Chapter 3:
Rapunzel guided Jack to the pair of chairs and they both took a seat. "So Jack, what brought you to my tower?" She asked the winter spirit, smiling sweetly. He smirked and answered, "I was just wandering around the forest here, when I found the tower and I wanted to know if anyone lived here." Pascal suddenly ran down Rapunzel's arms and down her legs to the floor. He ran over to Jack's chair, climbed up the legs and arms of the chair and sat next to the spirit watching him cutely. "Yeah, I've lived here my entire life," She said, her face fell slightly and she looked down at the floor. Jack noticed her disappointment and he felt badly for her.
"What was that argument about between you and your mother?" Jack asked sincerely. Her head shot up and her face flushed with embarrassment, "Oh, you heard that? Well ever since I was a little girl, I've wanted to see these floating lights that come on my birthday every year, but my Mother won't let me go." Jack knew how much Rapunzel's mom never wanted her to leave the tower; he had just heard her explain in her own terms. "Why? What's so bad about the world beyond the tower? It's really not that bad, it's not as scary as she must make it seem." Jack told her and she shrugged sadly, "It's because of my hair, people want it and would do horrible things to get it." Rapunzel answered while grabbing a piece of it and stroking it gently.
Jack tilted his head trying to think of what to say. "What if I take you?" Jack offered smiling, and the golden haired girl perked up at this. "Jack that would be, more than amazing!" She slumped down again when she came to her next realization, "But what about my mother?" She asked and Jack looked around and asked, "Well where is she going? She said she'd be back in three days right?" Rapunzel nodded and asked smiling more and more with each second, "Would that be enough time?" Jack smirked, "Let's just say I have my ways of getting you back on time." Rapunzel was smiling cheekily from ear to ear now and Jack loved her enthusiasm.
"Oh Jack will you really take me to see the lights?" She exclaimed and jumped out of her chair. He laughed and stood up with her as well, "Of course I would! It's not like I'm busy." Jack joked and Rapunzel jumped and pulled him into a hug. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, Jack!" She exclaimed and at first he was taken aback from her grasp but then he chuckled and said, "My pleasure Rapunzel." He hugged her back tightly and when they pulled away they locked eyes.
Suddenly Jack felt warmth in his cheeks, which was a first with him. Rapunzel giggled and she too grew rosy in her cheeks. She giggled and both heard a little squeak and looked down to see Pascal stared bored at the two. "Is the frog coming with us?" Jack asked sassily and smirked at the animal he knew was a chameleon. "Oh, Pascal? Of course he is!" Rapunzel said reaching down for the reptile. She cupped him in her hands and brought him to her shoulder to sit. He stared Jack up and down and brushed him off.
"And with that," Jack started, smirking at Pascal's slight disapproving of him, "we should start heading down." Jack made his way to the window ledge and jumped on top of it. "Okay!" Rapunzel agreed and called out, "I'll be right there, just have to grab some things. Be careful on that ledge!" She scuffed around the house, fixing and collecting things to put away. Jack smirked and decided to mess with the girl.
"Be careful with what Rapunzel?" He called out and suddenly his foot slipped, "W-whoa! Ah!" He yelled, falling over the edge.
Rapunzel gasped and screamed, "Jack!" She ran to the ledge, praying to not see the worst. She looked over the ledge and down to see nothing but perfect green grass. "Jack?" she yelled, completely flabbergasted. Unexpectedly Jack's upside down face appeared right in front of her face and she shrieked jumping back. "Jack?!" She asked shocked, "How are you doing that?!" Frost chuckled and flipped over through the air and was now right side up and hovering above the distant ground. "You can fly?!" Rapunzel asked yet again astounded by the extraordinary boy. Jack laughed and answered humbly, "Yes I can."
She exhaled while laughing and shook her head, "That's amazing." He shrugged and stated, "Well it's more like the wind just carries me. It's just one of the perks of being a winter spirit." They smiled at each other and Jack asked, "Well, are we going to go or not?" Rapunzel grinned toothily and Jack flew closer to the ledge and stood on it. He held out his hand to her and she looked at it. Rapunzel knew she longed for it but still there was the shred of doubt and worry that her mother would find out she left. Jack noticed she seemed to be overthinking the idea of leaving once again and chuckled softly, "C'mon Rapunzel, do you trust me?" She looked up at him and into his crystal blue eyes and this sense of faith overwhelmed her.
"Yes, Jack, I trust you." She said with all truthfulness, "Though there's something I've always wanted to try; meet me down." Jack smirked, his signature smirk, and held up his hands, "Alright." He turned and faced the forest and jumped from the ledge having the wind shoot him up like a slingshot. She ran to the window and watched as he looped in the air and headed down, landing on the grass. She saw him turn to look up at her as she breathed out and smiled. She grabbed some of her hair and looped it around the hook above the window. She slowly stepped onto the windowsill as Pascal tied a piece of her hair to him and gave her a thumbs up. She smiled meekly and suddenly she threw herself from the ledge and sent her body gliding down her hair.
She laughed thrillingly and twirled around through the air falling from her prison. Jack watched Rapunzel as she glowed and couldn't help but smile at her. Suddenly she stopped and she stared at the lime colored grass, with a mixture of horror and wonder. Slowly she brought her foot down to the grass and then the other foot. She squished her feet into the soil and fell to her knees laying down on the meadow. Jack chuckled and watched as she took in her surroundings.
She noticed he was watching her and jumped up to him. "Oh Jack, this is incredible! For, like, the first time ever I'm completely free! This is the best day ever!" She shouted running a circle around him and into a pond. She kicked her feet in the water and ran through the shallow water.
Jack took a seat on a rock allowing her to get her energy out. He smiled at the pure wonder that sparkled in her eyes. He knew this adventure with this strange, yet bubbly girl, would be quite the trip.