The Darkness Within

Chapter Five

Though the Guardians did their best to reassure her, Rapunzel was still very much afraid. Pitch's words still echoed in her head.

"I have something special planned for you."

What did it mean? What did he have planned? She swept loose strands of her raven hair back, allowing a loud sigh to escape her lips. She remained deep in thought when she caught sight of her reflection in the window she was sitting next to.

"A pretty face..." She thought, smiling. But her smile quickly faded as she saw the color of her hair. "With the powers of Satan."

She ignored her reflection, turning to the moon. It was so beautiful, glimmering high up in the sky. It seemed to have no care in the world. A thought came to mind. If the sun could talk, maybe the moon could too. Tell her why she was stuck as a monster. It was worth a shot.

By this time, Jack had found her there. He normally went to that window to have some time to himself. He decided to slide around the corner and let her have a moment to herself when he had heard her talking.

"I don't know if you can hear me... Or if you're even there..." She paused, waiting for a reaction. But of course, there was none. "But I need to know why I'm like this. Why I was chosen to become something so frightful... So horrifying." She went silent for a moment, still waiting on an answer. "If you can tell me anything... Anything at all. Give me a sign, a clue, anything!" Still nothing. The princess looked down, saddened. The moon was about as helpful as the sun. And the sun wasn't helpful at all.

Jack stepped out from his hiding place, making his way over to Rapunzel. She obviously needed to talk to somebody.

"Man in the Moon. He never seems to wanna open up to people until the very last second when all hope is almost lost." Jack chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. But all he did was make it worse.

"I'm not in the mood for your games, Jack." Rapunzel looked out the window, resting her head on her knees. Jack's smile faded. Wow. She really was bummed. Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. He slid some gloves onto his hands and placed one on her shoulder; his smile returning. He hated having to use gloves to touch her. But he shook that negative thought out of his head and spoke.

"You look like you could use some fun instead."

"Fun?" Rapunzel arched an eyebrow as she turned to face him. The winter spirit simply nodded.

"Yep. Fun." He looked at her seventy foot long hair and attire.

"But... First lets see about getting you some warmer clothes and a way to deal with that hair." He led Rapunzel to Tooth, who was happy to finally spend some quality girl time with another female. No one could blame her. She was the only female in the Guardians. Tooth took Rapunzel to her room, gesturing for her fairies to come and help her. They all had tiny gloves on.

"Alright, ladies. Anything is alright. Just make it look nice." Tooth said before scurrying to the closet. Rapunzel smiled as she sat on her bed, watching as the fairies styled her hair.

"This is all so nice of you, but I don't think I need to look that good."

"Don't need to look that good? You have to make a good first impression for the kids."

"The what?" Rapunzel looked at Tooth surprised.

"The kids. Jack always goes to see the kids when he's upset or troubled."

"Oh, nonononononononono. I can't be near kids! I could hurt them, or worse."

Tooth could see that Rapunzel was afraid. She stopped what she was doing and slowly hovered over to the lost princess, who had buried her head in her hands by then.

"Hey." Tooth said gently. Rapunzel looked up. Her sadness met with Tooth's kind smile.

"Everything is going to be fine. The kids will love you."

"But I-" The teenager began.

"Have a good heart." The fairy finished. They both smiled. The little fairies braiding Rapunzel's hair whistled, signaling that they were done. She turned to see a beautiful braid with fake flower ornaments in them. They couldn't die or freeze in the cold weather outside. She jumped up excitedly, twirling in a huge circle.

"Thank you so much!" She exclaimed. Tooth giggled, holding up a winter outfit.

"Try this on for size." She said as she flew towards the door. "I'll go grab Jack and tell him you're almost ready." She and the fairies quickly flew out of the room.

Moments later...

Rapunzel's door slowly creaked open as she made her way outside. Jack and Tooth were standing in the hallway talking when they noticed her.

"I'm ready." She smiled sheepishly. The princess wore a light pink dress that extended down to her ankles. Her sleeves went all the way down to her wrists. Mittens covered her hands so she wouldn't be able to touch anything, or anyone, and kill them. Boots kept her delicate little feet warm, and a cape with a hood attached to it was something a little extra. Ear muffs covered her ears.

"Eeeeek!" Tooth squealed. "You look amazing, Ro!" Jack stood there, his mouth a gate. The winter spirit was about to drool when he caught himself.

"Yeah. You look good." Her outfit reminded him of the day he became Jack Frost. Before he fell into the ice, she was wearing... The same thing... He shook his head, deciding to leave the past where it is. The past. But the girl he knew all those years ago... He missed dearly.

"Come on. We should hurry." Jack said, as he led her out of the workshop.

"Have fun, you two!" Tooth called.

"We will!" Jack smiled. Rapunzel chuckled. But then a horrible pain struck her head. She looked at her mittened-hand as Jack ran with her to the door. A scene flashed between the two as they went on. She had heard someone say that before. In the same exact way.

She gripped a boy's arm and hand, pulling and tugging him impatiently. She didn't see his face since he was looking in the other direction talking to his mother, but the boy looked a lot like... Jackson. Tears threatened to fall down her eyes as she remembered the tragic day that he fell through the ice in the pond and the day she became a hell-bound monster. Oh, how her heart shattered. But the memory flashed away when they had made it outside.

"Where are we going?" Rapunzel asked. Jack placed his hand around her waist, holding her close.

"My hometown." He smiled. "Hang on."

"What do mean hang-" They blasted off into the sky about as fast as a rocket.

"OOOOOOOOOONNNNN!!!" Rapunzel was taken by surprise. She clutched his sweatshirt tightly, hoping not to fall. Jack simply chuckled.

"Hang in there, sunshine! We're almost there."