Chapter Text
"Aye, North." Kitsune sighed, gazing up into the sky at the twinkling northern lights. "What's going on with the children now?" She closed the door to her cabin, dashing to the North Pole. A good while to her destination, she spotted one of Bunny's tunnels, hopping in. She caught up quickly to the pooka, following him to the Pole. "Ah, Kitsune." Bunnymund scoffed, keeping his pace. "Still can't find a way to get to North's without hitchhiking?" Kitsune rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm sorry I can't make tunnels like you, or fly like Tooth and Sandy." Bunny was about to shoot back a retort, but his tunnel suddenly opened to the Pole, blasting cold at the two. Kitsune pulled up her hood, fitting it over her brimmed hat. Bunny shuddered as he popped out of the hole. Kitsune followed, glancing around. "All clear." She assured. Bunnymund crossed his arms. "I knew that, mate." Kitsune dashed to North's workshop. Bunny followed, opening the doors.
Kitsune pulled off her cloak, folding it up and setting it neatly on a chair. "North! We're here." She called out. Bunny approached the main room, where North, Toothiana, and Sandman were standing. "Bunny, Kitsune, there you are!" North called out. "This better be good, North." Sandy's dream-sand shifted into a question mark as he shrugged his shoulders. "I know, I know." North sighed. "But I obviously wouldn't have called you here if it were for nothing." Kitsune stretched, grabbing a trinket out of her satchel to tinker with it. "What's going on, North?" She asked. "The Boogeyman was here!" North suddenly stated. "At the Pole!" Tooth gasped, hovering closer. "Pitch? Pitch Black? Here?"
"Yes," North replied, waving his hands around the Globe. "There was black sand covering the Globe." Bunnymund stepped away from the fireplace, narrowing his eyes. "What- what do you mean, black sand?" North glanced back at Bunny, continuing. "And then, a shadow!"
"Hold on, hold on." Bunny started. "I thought you said you saw Pitch." North rubbed the back of his neck. "Well uh, not exactly." Kitsune looked up suddenly, her expression confused.
"Not exactly? Can you believe this guy?" Bunnymund said to Sandman, who conjured another question mark above his head. "Yeah, you said it, Sandy." Bunny rolled his eyes. Kitsune listened patiently, her expression serious. "Look, he's up to something very bad," North said. "I feel it, in my belly!"
Bunnymund stopped. "Hang on, hang on. You mean to say you summoned me here three days before Easter, because of your belly?" Kitsune sighed, pocketing her trinket. "North, most of my tools are at my cabin, and I have to hitch a ride with someone to get back!" Bunnymund thumped his foot with frustration. "Mate, if I did this to you three days before Christmas…" North interrupted him, gently patting the side of his face. "Please, Bunny. Easter is not Christmas." Bunny laughed sarcastically. "Here we go. North, I don't have time for this!" He started. "I've still got two million eggs to finish up!" Kitsune butted in to come to Bunnymund's defense. "All holidays and Guardians are important, North! We need to take others into consideration!"
As they were arguing, Sandman noticed the moon beginning to shine through the skylight. Waving his hands, he attempted to get their attention by making dream-sand signs above his head. Tooth hovered around aimlessly, directing the other fairies. "Tooth, can't you see we're trying to argue?" North explained. "Sorry. Not all of us get to work night a year. Am I right, Sandy?" Tooth shrugged. Sandy made an up arrow with his sand, pointing at it expectantly. Toothiana gasped as if remembering something suddenly. "San Diego, sector two!" And immediately flew off. Kitsune glanced over at Sandman, realizing he was attempting to get the Guardian's attention. "You want me to get their attention or you?" She muttered, glancing at the two Guardians not letting up. Sandman sighed in frustration.
Suddenly, Sandman grabbed an elf by the hat, shaking them aggressively. The elf's bell rang out, getting the attention of all guardians. He dropped the elf, turning his dream-sand into a moon, and pointing at the shaft of light. "Man in moon!" North greeted the moon. "Sandy, why didn't you say something?" Sandman huffed, dream-sand coming out of his ears in a cartooney puff. Kitsune growled under her breath.
"It's been a long time, old friend!" North said, turning to the moon's light. "What is big news?" The beam of light hovered over a design on the floor, and slowly, Pitch's shadow came into view. Bunnymund's face became serious, looking over at North. "It is Pitch," North smirked, patting his belly. "Manny, what must we do?" A trapdoor opened in the design, revealing a large, blue crystal tower. Light reflected throughout the crystal, filling the space with moonlight. "Uh guys, you know what this means?" Tooth said, flitting around the crystal. "He is choosing new Guardian." North said, breathlessly.
"What? Why?" Bunnymund said, confused. "Must be big deal," North replied. "Manny thinks we need help." Kitsune tilted her head, lifting an eyebrow. "We could do with another Guardian, I'm wondering who." Bunnymund gave her an incredulous look. "Since when do we need help?" Kitsune narrowed her eyes. "Lots of times, we've just gotten lucky. Our enemies know our moves." Bunny rolled his eyes. "I wonder who it's gonna be!" Tooth exclaimed. Sandy conjured a four-leaf clover above his head. "Maybe the Leprechaun?" Bunnymund stared at the crystal, waiting. "Please not the groundhog, please not the groundhog." Kitsune studied the crystal, waiting. "I get the feelings it's not-" She was interrupted by the image of Jack Frost appearing. "Jack Frost." Manny said, very surprised. The fairies chirped in delight at the image, one falling.
"I take it back." Bunnymund stopped, staring at the projection in shock. "The groundhogs fine." Tooth stared at the image with shock, before snapping back. "As long as he helps to protect the children, right?" Bunnymund hopped up to the projection, thumping his foot with frustration. "Jack Frost?! He doesn't care about children! All he does is freeze water pipes and mess with my egg hunts!" He went off. "He's an irresponsible, selfish-"
"Guardian." North interrupted him. "No!" Bunnymund retorted. "Jack Frost is many things, but he is not a Guardian!" Kitsune glared at him, grabbing her cloak. "Bunnymund, he's irresponsible, sure." She stated. "But he's good Guardian material. I've seen him." Bunny rolled his eyes. "Sure." He coughed, muttering, "Blizzard of '68." in between. North snapped his finger at Bunnymund. "Bunny! Go get Jack Frost."
"WHAT?!" Bunny shouted. Kitsune grabbed his shoulder. "Come on, he's not exactly gonna come here on his own." Kitsune chuckled. "I- ugh, fine." He thumped the ground beneath him, opening a tunnel beneath him. North approached Kitsune. "You too, Kitsune. Teamwork!" Kitsune stopped at the edge. "…WHAT?!" She shouted. North nudged her forwards. "Think of it as a teamwork exercise!" She glanced back at the tunnel. Kitsune sighed and hopped in, catching up to Bunny. He looked over at Kitsune, scoffing. "What, North thinks I need help?" Kitsune pulled up her hood, running ahead. "He just wants us to work together, I'm guessing." The tunnel opened up into the back alley, the sounds of a sleeping city echoing through the air. Kitsune takes a moment to breathe, setting down one of her trinkets. "Do we just, wait for him now?" Bunny chuckled dryly. "Nah, we find him." Bunny darted through the alleys, Kitsune following. As they ran along, Kitsune heard a long, low growl. "Bunnymund?" She slowly turned around, keeping her eyes trained on the street dog in front of her. Bunny stopped, looking back at her, concerned. "Why do you sound- Oh." As Kitsune stepped back, she accidentally bumped into a trash can, causing her to jump. "Fuck!" The dog lunged at her. Kitsune grabbed Bunnymund's arm, dragging him through the streets. "RUN!" Bunnymund quickly summoned a tunnel under their feet, closing it up before the dog could reach them. They kept running, reaching a new alleyway. Kitsune pulled herself out of the tunnel, landing against a wall. "You alright?" Bunny asked, helping her up. She nodded, brushing herself off. "Yeah, just a tad shaky." Bunny gripped her shoulder, making sure she didn't fall. "Glad you weren't hurt."
"Huh. I knew you two were a thing." Jack chimed in. He had come in from the commotion, watching the two flee the dog. He leaned on his staff, a smug look on his face. "What?!" Kitsune exclaimed. "Why do you think that?!" Jack raised an eyebrow at them. "…Do you hear yourself?" He chuckled, pacing slightly. Kitsune and Bunnymund exchanged a dry, unamused look. "That's it." Bunny sighed. "No more beating around the bush." He quickly made a tunnel underneath Jack, catching him by surprise. Jack yelped in surprise, sliding through the tunnel to North's workshop. Kitsune and Bunnymund hopped in, following Jack.
Jack landed on the floor of the Workshop, curled up instinctively. "Finally!" North called out. "Jack Frost!" Kitsune and Bunnymund exited the tunnel, landing beside Jack. "Oh, you gotta be kidding me." He sighed. Two of the Yeti's grabbed Jack, setting him up on his feet. "Hope Bunnymund and Kitsune weren't too aggressive, getting you here, yes?" North inquired. Jack laughed sarcastically. "Yeah, I love having a tunnel conjured under me to the Pole." North smiled. "Oh, good. That was my idea!" He started. "You know Bunny and Kitsune, obviously." Bunny studied his claws. "Mhm." He muttered. "Obviously." Jack replied.
"And Tooth," North added. "Hello, I've heard a lot about you!" She greeted Jack cheerfully. "And your teeth!" Jack stammered. "My- my what?" Tooth flitted closer, checking his teeth. "Open up! Are they truly as white as they say?" She asked as she prodded around his mouth. "Yes!" She gasped. "Oh, they really do sparkle like freshly fallen snow!"
"And Sandman." North finished. "Sandy? Sandy? Wake up!" Jack sighed. "Hey, anyone wanna tell me why I'm here?" Sandman attempted to explain, but his sand-signs jumbled together into an untranslatable mess. "Haha, yeah." Jack chuckled. "That's not much help. Thanks, little guy." Jack wandered off, frosting an elf carrying a plate of cookies. Kitsune bristled slightly at his careless behavior. "Must've done something horrible to get you five together." He stopped, turning around. "Am I on the naughty list?" North laughed dryly. "On naughty list? You hold the record." He shrugged, brushing the tattoo on his arm that read 'naughty'. "But, no matter. We overlook. Now, we are wiping clean the slate."
"How come?" Jack asked.
"Ah, good question." Bunnymund replied. "How come? I tell you how come!" North said. "Because now, you are Guardian!" The two yetis behind North lifted flaming torches, cheering. The elves began playing celebratory music, forming a line. Kitsune flattened her ears from the noise, shifting ever so slightly closer to Bunnymund. Bunny (insert reaction). Banners rolled down from the ceiling, decorated with a fancy 'G'. Two of Toothiana's tooth fairies flew in, carrying a necklace with Christmas colors with snowflakes decorating it. Jack backed up from the fairies, holding up his hand, they hovered, staring. The yeti behind him pushed him forward gently. "Hey, what are you doing?" He asked. "Get off me." North laughed, clenching his fists in excitement. "This is the best part!" An elf banged on a drum, as the others marched beside him. North marched in place, scatting along. The two yetis twirled the flaming torches, nearly grazing Jack as they walked past. He nearly fell backwards, but the two yetis caught him, setting him back on his feet. One elf pointed furiously at his feet, gesturing at a ridiculous pair of elf shoes. Jack gave him a slight look of confusion and disgust. One yeti gave North a large, old book. Sandman toasted to him as Bunnymund scoffed and rolled his eyes. Jack became agitated, slamming his staff onto the floor, causing frost to spread over the floor. Kitsune backed away from the ice covering the floor, pulling Bunnymund along. Cold air blasted from where he was standing, blowing out the torches being held by the yetis.
"What makes you think I wanna be a Guardian?" He asked. North paused, seemingly registering what Jack said, before bursting out laughing. "Of course you do." North jumped up, snapping his fingers. "Music!"
"No music!" Jack interrupted as the elves tried to resume. One of the elves threw down his horn, shoving the tuba player next to him. "This is all very flattering, but uh," Jack started. "You don't want me. You guys are all hard work and deadlines, and I'm snowballs and fun times. I'm not a Guardian."
"Yeah, that's exactly what I said!" Bunny laughed. Kitsune elbowed him. "Enough." She muttered. "Jack, I don't think you understand what it is we do." Toothiana hovered over to him. "Each of those lights is a child." North walked over to stand beside Jack. "A child who believes." His face turned serious as he continued. "And good or bad, naughty or nice, we protect them." Jack attempted to respond, but Tooth was too busy examining his mouth. "Tooth. Fingers out of mouth." Tooth backed away sheepishly. "Sorry, they're beautiful." North waved his hand. "Okay, no more wishy-washy." He paced, gesturing excessively. "Pitch is out there doing who knows what!"
"You mean the Boogeyman?" Jack asked. "Yes!" North responded. "When Pitch threatens us, he threatens them as well!" Jack walked away, sighing. "All the more reason to pick someone more qualified!" North raised an eyebrow, giving Jack a look. "Pick? You think we pick? No, you were chosen!" He said. "Like we were all chosen. By man in Moon." He gestured to the moon. Jack stopped, turning around to face him. "What?"
"Last night, Jack, he chose you." Tooth replied. "Maybe." Bunnymund added.
"Man in the Moon, he talks to you?" Jack asked, his face confused. "You see, you cannot say no. It is destiny." North told him. "But why, why wouldn't he tell me that himself?" Jack sighed, turning away from the moon. "After three hundred years, this is his answer?" Jack walked away from the moon, frustrated. "To spend eternity like you guys, cooped up in some hideout, thinking of new ways to bribe kids?" He chuckled dryly. "No, no. That's not for me! No offense." Bunnymund hopped up in disbelief. "How is that not offensive?!" He gestured at Jack. "You know what I think? I think we just dodged a bullet. I mean, what's this clown know about bringing joy to children, anyway?" Bunny stopped to scratch his ear, turning away from Jack. "Bunny, enough." Kitsune muttered, staying back. "Uh, you ever hear of a snow day?" Jack asked. "I know it's no hard-boiled egg, but kids like what I do." Bunnymund turned his attention back to Jack, standing up. "But none of them believe in you, do they?" He continued. "You see, you're invisible, mate. It's like you don't even exist."
"Bunny!" Tooth butted in. "Enough."
"No, no." Jack replied, waving off Bunnymund's insult. "The kangaroo's right." Bunny shot Jack a look. "The what?" He chuckled. "What did you just call me? I'm not a kangaroo, mate." Jack stepped towards him, balancing on his staff. "Oh, and this whole time I thought you were." Jack glared at Bunny. "If you're not a kangaroo, what are you?"
"I'm a bunny. The Easter Bunny." Bunnymund replied sharply. "People believe in me." Sandman puffed out his cheeks, nudging North to deal with the two. "Jack, walk with me." North told him. Kitsune grabbed the pooka's arm, pulling him to face her. "What is your deal?" She asked him, her eyes brimming with frustration. Bunny pulled away from her, smoothing the ruffled fur on his arm. "Am I wrong? He's not cut out to be a Guardian!" Toothiana suddenly flew in between them, holding them apart. "Alright, alright! Calm down." Tooth sighed. Bunnymund huffed, summoning a tunnel next to him. He jumped in, Kitsune following. Bunny sighed, rolling his eyes. "Are you always going to follow my tunnels?" Kitsune glared at him, jumping through the opening to the Warren.
"Why do you hate Jack so much?" She suddenly asked him. He stretched, grabbing an egg and starting to paint it. "First off, Blizzard of '68." He grumbled. "Second off, he's not cut out," Bunny clutched the egg tightly, his paintbrush leaving thicker smears. "Third, he's irresponsible, stuck-up, full of himself…" Kitsune gently took the egg, setting it beside him."He's learning. Remember, this is a big change, and we weren't exactly nice getting him to North's." Bunnymund sighed, grabbing the egg again. "Well, he has to learn soon," he replied shortly. "The fate of all the children are in the Guardians hands. Our hands." Kitsune sat down beside him, glancing at him with a worried face. "He keeps kids safe, for the most part." Bunny laughed sarcastically. "Aha, sure. Did you hear about what happened in Burgess?" Kitsune shot Bunny a look. "The only thing that happened to him was the kids tooth getting knocked out."
"By a bloody couch!" He retorted. Kitsune opened her mouth to reply, but leaned back. "I- true. That could've ended horribly." Bunnymund elbowed her. "Exactly! Not to mention the car crashes! Luckily there were no casualties!" Suddenly, one of Toothiana's tooth fairies, Baby Tooth flew in, twittering loudly and anxiously. "Pitch, at the Tooth Palace?!" Kitsune jumped up, listening to the fairy. Baby Tooth nodded, flying back to the palace. "We have to tell North!" Bunnymund summoned a tunnel, leading to North's. "Well, let's go then!" He replied. Kitsune hopped into the tunnel, dashing to the Pole. When the tunnel opened up into the workshop, Bunny hopped out, dashing over to North. "North!" Bunny called out. "There's trouble over at the Tooth Palace!"