Guardians Rising

11: Sunshine

Merida woke as the light touched her face and thought, I don't want t' wake up. She really didn't. The thing about sleeping outdoors was that she couldn't help but wake with the sunrise. However, much as she loved sleep, she knew there were things that should be done, so, after some debate, she sighed and got up. Her muscles were sore from sleeping on the grass, which was now wet with dew. She looked around her and realized that something looked different. Or rather, just off, wrong, messed up. She narrowed her eyes. It's not the frozen black. . . thing,' she thought, 'it's not being outside. . . What is it?' A moan broke into her thoughts. She turned to see Jack, and giggled at his forlorn face. "What," she said, "never slept outside b'fore?" Jack glared at her, and Merida decided that teasing him might be just as dangerous as it was fun. "Fine then," she mumbled. They sat in silence for a minute, then,

"So, are y' really Jack Frost? Like, the Winter Spirit?" asked Merida.

Jack ignored her, then sat up and groaned. "Oh, I think I'd rather face an army of nightmares than sleep on damp grass again." Merida chuckled, then said,

"Well, seein' as you're in no mood for games, I think I'll go fetch breakfast." She retrieved her bow from where she'd carefully laid it last night, then went off toward the faint sound of running water. Jack sat there quietly for a while, listening to the gentle rustlings of wind through the trees. What was that nightmare doing here? he wondered. Jack rose to inspect the icy thing. It was frozen, rearing on it's hind legs, it's mouth open in a silent howl. "Huh," he said. The barely audible noise apparently woke Rapunzel, for she sat up and rubbed her eyes sleepily, then said,

"What time is it? I- Ohhh," she broke off with a moan, suddenly, painfully aware of her stiff muscles and joints. Toothless popped his head up, then got to his feet and shook himself, and Hiccup, roused by his dragon's sudden motion, followed suit.

Jack and Rapunzel looked at the two of them. No moans, groans or other signs of discomfort were forthcoming from either of them. "What, is this perfectly normal to you?" asked Jack.

"Yeah, we used to do this quite a bit," said Hiccup. Then, looking around, he added, "Where's Merida?" Rapunzel shrugged, but Jack said,

"She went off to find breakfast." The dragon perked up his ears at the word breakfast. "Looks like he's hungry," said Jack. Hiccup nodded and rubbed Toothless's head.

"So, Jack," said Rapunzel, "how did you know about the nightmare?" Jack looked at her for a moment, then replied,

"Well, it's a long story and Merida probably wants to hear it too, so I'll leave it for later."

Rapunzel looked at the ground, downcast, then asked "Could you tell us how you got your ice powers?" Jack hesitated for a second, then said,

"Okay." Rapunzel , Hiccup, and Toothless sat down to hear the story, and Jack chuckled at their child-like eagerness. "Well, it all started a long time ago. I was with my little sister, Emma. We were going ice skating on our pond, so-"

"Wait," said Rapunzel, confused. "I thought you were a spirit."

"I am, but before I was-" Jack was cut off again by a scream.

"I think that's Merida!" exclaimed Hiccup, springing to his feet. Rapunzel did the same, and the three friends rushed off with Toothless bounding behind them.

Another cry rent the air, this one far more terrifying. More nightmares! thought Jack. They were running hard, but it was still a few minutes before they reached the girl.

When they did, the place was swarming with nightmares. Merida was right in the center, shooting this way and that, but her arrows had little effect. She saw the other three trying to reach her, and called out, "Stay back, there're too many!"

"Merida!" shouted Rapunzel. Merida didn't hear her. "MERIDA!" she yelled, louder.

This time Merida heard her. "What?!" Rapunzel hadn't time to say another word, for out of the sky dove Hiccup, riding on Toothless.

The dragon let loose a plasma blast, which hit the ground and smothered the area with smoke. Rapunzel looked at Jack, but he hadn't noticed what she had been trying to tell Merida. He was too busy attempting to freeze the nightmares. Hiccup landed next to them, with Merida behind him. They were both coughing.

"Next time y' want t' rescue someone," said Merida, "y' might not want to suffocate them first." Hiccup shrugged apologetically.

"Hey," said Rapunzel. They all turned to look at her. "How about we get out of here before discussing rescue tactics? The lights are leading a clear way out!" They all looked at her sheepishly when they saw the trail of glowing blue lights, and Rapunzel couldn't help saying, "Told you so."

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