For Love of Mister Cotton Tail: An Apocalyptic Fairytale (Single) (5 page)

Candy
had noticed of course. “It is not a big deal.”

“How much did it snow when you were a little girl?”

“Only in Winter.”

“And now?”

“So you mean the snow is the sign?”

“We have seen so much worse,” he said taking Candy’s hand. “It may seem ridiculous to you, but to us, it is important. If we do not figure out how to add the mystery of magic back to this world? It will be gone. This may be the last magic basket day. We may have to leave before it’s too late.”

“But this world does have magic.”

“You have formulas. You have restaurants. Your magic does not
act
like magic anymore. There is no mystery to solve. Candy, your ancestors were designed to use that magic in a different way. The way you use it now, it will not stop anything.”

“Children must believe,” Big Bunny’s mother said.
“No matter what adults say to explain. Children
must
believe in unexplained. Do you understand?”

It was a hard thing to understand. Magic baskets saved everything? “My ancestors were like you, but you have moved through different dimensions. So, are you coming back around to this dimension?”

“Some of us settle in a dimension and don’t leave. Yes, we are circling around. It has gotten that bad, Candy. Selfishly, we want to at least try to save our descendants.”

Because no one else can.
A part of Candy wanted to laugh at the impossible notion. However, she had raised a rabbit who talked. She watched a hen cluck at her. She met Big Bunny’s mom who hopped better than walked.

So . . . “Take me to your production line.” It didn’t change her plans. She wanted to help Big Bunny and she would.

* * *

Candy stared at the basket in front of her. Nothing seemed magical about it. Regular fruit was not going to seem magical. Candy grabbed one of the berries. She would not have the ability long, but if she got them on the right foot, they could figure out a solution next year.

She breathed and rolled until the berry had changed into what would taste like a delicious piece of candy. She placed it back into the basket. “Children are the secret? Children love candy.”

“Candy?” Big Bunny did not sound so sure. “Candy rots teeth.”

“Not my candy,” she reminded him. “You said we were from the same line.
Maybe this is why we had the power.”

“I have never been fond of candy.”

“You’re a rabbit, you want veggies. But I do not know many children that would turn down candy.”

“Might be
right.” His mother shook her head.

“It is not bad for them,” Candy reminded Big Bunny. “No more than the veggies are. Not with my magic.” She poked at the basket. “Are all of these brown? You could really use color
, children love colors.”

“We don’t have a tie-dye basket machine.”

“Well you need color.” Candy continued to change the fruit into sweet fruit.

“Should we put a note that says children can eat as much as they want?” Big Bunny asked.

“Oh no, never. Children
crave
bad stuff. Tell them it is good for them, and they might not like it as much. Psychology.” Candy looked around again but Big Bunny’s mother was gone. Candy was alone with him. “Did I say something wrong?”

“You are changing everything, but we must trust you. I think mother
is having a harder time with your new thoughts.” Big Bunny shrugged. “You have weird thoughts.”

They were only weird to a rabbit. “I am trying to help.”

“Legend foretold that Candy would make vast changes.” He rolled his eyes. “I thought it was just your name.”

“You know,” Candy said, “our world had a prophecy too.
I wonder if they are the same? Scholars did their best to translate, but it’s so confusing if you see the original text.” She looked over at Big Bunny. “But I have to take care of you. Apocalypse or not, you are my Big Bunny.”

“I
know.” He didn’t sound thrilled with her statement. “I am still just your pet bunny.”

* * *

The eggs. The fruit. How did they keep them? So many eggs. Fruit during the snow? They obviously couldn’t go to the store, they had no money. “Big Bunny?” He looked back at Candy. “You never explained about the eggs. None of them smelled.”

“Oh, didn’t you know? Vegan power. We keep fruit and vegetables fresh. The hens and ducks have the power to keep their eggs fresh forever. That way, if there is a chick, it stands the most likely chance of survival without sitting on it all day.”

“Hm.” Candy smiled at him with a bit of showoff sparkle. “I like my power better. Not that it helps you personally. Speaking of personal, I have my own problems at home.”

“I know, Darren. I did not forget. We are heading on our way out right now.”
He looked back at her. “Will you come again?”

“Maybe, but I have to go back home for now.” It was easier said than done. The snow covered the hole. Big
Bunny dug with his little paws and even Candy helped.

“The snow is too intense.”

“How can there be a blizzard in the middle of spring?”

“You already know the answer,”
he reminded her. “You are stuck here until morning. After that, I will take you back.”

“Is there enough room?”

“Sure. As there has always been room for me in your bed, I can share mine.”

* * *

Candy had expected his room to be a small room big enough for a rabbit, but it was large. It wasn’t a bed like hers, but gigantic bedding made of multiple pillows and large blankets. “This is your room?”

“Yes. I thought the snow might make things hard to make it back home.” He raised his eyes toward her. “You accepted me when you found out I talked. Will you still accept me through all this?”

“Your pet status is in serious question.” Once again, he didn’t like the words though. “Changing things with Darren. Changing things with you.”

“I am still the one that makes you feel better. I’m the one you talk to when life gets rough,”
he reminded her. “I’m the one who curled up next to the bed with you every night.” He made a strange sound from his throat. “Not that
wolf
.”

“Oh, do we have to go there?” She did not want to have that discussion. “I will work it out with Darren.”

“If this worked, you could just stay here.” Big Bunny touched her head and patted it. “No messing with the wolf anymore.”

“What do you mean if it worked?”

“If the baskets work, you could work here using your magic every year.”

“But my magic is limited.” Did he not get that at all? “I don’t know how it happens with you, but I know how it happens with my kind. I have to get that kiss out of me.”

“I have bunny smooched you several times,” he reminded her. “I am Vegan. You’ve never had problems with your magic before.”

“I never had a problem with my taste before
either. You are different, great for you. I am not and things are different.” Candy just wanted to go to sleep. Curl up and just go to sleep.

“How?”

“It’s so elementary for my kind.” Candy crawled into bed. “I have to give myself to the wolf to undo the damage.” There, that was one way to put it. Unfortunately, Big Bunny didn’t let that stand. He lifted the sheets off of her.

“Excuse me? What do you mean you have to give yourself to the wolf?” His eyes.
He had those real red rabbit eyes for just a few seconds before they moved to emerald green. “Candy, you had better talk to me. You didn’t talk to me last night either and you always do.”

Candy tried to pull the covers back up, but he stopped her again. He wasn’t going to give in. “I’m not like you. My magic is different. Two heavy Sweets and Vegans mix wrong, and I could die. Vegan and Sweet only mix in one way.” She slowly met her eyes. “I can’t ask it of that strange guy, so the wolf will have to work. I’ll figure out how to make him marry me later.”

“What?!”

Candy
felt him get under the blankets. He petted her head much like she did him and gave her a smooch on the top of her forehead.

“That is wrong. No way are you going to be with a wolf.”

“Damn it, what do you want from me?” She tried to make him stop petting her head, but she couldn’t. She had to admit, she enjoyed it. Still. “The wolf is how I’m going to have to make it.”

“You were going to leverage everything for marriage
. Without it, he’ll make you a concubine to Posh. No way. You haven’t worked this long to go out like that. I don’t care if you hate my home and want Sweet Meats. Fine, but you won’t end up that way. I swear it, Candy Sweet.”

* * *

Cotton adjusted his bowtie before he knocked on the door. He should not be happy about the situation but there was a lighter skip to his step. Candy did not know that her bunny was Cotton. If she did, she would probably freak out. So far, Candy had kept herself in control well, but this might be too much for his little magic user. She needed to see another side of him. Something besides the ‘pet’ she confided and held. If she had feelings for him as Cotton, then maybe she would not go after the wolf. She would stay with him. Not as an owner, but as something more.

He’d had feelings for Candy almost
since the moment his nose twitched in her direction. All she had was a need to help his adorable butt out. Even with the magic baskets, she was helping him because he was her pet. There was a good chance she didn’t even believe in the apocalypse, she was just doing her duty as a good owner. Making sure he was taken care of after everything fell for her.

Well, it didn’t matter how underhanded it may feel, the ends justified the means. Cotton was now an option
. There was
more
than Darren.

And there was no way that
wolf was laying a paw on Candy.

Cotton held white lilies in his arms
presentably as he knocked on the door.

Candy answered with her hair a mess. It made no difference to him, but as soon as she saw who it had been, she closed the door and shouted she’d be a minute.
It was closer to five minutes before she answered it. “Cotton.”

“Candy.” He giggled. “Hey, Cotton Candy. There’s a strange coincidence.” He held the flowers out to her. “You are right, I needed a good night’s sleep to think about it.” He couldn’t outwardly propose
, that would never be right. “My mom used to say that sometimes love found itself in strange ways. I don’t know you, but that doesn’t mean I should take you and then leave you. It also doesn’t mean that I should just leave you.”

Candy took the flowers. “What do you mean?”

“I have no one special in my life, Candy. Each night I will come over and we will get to know each other. If I feel like there is a connection, I will marry you.” Cotton wished he could frame that look on her face. “Divorce, if it didn’t work, is possible. Second chances though, that’s not.”

“Marriage. Really?” She didn’t even bother asking what he did for a living. “Cotton, I-I don’t know what to say. Do you want to come
in?”

Tempting but Cotton knew his place. “Tonight I’ll come over around seven. I have to go to work right now. Just keep me in mind.”

“Oh, wait.” Candy reached out her hand to touch his arm. “I never got around to asking your last name.”

“Tai-uh . . .” He went with a human name of Cotton Tail, but that would be too close. “Lor.
Taiuhlor. It’s foreign, so everyone just calls me Cotton.” Close call.

“Okay. I-I’ll see you tonight, Cotton.”

* * *

“Big Bunny, here, let me see you.” Candy adjusted the big orange bow she put on him. “Please be good. He could be a potential second chance.”

He was Big Bunny for six months
and she never flinched an eye. He was in his human form one day and he already had her if he wanted. He tried not to sound jealous of himself, but getting gussied up in an orange bow all for Cotton? “How do you know he’s better than Darren? You don’t know anything about him. He could be a serial killer.”

Candy let go of the orange bow. “If he wanted to kill me he wouldn’t propose marriage, he’d just take out Darren so I couldn’t save
myself. Besides, he seemed sweet, and I did go on a ‘sort of’ date. It’s not like I have much choice, Big Bunny.”

“I have a way out too.”

“Becoming a rabbit and making magic baskets to stop the almighty apocalypse?” Candy laughed it off. “Being a rabbit would really take some getting used to.”

It wasn’t even a possibility to her. There were actually many places under
ground where he could be human. He wasn’t the only half rabbit half human down there, but he couldn’t risk taking her while she didn’t know he was Cotton. “Of course, who could ever live like a rabbit?”