Wow! Loving the response from that last chapter... especially concerning Astrid... I consider that a job well done on my part haha...

Not much else to say except Read, Relax, Review!

~o0o~

17.

It wasn't hard for Jack to find Rapunzel- after climbing a few stairwells in the castle, all he had to do was follow the sound of her voice singing melodious tunes that resounded through the halls.

Coming upon her quarters at the end of a hallway, Jack somewhat nervously approached the half-shut door.

"Knock knock," he called while simultaneously knocking on the doorframe, pushing the cream painted door inwards to reveal… a wonderland.

Jack had only been inside Hiccup's rooms, which in no way compared to those of the blonde Guardian. The walls seemed to have originally been painted to match the cream door, but the girl had apparently taken it into her own hands to decorate. Flowers and suns, stars and planets, butterflies and birds, swirls and squiggles- all woven together in beautiful designs covering every wall-space available. No surface was spared- not even the ceiling. Splashes of color dominated everywhere Jack looked- she'd even painted the furniture! After roaming dull hallways, it was like Jack had stepped into another world entirely.

"Jack!" Rapunzel called happily, poking her head around a corner. Jack turned at the sound of her voice.

"Didn't know if you needed… or wanted, any help?" he asked, still spellbound by the colorfully cluttered masterpiece of a room. He turned slowly in circles, entranced.

Rapunzel giggled and ran up beside him, tugging at his arm. "C'mon!" she exclaimed, and he followed her through a doorway into a smaller, circular room, where Rapunzel plopped herself down on the bay seat of an arched window. Pushed up against the window was a round table littered with books, fabric, scissors, flowers, and-

"Lanterns!" Rapunzel exclaimed, gesturing to the plain cylindrical objects piled high on the table's wooden surface. "I'm decorating them for the festival- it's a tradition."

Jack, more than curious, leaned his staff up against the wall and moved to join the girl on her window seat. She eagerly made room for him on the cushioned seat and dumped one of the blank paper lanterns in his lap.

"Uh… and what do I do with this?" He asked her as he gingerly picked up the paper object for closer examination.

"Paint it," Rapunzel emphasized, handing him a clean brush and directing him to a small box of colored bottles.

Jack stared at the brush and lantern. He had never been that much of an artist. Stick figured people pretty much covered his range of drawing abilities. Somehow, however, he knew that those would neither please nor impress the blonde girl beside him. Unsure how to proceed, he glanced at her own lantern that she diligently worked on while humming with a smile on her face. Her delicate fingers marked in graceful golden lines, outlining what Jack recognized as an elaborate sun.

Jack pulled his legs up onto the bench so he could sit more comfortably. "Soo…" he began conversationally, "this festival seems like a pretty big deal."

"It's…" Rapunzel paused in her work, looking up to the ceiling as she searched for a word. "… completely magical," she finally decided.

"You seem really passionate about it," he commented, deciding upon a design for his own lantern and reaching for one of her many paint bottles. "Based on what you've said, I can't say Burgess has anything like it."

Rapunzel nodded. "One of the many reasons I love Corona so much."

The expression in her face held Jack's own gaze captive. "What do you like the most about it?" he asked, eager to know everything about the girl's interest.

"The lanterns," Rapunzel answered without hesitation, smiling with memories of past festivals fresh in her mind. Jack grinned as well, finally beginning to apply paint to the lantern in his lap.

Then Rapunzel sighed, rinsing her paintbrush and picking up a new one from the table. "But it's more than that, Jack," she said after a moment.

For a while she didn't say anything else. Jack didn't push her- he worked diligently to make a lantern worthy of the Corona Princess's approval, patiently waiting for her to elaborate.

"Do you know how many people there are in Corona? Or even in all of the Four Kingdoms?" she finally asked.

Jack's eyebrows furrowed at her odd question. He had no idea. Heck, he couldn't even tell her how many people lived in the small town he grew up in. "…A lot?" he guessed with a grin.

Rapunzel smiled at his response. "Hundreds…thousands… so many in fear, in pain, in distress." Her smile faded at the thought. "I feel them all…the price of my healing power. And now, with this war and the fear Pitch has caused… people are suffering. There isn't any peace." Jack put his lantern down and turned to face her, giving the girl his full attention. Rapunzel ran a hand through her blonde hair, brushing a few stray pieces behind her ear. "I wish I could help everyone, but that's impossible. My power takes energy and it has limits… I can't save everyone. And even if I could, some people's pain is not so easily fixed with a few strands of hair and a song."

She paused, and Jack felt he should say something, but he had nothing to say. He hadn't meant for the conversation to take this sensitive turn, but eagerly listened to every word she spoke, wanting to know everything about her. And the trust he felt from her through these words… it was a priceless gift.

"That's why this celebration, The Festival of Lights… is so important to me," she finally confessed. "During the day, the city, the kingdom, is alive with joy and excitement," she explained, her eyes brightening. "Everywhere you go people smile and laugh… as if nothing else in the world existed. People forget their pain and get lost in festivity. And at night…" she inhaled. "At night, the sky is filled with lanterns, each one carrying a hope or a dream. It is the most amazing sight… and in that moment, nothing else matters. Impossible things are suddenly possible… dreams are realities…"

"It sounds… incredible," Jack spoke meaningfully, recognizing the importance it held for her. He turned and presented his finished lantern to her. He'd decorated it with silver-painted lines that crisscrossed into tiny snowflakes. It wasn't a masterpiece, or anywhere near as intricate as hers, but he was proud of the finished piece. "I want to add my own dream…" he said as Rapunzel took it into her hands for closer examination. She beamed in approval.

"Do I get to light it myself?" he asked her.

Rapunzel looked surprised. "You mean you'll come?"

Jack laughed. "After all that you've just told me, how could I not? Does no one else go?"

Rapunzel grinned and shook her head. "Not usually," she said, excitement brimming in her face again. "Oh, thank you Jack!" she exclaimed, tackling him with an excited hug.

Slightly stunned, Jack hugged her back, cherishing how happy he'd made her, and in return, how happy she'd made him in that single moment.

…

Merida was still in the common room when Jack and Rapunzel came back downstairs, arms wrapped around their arts and crafts- lanterns, banners, paints, and things that involved lots of flowers- laughing.

The redhead sat motionless on the couch, staring out one of the many floor-length glass paned windows at the orange and red streaked sky, the result of the setting sun. When they noticed her pensive state, the two other Guardians quieted their jokes and laughter, dumped their burdens on the table in the corner where their maps and plans were, and came to take seats beside Merida.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Rapunzel asked, following Merida's gaze to the setting sun. "I've tried painting it loads of times… but I can never seem to get it just right."

"Where's Hiccup?" Jack asked curiously, noticing the unexplainably-moved coffee table.

Merida shrugged. "Ah dinnae… Ah doan care."

Rapunzel and Jack's eyebrows shot up.

"Another fight?" Rapunzel asked.

Merida shook her head. "Worse," she said burying her head in her hands, so that only her untamed mane of curls was visible.

"How does it get worse? Did you kill him?" Jack asked before Rapunzel whacked him across the chest. "What? It was a joke!" he protested while laughing, but stopped at the stern look Rapunzel was giving him.

"What happened?" The blonde asked softly, placing a hand on the redhead's shoulder.

"Ah jus wanted ta help!" Merida cried, raising her head up. "He knows that he has ta use his mind power on Pitch to figure out what that pathetic bastard is planning, so Ah just thought that if he practiced on me first, he'd have the confidence to do it again later."

"You let him into your mind?" Rapunzel asked, surprised. "And he agreed to it?"

"Ah think he was desperate ta… make progress, or accomplish somethin, Ah dinnae," Merida sniffed bitterly, wiping tears from her eyes before they could fall.

"What happened?" Jack asked with a frown, using a much gentler tone than before.

Merida shook her head, picking at the fabric in her dress. "Ah… Ah guess… Ah guess he saw somethin that he didn't like."

Jack looked at Rapunzel, his eyebrows narrowed. What's that supposed to mean? he silently asked her.

Rapunzel shifted in her seat, as if she wasn't entirely sure what to say next. "Merida…" she began slowly, "Do you… do you have feelings for him?"

"What?" Jack exclaimed, completely taken by surprise. Rapunzel shot him a glare as Merida groaned and fell backwards onto the couch pillows, defeated.

"Ah can't help it now, can Ah?!" she complained as more tears began welling up in her eyes. "Ah never thought he'd see it… Ah only wanted ta help him… but he-"

"Oh Merida," Rapunzel sighed, taking her best friend's hand. "It scared him, that's all. It's not that he doesn't like you-"

"He hates me!" Merida argued, throwing a pillow over her face.

"That's not true, you know that!" Rapunzel countered. "Did he say anything?"

"Nothing important," the redhead muttered.

Jack watched the scene play out, stifling laughter with one hand and running the other through his hair. He knew that laughing was probably not the best way to show support for his friend and teammate in her rather… distressing… situation, but Jack couldn't help but think that she was being a little melodramatic, all things considered…

But it got him thinking. As he watched Rapunzel attempt to soothe Merida, he wondered about the feelings he himself admittedly had for the blonde girl. He pictured himself in Merida's place- would he be acting any differently?

He wouldn't be lying on a couch with pillows over his head, that's for sure.

But the sulking-frustration bit… that he supposed he could understand.

"Mer… you've got to give him time, that's all," Rapunzel insisted. "You know he's just being cautious after Astrid…" But then the blonde Guardian trailed off, and Jack realized they'd come upon an even more touchy subject. Merida groaned again, rolling over onto her stomach and letting the pillows fall to the ground.

"Ah'm an idiot," came her muffled voice.

Jack's memory flashed back to the day he and Rapunzel had strolled through the streets of Burgess, talking about the different Guardian families… "Hiccup had a girlfriend for awhile… from the Hofferson family, and they were so happy until… It's not for me to- just forget I mentioned it…"

"Umm… do one of you want to explain to me who Astrid is?" Jack asked, recognizing that Astrid must be the Hofferson girl, and wanting to understand what all the fuss was about.

Rapunzel just looked at Jack and sighed.

"Astrid Hofferson," she began, "was Hiccup's mortal enemy growing up."

"Sounds familiar," Jack commented to himself, raising an eyebrow at Merida who still lay hidden behind a curtain of curls.

"She hated him," Rapunzel continued, looking down at the floor. "Most of the time he never really did anything wrong, he was just always the awkward, shy kid who was always in the wrong place at the wrong time, getting in her way, making her look bad. 'The good for nothing son of the chief' people used to call him," she explained.

Jack remembered Rapunzel telling him how Hiccup had grown up a loner, never accepted by the other teens until later.

"But then they grew up, and things changed," Jack guessed, leaning forward in his chair, clasping his hands and resting his arms on his knees.

"Yes… and it was all thanks to the dragons… and the changes Hiccup made to Berk because of them. During that change, Astrid and Hiccup's relationship turned around completely. They were so in love…" Rapunzel recalled, smiling at the ceiling at the memory, then looked down tentatively at Merida as the latter decided to slowly sit up and brush the hair out of her face. Her eyes were red and puffy from her silent tears.

"What happened to her?" Jack asked, suddenly finding himself dreading where the story was going. "What happened to Astrid?"

"She's dead." Merida said flatly, standing up and walking towards the door.

"What?" Jack breathed, eyes wide, looking at Rapunzel for confirmation.

"That fire from the vision Merida had?" Rapunzel explained, "When Hiccup lost his leg… that was the final battle the Berk Vikings fought against the dragons. Hiccup and Astrid fought together, side by side, the unbeatable duo." She paused as her own voice began to choke up. "Only the dragon they fought was a true monster, impossible to train. Somehow in the commotion, they both fell from the backs of their own dragons… Astrid didn't make it out. It's only thanks to Toothless that Hiccup is alive, and even then he lost his leg."

"Ah should 'ave known," Merida said, her back turned to them, leaning in the doorway. Jack was surprised to still see her there. "… he blames himself fer what happened ta her."

"You can't blame yourself for his guilt, Merida," Rapunzel insisted. "He just doesn't want to be the cause, or what he thinks is the cause, of any more deaths."

Jack inhaled. So this was why Hiccup had been so understanding when he had almost gotten him and Rapunzel killed in the cave of water. Hiccup felt responsible for Astrid's death, and couldn't bear to see Jack beat himself up over the same thing, especially since no one had actually died.

"Hiccup doesn't want anyone else ta get hurt," Merida said, turning around in the doorway.

Rapunzel nodded from her seat.

"Merida…" Jack stood up, shoving his hands in his pockets, "what if I… talked to him?" Neither of the girls answered.

"I mean, I don't know how long he's carried this guilt for something that probably wasn't his fault, but… he, and you," he said, turning his head to Rapunzel, "almost died because of me. Hiccup got me through that… I think I should return the favor… if I can."

Rapunzel smiled sadly, and Merida rushed towards Jack and threw her arms around him, squeezing him tight. The white-haired boy was caught by surprise, patting the girl awkwardly on the back as she squeezed the air right out from him. He was getting a lot of hugs today.

"Thank ye," she whispered.

…

"It's a mess," her voice said. "But it doesn't have to be."

Hiccup stared at the smirking girl in front of him, feeling hopeful for the tiniest fraction of a second, before he lowered his eyes to ground again sadly.

"And which mess are we referring to?" he asked her bitterly. "The one wearing a black cloak and terrorizing the entire land? Or the one Merida just dumped on me?"

Hiccup stood up, brushed himself off and walked to the edge of the cliff, staring out longingly at the horizon. Astrid put her hand on his shoulder.

"Only one of those is actually a mess, Hiccup, and we both know which one it is."

Hiccup dropped his head. "Sometimes I wish Toothless and I could just… fly away."

"And leave everyone behind?"

The brunette shook his head. "I don't know," he said with a sigh. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do… who I'm supposed to be. To myself, to others…"

"Yes, you do!" Astrid encouraged with a grin.

"No- no I… I'm not like you," Hiccup said, turning around to face her, a sad look on his face. "You… know exactly who you are, you always have. I have the ability to read and decipher other people's thoughts, emotions, and deepest selves, and yet my own person is a mystery to me." He turned again and sat down once more, bringing one knee up to his chest and wrapping his arm around it as he looked back out at the ocean. "So what does that make me?" he asked. She sat down beside him, and leaned her hand on his chest.

"What you're searching for?" she told him, "isn't out there, Hiccup," she said, nodding at the horizon. "It's in here," she finished, applying soft pressure to the place on his chest where her hand rested, just above his heart.

He looked at her, smiling sadly in gratitude.

"I know you aren't real," he whispered as he looked into her face, memorizing its every detail. "You're just a picture in my head."

"What happened wasn't your fault."

"Maybe not… but it is my fault I couldn't save you," he argued, pleading.

Astrid smiled again and cupped his cheek in her hand. "Hiccup… you need to let me go."

"Can't," Hiccup insisted stubbornly. "I… I loved you."

"And I you," she agreed. "But Merida has a good heart… she deserves you." Astrid pulled her hand away from him. "But more importantly, you deserve her. You deserve to be happy." She looked at him then, eyes ablaze with love. "It's time, Hiccup."

Hiccup swallowed, nodding his head shakily, looking away. "Time," he repeated.

"Give her a chance," Astrid said, "For me."

"It's not a mess," Hiccup agreed, standing up.

Astrid followed suit. "Told you so," she said triumphantly, placing her hands on her hips.

"You know for my conscience, you're still really competitive," Hiccup grinned. Astrid laughed.

"Well, what do you expect?" she exclaimed, eyes gleaming. "If I always agreed with everything you said and never pushed you to think harder, then where would we be?"

Hiccup smiled and raised his hands in mock surrender. "You're right, of course."

"Now about the mess that is a mess…"

Hiccup nodded.

Astrid took a step back, replacing her hand on her hip. "What are you going to do about it?"

Hiccup shrugged. "Probably something stupid."

"Good," she grinned wider, "but you've already done that. Loads of times."

He looked up at her, his face set and determined. "Then something crazy," he decided, finding courage at the thought.

"That's more like it," she nodded in approval.

Just then the sound of pounding feet could be heard, and Hiccup turned to see Toothless racing up the side of the cliff to meet him. "Hey Bud…" Hiccup greeted enthusiastically, truly happy to see his friend. He looked back to where Astrid was standing, wanting to say something else…

…but she was gone.

"Let's go home Bud…" he said, reluctantly falling into step beside the saddleless Nightfury as the two made their way back to Corinthia Palace.

…

Hiccup and Toothless walked into the Common Room just as Merida and Jack were sitting back down. Rapunzel noticed him first.

"Hiccup!" she said, surprised.

Merida's head whipped around, her cheeks blooming red with embarrassment, her heart aflutter with love, and her brain frazzled by nerves.

Hiccup's green eyes were drawn immediately to her blue ones.

"Merida," he began, not sure what to say to her, and fully aware that they had an audience. Toothless nudged his leg in encouragement before trotting to sit by Rapunzel.

Hiccup ignored Jack and Rapunzel, looking only at the redheaded girl. "Merida…I'm sorry for how I acted earlier," he said, taking a few steps toward her. She stood up.

"Thet's ok," she replied quickly, "Ah understand-"

"No," he interrupted her. "I shouldn't have run out on you. You… surprised me. But that's not an excuse."

Merida gulped and placed her hand on the armrest of the couch for support, forcing herself to stand upright and proud. "Whatever ye saw, Hiccup… Ah... Ah meant it."

Rapunzel and Jack were frozen in their seats; Jack feeling awkward and wanting to leave but not wanting to draw attention to himself, and Rapunzel completely engrossed in every word the pair spoke.

"I know," Hiccup said softly, taking a few more steps toward Merida. He took a deep breath. "I ran out because… I do care for you, Merida."

Hiccup meant it. Out on the cliff, he'd come to the realization that it was his own feelings, and not hers, that had frightened him so and caused him to run. He'd pretended and shrugged off his attraction to the wild girl, and had fooled everyone, including himself. But seeing- no feeling- the strength of Merida's emotions… it had opened his eyes to his own feelings as well as hers.

Yes, what happened to Astrid scared him. He'd rather die than see the same fate take Merida too.

But maybe it was time to let go… and start anew. Merida knew destiny better than anyone, and he knew change. He also knew truth, and denying his feelings would only make things worse.

Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "I want to give…us… a chance." He paused.

"If… that's what you want…?" he added unsurely when Merida didn't move or speak.

"Or-"

But Merida ran towards him and threw her arms around him, and Hiccup easily returned the embrace, the whole thing suddenly feeling… right. And when Merida unintentionally leaned forward, he caught her lips in his and kissed her.

Rapunzel laughed and clapped, feeling the joy and contentment of the couple.

Toothless perked his head and ears up in surprise, tilting his head to the side.

Jack pretended to throw up.

When they broke apart, Hiccup and Merida both laughed, smiling at each other, nothing uncertain in their gazes.

"Now," Hiccup said briskly, finally addressing the rest of the room, his smile unfading, "Let's get out of this mess, and catch an evil bad guy."

See everybody really soon...

Guest Reviews:

OrangeCat: hahaha I very much loved reading your review! It made me laugh so hard... hope that all you questions and wonderings were answered with this chapter! If you have any more questions I will gladly answer them... and I strive to be mean in a good way! haha glad I was successful! And yes Toy Story quotes are A Plus just like grammar! yay! THANK YOU FOR READING! YOU ARE AWESOME AMAZINGNESS TOO! -iceprincess

Saph: Yes, quite a slippery slope he's started himself on... and he may not be the only one affected... but I won't say anymore! You'll see... Hope this chapter fulfilled all of your expectations! -iceprincess

Amethyst: Ok before I answer your review I just want to say that overtime I have written your name I have spelled it wrong and the computer has had to fix it for me! haha I don't know what it is but I can't ingrain in my head how to properly spell "Amethyst". lol. Anyway...I'm glad my anxiety didn't come out too bad haha.. Glad you enjoyed my Mericcup, and I understand exactly what you are trying to say haha! When you said that I nailed it, I pumped my fist in the air in happiness! Hope all your Astrid wonderings were answered... :) If you are still uncertain about anything feel free to ask! So yes, from one weird person who cannot for the life of her remember how to spell "Amethyst" (and yes we will keep doing this lol) to another weird person who hopefully CAN spell "Amethyst" (OH MY GOSH I GOT IT THAT TIME!) - iceprincess