A BunnyWorxx Prequel

Ebony Conejo, Astral, Azul, Salma Conejo, Ezequiel Conejo, Linda Conejo, Lin the Penguin, Marcie Dokan, Elena Mongoose, Miguel Tigre and all other characters are © Miguel Tigre

Max Black Rabbit © himself

Chapter 1: Going no where fast, or how I stopped worrying about the future and learned to love the present

Ezequiel: <Translated from Spanish.. for those of you too lazy to learn another language> How did it go sweety?

Ebony: Sigh.[walks over and kneels next to him and rests her head on the arm rest] Same as always dad, I couldn’t find a thing. I wasn’t even in school that long and suddenly.. you need experience in stuff I never even heard of to get a job in graphic design and such. I knew I should have taken Computer Animation.

Ezequiel: [raises his hand and strokes her head] Take it easy.. there’s always tomorrow.

Ebony:[picks her head up] And the day after that and so on.[stand sup] Dad..I’m starting to feel it’s hopeless…. I’ve been out of school 4 months and I have yet to find anything!! [looks down and shakes her head] You were right..I should have gone to a real college and taken something practical. But no I had to be pigheaded and..

Ezequiel: [raises his voice] EBONY LINDA CONEJO!!!!

Ebony straightens up and trembles. While her dad had never scolded her or even raised his hand to her.. when he was mad.. his voice made her leap ten feet in the air. Ezequiel turns off the TV, grabs his cane and stands up. He walks over to her and rests his hands on her shoulders. Ebony looked up at her dad.. he was much taller than her..she then looked back down.

Ezequiel: Listen to me.. yes I did want you to take something a bit more practical.. but..that was until I saw you had a passion for it. I sure enough do NOT want you ending up like me.. I had little education and times were tough. I wanted to marry your mother.. but I had nothing to offer..so I joined the Air Force.. and well you know the rest. But I myself wanted to be a teacher.. but I ended up settling for that. I know what it’s like to miss out on a dream.. I sure as hell will NOT have my only daughter miss out on hers. Never mind your "pigheaded" ways.. [looks away] Sadly you get that from your father.[Ebony look up at her dad. She has tears in her eyes and he wipes them away] I have told you many a time to NOT put yourself down so much..you are capable of much more than you give yourself credit for. And I won’t let even you say or think different.

Ebony:[removes her specs and rubs her eyes] Thanks dad.

Ezequiel:[smiles and pats her on the back] Come..I have something for you. [They walks towards the garage] This was something I was going to give you for your graduation.. but I was holding off till you had a garage of your own to park it in.

They enter the garage, it looks more like a car museum than a garage. Ebony sees her dad stop in front of a black car. She recognized it, it was the car she and her dad worked on for almost forever.. but it was worth it. There before her was a black Shelby 500 GT. She looked at it and looked at her dad wide eyed.

Ebony:[stutters] This…this one?[he nods] But.. dad!!.[rubs her hands over the smooth finish] have you any idea how much this thing is worth?!?!? I mean yeah we both worked on it together but…geez.. this is.. this is like your most prized possession!!

Ezequiel: No..you are my little bunny.

Ebony:[makes a face] DAAAAAAD!!! Don’t call me that..[rolls up her sleeve] I’m not a baby!!

Ezequiel: You will always be my baby.[Ebony winces.. then slowly smiles] Anyway… I know you’ll take care of it. I give it to you for that reason and..I’m old.. what can I do with it..you can’t take it with you as they say.

Ebony:[smiles and hugs her dad] Thanks daddy.[ Ezequiel smiles and she glares at him] Not a WORD about me calling you daddy!!

Ezequiel: Fair enough..[throws her the keys] Your mother wishes you to meet her for lunch..if I were you..I’d get going.

Ebony opens the door and sits in the car. Her feet, nowhere near reach the pedals. She then moves the seat forward till her feet reach. She turns the key and listens to the rumble of the engine. She runs her hands across the steering wheel. Her dad smiles as she puts it in gear looks back and…goes forward. Ebony freaks and breaks…almost hitting the wall. She blushes and smiles weakly at her dad who just shakes his head. She then puts it in reverse this time and pulls out. Ezequiel watches her till she’s out of sight then closes the garage door.

A bit later Ebony sits at a table in a café, she sits with her head in her hands. She dreads what comes next… quality time with her mom, Salma Conejo. Growing up she hardly saw her mother at all, her being busy running her printing company. Her dad was pretty much dad AND mom to her. Hence she turned out rather tomboyish, but she didn’t complain…much. But her mom… Ebony was NOTHING like her.

Salma: Hola Ebony!!!

Ebony looks up and sees a sophisticated looking, beige colored rabbit walking towards her. She’s dressed in a profession looking jacket and skirt and has a set of spec similar to Ebony’s. She looks very stunning and nothing like her age at all. Selma always turns heads when entering a room, what makes Ebony jealous is.. she’s not even trying. This is Salma Conejo, Ebony’s mother and owner of BunnyPrints printing company. Ebony pushes her chair back and stands up.

Ebony: [tries to smile her best smile] Hi mom.

Salma: Hola chica.[as she walks by she gets a number of stares from the men at the café. She hugs a very surprised Ebony. She then places her hands on her shoulders and looks at her] Aye mi amor…. You look so chula..[smiles] you certainly take after your mother you know that?

Ebony:[sweating and not comfortable at all] Mom.. please don’t say that..[steps away from her] you know it’s not true.

Salma:[places her hands on her hips and huffs] Estas loca!![shakes her head] Even if you don’t think so, you’re just like your mama at your age.

Ebony:[looks down] I doubt it.. you seem taller.

Salma: [closes her eyes and shakes her head] That, just makes you cuter. Anyway, [fans herself] can we go inside the café? Esta muy calente aqui, and your mama’s melting like the swan ice sculpture at your tia Luz’s wedding.

Salma looks around and notices all the men are looking at her. Ebony notices and groans. Salma gets a wicked smile and unbuttons her coat.

Salma: Aye.. that’s much better..[fans herself with her coat by opening and closing it, revealing a tight white camisole top] don’t you men agree?

Ebony almost stumbles over as men around them either choke, fall over or spit out whatever they were drinking.

Ebony: MOOOOOOOM!!![waving her arms in the air]

Salma: Sorry mi corazon,[smiles] I couldn’t resist.[winks]

Ebony:[pushes her inside] Yeah whatever.. just get inside.

Inside things calm down as the two girl sit at a table, Ebony drinking iced tea, and her mother drinking a cup of Brazilian Mocha. Ebony sits silent not saying anything. Salma looks at her and frowns.

Salma: No luck finding a job huh? [Ebony shakes her head] Don’t worry miha..[reaches over and pats her hand] things will turn around for you. If not, you can always work for me.

Ebony: [stirs her tea] No offense mom but… that’s not what I want to do.

Both girls sit quiet again. Salma frowns.. she tries so hard to be there for her daughter. She knows she wasn’t around much for her when she was growing up…her husband had to tackle that task…. And even thought he had no experience with girl…. having nothing but boys before her.. he did a very good job. But Salma wanted so badly to make up for her absence, she had seen Ebony had turned into a fine young lady, despite her father’s male influence. But.. she was just as much a tomboy as she was at her age. She looks at her daughter as she sips her coffee. She thinks to herself.. was I like this with my mama? Salma couldn’t remember.. her mom like her was busy doing jobs and trying to raise a number of kids. Unlike her…. Salma had a husband.. a dear one who helped out despite his injuries.. and never complained…. And also unlike her mother… she hadn’t tried very hard to be there for her family. Salma sighs and thinks of the one thing girls can talk about.. and since Ebony was much to shy to for sex.. the only alternative was..

Salma: So.. do you have a boyfriend yet?

Ebony:[spits out her tea and gags] No.(koff) gah!! I was expecting you to talk about sex.

Salma:[smiles and looks away] Well that was my first thought….. [looks back at her] but you like me at your age are so shy and innocent.. I thought it best not to.

Ebony:[sweating] Um yeah.. thanks.

Salma: Bueno.. um any prospects? You know.. some hot papi out there who has your attention?

Ebony:[picks her head up] No. I have no one mom.. not a single solitary person.. shoot [rests her head in her hands] I can’t even dream of anyone.

Salma: [sips her coffee] Mirame a mi…. do you think I had a ton of boyfriends when I was your age?

Ebony: [nods weakly] Yes… you had dad.

Salma: [laughs] Si miha.. but that’s all. I was a very shy girl…. tu papa just brought out the best in me. Listen chica.. you’ll find someone..I promise you that. And if he tries to get away.. follow that guy till the ends of the earth. Show him.. que tu eres mi hija..and that he’s not getting away.[winks]

Ebony: [sits with her shoulders drooped] Mom.. by any chance did you read the wrong book on love.. and accidentally read "ShinTzu: The Art of War"?

Salma:[bursts into laughter] Something like that.[both turn and look out the window and see all the men outside staring] They don’t give up do they?

Ebony:[makes a face] Well you egg them on you know?[drinks her iced tea]

Salma: Maybe..[smiles] but I think that cute papi in the corner is looking at you.

Ebony:[spits out her iced tea and gags] You LOVE doing that to me don’t you?

Salma:[laughs] Si… it’s my job miha.. I’m your mother.[Ebony groans]

Ebony said go bye to Salma as she headed back to work. Ebony had to admit.. even though she teased her.. and didn’t talk for very long.. it was the closest she felt to her mom in years. Ebony sighed as she started her car. Then suddenly something hit her windshield. It was a flyer of some kind. Ebony rolled down her window and got it. She though nothing of it and stuffed it in her backpack.

Ebony walks into a bookstore. It doesn’t seem to fit in with the other building around it, it’s old.. but it still sticks out. This is an Occult Book store.. named.. "Occult Book Store". The original owners weren’t big on originality. A bell rings as she opens the door and steps in. At the counter a girl skunk looks up from her reading. She is dressed in rather wild clothes. She has a baby T-shirt with the word "KEKKO" written on the front, and a pair of very baggy, loose fitting flare jeans. Also she has spiky wild hair that seems to defy gravity. Her name is Marcie Dokan.

Marcie: What’s up bunnygirl?

Ebony: [sits down on a stool in front of the counter..or rather flops down done on it] Nothing. Sigh.. I swear.. this whole month has been nothing but non-stop hassles.

Marcie:[turns the page] Had lunch with your mom again huh?

Ebony:[gives a tired look] Is it that obvious? [shakes her head] Anyway.. it Astral here?

Marcie: You bet.. she’s upstairs…[looks up from her book and grins a toothy grin] and she’s expecting you.

Ebony:[sweating] Um okay. Wish me luck?

Marcie: I’ll pray to all the catholic saints for you.[shakes her head and goes back to reading.]

Ebony made her way up a flight of steps in the back. She knew this place well but her friend while she knew her very well, at times she did get the creeps around Astral. She had know her since High School, the girl that didn’t fit in.. cause of how she dressed.. the fact that she was a Wiccan didn’t help things either. But Ebony found a square peg just like her, not to mention the best friend she ever had in her. Ebony reached the top and knocked on the door.

Astral: Come in Ebony.

Ebony: [winced] Okay.

Ebony took a deep breath and entered. Her knowing she was at the door freaked her out. She told herself Astral’s your friend, you have no reason to be spooked. Ebony peered and saw in a corner someone sitting at a table with their back to her. There seated was a fox/cat hybrid girl. Her fur was a cotton candy pink, her hair was a rose pink and rather wild even though it was shoulder length. She had a red star birthmark on her cheek. Without looking she motioned for Ebony to come over. Astral was doing a tarot card reading as Ebony walked up beside her.

Astral: Have a seat.

Ebony watches as a chair at the table slowly moves out for her to sit on.. all by itself. It was times like this.. she really got spooked at Astral. Astral as if somehow knowing, looks at her and smiles. She pats the chair as if to assure her it was okay to sit down. Ebony sits down next to Astral and sets her backpack next to her on the floor.

Astral: Hard day as usual.. saw the past and future meet.. so I take it you met your mom for lunch today?

Ebony: Really why?[smiles] Did "the Devil" card pop up?

Astral:[looks at her then smiles and shakes her head] I take it.. "the Hermit" card was you then?[ Ebony frowns] Listen.. something came up… seems you’re going to be at the crossroads of a major event in your life.

Ebony: [leans over the table] You mean.. my life’s going to change?

Astral: Yup..[puts a few cards down] but.. it’s going to be tricky… and will you’ll have to make a few difficult choices along the way.

Ebony: [shoulders droop] I’m doomed aren’t I?

Astral: Well should I mention that in your future you’ll meet a tall dark stranger?

Ebony:[slicks her hair back and rests her head in her hands and her elbows on the table] That’s a bit over done isn’t it?

Astral:[smiles as she places a down another card] No.. what I mean is… he’s similar to you? I believe you have your first step in your backpack?

Ebony:[makes a face and raises an eyebrow] The new "Hare’s Her Way" undies I bought on the way over here?

Astral:[wrinkles her face] Nooooooooo.[cracks half a smile] But they help you with the stranger I mentioned. Anyway.. take a look in your backpack.

Ebony looks at her then does so. She unzips her bag and reaches in.. she then pulls out.. the flyer that stuck to her windshield. Astral smiles as she opens it up. It speaks of a Furcon upnorth.

Ebony: And how is this going to help me?[pushes her specs back up on her nose]

Astral: What you want is there… what you need is there.. what you’re looking for..is there. But..what I am about to tell you is the only help I can give you. One… have faith in yourself. You admire your parents for different reasons.. remember that you are a composite of them, so you have the aspects you admire of them in you. And two and most important.. don’t be afraid.. a time will come when you’ll have to stop being a mousy little bunny..and everything will depend on what you do there. That’ll be 20 bucks.[holds her hand out]

Ebony: WWHAAAAATT!!?!?!?![almost falls out of her chair]

Astral:[sticks her tongue out] Just joking!![makes a serious face again] I’m not devoid of humor you know.

Ebony leaves the bookstore more confused than when she went in. She opens the flyer again and looks at it. She thinks to herself.. I don’t have time to go to some silly furcon up north.. it’s cold up there and I’ll freeze my booty off.[runs her hand over the roundness of her bottom] then again that might not be so bad she thinks to herself. She sighs and heads back to her car as the sun begins to go down in the back.

End Of Chapter 1