[Merida is angrily riding through the woods on Angus, tears streaming down her face. Her cheeks are flushed a bright red.]
Merida frowns. What had happened this time? Another lecture with her mother? But those don't leave her a sobbing mess. . .
[She arrives at a ring of stones, where Angus promptly throws her off.]
Merida blinks at the scene, before huffing. She leans back in her beanbag, crossing her arms.
[Merida opens her mouth to scold Angus, before noticing a will-o'-the-wisp.]
Merida blinks.
And blinks again. And then she lets out a breath.
They're real. She knew they were.
"What's that?" Rapunzel tilts her head, gazing at the wisp.
"A will-o'-the-wisp," Merida answers. "Some say they lead you to your fate."
"That's—that's awesome. Like really awesome." Jack grins toothily at her, and Merida finds herself smiling back.
Merida: (not looking back as she heads towards the wisp) Angus, c'mon.
[Angus does not follow, at first. Merida continues on, unaware that he is not following her. Angus runs after her.]
"You need a new horse," Hiccup says, in a bit of a joking tone. "One that will follow you everywhere."
"Angus does that." Merida frowns. "Something must've troubled him."
Hiccup doesn't respond.
[Merida follows the wisps deeper and deeper into the woods. Some time later they reach a clearing where the grass is frosted over.]
"But it's not winter yet," Flynn points out, frowning thoughtfully. "It's nowhere cold enough for things to frost over."
Hiccup thinks about this for a moment, running over every possible scenario. Could it be a dragon? One they've never seen before? That field might be cursed—or blessed, he wouldn't know—
—a stick pokes his elbow.
"Ack, sorry." Jack shifts around a bit, before placing his staff on the ground.
"No worries." Hiccup shrugs. He turns back to the screen.
[Merida gazes around, baffled. Her body tenses unconsciously.]
Merida: (muttering to herself) What in the world. . .?
[Merida walks deeper into the field.]
"I'm not really an expert in this," Flynn says, "but I don't think you should walk into a mysterious frosted meadow."
Merida snorts. "Like you wouldn't have done the same?"
"Okay, you got me."
[There's someone talking nearby. Merida crouches low and moves through the field slowly.]
Rapunzel frowns. "The voice sounds kind of familiar."
But where from?
[Seen cuts to a white haired boy, seemingly talking to himself. There's a snowman in front of him with an angry face and a crude circlet of branches on its head.]
"Ah. It's you." Rapunzel hums. "I knew that voice sounded familiar."
Boy: (high voice, mocking) But mom, I don't wanna marry a skinny livered pole! I wanna stay single and ride through the glen and let my hair flow in the wind!
"I—" Merida turns to face the young spirit, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
Jack laughs nervously. "Future, remember? I wouldn't—I don't even know what I'm talking about!"
Merida snorts. "Alright, fine. But you're on thi—you're playing with fire."
Boy: [moves to be behind the snowman] (slightly deeper voice) But you have to marry otherwise these man-babies will fight each other because they think the world revolves around them!
Hiccup wheezes.
"Why would you say that?" Rapunzel says, brow furrowed, though her voice turns breathless at the end, and she smiles.
Merida: (affronted) 'scuse you?
[The boy's head snaps to face her, his eyes wide with shock. He looks around briefly, before turning back to Merida and pointing at himself, mouthing, 'me?'.]
Merida: Yes, you. Who else would I be taking to? And don't ya know it's rude to make fun of someone?
Boy: I—Well, um—People don't usually come around here. And—and if they do, they don't really, um, notice me.
[Merida stares between him and the snowman for a moment, before realization dawns on her face.
Merida: The frost in the meadow—that's you?
"Oh, no, really?" Flynn's eyes widen in mock surprise. "Never would have guessed!"
Merida snorts, shoving Flynn playfully as Jack giggles.
[The boy shifts nervously.]
Boy: Um, yeah . . . Why are you looking at me like that?
[Scene cuts to Merida staring at the boy, eyes comically wide and mouth agape.]
"You'll attract flies," Hiccup warns her jokingly. He reaches over as though he were going to push her jaw closed before she swats his hand away.
Merida: (thoughtfully, to herself) The will-o'-the-wisp. . . They lead you to your fate. . . [Glances up, making eye contact with the boy.] You. You are my fate.
"Ooohh. . . You could have worded that better." Hiccup makes a face. Merida covers her face with her hands, her face flushing in embarrassment.
[The boy blinks, taken aback.]
Boy: I—Sorry?
Merida: No no no no, not in that way. What I mean—I mean that you're part of my fate. Not in a romantic way. But somehow, our destinies are intertwined.
Boy: [looking lost] Ahh. . . Okay?
Merida: Name's Merida. Yours?
Elinor purses her lips, attempting to prevent herself from bursting out. She's taught her daughter better manners than this!
[The boy blinks owlishly, as if no one had asked him that question before.]
Boy: You can call me Jack.
[Merida nods in acknowledgment.]
Merida: Pleasure to meet you.
Jack: [smiling tentatively] Nice—Nice to meet you too. [He frowns a bit, and tilts his head in a concerned manner] Are you—Do you need to talk? You look kinda. . .
[Merida stares at him, before realizing that she still has tear streaks on her face. She hurriedly rubs them away.]
Merida: I—yeah, I'm—I'm good. Thanks for asking.
"You don't have to lie to me," Jack says, sounding a bit wounded.
"What was I supposed to do? Tell a stranger something personal?" Merida shoots back.
Jack blinks. "I keep forgetting this is the future and we don't know each other."
Hiccup snorts.
[Jack looks doubtful, but doesn't push.]
Merida: [suddenly, as if she just realized something] D'you travel?
Jack: (startled) Do I—what?
Merida: D'you travel?
Hiccup paused. Why would she ask if he travels? She's not benefiting from it. . .
And then it dawns on him.
"You're leaving," he says softly, his voice just above a whisper.
"What was that?" Merida glances at him.
"You're leaving," Hiccup repeats. "That's why you asked him if he travels. You want Jack to take you with him."
Merida does not respond. Instead she turns to stare at the screen, a blank expression on her face.
Hiccup regrets saying anything at all.
Jack: Oh. Um, sure?
Merida: (excitedly) Take me with you!
Elinor blinks.
She's—she's leaving? But why?! Merida is part of a well respected family, and she's treated well.
Elinor needs to talk with her daughter. Perhaps something is going on.
Jack: (taken aback) I—
Merida: (pleadingly) C'mon. It won't be for long. I'll come back after a few months.
Jack: I mean—If you're sure. . .
Merida: Great! Now I gotta— [She turns around and realizes that Angus had not followed her.]
Merida (CONT'D): (angrily) Angus! [She storms off screen.]
[Scene pans to Jack, who stands there, befuddled and a little scared.]
"You're a scary person to be fair," Hiccup interjects before Merida can say anything.
(It's not—it's not really a lie. Merida is scarier than most people, yes, but he knows there are far worse things to be scared of.)
(Like dragons, for instance. Or violent and distant family members.)
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Sorry for leaving you on a two month cliffhanger it will happen again