Say Something

Finding Her New Light

"Prince Hans?" Rapunzel bowed, lightly clutching the edges of her dress, to also show respect for him. "Pleasure to make your aquiantence." She smiled fondly. His smile only grew with hers, and he let go of her arm.

"The pleasure is all mine, Princess. So, would you care to dance? I promise I won't drop you," He chuckled at himself, hoping she'd say yes. She smiled, too, but inwardly sighed; she knew Jack Frost lurked around here somewhere, she just had to find him. And this 'Hans' was preventing her from doing so.

"Uh, sure!" She brightened, perhaps if they danced around the room it would be easier to find him. Hans took her by the arm delicately, and led her to the centre of the floor where an ornate design of the sun was engraved. Above them hung a crystal chandelier, the candles erected high and in circles, all lit to cast more light down on the guests.

Their hands went up in place, his left one settling lightly on her waist, his right high to connect with her left hand. She rested her other hand on his shoulder and smiled gratefully, allowing him to lead off in the swooping ballroom dance just as a light familiar melody began to fill the room like the first rays of sunrise. Rapunzel allowed herself to momentarily be caught up in the moments that followed; her eyes gently dropping to be taken away into the dance.

Without even realising it, as all eyes rested on the couple that danced in their own world, Rapunzel began to sing along to the tune: "All those days watching from a window, all those years outside looking in. All that time never even knowing just how blind I've been." She opened her eyes to meet the ones of the stranger whose arms she rested in. He swooped her around in circles, the room almost disappearing from view. "Don't stop." He pleaded, chuckling along with her.

She closed her eyes and recalled that day when she first beheld the lanterns as they drifted from the castle to the ocean, where she and Eugene sat in a canoe. Only now all thoughts of Eugene escaped her and she only heard the words that played in her mind: "Now I'm here, blinking in the starlight;" Her voice was smooth as silk, fading in and out with the music that played just for her. "now I'm here and suddenly I see; standing here, it's oh so clear, I'm where I'm meant to be! And at last I see the light, and it's like the fog has lifted. And at last I see the light, and it's like the sky is new; and it's warm and real and bright, and the world has somehow shifted." She blinked as his eyes bore into hers, taking in the sight of the windows to her soul; out of every princess he'd gone and met before, this was the prettiest.

She took a few minutes, and then returned to singing her song: "All at once everything looks different, now that I see you." She smiled and they danced like heaven opened up its gates ad flooded down its glory to them; they were the only ones taking up the dance floor, but hardly realised it. They were so into the rhythm of the dancing only matched by the music that their eyes did not spot the crowd slowly diminishing until they were left as the sole entertainment of the gala.

Now it was Hans who surprised Rapunzel with his knowledge of the song, taking up the words to make into a duet with her. "All those days chasing down a daydream; all those years living in a blur, all that time never truly seeing things the way they were." He began to smile bigger, and take notice of the other guest's absence. No matter, he thought, and twirled Rapunzel around with one hand, only to bring her back close and sing by her ear: "Now she's here shining in the starlight; now she's here, suddenly I know; if she's here, it's crystal clear, I'm where I'm meant to go!" They picked up their speed, their voices now mingling together in a beautiful and perfected way, the notes of the violin, flute, harp and all the others wrapping around their words ever so gracefully to create a work of art the guests listened to with all their hearts.

"And at last I see the light!" Hans took over a couple of the words now, "and it's like the fog has lifted," Rapunzel only joined in briefly and then took over. "And at last I see the light,"

"and it's like the sky is new." Her voice lifted high and then mingled with his to form the next verse. "And it's warm and real and bright, and the world has somehow shifted; all at once everything looks different, now that I see you. Now that I, see you." The beautiful music faded slowly and so did their dance until they were at a complete stand-still facing each other innocently. And then the crowd cheered; clapping, laughter, and whistling erupting all at once to fill the room with echoes. Hans and Rapunzel quickly released each other's grasp and she giggled as her cheeks flushed. Her eyes met her mother's, which were proud and held high. She shied away from the applause, leaving Hans to stand and take all the praise alone. He tried looking for her, but she was carried away by the multitudes. She had finally spotted the white-haired boy wielding a crooked staff and in a brown tunic.

He was grinning and laughing, sarcastic claps sounding from his palms. "Bravo Blondie, you know, I think that was the best darn dancing I've ever seen!" He assured her with a tricky smile. She blushed back, and stood beside him with her hands grasped behind her.

"Thank you, Jack. I didn't think I'd see you so soon, I -" She spoke, then was cut off.

"What are you talking about, who do you think left the book on your table? I wanted to meet you for the second time." He quickly interjected, the playful smile still not wiped from his features. Rapunzel slowly began to nod as she pieced it together.

"Oh - for the second time?" She asked curiously. He nodded, scuffing his bare foot on the ground in search of ways to tell her the truth.

"I'll tell you all about it later, Blondie. For now just enjoy the party, I think someone's coming to talk to you." Jack pointed his staff at a ginger wearing a green dress that accented her features perfectly.

"Punzie! Are you gonna tell me who that was dancing with you?! I never got a good enough look!" Anna squealed, taking Rapunzel by the arm and shaking her. Rapunzel laughed, but turned back to Jack.

"Not now Anna, I'm a little busy at the moment." Jack shook his head and Anna let a fake laugh pass through her throat.

"Hah, doing what? You're just standing here all by yourself! Come on! Introduce me!" Anna begged. Rapunzel was quickly dragged away by Anna, glancing back for an explanation before she could get too far.

"No one else believes, I'm invisible to them!" Jack shouted after them. Rapunzel nodded in understanding, shouting back: "Bye!" as she was hauled along. Anna, hardly aware of anything else, lead Rapunzel to a tall, thin man with reddish hair that could resemble Hans.

"That's not him. I'm sorry sir," Rapunzel apologised. The man smiled and went back to conversing with his friends.

"Oh" Anna raised an eyebrow, "oops. Well who is he!" She shook her cousin's arm playfully, dying to meet whatever dream boy had stolen a dance from Rapunzel. Rapunzel laughed and pulled Anna's arm out of hers, "I don't see him. Besides, I don't even remember his name." She rolled her eyes, and Anna drooped her shoulders in disappointment.

"Aw, darn." She murmured. Rapunzel smiled, her mind gliding back to thoughts of Jack; she'd only just met him, but was completely taken in by his charm. Unlike the stranger with whom she'd sung and danced with, Jack had a more welcoming and comforting presence. While the prince seemed nice and gentlemanly, Jack was friendly and put her at ease. She found herself, no matter how Anna distracted her by dragging her here and there, longing for Jack's presence again.

As the ball drifted on, the evening sun vanished to be replaced by the blue light of a full moon and many stars, Anna was running out of things to do with Rapunzel. The girls drifted about the crowd, sometimes mingling with the villagers or royals of other countries, sometimes just chatting amongst themselves. When Anna left Rapunzel's side to go get a stash of chocolate, Jack came over through the air to join the princess.

Both smiled and averted their gazes, not quite sure of how to act with each other's newly discovered company.

"Having fun yet?" Jack asked, watching Anna scooping chocolate into a bag and into her mouth. Both laughed at the sight, and Rapunzel sighed an answer contentedly. "Yes, Anna is sometimes crazy, but that's what makes her so much fun. And she's my cousin, we're family." They were silent for a minute, before a familiar charming voice broke it.

It was Hans, come to see Rapunzel before leaving. "You're a hard one to catch, Princess." He chuckled as he walked right through Jack's body. Rapunzel gasped in horror, but Jack only laughed and back away to let them talk.

"Everything ok? I hope I didn't frighten you -" Hans' baffled look quickly reminded her of Jack's words: No one else believes, I'm invisible to them.

"Oh, yes. Your highness, I was just waiting for my cousin -" She gestured to Anna, who still stood around the chocolate slipping some in her mouth while the chef chastised her.

Rapunzel giggled. "Oh, that's Princess Anna, correct?" Hans asked, looking to the beautiful princess.

"Yes, Princess of Arendelle." Rapunzel replied.

"Next in line for the throne?" Hans inquired, gazing over there to study her.

Rapunzel eyed Hans suspiciously, wondering why the sudden interest. "No, that would be her sister, Elsa." She gazed about the crowd but didn't spot her other cousin. "I don't see her, she must've gone to bed early." Hans nodded, looking back to Rapunzel with a smile.

"I just thought I might say goodbye before leaving for the night, although I plan to stay in Corona for a time before returning home again." He took Rapunzel's hand, his eyes locking on hers. "I really don't want to say goodbye forever. When can I see you again?" He pleaded, the look in his eyes seemingly genuine.

Rapunzel froze up when his hand took hers; she hadn't held a man's hand like this since Eugene. She considered his proposal, a nagging feeling telling her no at the back of her mind. But she couldn't say no to him, not after his kindness, not after all he'd shown her. She was never an unkind person, it just wasn't in her to turn much of anything down.

"Uhhm." She bit her lip, now hoping Anna would return and make up an excuse for her to escape his lustful gaze. But those thoughts placed guilt in her, and before she could stop herself she answered: "How about tomorrow," She inwardly cringed, wishing she could change her mind before it was too late. But he spoke in her stead: "Tomorrow sounds great, I'll meet you in the centre of the village, by the fountain." He scheduled, bending down to kiss her hand gently. "It's a date." No, it's not a date. We're strangers, I shouldn't even be doing this, I don't want to see you again. Rapunzel's mind screamed while she bit her tongue and held back. Hans dropped her hand and left, never looking back, only skipping practically on air as he left. Rapunzel let out the sounds of her frustration and covered her head as it began to ache.

"Wow, you really stepped into that one huh." Jack interjected, grinning broadly. Rapunzel looked up with an embarrassed yet happy smile, "Yeah. Oops," She replied awkwardly. Jack chuckled and froze a drink as it passed by on a tray. The sight reminded Rapunzel of her cousins powers, the one who sat in a room not too far from where they were now.

"Want me to freeze him so you won't have to go on a 'date'?" Jack questioned, seriousness lacing his tone. Rapunzel doubled over laughing, drawing a slight bit of attention to herself.

Spectators gave her weary glances but only just passed by. "No thanks, I'll go and tell him I can't keep seeing him. I'll put him down easy, no need for any fuss over this small matter." Jack raised an eyebrow but kept quiet, looking around them instead. He leaned in close to Rapunzel's ear, and in a breathy whisper said; "I think people are starting to think you're crazy, the way you keep talking to yourself." Rapunzel stifled her giggles with both hands as Jack stoodup straight with an amused smile. Anna came back carrying a bag of goodies and smiling as she approached.

"Something funny?" She asked. Rapunzel looked at Jack, Jack at Rapunzel.

"NO." Rapunzel blurted out between laughs. Anna shook her head and linked arms with Rapunzel, leading her away while Jack trailed along behind them.

"I think you've had too much party and men. Now let's go have a sleepover in my room!" Anna squealed, gripping her bag of chocolates in one hand while dragging Rapunzel in a gallop up the stairs and through the halls. Next ensued a frenzy of giggling and stomping feet as they thumped through the halls like little children.

They reached the room in a few minutes, Jack still flying up stairs to reach them, and Anna pushed the door open, still laughing. The light from the hallway illuminated the sleeping form of her sister, who awoke with a stir and rolled over at the sight of them. Anna held a finger to her lips and shushed her silent companion before breaking into whispered-laughter.

She stumbled in and shut the door, lighting the lamp by her bedside. She spilled the goodies onto a plate on the bed, taking one and popping it into her mouth with a grin. She silently encouraged Rapunzel to do the same, so they both sat eating chocolate until the plate was empty.

"We should get dressed out of these fancy-ball gowns." Rapunzel suggested in a raspy whisper. Anna nodded, and scooted off the bed.

"You can borrow one of mine," She offered, before Rapunzel could step out the door. She nodded and Anna handed her a pink gown made of lightweight silk material. Rapunzel turned red in the darkness and looked at Jack, who got the message and quickly left the room before she could change. As she undressed she wondered if he'd ever been in her room when she changed before; the thought made her turn an even bolder shade of crimson, thankfully masked by the silhouettes of the night. Once Anna had dressed into her sleek and slimming green nightgown, the two of them hopped onto the bed again and lay down beside each other on their stomachs, facing away from the pillows.

Anna had this look in her eye like she was about to ask an embarrassing question, and Rapunzel just shied away with a blush. "So, are you gonna tell me about him?" She pleaded desperately.

Rapunzel scoffed as quietly as she could with as much emphasis at the same time, "Augh, there's nothing to tell!" She insisted, still smiling like a fool. Anna bumped her with her shoulder, scolding her through her eyes.

"Come on, nothing? Do you how how much romance I get at home? None! Because we're locked away in the castle all day long with no company, ever." Anna began to raise her voice, and Elsa heard, giving a sad sigh. She wished it didn't have to be this way, but one look at her gloved hands and she pressed her eyes closed, knowing the danger of ever letting anyone get too close. She hadn't even wanted to go on this trip, but her parents insisted that she'd be all right. And she felt better now that Rapunzel knew what she was capable of. At least she had a confidant here, someone she could trust beside her parents if anything ever happened.

At the words 'locked away in a castle' Rapunzel remembered the tower she'd lived in her whole life. She shuddered, but Anna didn't notice.

"I mean, do you know how horrible it is to be cooped up inside forever?" Anna asked, half-dazed. A lump formed in Rapunzel's throat; she had wanted to be off the subject of her new guy-friend, however this subject was also a sensitive one. "Yes." She replied sternly, her eyes focused on some point on the wall ahead. Elsa, hearing their conversation, let out a quiet gasp at Rapunzel's admission, recalling the tale she told on their previous visit.

"Oh yeah. You would understand." Anna replied sadly. "That witch. She's a horrible person. She died right? Oh man, I'm so glad. She better be dead, if I ever saw her I'd -" Rapunzel, being reminded of everything Gothel once was, couldn't stand to hear Anna ridicule her own mother. The words stung her almost as much as they would had they been directed at her personally.

"Okay, stop!" She held her head and gripped her own hair. "She was my mother. I loved her, as horrible as that sounds." She held gazes with a mortified Anna, who froze immediately. "She was the one who raised me, witch or not, blood mother or not, I was raised by her. For a long time she provided me with food, shelter, education, and care. Despite what you may have heard she took great care of me, she loved me even if she didn't say it very often. Sure, she only took me for my powers but she grew to love me because I was her child. It was so hard to see her change in the end - " Rapunzel choked on tears, the vivid detail of every memory from that night showing up in her mind. " - she turned ash white; her face showed its real age, centuries old she was." She sniffled, lowering her voice to paint the picture of her memories. "Eugene lay dying, but I watched her die too. She stumbled, I'll never forget, and fell out the window of my tower that stood more than seventy feet high. I wanted to save her; even after finding out what she did, the wrong that she did, I wanted to save her." Her eyes stayed fixed on the bed, the memories flashing, the feelings of that night resurfacing. All was quiet in the room; Elsa frozen in her place, not daring reveal that she'd been listening; Anna regretting her words, afraid to speak again; Jack peering in from the window, recalling those very same memories with Rapunzel, aching the way she ached, feeling the way she felt; he knew what it was for her. Not just what it was like, what it was.

She got up off the bed and walked past Elsa to the balcony doors. She slipped into the night, breaking down into sobs almost as soon as she was out the door.

Jack watched as she made her way up the terrace beside the glass doors and up onto the roof to gaze out at the vast sea before her.

"You all right, Blondie?" Jack's voice lost all fun and joy, now serious and sorrow-filled he rose up to sit by her under the stars. She jumped, and wiped her eyes as he sat, curling her toes under her feet to warm them.

She nodded silently. "You heard?" She inquired, not daring to meet his gaze and break down again. He nodded sullenly, and peeled his eyes from her to gaze at the ocean too. She nodded and hung her head, fresh tears soiling her gown. "Jack, I wanted to save the witch. I wanted to keep her from falling, I - I couldn't stand to watch her die. Is that bad?" She wailed, turning to look at him. He looked into those green eyes long and hard before answering; how could he reveal how long he'd been there? Would it be a problem for her? Knowing he'd been her guardian angel for as long as she was alive?

"She raised you; it's a natural response." Rapunzel looked away, hugging her knees and rocking back and forth. "Hey, you did nothing wrong. You couldn't have saved her, she turned to dust before she even hit the ground. There was no way falling killed her." Jack assured her hopefully, reaching out and scooting closer.

"But how could you know that Jack?" Rapunzel asked, looking him straight in the eye so he could not lie. He knew the truth would come out eventually; he just didn't anticipate it being so soon. He sighed, finally knowing he had to face up to this.

"When news of the sick queen spread around, I heard. I went to the castle to see if there was any way I could help, back then I'd just been wandering aimlessly, causing blizzards when I could, but now I thought I could really help. I knew about the flower, and about Gothel's using it to keep herself young for centuries. I knew it could help, but nobody believed in me, no one knew I existed, no one could hear me screaming at them.
Finally, some soldiers came forward with the legend of the flower and they set out to look for it. I was waiting there to watch them harvest it when Gothel came. She used its magic but covered it up and left before the soldiers came, they had to find it Blondie, so I kicked off the cover and they stumbled upon it.

"When I saw it healed her, I - I felt so, so different - accomplished. I'd done something to help save a life, two lives." He gazed into her eyes briefly, before continuing. "Anyway, you were born soon with your golden hair and those big green eyes - " He chuckled to himself. "You were adorable, let's face it." Rapunzel laughed faintly, rubbing the tears off her cheeks.

Jack smiled at her, then realised he had to continue. "So I sort of became your guardian angel. I had left to go wander aimlessly some more and wreak havoc, but before I was out of Corona I overheard women talking about the Lost Princess - about you - and I had to know, so I searched and searched and finally I found you in the tower. Rapunzel, I want you to know I tried every day to bring the soldiers to you or to drop clues to them about where you were. I tried to get you out of that tower, believe me, every day I did." He gave her a pleading look, as if he needed forgiveness for his failure at success in that one task. Rapunzel smiled in return, just grateful for him at least trying. "I was there all your life, I know everything about you. I never left your side." He murmured.

Now he waited; waited for her to be scared off, or thankful; for her to hug him, or run away from him, screaming.

She turned to him with a smile bright as the moon, her eyes twinkling like stars. "Thank you, Jack. My guardian angel," She giggled, then became serious. "Thank you." He edged closer, closing the gap between them. Rapunzel noticed this, but was too afraid to say anything. Jack leaned in, she leaned away in fear, he kissed her, she gulped. When their lips met, for him it was long overdue, sparks were flying. For her it was frightening, yet satisfying. It was new, she'd kissed Eugene before, but kissing Jack was like nothing she'd ever felt before. It was terrifying, but in a good way. She froze up, but he just kissed her gently.

When finally he pulled away she cleared her throat, looked at the sky, and went mute. Jack looked up with her, feeling content and happy, for once.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" He asked after their moment of silence. Rapunzel gazed heavenward, looking where he looked. "Yes." She answered, fear still lacing her tone. Jack's eyes dropped to her, the sudden realisation of what she might feel hitting him. He should've known she would react this way to a kiss, after all she was just getting to know him. Just before he could apologise Anna's voice rang through the night: "Rapunzel? You out here?" Both looked down, seeing her looking out over the rocks below and into the water.

As Rapunzel scooted down Jack gripped her arm, partly to keep her from falling and partly to get her to look at him while he apologised. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have - "

"Don't be." Rapunzel replied hurriedly, wanting to avoid this awkward talk. They held a gaze briefly and then Rapunzel slipped down to the balcony where her cousin apologised profusely for what she said. Rapunzel waved it off and they went inside, but not before Rapunzel looked back over the sea and then to Jack above her. He smiled, she quickly darted inside and gently shut the doors, then heading for the covers that warmly waited for her to sleep in them. Dawn would bring a new day, a second chance, more surprises. And Rapunzel could hardly wait.