I have confidence in my plan to save spring. I just know that it will work. I feel a little doubtful, but just a little. I do not say, this because I want everyone to know what I am doing. This plan has to work.

I feel exhausted and a little dirty. Even my jacket is dirty as well. It has dust all over it. My Rabaca mom Silver and my dad Edd are talking to the seven Kings and Queens about my plan. My Golden Egg plan and not the dark purple crystal plan. I am not going to reveal that plan yet. Not until I’m positive that my other plan will work. Silver cannot tell my dad about my other plan about the dark purple crystal.

Candy is chatting with my adopted Rabaca sister Flow. There is no sign of Deegra anywhere. I wonder if he is still upset about me not doing the easy choice, which is to kill Dronko.

I walk to Keaple Lake and the water is now up to my waist. It feels so cool and not very cold as I thought it would be. I take off my jacket and dump it into the shallow part of the lake. I move my jacket under the water to wash the dirt off. I take my jacket out of the water and squeeze it to let it drain. I flap my jacket and stare at it. I am thinking if I need it or not. I look down at the water and see my reflection. It waves with ripples. I sigh and rub my furry chest and then my head. I stare at my jacket and then back at my reflection with a smile.

I feel a paw touching my shoulder. I turn to see who it is. It is Clover. I chuckle and turn away from her. I drop my smile and look back at my reflection in the water. Clover slowly takes my jacket and walks out of the lake with it. She shakes it, hangs it up onto a tree branch, and walks back into the lake with me. I take her paw and then her other one. We stare into each other’s eyes. Clover smiles but I do not. I turn around and drop my head.

Clover wraps her arms around my stomach. “Still having doubts?” she asks.

I sigh and stroke one of her long rabbit ears. Clover sighs and quietly giggles.

“Not really,” I answer.

“Then what’s wrong?” asks Clover.

I walk away. I splash some water all over my face and then all over my furry body.

Clover walks up to me. “You want to tell me what’s troubling you?” she asks.

I turn around and look up. The snowstorm is still spreading across the sky very slowly. I sigh and turn away. Clover turns around and looks at the same snowstorm.

“Don’t worry.” She turns back to me. “I believe that your plan will work,” she says.

“How do you know?” I ask.

“Because you believe that this plan will work,” answers Clover.

I curl my fingers into fists. “But what if it doesn’t work?” I ask.

Clover places her paw on my shoulder and turns me around to her. She stares into my eyes and I stare back at hers. She pets one of my rabbit ears. I giggle a little and my foot stomps rapidly.

I sigh and smile. “I guess we’ll find out if my plan not will work,” I sigh.

“But that’s not what you’re thinking about right now, is it?” asks Clover.

I place both paws on Clover's face.

After swallowing nervously I begin to speak. “I was thinkin’ about that night when you slept with me,” I say.

Clover’s cheeks blush with a light red color.

“Oh. And what did you think about that night?” she asks.

I move my paws onto her shoulders. “I was thinkin’ that it was the best night of my life and that we should do it more often,” I say.

Clover chuckles and puts her arms over my shoulders. I put my arms around her waist and stare at her.

“Why not do it now? It’s awfully cold,” I ask.

“In front of everyone?” Clover's eyes widen.

“I don’t care,” I say.

I move my face closer to her lips. Clover closes her eyes and so do I.

“Jake!” shouts a person.

I open my eyes and so does Clover. We move our arms off of each other. I chuckle and feel a little embarrassed. Clover smiles and turns away from me.

“I don’t know what came ovah’ me,” I say.

“Me either,” says Clover.

“Jake come quick!” shouted the same voice.

I turn to see who is shouting for my name. It was Candy.

She is running up to me. “Jake come quick!” she shouts.

I am nervous about what she might be going to tell me. “What is it, little sis?” I ask.

Candy pants for breath. “The huge tree, I think it’s dying.” she pants.

I gasp and hit my forehead.

“Oh crikey! I forgot!” I shout.

Clover folds her arms and sighs. “You knew all along?” she sounds serious.

I pick up Candy and run out of the lake. I grab my jacket, set Candy down, and put it on. I turn to Clover and she looks a little disappointed.

I pick up Candy while still looking at Clover. “I’ll tell you when we get to the tree!” I shout across the lake.

Clover rolls her eyes and walks out of the lake. I turn around to see if anyone else is near Keaple Lake. Silver, Edd, Flow, Fluffy, and the seven Kings and Queens are nowhere in sight near the lake.

“Has everyone already gone to the huge tree?” I ask.

Candy nods. I set her on my shoulders and run into Keaple Forest. Clover is following me. We both are running like four-legged rabbits. I begin to explain as we are running in Keaple Forest.

“When I first met Dronko he showed Edd a dark gray leaf,” I say.

Clover and I jump over rocks and duck under branches. Candy hangs on to my rabbit ears.

Clover is running right beside me. “Don’t tell me that the dark gray leaf is from the Tree of the Realm?” she has that begging look in her eyes.

I hesitate to answer and I swallow nervously. Clover, Candy, and I make it out of Keaple Forest. We arrive at the huge Tree of the Realm. Silver, Edd, Flow, Fluffy, and the seven Kings and Queens are already there. They are staring at the huge tree with a shocking looks in their eyes. The Tree of the realm now looks dark and old. Like a wrinkly old elephant. The leaves are falling on the ground. It looks like the tree is shivering in the cold wind. The leaves are not colorful anymore. Some are dark gray and black. The branches are dark gray and black as well. The cold wind from the snowstorm is blowing some of the dark leaves off of the huge old tree. It looks freaky scary creepy black tree.

I set Candy on the ground. I cannot believe that the tree is dying and that Dronko was right about it.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

Clover turns to me with her disappointed stare. “When were you going to tell me?” she asks seriously.

I do not answer. I chuckle nervously and rub the back of my head. Silver turns to Edd.

“Did you know about this?” she asks.

Edd chuckles nervously. “Maybe,” he says.

I heard what Edd just said.

“Oh come on dad!” I groan and slap my forehead. “Okay! We both knew about this dyin’ tree!” I snap.

I turn to the seven Rabaca Kings and Queens. They all look at me. I walk in the middle of the crowd. Everyone is staring at me. Some are upset with me.

I gulp. “I saw one of those leaves fallin’. It was dark and gray. I hid it in my pocket because I did not want to tell anyone yet. Not until I have more information about this Realm. Dronko somehow took the leaf from my pocket and showed it to Edd, my dad. Aftah’ we fought Dronko, my dad told me that if this tree dies…” I touch the huge dying tree.

“So does spring.” I tremble.

Deegra walks into the crowd and towards me. He too does not seem very happy to see me. I walk up to him.

“Where the bloody heck have you been?!” I boast.

Deegra does not answer. He’s just staring at me with his angry look. I begin to feel nervous to go near him.

“What is it?” I ask.

“We all know what this tree does to the seasons and this Realm and the Human Realm. The point is why you didn’t tell us before?” asks Deegra.

I sigh and drop my head. “Because I wanted to be so sure that I can save both of my home Realms. I couldn’t tell you about the dyein’ tree before. Because I was…I was…” I stutter.

Deegra stares at me.

“You were what? Afraid of what we might think? Afraid that you do not know how to bring back spring again?” he asks.

I look up at him.

“Deegra, I was afraid that I would doubt, even a little,” I answer.

Silver and Edd walk up to me.

“Doubt about what?” asks Silver.

I turn away from my parents. Deegra turns the seven Kings and Queens.

“I think that Jake doubts himself about becoming the next Easter Bunny. And when he doubts and does not believe then the tree will die. And the hope of spring will never come again,” he says.

The seven Kings and Queens are talking almost themselves.

“Is it true?” asks Candy.

I look down at her. She walks up to me with a sad look on her face.

She looks like she is about to cry. “Is it true that if you doubt yourself then the tree of the Realm will die and the hope of spring will never come again?” she asks me.

I do not answer. I turn away from her and sigh.

Candy drops her head. “I guess that there won’t be any spring this year, hu?” she asks.

I still do not answer. Candy begins to cry softly.

“I guess Easter won’t be coming this year, or ever,” she cries.

I turn back to Candy and hug her. “It’s goin’ to be all right. My mom and dad will know what to do,” I say.

I turn to Edd and Silver. “Right mom and dad?” I ask with hope.

They slowly shake their heads. They look like they have no idea what to do. I let go of Candy and walk to my Rabaca parents.

“My plan will work. I will make the Golden Egg shine bright on the yellow sun crystal. And that will scare away the Shadow Rabbits and bring back our missin’ Rabaca’s. My plan will work,” I say.

Deegra is standing behind me. “And if the plan does work. And all of the Shadow Rabbits are gone. What then? How will you bring spring back to both Realms? How will you bring back life to the Tree of the Realm?” he asks.

I turn to Deegra and am a little stressed. “I-I-I…” I drop my head. “I don’t know yet,” I answer.

“If you just stayed here in your real home Realm and were raised to become the Easter Bunny, then none of this would have ever happened.” Deegra growls.

I hit Deegra’s chest. “It’s not my fault!” I shout.

Deegra hits back. “You weren’t here when we needed you the most!” he shouts.

I push Deegra. “My parents will train me to bring back spring again! The othah’ Eastah’ Bunnies did it! So can I!” I shout.

Deegra pushes me back. “We’ve never had anything like this happen before in this Realm. When you weren’t here to become the Easter Bunny and do your job, the Tree of the Realm will now die! We’ve never been in a situation like this before! The Tree of the Realm has never died, ever! Until now! If you’ve just been raised here with your real father, then you would have done what the other Easter Bunnies have done to set things right!” he shouts.

I gasp and shutter. “W-what did you say?” I ask.

Deegra stares into my eyes.

“You heard me, kid. You just needed to do your job. Now it might be too late to bring Easter and spring back!” he shouts.

I gasp and drop onto my knees. I pant with fear and softly shake like a cold little chi Wawa dog.

“It wasn’t my fault. I’m sorry that I wasn’t here to do my job as the Eastah’ Bunny.” I shiver.

Silver and Edd are looking at each other. They nod. They walk up to me and place their paws on my shoulders.

I sigh and slowly shake my head. “I’m sorry.” I sniff.

“We’ll find a way to bring back spring. We found a way to save you from the Shadow Rabbits when you were little,” says Silver.

I stop shaking and feel angry now. I stand up and hit my parent’s paws.

I turn around. “This is both of your faults!” I bellow.

“What do you mean?” asks Edd.

“You know what I mean, Edd,” I answer.

Silver turns to Edd. “We had to give you up, son,” she says.

I pant with anger. “You guys should have let me stay here!” I shout.

“Calm down son.” Edd reaches for a hug.

I kick Edd’s face. He falls onto the ground and gets back up on his feet. His nose is bleeding a little. He wipes his nose.

I am still panting in anger. “I blame you for takin’ me to the Human Realm, for abandonin’ me, and for not trainin’ me to become the next Eastah’ Bunny! If I haven’t been raised in the Human Realm, then I would have become the Eastah’ Bunny in no time! I would have stopped the tree from dyein’! I would have brought spring back! I would have stopped wintah’!” I shout.

I turn around and stare at the huge tree. Its leaves are slowly shivering like black burnt paper. I raise my paw at the huge dying tree.

“I would have stopped all this.” My voice breaks.

The seven Kings and Queen's nod.

I turn to the Kings and Queens. “You all know that I was adopted by humans. But my parent’s nevah’ told you that they took me to the Human Realm?” I ask.

King Famernt the chubby light grey Rabaca nods.

“Your parents never told us that they brought you to the Human Realm. They never told us their plan or where you were all this time. We thought you were taken by the Shadow Rabbits,” he answers.

King Ochinm the light yellow muscular Rabaca turns to my Rabaca parents.

“Why didn’t you tell us that your son was alive and that you took him to the Human Realm?” he asks.

Edd turns with a serious stare. “We had our reason. Besides, you would have stopped us from doing it,” he answers.

I walk up to my Rabaca parents and I still feel angry at them.

“You should have nevah’ brought me to the Human Realm!” I shout.

Candy gasps. “But then I would have never met you, Jake.” She cries.

I turn to Candy. Now I feel guilty about what I just said. “Oh no, I didn’t mean that,” I say.

Candy looks away and begins to cry softly. “So you think becoming the Easter Bunny is more important than your family? Have you forgotten what you promised to Bryan and Linda?” she asks.

“Of course not, I promised them that I will return in springtime when we return home,” I say.

“You said that you would have rather stayed here in the Rabbit Realm and become the Easter Bunny. And yet you made a promise to Linda and Bryan,” says Candy.

I do not answer.

I turn away and look back at my parents. “I want to know why you send me to the Human Realm,” I say.

Edd begins to explain. “The Shadow Rabbits were looking for you when you were a baby. If they have found you, then you would have become one of them. And you would never become the Easter Bunny,” he says.

I close my eyes and shake my fists with anger. I hit the huge tree and let out a scream.

“You guys only thought about my safety and not for your Realms! Are you sayin’ that I would have been a Shadow Rabbit if I stayed here? And that if went to Human Realm I will be safe? Ethah’ one, I wouldn’t have nevah’ become the Eastah’ Bunny at all.” I pant with emotion.

I drop my ears. “I guess I am nevah’ goin’ to become the next Eastah’ Bunny aftah’ all.” I cry.

Deegra sighs and walks into the crowd.

“There is one way we can save both of our Realms,” he says.

I turn to Deegra. “Really, like how?” I ask.

Deegra stares at me. “You know what we have to do, Jake,” he says.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

Deegra takes a deep breath and lets it out. “I told you before! We have to kill Dronko!” he shouts.

I shake my head. “Oi vey! Again with the killin’? We’ve been through this before. I aint goanna kill Dronko! He’s my uncle!” I shout.

Edd stands next to me and so does Silver.

“He’s my brother and we won’t let you make any kill him,” says Edd.

Deegra walks up to me and stares. He grabs my satchel and pulls it off of me.

“Hey, give it back!” I shout.

The seven Kings and Queens grab my arms. They grab Silver and Edd. I grunt and struggle. Candy runs up to me. Clover grabs Candy and holds onto her. I feel very scared and in shock as well.

“Clovah’, what are you doin’?” I ask.

“I’m sorry Jake,” says Clover.

Deegra opens up my satchel and looks inside it. I turn Silver. We’re nervous. Deegra pulls out the dark purple crystal that looks like an egg. I grunt and growl.

Deegra stares at the dark purple crystal. “You’ve had it all along?” he asks.

My mom was about to admit her guilt but I interrupt her.

“Yes. I had the crystal all along. I know it’s forbidden to use a piece of shadow crystal. I take the blame,” I say.

Deegra holds onto the dark purple crystal and looks at me.

“Now we can use this dark purple crystal to kill Dronko,” he says.

“Look mate, even if we kill Dronko that will not stop this bloody wintah’!” I shout.

Edd shakes his head. “He’s right. Be reasonable Deegra. Dronko is my older brother and I love him!” he shouts.

“I am being reasonable. Once when we kill Dronko the Shadow Rabbits will no longer be a threat to us or your son,” says Deegra.

He turns to the seven Kings and Queens. “Once when Dronko is dead, then Edd will train Jake and make him become the Easter Bunny!” he shouts.

All of the Kings and Queen's nod. They all agree with Deegra. I grunt and try to slip the many paws that hold onto me. I kick one of the King's faces and then kick another one. I hit my head on one of the Queen's heads. I am now free from their grasp. I run to Deegra and hit his paw that held the purple crystal. It flies into the air and is about to fall onto the ground. Deegra and I jump into the air and reach for the dark purple crystal. The same rainbow hummingbird catches the crystal and flies away. Deegra and I land on the ground.

I chuckle. “Ha! Now you won’t find it, mate!” I shout.

I feel a very hard hit on my head. I fall onto the ground and slowly close my eyes.