-Sorry-

Hiccup watched Jack sore through the woods, heading straight for him. When Merida left the party last night the Viking figured it was to chase after Jack. And that heavy frown the winter spirit wore made is all the more apparent. Just when he thought their dueling personalities couldn't get worse, he had to get a mouthful of Jack's issues at midnight.

"Where is Merida?" Hiccup asking, standing up from the porch in front of the inn. Jack skids to a stop before the young male, letting out the deepest of sighs. "My dad came by and just scolded me something fierce. I don't suppose you have something to do with him finding out the princess of DunBroch is in town."

A bigger sigh. "I wish I could say not!" Jack replies with a huff, earning a twirl and a groan from Hiccup. "That's it. You two fought again. I just know it, I'm not an idiot. Well guess what, Rapunzel said she wants to go home tomorrow, are you two happy? Are you glad that you have ruined everything for her?"

"Hey, buddy, Merida and I are a two way tango thank you very much. We both are to blame!" Whoops, the ashen haired boy took a breath and spun around. "No wait. No. That's not even the only reason Rapunzel wants to go home, and you know what maybe this feud between princess and I is my fault."

Hiccup frowned and folded his arms. "Is there something going on?" Jack sighed heaviest and stomped his foot, turning the entire porch dock into slippery ice. Hiccup shrieked and fell to his read. "Sorry," Jack quickly says as he helps the smaller male stand. Hiccup merely takes the icy friend's hand, stands, and straightened his vest out. "What happened."

"Aw man I don't like that tone…" Jack mumbled before turning his cobalt eyes to the ground. "I don't know if you can tell but I have been holding a pretty unfair grudge against Merida."

"NOWAY." Hiccup says sarcastically, Jack in turn gives him a stern look. "Anyway," the Frost continues, "I sort of blew up on her even though she was just trying to help. I was kind of… upset…" The brunette's face softened a bit, "Yeah. I could kind of tell. Can I ask why though?"

"Do you have to know?"

"It's entirely up to you, but if it concerns the girls…"

"Actually it really concerns…" He looked at the inn, wondering if Rapunzel was listening. His stomach dropped. "The other day I made a move on blondie."

"No…"

"Yes. And it was a real messed up move. I knew she was sad and I tried cheering her up, and when I was sure I accomplished that I thought… I don't know, we were on the same page? I thought I could kiss her and she'd like me I dunno'."

"For the love of Thor… Jack…"

"I know, okay! I'm an idiot! I didn't mean to prey on her emotions like that, okay, she was totally vulnerable and I was in the wrong. So in the wrong she didn't let me anyway. She turned me down."

Hiccup didn't know what to say for once. All this time Jack was just heartbroken. The Viking sighed as Jack took a seat, and he himself took one right beside him. After a moment of silence Hiccup found his words. "Jack, I don't think she turned you down because she doesn't like you. She hasn't been herself lately and it just took her off guard."

"She may as well not like me, it was stupid of me to do."

"She has been in a tower all her life."

"I've been alone all mine."

"But you're a billion times more social than all three of us combined."

"…"

"So you pretty much took your frustration out on Merida. I take it that didn't go well."

Jack gazed out into the forest with a frown. "Do you see her anywhere? Tch." He brings both hands through his snowy tresses. "I said so many messed up things. About her and her family. I just want to take it back. She only wanted to help me."

"You may not be able to take it back, but you can still fix it. Look, we're all friends. Our friendship is way stronger than some petty drama. Merida has to forgive you, Jack. I can't talk to her for you."

"But it would be so much easier if you could. I never say the right things to her."

"Because you're never honest."

Hiccup stood and smiled down at his friend, "Only you and her know about this feud you have. You can be honest and you can fix it. Meanwhile I will fix the thing with my dad. He can't ban Merida from here. Then, when everything is perfect again, tomorrow you talk to Rapunzel. And we'll take her home."

"And then…?" Jack sounded like a lost toddler. Like Hiccup was his parent or something. In response the Viking rubbed his neck shyly, "Then we stay friends. And we visit each other as much as possible."

Jack came up with so many speeches in his head. He even prepared speeches for Rapunzel in advance. He had so many 'sorry's to dish out it was so unreal. But it was time to man up and atone for his mistakes, because his mischief wasn't fun anymore. He soared forward, weaving in and out of trees, desperate to find the weeping princess. He didn't expect her to be hurrying back in his direction and this lead to a painful collision.

The two crashed into each other and tumbled along the floor. When Merida opened her eyes to find herself laying on top of Jack, who had a goofy smile, she quickly leaped off and did a jig, as if she just found a roach in her underwear. Jack sat up quickly. "Merida please don't run off."

When the redhead collected herself she glanced at the boy who floated onto his bare feet. She brushed some hair out of her face and looked away, wondering how she will do this. "Why not?"

"Because I have a lot to go over with you. A lot of apologies too." He stared at her with the biggest most hopeful eyes and she scoffed, "Quit lookin at me like that I get it! I'm not mad anymore, ok?"

"Oh… That's great, but… I still really really need to talk to you." He grabbed her arm gently and she pulled away ready to shout at him but blinked and collected herself. "Follow me. We talk when we get somewhere… secluded." Jack looked around at the dense forest they were surrounded by. "This… isn't secluded?"

"Shh!"

The princess gripped her friend by his sleeve and lead him through the forest. And for the love of her, through the whole trip Merida could not get the boy to shut up. "I can't believe you'd forgive me so easy, Merida, you're really great. I mean… ugh that was lame. Look I really do see you as a friend and I promise I didn't mean it when I said I'd never bring you winter, I'd love to. I'd love to see you be all sassy and stupid as a queen, I'd love to-"

"Shut it!" Merida shouted, making Jack flinch. She quickly let out a breath and held her arms out. "We are here."

Jack glanced around at the grove they found themselves in, he smiled a bit. "I wonder how these vines are still here…" He mumbled. He then spun around to look at Merida, who was just staring. He approached her. "Red, I know none of my shouting made sense to you… because you see… you don't remember. When you were little you believed in me."

"I… what?" Merida stared confused, as darkness began to cover their feet. Jack just smiled sadly, "I used to play with you during the winter… chase you around and make you laugh. Your mom told you stories about me and you believed. Guess I should have thanked her rather than made fun of her while you studied with her, making you laugh and getting you in trouble." That made Merida chuckle a bit, before she realized what he was saying. What she was feeling. A memory? "I… I did know you…." She stared long and hard at her white haired friend, even reached out to touch his shoulder. "Jack… I guess I had to grow up and… gosh I hadn't realized… I forgot all about you and… and fun…" Then it dawned on her, she just betrayed her friend. She quickly looked down at the darkness covering the floor. "Jack, look out!"

"Huh?"

Their hearts lurched from their chests as the floor suddenly was stolen right out from under them. They were falling fast and hard, and Merida tried her hardest to reach for his hand but it was too dark. A harsh thud met the princess and she found herself on a cold brick floor. For a moment she thought she was going to pass out, but she realized the fall was painless for some reason. When she looked for her friend she found him somewhere unexpected.

What appeared to be a bird cage, swarming with darkness hung just before her. Inside Jack held the bars, hissing at the feel of darkness biting at him. He looked down at the staff just beside Merida. She quickly leapt at it, picking it up and getting ready to give it to him, only for dark form of Pitch to swoop in and pluck it from her little hands.

"Ah, ah, ah. Remember our deal, I can't have him take this, little girl." The dark being says, flicking some of her hair before stepping away. Merida gasped. When she returned her gaze to Jack she found the most startling look on his face. The look of shock and heartbreak.

"Merida…" He started, breathing heavy. "Merida, what did you do…?" Merida wanted to answer but Pitch was suddenly beside her, wrapping his cold arm around her shoulder. "Your buddy just did me the biggest favor. She delivered you right to me." He chimed. Now Merida's head hurt, she shoved Pitch away. "No… No, I just wanted to put him in his place a little. Not trap him… you said you wouldn't hurt him!"

"Oh geez, look at him. He is not hurt, you silly thing, you. Not unless he grabs those bars, which I can see he's not smart enough to refrain from doing." The boogeyman says, pointing to Jack Frost's meek attempts at shaking the bars apart. Merida covers her mouth with her hands. "I don't get it…" She says shakily.

"He's bad news, Merida! Why did you do this?" The spirit calls to her, with a hurt set of eyes. Hers hurt too. "I didn't know ok! I didn't think he could do anything, I don't take him seriously!"

"Don't take me seriously?" The dark form bellowed, "suddenly he had grabbed the Scottish female by her arm and tugged her roughly so she was forced to look at him. "You sicken me. It's bad enough no one regards me, but you… pathetic powerless princess. I'm ten inches away and you try and act like you aren't scared." He hisses, making her shrink in his grasp. "Well then. I will give you a reason to be afraid, princess. And right after I will make sure your little flower never inspires 'hope' again."

"Rapunzel…" Jack says, eyes going wide.

Merida stared at the evil man before her, gritting her teeth. "Don't you dare touch her…"

"I don't need to." Pitch tossed Merida hard enough for her to fall to the ground, with his now free hand he snapped his fingers. The princess shakily stood and backed up only to feel something snort behind her. Slowly she turned and found herself gazing into the eyes of a beast. A night mare. She gasped, and Jack once again fought with the pain of the bars. Pitch idly twirled the winter boy's staff in his hand. "You see? Without Jack being around I can send my precious beasts out. They will get the job done for me with your little golden haired friend. Also, you Merida." He turned his back to the two. "I am tired of your pathetic bravery. You don't really think that's a power do you? Good luck 'braving' my mare to death." He said with a laugh.

The mare snarled, inching closer to the princess. She glanced at Jack who was writhing, desperate to break free. "Jack… Jack I'm so sorry I…"

"Dear, you are wasting time. Don't you know what you need to do?"

"What?"

"Run."

/ I keep making Pitch touch her hair omg why do animals like touching her hair.

HA. I CALLED PITCH AN ANIMAL.

Admin then didn't sleep well that night because boogeyman gave her nightmares. V_v

Anyway whops if that seemed rushed. If you can't tell by now I'm not good at emotional moments.