Winter Moon (Jelsa)

Chapter 18: Jack

"So basically Berk likes dragons now?" I gaped at Hiccup.

"Yup," Hiccup held a small paper cone of glazed peanuts in his hands. He had just bought it off a street vendor.

"I didn't know such a thing was possible," Merida shook her head in disbelief.

"Long story short, I befriended a Night Fury after is accidentally shot it," Hiccup explained.

"You should see my dragon," Astrid grinned.

The nine of us - Hiccup, Merida, Astrid, Rapunzel, Flynn, Ella, and me - were walking down the streets of Skyara, buying snacks off vendors. Rapunzel and I had convinced Ella to come along, assuring her that the venture would be harmless and there was no need for magic.

"What did the rest of you do over the summer?" Rapunzel asked, stealing a nut from Hiccup's cone.

"I got yelled at by my mom," Merida complained. "She says I'm almost sixteen, so I have to start looking for suitors. Gross."

"You are a princess, Merida," Rapunzel reminded her. 

"Whatever," Merida tossed her hair before flouncing ahead.

I nudged Rapunzel in the side, making sure the rest of them were distracted before whispering to her, "You're a princess too."

"Shush," Rapunzel glared at me. "It's not like anyone knows. They all think that the kingdom of Corona's princess is lost or dead. Besides, I'm an Experiment."

She spoke the word with disdain. I had a foggy idea about how she came to be an Experiment. When she was born, the Elite ambassador in Corona discovered that her hair was magic. This meant that she possessed magic, but she couldn't exactly control it, which make her a lesser magic-user. Experiments were usually results of failed projects. Sometimes, Elites tried to imbue people with magic, and that usually resulted in Experiments. Rapunzel was still an Experiment, even if the Elites hadn't orchestrated it. The ambassador had faked her death and took her away, but the people of Corona still suspected that their princess wasn't dead. Just lost. They released lanterns into the night sky every year on her birthday like they did when she was born.

It had always been Rapunzel's dream to watch the lanterns, ever since she caught a glimpse of them when we briefly visited Corona for a mission, but normally she couldn't just leave Skyara. It had to be under special circumstances like a mission or job.

"C'mon, Punzie," I said at last. "You're more than just an Experiment."

"Yeah, maybe. It's not like anyone cares though. Or knows," she scowled at me.

"I care. I know," I reminded her. 

She shook her head at me, like I was her aggravating younger brother.

I laughed. Toothiana acted a lot like Rapunzel.

"We're going in there?" Ella's soft voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Yeah," I replied, looking at the restaurant. 

She swallowed audibly.

"We'll be fine," I held open the door for her.

For a moment, I wondered if she might back out. If the busy, crowded restaurant would be too much for her. 

Ella squared her shoulders and walked in.

~ ~ ~

We were seated in a booth, drinking bubbly sodas and sweet teas. In front of Rapunzel was a mostly untouched bowl of noodles; the conversation earlier had shaken her.

"Do you guys want dessert?" Merida asked, waving a waitress over.

"Obviously," I answered.

"I'm really not that hungry," Rapunzel mumbled, pushing aside her bowl.

Astrid gave her an evaluative stare. "Even for pudding?"

Rapunzel cracked a smile. We all knew how much she loved chocolate pudding. "Okay, I'll take some pudding."

I laughed. It felt so normal. Laughing at my friends' various habits.

I didn't want things to ever change.