"Hello Jack,"
The Frost King stiffened and turned around, and Rapunzel gasped at his appearance. He looked dead - eyes a dull yellow, hair and skin tinted grey, frostbite creeping along his neck and face. Even though he was dressed nicely, icicles still littered his body.
"R-rapunzel?"
"Jack?"
"Is it really you?" The Frost King asked, abandoning his map and stepping forwards. Rapunzel's hand closed tighter around the memory box in her pocket. She nodded.
"I-I didn't know what happened to you," Jack whispered, and Rapunzel noticed his eyes had a spark of life - love - in them. "I… didn't look for you,"
"I didn't want to be found," She whispered back. That was the truth - as her darkened form, the Pain-bringer, she hadn't wanted to be found.
"Why are you here?" Some of the icicles had grown smaller, but whether that was Jack's doing or her own natural warmth, she didn't know.
"I needed to see you," Rapunzel whispered back. "Something… happened,"
"It's been years but you haven't changed a day…" Jack muttered, running his eyes over her. Rapunzel blushed a little and the flowers in her hair flared. Jack pulled her hands from underneath her cloak to grab them, and froze.
"Who did this to you?" He snarled. Rapunzel's eyes snapped to her fireworm burns.
"O-oh," She stammered. "J-just something that happened while I was alone-"
"Did the Dragon Conqueror do this to you?!"
Rapunzel looked at Jack, and noticed the icicles had grown back.
"He did, didn't he?!"
"Jack!"
Jack - The Frost King - lifted one of her arms up, and kissed the inside of her wrist. Rapunzel shivered at the chill that ran down her spine. Jack's hands went icy, and he ran his fingers over the scars, soothing the angry skin.
"I'm sorry they did this to you," He whispered, looking down at Rapunzel as he kissed the marks colder. "I'm sorry they hurt you,"
"T-they-" Rapunzel tried, but kept shivering and couldn't get the words out.
Jack's hand slipped lower, and he started on the burns on her legs. He didn't reach any higher than her knees, but he did kneel down and look up at the blonde. Rapunzel could see the light return to his eyes, but there was still a veil of anger that clouded them.
"I promise that I will make her pay," Jack muttered, rising to his feet again. "The Bear Queen and her sidekick - both of them will hurt,"
"They didn't do this to me!"
Jack's eyes hardened and he let go of Rapunzel's hands, turning back to the map. A flurry of snow whirled around his right hand, leaving an icy scythe in its place. He swung it easily, pointing to a spot on the map.
"That's her castle," Jack said coldly. "I've been sending both snow monsters and fearlings to the nearby towns for weeks. They're all ready to attack at a moments notice,"
"Jack!" Rapunzel protested.
"It's okay Sunshine," He said, and Rapunzel choked at the old nickname. It really had been two centuries since anyone had called her that. "I promised to protect you,"
"Jack-"
"They won't be able to find you, and I'll make sure that both the queen and any of her minions that oppose me fall. You'll never be hurt again, and then you and I can stay here in this castle - together. We'll be safe,"
His eyes hardened again, and Rapunzel felt her heart drop. Whoever this was, this was not her Jack. No matter how much he proclaimed his love and wished to protect her, he was missing that joyful attitude that had always made Jack hers.
The Frost King moved to go back to his map, and Rapunzel moved quickly.
She latched onto his wrist, spinning the winter spirit around and grabbing his jacket collar, ignoring how the ice burned her hands. She clutched the memory box in her other hand, and pulled Jack closer.
Their lips were barely an inch apart - the box only an inch from his hand - when the fearlings crashed into the room. Rapunzel went stiff with terror, but Jack only growled and turned to his soldiers.
"What?" He snarled. "Fine, move out and engage,"
He turned back to Rapunzel, and every hint of love had vanished.
"We'll be moving out to the Bear Queen's keep soon, but she's sent her Bear minions and some dragon fearlings out here to attack me. I'm hiding you here, where they won't be able to take you again, but I will come back. I promise,"
He nodded and two large snow monsters burst out of the walls behind the blonde.
"Take her away,"
Rapunzel's eyes widened.
"JACK!" She shrieked. "NO!"
He didn't respond, and moved to leave the throne room with the fearlings.
"JACK! JACK! JACK!"
The Frost King walked out of his throne room, while the Spring's Daughter was dragged out. His minions took her towards the dungeons, locking her inside as she screamed.
And yet, nobody but her noticed the glittering gold case she'd slipped into his pocket.
Authors Note: I'm give you ALL the Jackunzel this week. Which fits, considering Kingdom Dance went viral on Instagram this past week. I actually posted the Rapunzel Reel on my own account (#sunmoonesaga) and it's done 50x better than both Hiccup and Merida combined.
Updates for those who enjoy them: I am ALMOST finished with the Omega Project! Just about two chapters left and it'll be ready. I can't wait to share that with you all! It's a huge story but I think it's pretty good.
Hope you all enjoyed today's chapter, and leave a review please! They make me happy.