My dad and I are at the bottom of Keaple Lake. I still feel too scared to swim up to the surface and I’m loosening air…fast!

My dad wraps his arm around my waist and starts pulling me up. He swims up to the surface. We finally make it and gasp for air. I am still afraid to swim. I am panicking and screaming. Even though I know how to swim, the red flower of fear is making me too scared to even stroke. I am splashing and gasping. My dad helps me swim to shore, where Candy, mom, Clover, Deegra, and Fluffy are waiting.

Deegra runs into the shallow part of the lake and swims to up us. He helps me and my dad swim to shore. My arms are slipping off of my dad’s shoulders. I feel too weak and afraid to hang on a little longer. My arms slip and I begin to sink into the lake.

I slowly open my eyes and see the large sun crystal from the water's surface. It looks so beautiful and bright. Like a sunbeam warming my body. Even though it is cold underwater I can still feel the warmth of the sun crystal. Deegra jump’s into the lake and swims up to me. He grabs my arm and helps me swim up to the surface. We gasp for air. Deegra helps me swim to shore. We made it and Deegra pulls me with my feet dragging. I feel very weak and I am still panting with fear. My eyes are closed. My furry body is soaking wet and so is my blue hooded jacket. Candy and Clover run up to me. Candy shakes my shoulders.

“Jake, Jake answer me!” she shouts.

I slowly open my eyes. My eyesight is a bit blurry, but then it clears. Candy and Clover are looking down at me. I look into Clover’s eyes. The image of Dronko comes into my mind. I remember Dronko almost killing me. I remember the Shadow Rabbits attacking me when I was a baby rabbit. I shake and turn away from Candy and Clover.

“Get away! Get away!” I shout.

I curl up like an armadillo and shake like a rattlesnake's tail. “Don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt me.” I whisper.

Candy turns to Clover. “What’s wrong with him?” asks Candy.

Clover shakes her head. “Oi vey! I told Jake to stay away from the mood flowers!” she shouts.

“What’s happened to him?” asks Candy.

My mom kneels next to my dad. Even my dad is shaking in fear from the sight of his Rabaca wife.

“They’ve been infected,” answers my mom.

Candy still doesn’t understand. “Infected by what, what have they been affected by?” she asks.

Clover’s eyes widen. “The red flower of fear,” she answers.

Candy begins to whimper.

“The red flower of fear?” she whimpers.

“It’s one of the mood flowers. They can heal any wounds, but their sent is very dangerous. Jake and his father have sniffed the red flower of fear and now they are really scared,” answers Clover.

“H-how long will it last? My brother is acting like he’s afraid of everything,” asks Candy.

Clover and my mom do not answer.

I turn around to Candy and see her crying for me. “C-Candy.” I stutter.

Candy hugs me and I cannot hug her back because I am still very scared.

“It should have worn off by now.” I shake.

My dad turns to me. “I know, but something’s wrong.” He shakes.

I nod. “I know. Dronko must have done somethin’ to make this fear pollen last for a long time,” I say.

My mom gasps in horror. “Did you say Dronko?” she asks.

I nod with a wimp. My mom gently grabs her husband’s paws.

“I thought that you banished your older brother away from this Realm?” she asks.

My dad shakes his head. “I thought I did too. But somehow he returned to the Rabbit Realm and has been hiding in Chivem Land for a long time. He infected us with a red flower of fear. I thought that it was supposed to wear off soon. But he must have done something to make it last longer. I don’t know what, but if we don’t find a cure then we’re going to have lots of nightmares,” says my dad.

I whimper loudly and I feel like crying again. “N-nightmares.” I shudder.

Candy is still crying quietly. I don’t know what to do. I slowly turn to see the five kings and the five queens with their egg necklaces symbols on them. They are all tall Rabaca’s. There are also lots and lots of small rabbits. They all have different light colors. There are at least thousands of rabbits and Rabaca’s. It looks like they have been waiting for me for a long time.

The blue ones are from the Ceaity Tribe, they are tall, and they have egg shape signs with a sunflower shape.

The turquoises are from Eobni Tribe, they are tall very too, and their egg sign has a flower with a plant on it.

The light blues are from the Chuua Tribe. They are tall, and their egg sign looks like a beehive.

The yellows are from the Ochinm tribe. They too are muscular like Deegra, except for the females. Their egg sign has stars on it.

And the dark grays are from the Famernt tribe. They are chubby, except for the females. Their egg sign has stars on it too.

They are all gathering together near Keaple Lake. Rabaca warriors from the five tribes are also near the lake. The warriors are wearing armor that almost looks like Samurai. It is a gathering. I slowly stand up and shake my legs. Candy holds onto my arm. I am too scared to talk anymore.

“Can you help them?” asks Candy to the kings and queens.

My mother kneels and stokes Candy’s long blonde hair.

“They’ll try. I will too,” she answers.

My mom slowly helps my dad up on his feet. My heart is pounding so fast that I am panting and feel more terrified. My mom, my dad, and I all walk to the five Rabaca kings and queens. Candy follows us and so does Clover. The kings and queens are surprised to see me. They weren’t expecting me to be the next Easter Bunny. Some look disappointed.

“Who is this?” asks the turquoise Rabaca, king of the Eobni.

I still can’t answer. I am still too scared.

“This is my son,” my mom answers for me.

“His name is Jake Grant. We gave him that name,” says my dad.

I slowly lift my paw and wave to the fives kings and queens. The king of the Famernt tribe walks up to me. He looks into my eyes and I look into his. King Famernt turns to my dad and notices that he is breathing calmly and shaking a little.

King Famernt turns to the other Rabaca kings and queens. “He’s been infected by the red flower of fear,” says King Famernt.

The five kings and queens are worried. The king of the Ceaity tribe begins to speak.

“We’ve never seen the red flower of fear lasts this long before,” he says.

Candy is crying again. The queen of the Ceaity tribe walk’s up to me and places her paw on my heart.

“My heart is beatin’ too fast.” I pant.

The queen of the Ceaity tribe moves her paw off of my chest and turns to the other kings and queens.

“We need to help them,” she says.

“Them?” asks the king of the Chuaa tribe.

“Jake’s father and Jake’s hearts are pounding very fast,” says the queen of the Ceaity tribe.

My dad doesn’t seem like he’s panting as much as I am. He is kind of calm.

“My heart is fine, but there is still a bit of fear in me,” he says.

Candy looks up at my father. “How come you aren’t very scared like Jake?” she asks.

“Because little one, I know what my big brother put in the red flower of fear. And I know how to calm myself if I ever get infected. Jake on the other hand does not know how to calm himself,” answers my dad.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I pant and turn to my dad. “What did Dronko put in that red flowah’ of fear?” I ask.

“I guess he put some more red pollen from other red flowers in the red flower of fear. The more pollen it has, the longer the feeling will last,” he answers.

“How much did Dronko put in there?” I ask.

My dad hesitates for a minute. “It’s unclear how much pollen he put it in,” he answers.

My heart is beating faster than ever. “H-how long will i-it last?!” I stutter and shout.

“I don’t know,” answers my dad.

I continue panting as my heart beast beats faster and faster. It feels close to a heartbeat of a hummingbird. I place my paw on my chest. I begin to panic.

“I can’t take it anymore!” I shout.

My mom hits my head and I fall onto the ground on my back. “Sorry,” she says.

I slowly open my eyes and it is a little fuzzy. After a few seconds, my eyesight clears. Surrounding me are the five Rabaca kings and queens. I am in the middle of them. I am tied onto a wooden log with green vines holding me down. My jacket is unzipped and my furry chest and tummy are showing.

I am more terrified and begin to struggle. “What the bloody heck is goin’ on?” I ask.

The five kings and queens all place their paws on my chest. My heart is still pounding fast.

“Mom! Dad! I’m scared!” I shout.

I look around and do not see them anywhere. But their voices are calling out to me. “Calm down, son. They know what they’re doing,” I heard my dad.

The five kings and queens all whisper together.

“Let nature be your cure, let rain heal the sick, let the clear air heal your wounds, and let the ground make you strong,” they all chat.

The five kings and queens are chanting the same words over and over again like a record player on repeat. So many colorful small rabbits are surrounding me. They are chanting the same words. Thousands of Rabaca’s are surrounding me and chanting along. I look above and thousands of big rainbow birds are hovering over me. They are tweeting in harmony. I know that the Rabaca’s are helping me to get rid of the fear flower that infecting me. I calm myself and breathe slowly. I shut my eyes and join the chanting.

“Let natah’ be my cure, let rain heal my sickness, let the clear air heal my wounds, and let the ground make me strongah’,” I whisper.

I open my eyes and all the kings and queens kneel. Their paws are still on my furry chest. I can see my mom and dad with Candy. They too are kneeling and chanting the same words. I turn to the right and see Clover. She is chanting.

All the trees in the east of Keaple Lake begin to glow brightly. The light from the trees is light purple. One by one the trees in the Rabbit Realm begin to glow. The Rainbow Humming Bird's wings are glowing with so many colors. The lights on the trees and the hummingbirds all flow in the air and around me. The colorful lights are so bright. I am closing my eyes. Everyone is still chanting the same words over and over again.

“Let nature be your cure, let rain heal the sickness, let the clear air heal your wounds, and let the ground make you strong. Let nature be your cure, let rain heal the sickness, let the clear air heal your wounds, and let the ground make you strong. Let nature be your cure, let rain heal the sickness, let the clear air heal your wounds, and let the ground make you strong.” they are repeating over and over again.

I feel something in my body. It feels like warm hot chocolate only without the flavor. It also feels like the warmth of a fire glow but without the smoke. I feel the fear that’s inside me wreathing away. It feels like water flowing after the snow had melted. It feels wonderful. I know that everyone is trying to heal the flower of fear inside of me. My heart slows down as it is beating normally. I pant as I breathe slowly. The fear is gone. The vines release me. I slowly sit up, take a deep breath, and let it out.

I feel like my normal self again. Well, normal as I can be. The lights from the trees and hummingbirds dim. I scoot off of the log and stand up. The five kings and queens stand up. And do my mom, my dad, Candy, Fluffy, Clover, and Deegra. Fluffy is with the other Kings and Queens. He is wearing a leafy crown on his head.

“Fluffy, you’re one of the kings?” I ask.

Fluffy nods.

I pick up Fluffy and hug the little rabbit. “Thank you for helping me, mate,” I say.

I set Fluffy back on the ground and he runs up to Candy. I walk up to Candy and hug her. She laughs and hugs me back. I feel so happy that Candy is safe and unharmed. Candy and I release our hugs.

“Are you all right?” I ask Candy.

“Yes, I am. Are you?” she asks back.

“I am now,” I answer.

I walk to my Rabaca mom and dad. “So, what did you guys do to heal me?” I ask.

My mom points at the purple trees in the east. “We called upon the forces of nature to heal you, son,” she answers.

I cannot believe what my mom just told me.

“You got be kiddin’ me. Are you serious?” I ask.

“We are serious, Jake,” answer my mom.

My Rabaca mom and dad are not kidding at all. I look down and stare at the green grass. I kneel and touch it with my paws. The grass slowly moves and some of it is touching my paws. It feels like little fingers. I am about to freak out because I think it is weird that nature healed me. I smile at the green grass and quietly chuckle.

I stand up and look back at mom and dad. “So, it was natuah’ itself that healed me?” I ask.

“Yes, it was,” my father explains. “You see, for you to control these plants, they need to trust you first, just like you trust a friend or a member of the family. Once when the plants gain your trust, they will always be there to help you, and protect you in this Realm.” He finishes.

It sounds very hard what my dad just told me. “Well then, someday they will gain my trust,” I say.

I turn to the kings and queens.

“So, what are you guy’s doin’ out here?” I ask.

The king of the Chuaa begins to explain. “We are here to meet the son of the Easter Bunny. And apparently, it’s you. Also to discuss what we’re going to do about the Shadow Rabbits attacking our homes and taking our young ones,” he says.

I drop my head and shake it. “You’re all mistaken mate,” I say.

Deegra walks up to me. “Are we mistaken about you not being the son of the Easter Bunny?” he asks me.

“No, about the Shadow Rabbits attakin’ your homes. It’s not the Shadow Rabbits. It’s someone else,” I say.

Deegra joins the five kings and queens. He folds his arms with a grumpy look.

“Then who is burning our villages and kidnapping our little ones, hmm?” he asks me.

I turn to my dad and tilt my head. My dad walks up to the five Rabaca kings and queens.

“It’s my big brother, Dronko,” he answers.

King Famernt shakes his head. “That’s impossible,” he says.

I let out a loud laugh. “We just told you all that Dronko was the one who infected us with the red flowah’ of fear. Why do they always say that word when the impossible happens?” I ask.

“Because it is impossible!” bloats King Ceaity the blue Rabaca.

“May I and my dad saw Dronko face to face. He nearly killed us. He said that he was lookin’ for the next Eastah’ Bunny and wanted to become the Eastah’ Bunny. That is why he tried to kill me and my dad,” I say.

Deegra walks up to me. “So it’s you!” he shouts.

“What?” I ask.

Deegra pokes my chest. “Dronko was looking for you! He was looking for the Easter Bunny, son! That is why he took our little ones! But he meant to take you! You brought this upon us!” he shouts.

I feel nervous to answer because Deegra might be right.

“I didn’t mean to become the next Eastah’ Bunny. I’m sorry,” I say.

Deegra sighs and calms down. “I’m sorry too, for blaming you,” he says.

“It’s all right mate,” I say.

I walk past Deegra and to the five Rabaca kings and queens.

“Dronko said that he will soon release all of the Shadow Rabbits from Chivem Land. If that happens, then…I don’t what will happen if he releases them. But I could tell you it aint good,” I say.

My dad clears his throat. “They’ve been released one time when you were a baby Rabaca. But I’ve banished them into Chivem Land. Soon that banishment will end and then no one will be safe,” he says.

“Wait, are you sayin’ that the Shadow Rabbits have been out of Chivem Land before and attacked this Realm?” I ask.

My dad nods. The five kings and queens chat in a panic way. I too feel scared about the Shadow Rabbits escaping Chivem Land.

“Hey mom,” I say.

My mom turns to me.

“On the day that the Shadow Rabbits attacked this Realm, did you or dad do somethin’ to banish the Shadow Rabbits to Chivem Land?” I ask.

“I used a crystal,” answers my mom.

“A yellow crystal?” I ask.

“Not exactly,” answers my mom.

“What kind of crystal did you use?” I ask.

“It’s a dark purple crystal,” my mom answers.

I feel a shiver down my spine. “It sounds dark and, well, evil,” I say.

“I know it is, but it might be the only thing that can banish the Shadow Rabbits back to where they came from. We don’t know where they came from. They just attacked the Rabbit Realm without warning,” says my mom.

“But when Candy and I arrived in this realm, the sun crystal turned dark purple. Then nighttime came over us,” I say.

“It changes into a dark purple crystal whenever it’s nighttime here, but we’ve never used it for any other reasons,” says my mom.

“And I assumed that you did use it for anothah’ reason?” I ask.

“I had to use a piece of it. I didn’t know if the power of the purple dark crystal would work on the Shadow Rabbits. It is forbidden to play with darkness, but I had to to save our Realm,” says my mom.

“So where is it now?” I ask.

My mom point’s to the west at the dark purple mountains. I have a bad feeling about the place that she is pointing at.

I swallow. “Is that Chivem Land?” I ask.

My mom nods.

“What’s it bloody doin’ out there?!” I shout.

“When your father banished the Shadow Rabbits with the dark crystal, I hide it in Chivem Land,” answers my mom.

“What if the Shadow Rabbits find it before we do?” I ask.

“Shadow Rabbits can’t touch objects, only living things. Which is why they can’t take away your Golden Egg,” answers my mom.

“But Dronko aint a Shadow Rabbit, he could take the dark purple crystal,” I say.

“It’s hidden very well. Only those who are related to the Easter Bunny can feel its power,” says my mom.

“Mom, Dronko is my uncle! He’s related to me! By all, we know he could have found the dark purple crystal by now!” I shout.

My dad is too busy talking to the five kings and queens. I do not bother him. I walk angrily away from my mom. I sit on the ground and away from the crowd. I lower my head, feeling depressed and stressed. My mom walks up to me and kneels.

She places her arm over my shoulder. “What’s the wrong son?” she asks.

I wipe a tear from my face.

“All I wanted was to find the Eastah’ Bunny and let him bring spring back to the Human Realm. Then I found out that I am the next Eastah’ Bunny. And I don’t know how to stop wintah’ and bring spring back. I don’t know how to control plants, I don’t know if I can travel around the world in one day to dilivah’ eggs, and I most certainly don’t know if I can control the Spring Equinox in March every year. I do want to become the Eastah’ Bunny. And the thing is I might already be him,” I say.

“But your father is still the Easter Bunny, he’s just a little old and retired,” says my mom.

“Clovah’ said that my dad is too old to be the Eastah’ Bunny anymore and Dronko said that I might be the next Eastah’ Bunny. I am the next Eastah’ Bunny. I just don’t know how to end wintah’ in the Human Realm. This is all too stressful for me,” I say.

My mom pats and rubs my back.

“I know it’s very hard. Why don’t you sleep? And when you wake up, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about how to end winter and bring spring back,” says my mom.

“But what if there isn’t enough time? What if Dronko finds the dark purple Crystal and unleashes all of the Shadow Rabbits?!” I panic.

“Only one who believes in himself to become the next Easter Bunny can find the dark purple crystal. You must choose the right belief to become the next Easter Bunny. After all, it was your father who banished the Shadow Rabbits with my help of course,” answers my mom.

“If I am truly the next Eastah’ Bunny then I will find the dark purple crystal in no time, right?” I ask.

My mom stands on her legs and walks away.

“Only you can know if you are the next Easter Bunny. You just need to find the right reason,” she says.

I wipe my nose and stare. I am not sure if I am going to end winter. But I know one thing for sure, I did promise that if I return to the Human Realm that winter will end and that spring will come again. I stand on my feet and turn to the kings, the queens, Candy, Clover, Deegra, Fluffy, mom, and dad.

They are still chatting with one another. I make sure that they are not looking back at me. I sigh and run very fast into the west and head to Chivem Land