seemed to be a quiet morning but this quiet was an eerie quiet to Bunny whether Kala and Arinya felt it or not.
Kala grabs Bunny's paw, pulling him out of his worry. "Come on, ya Gumby, everything's alright. You promised Arinya he could help with the eggs this year." She smiles, her blue eyes shining. Bunny's ears flatten in slight shame. "Sorry…something just doesn't sit well with me…" Kala's ear twitches. "It isn't my cooking is it?" She giggles, able to make fun of herself. Bunny chuckles and shakes his head. "No, it isn't that." Arinya hops up to them and tugs on his father's paw. "C'mon dad! Let's go decorate some eggs!" Kala looks at Bunny expectantly. Bunny puts on a small smile and let's Arinya drag him down the path. "Alright, ya kangaroo, slow down." Arinya looks at him, ears back in slight agitation. "'M not a kangaroo…" Bunny chuckles and pats his head. "It's what your name means though." The little Pooka huffs. "So? I'm a rabbit! Not a kangaroo!" Bunny rolls his eyes and ruffles Arinya's fur. "It fits ya though. You're stubborn like one."
As they reached the egg painting area Bunny handed a small paint brush to his son, "Now, this is very important. It's your instrument of art." "I know dad." Arinya laughed. When Arinya laughed it made Bunny's heart lighten. For a while Bunny, Kala, and Arinya laughed and smiled while they painted the delicate eggs, but Bunny's unease became greater and greater with each passing minute. After about an hour of painting eggs, Bunny's ears picked up a loud bang and a scream. His eyes widened and he turned to his family, "I want you to go home." The two looked at Bunny worriedly, "Why?" "Just listen to me. Go. Home. Now." Kala and Arinya stood up and walked away from Bunny. Arinya looked back at his father and saw him draw his boomerang from his back.
Kala had heard the same noises Bunny had and grabs her son's paw. "Arinya, we need to do as your father said. Come on." Arinya, whose hearing wasn't fully developed, was confused. "Mum, why is dad wielding his boomerang? He only does that when something's wrong…what's going on?" He looks up at Kala, fear in his eyes. Kala's ears flatten as she looks into her son's green eyes, so much like his father's. "I don't know Arinya…but we need to get home. Your father will be alright." They get down on all fours and run back to their house as fast as they could. Kala halts to a stop and sits on her haunches, ears forward and eyes filled with fear and disbelief. Their home was destroyed…completely flattened and smoldering. The whole area around them was demolished. Kala looks around frantically. Other Pookas were trying to fight off what looked like…humans. No human has ever been able to find them, so why now? And why are they attacking? Another Pooka quickly makes their way up to them. He was covered in soot and dirt with patches of dried blood. "Ya need ta get out of 'ere! There's humans crawlin' all over the place and they're not normal. They've been possessed by somethin'. Take your child and go!" He turns back around, running on all fours back to the battle.
Both Kala and Arinya's eyes were wide with fear as they got on all fours and ran to get out of the village. When they got close to the exit they came to an abrupt stop. In front of them were more possessed humans. Arinya looked at his mom tears welling in his eyes, "Mom, we're trapped!" Kala looked behind them and they were truly trapped! Possessed humans surrounded them. Slowly they got closer and closer to them, drawing their sharp weapons.
Bunny stood in the warren fending off the possessed humans coming towards him. He stopped as he heard two screams. One of a woman and the other of a child. He recognized them… His boomerang dropped from his hand and he fell to his knees. Tears made the fur around his eyes wet, "NOOOO!" More and more creams filled the air and soon the only sound was his breathing and the steps of the possessed humans. Bunny picked up his boomerang and in blind rage yelled, "I'LL KILL YOU ALL!" As he fought off as many humans as he could the humans unexpectedly stopped attacking and all at once they turned around and walked out of the warren. Bunny watched them leave and when every single person was gone he ran at any object and attacked with as much force he could throw out.
A dark laugh echoes across the silent warren. "Poor, poor Bunnymund. You're all alone now, just what I wanted. Did you enjoy my human puppets? Who knew they would be so easy to manipulate." Bunny glares and yells at the voice. "Who are you?! Why did you do this?!" The voice feigned sadness. "You mean you don't remember me? The one who controls the shadows and brings fear to everyone?" Bunny gasps, his fur standing on end. "Pitch…" The voice laughs again. "So you do remember me. As for your other question; I did it because I want you and everyone else to suffer the same fate I did. Which was filled with nothing but loneliness and darkness! So, Bunnymund, have fun in silence! Have fun in your suffering and loneliness!" The voice disappears, leaving Bunny alone. Bunny looks around at the warren. Shattered remains of eggs were strewn about, while ones that survived quickly ran to his side as if to comfort him. He sits down his haunches, ears drooped in sorrow. Tears pour from his eyes and quickly get captured by his fur. After what seems like hours, Bunny stands up, shooing the eggs out of his way and walks slowly up the path to the village. He comes up to a small clearing and sees two figures lying in the path. His heart started to race, tears coming back to his eyes. Bunny knew who they were…Kala and Arinya. He drops to his knees in front of them. Kala, his beautiful wife and best friend…Arinya, his son, his little kangaroo…taken from him. Bunny sits with them for a few hours in silence.
Only to make him feel even worse rain followed his sadness. For the only time in the history of the warren it rained… and not just rained. It poured. Bunny let out a loud cry of despair. Holding the ones he loved dearest in his arms. All he could feel was sorrow and pure anger. Although his sorrow over powered his anger, Bunny felt deep within his heart a hate larger than most anyone could feel towards Pitch. In his heart he vowed vengeance on Pitch. One day he will get his revenge and possibly even kill Pitch with his bare hands. He felt alone. He was alone. The only Pooka left in the world with no one to feel his pain, no one to help him, no one like him left. His world plunged into darkness. He had fallen into Pitch's dark abyss of pain and sorrow. Just as Pitch had wanted.