REVELATION: THE BIG FOUR

CHAPTER SIX: DREAMS AND LANTERNS

(song above dedicated to Jack Frost)

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(track: "Life" by Ludovico Einaudi)

RAPUNZEL:

Opening my eyes, I sense that it's early—well I think it is—it must be! It's a bit after sunrise and definitely a bit later than I usually get up. I suppose I must have been all but tuckered out from all the excitement yesterday. I still can't believe I'm here... I mean it was just yesterday that I was dreaming of escaping the walls of my tower and here I am in the world that I never dreamed I thought I'd touch or even see up close. I thought I would only read of it in novels and dream of walking the streets of the city with people around me; Now I get to see where the foods I love are made, meet with other people, feel the cobblestone under my feet, and touch the leaves with my own fingers...

Here I am... It's all so overwhelming.

With the birds singing and the sunlight warming my skin—ugh why is this pillow so cold?—everything is just so peaceful... so maybe... I'll doze off...

JACK:

Eventually the light sneaks past my cheeks and shines in my eyes even though my face is turned away from it. I'm lying against something hard and—oh wait it's the roof. I frown and shift slightly but I'm weighed down. I open my heavy lids and lift my head just enough to see the sleeping beauty—pun not intended but it was still pretty good—lying perpendicular to me with her head and arm resting on my stomach like a pillow, facing away from me.

I let out a breath that resembles a subtle laugh when a smile takes my features and my head falls back down. My eyes watch over the morning clouds as a smirk remains on my lips. My hand rests on her shoulder and I bring my other one up so that my head can rest on my arm.

Ah... she's kind of adorable. There's no getting around it. I haven't met a lot of women... or people in general... only kids really other than the Guardians. I mean I do listen to what adults and teens talk about and the problems they have so that I can better help the kids early on... but that's it. But my point is: even in the little people I've met, she's so different from anyone and I know that. It's like she stands out like a flower in a field of dry grass. She's a ray of sunshine in a dark and foggy world.

Okay, Jack, chill with the poetry.

Really, though. It's mesmerizing; her innocence, her kindness, her wandering heart, her hopefulness, her tenderness, her spirit... everything. It gives me hope. Hope that maybe not everyone in this world is messed up...

My thumb moves back and forth against her shoulder once as I think to myself how odd all of this really turned out to be. A lot of bad happened recently but... in all of this darkness I found someone who was untouched by it. I really can't describe it but even after all that's happened... in this moment right now with this angel asleep on me I feel... happy and even content... with the small amount of joy that I focus on instead of the worry deep in my heart. It's a kind of joy that I've never really felt before and I like it.

I don't know what's gonna happen when I have to go back but... I just want to make sure she's taken care of.

When I feel her stir I am pulled from my thoughts and smile again when I lift my head, pulling my hand that was on her shoulder back so that both my arms are curled up under my head to prop it up. "Gooood morning, sunshine," I greet her as I just look up at the clouds casually, seeing her stretch her arms cutely from the corners of my eyes. I didn't really realize how warm I was until she pulls her head and arm off me.