Chapter 5! And much is explained in this chapter, just as I promised!

Read, relax, review!

"Pick anything you'd like," Hiccup told Jack as he threw open the great wooden doors to his closet. "We'll get your own clothes and other belongings from home later. Come back downstairs when you're ready... do you remember the way?"

"Yeah, I think so, thanks," Jack nodded, a little shyly, to the other boy, looking around the room before turning his attention to the closet. Hiccup's room was large and airy, on the topmost floor of the Palace of Corinthia. It was simple, not extravagantly decorated, with tools and contraptions hanging on the walls, and many tables placed throughout, all piled high with knickknacks and tools. One table was devoted completely to what looked like maps, blueprints, and other designs. In the corner by a large window was an unmade bed filled with even more gadgets and strange-looking stuff. Toothless, Hiccup's dragon companion, was sniffing through a pile of junk by the door.

"You sure?" Hiccup asked. "Toothless and I can wait, if you like," he offered.

"Nah... I'll be ok."

Hiccup nodded his head. "Let's go Bud," he said to the black dragon as he meandered around the messy room with ease to the door. "Don't take too long," he called back to Jack as he passed through the door.

Jack ran a hand through his messy hair out of habit, turning towards Hiccup's closet of clothes, thinking hard. It was still so much to take in. Pitch, the Guardians, being chosen to be one of them...

"Guardian Jack Frost," he said quietly to himself, testing the words in his mouth. He shook his head, feeling stupid. He again asked himself, Why me?

He rummaged in Hiccup's closet for a while, trying to find something "clean" to wear. According to Rapunzel, his plain white shirt and brown pants, still damp from the lake and covered in dirt, just weren't good enough for the Guardian Acceptance Ceremony. Jack thought about Hiccup in his mind, trying to decide what would be "appropriate" for a Guardian to wear. The other boy wore a sort of combat suit made from brown leather, with lots of belts and straps with compartments and pockets that no doubt hid all kinds of special gadgets and the like. The clothes in his closet were much the same, lots of leather, some wool, browns, some reds and blacks, and for some reason, lots of greens. Jack had never really liked the color green on him. He shuffled around some more, trying not to disturb the orderliness of the closet (the only thing organized in the entire bedroom apparently), finally coming upon a pair of brown pants not unlike the ones he already wore and a pale bluish-grey t-shirt.

Jack shrugged, throwing the pants on the floor and holding the shirt up to him. As he debated whether or not he should be picking more formal clothes, something else caught his eye in the depths of Hiccup's closet. Something a dark, royal blue color. Jack pulled it out and unfolded it to find a very comfortable looking hoodie sweatshirt.

"Why not?" Jack said with a small grin, reasoning that since he was already uneasy about this whole Guardian business, he should at least be allowed to dress comfortably.

He discarded his dirty clothes and slipped on the clean, dry clothes from Hiccup's closet. Then, finding a mirror in the corner half hidden by a complicated looking machine, he examined himself thoughtfully.

He saw a skinny boy in a blue sweatshirt with brown hair that stuck up in all directions (which he tried to brush and flatten with his fingers, to no avail).

"Yup, I look like a Guardian," he joked sourly to himself, rubbing the back of his neck as he turned away from his reflection. He shoved his hands in the sweatshirt pocket and made his way to the door.

...

"I forgot I had that in there, glad you found it," Hiccup greeted him as Jack entered the palace common room on the ground floor. He'd been playing with Toothless by the door, but stopped when Jack came in. He scratched his chin. "Someone gave that to me a while ago, I don't remember who... anyway, you can keep it if you want, I've never worn it."

Jack looked down again at his new sweatshirt. "Thanks... uh, I think will," he said. Looking up, he saw Rapunzel waving to him from a couch in the center of the room. The common room was another very large room, but circular, furnished with four large red sofas arranged in a square in the middle of the room with a dark wooden table in between. On the far side of the room was a decorated fireplace, which currently held no burning fire as the weather outside of Corinthia, being located so far south in Warren, was rather warm and pleasant. Large windows were set into the curved walls at regular intervals, with elegant red curtains draping their edges. Sunlight shone into the room, giving it a very warm, comfortable feel.

Jack made his way to where Merida and Rapunzel were sitting waiting for him. Merida was siting cross-legged on one couch whittling a piece of wood, whereas Rapunzel was sitting much more ladylike next to her embroidering some sort of large purple banner in her lap.

"Is this like, a normal day for you guys?" Jack asked as he sat down opposite the girls and nodding to Rapunzel's embroidery. "Sitting and sewing and whatnot?"

"Not exactly," Rapunzel answered him, "but it is nice to just sit and do something relaxing for a while." She looked him over. "I see you found something better to wear... that's a good color for you," she noted kindly.

Jack grinned in thanks. Rapunzel was easy to talk to. Merida seemed like someone he might get along with, but she seemed so very withdrawn. Jack wondered why. Hiccup on the other hand, well, Jack wasn't sure. At times he seemed like a really great guy, but at other times Jack felt like Hiccup had something against him.

"I'm sorry about Pitch," Rapunzel said to him, out of nowhere. "It must have been hard for you, I mean, being family." Jack was momentarily shocked by the sudden statement, but hurriedly pushed it aside.

"It's no big deal," he answered, nonchalant. He made himself comfortable on the cushioned sofa. "I mean, my family isn't really close to... that family. I was never that close to him." Jack felt his throat tightening somewhat, hoping that his face didn't give away his true feelings.

Don't think that, he reprimanded himself. Who cares about that guy anyway? He means nothing to you. It doesn't matter.

"We were," Rapunzel said softly, poking at her cloth with her needle. Jack stared at her, momentarily shocked again. He'd never stopped to consider how the other Guardians might be feeling... they too had been deeply betrayed by Pitch.

"Tha's debatable, Punz. It wasn't like we were all best friends with him-" Merida started to argue without looking up from her wood.

"He was one of us, Mer," the blonde girl insisted. "Surely that must mean something to you."

The Scottish redhead said nothing. Jack felt the tension in the air, and felt like he should say something, but didn't know what the right thing to say would be. Perhaps he should just change the subject...

"So... this ceremony thing," Jack asked. Rapunzel placed her sewing down on the table to give Jack her full attention. "I feel like such an idiot for asking... but I honestly know next to nothing about you guys. I don't know what I'm supposed to do." That was, technically speaking, true. He'd distanced himself early on from politics and rulers and Guardians. But if he was being forced into this role, he might as well start somewhere.

"Ah wouldn't worry yerself laddie," Merida answered him, seeming glad for the change of topic as well. "The ceremony is short and you hardly have to do anthin except stand there and say-"

"I'm not sure that's what he was asking," Rapunzel interrupted her friend kindly.

"No... it's fine," Jack said, trying to be open towards all of them. "You said I'm already a Guardian... so the ceremony... is just for show, or something?"

Rapunzel nodded. "Mostly. The rulers like to have some sort of way to 'make it official.' The only important part is really at the end. Once chosen, you have to go to Council to receive your powers. So at the end of the ceremony, once you make your vow, the Moon Magic will gift you with your powers."

That's right, Jack thought. Guardians have powers.

"What's Moon Magic?" He asked.

"No one really knows," Merida answered. "It's mostly this silvery light that Ah suppose sorta looks like moonlight, but it's pretty ancient magic that's always been part of Council. It chooses Guardians, gives 'em part of its magic, yew know," she explained, shrugging the question aside.

Jack really didn't know.

"So... again, this might sound bad but, what are your guy's, um-"

"Our powers?" Rapunzel guessed, seeming to warm up to the new conversation. "Hmm let's see... Merida why don't you go first?"

"Me?" Merida asked, looking up. Rapunzel nodded. "Oh, all right then," she sighed, putting her piece of wood down. "Well, Ah can see the future."

"Oh." Jack said, not sure what the right response to that statement was.

"Well, sor' of," Merida expanded. "Ah have to really concentrate, but then Ah get these visions of what's to come. Images and scenes. Ever heard of Compass?"

Jack nodded. "That huge stone circle in Berk that people don't really talk about?"

"Tha's the one. The place has magic- strong magic that helps with ma head," Merida said, pointing at her forehead. "It's a lot sometimes, and Ah don't always know what the visions mean, but Ah get these feelins. The wisps help too."

"Wisps?" Jack asked, intrigued.

"Like little blue balls of light that are all wispy-lookin. So Ah call 'em that, wisps. They are part of Compass's magic, Ah think, but they help with the images."

Jack nodded, trying to understand.

"She's also really amazing with her bow, she never misses her target," Rapunzel added excitedly.

"Nah that's not a power, that's talent," Merida corrected proudly.

"Well, who's to say that our powers aren't talents as well?" Hiccup asked, joining the three on the couches, Toothless at his heels.

"Perhaps you'd like to go next?" Rapunzel greeted.

"Yeah, tell Jack about yer super mind-reading power," Merida added, grinning.

Hiccup glared at the redhead from his seat. "That's not how it works and you know it." Merida rolled her eyes.

"Whatever yew say."

Jack looked at Hiccup curiously. "Mind-reading, seriously?"

Hiccup shook his head sadly. "Merida has a bad habit of calling it that," he explained, giving the Scottish girl a pointed frown. "But it's very complicated."

Jack spread his hands. "Ok, tell me."

Hiccup sighed. "Yeah, all right... so... I'm the Guardian of Curiosity and Knowledge."

Jack nodded.

"I guard knowledge and the mind. To say I have a mind-reading power is not really accurate, though my power is based in the mind."

"English, Hiccup. Yew're confusing the lad."

Hiccup looked at her incredulously. "How was that confusing? And, my English is much better than yours. With your accent I hardly ever know what you're saying!"

Jack and Rapunzel shared a look.

"I see what you mean," he whispered to her with a grin. She rolled her eyes.

"Anyway," Hiccup continued. "I don't read specific thoughts, it's more about feelings and emotions. You yourself can put words in your head, but I don't see those. I only see the emotions behind them."

"Lots of people can sense emotions Hiccup," Rapunzel urged. "You aren't telling him the whole thing."

"I'm getting there!" Hiccup exclaimed, clearly frustrated. "It's just really hard to talk about, ok?" He shifted in position and then looked at Jack.

"I can... touch someone's consciousness."

Jack stared at him, not sure he understood. "Wait... what?"

"I can touch your mind with my own, and send you my own thoughts and feelings."

Jack jumped up from the couch in shock. Hiccup had spoken to him, but his mouth had never opened. "Wha- how- how did you do that?" Hiccup simply looked at him.

"It's my power, Jack."

Again, Hiccup hadn't opened his mouth.

Jack looked at the girls in slight panic. "Did either of you hear him speak?"

They were trying to hold back laughter.

"No Jack, he was talking only to you, but he can talk to multiple people at once if he wanted to," Rapunzel explained. "It takes some getting used to," she sympathized.

Jack sat back down in shock. "That's... weird man," he said. "Amazing... but weird," he said, shaking his head, as if doing so would shake away Hiccup's voice. Hiccup merely smirked and crossed his leg over his knee leisurely.

"Tell him the rest," Rapunzel urged.

Hiccup's smirk vanished. He closed his eyes. "The rest..." he repeated. "Well... I can sense brain condition, levels of intelligence, that sort of thing... and um...I can also... change minds. Control thoughts."

Now Jack was really shocked. "Like... force someone to do what you want them to do?"

Hiccup nodded, his eyes still shut. "Essentially." Then he opened his green eyes. "I hate it."

"Why?" Jack asked. Hiccup shrugged.

"It feels like a violation of nature. Your mind," he explained slowly, staring bitterly at the carpet "is like your last great sanctuary. It is the one place where everything is truth, and nothing is a lie. You can't lie to yourself. In your mind, you are always your true self. You may act certain ways when you're around certain people or in certain situations, but in your mind you are always no one but yourself. It is where your deepest thoughts lie, your deepest dreams and ambitions, and your truest feelings. Your mind is your own world. It is where you are most vulnerable, but also where you are strongest, because no one else has access to it like you do. For me to have access to it, to poke around in there... it seems so violating."

Jack sat in silence, listening to Hiccup with both fascination and sadness. The boy carried a heavy burden.

"I wouldn't want someone poking around in my head, so I don't poke around in others. I just wish it wasn't an option to begin with."

"You mean that you aren't even tempted... ever?" Jack asked, curious.

Hiccup shook his head. "Sometimes with animals I use it- their minds aren't as complex or developed as ours, so it's not as painful for me- but even then I only do it to send them calming thoughts and to convince them that I'm a friend- you know, that sort of thing. This morning I saved Merida from a pretty angry bear by forcing it to change its mind about attacking her."

"Ah could've handled it," the redhead muttered, hiding her face behind a pillow.

"Yeah well, anyway," Hiccup continued as Toothless padded over to put his head on the boy's lap. Hiccup started rubbing his neck. "I don't do it to humans if I can help it. Sending thoughts is one thing... it's like sending a message. The person can reply to me with words. I don't seek replies in their heads. They still have the dignity to choose how they want to respond without me seeing their thoughts. I can also send information that way. I don't even need to know where you are to do it. For example, I could send my dad, who's all the way in Berk, any thought from here and he'd hear me just fine, as if I was standing right next to him."

Toothless sneezed from Hiccup's scratches and scampered away to curl up by a particularly sunny window.

"I try to use my power to greaten the knowledge of the people of Warren. Encourage curiosity and discovery, send them ideas, teach them what I learn, etc." Hiccup summarized, "Not to mess with their heads."

"And train dragons?" Jack asked, nodding towards Toothless. Warren was known for the wild dragons that inhabited the mass unpopulated hills and forests of Berk. Jack knew little of the Guardians, but he did know Hiccup was some sort of dragon-protégé. Hiccup understood them in a way no one else did and trained them to be the people of Berk's companions. Now Jack understood why.

Hiccup chuckled. "Yeah, I suppose. But I really just like the dragons. I only use my power to communicate with them, not domesticate them. I dunno... they like me," he said, looking at Toothless fondly from across the room.

They sat in a contented silence for a minute, just enjoying each other's company.

"My turn, I think," Rapunzel said finally with a grin.

Jack turned eagerly to face her. "Wait- let me."

"Oh?" Rapunzel laughed, putting aside the banner she was decorating on the table between them.

Jack nodded. "Just talking with you guys made me remember some things." He thought for a moment. "You're the Guardian of Peace," right?

Rapunzel nodded. "Peace and Creativity."

"Right... but it's a lot more than that... your power... you saved me from drowning in the lake, didn't you?"

Rapunzel's smile faded. "You'd just been chosen when I felt the pain... I can feel when people are in distress or in pain, and their burdens become my own... the ones I can help, that is." She scooted forward in her seat. "I wanted to ask you about that, actually."

"Me?" Jack asked, confused.

Rapunzel nodded. "You were the one in danger when you almost drowned... but the pain I felt was your sister's, not yours."

Hiccup and Merida both looked at Rapunzel, surprised. Clearly this was news to them as well.

Jack shrugged. "I uh... was just trying to protect her." He rubbed the back of his neck. "The ice is usually very thick, and we play on it with our friends all the time. But today was different for some reason... the ice below her feet started to crack. She got scared, and well... I stepped in."

"Go on," Rapunzel pressed gently.

"There was this giant stick," Jack sighed, "kinda crooked on one end. I hooked it around her to pull her away, but-"

"The force of the pull caused the two of you to switch places," Hiccup guessed.

"Yeah," Jack said softly. "I remember falling, and the cold water... then I woke up and thought I was dead," he finished, trying to make light of almost-dying.

Rapunzel smiled a little at the memory of the Hospital Wing. "When we got to the lake, someone had pulled you from the water. My hair saved you."

Jack looked up. "Your hair?" he asked, not even surprised anymore.

"It glows when I sing," she shrugged. "And heals injuries."

Jack said nothing at first. "I suppose I should thank you then."

Rapunzel smiled. "It was my pleasure, Jack."

"Has it always been so long?" he asked, unable to contain the question.

"No," Rapunzel said. "It used to be shorter, and brown, like yours." She fiddled behind her neck for a moment, then produced a short piece of dark brown hair. "If its cut, it turns brown, and looses its power." She paused for a moment in thought. "Even Guardians have limits Jack, remember that."

Jack nodded, looking out the window at the green landscape outside of Corinthia.

"What do you think my powers will be?" he asked.

Hiccup stood up. "Only one way to find out," he said.

Jack nodded, suddenly felt very comfortable around the three other Guardians, as if all of them sharing their stories had brought them a little closer together. Jack was still awed by their extraordinary... talents, as Hiccup had mused... but for some reason, the three Guardians seemed much more real to him now, more like average teenagers rather than the all-powerful mythical beings the stories and legends always portrayed them as.

And I'm one of them now, Jack thought to himself.

Suddenly the whole Guardian thing wasn't as strange in Jack's mind. He thought about his life up until today- his simple life, the class clown, mother's helper, big brother to his sister, her best friend... friends, Jack thought to himself. He'd never really had any friends his age. His sister, Emma, had always been the center of his world. But now... maybe... just maybe...

Jack grinned, pleased by the idea. He looked up at Hiccup, who was smiling at him, a genuine, warm smile.

"That's the confidence I wanted to see," he spoke in Jack's mind. Unprepared, Jack threw a hand to his forehead in surprise. Hiccup just chuckled and offered Jack a hand to help him stand up from the couch.

"Thanks," Jack said as he took it.

Perhaps they would be friends indeed.

So what do you guys think? Is this story like, completely crazy or...?

And what do you think of everyone's powers, and what do you think Jack's will be? (Besides the obvious of course haha)

Until next time...