Hey everyone! Please read this super long note (sorry...)

Concerning UPDATES: In case there is any confusion, I just wanted to let you all know that I DO update on a regular basis. Because of busy lives/schedules, I typically update once a week, usually on a Saturday or Sunday, but sometimes weekdays too. If I can update more than once a week I will!

Here's the thing though. The way I do these stories, I write a good 5-8 chapters in advance. This keeps me organized with my plot (if I need to make changes, its easy to do without re-posting chapters or causing confusion among readers), as well as it gives me a "safety" chapter- aka, if I don't have time to write during the week, I still have a chapter to post for you all. So if I'm really ahead in writing, I'll post a couple chapters a week. If I'm behind, I can only post one.

The other thing. I had planned to go a certain direction with this story. Unfortunately I've had to discard the idea due to complex story board issues and the fact that it was causing the story to deviate too much from my original idea and purpose for writing the story to begin with. Unfortunately, this means I've lost a good 4-5 chapters that I now have to completely re-write.

Because of this, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO UPDATE FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. I DEEPLY APOLOGIZE. I want to give you all the best story I can give, with as much regularity in updating as possible. So I'll be taking a mini hiatus to catch up on chapters. I am so sorry to you all- you guys have been so supportive of this story and I cannot express in words my thanks. I will do my absolute best to make this story worth your wait.

Also, sorry if this chapter seems a little all over the place, I started my massive editing here with it, and actually ended up stringing together bits and pieces from multiple chapters just so I could update today. The story is now back on track, even if this chapter is messy, and now I just need a few weeks to catch up.

Thanks for understanding guys :/

So, without further ado,

Read, relax, review!

~o0o~

13.

"You have to do it."

"No."

"Try!"

"Nope.
"Why not! You agreed we have to do what needed to be done!"

"It's not happening," Hiccup said, crossing beneath the archway of the palace gate, Jack at his heels. "Please Jack," he said over his shoulder, "just drop it."

Hiccup approached his dragon friend who sat patiently waiting for him. The brunette boy fastened his travel bag to the side of Toothless's saddle and began his routine check to make sure every aspect of the complex saddle- every buckle, tie, spring, lever, and hinge- was in working order.

"Why Hiccup?" Jack protested behind him, leaning on his staff as he watched the boy work. "You have the power to figure out everything we need to know to stop him... and you don't want to use it?" Jack sighed when Hiccup stubbornly remained silent, then backed away slightly when his dragon gave a low growl. "I mean," he amended, "I get that you don't want to. It's hard, it's painful, it's 'against human nature' or whatever but-"

"It's not your choice Jack," Hiccup said, turning around, arms crossed in a calm fury. "When you suddenly have the ability to violate someone else's soul," let me know. Then we can discuss it."

"Whoa," Jack threw his hands up in surrender, a little freaked by Hiccup's reaction. "Since when are we talking souls, Hic? I thought this was about minds-"

"It's the same thing to me," Hiccup responded bitterly, turning back to Toothless's saddle. With a final tug on one of the straps, the brunette Guardian swung his leg over the dragon and buckled himself in.

Jack rubbed his hand over his forehead, realizing his excitement had made him cross a line. "Look... I'm sorry. I... I just want... all of this... over with."

"We'll find a way," Hiccup replied confidently, though his green eyes were worried and refused to meet Jack's. "A different way. I'll be back from patrol by nightfall, then we can talk more ab-"

"A week." Jack stated, his face resolute, seeking compromise.

Hiccup looked at him. "What?"

"Til Friday. If we haven't made progress or 'found another way' by then, promise you'll do it. Promise you'll look into his mind."

Hiccup sighed exasperated. "Jack, I can't make-"

"We both know time is not on our side Hiccup," Jack argued firmly. "Pitch has attacked us twice now in two days, and we still haven't made our move. We're letting him win. We have to act, and it has to be soon. He's not gonna sit around and wait."

Hiccup gazed at the bight afternoon sky, frowning. Toothless tilted his head to look at the boy, curious. Jack got the strange feeling they were communicating telepathically. He waited.

Hiccup sighed, throwing his hands in the air. "Alright!" he agreed, overly frustrated. "Fine, fine! Friday it is."

Jack half grinned. "Friday it is." He paused before, "Thank you, Hiccup."

The boy grunted and the Nightfury took off into the sky.

...

Jack found the girls in the Corinthia stables, brushing down their horses.

"He said he'd do it," he announced as he walked in.

Rapunzel stopped mid-brush and turned to Jack, surprised. "Really?"

The white-haired boy nodded. "He agreed, provided we don't find anything within the week." Jack watched as Merida swung her bow over her shoulder and begin to fasten her sword to the saddle of her black stallion, Angus. "Are... you two going somewhere?" He asked curiously.

"We're riding out to Compass," Rapunzel told him. "I'm going to try to help Merida figure out why... why..."

The sword slipped through Merida's shaky fingers, landing with a thump in the dirt floor of the stables.

"Agh!" the red-head cried out, clutching her right hand to her chest. "Stupid sheath! Stupid sword!"

Rapunzel rushed to her friend's side. "Mer, let me see..."

The girl held out her hand. Jack walked over to join them, and saw a gash sliced through Merida's palm, glistening red with blood. He winced at the sight.

"You should be more careful!" Rapunzel scolded, pulling a clean cloth from her own satchel around her waist. She dipped it in a nearby water bucket and began to dab lightly at Merida's wound before wrapping a strand of her golden hair tightly around the girl's hand.

"Flower, gleam and glow,

Let your power shine..."

Rapunzel began her healing song, and her hair began to glow bright gold like the sun. Jack had never seen her do this in person before. He briefly recalled the day, just a few days ago, where he had almost drowned in the lake, and she had done this to save him...

Rapunzel's song ended. She gently pulled the hair away from Merida's hand. Merida's eyes grew wide.

"Punz..." she said.

The blood had vanished. The wound had healed.

But there was a thin white scar on Merida's pale hand.

"What's wrong?" Jack asked, confused, taking Merida's hand and looking at the scar carefully. Rapunzel looked shocked.

"It's... never done that..." she said. "Usually... usually the magic leaves no trace, as if the injury had never happened to begin with." The girl's green eyes turned to Jack's, afraid.

"No, Punz..." Merida whispered. She frantically grabbed her quiver of arrows and mounted her horse, leaving her sword forgotten on the ground. "We have ta figure out what's gone wrong with our powers. C'mon!"

Dumbfounded, Rapunzel nodded her head and began to finish buckling Max's saddle. "Yes... we need to reach the stones preferably before sundown..." she said in a poor attempt at a lightheartedness.

Jack sped next to her, dropping his staff and taking both of her hands into his.

"Hey, its gonna be okay," he assured her, squeezing her hands reassuringly. "Don't jump to conclusions, maybe you just skipped a line in the song or something," he suggested with a hopeful smile, trying to lift her spirits. Rapunzel smiled, appreciating his words, even though they both knew that she'd sung the song perfectly, the way she'd been singing it for all the years of her Guardianship. "Don't worry," Jack squeezed her hands again before she pulled away and mounted her horse.

"We'll be back by nightfall at the latest," Rapunzel told him, putting on a brave face as she tried to shake off the whole incident. The two trotted out the stable gate. Jack waved as they left, worry nagging in the back of his mind.

Two (potentially) Guardians were loosing control of their powers, and one was refusing to use his. Jack himself was only beginning to accept his new way of life, meanwhile an evil ex-Guardian was attempting to take the power of the Four Kingdoms for himself.

What to do?

He thought of Rapunzel, how afraid she'd become in that single instant, and how quick she'd been to brush it off and return her focus to Merida... how he wanted nothing more than to hold her close, to have the power to make sure she wouldn't loose her magic... He thought of her pretty eyes and her light smile when she was happy, he thought of her content laugh... the smile and laugh that had vanished when her powers seemed to not have fully done their job... Jack shook his head. Stop that. She's just a friend.

Jack thought some more. What was it that gave them their powers? Moon Magic? What was Moon Magic, really? If only they knew, they might be able to do something to stop what was happening... All four of the Guardians refused to believe Pitch's words... that they were losing strength due to a lack of symbolic belief... no, there had to be something more to it...

"North." Jack said aloud, snapping his fingers. He'd talk to his uncle. Maybe he could better explain what the Moon Magic was, and have some insight on why the Guardians were beginning to loose control. Jack knew North would agree to keep it all a secret from the rulers, and he hoped the man was old or wise enough to provide some answers...

Turning invisible to avoid being noticed by the common Warren person, Jack leapt into sky and let the winds carry him to Burgess.

...

Merida and Rapunzel slowly trotted over a hill leading away from Compass. It was late, almost dusk. They'd had no success. They'd visited Compass, but hadn't learned anything more. Merida sat silently fuming on her horse, Angus. Would they never figure it out? Rapunzel on the other hand, simply felt tired and worn. She was confused about what was happening, and she'd be lying if she said she wasn't a little frightened as well.

Rapunzel reined in Max. Merida trotted forward a few paces before she realized the blonde girl was no longer beside her.

"Wha's wrong?" she asked, pulling Angus to a stop and turning around. Rapunzel was looking in the other direction, not at Compass, but further north- the direction of the Kingdom of Burgess.

"You go ahead home Mer," she said.

"What? Where are yew going ta go?" Merida asked, surprised.

"I need to see North," Rapunzel answered, determinedly.

"Can't ye go in tha mornin?" Merida asked, exasperated. "It'll be dark soon!"

Rapunzel shook her head. "It can't wait," she said as she sharply flicked her reins.

Merida nodded. "Stay tha night there then! Don't be travellin home in the dark!"

"I won't! I promise!" Rapunzel called over her shoulder as she sped away through the grass and trees.

...

When Merida arrived home at Corinthia Palace, Hiccup was waiting for her.

"Where've you been?" he asked.

"Punzie and Ah went to the Stones to investigate," she answered shortly, pushing past the boy and making her way to the grand staircase in the main hall of the palace.

"And Jack?" Hiccup asked, close at her heels.

"Ah dunno, left him here."

Hiccup sighed in exasperation. "Where's Rapunzel now?"

"Decided to go to North's on the way home."

Hiccup stopped a few steps behind her. "On the way home? Merida, Burgess is not on the way home from Compass."

Merida stopped as well and turned to face the boy. "Ah knowww that," she rolled her eyes. "But she wanted ta go."

"And you didn't go with her?" Hiccup asked in disbelief. "It is well past sundown Merida, and there is a powerful, insane, evil, dark, mastermind, -"

"Ye can just say 'Pitch' Hiccup," Merida said, turning and crossing her arms.

"Yeah, well whatever!" he argued. "You shouldn't have left her. You shouldn't be traveling at night by yourself!"

"Rapunzel and Ah can both take care of ourselves, Hiccup!" She countered. "We aren't damsels in distress!"

Hiccup sighed in frustration. "I know that Merida," he said, turning and gripping his hands on the banister. "I know... I just... I don't... I don't want-" he stopped.

Surprised, Merida softened. She took a few steps down to meet Hiccup.

"Doan want what?" she asked tentatively, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Hiccup turned his head to hers. They were inches apart.

They both froze, staring at each other. Merida's heart began to speed up. She noticed how bright his green eyes were, how scared, how frustrated, how soft. He'd been worried about her? She leaned in closer.

Hiccup's body was frozen, but he felt like he was shaking in nervous tremors. Merida was looking at him, her expression indescribable. Was it concern? Compassion? Confusion? Hiccup's brain was shutting down. He couldn't think straight. His beating heart was on overdrive. He hadn't felt like this in so long... he hadn't felt like this since Ast-

No.

Hiccup stiffened and pulled away quickly. No.

This wasn't right.

Merida jumped back too. Awkward, confused, feeling stupid. Why had she done that? What had she been doing?

Hiccup stared at her for a second, forcing his wide eyes to regain a normal expression. He composed himself. He stepped back, stepping down a step on the staircase.

Merida too stepped back, stepping up a step on the staircase.

They distanced themselves.

Much better.

"I uh, I'm sure Rapunzel will be fine," Hiccup said shortly.

Merida nodded, swallowing. "Yea... she can take care of herself."

"I'm going to... wait up for Jack," Hiccup said after an awkward moment of silence.

"Good idea," Merida agreed quickly. "Ah'm... Ah'm going ta bed now Ah think."

"Ok."

"Ok."

Another awkward moment of silence.

"Alrighty then," Hiccup finally said, puffing air into his cheeks and turning away quickly, going down the steps at almost a run, and walking swiftly out of the hall.

Merida's legs remained stuck to the stairwell. She just kept staring at the place where Hiccup had disappeared. Hiccup... was so confusing to her. She hated Hiccup, didn't she? Well not hated... they just didn't see eye-to-eye, right? They were always arguing! Weren't they? But just now... One minute arguing, the next... what even was "the next"?

Merida had a strange desire to run after Hiccup. She wanted to be standing close to him again. She wanted to feel the way she had felt not even two minutes ago. She wanted-

No. She couldn't embarrass herself more.

But what had she been feeling? Had Hiccup felt it too?

Merida's shaky legs collapsed on the staircase. What was happening to her?

yay... building on Mericup! Makes my heart flutter...

So yeah... not sure when I'll be posting again, sorry once more. I hope it will be very very soon! I will type as fast as my fingers can physically move and my brain can physically process information to get you guys this story. Thank you for all your support!

Guest Reviews:

Saph: Yes! And I honestly haven't finished developing Jack for this story. I want his center to be related to "fun", seeing as that's what it is in the movie, but I want to put my own spin on it... so we'll see :) And yeah...again I love your ideas! But unfortunately the whole reincarnation idea (I love the memory idea!) just won't fit, especially since I'm rewriting things to fit my original ideas... so sorry! But I will definitely consider it in future stories! Thanks! As for your questions... you'll just have to wait and see! Everything will be explained... thanks for the review and support! - iceprincess

Awesomeness/TheWorldGoesBoom: Oh my goodness where to begin... First off, thank you so much for your warm praise! Also, thanks for the note about sass and sarcasm with Jack and Hiccup- it has been noted. If you read my note at the top, you'll see that I am planning on taking a break to revise and rewrite, so I will definitely work to make sure that sass and sarcasm (something I'm not as strong with) comes out more! When I come back, I'll begin to update weekly again! Also your idea about the telekinesis- it's definitely something to experiment with, but I can't make any promises! I will have to think about it... it's a good one, but I'd have to think about making it fit... And thank you for sharing my story with your friends- I can't begin to tell you how wonderful that makes me feel! That and the fact I've inspired you to make your own account! That's fabulous. However, I have a question for you- Somehow, you have your PM messaging feature turned off? So there is no way I can communicate with you except like this...? Otherwise I would have responded to your reviews much sooner...? And don't apologize for the amount of reviews! I don't mind haha! I understand that excited feeling you have, but like I said, I couldn't respond sooner because your messaging feature is turned off. Also, I typically update once a week, but as I've said, I have to take a mini break... Anyway, thanks for making me smile with your reviews, and see if you can get that PM thing fixed?! I'd love to talk more! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and hope you don't mind waiting a little for the next one :/ -iceprincess