*~Jack~*

"Hugh!" Emma wined as Mom buttoned her brown dress. "I can't run as good in this! Or play! My arms hurt!"

"Emily dear, you want to look your best for when the King and Queen come," Mom said, fixing her collar. Emma whined, but knew she wouldn't win. "Jack, go see how you can help your father." I then walked out, and went into the pasture.

Dad had already chosen his best fifteen lambs to give for the trade, and already had them sorted out. I walked up to him, and asked what I could help with. He simply said to just do my regular routine, which meant tend the sheep. Being shepherds we were considered the poor people of Corona, and the uneducated, but at least we had a farm and pastures. I learned not to complain, and to make the best of my life, even at the age of thirteen.

My sister Emma was still only four years old, and was still learning how to help Mom with keeping the house in order. I didn't think that she would ever learn to be ladylike because she was so determined to be just like me. I loved my sister, but one day she was going to have to learn that playtime was over, and we had to make enough money to survive. But turning every task into a game often made the work go by faster with her. Even when I got the job done well before her, she would claim she won or that it wasn't fair. I would let her say she won, just for her sake.

I took the wooden bucket, and ran my way through the woods. I had gone to the river so many times I could practically do it with my eyes closed. I loved the leaves of the woods, especially in Autumn. The leaves were painted red, orange, and gold, giving the trees a unique color. The air was cool, and the morning dew gave a soft ground for my feet, leaving a tickling feeling between my toes. If one was quiet, they could see the strong but gentle deer running through the woods. Soon the flowing sound of the river stream was loud, and I knew that I was right next to it. I then walked into the cold river, and was careful not to loose the muddy floor on my feet. I then filled up the bucket, and put its heavy weight on my shoulder. I carefully walked back out, and made my way back to the barn. Emma was already getting her dress dirty by petting the sheep. I smiled, and filled up the water trough with the river's cold liquid, and the sheep ran over an started to quench their thirst.

"Jack! They're here!" Emma yelled to me. I laughed to myself at her enthusiasm because she said she didn't care about the Royal Family. I sat the bucket down, and walked next to my sister. She grabbed my hand, and dragged me along. Knowing her young mind she must have forgotten how much she thought this was boring. It took her five minutes until-"Can we go now?"

"Not yet Emma," I said, patting her back. She sighed, and crossed her arms. I was exactly like her when I was four, always wanting to play and have fun.

I paid very close attention as the King and Queen walked down the path. There were two guards walking in front of them, but they didn't get in the way as the King and Queen talked with the land owners.

"Hugh! Ja-ck!"

I could pay no attention to my sister's words when my attention was drawn to who must had been the Princess. She wore a hair style similar to her mother's, and had her same emerald green eyes. Her long brown hair glistened in the sunlight, and her smile seemed to light up the whole village with warmth and comfort. I leaned on my staff staring at the girl, ahem, princess, and froze when she looked my way. She glanced over and smiled, and I found myself grinning too. Then the Princess returned her attention to what her mother and father were saying. Soon they eventually made their way to our family, and Dad started telling them the progress our farm was making.

"Pleased to meet you. What's your name?" the Princess asked, as the Kind and Queen talked to my parents.

"Your Highness," I said respectfully, "Jackson Frost." She smiled.

"Well you seem to have a fun name. You can call me Rapunzel." Rapunzel, I thought to myself, what a name. She was even prettier up close. She smiled, and I could feel my face starting to burn up, and well as my heart skip a beat. Keep it together Jack, I told myself. Who was I kidding? She was related to royalty, while I was just some shepherd boy dressed in rags. Still, I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She was beautiful.

"Well it was a pleasure," the Queen said to us. Rapunzel was still looking at me the same way I was to her. Emma started pulling on my shirt, trying to drag me to come play with her. "Come on Rapunzel."

"I wanna play, Jack!" Emma cried, but I didn't move. The Queen gently took the hand of her daughter.

"Bye Jack," Rapunzel said, as she walked on down to the next farm.

"Bye," I mumbled to myself. I stood there in a daze at her sight. I had never felt that way before. My cheeks seemed to cool down, and my right hand stopped needing the grip of my staff so it wouldn't shake. After a while, Emma stopped pulling me. She seemed desperate for attention.

"Can we play now?"


*~Rapunzel~*

"Rapunzel, what are you smiling about?" Mother asked me on the way back to the castle. Those brown eyes, those beautiful brown eyes, I thought to myself, thinking about Jack. "Rapunzel?"

"What?" I said, lifting my head. She smiled.

"You're not still thinking about the shepherd boy, are you?" I lied, and shook my head no.

"Speaking of which, Rapunzel, there's something we need to talk about," Father said.

"Whatever about?" I said, looking into his wise blue eyes. He looked to Mother, and then back to me.

"You're mother and I have been talking, and we think its time you start meeting Princes from other kingdoms." I said nothing. Father must had sensed my discomfort on the topic. "Rapunzel, you have come to the age where you are going to have to make your own decisions for Corona."

"An arranged marriage?" I asked slowly. I had three more years until I was eligible for marriage. Why did I have to start thinking about that now? I did not like the idea of being married to someone I didn't love, or even if I did it would seem fake. How was I expected to be happy with someone I did not like? I knew it was for the good of my people, but still I did not like it. I knew this conversation was coming, but right now? I had just met the most amazing boy in the universe! He had the most perfect smile, and the world's most adorable little sister. I wished I had another sibling.

"Rapunzel," Mother started,"There will be a day you become the Queen, and tradition has it that the Princess-"

"-Be married in order to get the title," I finished for her. I knew how the tradition went. I gave a fake smile, and I assumed it convinced them because they smiled back. I sighed quietly, and looked out the window of the carriage. It was a beautiful fall morning. Then it struck me. The Winter Festival was coming up. My parents had probably already sent invitations to the other kingdoms and their princes. This was going to be a nightmare.


(-Okay! I like where this fan fiction is going better than the last one. I got inspired by a drawing by civil~twilight on deviant art, so she gets the credit for the idea. Its not my best work, but the more practice I get the better my skills will increase. Please, give me criticism or compliments. They help with my writing. I LOVE that's L-O-V-E love reviews! I want to know what you think before I continue this. Okay! Buh-bye for now! Review!

~MJ -)