Trapped (A Big Four Story)

Chapter 12

Merida's P.O.V

I rushed forward and took the glass shard out of his hand. Prying his fingers open whilst he just stared st the distance. I slapped him twice to jog him. It worked and he turned to glare at me.

"What was that for?!"

"Oh, please. I barely tapped you! Besides, you need to get yourself together. We have a god on the loose!"

"Don't mock me, Merida. At least I have a name for what's messing with us. Oh lookie 'ere. It's a winter spirit. Let's shoot it with ma arroos. 'Cause that's going to work."

"Oh you're really grinding my gears now! One, I do not talk like that. Two, at least I tried to get rid of it. And three, it's clearly not who you think it is because you're bleeding!" He was going to reply something slanderous for sure when Rapunzel interrupted.

"GUYS! Be quiet. There's something in here with us and arguing is exactly what it wants us to do. Hiccup, give me your arm."

"Wha- Why?!" He looked to me for support. The cheek! I stood back and shrugged, Rapunzel knew what she was doing and I was not going to mess with her when she had that look in her eyes. She wrapped her hair around Hiccup's injured arm and started singing softly about glowing flowers, when she removed her hair his skin had repaired itself. He grasped his arm to his chest.

"Okay. Now that was weird...And I ride dragons."

Rapunzel looked satisfied with the care she had given and took charge of the situation.

"Seeing as you two always end up bickering, we are going to sit down and discuss what happened to you both. If you have any questions, raise your hands. We'll take this phantom down one way or another." They sat down near the food table and began brainstorming.

"Okay. So what do we know? Hiccup, you said it spoke to you, can you remember what it said?"

"Well, he seemed really happy. He denied being Loki, said he was called... something... Frost, and that nobody talks to him." 

"Merida, what about you? Anything notable?" She asked me as though she were conducting an inquiry. I racked my brains, but nothing popped out.

"Not really. He did had a staff which he waved."

"This is good. I think I've read a book on something similar to this. He probably uses his staff to channel his magic, like how I use my hair. He seems to only use winter-like powers; not something very malevolent. He has only caused havoc with us but from what you said about him having nobody talk to him, I think his tricks might stem from loneliness and boredom," she paused, contemplating her conclusions. "I think we should befriend him, not take him down."

I looked at Hiccup to see if he shared my feelings of shock. Befriend him! After his torments that kept me shivering at night, on edge about the next attack, and constantly reassuring myself I wasn't mad! Hiccup nodded slightly to himself, I scoffed. 

"Merida," he said softly, "Frosty may have been a nuisance but if he's like us and trapped here, we should help him. Plus, I don't think he deliberately disappears, tricking us was the only way to get interaction." He looks me in the eye, " You would have done the same in his situation." I sighed, he's right, I'll make Frostbutt pay after befriending him.

"SO what do we do now, speak to him? Sing a chant? Or strip naked and dance around a campfire?" Hiccup blushed and Rapunzel fought a smile in vain.

"Well, I several theories on why he appeared to both of you and not me. You both touched his ice didn't you? Perhaps that has and effect on who sees him. Also, you were both emotionally overwhelmed at the time I think. We could try getting angry, or touch his frosty remains on the wall, or both." She smiled at us waiting for an answer. 

"As much I would like it to be as simple as touching ice, I'm not sure it is. I was struck by a snowball on our first morning but I didn't see him then. Also, once we see him how can we keep him visible and to everyone?"

"Maybe he'll know! Come on, if the ice won't work we are going to have to get intensely emotional." She seemed far to optimistic but then again, it couldn't hurt to try, it's not like we're limited by anything.

"Fine. What makes you angry, Sunshine?" I asked mockingly, "Is it when little animals get hurt? When someone messes up your hair? Or when Hiccup treats you like you're only a friend, when you want him to be so much more?!" 

"Merida! What's wrong with you?!" She said, still fairly calm with red tinting her cheeks. She glanced at Hiccup to see his take on my words; he just stared intensely at me, I winked at him.

"You know it's not me you want to ask that question. You want to ask yourself again and again what's wrong with yourself and why Hiccup doesn't like you. Is it because of your freakishly long hair? Your personality which is so sweet it rots everyone's teeth, not to mention their minds?" I saw Hiccup blink and understand what I was doing.

"I don't like Hiccup in that way. Why would you even say that?!" She was starting to get confused. Good, good.

"Sure you don't! I've seen you looking at him while you paint and draw together. Batting your eyelashes, offering help even when it put you in an awkward position. But you should know that you have no future with him." 

Hiccup's P.O.V

It was awful what was happening but I knew it had a purpose and as much as it pained me to see Rapunzel distressed, I joined in.

"She's right you know. I noticed you doing those things-","But I didn't!", "and I should have stopped you from embarrassing yourself further. You're just a silly princess who doesn't know anything about real life. I fight against dragons on a regular basis, you fight a chameleon. You see how different we are. Ha!"

Jack's P.O.V

I watched in anticipation as they bullied Rapunzel into an emotional wreckage. They wouldn't listen to her cries of outrage, and she felt completely helpless as she couldn't justify herself. Lies, insults and mocking took their toll on her until she was backed into a corner of the verge of tears. That's when she looked up and saw me, her eyes narrowed and she stood up, "Frost." She whispered. Steadily, I walked over to her, this is what they had planned after all, this could be the moment.

"Call me Jack." I said putting my hand out.

"Rapunzel." She said taking it. That shocked me, I could feel her hand. I didn't go through it as I should have done.

"Well, if Mr Frost has finished fondling Miss Rapunzel's hand, I think he has some explaining to do, don't you Hic?"