AN: Hey guys! Thanks for those wonderful reviews. They make feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Anyways, I hope you guys like this chapter as well. More power to y'all!
To Miss Katarina Aguilar, hey! Your comment was awesome too, it made my day. I can't reply to you via PM (was weird. I'm new here after all), so I hope you don't mind if I reply to you here. Don't worry hun, they'll get their fair share of action *wink* *wink* but I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you won't be seeing that character :( a cameo maybe, but I can't write someone I don't really know well. Forgive me and I hope you won't hate me for that. But still, more power to you! :)
Chapter 6: The Search
Jamie just looked over the frozen sea, worried and depressed. Just when he thought his brother has let him in his life again, Jack left him again, and for good, it seems. But no, he refused to accept this.
"Jamie, let's go back in." Sandra said, patting his back. Jamie just looked at her weakly and nodded.
"Snow? It is snowing!" a few villagers were saying, holding out their hands to catch snowflakes.
"But it's in the middle of summer!" others would say.
"Jamie, did you know about this?" Sandra asked, still worried.
Jamie shook his head. "No..." he mumbled under his breath.
Outside, Rapunzel and Anna were still looking at the frozen sea.
"The fjord..." they heard Prince Tristan said. True enough, the big rock formations were freezing over, and the snow began heavily falling. "Come on, let's get back." Anna suggested. Rapunzel followed, still trying to take everything in, while Prince Tristan walked back with them.
"It's the king. He did this! The king has cursed this land!" Duke Pitch cried out frantically.
"Oh shut up. You're just overreacting." Duke Edmund said before facing the princes and princesses. "How was the king?" he asked, concerned. Sandra simply shook her head.
"He left." Jamie said in dismay. But then, Pitch hid behind the frozen fountain, glaring at Jamie.
"You! Are you conniving with the demon too?! Are you a monster too?!" he shrieked.
"Stop it! I'm normal, and my brother is not conniving with the demon!" Jamie shouted, frustrated.
"Then why did he choose to curse this land, huh?!" the duke exclaimed. "He must be stopped!"
"No! The sudden winter must be stopped. And I will go out there and stop it." Jamie said firmly. Rapunzel and Anna's necks snapped towards him.
"No, Prince Jamie. It's too dangerous out there!" Anna said, worried for the prince.
"It's not dangerous. He's my brother. He will never hurt me." Jamie said, reassuring the two maidens, who just glanced at each other.
"Give me my horse!" Jamie ordered one of the guards, who ran towards the stables.
"You're not going out into that storm, are you?!" Sandra asked, worried.
"Of course I am. I'm gonna bring back my brother." Jamie said, forcing a smile. But Sandra still frowned.
"I'm going with you." She said.
"You don't have to. I'll be fine. Like I said, he would never hurt me." Jamie assured her, as he mounted his horse.
"I leave Duke Edmund in charge!" Jamie announced as he rode outside the kingdom.
"Be safe..." Sandra whispered. Duke Pitch glared at the young prince, but a malicious smile crept up to his face as he looked at Sandra and Tristan and then at Duke Edmund.
Rapunzel noticed the venoumous smile so she pulled Anna towards her.
"We have to keep an eye on that Pitch guy." Rapunzel whispered.
"What?! We should get back to the workshop! Elsa must be worried sick about us by now!" Anna said, keeping her voice as low as possible.
"But there's no telling what he might do. After all, this kingdom is in crisis in the middle of the summer. It's your job to bring Summer, isn't it?" Rapunzel said, looking deeply into Anna's eyes.
"You're right. I guess we could stay here until the king and the prince returned." Anna said with a sigh.
-..-..-..-..-..-..-
"And here's my last card!" Olaf said, smiling widely at Merida. "The joker's on you!"
Merida rolled her eyes and let out a frustrated snarl. She slammed the cards down.
"That's five for me, zero for you!" The blob of snow giggled. Merida was getting very annoyed.
"When will they be back?!" Merida asked impatiently.
"Relax, the other guardians will be back soon enough." Olaf said optimistically.
"For now, how about a game of chess?" he added. Merida smirked.
"Nobody's ever beaten me in chess before." She said proudly.
"Really? Then I'd love to go against you!" The snowman replied happily.
However, before the two could give it a go, the door swung open and in the other guardians came.
"Welcome back!" Olaf waved happily at them.
"We lost the Duke. He might've went straight to Frostland." Kristoff said, worried.
"What do we do? I can't leave tonight, I've got to collect teeth too!" Savannah said.
"And I've got to make dreams!" Olaf said brightly, conjuring a small cloud and sitting on it.
"I'm also behind my schedule. Easter is just around the corner." Hansel grumbled.
"Don't worry. I'll go after tha' duke." Merida said, raising her hand.
The guardians turned to look at her.
"It's too dangerous. We can't let a fair maiden fight against the Duke of the Shadows." Hansel said, scanning Merida.
"Oh, don't worry 'bout this lassie. I'm the Fall Spirit after all." Merida said, grinning as she grabbed her bow and quiver.
"Where did you say he was headed to?" Merida asked as she went towards the entrance.
"Frostland. But don't worry, we'll be joining you in no time, as soon as we're done with our chores." Kristoff said, reassuring Merida. She merely nodded and saluted at them before flying away.
"Is she gonna be alright?" Savannah asked.
"Don't worry. The Fall Spirit has command over the wind and the storm. She'll be fine. Besides, Elsa went on ahead." Olaf said beaming. The other guardians just stared at him.
"You mean to tell us Elsa left?!" Savannah exclaimed.
"Yeah, why?" Olaf asked.
"So, you mean to say all four of the season spirits are gone?" Hansel frantically asked, pulling down his ears.
"Yeah, why?" Olaf asked again.
"This is bad. This could tip the equilibrium of seasons around the earth. Climate changes will occur!" Kristoff exclaimed.
"We can't let them be gone for a long time! People will become terrified of the sudden weather change, and it will just feed the duke!" Savannah added, now pacing back and forth.
"But we have no choice. We do our chores, and then we help. Now, move along!" Kristoff ordered. Savannah buzzed out, followed by Olaf on his cloud. Hansel dove into his top hat before disappearing.
Kristoff slowly walked into his office and stared at the globe.
"Please do it fast." he whispered.
-..-..-..-..-..-..-
Jack slowly walked up the snow covered mountain. The moon shines upon the mountain, causing the snow to glow white on the mountain that night. Not a footprint can be seen, even Jack's, as the snow heavily covered it few seconds later.
Jack glanced back at the kingdom of Frostland and it felt like a knife had pierced his heart.
"It really is a kingdom of isolation..." he muttered, noticing that the kingdom was surrounded by the sea, then the fjords, then the mountains.
"And ironically, I'm the king..." he said, chuckling lightly as he continued to walk upwards.
The wind was howling even louder than before. Jack could feel a swirling storm of emotions inside of him. He felt guilty for not being able to keep it in, the curse. Heaven knows he tried.
"And I've always reminded myself too..." Jack sighed. "Don't let them in, don't let them see, be the good prince you always have to be." he chanted, smiling to himself. He looked up the sky and remembered his father. "Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know..." he said to himself. Maybe the isolation was already getting to his head. But he didn't mind. He was feeling a new sensation swell up inside of him. It felt all warm and fuzzy, and it turned him all bouncy. A grin spread across his face.
"Who cares? Now they know!" Jack cried into the wind before abruptly clapping his hands together. An explosion of blue and white light enveloped his hands as he threw them upwards, creating a shower of frost and snow.
"Just gotta let it all go! Can't hold this back anymore!" Jack screamed, jumpily dashing around the snow. He stomped his feet and skates appeared. He grinned as he looked forward. He began skating forward, flawless ice forming below his feet, allowing him to glide effortlessly around.
"Let's see what this baby can do!" He shouted as he skated towards a cliff. He made a frozen ramp that just ended mid air, and with all the adrenaline pushing him, he jumped. His heart also jumped when he saw the endless canyon below him, but this allowed a surge of ecstacy and excitement as he barely managed to reach the other side. He fell face first into the snow, but he was laughing like a madman.
"Well, at least I know my limits! I'll break through somehow." Jack smirked to himself. He began skating again, in circles. He spiraled to the middle, making a slight jump before spiraling outwards. "I feel like the wind! I can feel the sky!" Jack shouted.
He then jumped up high, and let himself fall down, but he kept his arms high into the sky. He heard grumbling from below, and he smirked. He got what he was expecting. The spiraling patterns that he made, and they look strikingly similar to crop circles, was beginning to rise. He fell flat on his back, on the cold hard floor that was adorned with spiraling patterns. He spun himself to his feet, much like breakdancing, releasing several bluish sparks that raised walls and a ceiling.
Jack then admired his handiwork. Just what he needed, a frozen castle. He then removed the crown on his head and stared at it for a while.
"Me, king? Nah. Kings are all rules and deadlines. I'm all fun and snowball fights." He grinned. He threw away the crown.
"Well the past is the past. No way am I going back to that angry mob!" Jack said, snapping his fingers. A blue light encircled his feet before shooting up rays of bluish prism that enveloped him. When the light subsided, he was standing majestically in a light blue button up, long sleeved shirt, the two topmost buttons open, revealing his collarbone up to his upper chest. The shoulder parts were adorned with snowflakes. The sleeves were rolled to just below his elbows. He also wore white pants, with an ice sculpted like a snowflake chained to one of the back pockets. He was also wearing white shoes.
Finally, he messed up his hair, bringing out his boyish charm.
Jack admired his work again before walking onto the balcony.
"So I say, come at me world! The cold never bothered me anyway!" he shouted, letting out all the grief and sadness he was holding in. He smiled and slammed the door behind him. Just then a thought hit him. Jamie.
-..-..-..-..-..-..-
Jamie was wading through the snow, urging his horse to move forward.
"Jack! Jack! Answer me! It's me, Jamie! Your brother who's now looking for you! I'm sure the townspeople didn't mean to make you freeze summer!" Jamie called out.
"O-Of course, th-this wouldn't have happened if he told me his secret, haha..." he let out a nervous, chilled chuckle. "He's a stinker!" he rolled his eyes.
Unconsciously, he led the horse to a bent tree, which stood upright upon the horse stepping on it. The horse whinied and threw Jamie away before running back to Frostland.
"No! No! No! Come back!" Jamie helplessly said.
"Ooookay..." he said nervously as he trotted forward, wading through the knee deep snow.
Back at Frostland, Princess Sandra was pacing back and forth inside her and Duke Pitch's room.
"What if they don't come back? What if Jamie got frostbitten somewhere?" Sandra muttered, worried.
"Ah, don't worry. The young prince will be fine." Duke Pitch said in a monotonous tone. Sandra has been like that for over an hour. "But I do hope the king doesn't come back. I don't want to die as a popsicle."
"Uncle! Don't talk like that!" Sandra hissed.
"But it's true! He almost killed me!" Pitch snapped, now standing up. He was getting agitated.
"You slipped on ice!" Sandra retorted.
"His ice!" Pitch growled. The two of them had locked stares onto each other before hearing a knock.
"Come in." Sandra impatiently growled.
Prince Tristan poked his head in.
"You! You wretched brat- you!" Pitch growled but was stopped by Sandra.
"What is it?" Sandra asked.
"May I have a word with you, Princess Sandra?" Tristan asked.
"Sandra. And yes, I'll be right outside." Sandra said, glancing a furious look at her uncle.
When she closed the door, Pitch quickly scurried to the door and eavesdropped on their conversation.
"I'm worried about the prince. He's all alone out there, without supplies." Tristan said, tapping his foot.
"And your point being?" Sandra asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Look, I've been listening in on your conversation with the duke-"
"You what?!" Sandra hissed, and Pitched growled. Luckily for him, Sandra did not notice this.
"But be honest. You want to go after him, no?" Tristan said, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course I do! I can't just let him freeze over by himself!" Sandra exclaimed.
"Well good, now's your chance. I'm going after them. I still haven't caught a good look at the king's teeth. I'm not missing this chance, and I hope you don't too." Tristan said, with Sandra giving him a puzzled look. "Meet me at the lobby whenever you're ready."
Tristan walked away, and Sandra quickly jumped into their room. She hurried over to the closet and grabbed her thickest fur coat.
"Whoa, what are you going to do?" Pitch lied. Of course he knew what she was gonna do.
"I'm uhhh..." Sandra said, looking for an excuse. She was a terrible liar. Her eyes darted around the room, and saw an empty glass of water. She quickly took it.
"I'm gonna get some hot chocolate downstairs." she lied before quickly leaving. "I'll be back soon."
"Make it quick." Pitch said. He grinned maliciously as soon as she slammed the door. "You can go and freeze out there with the wretched brat for all I care."
The lobby was deserted by the time Sandra reached the bottom steps. Tristan was waiting for her. He had a bag filled with supplies with him.
"You ready?" The prince grinned.
"Yup." she replied.
-..-..-..-..-..-..-
The two young nobles passed by the palace entrance when Tristan caught a quick glimpse of Duke Edmund. He quickly grabbed Sandra and hid behind one of the pillars.
"Prince Tristan is missing! We need someone to find him!" Edmund motioned to a guard.
Crap. Tristan thought. He bit his nails, realizing that they would have to sneak out. He scanned the area and saw a nearby bush. As soon as he saw the guard turn around, he yanked Sandra towards the bush. A slight rustle was heard, prompting the guard's neck to snap in their direction.
He was staring at the bush suspiciously before he got up and walked towards it.
Tristan and Sandra were both breathing heavily as the guard was about to touch the bush.
"Hey! Duke Pitch has summoned you guys!" a voice from inside yelled. The guard shrugged and walked away. The two let out sighs of relief before walking out of the kingdom gates, before they walked towards the mountains, a woman with red-flaming, wildly tangled hair, who was about the same age as them, pulled them aside.
"And where do you think you two are goin'?" She asked, with a heavy Scottish accent.
"We were... Um..." Sandra said, panicking.
"We were about to search the king." Tristan admitted. Sandra's eyes widened as she hit Tristan on the shoulder.
"King? Isn't he s'pposed to be inside tha' large castle?" the woman asked, puzzled.
"He was, but then he ran away after setting off this crazy winter." Tristan replied casually. His eyes met the girl's eyes. The girl looked away and cleared her throat.
"So you're tellin' me he's the one to blame for this winter?" she asked.
"Not really! I mean, he didn't mean to." Sandra interjected.
The woman narrowed her eyes at Sandra, but only glanced at Tristan.
"Right. Would you mind if I acccompanied ya'?" she asked.
"Not at all. In fact, we would love to have your company." Tristan said, grinning. The woman looked away again and cleared her throat.
"The name's Merida by the way." The woman said, holding out her hand.
"Sandra, and this is Tristan." Sandra replied, smiling. The two shook hands. Merida awkwardly gave her hand to Tristan, who casually shook it, but then he froze when he saw her mouth.
"What?" Merida asked, flustered.
"You, my lady, have gorgeous teeth." Tristan said, gaping.
Merida blushed.