Rotg Secret Santa 2019
@audrey-the-tomcat I’m your Secret Santa! I’m sorry I’m posting this right before midnight, but I’ve been revising it a lot and had a friend help me with some things tonight!
Thank you @rotgsecretsanta for hosting!
I got two of your prompts here because I was ambitious! Hope you like them! <3
#1- Sophie’s 16th Birthday
“Where is that little grumby…” Bunny grumbled looking around the yard of the Bennett house, feet thumping and arms crossed. His eyes locked on the old greyhound sleeping in the doghouse. Past experiences told him that any loud noise would lead to an unnecessary chase.
“What are you up to Bunny!” Jack dropped in, making the rabbit jump into the air.
Waking, the greyhound turned to the source of the noise, spotting the pair and rushing towards them with her teeth bared. “Rack off you ice pick!” Bunny yelled at the greyhound started sprinting after him around the yard.
“Abby!” Mrs. Bennett called out, the dog perking up. “Stop running like that or you’ll knees will give out again,” the woman sighed opening the back door. “Come on in, girl,” she said Abby wagging her tail happily running into the house.
“I’ll ask again, what are you up to Bunny?” Jack asked again, a large smirk on his face.
“Hoping you’d bugger off before you ruin Easter with a bloody snowstorm like you did in 86!” Bunny exclaimed trying to recover from the chase, bending over exhausted.
“You’re really still holding that over my head? After this long?” he asked leaning against his staff, giving a fake pout.
“Till the end of fuckin’ time I will,” Bunny huffed rolling his eyes. He stood up from his spot on the ground. “But I’m here to find that little grumby,” he said pulling out a little wrapped gift. “It’s her birthday.”
“It’s Sophie’s birthday?” Jack asked with surprise. “I thought it was May 1st?”
“April 1st,” Bunny corrected.
“Isn’t that this weekend?”
“What else is this weekend you wombat?”
“Ohhhhh, so Easter’s a joke this year is what you’re saying?” Jack teased, Bunny coming up and taking him by the collar of his sweater, pulling up to his eye level.
“Jack so help me, I will kick ya all the way to Timbuctoo.”
“Okay, okay,” Jack laughed slipping out of Bunny’s grip to float over to the fence and lay on top of it. “I’ll stop and leave you alone.”
“If you wanted to be of good use, you could get Jamie to bring Sophie out here,” Bunny snapped. “She knew that Easter fell on her birthday and wanted to meet up before. I’m getting worried,” Bunny said deflating a bit.
“I’ll go see what’s going on,” Jack said while he floated up into the air. “You owe me though.”
“I didn’t kick ya to Timbuctoo. Consider that ya payment,” Bunny said folding his arms.
“Whatever you say Bunny,” Jack laughed. “Maybe I should ask Jamie to let Abby loose again.”
“Jack, please,” Bunny said pinching the bridge of his nose while Jack chuckled, moving to the other side of the house knocking on Jamie’s window.
“What are you doing here?” Jamie asked with a smile, opening the window allowing Jack to slip in. They added to the greeting by doing a complex handshake. “It’s like forty-five degrees out, aren’t you burning?”
“Eh, what can I say, I gotta annoy Bunny,” he said sticking a thumb out the window. “He’s looking for Sophie to give her a birthday gift. You know where she is?”
“Yeah… That’s weird of her. She’s been telling me about it this all last week.”
“Her and Bunny do have a great friendship after all these years,” Jack smiled. “She’s what, sixteen?”
“Turning sixteen,” Jamie stated. “She’s old.”
“Says the twenty-one-year-old.”
“Well sorry for aging. I can’t help it,” Jamie laughed.
“Being fourteen forever ain’t all it’s cracked up to be,” Jack sighed. “It can be a real drag sometimes.”
“You’ve told me about it,” Jamie stated knocking on Sophie’s door. “Soph, you in there?”
“Whaddya want?” she called out before opening the door, looking up at her brother. “I’m talking with Jennie.”
“Bunny’s waiting outside for you.”
“Bunny?” Sophie asked with confusion. “Who’s Bunny?”
“Oh no…” Jack said with disbelief.
“Bunny, the Easter bunny,” Jamie said scowling. “Who you’ve known since you were four.”
“Jamie,” she scoffed, laughing a little. “The Easter Bunny doesn’t exist.”
“No…” Jack said behind Jamie.
“You were literally telling me about how you were meeting him today,” Jamie scowled. “Don’t joke about this.”
“I’m not joking,” Sophie scoffed. “How can you still believe in that crap? You in college,” she said starting to close her door before Jack reached out, holding the door.
“Don’t do this to him,” Jack said quietly.
“Jamie how are you doing that?” Sophie said, scowling at her brother.
“It’s Jack, Jack Frost. He’s holding the door open.”
“You’re lying,” Sophie stated. “We might have had a big imagination when we were kids, but we’re grown up now Jamie, it’s about time you finally did too.”
“Then what was all that you were telling me this week? Just an elaborate joke?” he asked with frustration.
“It was just a fantasy. Reliving my ideas from when I was younger. It’s not like it was gunna happen,” she said rolling her eyes.
“What? Sophie that’s crazy,” he said as Jack placed a small snowflake on her nose.
“No, you’re crazy. Now leave me alone,” Sophie scowled, the snowflake not taking an effect on her, slamming the door in their faces.
“What just happened?” Jamie asked, looking at Jack with shock.
“How did this happen…” Jack said, “We need to tell Bunny… How do we do that…?”
“This’ll destroy him…” Jamie muttered.
“I know,” Jack agreed as they started to leave the house. “Leave Abby in here,” he stated, finding Bunny pacing the yard.
“Well, where is she?” he asked with an air of excitement.
“Bunny,” Jack said looking at him, gently taking the hand that wasn’t holding the gift.
“What?” he asked, confused at the change in Jack’s tone. “What happened?”
“Bunny, we tried getting Soph down here… but…” he tried to say, sitting on the steps to the porch. “I don’t—I don’t think she believes anymore.”
“What?” he asked deadpanning, looking between the two of them. “Ha, ha, very funny you two. Nice April Fools joke, you can break the act now,” he smiled jokingly, which quickly disappeared as the two didn’t change their tone. “No, what are you talking about? We just spoke a few weeks ago…”
“She didn’t see me Bunny,” Jack said sadly.
“What?” he asked with disbelief while Jack moved to embrace him.
“I’m so sorry Bunny…” he said, feeling the taller Bunny slowly move out of the embrace.
“Jamie, tame your beast, I need to see her,” he said the boy standing up, going inside to get Abby into another room.
Jack and Bunny went through the house arriving at Sophie’s room. Bunny could tell that there was a massive change to the look of her door. Before it was covered in chibi images of animated characters, now it was covered in boy bands. He even saw the Easter egg that she had carved into the door be cut out and destroyed. Bunny took hold of the handle and slowly opened the door to find the blond-haired girl wearing headphones and singing along to a peppy tune.
“I guess you grew up quick,” Bunny sighed while he went to sit on the ground next to the desk she sat at, Jack waiting at the door. “I had hoped that this wouldn’t… You were able to find your way into my Warren, and visited so many times after… I thought that would be enough to keep your belief going,” he said lowly. “But I guess not,” he sighed, tears threatening to fall. “I should’ve done more; I should’ve tried harder…”
“Bunny,” Jack said gently from the door, the other ignoring his quiet plea.
“You should still have this,” he said, gently placing the gift on the desk while Sophie rocked out to her music not seeing it appear. “It’s your sweet sixteen. I know you didn’t like that it happened on the same day as Easter, and you’ve always hated that it was on April Fools Day, but I didn’t think this would happen now,” he sighed while tears started to fall. Bunny wiped at them quickly before Jack finally came in to embrace him.
“I’m so sorry Bunny,” Jack said holding on tightly to the other.
“It’s not your fault, Jack. The little grumby just isn’t so little anymore,” he sniffed moving back to give Jack a small sad smile. “These things happen,” he stated, wiping his tears again.
“What’s this?” they heard Sophie say as she finally noticed the little gift on her desk, taking off her headphones. “Jamie!” she called out. “Did you leave this?”
“I’ve been downstairs on the couch since I last talked to you,” he replied from downstairs, still holding on to Abby.
“Then what’s this present here?”
“I don’t know, just open it I guess,” he called back.
“Brothers…” she rolled her eyes with a huff before looking at the gift. “It’s so pretty,” she smiled not seeing Jack move to sit next to Bunny before they watched as she carefully unwrapped her gift.
“Woah…” Sophie looked with wonder as she saw a dark magenta pericline egg decorated with intricate rose gold designs. There was a little golden pedestal that she took out of the box to place the egg on; and when she did a little chime played at the egg split into pieces, showing the mechanical insides as the egg changed into a little image of her being held upon Bunny’s shoulders. “Double woah…” she said before finding the letter inside, reading:
‘Dear Sophie, I know this isn’t exactly how you wanted to spend your birthday, but I hope as I know hope can do, that you’ll find the joy in this day. Easter brings new beginnings, and some new beginnings need a little laughter, and you’re now entering a new year of your life with both all around you. Cherish that as you celebrate your Birthday, and keep the hope ever close to you.
With Hope,
Bunnymund’
“Who’s Bunnymund?” Sophie said lowly turning the letter over.
“Well, that’ll be that,” Bunny sighed rising to his feet, Jack moving to him. “Jack,” he said turning, taking hold of the other’s shoulders and planting a light kiss on his lips, “I want to be alone for a bit, okay?”
“Will you be in the Warren?” he asked with concern.
“Yes, I just need to clear my head,” he said letting go before disappearing into one of his tunnels.
“Bunny…” Sophie said in her chair as she looked at the figure quizzically. “You don’t look like a cute little bunny who delivers eggs.
“He doesn’t have to be little to do that,” Jack sighed. “Jamie, you can let Abby go,” he called, Abby barking with excitement.
“Jamie come see this,” Sophie called.
“What is it?” Jamie asked, giving Jack a look before going to see what his sister had. “That’s beautiful.”
“You said the Easter Bunny earlier right?”
“Yeah. He brought that for you.”
“Why didn’t I see him?”
“Because you don’t actually believe anymore,” Jamie sighed, taking the figure out off the stand while it changed back into an egg. “You quote unquote grew up,” he said gently handing her the egg.
“Are they all real then?” She asked with curiosity.
“Yeah,” he said, seeing Jack smile a bit going to the window, creating frost and making an image of a bunny. “Look,” he motioned whil Sophie looked in amazement as the rabbit came off the window, hopping all around the room.
“Hop, hop, hop,” Sophie said with a small smile before the Bunny exploded in small snowflakes. “Thanks Jack,” she said being able to see the other again. “Though I wish you’d done that sooner.”
“What can I say? I’m a late bloomer all around,” Jack shrugged.
“Take me to the Warren?” she asked.
“You want to do the honors?” he asked pulling out a snow globe.
“To Bunny,” she said taking the globe before smashing it on the ground.
--
“I thought I had at least a little more time,” Bunny sighed sitting by the pond in the middle of his Warren. “And for it to happen so fast. I know she has her life, but that little grumby… She helped me see through just the work… to look at the children again—”
“To spread hope,” Sophie said behind Bunny who spun around, bearing his boomerangs.
“Sophie?” he asked with surprise while the girl came up and showed the little egg before it changed back into the figure of them.
“Sorry it took me a minute to remember,” she said before Bunny dropped his weapons and engulfed her in a hug, being careful of his gift to her. “I’m so sorry, Bunny,” she said when they parted. “I got so caught up in the idea of growing up and how my birthday shared everything that it kinda took away my belief,” she said.
“Sophie,” Bunny said holding on to her shoulders, “It’s alright.”
“No, it’s not. I shouldn’t want to grow older so fast. I want you all in my life, you essentially helped raise me.”
“Aw, ya little grumby,” he said ruffling her hair lightly. “Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.”
“Says the bunny that’s thousands of years old,” she stated smirking at him.
“Like I said,” he stated moving to haul her over his shoulder, hearing her squeal with glee like she was two years old again. “Growing up is optional,” he said going to walk over to Jack and Jamie who were watching from a tree. “I take it this was your fancy work?” he asked Jack, placing Sophie back down, a laughing mess.
“I couldn’t just leave without trying,” Jack laughed Bunny rolling his eyes, a small smile peaking up.
“You two head back for your family dinner,” Bunny said to the Bennetts. “I’ll be back on the first,” he said, giving Sophie one last hug.
“Promise?” Sophie asked.
“On my word as a Guardian,” he stated bowing to her. #2- Return of Ombric
North woke up to the frantic jarring of Phil who was speaking too fast for him to keep up with. “Phil, Phil,” he said with some force slowly sitting up, Bunny stirring next to him.
“What’s goin’ on Nicholas,” he asked, dazed by being woken so late.
“Nothing, dear. Sleep with good dreams,” North said kissing him on the temple. “I see what Phil needs and be right back.”
“Alright mate,” Bunny said drowsily settling back into bed, North fixing the covers and giving another kiss on the forehead. Putting on a robe he followed Phil outside.
“Phil, tell me again. I can’t understand you when you are like this,” he stated yawning.
Phil went back to trying to explain what was going on and that there was a guest at the door that he couldn’t turn away. “A guest?” North asked with some confusion. “Who?” he questioned, Phil explaining which caused North to look at him shocked before quickly going to find this guest.
“Ombric,” North said coming out into a meeting room. “I didn’t expect you to be here tonight,” he said s bit out of breath.
“Clearly,” Ombric said with an amused expression, North came up to embrace him.
“What brings you here old friend?” he asked when they parted. “It not like you to come in middle of night.”
“Is it the middle of the night?” Ombric asked pulling out a pocket watch seeing that it just changed to the correct time. “This damn thing, never working right when I need it,” he scowled putting it away. “I do apologize Nicholas; I didn’t intend on disturbing you.”
“It is not a worry, Ombric. Please sit, would you like some tea?”
“Not tonight dear lad, there are some things I wish to speak with you about,” Ombric stated pulling North gently to sit with him.
“What is the matter, my friend,” he said seeing Ombric give a concerned expression.
“I seem to have been misplacing my head,” Ombric started. “I do not recollect the events of the last fifty some odd years. I spoke with MIM and he confirmed it. Though he said I was quite absent as well, to a point where he was gaining concern.”
“We have noticed that yes, but we thought that you had your work…”
“No need to explain Nicholas,” Omberic smiled warmly. “MIM has said the same, and I appreciate your respect for what I do. I just really can’t recall what has happened.”
“A great deal has my friend,” North stated going on to explain everything that has happened with Pitch, Jack becoming a Guardian, and all that has occurred on Earth. Ombric listened curiously while the other explained.
“Why did I not sense Pitch’s return…” Ombric scowled, looking down at his own hands.
“Please, do not fret. Though he was strong, he was not like his old self. You might not have sensed it because of that,” he said seeing Ombric shake his head.
“I just do not understand Nicholas, I really don’t,” he sighed. “I’ve been trying to remember for days.”
“Please, Ombric, do not fret. Come, you must get rest,” North said rising gently, seeing the other shake a bit. “Please, come,” he said gently helping guide Ombric down the halls.
“I surely have become a silly old man,” Ombric mused with a sad smile.
“Nonsense,” North said, returning the smile. “You’ve just lost your head. We all do at times.”
“Let’s hope I can find it,” Ombric sighed while North brought him into one of his guest rooms, one that was closest to the one he and Bunny shared.
“Do not hesitate to get me, Omberic,” North stated, helping the man into bed. “You have given me such help; it is due time I repay it. Please rest for now and we will find your head,” he said with a weary smile.
“You are a good lad, Nicholas. Thank you,” Ombric said wearily.
North said his last goodbye’s and goodnight’s before he gently closed the door, Phil being outside. “Please have someone watching him tonight,” North said with concern before he left to go to his study where he looked out the window. “We must talk, Manny,” he said somberly,a ray of moonlight filtered down. “Ombric is ill,” he said hearing the concern Manny had as well. “How can we help him? Do you have any idea before I start digging?” he asked getting a reply. “Bunny,” he nodded. “We will keep you updated on what we find,” North said, Manny saying he would do the same.
Walking out of his study, he re-entered his room and found Bunny asleep on their bed still. “Bunny,” he said gently, rubbing at his back. “I need you to wake.”
“Hmh?” Bunny groaned moving to look up at North who gave him a worried expression. “What’s wrong?” he asked sitting up, seeming to sober up quickly from sleep.
“Ombric is here, and he has fallen ill.”
“Ill how?” Bunny asked as he sat up, North kneeling to wrap his arms around his waist while he sat.
“He has forgotten the last fifty years, and doesn’t know how that’s happened,” North said sorrowfully.
“That isn’t good,” Bunny said thoughtfully holding on to North’s arms.
“He’s resting now. But this is unheard of.”
“Not in the slightest actually,” Bunny stated. “Come with me to your study? I need to find the Cordila.”
“I do not believe that I have that in my possession,” North sighed.
“You do,” Bunny said smiling gently as he stood. “I brought it in from somewhere secret after we got married,” he smirked walking over to his study across the hall.
“When is you obtain it?” North questioned as they entered.
“Long before you were born,” he chuckled going to pull out a stout book that allowed the entire bookcase to open up.
“When did you do all this?” North questioned with astonishment.
“Um…” Bunny thought, looking away from the other. “A few years ago?”
“And why didn’t you tell me this?” he interrogated, arms folded, scowling at the other before Bunny came up, gently pulling his arms apart while the other gently kissed him.
“Mate, you know how extensive my collections are. And how rare. I know the pole is protected which was why I brought this collection here, but I couldn’t just mix it with everything else.”
“I understand, but I would liked to have known first,” North sighed.
“You’re right, I’m sorry Nicholas,” he apologized.
“Eh… we talk about this later…” he sighed again. “Where is the Cordila?”
“Over here,” Bunny said as he went through and pulled out a large yellow book. “This book contains everything about Atlantean life, including illnesses.”
“Is that why you said that Ombric losing his head is not surprising?”
“Yep,” Bunny said turning the pages. “It’s hard to explain the way it works, but because Ombric has been going through time, it’s having some side effects. With the people of Atlantis being avid time travelers, they took note of it and found some remedies.”
“Would Ombric have known this?”
“Probably not. It takes a lot of travel through time for this to effect someone like this,” he stated, pointing to a passage while North read it. “Let him rest for now and I’ll whip up the potion that’ll get his memories back,” he smiled, seeing North relax a bit.
“Thank you, my heard,” North said, returning the smile.
“It’s not a problem, luv. But would you be willing to get me some of these ingredients? They’re unfortunately scattered around Earth.”
“Give me list and consider it done,” North nodded.
-----
The rest of the night passed while North and Bunny collected what they needed before beginning to work on the potion. Unfortunately for them, it was a precise mixture; one mixed step, and it would turn into black ooze. This only happened three times before they both sat back in their chairs with the success of making the potion perfectly.
“I guess it was a good thing you got extra of the ingredients,” Bunny laughed while North gave him the stink eye with a small smile on his face.
“It never hurts to have extra,” he chuckled, looking at the time.
“We should probably bring this to him,” Bunny stated, standing up again to pick up the corked serum that was twinkling a soft orange color.
“Come,” North said walking down the hall. North scowled not seeing a yeti in front of the door before he knocked on it, not hearing a reply. Sighing, he opened the door, finding Ombric missing.
“That bugger,” Bunny snickered. “Always moving about,” he stated, gently pulling North by the elbow, to continue down the hall. “I think I know where he is.”
North allowed himself to be pulled as they entered the workshop, which was quiet in the early morning hours. They had gone through a few more twists and turns before they had gotten to the kitchen where all the Yetis and elves were having their breakfast. They could see Ombric moving from table to table happily having conversations with them.
“He seems in his element,” Bunny smiled.
“As always,” North chuckled before Ombric turned to see them.
“Good morning to you both,” Ombric said with a wide smile.
“Morning you wombat,” Bunny chuckled embracing the other. “It’s been a while hasn’t it?”
“That it has, Bunnymund. I wish I could tell you why it has been,” he stated, his smile weakening.
“Come, Ombric,” North started. “Let’s go somewhere quieter.”
Leaving the kitchen, the three started off to one of the meeting rooms. Bunny and Ombric spent the time chatting about certain magical things that made North beamed. He loved it when the three of them could be together like this, even with the circumstances. There was nothing more he wanted then to help Ombric get his memories back.
“Now your memories,” Bunny said entering the room, showing Ombric the vial. “Were you ever able to learn about how time travel could affect the mind?”
“Yes, but I don’t believe that it would effect memories,” he stated scowling a bit.
“Did you get the copy of the Cordila I sent to you?”
“I don’t believe so… When did you send it?”
“Oh wait.. that was thirty years ago… You wouldn’t remember,” Bunny stated lowly. “Traveling in time for so long can start to have effects on the memory. It was common for your people, especially the ones who traveled through time even more than you do,” he explained, all of them taking a seat. “This is a serum that can help restore those memories, but you’re also goin’ to need to take a brake from time travel for a bit.”
“Hopefully whatever I was doing won’t require much more of it,” Ombric sighed taking the vial and drinking it. “Just terrible that stuff is,” he chuckled, giving the glass back to Bunny. “But it is very effective,” he smiled while the memories came coming back. “And yes, I do have the Cordila and I don’t need to travel in time for what I was doing,” he nodded as Bunny and North relaxed.
“What were you up to then during these last years?” North asked with a small smile.
“You wouldn’t believe it Nicholas,” Ombric said as he started to explain.
And Bunny and North listened happily as they heard of their friend’s adventures. Nothing could tear them away from letting Ombric explain everything in detail. They were just happy that he was well again and the all that was wrong was a normal occurrence of time travel.
