RotBTD: Nightmare King

Princess Punzie

Chapter Two

Many hours later, the white haired boy arrived on the outskirts of the dainty kingdom, Corona. The sunny rays hit his back, but he felt no warmth.

Jack Frost touched down on a gray stone bridge that stretched to the main gates. Green hills surrounded by a beautiful assortment of flowers stray in a circle around a tall, regal castle. Almost instantly, a smile spread across his face.

The village gave off the hopeful, day-dreamy vibe, and Jack could imagine the smooth streets filled with happy people, smiling and going about their days. He took one step forward and... frost. A thin layer of ice had covered the ground by his pale, bare foot.

"I'll have to watch that," The boy allowed himself a chuckle. Normally, he would have groaned or pouted that he'd forgotten who he was, but in Corona it was impossible to be anything but cheerful.

A short while later, he reached the large wooden gates, a brass knocker on either end of each door, and four soldiers placed beside the right and left door.

"Uh, hello! Can I maybe, go through?" Jack gestured to the large doors, but the soldiers didn't budge. Jack's eyebrows furrowed as he walked to one of them, waving his hand in the man's face. Not even a blink.

Jack mentally face-palmed. Of course he'd still be invisible in a town that, no doubt, had never experienced winter. Therefor resulting in no belief in Jack Frost, which also ends in no one being able to see the white haired boy and his blue hoodie. He sighed and used his staff to fly him up and over the giant gates, and landing on the other side.

The street- which was circled around the castle -Was made up of red bricks and colorful chalk designs. There were various large fountains throughout the long sidewalks, in which children sat and played. Several shops were scattered, selling things like watermelons to free chocolate-pizza samples.

Jack nearly reached for the chocolate-pizza, but shook his head and reminded himself of who he was looking for. Wait...who was he looking for? North hadn't exactly been generous with details.

A small moment of panic seized Jack. How was he supposed to find the new guardian? Was it a boy or a girl? Nice or rude? Struggle or easy? All these thoughts and more ran through his head, before his eyes landed on a happy couple a few yards away.

A girl with short, choppy brown hair was leaned over and kissing a man with dark hair's cheek. The man chuckled as the girl opened her soft green eyes. Her purple dress hugged her body and cut off just above her bare-feet. The girl's eyes drifted behind the man, and landed on Jack. That was followed by a smile and a wave.

Jack furrowed his eyebrows and pointed at himself, frowning slightly. She giggled a bit and nodded, taking her (who Jack assumed) husbands hand and walking over to the white-haired boy.

"Hello!" Jack was greeted cheerfully, her tone matching her smile. The man gave a crooked grin, the scruff on his face giving off the "too cool" vibe.

"You, uh...you can see me?" Jack was at a loss. How could anyone that has never seen snow believe in Jack Frost?

"Well, yes." The girl giggled again and the man's head tilted in confusion as he nodded along, too.

"You must be the one..." Jack whispered, more to himself than the young girl. North must have known that the chosen ones could see him, so why hadn't he mentioned it?

"Whoa, slow down there buddy," The man stood protectively in front of her, and forced a laugh. "I don't know who you think you are, or who you think she is-"

"No! I don't mean it like that!" Jack quickly explained when he realized how it must've sounded. "I just... what's your name?"

Both the man and woman seemed taken aback at his sudden subject change and previous outburst.

"Um," The choppy-haired brunette stepped out from behind the man. "I'm Rapunzel, Princess of Corona."

"And I am her husband, Eugene." His words seemed like a normal introduction, but the princess was oblivious to the message hidden in his tone- "Don't get any ideas".

Jack wasn't sure how he was supposed to explain the predicament to the temporary-guardian, Rapunzel. Or to her husband, for that matter.

"My name is Jack," He leaned forward and gave what he hoped was a polite bow. "Jack Frost, to be precise."

"Pleasure to meet you," Rapunzel curtsied in reply, whereas Eugene just scowled.

"Uh..." Jack was trying to be careful with his words. "The thing is, I need your help."

"Help? With what?" The Princess questioned, her head tilting slightly.

"Do you happen to have anywhere where you can sit down? It's kind of a long story..."

~*~

After talking and explaining for what felt like hours, Jack had finally concluded his tale.

Rapunzel's green eyes were wide with wonderment, and Eugene's eyebrows were furrowed in disbelieve. The princess had led Jack and her husband to a small meadow a little ways away from the kingdom. In the shade of a willow tree that stood tall in the clearing, Jack felt at ease, peaceful.

Excitement coursed through Rapunzel's veins and she couldn't help but feel giddy with the hope of an adventure, the chance to help someone.

"And the guardians, they...they asked for me?" Oh, how wonderful it was to feel special, chosen. She wasn't afraid in the least bit, at what the new stranger was proposing.

"You specifically." Jack agreed. He couldn't believe how willing this girl was to meet her guaranteed death.

"They...yes! Of course I'll help!" Her eyes lit up in her eager state. "How hard can a shadow be to defeat anyway?"

Eugene was less convinced. "Blondie, you've got to be insane! Going with a stranger to an unknown place and defeating an unknown enemy!"

Blondie? Jack thought.

"But I can help!" She defended. "They need me!"

After a bit more of controversy, the brunette brute came to a compromise. He held up his hands in defeat and shifted his attention to the white-haired stranger. "Alright, alright! Fine! But I'm coming with you."

"I'm afraid you can't do that." Jack announces, walking past them as he gazed around the sunny meadow, his head bowed down slightly. "The giddy-girl only."

"No chance." And the stubborn-stubble is back.

"I'll be fine, Eugene! I can take care of myself!"

"Does this handsome face look like it cares!? I'm not letting you go anywhere dangerous, especially not alone!"

"But I just-"

"Eh-hem," The winter guardian cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, but we don't have the time for couples therapy. You know, with the whole impending-world-doom thing."

Rapunzel knew she had one last tactic. She pulled on -what she hoped- was a dramatic puppy-dog face, wide eyes, pleading look and all. She willed her emerald eyes to fill with tears.

"Please." Her voice cracked slightly, and she was surprised by how convincingly on the verge of crying she sounded.

Eugene's face remained rock-hard for several moments, before he finally cracked and let out a long, defeated sigh. Running a hand through his ruffled hair, he looked pointedly to Jack. "Take care of her, or the Boogie Man won't be the only one being pummeled into oblivion."

~~~~~
I'm so sorry this update took so long. I've had major writers block, but I'm going to try harder xD
Xoxo