No I do not own ROTG…and probably never will….
Here it is! The uber long, final installment of POOKA JACK! Enjoy, and don't forget to review about what you thought about how it ended!
Jack slowly came to, his head throbbing from the immense headache battering him from the inside out behind his eyeballs, and a soft groan escaped his lips as he strained to lift his body off the cold stone floor. A scream of pain wrenched itself from his throat as he moved the leg that he now discovered was broken, and the boy turned rabbit collapsed back onto the floor, his chest heaving as he gasped in pain. Opening his eyes, the former sprite looked around him, his blue eyes taking in every detail. He was in a room, chained to the wall, with on door made of glistening black iron bars. Leaning against the wall Jack thought back, struggling to remember how he and Bunny had been captured, and brought down to Pitch's lair against their will.
Pitch merely glared down at them, his evil grin widening to show pointy teeth before he barked;
"Get them!"
"With pleasure!" Chikashi snarled as he ran down the hill accompanied by over a dozen nightmares.
Jack twirled his staff, his eyes on the enemy running towards them, and Bunny jabbed the young Pooka with an elbow "Oi, snowflake…"
"What?" Jack grunted as he took his fighting stance.
"Bet I can knock Chikashi off his high horse before you"
Jack let out a snort at Bunny's challenge "We'll see about that Kangaroo!"
Aster barked out a laugh as he dove forward and began pummeling nightmares around him "You say that now mate," he chuckled as he neatly exploded two nightmares at once "but if I'm a kangaroo, then that makes YOU a Joey!"
"What's a Joey?" Jack asked ducking and weaving between nightmares as his staff whirled around him causing each one to explode into black dust.
"A baby Kangaroo!"
"HEY!" Jack yelled indignantly his face taking on an endearing pout as he leapt high in the air and slammed his foot into a nightmare's face.
Aster paused for a moment, catching a boomerang in one paw, and giving Jack an impressed smile "Hey! That wasn't a bad move!"
"Thanks!" Jack panted "Some old rabbit with an egg obsession taught me that."
"Sounds like a pretty hardcore guy," the older rabbit grinned "I think I'd like to meet him!"
The boy turned Pooka laughed gaily sidestepping one nightmare and slamming another to the ground "Let me warn you, he's a tad grumpy!"
Bunny guffawed before stopping in his movements and pinning his young friend with a playful glare "I am not!" he exclaimed.
"Are too!" Jack crowed.
"Are not!"
"Yeah…you are…"
Chikashi watched the two banter, his eyebrow twitching in aggravation before he finally screeched "Will you two stop ignoring me?!"
Jack and Bunny looked over at the fuming trickster, the former winter spirit melting into a round of giggles "Sorry Chick, I forgot you were even here."
"You arrogant, self centered, worthless piece…" Chikashi snarled "Don't give me nicknames!"
"Oi, no reason for name callin'," Bunny rebuked his paws flying as he destroyed nightmare after nightmare "besides, ya can't really blame the kid for yer lack of presence."
"My…" Chikashi stopped his face going blank and jaw dropping at the Pooka's words "My lack…of presence?"
"Yeah," Jack shrugged before flying into a spinning kick that demolished several Nightmares "you can be in the room, but I can't help it if I don't notice you. You should try being more true to yourself, and not hiding behind other people begging for approval."
"Nice kick!" Bunny shouted ducked before dealing out a devastating uppercut to the ebony equine.
"Thanks!" Jack replied and he ducked and rolled along the ground avoiding flint hooves.
"You want to notice me; you want me to make you acknowledge my presence…?" Chikashi growled his clenched fists held in front of a twisted grimace etched with unbridled fury before screaming "How about I show you what I'm capable of?!"
Suddenly the native American spirit flung his hands into the air, his face contorting and shifting into a macabre mask full of darkness and death. His jaw stretched as his mouth grew dark and his teeth sharpened into points, and green venom with smoke flowing off dripped from each gleaming canine. With a voice that sounded like the rumblings of a long dead demon, the trickster began to chant an ancient spell, flinging both Bunny and Jack into perpetual darkness.
Aster stood in an endless void, blackness surrounding him, and his heart beat wildly in his chest as he whirled around in all directions straining to see anything that could lead him out of his current situation. "Jack?" he yelled tremulously "Jackie, are ya there mate?"
"Bunny….Bunny…"
The rabbit turned, hearing Jack's voice and ran further into the dark "Jack! I'm right here Snowflake, where are ya?"
"Bunny…help!"
"I'm coming Jackie, just hang on!"
Running farther and farther, Bunny finally saw a speck of light grow into the entrance of a cave, with a field beyond. Stepping out of the cave into the open air, Bunny was shocked to see the bodies of the guardians lying on the ground, broken and bleeding…Dead. Turning around, the rabbit saw Jack in his human body lying on the ice of his lake, a large gash in his stomach and blood staining his pale lips. Hopping to his side at a sprint, the Pooka cradled the boy's head in his arms, tears leaking out in distress over Jack's condition.
"Frostbite…" he gasped "What happened, last I remember we were in the warren, I don't understand."
"You…" Jack coughed weakly "You left…why did you leave me?"
"What do you mean I left," Aster spluttered "We were attacked, Chikashi did some mojo on us, and we were sucked in, I never left ya, not even for a second."
"You abandoned me," Jack sobbed "we were helpless, and you left us to die."
"No…No I didn't!" Bunny cried trying to gather the child into his arms "I'm right here, no one is dead, this is just a whammy that Chikashi pulled. We're all gonna be fine!"
Jack opened his mouth to answer, but a frightening rattle shook in the base of his throat, and then the blue eyes dulled and rolled in the back of his head, the winter spirit's body growing impossibly limp and heavy. Aster felt his heart speed up at an erratic speed as he watched the blood from Jack's lips slowly trickle down his cheek and drip onto his paw. His chest heaving, the Pooka felt himself begin to hyperventilate as he fell into a panic attack. Holding the child close, the Easter Bunny shook him, first with a gentle jostle and then a hard shake.
"Jack! Jackie! Please Jack, ya gotta wake up mate," Bunny wept "P-please, ya need to open yer eyes Snowflake. J-jack? Frostbite….Please…don't leave me here alone…JACK!"
"….Bunny…?"
Aster whirled around at the feminine voice, and his breath caught in his throat "Sabine?"
A female Pooka stood, her pure white outline backed by the blood red sun setting behind the mountains, her purple eyes narrow with confusion and hurt "what did you do to our son?"
Turning back around Bunny gaped at the dead body he had been holding, now in the form of the white Pooka that Jack had been turned into "I….I…I don't understand…This shouldn't be happening."
"A lot of things should not have happened," Sabine whispered as a breeze kicked up and ruffled her fur sending the lavender stripes dancing across her form "but they happened nonetheless. You abandoned us, abandoned me, you left us to die, and now the boy you see as a replacement for the children we could never have lays dead in your arms…just like everyone else you have ever cared for. You're poison Aster, and you know it… You alone are the cause for the suffering of those around you, and you do not deserve to be the Guardian of Hope, not when you have so little of it for yourself."
"S-Sabine," Bunny gasped his vision growing spotty from the lack of air entering his lungs due to hyperventilation "P-please, I-I didn't mean to…It's not my fault…PLEASE!"
…..
"Bunny?" Jack called "BUNNY!"
Nothing…
"Come on Kangaroo," the former spirit whined stomping his foot in irritation "SAY SOMETHING!"
Suddenly the darkness folded back, and Jack found himself in the middle of a crowded street. Looking down, the boy realized that he was back in his old body, and his staff was missing. Whirling around, Jack saw countless people on every side, each one passing through him causing the familiar pain to shoot through his body. The winter sprite shook his head, no he could handle this, and after all he still had Jamie right? Unable to fly without his staff, Jack jumped up and down, trying to find his first believer, and finally caught sight of him outside of a nearby store. Running through the masses, Jack reached out to grab Jamie's shoulder, but felt a horrified gasp spring from his lips when the pale hand went through.
"J-Jamie," Jack asked hoarsely as his chest began to heave in panic "Jamie, c-come on buddy, it's me Jack….JAMIE!"
Nothing…Jamie merely turned around and went right through him…Leaving Jack a huddled mass on the sidewalk.
"No….Nonononono…" the winter spirit moaned as he softly began to rock back and forth "This…it isn't happening…It CAN'T be happening!"
Standing back up, Jack raced down the street, his face a permanent wince as person after person walked through him, and tears streaming down his cheeks as panic turned his face an even whiter shade of pale. He ran like that for a good ten minutes before finally catching sight of the guardians. Why they were out and about on the street in the middle of the day, Jack didn't know nor care, all he wanted was for someone to acknowledge his existence. Running up to them, he pasted on his biggest smile, and wiped his face free of tears.
"North!" he whooped "Tooth, Sandy, Bunny!"
None of the four even twitched, acting as if they had never heard him, and Jack walked up in front of them waving his arms "Guys?" he panted eyes wide in fear "North? Tooth? … Sandy?"
Whirling around, the boy looked at the large Pooka, stumbling as he struggled to keep up with them as they walked alongside the huddled masses "Bunny," the word came out as a choked sob "Come on Kangaroo, look at me…"
Still nothing, and Jack felt his heart begin to crack. Stretching his arms out, he launched himself at the group, attempting to grab someone, anyone, who would speak to him. "Somebody LOOK AT ME!" he cried in a broken scream.
But just as it was with everyone else… He passed through them.
With desperate hands, the boy reached and swiped, his hands passing through his family. Countless times he tried to stop them, and each time the guardians passed through him, until finally Jack lay on the sidewalk, his heart shattered and trampled, weeping in wrenching broken sobs.
Jack grimaced as he was brought back to reality. However Chikashi had put that whammy on him, he certainly had his facts straight on how to hit him below the belt. The boy only knew that it had to have been during that horrible nightmare created by their enemy that he and Bunny were taken prisoner. Jack felt his heart seize with fear as he wondered what Bunny saw, the winter sprite knew that his vision was his deepest fear made real, and the child could only hope that Bunny was ok. Right at that moment though, all Jack wanted to do was go back to the warrens where he felt safe. But he wasn't sure how they would escape, and to be honest, his heart felt too bruised to try. He was scared, worried that it wasn't really just a nightmare and the guardians had really forgotten about him, that he was invisible. He couldn't handle it if that were true, and Jack didn't feel strong enough to check.
"Jack….Jack, can you hear me mate?"
The former winter spirit's ears twitched at the familiar voice, though something about it sounded off, almost…broken.
"Bunny?" Jack responded in a hoarse voice "Is that you?"
"Oh thank God…" the Aussie nearly wept "I'm comin', just keep talkin' Snowflake, I'll find ya!"
Shifting his good leg beneath him, the younger Pooka slowly stood, his broken leg dragging along the floor awkwardly. The chains connected to his wrists rattled as he tested out their hold to the stone. With Bunny's help, he might get out by pulling the chains free of the wall, but he wouldn't know until the Pooka got here. Turning his head, Jack continued a steady stream of words, slowly guiding Aster to his location until he finally saw the guardian of Hope standing outside his cell door. At least, it looked like the guardian, but there was something different about him that made Jack pause.
"Bunny?" the former winter sprite asked hesitantly.
"Yeah mate?" Bunny gave a weak smile as he opened the door.
"You ok?"
"Huh?" Aster quickly directed his eyes away from Jack "Yeah, I-I'm fine…nothing's wrong."
Jack examined the Pooka as Bunny went about pulling the chain from the wall. There was something…off about the guardian, almost like he had become…duller. His emerald eyes had lost their shine, and his coat was lacking its usual gloss. Jack knew that their imprisonment could very easily be the cause for the state of his fur, but he could not deny the fact that something within him squirmed in discomfort, something was very wrong with his friend. Blue eyes narrow with worry, Jack leaned forward, and softly snuffled Bunny's head, nudging it with his muzzle. Aster looked back at him, his face etched with confusion, before once again quickly looking away his ears drooping to the back of his head.
"Bunny…" Jack said softly "I don't think everything is ok, something's wrong."
"No there isn't…" Bunny grunted as he gave one final pull his eyes watching the chains fall to the floor.
"Yeah," the former winter spirit sighed "there is."
"And I'm tellin' ya Snowflake" the rabbit snapped "that there isn't, so lay off!"
Jack's ears dropped to the back of his head in hurt silence as he regarded the Easter Bunny. In truth, the teen knew what Aster was feeling, knew what it felt like to want to hide a problem from everyone else for fear of what might happen. But he had no idea how to help the Pooka, or how to even broach the topic with him, all he knew was that something was wrong and it made Jack nervous…even a tad scared. Heaving a heavy sigh, the former winter spirit hobbled over to the wall, his leg held up as he leaned against a weak paw. He had a feeling that it had something to do with the vision that Chikashi cast on him, something that Jack felt he wasn't truly ready to speak with Bunny about, and he feared for what horrible nightmare his friend had been forced to live through.
Remembering the vision, Jack repressed a shudder and then cast his eyes back to the troubled form of the Guardian of Hope "So…uh…what next?"
"We get out of here, that's what," Bunny growled as he looped one of the younger guardian's arms around his neck and helped him in a slow but steady walk out of the cell into the bleak hallway "and then I drop you off at North's."
"Wait…WHAT?!" Jack exclaimed his surprise nearly making the pair stumble.
"Ya heard me Snowflake," the rabbit retorted, his emerald eyes never leaving the path in front of them "The warren isn't a good place for ya, the Pole has better defenses, and North is better suited for the task of takin' care of ya."
Blue eyes full of hurt narrowed with confusion "That's a lie and you know it, North left me with you, and I want to stay in the warren."
"No ya don't…" the Pooka gave a grieved sigh.
"How do you know what I want?" Jack spat roughly pushing himself away and limping to the side of the hallway before casting azure eyes wet with hurt and icy with fear on the larger Pooka "Or is it…" he asked in a trembling voice "You just don't want me there anymore, and you want to get rid of me?"
"What?" Aster gasped in genuine shock.
"That's it, isn't it?" Jack asked, his eyes becoming filled with tears as memories of the horrible nightmare he endured flashed back to the forefront of his mind.
"NO!"
"Then why?!" the former sprite snarled in agony as tears began a slow trek down their cheeks "I finally get a family, finally remember what it was like to have a dad, and you just want to pawn me off on North because…because….you're sick of me? Because I'm not good enough?"
"T-that's not true!" Aster stammered.
"Then what is the truth?" Jack asked in a broken sob "Because honestly, I thought that after remembering the time as a baby, and the time we spent together, I thought THAT was the truth, but obviously I was wrong!"
"No, you're not," Bunny attempted to placate "all of that is true, and I care about ya."
"Then why….?" The boy asked quietly his ears drooping with sorrow "Why can't I stay?"
Bunny's mind reeled as he frantically searched for the words to explain why he no longer wished Jack to stay in the Warrens "Because…" he said weakly "I…I'm just…I'm not…"
"You know what?" Jack snapped his eyes suddenly dry and flaring with anger "Stop trying to tell me more lies, I'm tired of being ignored, and passed over…Whatever, I give up."
Aster watched Jack limp down the hall in slack jawed shock one paw reaching out to the forlorn figure "Jack, please…"
The former winter spirit paused long enough to let out a soft sigh before once again continuing his slow progress towards what he hoped would lead to an exit. Aster collapsed against the cold stone wall before sliding down to the floor, his paws coming up to grip the fur on his head as he realized that he had yet again betrayed and hurt Jack by driving him away, and wondered whether he even deserved to try and call him back. Jack just kept walking down the hallway, his own mind swimming with thoughts of whether he would ever have a family of his own, and if he would ever be valuable enough to be allowed to stay in it.
…..
Baby tooth flew for all she was worth back to Tooth Palace, her miniature wings humming with the urgency she felt as he increased her speed to get back home to Toothiana. Just hours previous she had been going down to check on Bunny and Jack to see how their favorite winter spirit was faring as a Pooka, but she arrived just as Chikashi and Pitch began their assault on the duo. Baby Tooth wanted to help, but she knew that if things went south, she would be a much more valuable asset as a messenger. And so as soon as she saw Chikashi throw a dark spell on the guardians of hope and fun, the small fairy took off for home, her heart beating wildly in fear for the lives of her two friends. With the Tooth Palace in view, Baby Tooth used her last burst of energy propelling herself to Toothiana, and the other guardians in search of their immediate help in rescuing Jack and Aster from the clutches of their enemy.
…
Pitch threw back his head and laughed, watching the image that Chikashi had created showing the current circumstance of their foes. Bunny was curled up in a grieving ball of insecurity and fear that he was nothing more than poison that would destroy any family member he held dear. While Jack was walking aimlessly, his leg useless, and his eyes streaming with tears as he felt the icy cold grip of loneliness and abandonment wrap him in their crushing chains. It was all too wonderful for the Boogeyman, and he could barely restrain the childish whoop of joy that wanted to burst forth from his lungs. Chikashi too was beside himself with joy at their current situation, his dark eyes alight with glee as he gazed into the glowing sphere hovering over his hand.
"Come on Pitch," the trickster cackled "all they need is just one more push, just one more nudge before they are lost for all eternity. Hope is almost completely snuffed out from the rabbit, and I think that Jack is teetering on the edge of giving up entirely."
Pitch cast a slow smile that resembled a cat gazing at a caged canary over to the Native American spirit "True, but let's not rush things, like you said before we want to see them suffer, and I don't think they have gone through nearly enough…not yet at least."
"I'm not against the idea," Chikashi sneered his face stretching with his own feline grin "what do you have in mind?"
Pitch felt a bubble of evil laughter spring from lips as he once again cast his eyes to the sphere showing the two guardians "Let's see…" he purred before all went pitch black.
….
Jack made his way from the hallway into a wide open room, his eyes downcast, and his heart aching from the conversation he had had with Aster. He was so tired of being passed through, of being forgotten, and discarded like yesterdays trash. For three hundred years had been ignored, and now that he had become a guardian, Jack had hoped that things had changed. Heaving a heavy sigh, the former winter spirit felt his shoulders droop even lower as depression weighed him down, unfortunately things had not changed and the boy wished that he never allowed himself to hope.
Limping into the center of the room towards a door that he hoped lead outside, Jack let out a startled yelp when suddenly black bars sprang up around him and entrapped him in a narrow cage. His eyes wide with fear and sudden panic bursting in his chest, causing him to begin battering against the ebony steel, his white paws a flurry of activity as he pounded and rattled against the object of his incarceration. In the midst of his efforts towards escape, a long loud laugh sounded behind him, making the white Pooka whirl around unsteadily on his good leg, wide blue eyes searching for the source of the chilling sound mocking his current situation. Pitch slowly melted from the shadows, his face wreathed in a wide grin as his cold eyes examined his newly caught prey.
"Well, well, well…." He sneered "look what I seem to have caught in my hutch, an oversized bunny, and not just any bunny but the infamous winter spirit known as Jack Frost!"
Legs trembling, and heart beating wildly in fear, Jack feigned a careless attitude by rolling his eyes "Well, well, well," he mocked "If it isn't the washed up cry baby, formerly known as the Boogeyman."
"I would suggest that you hold back on the insults Jackie," Pitch spat his face twisted into a visage of fury "especially considering that I have you in a situation that is less than favorable for your health."
"Oh. My!" Jack sighed dramatically one sarcastic paw resting on his brow as if he were to swoon "I'm being held captive by the guy I beat the snot out of, someone…save me…"
A snarl of rage escaped Pitch's lips before his features smoothed and he leaned back with a somewhat serene smile, an action that made Jack tense his senses spinning with anxiety "Go ahead and put up the brave front Jack," the dark spirit practically purred "because that is all it is, an act, and I'm not falling for it."
"I have no reason to fear you…" the former winter spirit quavered unconvincingly.
"Maybe," The Boogeyman shrugged "but you do have some very real reasons, for some very real fears. Such as…oh what was it? Oh yes, everyone forgetting that you even exist, including the very people who you view as family."
Jack opened his mouth to argue with his nemesis, but his voice failed him as his mind blanked, leaving the white Pooka to stare miserably at the floor nibbling anxiously on his bottom lip. Pitch merely cackled at the win in making Jack Frost speechless.
"See?" he said his hands spreading apart as if he had just solved a great mystery "Even you cannot deny this fear, and it's very real grip on your heart. You fear being forgotten, passed through, by your family…or at least the people you thought were your family…turns out you were wrong, huh?"
Tears stung the azure eyes, and Jack wilted at the words spoken to him through the bars currently holding him captive "…They are my family…" he whimpered weakly.
"Bunny doesn't seem to think so…" Pitch murmured as he picked at his nails casually.
"THAT'S…" Jack bellowed before wilting even further and sliding down the bars to sit on the ground in a small trembling ball his voice reduced to a quivering whisper "…That's not true…"
"Isn't it?" The dark man hissed "He is the one who used you, lied to you, and then wanted to dump you off at the Pole; and when you demanded an answer, he couldn't even tell you the truth of what he really thought."
Jack reached up and gripped his ears, pulling them low so as to block out the sound of Pitch's voice "…Stop…" he whimpered "…It's not true…"
"And North?" Pitch continued his tirade, arms waving dramatically "He didn't even try to help, all he did was dump you off at the Warren with only a note to show he had been there. Some family, when you need them most, they are too busy trying to pawn you off on everyone else so that they don't have to be involved with something so obviously not worth their time. Where have Tooth and Sandman been? Have they even visited you? Didn't think so…like I said…You are not viewed as important enough to interrupt their schedule; they don't think you are worth the trouble to go out of their way to help."
Tears streamed down Jack's face as he huddled into himself in a tight ball "Shut up" he sobbed as a heavy weight began to suffocate him and a sharp pain stabbed him in the heart "I don't want to hear."
"Oh no Jack," Pitch smiled maliciously "you will hear, and by the time I'm done talking everything that ever made you a guardian will be broken and shattered, just like your little family."
Peeking up, wide azure eyes watched as Pitch leaned in closer and opened his mouth to continue his horrible speech; but just as he was about to begin, a loud booming voice bellowed down the hall and into the room.
"JACKIE!"
Bunnymund hopped towards the caged Pooka, his heart thudding in his chest as he examined the situation that lay before him. Just ten or so minutes before he had been sitting in the hallway, wondering where he had gone wrong, when suddenly the faint whisper of voices drifted down the corridor and into his ears. Jack's voice…and Pitch. It was in that moment that Aster had decided to set aside the personal feeling ravaging his heart, and run to the winter sprite's side with the intention of helping him. He was glad that he had, because judging by the looks of things, Jack needed all the help he could get.
"Jack, I'm right here mate" the Pooka said in as confident a tone that he could muster "we'll get out of this."
Pitch let out a snort loaded with derision as he casually floated up and lounged across the top of the cage "This coming from the guy who was just trying to get rid of you, how sweet, he's come to rescue you Jack just so that he can throw you away later."
"You shut up!" Bunny snarled as he saw the wince flash across the winter spirit's face at the words spoken by the Boogeyman "That's not the case, and Jackie here knows it."
"Does he?" Pitch asked in monotone "Because it looks like to me that you were awfully anxious to get rid of him not even an hour ago."
"I was not trying ta get rid of him!"
"Then what," the dark spirit asked with a sarcastic roll of his eyes "were you trying to do?"
"…I was…" Aster heaved a sigh as he fought to bring the words from the wounded part of his heart and out into the room that apparently had become the courtroom for his trial "…I was trying ta protect 'im." He finally whispered miserably.
Jack felt his ears prick at the quiet confession, his tear filled eyes watching the now still form of the guardian he had become so close to. Pitch raised a nonexistent eyebrow "Oh?" he asked in a mocking tone "Trying to protect him from what?"
"From…me…"
Jack and the Boogeyman strained to hear the muted voice of the Easter bunny, Pitch giving a small "What did you say?"
"I said I'm trying ta protect 'im from ME!" Bunny repeated his face twisting with grief and pain.
"Interesting concept…" Pitch muttered sarcastically as he rolled his eyes "mind elaborating?"
"I'm just…I'm not…" Aster struggled as he felt his legs beneath to quiver underneath him from the enormous secret he was about to tell his greatest enemy and dearest family member "I'm not good enough…never have been…"
"Why wouldn't you be good enough?" a small voice sniffled from the cage causing Bunny to glance up from where he had been staring miserably at the floor.
Crystal blue eyes bored into his soul, and Aster swallowed a sob as he opened his mouth and began his dreaded and painful confession "I can't protect ya Snowflake" the rabbit spoke in a cracked tearful voice thick with emotion "I can't protect any of the people I love…Sabine…she…I watched her die, and I couldn't even make it in time to save her life. I couldn't save my brothers, or my friends, and then…you come along…and yer like…the kit Sabine and I could never have…After centuries of being completely alone, I finally felt like…like I had a family again…but what if…what if being near me hurts ya? What if in the end I can't protect ya? I'm poison Snowflake…and everything I have ever loved has always disappeared…while I'm left standing. I can't bear it…I can't let you join all the rest because I'm…because I'm not good enough…I'm just…not good enough."
"No," Jack wept one paw reaching towards the bars towards Bunny "you are good enough, I'm the one who isn't…who isn't worth your time… but you're the Easter Bunny, you're strong, and smart, and brave…everything that I want to be…you're…you're my family."
A large ball of emotion stuck in Bunny's throat and tears of gratitude began to stream down his face "Ah Jackie," he sighed "if only that were true."
"It is true!" Jack insisted.
"Naw, it's not," Bunny shook his head "yer the one that taught us what it meant to be guardians again, yer the one who helps us to remember how to have fun, and yer the one that makes our lives meaningful. Yer more valuable than you could ever realize."
"Then get me outta here, and we can go back to the warrens!" Jack finally cried "I'll prove to you how important you are, and I'll show you that you're not poison, even if it means I have to live as a Pooka forever! The world needs the guardian of Hope Bunny, and so do I, we need you."
Suddenly a warm feeling burst inside Aster's chest, one that he hadn't felt for some time, Hope. Jack was right, they just needed to get out of here and go back to the Warren, and then they could start all over again as a proper family, one without secret pains and grieves keeping them from truly being able to help one another. This time they would be father and son, and Bunny was intent on making that happen. Now he just needed to defeat Pitch and break Jack out of his cell, and then they could be on their way.
"A'right Frostbite," Aster said with a slow smile "Ya got yerself a deal!"
A wide grin broke out on Jack's face, and the Pooka grinned in return, but Pitch was staring down at the duo in a mix of anger and disgust. "Alright," he sighed with a sneer "enough of this, Chikashi it's now time for phase 2 of our plan."
"I thought you had forgotten about me." Chikashi whined as he stepped out of the shadows and into the room.
Bunny tensed, his paws coming up to either side of his face as he prepared for battle "Chikashi," the rabbit acknowledged softly "I admit that you got me last time, but I'm ready for ya now."
"Do you now?" Chikashi asked as his lithe form slunk towards the Pooka like a panther cornering its prey "Because I would say that you are not nearly as prepared as you think."
A smile full of evil intent and malice lit up the Native American spirit's face making it resemble a devil that would preside over the dead and the graves "Let me show you."
Holding his arms on either side, Chikashi tilted his head back as his dark eyes became completely black from the pupil all the way across the whites, and his mouth moved as he chanted. A rumbling language echoed around the room, and the floor began to roll and writhe much like water and the very stones shifted as they molded themselves into creatures towering over their creator. Bunny watched, but his curiosity soon turned to horror as he recognized the figures now standing before him. One was a tall Pooka, tribal stripes covering his grayish blue fur, and a long spear in hand. The other was a more delicate looking Pooka, white fur, and lavender stripes rippling across her lithe frame. Sabine, and Aster's father, Orion.
"No…" Aster murmured his wide green eyes gazing at the duo in front of him "It can't be…it surely can't."
"But it is," Pitch cackled "just look at them Bunny…the woman you loved and failed to save, and the father you never managed to defeat, not even once."
"Well if it isn't my whelp of a kit," Orion's deep baritone growled "what have you been doing to cause you to become so weak, you look terrible."
"I…" Aster stammered as color rose to his cheeks.
"Orion," a Chikashi reprimanded sarcastically "be kind to him, he hasn't seen you since you died."
The older rabbit snorted "You mean since he failed to help me when I needed him by my side in battle?"
"I was helping," Bunny replied his voice rough "I was takin' care of the family you left behind to make a name for yerself in the military. I was carin' for my mom, and feedin' my siblings because ya were too busy to take care of us yerself."
"And who taught you to fight?" Orion sneered "Showed you what it meant to be a warrior? Me. So ya better shut yer trap, unless ya think yer strong enough to fight me and prove me wrong."
"No, Bunny," Jack wailed as he shook the bars of his cage "don't do it! They aren't real, you don't have to fight him!"
"My creations are based on his memories," Chikashi snarled gleefully "this image of Orion is just as real and strong as Bunny remembers him to be, and because of that he has no chance of winning."
"Man makes a good point," Orion spat "because you know deep down, ya never beat me before and ya certainly can't now. Yer too weak and overcome by yer own insecurities to even stand a chance."
"I will prove you wrong," Bunny growled as his hackles rose and his fur fluffed in anger "and I will win!"
"Here," Chikashi smiled as he conjured up Aster's boomerangs and threw them to him "you're gonna need all the help you can get."
Bunny caught the wooden weapons in expert paws and deftly spun them as he prepared himself for the battle ahead "You know," the rabbit whispered menacingly "I always did want to have one more go with ya, guess I got my wish."
"Then let's see ya make the most of it!" Orion snapped as he dove towards Bunny.
The two clashed, Bunny barely holding the gleaming spearhead mere inches from his face with his boomerang, and Orion putting all his strength into bringing the shaft of his weapon down onto his opponent. With a snarl, Bunny used the force being pushed on the spear, letting go of the weapon, and ducking underneath the bulk of his father's image. The Pooka fell forward as his brace disappeared, and then grunted as Bunny did a low sweep with one of his long legs, effectively tripping the clone. But he was not caught off guard for the older Pooka ducked his head and tumbled forward, landing back on his feet, and springing up into a high kick. Aster blocked the kick with his left forearm, grabbing the leg in the same motion, and pulling the creation close for a brutal elbow jab to the jaw.
Orion recovered after the hit, and responded by bringing a roundhouse punch across Bunny's jaw, and as the younger rabbit was doubled over, slamming his knee into Aster's face. The rabbit flew across the floor, finally landing with a sickening thud and skidding to a stop on the stone. Blood streamed from his nose, while even more oozed from the various cuts across his shoulders and back caused from scraping against the uneven floor, and Bunny slowly stood again on shaky legs his keen green eyes never leaving his opponent. Orion laughed, his stony gaze watching as Bunny stumbled forward before once again gaining his footing.
"Pardon me, but I'm confused," Orion smirked "but is this what winning is supposed to look like?"
"Shut yer trap old man," Bunny growled "I'm just getting started."
"Please," the older Pooka scoffed "you're already bleeding, and I'm barely winded. Give it up boy, you have no chance of defeating me, not now not ever."
"That's what you think…"
Once again the two met on the field of battle, while Jack and his captors watched in slack jawed awe at the sheer genius and ability being displayed. Time and time again, one would land a devastating blow, sending the other flying, but every time the other would rise and the battle would continue. The former winter spirit cheered, and sobbed, his gaze never leaving the battle raging before him. Shaking the bars, he screamed in frustration as Orion picked Bunny up by the eras from where he had landed on the ground, and slamming his face into the floor, causing all the viewers to wince at the crack that resounded from wall to wall.
Jack watched his eyes wide as Aster's form became very still and did not rise "Bunny," Jack called through a broken sob "Bunny, get up…"
No response from the fallen Pooka and the winter spirit gasped when he saw a pool of blood begin forming beneath the motionless head "Bunny!" Jack yelled more forcefully "Come on Kangaroo, you need to get up!"
Still nothing and Jack felt his chest heave as he began to hyperventilate "BUNNY!" he screamed "BUUUNNYYY!"
Orion stood over Aster, his face split in a victorious grin "What'sa matter boyo?" he cackled maniacally "I thought you were going to prove me wrong, and win?"
"Poor Aster," Pitch sighed "once again you fail those you love."
"No, he isn't done," Jack shrieked his wide panic filled eyes casting around pleading with anyone who would listen and believe him "Just wait, he'll get back up!"
Suddenly the door burst open, and the other guardians strode through, Baby Tooth leading the charge her mouth open as she cast several angry chirps reprimanding Pitch and Chikashi for their terrible treatment of her favorite guardian. Jack felt several relieved tears spring from his eyes as he melted into a short round of uncontrollable weeping. Casting his gaze over to the rest of his family, the former winter spirit shouted his plea through broken sobs.
"Please," he gasped "help Bunny!"
"Jack!" North called his blue eyes turning icy as he surveyed the carnage before him "Pitch," he growled "I hope you understand just what you have done, for I intend on making sure you endure full repercussions of your actions."
"No!" Tooth gasped as her eyes finally landed on Aster "Bunny…Pitch you wretch! You have exactly five seconds to release Jack before I show you just what the Tooth Fairy is capable of!"
Sandy backed her up, dream sand giving an eloquent show of just what he planned to do, his hand a fist smacking into the palm of his other hand. All three looked fit to kill, but Jack was too busy watching the still form of the guardian of Hope. Orion smirked at the Guardians, one paw reaching down as he once again gripped Bunny's long ears, and pulled the unconscious off the floor and shaking it towards the new arrivals.
"What," he laughed "you came to rescue this useless bag of fur?"
"PUT HIM DOWN!" Jack screamed his eyes narrow with intense fury.
"A'right," Orion shrugged as he let go and Bunny once again crashed painfully to the floor "I let him go, and he can stay there for all I care."
Whirling around, the older Pooka reared his hind leg back and kicked Bunny hard in the abdomen, sending the still form flying across stone, landing like a forgotten ragdoll. Orion cast a grin accompanied by green eyes glinting with evil at Jack, his mouth upturned in a merciless smile. "Honestly, I don't even know why ya care."
Walking over, the creation once again delivered another devastating blow to Bunny's unconscious frame, this time the younger rabbit flew until his back crashed into the opposite wall. Jack screamed in horror, a sob lodged in his throat as he pounded at the bars. Limping across the floor of his cage, the boy ran in an unsteady gait, charging the bars and trying to force them to break. He gripped the bars in his paws, and shook them fiercely, one paw reaching through them towards his fallen friend.
"Stop IT!" he shrieked "Stop hurting him!"
"I can hurt him if I want!" Orion spat as he straddled the unconscious rabbit and started delivering countless punches to his still form.
North and the other two guardians charged with a roar of fury, but Pitch merely snapped his fingers, creating several dozen Nightmares surrounding them; leaving Bunny helpless to Orion's wrath. Jack watched through horrified azure eyes, his mouth agape from the screamed pleading begging Orion to show mercy and stop the relentless beating. Turning to his left, the younger Pooka addressed the still silent and frozen image of Sabine, her eyes watching the carnage emotionlessly.
"S-Sabine," he gasped "I know you're just a creation that Chikashi made, but you're based on Bunny's memories too. You loved him, once, don't tell me that you can just stand there and do nothing!"
"Stop trying to do the impossible," Chikashi sneered "she is just a shadow of the original, she has no feelings or the ability to move because I did not give it to her. She is just a cold statue meant to make Bunny remember all that he failed to do."
But Jack knew better, once again he turned to the motionless figure "Sabine, you loved Bunny, and he still loves you. He said that I'm like the kit you guys never had, please for me and for him, DO SOMETHING!"
Sabine never twitched, and for a moment Jack allowed despair to wash over him, but then suddenly a small tear formed in Sabine's right eye and trickled down her cheek. The former winter spirit straightened up "That's right," he urged "love is stronger than anything else, you don't have to be Chikashi's slave, you can break free and help Bunny!"
Sabine's limbs began to tremble as life sparked and grew in Sabine's eyes making the dull purple shine with luminescence. "B-Bunny," she said slowly as she came to life "My …love."
"What?!" Chikashi stared agape at his creation.
Slowly, the clone of Sabine turned her head and stared at the young white Pooka in the cage "Why?" she said softly "Why do you care…so much?"
"B-because," Jack wept as he watched the miracle unfold before his eyes "he's important to me, he's my family!"
"Important…" the creation whispered "…Family…"
"Shut up!" Chikashi screeched "Just shut up and stop messing with my creation!"
"No!" Jack retorted "I won't stop, we're going to win, and Bunny is going to get back up!"
"Oh for heaven's sake," Chikashi sighed his face a sneer of distaste "why do you insist on making such a fuss over someone who has only ever shown you constant disregard and cruelty? He has only shown you kindness recently, how does that make up for the three centuries of silence? What is he to you?"
Jack bared his teeth at the Native American Trickster spirit "He isn't perfect, but neither am I! Bunny could have let me be taken care of by North, and he could have abandoned me when I needed help, but he didn't. He is my friend, my family, but he became something more to me…something I haven't had for a long time…!"
The Guardians, Pitch, and Chikashi felt their gazes be drawn to Jack as he drew in a breath into his lungs and bellowed out his declaration "Bunny…he's my DAD!"
Suddenly Aster's green eyes, once closed, flew open and he brought his fist up to catch the flying fist of the clone of Orion. Pulling the fist to continue the movement, but directing the aim, he flipped the older rabbit off of him and once again rose on unsteady legs. Gasps of pain grunted through the Pooka's lips as he straightened, but soon even those were silent, and Aster once again made his stand with the straight back of a proud warrior. Tooth's hands flew to her mouth as her eyes filled with tears, and North let loose a long loud laugh of triumph while sandy punched the air while making small fireworks explode over his head. The Pooka slowly gave a small pained grin towards his friends and Jack.
"Sorry Snowflake," the rabbit laughed softly before giving a tiny wince at the action "just needed ta take a small nap."
"Yeah," Jack smiled through his tears "right, whatever you say kangaroo."
"Don't worry," the Pooka said returning his intense green gaze back to the clone of his father "I still intend to win, just watch me Joey."
North felt an eyebrow raise as he cast a confused glance at Toothiana "Who is Joey?" he wondered aloud.
"Get him Bunny!" Jack cheered.
Falling to all fours, the rabbit sprinted towards the creation with a roar of challenge, stopping only to spring through the air and tackle the older Pooka. Both tumbled across the floor, Bunny grunting in pain each time he hit the hard stone. Finally they came to a stop, and Bunny sat astride Orion, his face wreathed with a wicked grin.
"My turn!"
Thus the rabbit began to rain blow after blow on the creation, his face set with a look of determination "I'm gonna win," he panted "and then Jackie and I…are going…HOME!"
With that last word, Bunny punched through the face of the clone, causing it to crumble into dust. Jack leapt into the air with his good leg, a whoop of joy exploding from his lungs, and punched the air with a joyous paw. Pitch snarled, and Chikashi screamed in outraged disgust. Looking up, the former winter spirit used his good leg to jump to the top of his cage and hold onto the bars. Reaching through, Jack gripped Pitch's cloak, and pulled the Boogeyman's face close.
"Let. Me. Out!" Frost hissed.
Pitch allowed the briefest flash of fear to pass over his face before snapping his fingers and both he and the cage melted away. Jack did not waste any time running to Bunny's side, the younger Pooka grabbing Aster's arm and wrapping it around his shoulder so that the wobbling rabbit wouldn't collapse. Bunny looked down at Jack, and then let out a loud guffaw.
"Snowflake," he chuckled as his eyes became unfocused due to pain and fatigue "I think that with yer broken leg, ya shouldn't be the one trying ta carry me…We'll both end up gettin' hurt doing that."
Jack laughed "Maybe, but let me support you anyways, I want to."
Bunny smiled tenderly at the younger Pooka before his tired eyes suddenly brightened with a revelation "Oi," he practically whispered "look at that, ya got yer stripes Jackie."
Jack's eyes widened before he looked down and gave a small gasp. Bluish grey stripes covered his white fur, one large pattern looking much like a rose but with snowflake edges going across his back. On his forehead between his ears was a vertical line with a V shaped dip in the middle of it and a diamond in the space created by the V, looking much like a makeshift crown. Bunny let out a small laugh, and ruffled the fur between Jack's ears.
"The pattern suits ya," he said gently "you have the compassion and sweetness that I remember Sabine for, but yer a warrior…like yer old man."
"Yeah," Jack smiled brightly his chest nearly bursting with pride "I guess I do take after my dad."
Chikashi stood in the middle of the room, fuming over his most recent defeat, and turned to Sabine. With an irritated flick, he attempted to snap her into oblivion, but the creation would not disappear. "why won't you disappear?!" he screeched.
"Because," North said in his rumbling Russian accent "she no longer belongs to you. The soul of Sabine has returned to make home in this shell, and the power of true love has breathed new life into her. She is no longer stone molded to look like Sabine, but she has become Sabine in flesh and blood."
Chikashi cast disbelieving eyes between North and Sabine, until finally with one last scream of outrage, he too disappeared, leaving the Guardians to stand by themselves in the large room. Jack slowly led Bunny over to the still form of Sabine, the Pooka's eye alight with wonder and fear.
"S-Sabine…?" he quavered "Is that really you?"
Sabine merely cocked her head "Important…Family…Bunny…Love?"
Aster felt his lip quiver as his heart once again cracked in two "This ain't her," he said in a choked sob "she's long gone, this is just a shadow of the woman I loved."
Suddenly Moonlight broke through a window, and enveloped the female Pooka causing her fur to shimmer and shift. All watched with mouths agape, until the light diminished, leaving Sabine to stand by herself a blank look on her face. Then, she moved, shaking her head as if shaking herself free from a bad memory or dream. Looking up, purple eyes latched on Aster, and a trembling voice spoke from the delicate throat.
"Aster?" she said slowly "What is going on? I don't remember how I came here."
Bunny jaw fell in shock and with slow movements, pushed himself away from Jack, and limped toward the female rabbit "Sabine," he spoke dazedly one paw caressing her face tenderly "My Sabine…"
"Yes," Sabine laughed with a nervous smile "and you're my Aster, why are you acting so strange?"
Without a second thought, the rabbit lunged forward, and wrapped the female in a tight embrace, tears streaming freely down his face. After a few moments of holding his lost love, the Pooka leaned back, cupping her face with his paws and placed a tender kiss on her lips. Sabine closed her eyes in rapture as she returned the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck, her ears drooping to the back of her head. Jack blushed, and looked to the side, while Tooth and North and Sandy exchanged nervous laughs, each waiting till the two were done with their reunion. Bunny finally broke the kiss, touching his forehead to hers, and let out a small laugh.
"I'm so glad to have ya back," he smiled through his tears "I missed ya something Sheila."
Sabine laughed deep in her throat "Even though I don't quite remember how I got here, I know that as long as you're here, I'll be happy."
"Good," Bunny sighed nuzzling her gently "because I would have a serious problem if ya planned leaving."
Both enjoyed a laugh before rejoining the Guardians. Introductions were made, and then all left to head back to the Pole for explanations and medical treatment.
…
"Jackie!"
Jack turned towards the voice of Sabine, his staff in hand, and began to run down towards the picnic they had planned in the Warren. It had been three months since she had come to live with Bunny, Jack had only recently gotten his human form back, and the two Pooka were still acting like newlyweds giggling and sharing secret kisses behind trees. The three had become a family, and Sabine had fit in to their odd little team quite neatly. Tooth was ecstatic just to have another female in their group, and the two became close friends within hours. North often found himself smiling whimsically at the drastic change that had taken place in the guardian of Hope. The once gruff and grumpy bunny had been replaced by a bright and smiling rabbit who was more often than not found sitting on the shore of one of his many lakes, Sabine at his side, talking and dreaming about the future, his eyes alight with bright Hope.
Sabine had announced that they were going to have a picnic as a family in order for her to make a special announcement. Jack didn't know what it was, but he had a sneaking suspicion that they might be expecting new arrivals in the coming year. Looking down into the water of one of the normal rivers running through the Warren, Jack ran a hand through his white hair now permanently stained with the stripes he had acquired during his time as a Pooka. No one really knew why he still had the stripes after being returned to his true form, but Jack had a feeling it was MiM's way of making sure he remembered the lessons he learned during that time.
"Jack, where are ya mate?" this time it was Aster calling him.
"I'm coming!"
Turning, the boy flew up into the air, and burst through the trees towards the party site. Things changed, that was for sure, but Jack wouldn't want them any other way.
How was that chapter?
I had no intention at first of ending this as a BunnyxOC, but it just felt so RIGHT! Hoped you guys enjoyed this arc, and the next arc will be Bunny as a human which will be a completely different universe. This one includes Sabine, but the arc where Bunny turns human, Jack will not have ever been a Pooka, it will be COMPLETELY DIFFERENT…so everyone please understand that before anyone asks why I'm not talking about Jack being a Pooka in that arc.
The winner of the 100th reviewer challenge was Elysenjazz, Congrats, you get to request the next one shot I write.
Remember to REVIEW guys!