The high from last night wore off quickly leaving Rapunzel exhausted. She tried to maintain her customary cheerfulness, but she wasn't used to staying up all night. For the fourth time that morning she yawned and rubbed her eyes wearily. Thankfully there hadn't been that many people in the infirmary. She had just mended a sprained wrist and a cut leg and was left with an empty work space. Some days she had a never ending line of people with mild calamities and other days she would see no one at all. And on the days in which caravans would travel outside the compound…well, she felt like she was never prepared for that.

She double checked her stocks of herbs and medical supplies. She wished their medicine was more like what medicine was before the nightmarish destruction of the world. One pill and your headache would go away or tiny eyes that could travel inside people and look at them. Currently, their technology was as advanced as the 1600s. She heard a rumor about someone over in a different sector years ago. An organ inside them exploded and they died. Maybe if they lived in a better world they could have been saved.

She finished her assessment of her supplies and began writing a list for Merida. Since she wasn't allowed out of the compound, she had to have other people collect her supplies for her. Some herbs could be grown in the garden behind the medical building, but some she needed found in the wild. There were the few occasional herbs that were too stubborn to be domesticated. Merida loved any excuse to go outside the compound though, and so Rapunzel happily allowed her to be her unofficial herb collector. Unfortunately, for Rapunzel, Merida sometimes had to make several trips to get the correct plant. She smiled as she thought about last night. She understood now why Merida loved being outside the dingy, decrepit compound. Even the air felt fresher on the other side of the fence. Maybe if she could prove to Mother how capable she was, she could have her blessing. She might be able to convince her superiors to allow her to go outside every now and again, but her mother was stubborn. Frankly, she was more terrified of openly disobeying her mother than her superiors.

She finished writing out her list and was disappointed when the entire process took only fifteen minutes. She huffed with boredom and returned to cleaning the medical room for what felt like the hundredth time that morning. She had just filled a bucket with hot water and soap when someone strolled through the door.

She was a stern, middle aged woman with hardened brown eyes. Although she walked slowly into the medical center, she walked with a strong air that read "I'm here for a purpose." Even if Rapunzel hadn't met the imposing woman before, she would have recognized her by her daughter. Both had the same dainty nose and mouth accompanied by very round eyes. Even in the dangerous world they lived in, the woman always wore an elegant green dress that, to the mystery of everyone, she managed to keep well maintained. The only difference between her and her daughter was the hair; she had straight, well-kept brown hair that challenged even Rapunzel's in length while her daughter was infamous for her wildly bedraggled flaming locks.

"Oh, hello Elinor. What can I-"

"I'm looking for Merida." At least she was straight to the point. Elinor waited expectantly in front of Rapunzel with her arms folded neatly in front of her in a proper manner. Rapunzel stared nervously at the stern woman. Both she and Merida would be in a world of trouble if Elinor found out they snuck out last night.

"I haven't seen her Elinor. It's not a lessons day so I would assume she's at the training grounds like usual."

"We are both aware that regardless of her duties to learning she would be at that infernal place, but for once she's absent. Since she won't speak to any of the friends I have chosen for her to mingle with, you're the only person that could possibly know where she's gone."

"I'm terribly sorry Elinor, but I've been here at the medical center all morning. She's not been through here," Rapunzel replied nervously. She didn't lie often, but technically it wasn't a lie. She had been at the medical center, and no, Merida hadn't been through to see her after she had arrived. If Elinor was looking for her daughter, it wasn't good.

"What do you need her for? Maybe she'll stop by later and I can pass along a message," Rapunzel added helpfully. Elinor dropped her proper, ladylike form in order to rub her temples exhaustingly.

"Merida has a hearing today concerning her recent absences from the lessons days."

"A hearing?"

"Education is important even in a society in our state. If she doesn't attend the hearing she'll be indefinitely removed from the hunting program, and even if she does miraculously arrive on time there's still a chance she'll be removed."

"Removed? What'll happen to her then?" Rapunzel asked with increased apprehension.

"She'll be expected to attend mandatory additional lessons days and, most likely, placed on garbage duty until her sentence period is up." Rapunzel knew Elinor though. She technically didn't even allow Merida to be a hunter, let alone be demoted to garbage duty. Just like Merida, her mother was a proud woman. She had strong associations with the compound's elite, and she was greatly respected in the community. Elinor wouldn't let her only daughter pick up trash where everyone could see.

"What will really happen though?" Rapunzel asked.

"Merida will return home. I let her try to do things her way, but if she gets displaced from the hunting program, she'll be doing things my way. She'll return to her private studies with me, she'll stop using that bow she's obsessed with, and she'll settle down with a nice young man that has excellent credentials."

"You're going to marry her off!? Just because she skipped the history of the 21st century?" Rapunzel was taken aback by Elinor's intentions and she almost screeched in her face. It happened when she was over-excited.

"She has to learn she can't do things her way all the time. Lessons day was a compromise she had no intention of fulfilling." Elinor responded sharply. "And this matter does not call for you opinion need I mind you, young lady." Similarly to Merida, Elinor was becoming aggravated and a faint accent began to coat her speech.

"You're her mother! Can't you do anything?" Elinor stiffened.

"I will not use my position to change the rules. The laws are set in place for a reason."

"You're the head of the education division for this sector though! You have the power to call this whole thing off," Rapunzel responded, flabbergasted. Surely Elinor could give Merida academic probation or just extra lessons days. Something. Anything.

"Merida has purposely skipped the maximum number of lessons days alotted. The hearing is out of my hands." And with that Elinor walked out towards the door. As she pushed the battered, chipped door open she turned one last time to a disconcerted Rapunzel. "Do tell Merida her hearing's at seven at the sector hall. Tell her to arrive early though so that I may speak with her. I'll be there all day, so it doesn't matter when." With a curt nod and a whoosh of her dress, Elinor was gone. Rapunzel let out a shaky breath that she felt like she had been holding for the past minute. She needed to find Merida before the hearing, and then maybe together they could figure out how to stop it. She couldn't lose her best friend to a disgruntled marriage.

Someone entered abruptly and interrupted Rapunzel's scattered train of thought. It was an older woman half carrying a man with a gnash on his head.

"Accidentally got clipped by a crossbow," the woman said half with concern, half sheepishly. The man moaned wearily as more blood drizzled from the wound.

"Okay, place him down on one of the beds." Rapunzel would have to wait to find Merida. She found bandages and alcohol and approached the hurt man. As she tended carefully to his wounds she thought to herself "Merida would leave the compound for good instead of marrying someone her mother picked out." She would just have to find her before anything happened.


After the man was patched up, Rapunzel let him return to his house to rest, but more people in need of her help continued to stop by. Lunchtime was the first time since morning she had free, and so Rapunzel began to gather her things in her satchel. Normally she just ate lunch at work, but today was an exception.

She heard the door open as she was finishing up. She sighed tiredly and began to speak.

"I'm terribly sorry, but if this isn't an emergency-"

"Is missing you an emergency? Because I might need assistance stat then." Even with the Merida conflict lurking in her mind like a dark cloud, Rapunzel couldn't help but smile at the familiar voice.

"I'm afraid it's not, Jack."

"Can't blame a guy for trying then." She turned to his voice and grinned broader at the pleasing sight of Jack leaning typically on his staff with his accustomed smile.

"What are you really doing here?" She poked his ribs gently. "You look perfectly fine to me."

"Well, I wasn't doing much today, and I thought maybe we could eat lunch together."

"What a sweet gesture, Jack, but unfortunately right now I need to find Merida. She's in trouble with the school and her mom and it's a huge mess."

"Oh…well, where is she?" Rapunzel threw her satchel over her shoulder and shrugged her shoulders with despair.

"I have no idea. She's apparently not at the training grounds, and that's the only place she ever goes." She reached as a last minute thought for the list she had made for Merida earlier and gripped it to her chest. "I need her Jack. She can't leave."

"Whoa, why is she leaving?" Rapunzel shooed him out the door so she could lock it behind them.

"Because her mother's going to marry her to someone dreadful."

"Really?!"

"Well, not yet."

"Not yet?"

"No, it's after she gets removed from the hunting program."

"Whoa, what?! When?"

"Um, well, not yet."

"…o-kaay."

"I swear, it'll make more sense when I can explain it all from the beginning. But I have to find Merida first." Rapunzel ran a shaky, exasperated hand through her tussled blond locks. She snuck a glance over a Jack who looked lost in thought. It wasn't until he glanced over at her that she realized she had been staring. She quickly whipped her head forward.

"I think there is one other place Merida goes," Jack said slowly. Rapunzel turned on her heel and began to walk backwards in order to look Jack straight in the face. Her face was aglow with hope.

"Where?"

"Hiccup said she goes to his blacksmith shop to get her weapons touched up. Even if she's not there, he might have an idea about where she could be." Rapunzel squealed with joy. With a grab of his hand and a "let's go" they were off, running down the street towards Hiccup's shop.


Rapunzel half expected to leave Hiccup's blacksmith shop with only an idea on where to look next. Maybe the stables or possibly a secret hunter's training ground, but she entered with her problem solved.

Hiccup was beating a hammer away at something on an anvil while Merida sat lazily on a table top with an apple in hand. Rapunzel yelled out Merida's name and dashed over. Hiccup stopped hammering to gaze perplexed at the new arrivals.

"Hey guys. Do you need blacksmithing done or something…?" Jack responded with a shake of his head while Rapunzel began to chastise the red-haired rebel.

"I told you not to skip lessons day Merida, and now your mom's involved." Merida looked around the room with confusion as if what Rapunzel had said was common knowledge.

"Yeah, I figured she would be since she is in charge of that kind of stuff." She took a large bite from her apple and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "I'll talk to mom, she'll settle everything out." Rapunzel relayed to everyone what Elinor had promised would happen. Jack and Hiccup were concerned for their new friend at the news, but Merida was livid. A fire lit up in her eyes with a contempt Rapunzel had never seen before.

"Looks like I need to have a word with my mother," Merida muttered darkly. She jumped down off the table and began to stomp towards the door. Her whole body was on edge like a cat. Rapunzel had seen the occasional tom before it would fight; it was tense, hair fluffed up, and ready to unleash a brutal attack in a split second. A fighting tom and an angry Merida were too similar not to compare.

"Wait, Merida! I'm going with you." Rapunzel moved hastily after her friend. Merida twisted and held her hand out to hold Rapunzel back.

"This isn't your problem, Punz. You should stay here."

"You're going to need someone to help convince them why you shouldn't be punished, and that's me. We'll do this together," Rapunzel argued with finality. Merida smiled gratefully.

"And we're going, too," Hiccup added. He untied his blacksmith's apron as Jack added, "We are?"

"You're our friends too now, and maybe Jack and I can help. After all, four heads are better than two." Before anybody could protest, Rapunzel was giving Hiccup a warm hug.

"Perfect! We're in this together now," Rapunzel cheered. Merida rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless at her newfound support group.

They rushed over to the sector hall, motivated and ready for a fight. The sector hall stood just as broken down and decrepit as the rest of the sector. Stones were crumbling from the corners like weathered rocks from a cliff side and grass was sprouting between the centuries old concrete that was meant to be steps. Rapunzel had learned that this building had been a part of the old world's political system. It was just luck of the draw that it still ended up being a part of the government in their new world. The other sectors just had whatever large roomed building they could get their hands on. Some had old world churches; others had just a large house.

"Wow, I never knew the sector halls were just as run down," Jack said in awe. He tilted his head back and stared up at the twirling spire that stood tenderly in the air. With all the missing pieces, the slightest gust of wind threatened to send it toppling over.

"Yeah. The compound hall is a lot nicer than this," Hiccup added. Rapunzel perked up at that tidbit. The compound hall was the main building for the entire compound. It was where the compound leaders in the careers met and the elusive Guardians of the compound convened to discuss the future of their little society. Rapunzel had only met their sector leaders at their aging sector hall; she had never met anyone above that in rank or been to the compound hall.

"Have you been to it before Hiccup?" Merida asked incredulously.

"Oh, well, yeah. My dad's the compound leader for the hunting division, so—"

"Wait! Hold up." Merida held her hands up with disbelief and shook her head of wild curls. "Your dad is the head of hunting for the entire compound?"

Hiccup nodded sheepishly. "Yup. I guess you could understand why he wanted me to be in the hunting program now." Rapunzel and Merida nodded in agreed unison. Jack came to his best friend and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"We like you just the way you are, hunter or not."

"Thanks, bud. Now, where's your mom's office?"

"First floor if I remember right."

The troop marched diligently on to Elinor's office, a small but tidy room near the back of the building. Merida held her hand up and faced her eager supporters.

"Let me confront my mother alone. If things go south, you all can come with me to the actual hearing. My mother responds best to maturity, and talking to her by myself will reflect that the best." Rapunzel exchanged a puzzled look with their new friends.

"Are you sure? I've never known you and your mother to have a talk without it turning into a screaming match."

"I know exactly what I'm doing," Merida assured with a sweet, but somewhat devilish smile.


Rapunzel, Jack, and Hiccup sat outside the office as Merida screamed at her mother. At first Rapunzel thought Merida would approach the situation maturely, but after just a couple minutes everybody could hear her arguing. Hiccup looked uncomfortable while Jack looked bored, flipping his staff around in his hand.

"How long could they go on?" He asked.

"Surprisingly not long. Usually one will storm off before too long." And just like clockwork Merida ripped the door open and yelled a final "You're a bloody nightmare!" before slamming the door shut with a shudder that racked the hall. Everybody leapt up.

"Merida!" Rapunzel exclaimed. "What was with all the yelling?"

"Well," she cockily rubbed her nails against her shirt and leaned back to admire them, "I just only found out where my private file is being kept for the hearing." Everyone balked.

"You what?!"

"I figure my mum wouldn't change her mind, but I can't be charged with anything if there's no record of it."

"Merida, this wasn't what I had in mind when we came here to help with your trial," Rapunzel argued. Merida shrugged nonchalantly.

"My mother can't be argued with. She's like a stubborn old mule."

"She's not the only one," Rapunzel scolded.

"Do you really think all charges will be dropped because your file goes missing?" Hiccup asked incredulously.

"What if we changed it?" Jack suggested. "That way it could look like the whole thing was a mistake." Merida and Rapunzel hit Jack at the same time. Merida heartily clapped him on the back while Rapunzel smacked him across the back of the head, lightly. "Don't encourage her."

"Whatever we do, we best get to it before anyone hears you all arguing about it," Hiccup added.

The four treaded quietly the rest of the way down the hall to a stairwell. It was the middle of the day, at lunch time no doubt, and the building was primarily empty. The four went unnoticed up the decrepit stairwell and Merida cracked open the door on the top floor where the more prestigious offices resided.

"I don't see anyone," she whispered.

"Do you think the door will be locked?" Hiccup asked. He tried to peer his head around the door as well.

"Maybe, if they only left for lunch. Only one way to find out though." With that she slid through the cracked doorway and crept down the hall. The rest of the gang followed. The hall was short, but the door Merida stopped at was in the middle away from either stairwell, or as Rapunzel considered them, get away points. The windows to the office were heavily opaque and made it difficult to look in. Rapunzel cupped her hands and tried to peer through the dense covering. When her sight failed, she leaned in close to the window and pressed her ear against the glass. Nothing. Merida hesitantly took hold of the doorknob; everybody their breaths as she tested it. The door gently swung up and all four breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's just get this over with," Rapunzel urged. She felt dirty sneaking around and changing records. Slipping outside the wall could be blamed on typical teenage rebellion. That was perfectly healthy and expected behavior, but changing legal documents felt beyond Rapunzel's good girl lifestyle. The four of them entered and gazed around at the plain, seemingly barren room. As far as Rapunzel could see, she didn't see a giant file with Merida's name posted on it anywhere.

"Where is it?" Jack asked. He poked a stack of memos on the desk with his staff.

"I don't know. All my mom said was that they were in the judge's office."

"How did you get her to say they were in here?" Hiccup asked. He was thumbing through papers stored on one set of desk drawers while Rapunzel sorted through another. Merida shrugged.

"I told my mom to get the papers out and we could change them right then and there, and we yelled back and forth and eventually she admitted the papers were in here." Merida pawed through a jacket hanging up on a hook. She turned out empty pockets with impatience. After a confirming glance from everybody else in the room, she came to the conclusion that her file was not there. She hit the wall with the side of her fist.

"Dammit! She said they were here," she cried out in despair. Rapunzel watched her best friend gaze tiredly around the room as if the file would mysterious appear from the heavens. Rapunzel saw an unfamiliar emotion in Merida's eyes; desperation. It was disconcerting for herself. While Rapunzel was normally the more cheerful/hopeful of the two, Merida always had a fire about her that refused to be extinguished even in the heaviest of downpours. It was stubbornness more so than hope for a better outcome. But now, it seemed even Merida was acknowledging the precariousness of the situation. With a single flicker of sound Merida's face changed. Everybody stiffened as the slam of a door reverberated down the hall. It took approximately two loud, solid steps of a shoe to emit a flurry of chaotic movement.

Rapunzel bounded towards the cracked door and attempted to run out of the room. Jack leapt over the desk and pulled her back with both arms. Hiccup began straightening all the papers up, but in his nervous haste seemed to make it obviously worse. Merida gently closed the door and pivoted to stare as alarmed as everyone else.

"The window," she half whispered. She was already running for it though and jerking Hiccup towards it. The lone window in the room with outside access was behind the now disarrayed desk.

"Are you mentally unstable or just dramatic?"

"Cork it Haddock." Rapunzel and Jack were crowded behind the pair at the window. Merida shoved the old window open with a grunt and peered down below. Although Rapunzel couldn't see past Merida and Hiccup's crowded shoulders, she assumed from Merida's look on her face that it was a safe exit. On the other hand, Hiccups blanched face assumed otherwise.

"Are you crazy? We'll break a leg-" Without a word, Merida pushed Hiccup towards the window. He was bigger than Merida and couldn't be forced, but he reluctantly jumped. Rapunzel's hands flew to her mouth in horror. As Merida leapt onto the window sill to follow, the footsteps stopped right outside the door.

"Thanks for the help on the case. Sometimes an extra pair of eyes helps with the details."

"No problem. Say, how's the wife doing?"

Jack tossed Merida his staff and mouthed "Go." She jumped gracefully out the window without hesitation. Jack, as quickly and soundlessly as he could, heaved the window shut. Rapunzel began gesturing wildly to him, but he held a finger to his lips and pointed at the desk. She gave him a "you got to be kidding" stare, but the sound of the knob turning caused both teens to duck down. Two people entered the room and Rapunzel and Jack crawled quietly under the desk. They sat facing each other with their bodies pressed as far away as possible from the outside. Luckily, the desk was low to the ground and the front was entirely covered. This would prevent them from being seen from the front, but all the judge had to do was cross his legs and they would be done for.

Rapunzel could hear the sound of papers being moved around on top of them.

"Huh, that's weird. The papers are moved."

"You must have left the window open."

"I guess so."

A pair of shoes moved into their view facing the window. By the brief sound of a window closing shut, Rapunzel deduced Jack had left a small portion open in his haste. The figure turned and the chair to the desk was pulled out. Rapunzel scrunched further back into the desk and wished with every fiber of her being that she had the power of teleportation.

"Do you have a moment sir?" A woman's voice interrupted. As if the two teens weren't already on edge, throw in another person to catch them. Rapunzel could have sworn Jack tensed up even further.

"Sure, what can I do for you?"

"Not you, but your companion."

"Me? What do you need the sector's hunting leader for?" the other person joked. Rapunzel could vaguely picture a face to match the voice, but she rarely interacted with Merida's boss.

"It's a rather confidential, and so if you wouldn't mind…?"

"Um, sure. We can go to my office-"

"That won't be necessary. This floor appears emptier than where your office is. Judge, if you would be so kind."

"Who are you again?"

"I'm a Guardian." A thick silence enveloped the room. If Rapunzel hadn't been petrified enough, now there was a Guardian. A Guardian! Rumor was it that they never left the central compound facilities. The five Guardians were almost as elusive as a myth. They were never seen walking around or leaving the compound. In fact, Rapunzel had no idea what any of them looked like. The Guardians seemed to run the whole compound all from one place, and for one of them to leave to personally discuss an important matter, well, she was certain her and Jack weren't supposed to hear it. She wasn't sure she even wanted to know.

"Of course. Of course. I'll…I'll be downstairs." The judge made a hasty retreat out the room.

"Thank you so much." She replied kindly. Rapunzel had been previously staring at the feet about to encroach on their hiding place, but now she turned to look at Jack. He looked just as startled as she was by the Guardian's appearance. She imagined the sector hunting leader was just as shaken. Jack and Merida (and possibly Hiccup for all she knew) seemed used to getting into tight spots and dashing adventures, but she sure wasn't. Overnight, literally, she went from rule abider to eavesdropping on a Guardian in the midst of falsifying official records. She gripped the strap of her satchel tightly with one hand while the other reached silently out. Jack promptly grabbed her outstretched hand and held it securely. She had never before experienced how assuring a single hand could be.

"As you know, we've been sending investigative parties out recently looking for another source of power."

"Yes, but we haven't found one"

"You haven't, but we have." That couldn't be right. Rapunzel was confused. The Guardians couldn't just walk out of the compound without it being wide spread news. Gossip like that would surely alert the curiosity and panic of the people.

"Nick and Aster found it last night. As you well know, it has to be destroyed before he finds it and uses it. If he does, his creatures will be unstoppable. He's already found too many."

"But if this thing can do what you claim, why not the Guardians use it instead? You would have the power to stop everything. Everything could go back to the way it was."

"I'm afraid it's not that simple. Too much power is as damaging as corrupted power."

"But, surely-"

"This is not an open forum, may I remind you," the woman chided softly. The man remained quiet.

"It's at least a six hour ride north of the compound. There's not enough time today to destroy it, so we will leave tomorrow at dawn with men from all sectors. Gather your best men and meet at the north gates." Rapunzel could hear the woman opening the door and leaving down the hall. Not long after the sector hunting leader followed suit. He shut the door on his way out, and both teens heaved a sigh of relief.

"Did you hear that?"

"Oh, I'm sorry what? I wasn't listening at all during the last five minutes." Rapunzel smacked Jack lightly on the knee. He laughed jovially and she stared at him in wonderment. The Guardian sounded like the world could end tomorrow and Jack was in the same joyous mood. Nevertheless, Rapunzel let go of Jack's hand and crawled out from the desk. She peeked carefully over the top of the desk and eyed the empty room with relief.

"We should find Merida." Jack moved out from the desk and briefly scanned the desk. He picked up a manila folder and waved it impishly in front of Rapunzel.

"Especially since we now have her record."

"Hurry up and change it before the judge comes back." Jack opened it to reveal a multitude of papers. He leaned forward and gazed intently on the pages.

"I'm not sure what to change. What's the policy here?" Rapunzel sighed and pushed him to the side with her small frame. She quickly scanned the documents.

"Look for a jar that has a white paint inside. It's used for mistakes to cover them up." Jack began searching through drawers as Rapunzel found a pen and began looking for specific details to alter.

"Won't that be obvious that it's been tampered with?"

"As opposed to what? Scribbling things out? Besides, I'm a painter. I can make it look barely noticeable."

"You're a painter? How about a portrait sometime? You know, clothes are entirely opt-"

"Jack."

"Oh, right. White paint." A few seconds of riffling. "Found it."

Rapunzel cautiously corrected Merida's absences and adjusted them minutely. "There, that should be enough to get her out of trouble, but not make it obvious." She replaced the documents and turned to Jack. "Let's get out of here."

They checked the hallway for the judge, and, when they affirmed he wasn't in sight, they snuck out of his office.

"Which stairwell?" Jack asked.

"Probably the back one. It'd be better not to be seen by the judge until we're out of the building just in case he notices the file's been altered. Pretty much everyone knows I'm friends with Merida and it wouldn't be hard to put two and two together." Jack nodded in agreement with the usual smile on his face.

"Lead the way, beautiful." The pair journeyed towards the back, lesser used stairwell. Rapunzel pushed a lock of blonde hair behind her ear and glanced casually at the handsome teen beside her.

"How about a better nickname?"

"Oh yeah?" He turned his head to raise his eyebrows at her. His carefree smile changed to the flirty smirk.

"Some call me Punz or Punzie for short."

"I dunno know," he feigned. "I kind of like beautiful. Describes your whole entirety better." Rapunzel blushed for the umpteenth time. Thankfully, the stairwell door was upon them and they were able to make the final descent to safety. The duo weren't five steps down before the recognizable sound of a door opening and footsteps echoed throughout the stairwell. Rapunzel glanced fervently over at Jack.

"What do we do? They'll catch us before we can reach the other stairwell?"

Jack began jerking his blue sweatshirt off. "Stealth mode time, Punz. Put this on and jump on my back." She didn't argue but shook her head in disbelief. The sweatshirt wasn't too big on her, but it definitely didn't fit properly. Jack gently pulled the hood over her head and Rapunzel's body was pumped full of seven layers of adrenaline. He turned to allow her to scramble onto his back and he began to effortlessly carry her down the stairs as a man approached. Jack launched into a strange monologue in a monotonous, bored tone.

"But it wasn't till the mid 1900's that the renovation was completed and the new limestone introduced. Now, if you recall when the legislature changed the new regulations that had to be accounted for…" Rapunzel peeked out from under the hood at the man as their paths crossed. He moved passed the two of them without a concern in the world. Rapunzel had never met the sector judge before, so she couldn't tell if it was him or not. Thankfully, the man exited the stairwell without addressing the two of them, and Jack sighed with relief.

"That was your big plan, Mr. Stealth Mode? A history lesson with questionable accuracy?" Rapunzel teased. She was waiting for Jack to loosen his grips on her legs but he remained to snugly hold them.

"With my white hair, he's bound to remember seeing us. But with your hair and face partially covered and myself spewing mundane facts, it should at least deter any association to our nefarious deed." Rapunzel laughed and ruffled his hair. "Nefarious? Are we villains now?" Jack ducked his head to avoid further ministrations to his head.

"How are we not? Sneaking out, changing documents, eavesdropping on a Guardian. We're practically partners in crime," he joked.

"Well 'partner in crime,' let's find our fellow villains. I'm sure Merida will appreciate some good news."

The two exited the building with Rapunzel still attached to Jack's back. Merida and Hiccup were standing casually across the street talking to themselves. Merida noticed the pair first and waved them over.

"Rapunzel, what are you wearing?" The blonde pushed back the blue hood and grinned at her best friend.

"I had to wear a disguise to get out of the building."

"Did they catch you guys?" Hiccup asked. Merida remembered how they had left half of their team behind, and she touched Rapunzel's shoulder with worry. Rapunzel tapped the hand reassuringly.

"We were fine, and everything should be okay with you Merida." The redhead smiled graciously. "But you'll never guess what happened when you guys left." Between the two of them, Jack and Rapunzel relayed everything about the Guardian's appearance.

"Oh shit." Hiccup ran a callous hand through his brown hair and shook his head with incredulity. "I can't believe you met a Guardian. That's incredible!" He waved his hands over his head for emphasis.

"If by met you mean hiding for our lives in the same room, then yeah, we totally met a Guardian," Rapunzel teased.

"You said something serious was going down tomorrow," Merida asked. Jack and Rapunzel nodded.

"I think we should go see it."

"…You're kidding…."

"Think about it!" Merida began to get excited and her arms began to gesture madly. Her bright curls were flying to and fro as she spoke to all of them. "Who knows when the Guardians will find another one of, whatever this is, let alone for us to know about it ahead of time! What if it's a mighty witches' lair or a powerful magical flower?" At this, Merida nudged Rapunzel encouragingly.

"Magical flower?" Hiccup asked with confusion. Rapunzel crossed her arms unamused.

"It's an old legend my mother used to talk about. Merida, we can't just go wandering off in the woods for several reasons. One, you still have your hearing tonight. Two, it'll be dark soon and that's a risk for everybody. And third, we don't even know what we're looking for." Merida threw her hands up in exasperation.

"Punz, this is the chance of a lifetime! Literally, a lifetime."

"What are you going to do when we get there, huh? Stare at a magical flower, or rock, or whatever it is then leave?"

"I don't know-"

"You don't plan things out, Merida! Your actions have consequences and you don't consider what those are."

"Oh, you're going to lecture me? You sit in a building all day putting bandages on paper cuts." Hiccup attempted to step in between the arguing girls.

"How about we calm down for a second?" Merida pushed the taller boy aside and stepped closer to the fuming blonde.

"Stay out of this Haddock."

"You can't do this Merida." Rapunzel reasoned.

"Like hell I can't. Unlike you, I'm allowed to leave the compound and live a life."

"Did you forget that right now you're can't and if it wasn't for Jack and me you would have been dismembered from the hunting program?"

"I didn't need your help with that. I would have done it myself anyway."

"What you're doing isn't brave. It's reckless."

"You wouldn't know the bravery if you slapped you in the face."

"Why are you turning this on me?"

"You can't keep me here. I won't be like you." Merida shoved Rapunzel roughly with one hand. "Stuck here day in and day out. You don't know the difference between recklessness and freedom."

"You're not free, Merida! None of us are! You were born in this compound and you will die in it as old and miserable as the rest of us!" Rapunzel glared angrily at Merida. Her chest was heaving from the shouting and she was positive she was red in the face. Merida stepped back from Rapunzel and glared coldly at her.

"We'll see about that. I control my own fate." And with that she whirled around and briskly strode away. Rapunzel realized too late what she had said. Tears welled up in her eyes and she croaked out Merida's name. She moved to chase after her best friend, but Hiccup stopped her.

"Here, let me try to talk to her. When she's calmed down I'm sure she'll want to talk to you." Rapunzel nodded weakly and watched the brunette dash after Merida. When he touched her shoulder, she jerked away. Hiccup raced in front of Merida to block her path, and Rapunzel saw him talking earnestly. She couldn't tell if Merida was talking to him, but Hiccup was staring at the redhead expectantly. Finally, she shrugged her shoulders and she changed course to follow. Rapunzel raised her arm to wipe her eyes, but realized she was still wearing Jack's hoodie.

"Oh!" she cried out softly. "I forgot I'm still wearing this." She pulled the soft material off and handed it back to Jack. He tossed the garment over his shoulder and picked up his staff that had been resting against a wall.

"You look like you could use a fun afternoon to take you mind off things," he suggested. Rapunzel smiled and wiped her eyes with the back of her arm.

"I'd like that, but unfortunately I have to go back to work."

"Let me come with." Rapunzel eyed the strange haired boy with amazement. Nobody had offered to go to work with her before, not even Merida.

"Alright, let's go." Jack's face lit up with one of his smiles and he bowed deeply.

"After you, mi'lady." He partially raised his head and grinned wickedly at her. Rapunzel rolled her eyes, but led him back to work.


Rapunzel sat on her bed and carefully combed through her lengthy hair. Jack had proven to be surprisingly helpful that afternoon. Of course, she had performed all the healing, but he had been the entertainment. He regaled the patients with humorous anecdotes and stole the attention of children with silly jokes. Sure Rapunzel could be charming, but she wouldn't call herself humorous like Jack. He had a way of making light of every situation and she swore his smile was more infectious than any bacteria or virus she'd ever encountered. Nobody left the health center that day without a smile on their face.

After she finished detangling her hair, she opened the window next to her bed. Merida never came to talk to her, and she didn't show up to watch her hearing. Perhaps she could see her tomorrow and find out how it went. Merida's anger was like a storm; manic but quick.

"Psst." Rapunzel shot up and stared wide eyed at the window. Slowly, she leaned out and looked down. Nothing.

"Psst…Punz." Rapunzel's jawed dropped. She leaned out further and scanned the empty alleyway. She couldn't see anybody, but she was certain she heard them.

"Where are you?" she hissed. Jack's head appeared upside down right in front of her. Rapunzel let out a shriek and fell backwards off her bed. Jack winced at her fall and flipped away from the window. She heard him say "she fell off the bed" before reappearing upside in her window.

"You okay?" She lifted herself off her floor and rubbed her back.

"I'm good. Who are you talking to?" Secretly, she hoped it was Merida come to talk to her.

"Hiccup. Well, don't look too sad about it." Rapunzel heard a faint "Why does everyone react like that when I tag along to these things?" Rapunzel laughed and crawled back onto her bed.

"I'm glad to hear you, Hiccup," she called out softly. She gazed puzzled at the boy upside down in her window. "What are you guys doing here though?"

"Hiccup went to go woo Merida a couple hours ago."

"Hey! I was not going over there to woo her."

"Then why were you trying to sneak into her room?"

"Have you met her father?"

"More importantly, have you met her mother?" Rapunzel interrupted the bickering couple.

"Guys, what happened?"

"I was just going to check on her. She didn't go to her hearing, but she had already left."

"What do you mean she left?!" Rapunzel responded, horrified.

"She left Rapunzel. She's gone after the power thing on her own," Jack replied. Rapunzel shook her head.

"No, she's probably just somewhere else in the compound."

"We've checked," Hiccup replied distantly. Jack nodded.

"This is the last place we looked. She's gone, and according to Hiccup, so is her horse from the stables." Rapunzel held both hands to her head and released a heavy breath. After a couple seconds of silence, she raised her eyes to meet Jack's.

"Then we're going after her." She leaped off the bed and snatched up her frying pan. She stashed the cast iron weapon in her satchel and secured her hair back with a purple band. She rushed back to the bed and carefully stepped out onto her window sill. Jack's head disappeared and Rapunzel turned to gaze one last time at her bedroom. She wasn't entirely sure she would be returning, and what a shame. She had just begun to sketch out her new friends on her wall. She looked up to the roof of her home where Hiccup and Jack each extended a hand towards her. Neither boy was overly muscular. Hiccup had slightly more definition than Jack, but both would be considered possessing lean builds. Between them though, she was easily lifted up and joining them on the roof. She grinned when she saw they were already fully equipped and ready to leave. She tightened her satchel determinedly.

"Let's go."


A/N: I think I want to make the previous one shot into a full story, but updates will probably be a couple of months apart since I like to write long chapters. It's something that's fun to do, so the story isn't to be taken too seriously in terms of writing or if say the whole thing takes a sudden magical turn. I do sincerely wish they would just have a big four movie. How stellar would that be?