The Darkness Within

Chapter Six

The cold winter air struck Rapunzel sharply in the eyes. She couldn't see a thing. She buried her head in Jack's shoulder so she could prevent herself from becoming blind. She felt him tense up, but slowly eased into the comfort of her presence. Suddenly, the winds swept away like a dream, as though it were never there in the first place. She felt their feet touch the ground, signaling that they were safe. The princess lifted her head from his shoulder, looking around with her arms still clung to him.

"Hey, sunshine. We're safe now. You can stop trying to put claw marks in my sweatshirt." Rapunzel looked at her hands, immediately letting go. She didn't know she was gripping on that tight.

"Sorry..." She managed. The winter spirit simply chuckled.

"It's fine. You know, you don't look like someone who would be afraid of heights." He walked to the side of a house, heading towards the backyard. Strange. Why would Jack pick this specific house to go to? She soon followed behind, listening as a child called out with glee.

"Jack!" A small boy with brown hair and brown eyes ran to Jack, hugging him as tight as he could. "I missed you!"

Jack half chuckled, half struggled for air. "I've only been gone since yesterday." The boy finally let go. Rapunzel watched as a huge white cloud escaped Jack's lips. He regained his breath.

"Jamie, I have a very important question to ask you." He said as he knelt down to the boy's level.

"What is it Jack? Ask me anything." Jamie smiled.

"Do you believe in anything and everything?"

He shook his head yes wildly. "Uh huh!"

"Alright. Then tell me, do you see her?" He pointed at Rapunzel.

Jamie arched an eyebrow. Jack was afraid he didn't believe in her. But reassurance rushed back as he said, "You mean the girl with the really big braid?"

Jack nodded. "Yep."

"Yeah, I see her. Is she a new Guardian?" He asked excitedly.

"Well..." The teenager looked at Rapunzel, who had a guilty look on her face.

"Not yet." He finally said. "But soon." He smiled. She smiled back.

"Now... Lets introduce her to all of your friends."

A couple seconds later...

"WHOOOOAAAAA!!!" Jamie and Rapunzel were flung through the air. They rode on a sled as Jack created an ice path. Jamie still screamed, no matter how many times he's been on one of Jack's crazy sled rides. Rapunzel clutched the sled as tight as she could, screaming as well, but that scream soon turned into laughter. For the first time in forever, she had actually laughed. Seeing her smile made Jack feel warm inside. He had made someone who felt so sad, feel very happy. She didn't notice, but small strands of her hair were turning blonde. Not enough to be noticeable, of course. But it was happening.

The ice path stopped in the forest. There, Jamie's friends were trying to build a snowman.

"Hey, guys! Jack's back!" Jamie shouted as he ran to his friends. They gasped simultaneously.

"Jack!" They jumped up excitedly as the winter spirit made his way over to the group.

"Hey, guys." He grinned. Two boys; twins, poked their heads around Jack and saw Rapunzel.

"Who's she?" They asked simultaneously. Jack turned. Ah. So they can see her. But why her and not him? He found that a little unfair. It took three hundred years before someone actually saw him.

"I'm Ro." The princess smiled as she slowly made her way over to the children.

"Is she your girlfriend?" A girl asked.

"Girlfriend?!" Jack's cheeks started turning a faint shade of red. Same with Rapunzel's. Awkward...

"No, silly! They're just friends." Jamie said, clearing the air. Phew. Jack could always count on him.

"Oh..." She said.

"Moving that out of the way... How 'bout we have some fun?"

"Yeah!" The children shouted.

"Alright. Snowball fight!" A snowball formed at Jack's fingertips. He quickly threw it at Jamie. The kids laughed. The winter spirit ran around the area, creating multiple piles of snowballs. Rapunzel's feet were glued to the snow. She didn't know what to do. So Jack kind of gave her a hand.

"Think fast, sunshine!" A snowball hit Rapunzel in the head. She fell backwards into the snow, making him laugh. He ran over to her.

"I thought I told you to think fast." He helped her up. But quick as a flash, she kicked the tree behind him, running away before the snow fell and piled all over him. The kids stopped what they were doing, trying to stifle their laughs. But when Jack popped his head out with acorns in his mouth and a pile of snow sitting on his head, they couldn't resist. Rapunzel crossed her arms; a smirk on her lips.

"Sorry. Forgot to tell you to think fast." Jack spit the acorns out, dusting the snow from his hair.

"Alright, then. Have it your way, princess." He shaped a snowball in his hands. "Because it's on now." She gulped, running away as Jack started a snowball frenzy. He didn't stop; snowballs flew one after one.

An hour or so later...

Rapunzel and Jack laid in the snow, tired from their snowball fight. But the kids were still jumpy and full of energy.

"Jack! Ro! You should come ice skating with us!"

"Oh, I don't think I can, guys." Jack said.

"Oh, please!" Jamie begged.

"Well... Alright." The winter spirit said, getting up. The kids cheered and ran to the frozen solid pond in the forest. Apparently they had come prepared since they were quickly sliding ice skates onto their feet. Jack offered his hand to Rapunzel. She gladly took it and stood, following him to the pond. The kids were happily frolicking around on the ice.

"Come on, Jack! Come on, Ro!" Jamie called.

"We're coming!" Jack said with a smile. He flew onto the ice, skating alongside the kids. Rapunzel was about to follow when a memory flashed in her head again.

"Jack, you did it!" The princess smiled at her savior, tucking a strand of long brown hair behind her ear. Jack smiled brightly.

"See! I told you!" Suddenly, just as he was about to step towards her, the ice beneath his feet cracked. It gave in, forcing Jack to fall into the freezing cold waters of the pond.

"Jack!" Rapunzel called out, running to the hole in the ice.

Fear found itself within her. Her powers couldn't be contained in the clothing she wore. The snow became black, slowly melting. Her darkness reached the ice, forcing it to crack. The cracks continued throughout the entire pond. The kids stood, confused. But scattered as soon as Jack shouted,

"Run! Get off the ice!" They skated in multiple directions, getting off the ice as quickly as possible. Jamie, however, slipped and fell onto some of the cracks, falling through the ice. This was the day Jackson died all over again. Jack fortunately came to Jamie's rescue. He dove into the icy cold water, grabbed the boy and flew back up to the top. The rest of the children crowded around Jamie as he coughed up water.

"Ro..." Jack looked at her, disbelief in his eyes. Rapunzel stepped closer, but they all crowded behind Jack, shivering in fear. She couldn't believe it. They were afraid of her. Just like she had feared.

"I'm sorry..." She managed. "I didn't mean to..." And with that, she ran into the forest, hoping to never be seen again.