Assorted Mericcup/Jackunzel

The Music Box Doll

Setting: Rapunzel's Time, Corona Town Square

I flew over Corona, a cute little country that I liked to visit. Why? Because there were a few kids who could see me there. A few meaning four little red headed girls named Rose, Daisy, Lily and Daffodil, who we called Daffy for short. It had been about six months since I had seen them last. I saw them in near one of the fountains, braiding each other's hair.

"Hey!" I yelled. Their faces lit up when they saw me and they ran towards me full speed.

"Jack!" They tugged on my shirt and hands.

"Come on, Jack, you have to see something!" Rose, the eldest, said. She was only nine.

"Please?" Daffy pleaded, looking up at me with big puppy dog eyes. I rolled my eyes and let them push me into the town square. They finally stopped in front of a music box the size of a cart. But it wasn't the music box that amazed me. It was the doll on top of it.

She was beautiful. With long blond hair twisted around her feet, closed eyes and a delicate blush in her cheeks, she looked real. A small smile was on her pink lips and the lightest sprinkling of freckles danced across her nose. Her dress was purple with short sleeves and yellow trim, a sun, not unlike the one on the flag, appearing on the edge. A silver necklace with an emerald in the center and green slippers completed the ballerina's attire.

"She looks like the Lost Princess, so we named her Rapunzel. Isn't she pretty?" Daisy said quietly.

"She sure is. If only she was real." I murmured, staring at the beautiful doll. The girls snickered behind me. I snapped back into reality and turned to them, confused. They beckoned me to get closer. "She comes to life for one hour every night, while everyone's asleep and dances. Stay here tonight and you'll see her do it." Lily whispered in my ear. I was curious, so I stayed.

I sat on a rooftop and checked a large clock near the city's gates. It was nearly eleven o'clock. I started playing with my staff, because hey, I was bored. I was nearly scared out of my wits when the clock went off, so I slipped and fell. I landed right in front of the music box, which began to glow pink. Suddenly, the doll jumped off of the box and started dancing, her golden hair swirling around her. She kept her eyes closed as she twirled and jumped. "Excuse me, excuse me!" I yelled at her and she opened her eyes to stare at me while still dancing.

"You can see me?"

"Of course I can. You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." I smacked my forehead and mentally cursed myself.

"That's very nice of you to say so." She said sweetly. "My name's Rapunzel. I'm the real Lost Princess." "Really?" I said, amazed at this girl who just kept spinning.

"Yeah. No one can see me though, not now when I'm dancing." She mentioned. I was getting annoyed by the fact that she couldn't stand still.

"Why don't you stop?" Her head dropped.

"It was part of the dumb curse. I can't stop dancing, but that doesn't mean I'm limited to ballet. Watch."

She spun rapidly three times and appeared in a green ballroom gown, then started waltzing with an invisible partner. I walked up to her, took her hand and started dancing with her. As I did, I noticed two things. Her eyes were a gorgeous green color, lighter than the dress, but still twice as lovely. And the necklace was still there.

"So, what's your name?" Rapunzel asked me.

"Jack. Jack Frost, to be exact." Her eyes widened. "Oh. I should have guessed."

"What?"

"White hair, very cold, very pale skin, icy blue eyes. Plus, you can see me, so you must be a spirit." I shook my head, confused.

"I'm sorry, Punz. I don't understand you." She stared at me strangely, then smirked.

"Really? Punz? Even I can come up with something better than that." She laughed. It sounded like a melody pouring from her lips. Lips. They were the color of pink roses and looked so smooth and soft. I wanted to kiss her so bad.

"The only way I can escape the curse is-"

"Wait, don't tell me. True love's kiss."

"Close. It's more of a riddle than a cure. 'Cold and brittle meets strong and warm, if kissed, you will be as before.' See? The only way is if the said kisser is cold and brittle, or breaks easily with pressure. What are you staring at?" She had noticed that I was staring at her.

"Nothing." I said quickly. She raised an eyebrow, giving her face a yeah, sure. look.

"Well, what's not to stare at? You're beautiful. Shoot, you're the most beautiful person in the world, Punz! And you're so strong! Emotionally, I mean. You have endured this every night and you still have a positive attitude! It's amaz-"

She wrapped one arm around my neck and pulled herself up a bit, brushing her lips across mine. I stopped her before she pulled away from me and deepened the kiss, wrapping my arms around her back.

I finally let go of her and saw her being lifted up, covered in red magic. Her head was bent back and she was limp as could be. Suddenly, her necklace shattered and she started falling. I flew up to her and caught her perfectly in my arms. She wasn't moving.

"Punz? Punz, can you hear me? Rapunzel! Please, please answer. I can't live without you." I cried out and looked at her closed eyes. She looked up at me and smiled.

"Scared you, didn't I?" She smirked.

"Come here, you." I kissed her passionately, happy that she was alive.

"Punz, will you be mine forever?"

"On one condition."

"Which is?"

"No dancing with anyone but me. Because no one steps on feet like you do."

"You are so lucky that you're cute, Punz."