A/N: This was simply a little story I wrote on tumblr and wanted to post on Fanfic. It's REALLY fast paced. I wrote it (as I mentioned in the first chapter) within four hours. So, I know it's not the best. Thanks for those who have reviewed! You all are lovely!

Jack looked back at Merida, "get out of here."

"What about you?" She gasped, looking toward the upper part of the castle.

"Don't worry about me. Just get out!" He pointed to the door, "no matter what, don't look back."

Merida shook her head, "I'm not leaving without you."

"Merida," he stepped closer, he wanted to take her hand but resisted the urge. "If you don't go, she will lock you away again. I can't let that happen. Everything will be lost if you don't go. Please. You have a family who is waiting for your safe return. You have to go."

Merida shook her head harder, "no!"

"Merida! Stop being stubborn," He laughed lightly, "I love that you're so stubborn. You make me insane… but now is not the time to fight me." His expression was a pained one, and Merida wanted to shout that she wouldn't leave him. She knew he was right though, she couldn't do anything as she was. She looked down, then back up at him, "you better come back to me."

Jack smiled, "I will." He tapped the floor with his staff, waiting. Nothing happened. Jack frowned. "Bunny will come, just… go outside." He pointed, "He'll come for you."

Merida nodded and dashed to the door and disappeared. Jack turned back to face his foe, who was now making her way down the stairs, her hair whipping wildly around her face.

"How dare you. You arrogant little brat," She stood on the second to last stair, "you may have let that girl escape. But you will not escape me!" A blast of black ice flew at him and he ducked out of the way.

"Even if I don't, I did what I came to do," He replied, keeping the staff trained on her. "You can't do anything to me that I haven't already suffered."

The Queen cackled, "oh, you think so, do you?" She lashed out; ice shot from her fingers and ricocheted off the wall when Jack blocked it. "You don't know the sort of pain I am capable of inflicting. You thought loneliness was a pain?" She grinned, "I will make you wish for loneliness when I am done with you."

Jack was about to reply when a hole appeared below his feet. It was surreal, he felt as if he were hovering for just a few seconds, as his eyes met the shocked ones of the Black Queen. Her shock turned to rage, and in slow-motion, it seemed, she lifted her hand and released a scream as black ice shot at him. Only, he fell and he cried out as he tumbled through the tunnel and the light from above vanished.

No one had spoken since Bunnymund had saved them. They just wanted to escape the area as fast as possible. Not that the Queen could dig that fast or even had any idea what might have happened (perhaps a small notion.)

It wasn't until they reached North's house that Jack spoke, stopping Bunny from going up, "thank you, Bunnymund. I'm... I'm really grateful you got us out of there." He smiled, "you saved us."

Bunny smiled in return, "it was my pleasure, mate. That's what we Guardians do. We help each other."

Jack nodded, Bunny hadn't mentioned Merida's wispy form, probably a little uncomfortable with the whole thing. One at a time they left the hole and appeared in the warm den in North's home.

"You made it!" North shouted rushing over to them, he swooped Bunny and Jack into a tight hug, nearly crushing them in the process.

"Gah! North!" Bunny cried out, trying to break free. North set them down, and Jack nearly toppled over. "Good to see you too," Jack replied.

"So, you rescued the princess. Good!" North grinned at Merida who smiled back, a little shy. "Let's get you all fixed up!" No one agreed more than Merida, and they all went to the room where her body lay in a cloud of sparkling glitter.

"This is what I look like?" She peered at herself, "Hm… The mirror sure does distort ones view."

Jack smothered a grin, leave it to her to say something like that at a time like this, "Merida, this is serious, you know."

"I kno'!" She glared at him, "now, how do I attempt this? Just sort've walk into my body? Or lie down in it?"

Jack shrugged, North scratched his chin, and Bunny seemed to find something on the ceiling rather interesting. Merida deadpanned, "lot of help you are." She muttered climbing onto the table. "Alright, here we go." She dropped down into her body.

The three watched anxiously, waiting. Nothing happened. Her wispy soul sat up and she stared at them. She didn't have to say anything, because all of them knew what she was thinking. Her soul wouldn't re-attach to her body. Jack felt lightheaded and gripped the staff for support.

"Now what?" Bunny asked, a little lost by all that was happening.

Jack shook his head, "I... I didn't get that far."

North pressed a hand to his forehead, and sighed, "I feared it would be like this."

"Is there… anything we can do?" Jack asked, looking at North for help.

"Perhaps Manny will know."

All four of them went to the window and waited, they knew he had been watching them. He must have an answer.

"I do have a solution." He finally said. "But it won't be easy…"

"We'll do-"

"For Merida," Manny finished, interrupting Jack.

"What do you mean?" Merida asked, she should have thought this was a bit odd, talking to the moon. But she just couldn't make herself feel that it was - she was a floating soul. That was much weirder.

"If I reconnect your soul to your body, there is the possibility it won't work. But if I do it and make you a Guardian at the same time, well, you will live. Of that, I am certain."

"Okay…"

"But that's only part of the trial. If you become a Guardian, it means not only will you never be Queen, you won't be able to see your family for a long, long time."

"Why?" Merida asked, hating herself for feeling weak. "Why won't I? Just because I am a Guardian?"

"Guardian's have many responsibilities. You will be entrusted with protecting the people of the world. You won't have much time to see them. It will also take some training for you to get used to the powers you will receive. Months, maybe even years. Everyone reacts differently to their transformation."

Merida looked down, "but I would live…"

"Yes."

"And be able to see them… someday?"

"Yes."

Merida closed her eyes, "I'll do it."

Jack looked at her, "are you sure?" He reached out to touch her shoulder, but quickly withdrew his hand. "If you do this, you can't turn back."

"I know the risk, Jack." She snapped, "I'm making my choice."

Jack nodded, "you won't be alone."

She smiled at him, "I know." There was something in her eyes. It was unmistakable to those who have seen it before, for Jack though, it was hard to interpret. North smiled, he recognized it right away. He knew love when he saw it.

"Very well," Manny said. His voice echoed through the huge building and without warning, Merida's soul vanished. Jack's eyes widened and he raced back into the room where her body was, North and Bunny right behind him.

They all watched as Merida's body glowed briefly, and then settled back against the table, a light sigh escaping her rosy lips. Jack approached her with a shaky hand outstretched, "Merida?" He whispered, placing his hand on hers. It was warm.

"Jack?" She groaned, opening her eyes, "I feel…" she shuddered, "a little sick."

Jack's face broke into a smile, "it'll pass." He gripped her hand, "Merida, I'm-"

"It's alright, Frost." She sat up, "I know."

Fin