CHAPTER TWO

FATE'S DESIGN

The air was quite more bitter as the dragon elevated, but Jack had been correct. This mean of transportation was in fact much swifter than on foot and more fun than Hiccup cared to admit. Toothless's wingspan was equivalent to the length of a football field as he soared through the chilling sky. Hiccup gripped Toothless tightly as they hurdled through the stratus clouds, with the wind blasting roughly against their bodies.

Jack flew along beside them, but he was not riding a dragon. Instead he simply flew by himself, the wind carrying him in the direction that he chose. Unlike the Guardian, Hiccup was not by any means enjoying himself. He was in constant worry, worrying of what punishment would meet him when he landed in the village atop a dragon. Why, his father would disinherit him! He would be forced into exile while his best friend was slayed.

"Jack," Hiccup called over the fierce rushes, "I cannot return to my village!" Jack did not respond but only nodded. He then dipped to the left and ducked beneath a cumulonimbus, the stray strands of his gleaming hair dancing through it. Without permission from his rider, Toothless spun sharply and followed the boy. Hiccup wailed in shock as his body was thrown backwards and nearly propelled off of the beast.

"Where are you leading us?!" Hiccup clamored. Jack was a ways ahead, flying stomach-down and somewhat resembling Peter Pan.

"Corona!" Jack bellowed. Corona? Where in the world was Corona? He had no choice but to wait and discover for himself.

Rapunzel lived under just three rules her entire life.

She was never to cut her hair. Ever.

She was never to leave her tower.

She was never to ask why these were rules.

So, as result of these commands, her hair had managed to extend to an inconvenient 72 feet, she had never placed even a toe on the earth's surface, and she had no idea why her hair was so long and why the outside world was forbidden from her.

Long ago Corona had heard rumor of an extraordinary flower grown from a drop of sunlight. The kingdom people had no idea where this flower might be located, but they knew that they must be the ones to retrieve it, for the beholder would gain astounding power that was unimaginable. But soon, while pregnant with her first daughter, the queen became suddenly ill. It was predicted that her condition would cause a tragic and fatal end. The castle knights set out to fetch this plant, in hopes that it would heal their queen.

"Flower gleam and glow..." The woman's voice was hoarse and displayed old age. Her dark hood concealed her graying hair and fading eyes.

"...Let your powers shine,

Make the clock reverse,

Bring back what once was mine.

Heal what has been hurt,

Change the fates design,

Save what has been lost,

Bring back what once was mine,

What once was mine."

As her song came to an end the flower, cupped around her thin and crooked fingers, emitted a blazing golden light, as bright as the sun itself. Her lines of age sunk into her flesh and skin became less raggedy looking. Her hair bounced into it's familiar ringlets and gray faded to black. The spell had reversed time for this particular witch alone, and in her planted an abundance of greed. She smiled wickedly at her actions and briskly placed a woven basket over her treasure, then disappeared into the shadows of night.

This is the flower that saved the mother and her daughter. This is why Rapunzel's miraculous hair was able to decrease age and heal wounds. This is how Rapunzel was capable of saving the Guardian of fun, Jack Frost.