"The most painful goodbyes are the ones that are never said and never explained."

"Your speech went very well." Eugene tells me a few days later.

I look up at Eugene. "Thank you. I was nervous."

"It didn't show at all. I am glad that I was able to meet more of Rapunzel's family." Eugene runs his hands through his untamed brown hair. "We will have to visit again sometime. You and Anna are always welcome in our kingdom. I know that Rapunzel's parents would love to meet you."

"Thank you." I glance around the garden where I sit. "But I could never leave Arendelle for long."

Eugene nods. "I understand the feeling. It will be good to be home. Ah-look, there's Rapunzel now. She has her own goodbye to say."

Rapunzel weaves her way through the manicured garden. The hem of her light purple dress swirls and spins with every step she takes.

Eugene doesn't take his eyes off her. He brushes her cheek with a light kiss and squeezes her arm gently. "I will be waiting for you inside."

Rapunzel nods and fingers the end of her cropped hair. She sits down next to me on the stone bench.

I smile at her and turn to stare at the fountain in front of us. "Your hair is beautiful. Have you ever considered growing it out?"

My cousin laughs loudly. She presses her hand over her mouth, but cannot contain her giggles.

"What did I say?"

"Never mind. It's a long story. One I always meant to tell you."

"I would love to hear it." I say.

Rapunzel sighs. "If only we had time, but our ship leaves within the hour. I only came to say goodbye."

I nod slowly. "Thank you for helping us. Anna especially needed you during this time."

"I am glad that we could help." Rapunzel stands suddenly. "Elsa, I just talked to Jack."

"Jack?" I squint up at her. The sun streams steadily down on us.

Rapunzel paces in front of me. "Yes...he says that your training has gone very well."

"That's good, isn't it? Then why do you look so worried?"

"I'm not worried about your control over your powers...I am worried about your reaction."

I frown. "My reaction to what? Did something happened in the village? I thought that my speech went well."

"It did. You reminded everyone how important love and family are. You see, Jack doesn't know who he is or where he came from."

"I thought that Tooth was trying to help him find his memories."

"Nothing is working. His baby teeth are missing. Without them, Tooth cannot help him." Rapunzel sighs and turns her back on me. She runs her fingers through the pool at the bottom of the fountain. "But that's not the worst of it."

What could be worse? I stand up and touch her arm. "Rapunzel, please, tell me what happened."

"Elsa..." Rapunzel lets out a slow breath. "He's gone."

Gone?

Jack's gone?

"Why did he leave?"

"He wanted to find out where he came from. He went to the trolls in hope that they could help him."

I nod. A deep emptiness settles inside me. I shouldn't be upset...Jack is nothing more than my trainer. He has every right to find out about his past.

"Why were you afraid about my reaction?"

"Well...the last time you got unexpected news, you froze an entire kingdom."

I shake my head. "No one is ever going to let me live that down. Jack can do as he likes. What about the other guardians? Are they still here?"

"They may leave shortly after we do. Everything seems to be calming down."

If only that were true. Pitch is still out there.

"Hello?" Tooth flies toward us. She flutters to a stop next to the fountain. Her little fairies hover around her. "Did you tell her?"

"Yes." Rapunzel says.

I fold my arms. "Tooth-who could have stolen Jack's teeth? I mean, who would know about them?"

"I don't know." Tooth lifts her shoulder in a shrug. Her eyes widen. "What if it was him?"

Him? I gulp. Does she mean Pitch Black, the King of Nightmares-of my nightmares?

Tooth's face pales. "I-I have to talk to North." She flies back the way she came, her little grouping of fairies trailing behind her.

Rapunzel and I run after her.

"Tooth, wait up!" Rapunzel shouts. She lifts her purple dress and I notice for the first time that she is barefoot.

Jack would always walk around barefoot too.

From now on will every little thing remind me of him?