“So let me get this straight, the huge tree is the source of a new life of spring. It’s what makes spring-born and the Eastah’ Bunny helps the tree bring springtime to the Human Realm and the Rabbit Realm. And it’s the source of everythin’ that grows around here?” I ask.

My mom and dad smile and nod. They seem impressed with how I explained the Tree of the Realm. They clap their paws and applaud.

“That is correct, son. Well done,” says my mom.

I bow with a proud smile. “Thank you, thank you all,” I say.

I raise my back. “So dad, what did you mean by learnin’ about our ancestah’s?” I ask.

“I want to show you our history,” answers my dad.

“And where is that history?” I ask.

My father points at Deegra Castle near the Village. It is about six miles from the Tree of the Realm. I groan and drop my head.

“It’s back at Deegra Village? We’ve just left there. You could have told me before we ran to his huge tree.” I complain.

“Your mother and I had to show you the Tree of the Realm before you can learn about our ancestors,” says my dad.

I rub my head and quietly groan. “But we’ve just run from Deegra Village and my bloody rabbit feet are still tired from runnin’,” I say.

I sit on the green grass and rub my feet. My dad whistles and the three big humming rainbow birds walk to my dad. I look up at them and scoot away.

“Oh no! I aint ridein’ on those things again!” I say.

Deegra quietly chuckles. “Is the Easter Bunny afraid of heights?” he mocks.

I jump back on my feet and aim my wooden staff at Deegra’s face.

“I aint the Eastah’ Bunny yet, so don’t you mock me, mate!” I shout.

My father lowers my staff. “We know. Son, if you don’t get over your fears then you will never become the next Easter Bunny. Being the Easter Bunny requires bravery, courage, and being fearless too,” he says.

I look at one of the big hummingbirds and it looks down at me. I am thinking about the time when I rode on an airplane to get to Easter Island. I remember closing my eyes and panting with fear. I remember that a snowstorm almost caused the plane to crash. Or at least I thought it might. I gulp and shake my head.

“I-I can’t. I’m just too scared. I’m sorry, but I can’t fly on that big bird.” I shudder.

The big hummingbird lowers his head and shakes it. He lets out a sad little tweet. The big hummingbird thinks that I do not trust him. I sniff and wipe my nose with my jacket sleeve.

“Oh no, it aint your big bird. It’s me. I’m very scared of flyin’ aftah’ I flew in an airplane. I’ve always been scared of heights. Maybe that is why I always love bein’ on the ground, because of what I am. I mean I aint somebody with wings or levitation. I think my kind adapts to the ground with the plants and veggies. So don’t take it too hard there, mate,” I say to the big bird.

My mom walks to the same big rainbow hummingbird and pets its head. The big bird smiles.

“If there’s one thing I know, these birds will never let you fall. If they accidentally do, they will catch you. It’s like a friend being there for you when you trip, then they pick you back up,” says my mom.

“I’m just scared, mom,” I say.

My mom gently takes my paw and pulls me to the same big bird.

“Trust the bird. He will look after you as you fly,” she says.

“But mom, I’m still scared,” I say.

I smack myself on my forehead. “Crickey, now I sound like a scared little kid,” I say.

The big bird tweets at me and gently bumps me. I shudder and pant quietly. I look into the big bird's eyes and he looks right into mine. And I can tell that he will watch over me if I fly on him. I do a crooked smile and shake my head with a sigh.

“All right, let’s fly,” I say.

I jump onto the big bird's back and hang on to its feathers. I try not to rip them off. That would hurt him. My mom smiles and jumps onto her big bird too. My dad, Candy, and Fluffy got on their big bird as well. Deegra doesn’t hop onto any birds. No one tries to convince him to ride on any big birds.

“How come you don’t want to ride, Deegra?” I ask.

Deegra stretches his feet and cracks its toes. “I need to keep in good shape, kid,” he answers.

I scrunch my shoulders. The other big birds all fly in the air and towards Deegra Village. Deegra cracks his knuckles, his neck, his back, his legs, and his arms. I am waiting for him to run. Deegra begins to run to Deegra Village and away from the huge tree. He is running on all four like a rabbit. I stare at Deegra Village and know this was going to be a short flight. “All right, when I say now,” I say.

The big hummingbird nods.

Before I say anything, I feel a leaf landing on my head. I grab the leaf and stare at it. It is dark gray. I turn my head to the Tree of the Realm. It seems fine. The leaves are still very colorful. I turn back my head and stare at the dark gray leaf on my palm. I turn back to the huge tree. I lower my head and there are no leaves on the ground. I shake my head and put the dark gray leaf in my jacket pocket.

“Okay, now!” I shout.

The big bird that I am riding on flaps his wings and tweets loudly. It runs fast and leaps into the air. It flaps to gain more height and speed. I shut my eyes tightly and hold on for dear life.

“Not so high! Lower down!” I shout.

But the big hummingbird will not listen as it flies higher and higher. I can feel the wind on my face. My long rabbit ears are flapping in the wind. My hood is flapping too. I do not feel like opening my eyes. I wanted to, but I am too scared of how high I am. I sigh and peek with my right eye. I open the other one. My eyes are wide open. I can see everything in the Rabbit Realm. I see the purple mountains, the orange trees, the little huts, and the castles. Everything is little because of how high I am.

I turn back to the Tree of the Realm and it is still huge and colorful too no matter how I am. I slowly pant and then my panting changes into laughing. I slowly let go of the bird’s feathers and stretch my arms out. I am keeping my balance. I am laughing out loud as I am enjoying this flight.

“This is so much bettah’ than on an airplane!” I shout.

Then I lost my balance, slide right off the right side, and fall off the big hummingbird. I scream as I am falling. The big bird quickly grabs my hood with its beak. I sigh.

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“That was a close one,” I say.

The big bird is still flying in the air as it holds onto my hood with its beak. Without me on its back, it feels like I am flying. I raise my arms again. I am laughing. I am enjoying this flight. I can see Deegra Village right under us. Candy, Fluffy, Clover, my mom, and my dad are already there. But there is no sign of Deegra, the orange muscular Rabaca.

“Okay big guy, take us down,” I say.

The big bird gently hovers toward the ground. It lands and lets my hood go. I land on the ground and my legs are stumbling a little.

I trip and fall on my behind. “Wow, now that was quite a beautiful flight,” I say.

My mom and dad smile and I smile back at them. They are proud of me for facing my fears of heights. I hear panting behind me. I turn to see who it is. It is Deegra, he pants as he bends his back. He can barely speak.

“You’re here?” he pants.

Clover pats Deegra’s back. “Take a breather,” she says.

Deegra is now breathing normally. I point at myself.

“After you just beat me when we raced, you still have beaten me to my Village?” he asks.

“I uh flew,” I say.

Deegra turns to the big bird that I rode on and turns back to me.

“Let me guess you screamed at the top of your lungs like a wimp?” he chuckles.

I shake my head. “I quite enjoyed the flight,” I say.

Deegra waves his paw at me. “I’m impressed.” He sits on the ground.

The small orange rabbits are all playing with Candy.

“Let’s play tag,” says Candy.

The orange small rabbits are confused about the game that Candy wants to play.

“You guys don’t know what tag is?” asks Candy.

The orange rabbits shake their heads. Candy kneels her knees and begins to explain the game tag. My mom is chatting with Clover and Deegra is resting on the grass. The big rainbow hummingbird flies into the air. I watch them as they are flying away.

My dad taps on my shoulder to get my attention.

“Come on son,” he says.

I follow him to Deegra Castle. “Where are we goin’, dad?” I ask.

My father points at Deegra Castle.

We made it to the castle. My dad opens big circle stone doors and grunts. I help him open the door. Inside Deegra Castle is nothing but darkness. There are no candles. I walk into the castle and hold the wooden staff with the Golden Egg on top of it. The Golden Egg glows in the dark. It is like a bright candle. My dad smiles and I smile back.

We close the door behind us.

“So, where are we goin’, dad?” I ask.

“I am going to show you the history of the Easter Bunny,” answers my dad.

Then I remember about the Shadow Rabbits and that they attack in the shadows.

“Dad, what if the Shadow Rabbits attack us in this dark place?” I ask.

“Don’t worry. Chivem Land is where they live. They cannot escape it,” answers my dad.

“But Trodant Village was attacked by Shadow Rabbits,” I say.

My dad gasps. “What?!” he shouts.

I sigh and lower my staff. “I should have told you before. The Shadow Rabbits attacked Trodant Village. There was smoke and fiah’. All of the little ones were taken. Except for one who is with my little sistah’ now. Ferant Castle collapsed into dust. Trodant Village is where I was born. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you before. It’s just I needed to find the Eastah’ Bunny. And I didn’t think about Trodant Village, until now,” I say.

My father is confused as he rubs his chin. “Shadow Rabbits don’t go anywhere they please. I should know. I’m the one who banished them to Chivem Land where it’s always dark and shadowy there,” he says.

My dad strokes his rabbit ears. “I don’t understand. Shadow Rabbits don’t cause fire or smoke. And they most certainly do not leave Chivem Land where it’s always dark and shadowy,” he says.

I lift my staff with the Golden Egg. “Let’s find out why they left Chivem Land,” I say.

My dad nods. “After I show you something,” he says.

My dad and I are walking into the dark castle. We walk down a long hall dark grey hallway with many arches. They are huge and they look old with cracks and vines all over them. We walk out of the hallway and into a huge round room. It is still very dark. I turn to the Golden Egg.

“Come on little thing. Can you glow a bit brightah’ for us?” I ask.

The Golden Egg begins to glow brighter and brighter, so bright that my dad and I shield our eyes with our paws. I notice a tiny hole in the middle of the dark room. I walk to the hole and place the wooden staff in it. Now we can see the entire round room that we are in. On the ceiling are old drawings. They look like the same drawings that I saw in the caves before I entered the Rabbit Realm.

“Have you evah’ been here before?” I ask my dad.

“Only once when I was little. My dad brought me here,” answers my dad.

The drawings look like small rabbits and tall Rabaca’s warriors. In the middle of the ceiling is a drawing of a tree. It looks like the Tree of the Realm. Around the tree are small rabbits circling the tree. Around the small rabbit circle are tall Rabaca warriors. They surround the tree and the small Rabaca circle. In the middle of the tree is a picture of Earth.

“Dad, what is all this?” I ask.

My dad points at the drawing of the tree in the middle of the ceiling.

“That is the Tree of the Realm in the middle of the earth. It is the birthplace and the very source of spring. It is the very source of the Spring Equinox,” he answers.

I point at the small rabbits that surround the tree and the earth.

“And what are they?” I ask.

“They are the privies Easter Bunnies and the tall ones are their fathers,” my dad answers.

I look around to see if I can find a drawing of me and my dad. But none of them seem to look like us. I found a Rabaca picture that is wearing a robe.

“Hey dad, is this you?” I ask.

My dad walks to the drawing that I found on the wall.

He stares at it. “I think so. I remember drawing my picture,” he answers.

“Who drew these pictah’s or drawin’s?” I ask.

“All of the previous Easter Bunnies did. Each of them drew their picture of themselves after they became the Easter Bunny,” answers my dad.

“So what does the Eastah’ Bunny do besides delivah’ eggs and candy?” I ask.

My dad chuckles. “Oh, we don’t deliver candy. Humans do that. We just deliver the eggs that we make. But it’s more than just delivering eggs,” he says.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“My son,” my dad begins to explain. “The previous Easter Bunnies are the beginning of hope of spring and the end of winter. As I said about the Spring Equinox, they help the cycle of the seasons. They bring joy and hope to the world as they hide eggs. But hiding eggs is just a part of the job.

The Easter Bunny ends winter by growing plants and flowers all over the Human Realm. He helps the Tree of the Realm grow. And it grows so does spring. And the Easter Bunny is the beginning of spring. If there is no beginning of spring then the season cycle will break. And winter will always remain.

That is what the Easter Bunny does every year in March. After March passes, the Easter Bunny delivers the eggs on Easter Sunday. He brings springtime on March twentieth. That is what I used to do and that is what you will do.” he explains.

“Hang a minute! Did you say the Spring Equinox?” I ask.

“Yes, I did. The Easter Bunny begins springtime on March twentieth during the Spring Equinox. It is the Spring Equinox that makes spring some every year. It’s what the Easter Bunny does. He begins the Spring Equinox on March twentieth every year before Easter,” answers my dad.

I drop my head and walk away. I kneel on my knees, fold my arms, and shut my eyes.

“Oh…crikey,” I say.

“Son, are you all right?” he asks.

I open my eyes. “The Eastah’ Bunny has to do with something about the Spring Equinox and I have’ta end wintah’ and bring spring back on March?” I ask.

“You will eventually,” answers my dad.

“But we’ve just passed March. I thought that springtime comes every year on Eastah’ Sunday?” I ask.

“Nope, we just deliver eggs on Easter Sunday after we bring the spring back on the Spring Equinox in March,” answers my dad.

“But…” I rub my back head. “Gowin’ plants from thin air, bringin’ spring back to the Human Realm. It all sounds…very hard,” I say.

“Plants do not grow out of thin air my son. We help them grow. I know it seems very hard. All the Easter Bunnies felt the same way that you feel now,” says my dad.

“It just feels new and so very hard. I mean I thought Eastah’ Bunnies are about deliverin’ candy and eggs. But this changes everythin’ of what I thought about them. I don’t know if I can take it,” I say.

My dad places his paw on my shoulder.

“The humans added something new to Easter. We never deliver sugar candy. I told you, it was humans that do that for the little kids. But we do deliver the eggs. Even though some parents do the egg hiding and the candy baskets, we deliver our colorful eggs to those who can’t do the egg and basket hunting for their children. It’s like community service to help those who can’t celebrate or do anything on Easter Sunday. Son, I know it’s a hard burden to do the Spring Equinox. But when the time comes when you bring back springtime, think about who you’re doing it for,” he says.

I stand, stiff, and wipe my pink nose with a sigh.

I turn to my Rabaca dad. “Did the previous Eastah’ Bunnies have help from their fathah’s as well?” I ask.

My dad nods. “Most of them did. But I will help you learn how to control plants and flowers. It’s not that hard,” he says.

I smile and nod. “As long as you train me, I will become the Eastah’ Bunny in no time,” I say.

I grab the wooden stuff and pull it out of the hole.

“By the way, who drew these drawin’s?” I ask.

“I told you, the previous Easter Bunnies did. Whenever a Rabaca brings back springtime on March twentieth and delivers their eggs, they draw themselves on the ceiling or the walls. Giving them their mark in history,” answers my dad.

We walk out of the round room and into the hallway.

“Do you think that I will be on the celin’? You know, a drawin’ of me?” I ask.

“Once when you restore spring and become the Easter Bunny, your drawing will be on the ceiling or the walls. Of course, you have to draw it yourself,” answers my dad.

We both make it out of the castle. We walk outside and close the doors behind us. I turn around and gasp in shock. My dad turns around and gasps loudly.