Winter Moon (Jelsa)

Chapter 13: Jack

"Easter Kangaroo?" Bunnymund demanded incredulously.

I grinned despite our situation. Bunnymund was my fellow Elite as well as Guardian. When the Elites were established, we had been split into branches, each in charge of a different place or group. We were part of the Guardians, along with Toothiana, North, and Sandy. Officially, we watched over children, keeping them safe in different ways. Rapunzel was part of a different branch, known as the Experiments. Experiments were considered lesser to the rest of the branches, and Rapunzel had often been shunned in the Elite community. It didn't stop us from becoming friend though.

Rapunzel giggled, and Bunnymund shot her an icy glare. 

"Sorry," I said, not feeling very sorry. "I meant bunny."

"Now," Bunnymund growled in a not-very-bunny-like way, "what have you been doing, frolicking around with an Experiment and a commoner? You just ruined city property."

Rapunzel, Ella, and I turned to glance guiltily back at the open dome. "You see-"

Bunnymund cut me off, "Actually, I don't want to hear it. Save your excuses for North. You, Experiment, get out of my sight. And you..."

Bunnymund paused, glaring at Ella.

Surprisingly, Ella dropped into a quick curtsy. "Apologies, sir, we didn't mean to destroy city property, but I'm sure this is an easy fix for the skilled architects of Skyara. As for what we were doing, we were searching for our friend. She is lost, I'm afraid, and we may require professional intervention."

My eyebrows shot up. Someone was formal. 

"Your lost friend," Bunnymund said suspiciously. He thought Ella was lying. "Who is your lost friend, exactly?"

"Merida of DunBroch, sir," Ella responded.

Bunnymund scoffed. "Merida of DunBroch, you say? There's no way a princess would wander into some rundown temple."

"You haven't met Merida," Rapunzel piped up.

Bunnymund looked as if he was going to strangle her.

"Come on, Bunnymund," I grumbled. "I'm always getting into trouble with Punzie. Just let her head back, and I'll debrief you."

Bunnymund sighed, since these scenarios were not unusual. I enjoyed having fun, even if it meant getting my hands dirty. And I usually did it with Rapunzel or even Sandy when he bothered to visit.

"You've been the most polite out of everyone here, I'll give you that. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to wipe your memory," Bunnymund told Ella.

Panic flashed across her features. "No. I won't tell anyone. Just don't wipe my memory."

"I've got no choice. You're a commoner, and this is Elite business. Don't worry. You'll wake up back in your bed with no memory of these events," Bunnymund could be kind when he wanted to be, so that was why he was probably made a Guardian. 

"No. You don't understand! Just don't wipe my memory!" Ella back towards the ledge.

What was wrong? Sure, nobody liked amnesia, but she seemed almost afraid of it.

"Ella, what's wrong?" I asked as gently as I could.

"It's-" she bit her lip, eyes darting left and right, looking for a way out.

Suddenly, she moved, vaulting over the edge of the dome, she disappeared back into the temple.

Shit.

She couldn't go back there. I didn't want to go back there. 

Bunnymund moved to leap back into the temple. 

"No! Wait!" I shouted. "Just give me a chance to talk to her. Punzie will debrief you. But you don't want to go down there."

Bunnymund muttered something unpleasant under his breath. "Fine. You have ten minutes."

"Thanks," I steeled myself to jump back into Pitch's temple. 

"Why am I always making exceptions for you?" he narrowed his eyes at me.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Rapunzel asked. "For light?"

"I'll be fine," I lied. "It'll take only a few minutes. Give me your orb-light, Bunny."

Grumbling, Bunnymund handed over the small glass orb clipped to his belt.

After giving the light a firm shake so that it began to glow, I turned and jumped headfirst into the dark.