I know, I know. This update also took forever. I'M SORRY OKAY, REALLY! But finally I got this chapter done. I'm excited to continue on with Jack and Tooth's healing after this. Jack's healing process is obviously going to be a lot longer than Tooth's though. Oh and don't worry I didn't forget about Jamie, he'll be in the next chapter, as will Pitch. If you guys have any suggestions for the story, as always feel free to let me know about them! Oh and please review!
I'll try to update again soon. I'm on Spring Break so it will be easier now :)
It had been several hours since the mini fairies had gotten to work on collecting and moving the tooth boxes. Bunnymund sat there patiently, impressed at the little creatures as they moved in swarms around the palace's tall towers. It was amazing to the pooka how organized they could be even with their large numbers.
A heavy sigh escaped from him as he stretched his legs out; if the circumstances were different he would have gladly taken a nap, the warm climate of the tooth palace would be enough to put anyone to sleep, and the soft breeze that brushed against his fur every so often definitely wasn't helping.
Unfortunately the circumstances wouldn't allow for a nap, no matter how much he wanted one. It was a good thing he was a Guardian or else he would have fallen asleep way before now.
The Easter spirit waited patiently for hours, getting up every so often so that he could stay alert. It wasn't until the sun started to set over the horizon that a rogue mini fairy finally zoomed down to him.
Upon seeing her Bunnymund stood to his feet, stretching his body out in an effort to become alert once more.
"You guys ready to go?" He asked as he stretched his arms high above his head.
A series of energetic chirps confirmed that the answer was yes.
"Alright then, I'll open up a tunnel that leads to the Pole, gather up the others and meet me back here."
The little fairy nodded with a determined look on her face before turning and flying off towards the swarm above.
The Guardian of Hope turned his attention to the ground, after a quick tap of his foot, a massive hole opened up, one large enough to move the amount of tooth boxes and mini fairies that were housed here.
Soon his ears were overwhelmed with the flittering of the mini fairies wings as they hovered above him, waiting for further instructions.
"Alright sheilas, just head down that tunnel and follow the path, it'll be a straight shot all the way to the pole, once you get there North will tell ya where you can put the tooth boxes." Bunnymund said before a mass of worried chirps assailed his ears.
He didn't have to guess as to what the fairies were worried about.
"You'll be able to see Tooth and Jack soon too, but not until they get some recovery time alright?" He told them, using the gentlest tone he could muster. The fairies' statures drooped considerably as they were given the news that they would have to wait, but soon they pulled themselves together and made their way down into the massive tunnel.
A sigh of relief escaped Bunnymund as he watched the fairies dive down into the tunnel, carrying the tooth boxes along with them.
They were lucky that Pitch hadn't attacked, if another group of fearlings had shown up while they were gathering the tooth boxes, Bunnymund wasn't sure if he would have been able to hold them off, not after fighting nearly nonstop for days, plus he didn't even have the stone MiM had given them for protection.
More than once he had tricked himself into thinking he'd heard the thunderous clopping of hooves, or the low feral grows of the Nightmare King's newest creations, only for it to turn out to be all in his head. He didn't like to admit it but they were all truly vulnerable right now.
After the last of the mini fairies disappeared into the ground below, Bunnymund turned and gave one last look at the now eerily empty tooth palace, making a silent promise that it would soon be up and running like usual again, that they would save themselves and the children of the world once more.
Turning back towards the ground Bunnymund dove into the tunnel, leaving the tooth palace completely silent.
As soon as they arrived at the Pole, North was there to meet them, a wide grin on his face. Considering their current circumstances, Bunnymund was confused as to what could be making North so excited, that was until he was quickly dragged to one of the windows and shown what Manny had done. Bunny had the urge to rub his eyes to make sure what he was seeing was real and not his eyes playing tricks on him.
"Isn't it amazing? I knew Manny would pull through!" North laughed as he gestured excitedly at the newest addition to the pole, a fluorescent blue shield. Slowly the Easter spirit and the mini fairies hovering around him smiled as well, enthralled by the power around the pole that now protected them from fearlings.
"So we're really safe here?" Bunny asked, still not quite believing what his eyes were seeing.
North smiled again softly, "yes, I believe Manny has bought us the time that we needed. We're going to be fine. I can feel it…"
Bunnymund rolled his eyes, as he knew what was to come after those words.
"…In my belly." North chortled as he grasped his stomach for further emphasis.
"Yeah yeah, mate." Bunnymund chuckled before realizing that they still had work to be done.
"North, where do you want to house the tooth boxes and the little sheilas to stay?"
North turned immediately to face the thousands of fairies now hovering about in the grand hall. "Ah yes, I've already got that sorted out. Come little ones, I show you where to stay."
"Do you need any help mate?" Bunnymund questioned.
"No, no, you go to infirmary. I'll be there as soon as I can." North responded as he led the mini fairies carrying their tooth boxes out of the Grand Hall and out of sight.
Bunnymund wasted no time in hopping quickly through the workshop and through that route that led to the infirmary door. Once there, he hesitated a moment, his paw hovering over the door handle. He was trying to swallow the guilt that now flowed within him, as he knew what he would see when he went through those doors. Jack…
Bunnymund let himself lean heavily against the wood, a heavy sigh passing through his nose as he fought to calm the swell of emotions that were making it so hard to simply walk through the door.
Jack was like this because of him, he had broken his promise to keep him safe from harm. He had failed Jack, and worse yet, they still didn't know to what extent the torture had been taken. Nobody knew where Jack was psychologically, and god knows what had happened to him during those nightmares he'd been having.
The pooka's paw tightened into a fist as the memories of the winter spirit thrashing in his bed flashed in his head like lighting.
Could he do this? Could he stand to walk into that room again? He nearly made the decision to turn around and leave when North's voice tore him away from his thoughts. He hadn't even realized he'd been standing by the door that long.
"Bunny, what are you doing? What is wrong?" North asked, genuine concern coating his words.
Bunnymund flinched before standing up straight again. "It's nothing, I'm just…" a deafening silence filled the air as the pooka struggled for the right words to say. North watched intently, waiting, time continued to slip away without a word escaping from the pooka's mouth.
"Whatever it is that you are feeling right now, friend, let it go. Tooth and Jack need us, both of us." North reached out and placed a hand on the Easter spirit's shoulder, offering comfort.
He was completely taken off guard when the pooka finally glanced at him. His eyes were misted over with tears, none had fell, but they were there. North's features softened further before he decided to speak again.
"Come, I'll go in first." North said softly as he let his hand fall away from the pooka and reach for the handle to the infirmary.
Bunnymund still hesitated as North opened the door and walked through. It took all he head to turn himself around and follow. As his eyes scanned the room, the hurt he knew he would feel came crashing down on him, reminding him of the reality they were stuck in.
North quietly observed the room, Tooth and Jack both laid in their beds, breathing rhythmically as golden dreamsand floated above them. Sandy quickly turned and gave them a warm smile before returning to sending dreams to the world's children. Father Christmas grabbed two chairs and set them up in front of the infirmary beds Jack and Tooth were lying in.
"Here, Bunny, sit." North said as he patted the empty chair next to him. Bunnymund did as North suggested and sat down, immediately slouching over as he let his eyes observe his injured friends.
"You may not believe it now Bunny, but I know we will all get through this." North said as he too watched the two healing Guardians sleep. "I know Jack's been through hell, but he has survived on his own for 300 years. He can surely come back from this."
Bunnymund tensed visibly before he decided to respond. "He had a nightmare barely hours after we got him back here…"
"What?" North asked.
"He had a nightmare, and it wasn't ordinary, he was thrashing around in the bed, crying in his sleep. Whatever the hell he was dreaming about, it was enough to have him in hysterics for a good thirty minutes after he woke up." Bunny said almost angrily. North didn't respond, but instead waiting for the Guardian of Hope to continue.
"I'm worried, worried about what's been going on in those nightmares of his. I'm worried… about what they've might of done to him mentally."
North let out a heavy breath as the pooka finally shared some of his concerns with him, though he knew that wasn't everything, but he wouldn't push it right now.
"We will deal with that in time as well, but good news is, is that Sandy can now protect him from that. We will have to see what Jack will be willing to tell us over time. But Bunny, he won't be hurt again. I won't allow it. We will fight against Pitch. Not Jack, Jack is done fighting this fight. All we can do now, is give our friends time to heal. " North said firmly.
Bunnymund sat there, now looking at the floorboards beneath him, not wanting to talk anymore…