Lovely, here we are, the final chapter of the three-chapter-update-frenzy I have found myself on!

I have more chapters finished, I promise guys! I am only waiting to send to/receive from betas, so (FINGERS CROSSED) there won't be any more long waits and I can return to more regular posting. It IS the holidays, after all.

A Quick Note to Betas:

- Pretty much all of you haven't heard from me, and didn't get (I don't think?) these last few chapters. In no way does that have anything to do with you specifically. I've had a lot going on recently, and I just wanted to get something up for everyone. You know who you are- if you still want to beta for me despite my inconsistency, then please let me know! I will pm you soon anyway, but like seriously I don't want to be burden. Thanks so much.

Thank you all for your incredible patience and understanding- even those of you that are silent, thank you. All of your support means so much to me.

I really hope you guys enjoy these new updates!

Read, relax, review

(Ps- I found my break line! thats sooo weird...)

~o0o~

26.

Jack stood in one of the garden courtyards, appreciating the cool morning air. Though monstrous grey clouds still dominated the sky, the sun had found a window of opportunity and was, for the time being, shining its warm, happy rays upon the earth.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow was the Festival. Who knew what might happen… what would happen. He was a bundle of nerves. Every time Jack had fought Pitch and his Nightmares up until now, he'd had little to no knowledge of the confrontation before it had happened. It made the adrenaline kick in quicker, being taken by surprise. There'd been no time to think, only time to act. Instincts had taken over.

Knowing a battle was about to occur was a very different feeling. Nagging doubts and fears that he otherwise would have had no time to concoct for himself had overrun his brain. And then there was the waiting. Letting those thoughts stew while he had nothing otherwise to do to pass the time. The Guardians had planned and prepared all evening and all morning. They were ready for whatever was about to be thrown at them.

Now they just had to wait. It was torture for Jack. He wondered if the others felt the same.

When would Hiccup be ready to go visit North? Jack was getting even more anxious by the minute.

But no, they weren't planning on leaving to visit Burgess for another few hours.

In an attempt to temporarily loose himself, Jack had opted for the fresh late morning air of the outdoors, and was goofing off with his staff, making different things with the ice and snow he could now so easily create. Without meaning to, Jack had caused a patch of thick ice to spread outwards in a giant circle, resulting in what looked like a giant frozen lake that covered most of the courtyard.

"Jack?"

The white-haired Guardian turned his head. Uncontainable warmth filled his chest and his mouth broke a nervous smile to see Rapunzel standing there on the other side of the ice. With the fresh air to clear his head and the happiness of playing around with his ice and snow, Jack, before he could stop himself, was reaching out his hand to her and pulling her into the overlarge patch of ice he'd made.

"What are you doing out here?" Rapunzel laughed as she let herself be pulled onto the ice.

"I was practicing," Jack shrugged with a grin, "and sort of goofing off too… just trying things for fun. Accidentally made an ice rink. What are you doing out here?"

Rapunzel had her arms out now for balance- the bottoms of her shoes were sliding against the ice surface. "I wanted some fresh air," she explained, still looking at her feet as she took tiny baby steps. Jack exhaled in relief at not being the only one who had been feeling cooped up. "I'm so excited for the Festival," Rapunzel continued, "and still so nervous about Pitch, and the castle walls were just too confining, and then I saw you out here and thought I'd come see- woah-" Rapunzel's foot slipped out from underneath her and the girl fell forwards, about to face-plant, until Jack swooped in to catch her and pull her back upwards. Rapunzel's green eyes were startled as she looked up at him. "- come see what you were up to," she finished quietly.

"How's your headache?" Jack asked her, his intent icy gaze boring into hers, searching for the discomfort she'd been showing the previous day.

"I'm better now," Rapunzel smiled nervously, touched that he'd remembered.

"I'm glad," Jack grinned. Then his expression turned curious as she gently backed away from him to give them each some space.

"So how does that work?" He asked politely. "I mean, did you heal yourself with your hair?"

Rapunzel shook her head and shrugged. "No, the only person I can't help with my hair's power is myself, funnily enough."

Jack tilted his head, crossing his arms. "Have you ever tried?"

Rapunzel smiled sadly and reached her arm behind her head, pulling her hair over her shoulder to reveal a short strand of dark brown hair, hidden beneath the rest of her blond locks.

"If I try to heal myself, or if it's cut, it turns brown and looses its power," she explained before releasing the hair from her grasp.

"Wow," Jack stated incredulously. "That's a little unfai-"

But Rapunzel had tried to take a step to the side and begun to slip again. Jack caught her just in time.

Rapunzel looked up at the boy who had saved her twice now, a fierce red heat filling up in her cheeks. She bit her lip, not sure what to say, finally letting a quiet "Yeah…" escape with her shaky exhale.

The white-haired boy helped her stand once more, this time taking hold of her hands.

"To help you balance," he said with a smile, nodding towards his hand entwined around hers. After a moment, Rapunzel returned a smile of her own.

"This would probably be easier with skates," Jack mused aloud, looking at the strange ice rink he'd created amongst the summer flowers and trees in the courtyard garden. Jack was amazed it hadn't begun to melt yet. He looked back down at the girl beside him. "Still…"

A spark suddenly lit in Jack's icy gaze, and his grin turned mischievous. Rapunzel saw the look and her resolve faltered, her heart suddenly beating faster as her mind pieced together exactly what the boy was thinking.

"Jack, no- don't-"

But it was too late- Jack placed his strong hands around her waist and flung her around in dizzying circles across the ice, so much that Rapunzel's feet hardly touched the ground. The blonde girl felt all prior objections flee as she felt her body weightlessly leave the icy floor, and her unbidden giggles turned into joyful laughter.

So this is what it feels like to fly. Really, truly fly, her thoughts sang in her head. She heard Jack laughing alongside her as they slipped and slid across the glassy ice surface, tripping over each other in their clumsy attempts to stand upright. The more they slid the harder they laughed, and the harder they laughed the more difficult it became to balance and not slip and slide, and the more difficult not slipping became the more they laughed… and so on…

Until finally they managed to calm themselves long enough to stand still once more, but Jack wasn't ready to settle down just yet. He wrapped his arms around Rapunzel's waist again and moved to spin them in smaller, gentler circles. This time when Rapunzel's feet left the ground, it was because they actually were flying, inches about the ground, the playful breeze circling them in its comforting embrace. Rapunzel reached her arms out to feel the wind rush through her fingers as they spun, and she tilted her head back to face the sky, her braid seeming to float behind her in the breeze. Laughter once more bubbled up her throat, though softer than it was before.

And all too soon they were standing on solid ground. The ice had melted, leaving behind only scattered puddles of water and heavy droplets that clung to somewhat flattened blades of grass.

Even so, Jack and Rapunzel stood, inches apart, his arms still wrapped around her waist.

Wrapped up in this moment, frozen in time… the fog was lifted, the sky was new, warm, bright…

Things are different now, he thought again for the millionth time. Because it was true.

And the world had somehow shifted…

All at once…Everything looks different…

…Now that I see you…

And Jack had the courage to lean forward and tuck a loose strand of hair behind Rapunzel's ear. He had the courage to lean further down, and she leaned in towards him as though he were a magnet- strong and irresistible.

"Guys, we need to talk," came Hiccup's voice in both their heads, causing the two Guardians to swiftly jump apart in surprise. Even though the brunette Guardian was nowhere to be seen and certainly had no idea what he'd interrupted, the feeling that surged in Jack and Rapunzel's chests was still that of being caught- heart hammering and embarrassing.

Jack ducked his head, and Rapunzel hugged herself, turning away slightly, both Guardians' courage fading. The moment had passed.

The sun that had been shining had once again disappeared behind a grey storm cloud, returning the dreary light and chilly air.

But then they looked up at each other, standing for a moment in bewilderment, the same question pulsing through each of their heads.

…

"What's going on?" Jack asked Hiccup as he and Rapunzel re-entered the common room. Hiccup glanced at Merida, who was scarfing down an apple with one hand and refilling her quiver with the other. Feeling Hiccup's gaze, she looked up, but impatiently waved at him to go on.

"Uh... just last minute adjustments to the plan for today… is all," Hiccup answered uncertainly. "But let's sit down and chat… there's been a few, ah, new developments," he added, leading them to the plush chairs Merida was sitting on.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jack asked skeptically.

Rapunzel sat down beside them. "I thought you and Jack were heading to Burgess to talk to North while Merida and I met with my parents in Corona to finalize preparations for the Festival?" She nervously fingered the side strands of her hair. "Are you two not going to meet us afterwards anymore?"

Hiccup shook his head. "I'm not sure, to be completely honest. I uh…that is, we," he amended, glancing at Merida again, "thought… that…"

"What he's tryin ta get at," Merida picked up for him, tossing her apple core to the side while still busily organizing her arrows, "is tha Ah suggested he use his powers on Pitch again like he did before, just ta read tha surface of his mind or whatever, ta see if it would calm his nerves about everythin, because his anxiety and pacing was driving me crazy." She looked up, "And Ah do mean thet with love," she grinned apologetically at Hiccup.

Hiccup rolled his eyes. "So anyway, I did what she said, which was dumb-"

"No that was good!" Rapunzel assured him. "Knowing what he's up to can only help us."

"Well…" Hiccup trailed off. He was still looking at Merida, who was still completely unperturbed. "Exactly how are you not worried about this?" he asked the red-head in a mixture of amazement and frustration.

Merida shrugged nonchalantly. "Because one, this is Pitch, and he can't do anything more ta surprise me, and two, Ah think it's just a bluff ta try an eliminate Jack. Pretty low move, even fer the likes of him."

"Whoa hold up, I'm sorry- a bluff to do what?" Jack broke in sharply.

Hiccup looked at him regretfully.

"Explain," Jack demanded.

"Somehow… somehow Pitch knew what I was doing this time," Hiccup started nervously. "Like he was… expecting my probe. We uh… sort of chatted."

"About Jack?" Rapunzel frowned, troubled.

"Well yes and no… it's sort of feeling-based-"

"Hiccup."

"Ok," the brunette snapped. "He wants Jack to meet him somewhere… he said he had an offer-"

"I'm not making any sort of deal with him," Jack assured them defiantly, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.

Hiccup put a hand to his temple… "No Jack… it was some sort of trade. We have something he wants-"

"Tha crown, obviously" Merida put in, getting up and crossing the length of the floor.

"-and apparently he has something you want in return," Hiccup finished, speaking to the white haired boy.

"Any ideas?" Merida asked from the other side of the room.

Jack frowned, intrigued but unconcerned. "Nope."

"See?" Merida said, disposing of her full quiver by the door. "It's completely ridiculous. Ah dinnae why Pitch would think Jack would even think about goin, especially by himself-"

"He wants to meet with me alone?" Jack asked incredulously. "He's mental. As if."

"Like Ah said, its all a bluff ta get rid of Jack and tha crown. We aren't wee babes," Merida agreed, returning to the group, producing another apple from a pocket in her dress.

Hiccup sighed and leaned forward, resting his elbows against his knees. He massaged the bow of his forehead with his left thumb and forefinger. "Jack… I think it has something to do with your sister," he revealed slowly, carefully gauging the Winter Guardian's reaction.

Jack felt his blood go cold. His heart dropped uneasily in his chest, and he found it difficult to move.

"…What?" his voice came out whispered.

Hiccup shut his eyes. "I… I don't know. I wish I knew for sure, but… it was only pieces of thought, on the fringe of his mind… I wanted to dig deeper into it but he was able to somehow block me from seeing his plan… he shut me out before I got a good look. He has something… something to do with your sister… and he wants to trade it for the crown," Hiccup explained.

Jack repeated Hiccup's words, silently mouthing them, staring at the brunette in shocked confusion. "Something to do with...what could he possibly-"

Jack jumped up from the chair frantically. "No…no, he doesn't have something to do with Emma," he thought aloud as the others watched him in nervous anticipation. Jack ran his hands through his shock white hair and paced back and forth. "No… no he has Emma. It's-" Jack looked up at them, his eyes wide with fear at the realization. "It's the only thing that makes sense." Hiccup stood as well, reaching out towards Jack.

"Jack, listen, you can't-"

"I have to go!" Jack turned and kneed the couch in frustration. "I'm such an idiot- why did I ever leave her-them- alone, unprotected- I should have known he would try to pull something like this-"

Jack snatched his staff up off where it had been lying on the floor and turned back to Hiccup. "Where?"

"What?"

"Where am I supposed to meet this bastard?" Jack asked impatiently.

Hiccup looked at him helplessly. "He said… he said you'd know."

Jack placed his hand to his eyes and cursed. He did know.

"Fine. I'm going to go, but I'm leaving the crown here. He's asking for a fight, and that's what he's going to get. You guys go on as planned, I'll meet up with you later," Jack commanded, swiftly running from the room.

"We're going with ye! Obviously!" Merida exclaimed, running to meet him at the door, scooping up her quiver as she neared him. "If Emma's involved, Ah-"

"No," Jack insisted, stopping her with his hands. "I appreciate your concern, but this is between me and my uncle. Besides, you said it yourself- he wants me alone, and it's probably all a bluff anyway-"

"Jack," Rapunzel broke in suddenly, standing up to face him. "You can't just go to him empty handed like this-"

"Yes!" Merida agreed. "Do ye really expect Pitch ta just hand the lass over-"

Jack threw his hands up in the air in frustration. "Well, would you rather me take the stupid crown then? Because I could-"

"No- what if Merida was right before- what if this is just a… a big trick … to hurt you…" Rapunzel walked a little closer, but stopped herself short, staring at him with fear clearly apparent in her eyes.

"No one's going to get hurt, Punz," Jack said softer, though still obviously exasperated, taking a few steps back into the room closer to her. "He's not going to beat me that easily."

"-and what if I'm not there- if we aren't there… I couldn't bear it if…" Rapunzel was still speaking, trailing off, and wringing her hands anxiously.

Hiccup stood up, too, hands spread wide. "Everyone just calm down for a second, ok?"

"Hiccup, you know I'm right," Jack begged him intently.

Hiccup gazed intently at the other boy, before slumping his shoulders and giving in.

"Alright, we have to think carefully about how we approach this. Obviously, you have to go alone-"

The girls immediately started protesting.

"Hiccup, you can't-"

"He's not goin alone-"

"There's nothing to think about," Jack cut in, a bit harsher than he meant. "Look, I'm sorry," he addressed the girls with a softened face. "I'm going."

Merida and Rapunzel looked to Hiccup pleadingly, but the brunette made no further attempts to stop Jack, knowing they were wasting time arguing about it, and that Jack was right.

"I looked into Pitch's mind," he attempted to assure the group. "His thoughts became my own. The only dirty trick he's playing is kidnapping Emma. The deal itself- that's legitimate." Hiccup hesitated before adding, "If Pitch was planning a trap, I would have known."

"Are you sure?" Rapunzel asked sharply, almost accusingly.

Hiccup looked at Rapunzel, mouth open as if to speak, but nothing came out. He looked from her to Jack, who waited by the door expectantly, Hiccup's answer the only thing still keeping him from running. Hiccup looked back at Rapunzel, back at Jack, then back at Rapunzel.

"No," he said finally, hating himself as the words came out.

By the door, Jack cursed but started to run again.

"Jack you can't!" Rapunzel cried, racing after him.

"I have to!" The white haired teen responded, turning to run backwards, spreading his hands wide as he did so apologetically. "She's my sister Punz!"

Rapunzel caught up to him. "But if-"

Jack stopped, pulled the blonde girl close and kissed her. When he pulled away, he squeezed her hands tight and began to slowly step away backwards.

"Don't worry about me," he said with a wink and a smile that perhaps he didn't really mean. When he'd stepped far enough back, he let her small hands fall away from his. "Meet everyone in Corona by nightfall- we have a festival to plan!" he called to the group as he turned around to run again. "Emma will be glad to see you!"

"We'll be glad to see yew!" Merida corrected him.

Once he rounded the corner of the hallway and was out of sight, both Merida and Hiccup turned to face Rapunzel.

"Uhh...when did...you two..." Hiccup asked in awkward shock, gesturing back and forth from the blonde to the door.

Rapunzel just stared at the place where Jack vanished, a frustrated expression tugging at her lips, as if she didn't know whether to smile or cry. "Just now... I think."

A sudden dizzy sensation took hold of Merida, causing the girl to stumble forward and grip the back of a nearby chair for support. Her vision began to black out, and she shut her eyes tight as the dizziness increased.

"Merida!" she faintly heard Hiccup voice cry out, though it sounded far… so far away…

Merida's eyes snapped open.

She found herself once more in the abandoned Corona town square. At her feet was the ruined bow and saddle. She lifted her head upwards, pushing her bushy locks away from her face. Once more, she saw Jack's staff standing tall and upright.

Again, she watched the shadow fall over it, she watched its glorious blue light fade to nothingness.

But then the vision changed.

Merida watched as the shadow seemed to corrode the staff, until finally the flimsy wood snapped clean in two, the shepherd's crook falling painfully slowly to the ground where it clattered against the cobblestones.

And then a golden light began to peak through the cracks in the stones, strong and yet faint. A golden flower grew from the ground between the two halves of the staff, where it grew and expanded- leaves and tendrils, branches and smaller flowers, all spreading out and wrapping themselves firmly, lovingly even, around the broken wood. Merida knelt down in stunned silence as the flowers began to glow with the familiar healing light, mending the staff into one whole piece. It weakly flickered with blue light. Merida began to smile.

Was this hope? It had to be.

Too soon. Hardly a moment after the destruction of the staff had been reversed did the golden light vanish completely. Merida's hopeful expression changed to horror as she watched the leaves and flowers shrivel up and die, leaving nothing but dust in their wake.

Before she had a moment to fully comprehend what she was seeing-

Merida was ripped out of the vision, this time falling into Hiccup's outstretched arms. She blinked back tears of shock and felt as what little hope she had left sink away.

Hiccup slowly guided her into the chair beside her. "What happened? Are you okay? Is everything-"

"Hic-" she tried to speak, her voice coming out choked, her gaze still distant and far away. Merida shut her eyes and shook her head of curls, trying to clear it.

"Hiccup." She tried again, stronger this time, grasping his forearms and looking him straight into his green eyes.

"Ma vision- Ah was wrong, Ah understand it now!" she told him insistently.

Hiccup gazed at her, a mix of fear and misunderstanding in his eyes. "What? How did you-"

"Jack," Merida interrupted with panic, feeling her voice break as she said his name. "He can't go."

"He's gone, Mer," Rapunzel spoke uncertainly, kneeling at her friend's side. Her large green eyes were pools of worry.

Merida inhaled sharply.

"What did you see? What's going to happen to Jack?" Rapunzel asked gently, resting her hand on Merida's arm. Merida took a deep breath as she let the fact of the situation sink in.

This time, fate could not be changed.

In as clear and composed a voice as she could manage, Merida revealed the truth.

"Ah think… Ah think he's going ta betray us."

*Please don't freak out!*

agh ok what a horrible place to leave you all, but this way you come back right? hahaha...

Anyway, hope you all have a very wonderful Christmas and lovely New Year! Hope to be posting really really soon.

As always, would love to hear from you,

iceprincess