Jack sat on an old table, pretending to revise his lines as he absentmindedly flipped through the pages of his script. The wreath the costume people had prepared for him was uncomfortable to wear and made his scalp hella itchy. But as agonizing as it was, he was ordered not to ruin his neatly combed hairdo, so he could do nothing but endure the torture. With a groan, he pulled his legs up and rested his face in his hands.

"Show some decorum, sir," he heard Violet shouting exasperatedly. "You're wearing a skirt!"

"Fuck off, Violet," Jack grumbled, pulling the end of his outfit up and showing the shorts he wore underneath.

The girl scowled in disgust. "Elsa! Jack is flashing me!"

Sighing deeply, the blonde walked towards the duo. "Keep your skirt down, Frost."

"It's not a skirt!" Jack protested, throwing his arms up in the air.

Elsa crossed her arms. "And get your feet off the table."

He grumbled incoherently but did as he was told. Glowering at the platinum-blonde, he asked, "Happy now?"

She shrugged. "I'm not unhappy."

"Everyone, gather around, please!" Tooth called, and the students formed a circle around the teacher.

"This is it, guys, the last performance of the night!" she said, looking around the group. "You have all been working hard, and I can't tell you how proud I am of all of you."

Tooth sighed, bringing her hands together. "And if I could be as bold as to give you one last instruction, it would be to… forget everything we've done up till now."

Confusion spread through the group.

"Wait, what?" Hiccup was the first to ask, and similar inquiries followed his.

"I like to believe that the true beauty of Shakespeare's plays is not restricted to his words, but finds great relevance in the emotions he conveys with them."

"What… does that mean?" Jack asked, nudging Andy on the shoulder.

"It means she's giving us the green light to improvise on stage," Andy whispered.

"Ms. T, you can't be serious," Astrid said with a shake of her head.

"I know it sounds weird, Astrid, but hear me out!" Tooth cleared her throat. "I've been thinking about you guys' audition this whole time—"

"Great, so it's your fault," Astrid mumbled, glaring at the silverhead, who scowled at the blonde in response.

"—And you were right!" Tooth exclaimed. "People connect more easily with subjects that are closer to them. So why not speak to our audience in a language that they understand? With words that resonate with them?"

"Shit," Hiccup hissed. "Was definitely not expecting that."

"Are you telling me that I memorized all those dumb lines for—" Violet was silenced by Andy's hand covering her mouth.

"Yeah, yeah, life is unfair," the guy whisper-shouted. "Keep your words to yourself for now, okay?"

Unaware of the argument, the teacher continued, "When you walk onto that stage, forget the script and speak from your hearts." Tooth twirled around, her fingers sliding from one student's shoulder to the next one's. "Do you all understand?"

Mumbles of positive replies were heard, and Tooth clapped excitedly.

"Final preparations, everyone! Curtains open in five minutes!" she shouted before heading to the other side of the curtains to greet the public.

"I knew your act of kindness would come back to bite us," Elsa mumbled with a hand pressed to her temple.

"You can't seriously blame me for…" Jack gestured, pointing at the point in the curtains Tooth had disappeared through, "her!"

"So… what do we do now?" Hiccup asked.

"You heard the woman." Jack shrugged. "We're improvising."

Andy turned to look at the silverhead with narrowed eyes. "How come you're being so nonchalant about it?"

"Because improvising is way easier than trying to remember archaic English from a writer with too many feelings and too much free time on his hands." He stretched his arms above his head and sighed. "Thank God I will never have to use the word 'thou' again."

"Tooth is done," Violet said as she peeked through an opening on the curtain, and applauses could be heard coming from the other side. "Showtime, boys and girls."

"Alright." Jack put his right hand out and waited as the rest of his friends moved closer. One by one, they piled their hands over his, and Jack smirked as his eyes met the others'.

"Let's bring this fucking house down."

"Oh, can't you see, Hermia, that he is not worthy of you?" Hiccup shouted, pushing himself between Elsa and Jack. "He seduces you with his looks and fools you with his empty words!"

"Now, now, Demetrius." Jack hooked an arm around Hiccup's neck, messing the auburn-haired guy's laurel wreath in the process. "The fair maiden has the right to follow her heart. Don't be such a sore loser just because she chose me over you."

"Silence, insolent!" Hiccup pushed Jack away and pointed at him with indignation. "Your arrogance shall be your end, Lysander. And with time, Hermia too will see you for what you really are!"

"Dashing, smart and the man of her dreams?" Jack suggested.

"Oh, please," Elsa unconsciously mumbled, and her eyes widened as she and her stage partners realized she had broken character. "Demetrius," Elsa raised her voice and placed a hand on Hiccup's arm. "Your and Father's rejections of Lysander wound me. Can't you see that he—that he is my happiness?"

Jack rolled his shoulders back and put his hands on his hips. "You heard the lady, pretty boy."

Fuming, Hiccup turned to Elsa. "Hermia, listen to reason! Your father will have your head if you keep seeing this idiot."

Elsa shook her head. "That is not reason, Demetrius. That is oppression." She made her way toward silverhead, and together, they faced Hiccup. "And I would rather die following my heart than cave in to fear!"

Hiccup made wide gestures with his arms as he stomped out of the stage. "You will regret this. Both of you will!"

As the two were left alone, Jack stood in front of her and tilted her head up by the chin.

"You pale, my love," Jack said, his face moving closer to hers.

Elsa turned away from his touch and wrapped her arms around herself. "Oh, Lysander. What are we to do now?"

There was a moment of hesitation before he put a hand on her shoulder. "I'll protect you."

She let out a choked laugh. "How? Athenian laws force me to leave you."

"No. We write our own destinies, Hermia." He spun her so he could look into her eyes. "And my destiny is with you," Jack whispered, resting his forehead against hers.

"Let's run away," he said and took a step back. With her hands on his, he led her to the front center of the stage. "We can go somewhere far—somewhere so far your father will not even think of looking for us."

"We can get married, and no one will get in our way. We can start a family of our own, and we can finally be happy together!"

She closed her eyes and took a slow, deep breath. Their eyes met.

"Yes. Let's run away."

The background had changed, Hiccup entered the stage followed closely by Astrid. Andy watched the scene from afar.

"You said Hermia and Lysander would come through these woods." He peeked through the fake foliage before stopping and looking at her. "Where are they?"

"You probably scared them off with your elephant stomping," Astrid grumbled, crossing her arms. "Why are you going after her anyway? Hermia nourishes no feelings for you. Chasing after her is pointless."

Hiccup's eyes softened, and he gave her a sad smile. "You don't understand love, Helena."

Dash came jumping and dancing through the trees, the vines and lianas on his costume swishing around as he moved. He stopped at the sight of Jack and Elsa lying on the floor, feet apart from each other.

"Oh, look! These must be the Athenians my great King informed me of! The misfortunate children in need of assistance."

He leaned over Elsa's silent form. "Poor girl, sleeping on the dusty ground all cold and alone. And this"—he looked at Jack,—"must be the recipient of her attention. I shall drop some of this fairy nectar on his eyelids as my King ordered." Dash lowered the purple flower in his hands to Jack's eyes. "And when the sun rises, he shall fall for the first his eyes lay on."

"Oh, Helena!" Jack kneeled in front of Astrid and held one of her hands in his. "What a fool I was for not noticing your astounding beauty before!"

Astrid pulled her hand from his grasp with disgust. "Did you eat a poisonous mushroom or something?"

Jack got on his feet and caressed the girl's hair. "Nothing of the sort, I was purely awakened to my deep feelings for you, my dearest."

"What in the world are you talking about?" She snarled, pulling his hand away. "Where's Hermia?"

"Who cares about her?" He laughed mockingly. He looked around, placing his hands on his hips. "Now what I would like to know is where that foul Demetrius hides. I have some unfinished business with that bastard."

"Forget him, Lysander. You are leaving for a happy life with Hermia, he won't get in your way anymore!"

"Happy with Hermia?" Jack snorted. "I can't imagine a worse nightmare than spending another second with her!"

Astrid shook her head. "You're not serious."

"Whatever I felt for her was passing." He kneeled on her feet again. "All Hermia did was stop me from realizing my feelings for you!"

"Are you insane?" Astrid shouted.

"Yes, beautiful Helena! You drive me insane!" Jack pleadingly grabbed her hands.

"Unhand me, savage!" Astrid took a few steps away from him and pointed at his face. "Your jokes are not funny, Lysander! You are by far the worst comedian in all Greece!" she yelled as she stomped out of the stage.

"Wait for me, Helena!" Jack strolled after her. "I still need to sing verses about your golden mane and your piercing eyes!"

"Mission accomplished, my King." Dash bowed in front of Andy. "The misfortuned lovers my King sent me after must have found their happy endings by now.

Andy nodded. "Good, my elf. You did well today."

Elsa and Hiccup enter the scene, and Andy pushed Dash to the side.

"And here come the Athenians," Andy said.

Dash hummed, scratching the back of his head. "That is indeed the girl I saw sleeping in the forest. But the man is someone else..."

Elsa rushed to the center of the stage, pulling on her hair. "For the last time, Demetrius! Leave me be!"

"Why must you be so hurtful when I'm only looking out for your well-being?" Hiccup whined.

"Oh, believe me: you deserved far worse." Elsa crossed her arms and turned to face him. "You better not be here to tell me that you killed my beloved Lysander on his sleep, you treacherous snake!"

HIccup narrowed his eyes. "Do you seriously think I would do that?"

"What other explanation would there be for him to leave me behind?" she asked in a challenging tone.

"Well, I told you time after time that you should not trust him." He laughed with contempt. "Serves you right!"

"Be quiet!"

"No!" Hiccup gestured at her accusingly. "You trusted a scoundrel like Lysander, and where did it get you? Left alone to fend for yourself in this forest at the mercy of the wilderness dangers!"

She gritted her teeth and took a step closer to him. Elsa poked him on the chest with her index finger. "Consider this a warning, Demetrius: don't you ever cross my path again."

"Puck! What have you done?" Andy yelled at a recoiling Dash. "You charmed the wrong Athenian! Your mistake messed true love up, and for that, we are now responsible for making amends."

Dash lowered his head. "Apologies, my King. What should we do now?"

"Hurry through the forest, my elf, and bring me the girl Helena."

Andy put the purple flower over the eyes of a lying Hiccup. "Sleep, child," he whispered, "for when you awaken, your eyes shall be opened to the one you are to love."

Dash rushed into the stage and halted next to the teenager. "Here comes Helena, my King. And also the man I charmed by mistake."

"Good." Andy opened his arms. "The noises shall wake Demetrius up, and when he does, we shall have one problem off our backs."

Dash scoffed behind Andy's back. "Yeah, and two lovesick fools will fight for the affections of the same damsel. What could go wrong with that?"

Astrid and Jack crossed the stage, rustling the foliage as they walked, and Hiccup stirred on the floor. As he tried to sit up, the auburn-haired boy's sight landed on Astrid, and he called, "Helena! The Gods send a muse to bring light to my world!"

"Back off, Demetrius." Jack gave Hiccup a push to the chest. "Helena is mine!"

"Yours?" Hiccup laughed, returning the shove. "Not only do you pursue bohemian poetry, but you tread the path of comedy as well?"

"What can I say? I'm a versed man in more ways than one."

Hiccup grabbed Jack by the collar of the silverhead's tunic. "I see your arrogance hasn't diminished."

Jack mimicked the other guy's actions. "I see your insipid nature hasn't either."

"Enough!" Astrid got between the two and pushed the boys apart. "I don't know what kind of stupid prank you two are trying to pull, but I'm done!"

"I would never do such a thing, Helena dear." Jack shooed Hiccup with a hand. "Demetrius, be a good boy and go back to Hermia. It is no secret that you love her, and as usual, your presence is unwanted here."

Hiccup threw his hands in the air. "Your shallow feelings are revolting. You insult both Hermia and Helena with your words!"

Elsa walked in and sighed in relief as she saw Jack.

"Lysander, my beloved, I found you at last!" She rushed to the silverhead's side and held onto his arm. "I woke up, and you weren't at sight. Where have you been?"

Jack snorted. "Away from you for starters."

"W-what does that mean?" Elsa's voice wavered.

"It means, Hermia, that I no longer want to see you," Jack said, ridding himself of the girl's hold.

Elsa shook her head. "Surely, you don't think that."

Astrid laughed maniacally, glaring at the other three. "Oh, I see what's happening here. You three play me as a fool!" She pointed at Elsa. "Even you, Hermia, who I thought was my best friend!"

"I am!" Elsa shouted back.

Astrid shook her head. "Oh, if you really were, you would not conspire with those goons to deceive me."

"I deceive you not! It appears that I am the fool in this story."

"Can't you see how Lysander acts?" Astrid gestured at Jack. "He clearly mocks me, and I've had enough of it! I refuse to take more of this offense!" she shouted, storming across the stage.

"Where are you going, Helena dearest?" Jack asked, going after Astrid. "I still have to profess my undying love for you!"

Elsa grabbed his hand and stopped him from moving. "Lysander, what you're doing to my friend is not funny. Stop it, please."

"You dare touch me, witch?" Jack jumped out of the girl's reach.

Hiccup stepped between Elsa and Jack and pointed at Jack. "If Hermia's pleadings can't stop you, I shall."

"You really think you can get in the way of my and Helena's love?"

"My dear, why do you act this way?" Elsa cried, taking his hand.

"Unhand me, foul vixen, before I hurt you."

"Oh, what could hurt more than the words you utter right now?" Elsa turned to face Astrid. "I blame you for this, Helena! You must've cast a spell on him at night. You stole his heart!"

Astrid groaned. "Get over yourself, Hermia. You're delusional!"

"Oh, you haven't seen the half of it!" Elsa threw her arms in Astrid's direction, but Jack stopped her.

"Halt!" he said. "If you wish to hurt my dearest Helena, you must go through me first!"

"As if!" Hiccup pushed Jack aside. "Let a true gentleman protect you, Helena!"

"I don't need your protection," Astrid snarled, bending Hiccup's arm back. The guy cried, falling to his knees, and Astrid passed him, going for Jack next. "Much less yours." She punched the silverhead on the chest, and he fell as well.

"Go to hell all of you!"

"See what you've done, you up-to-no-good fairy?" Andy chastised Dash.

Dash bowed elegantly. "fault me not, my King, for I only did as I was told. Did I have fun with the mess? Yes. Should blame fall upon me for it? I don't think so, sir."

"Yes, thank you for your input, you sneaky elf." Andy sighed and beckoned the boy closed with a finger. "Listen closely now, Puck. Here's what you're to do: darken the sky and cover the air with mist; get Lysander and Demetrius as far from each other as possible and tire them out until they sleep. Then, pour this into Lysander's eyes." Andy handed the boy a new flower. "That will undo your previous spell and will restore the balance between those four. When morning comes, the couples will return to Athens, and happiness shall meet them at last."

Dash bowed again. "Yes, my King!"

"Hurry, my elf, for time is of the essence, and we must not dwell on the matters of the heart."

Four bodies lay on the floor, and Dash danced around them.

"Take shelter under the dark veil of the starless night, children of Athens," the boy sang. "By the time the sun rises in the horizon, all you lived in this forest shall be nothing but a foggy dream in your memories."

The boy stopped by Jack's side, lowering a flower to his closed eyes. "I hereby undo my wrongdoings, child of the moon. May you find your true destined partner, and may you find happiness together."

"As the sky clears up, you shall find your way back home, and well all will be."

Andy and Violet are pushed onto the stage hurriedly. Andy offered his arm to the girl, and together they strolled around the woods.

"See, my beloved Queen, those Athenians who there awaken?" Andy said, gesturing to the four resting forms on the floor. "Tricky paths brought them here, and obstacles aplenty they faced. Yet, they courageously persevered, and Love didn't fail them in the least."

"We shall bless them, my dear King," Violet said, holding his hands. "May they true in love continue to be, and may their lives prosper with good and wealth."

The pair walked together through the stage.

"What they experienced in these woods may be nothing but a dream to them, but the lessons they have learned with their hearts shall not be forgotten whilst they breathe."

As all other actors left, Dash returned to the stage and stood under the single lit spotlight. His voice was clear, and carried that childlike glee with every word he spoke,

"If we shadows have offended,

Think but this, and all is mended,

That you have but slumber'd here

While these visions did appear.

And this weak and idle theme,

No more yielding but a dream,

Gentles, do not reprehend:

if you pardon, we will mend:

And, as I am an honest Puck,

If we have unearned luck

Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,

We will make amends ere long;

Else the Puck a liar call;

So, good night unto you all.

Give me your hands, if we be friends,

And Robin shall restore amends."

As he finished with a bowl, lights went off, and the room darkened. In a moment shorter than a breath, the roaring of the crowd started, the sound of applause resonating through the auditorium, and cheers and whistles vibrating the air at the thrill of a well-delivered performance.

They did it. A Midsummer Night's Dream had been a success.