Guardian of the Frost

17: The Gathering

RAPUNZEL'S POV 

***

"Thank you for your help Miss Corona. I wouldn't have finished the Red Queen's order." Monsieur Jacques praises me and I laugh as I return my apron on the counter.

"Anytime Monsieur Jacques. I really enjoyed doing the roses." I do a curtsy and leave Jacques' Cakes and Pastries with a smile.

"But wait madamoiselle! Please, accept this little spatula as a token of my gratitude." Monsieur Jacques hands me a wooden spatula with very intricate designs on it.

"But Monsieur...this looks very...antique. It's not a family -" I begin but he sheepishly nods.

"It was my late grandpapa's spatula, you know, the one who founded this shop. And I wish you to have it." He offers and I hug him.

"Thank you Monsieur Jacques! I will take good care of it." I wave goodbye as I happily skip around the streets. All the while, enjoying the sunlight. I mean, I rarely get to have time like this - being alone and free that is.

With all those pesky paparazzi hauling after me - finally Dreamworks Academy is my refuge!

I walk into the park and see that there's the induction ceremony.

"Now let's all hear the vice president's speech. Everyone, would you help me welcome we a 'quaky' applause for," The emcee joked, "Mr. Donald Duck!" And right on cue, I understood why he used the corny catchphrase. Out came the man who really does resemble a duck rather tha a real person. Wearing a ridiculous looking sailor custome, he literally duck walked all the way to the podium.

"Hem hem..." He coughs at the mic jokingly and begins his sermon.

"As always, Mr.Donald is babbling about how important he is to the school." I overhear a man beside me laugh to his neighbor who nods in agreement.

"Frankly, he is a dispensable tool in the board of regeants. I s'pose it's because Mr. Mouse is too kind to kick him out. But if I were him, I'd kick that duck's tailfeathers out of the school! I can't imagine how anyone can stand his preaching about how much he cares for the students when infact all he ever cares about is himself! He even bought his fiftieth car today." The man who has a mustache shakes his head.

"Really now? Another car?" The other inquires and the mustache guy points at a new glossy car by the parking lot. By then, they were talking about cars and since I really have no interest in that stuff, I leave the conversation and stroll my way over the bridge. I examine the new souvenir I had received and smile.

"Pascal would be really proud of me." I smile to myself and look towards my reflection. "Officially, this is the day my life begins!" I sing but suddenly-

"EXCUSE US!"  I turn to my right and see two boys running towards me. I notice the freckled boy looked awfully familiar.

"You!" I point at him when I realized that he was that pompous guy at the park. "How dare you try to ruin my day!" I begin but the redhair behind them looked very familiar as well.

Eh? Merida?

Before I could confirm, a dog bolts pass me and the next thing I knew I was already soaking wet down by the river.

"Sorry." The ashblonde boy smiles as he and freckled guy race pass me and run towards the parking lot. But I look at the spatula which is already floating downstream - broken beyond repair.

No!

"HOW DARE YOU?! Come back here!" I get up and chase after them. No one messes with me and gets away alive.

******

HICCUP'S POV

I slide down the car and try to breath again.

"I think we lost her." I hear Jack speak as he crouches beside me. Toothless on the other hand, is happily licking my hands.

"You...you...sure?" I ask Jack and he shrugs.

"If you mean the redhaired, then yes. But I don't know with blondie. She was pretty angry." He shrugs and I bury my face into my palms.

"What?! Ugh...Why does it have to be her?" I moan as I remember our last encounter with that frying pan whacking maniac. Suddenly, I hear Jack laugh and I look at him unbelievingly.

"Why are you laughing?" I ask bewildered. He looks at me and laughs heartily. "Seriously! Like don't you realize the severity of the situation? I mean, a mad woman just threatened to give you a clean neck and another angry lady is going to do who-knows-what to us and you're laughing? Argh!" I despair but Jack just shakes his head with a smile.

"I never thought hanging out with a wimp could be this fun." He says to himself amusingly and I am shock.

"Who you calling wimp, you geographically-challenged snowhead?" I fire angrily and he just shrugs.

"Name's Jackson Frost. Just Jack." He says this loud and I am taken aback. I look at him and stop to think.

Maybe this guy...being rich and all...never had to, well...run around at the very least. Being the heir to a multi-billion dollar company, I don't think I can ever handle the pressure of money and business. Although the calculations on stock exchange can be fun but yeah...heir to a rich company isn't really my definition to a happy life. I sigh and smile.

"It's Horrendous Haddock III. Just Hiccup." I assure him as he gapes at me.

"Right. Hiccup sounds better." He shakes his head in disbelief. Suddenly, Toothless barks and looks at me angrily.

"Oh yeah, Toothless. My trouble magnet." I introduce him and Toothless looks at me boringly.

"Quite some dog you've got there." Jack extends his hand but I cough.

"Ugh...if you value your hand, I suggest you give it a year before you touch him." I nervously chuckle but Jack just shrugs.

"Sounds reasonable." He mutters. "So I guess the coast is clear. Nice meeting you." He gets up and extends a hand.

"Not such a wimp, am I?" I boast and he scoffs as he helps me up.

"Don't push your luck." He kids and we both laugh. 

"Right. Since the both of you are soooo much in good terms," my blood runs cold as we both look at the wet girl infront of us. Did I mention that she was angry? As in very angry? "How would you like to be cooked? Mashed or minced?" She takes out a Swedish knife and I take a step back.

"Hey...it was an accident. Really...ugh...Punzhead." I try to talk to her but she turns angrier the moment I say her name.

"It's Rapunzel! I knew it! You knew that you couldn't win over me in your challenge so you decide to do some dirty tricks on me eh? Ha! Well, I'm sorry to tell you but Rapunzel Corona never loses!" She exclaims and I moan.

Now what?

"Ugh...since you two clearly have a long history together -" Jack begins but I differ.

"NO WE DON'T!" Annoyingly, Rapunzel and I chorus.

"Okay...I get it. But ugh...we've got more important stuff to do so yeah..." He signals for a run when suddenly -

"I finally found ya ye rotten thief!" 

Yikes.

 Beside Jack is the angrier red haired girl who, for some reason, is holding out a bow and one deadly looking metal arrow.

Why does this keep on happening to me?