(Author's notes: This fic is halfway between Frozen and the original stories of the Big Four. I am aware that Rapunzel IS present at the coronation. Remember, this is an AU.
SINCE WE'RE DOING AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE OVERHAUL HERE, I HAVE DECIDED THAT ARENDELLE IS TOO FEMININE. INSTEAD, I HAVE A MASHUP NAME OF BERK AND BURGESS. BURKESS. I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
Small note: clothes here are the same colors as that of the original characters transposed to more suitable outfits. E.g. Hiccup: green and black, Jack: black and pale blue with the royal purple cape, etc.
Short update, all I can manage for now. Enjoy!)
Sunlight poured into the ballroom as all the windows were drawn open, the blue sky gleaming outside, unblotted by clouds.
Hiccup stared up in awe, beaming.
"I didn't know they did that anymore…" he huffed, walking along with a spring in his step.
This day was going to be fantastic.
Walking without even looking to his direction, he seemed like a kid in a candy shop, gawking at every movement under the vaulted ceilings. Manservants drew the curtains apart with grand golden ropes, maids in rows bringing in towers of golden plates.
The palace felt more alive than it ever have been.
Unable to keep a chuckle to himself, Hiccup ran across the halls and along the corridors, nearly knocking over a servant or two on the way.
"Whoops-sorry!" he called back to them.
Hiccup raced down the spiral stairwell, coattails billowing lightly behind him. He kept a gloved hand to his black sash, careful not to have it fall away by clumsy mistake, the other on the sheath of his sword, trying to keep it from swinging to and fro.
He couldn't explain the delight bubbling in his chest.
It's been a long time since he'd seen new faces.
Since their home heard music.
Perhaps he'll find a friend…perhaps he'll find a girl.
Yes! This could be his chance to be that charming prince. One who'd sweep a girl off her feet. Silly a notion as it was, he couldn't help but wonder. He'd be an impeccable figure.
But then again, that handsome, charming and TALL prince people referred to had always been Jack.
Oh, yes.
"He's prince charming, alright," Hiccup snickered, "…if he wasn't so stuck up."
But who knows? These are real, living people, after all. Very much exciting a thought. He could prove himself tonight, a proper noble.
He needs to make his mark.
"If I manage that," he huffed to himself, throwing a window open, "...my life would infinitely get better…"
Hiccup could see sails over the rooftops as the ships docked outside, the bright flags rippling in the wind.
He swung his leg over the stone window-sill and stepped to the wooden lift outside, hoisting himself up to see over the roof-tiles. The sunlight touched his freckled face as he got a decent view of the shipyard beyond, sail-ships moving across the glimmering surface of the sea and into the water-wall bordering the bay.
"…I might even get a date," he grinned.
He knew it was absolutely crazy. But for the first time in forever, at least he'd have a chance.
When he got back indoors, his excitement was barely trimmed, grabbing a handful of chocolate bonbons when he passed the dining table, stuffing them in his face.
"It's only for today, after all!"
He quickly made his way towards the entrance Courtyard, quickening his pace when he heard the heaving noise of the gates opening in the distance. He got there as soon as the manservants drew the enormous double doors back.
And light poured into the darkened court.
The sounds, the laughter. He didn't feel like he'd ever heard such a joyful din.
With lungful of air, Hiccup stepped into the light.
Hundreds of visiting nobles and ambassadors were waiting outside, pouring in as soon as the gates were drawn wide open. They looked as excited as he was, though it was to see that palace that ahd been locked up for years whilst he revelled in getting out of it.
Hiccup walked along the crowd on the bridge, all smiles.
Those who recognized him beamed at the sight, one girl tugging to her friend and pointing to him in awe, though he did not see this. Hiccup gave a cordial nod to an elderly baroness, who smiled to him in recognition.
"…your highness!"
"…my prince, so glad to see you!"
Quite a lot recognized him, surprisingly, even the commoners.
He ducked under a large cake being carried over two men's shoulders, taking all the colors of the festivity in as if they would disappear at any moment.
Hiccup leapt up and held on to a lamppost as he stood at the stone side of the bridge, overlooking the sea of people. He couldn't believe his eyes or the overwhelming feeling in his gut.
This was the chance to see a whole new world.
He walked along stone edge of the bridge, looking over the heads of the nobles and commoners, teetering on the edge with the deep blue waters rippling down below. The air was so open. Hiccup suddenly felt free, seeing the open sea and the great ships in the sun. The people, oh, the people. So many faces, some familiar from long forgotten memories when the palace used to be welcoming and others simply new.
Jumping off the stone ledge, he kept on his way with wide eyes and mouth hanging open like a child out for a walk. Hiccup moved against the current of people headed into the castle and out into the open square.
"Oh, this is gonna be good…"
With a chuckle on his lips he zipped through the pavilion lined with growing flowers, just enjoying the moment of being outside.
Being indoors for so, long made everything seem so unreal.
His eyes glued to the ships in the distance, he ran down the stone steps to the docks. Oh, the galleons and the sail-ships with their flags and banners all a–flutter.
"A merchant's ship!" he gasped, seeing the smaller vessel at the farther end of the dock.
"I wonder if they have books-"
He was suddenly shoved aside out of nowhere, knocking the wind right out of his lungs. He tried to catch his balance, only managing to get his foot in a bucket and fall backwards, arms flailing.
"Whoooa!" he hollered in panic as he fell all akimbo into a boat.
Him falling into it made the dinghy slide off the dock.
"Thor's beard!" he yelled in horror as he felt the tugging of gravity, bracing himself for impact into the deep water.
Bam. He was tossed up and down the boat as it snapped back against solid ground.
Flop.
"Ugh…" Hiccup grimaced as he tossed away the seaweed that plopped against his face.
So much for being a formal figure for coronation day.
"Hey!" he suddenly snapped up, kicking the bucket off his boot.
"I'm so sorry!" said an earnestly apologetic voice.
Of a girl.
She sat atop a dignified-looking stallion (which, by the way, had a really smug look on its face), a girl about his age. With golden hair in an intricate braid intertwined with purple flowers, swept over her shoulder as her black and white gown trailed over her horse's sides.
"I'm so sorry, a-are you hurt?" she asked, brows furrowing.
Hiccup blinked. He had never seen this girl before.
"Yeah…uh, no, no," Hiccup stammered, scrambling to get up, "I'm okay."
"Are you sure? You were pretty much tossed over," she said with a small chuckle, jumping off her saddle, "Stay still, Max," she told the white stallion.
It was only then that Hiccup realized that her horse was keeping the boat off the water, with on hoof holding the end down.
"Uh…no broken bones," Hiccup chuckled, getting to his feet just as she held out her hand, "Wind knocked out of me, but other than that, I'm, uh, great!"
She smiled and slowly withdrew her hands as if simply assessing his face. She had such green eyes. Like him.
"Oh!" Hiccup suddenly said, taking a gracious bow, "I'm Prince Hiccup, of Burkess."
"Prince!" she gasped, taking a curtsy, "My lord,"
"My lady," he acknowledged with a small awkward grin. Not that he never got used to being royalty, he was born in it, after all, but to have someone of her nature-a lady, a noble-to act about him as anyone would, was flattering.
Max, or so the girl called her, perked up and bowed.
It rocked the boat and this time, Hiccup was quick to move, jumping out and pulling her along with him.
"Maximus!" the girl told the stallion sharply, though her face was kind, like she were talking to a child, "No need to panic, sweetheart."
To Hiccup's surprise, the stallion gave her a nod as if he were a soldier following orders. He did seem that way, Hiccup gave him that. Even for a noble's horse this one was…lordly.
Perhaps more lordly than he was.
She straightened up with a beam, "Princess Rapunzel, from Southern Isle of the Sun."
"Oh, hi," he said with a smile that faltered halfway, "That should have probably been said first-hand…this is awkward-not that you're awkward-you're gorgeous-wait, sorry…"
Good Lord, growing up in solitary state didn't do his stammering well.
Nor his awkwardness.
Why would he say that?
Rapunzel smiled, however, wringing her hands together, a concerned look suddenly crossing her face.
"I'm sorry I hit you with my horse, sir," she said in apology, "And…nearly knocking you into the water."
"No, no, I'm okay, really," Hiccup said, regaining his composure, "I fall a lot more than you can imagine."
"Really?" she said with a small grimace.
"Yeah, well, you know. Pain. Love it," he chuckled, sarcasm fluttering, "Besides, I'm not that prince,"
He walked around Maximus' side, trying to get as far away from the dock edge as possible without being obvious, "If you met my brother, I suppose he'd be mad."
"He would?" Rapunzel wondered, tilting her head to one side in curiosity, "Prince Jackson?"
"Perhaps not," Hiccup iterated, "It's just he's aloof. And unpredictable at times…"
Yeah, perhaps Jack was only like that around him.
"But!" he added, "All for the best, it's just me."
"Just you?" she said with a raised brow and a small grin, "I think you're grand."
Hiccup blinked. What did she…?
"-your grace." she added quickly.
Barely knowing it, Hiccup was smiling. And they remained so for a moment or two until the church bells began to ring in the distance.
"The coronation…" Rapunzel mumbled, taking up Maximus' reins.
"I-I better go," Hiccup stammered, running up the stone steps before stopping, "I'm so sorry, I forgot my manners!" he said with a sheepish grin, retracing his steps.
He took in a small breath, stopping a foot away from her and managed to blurt it out.
Goodness gracious, if he wanted to be a gentleman, he had to be a gentleman.
"May I escort you to the cathedral?" he asked, one hand folded behind him, the other held out to her.
"Oh," Rapunzel blinked, a beam crossing her face. She took to her skirts in a hurry and curtsied before taking his hand.
"It would be an honour, your grace."
