"I guess that's the good part, you get to find a new dream." --Eugene Fitzherbert: Tangled

***

The little girl followed them. She could now see Jack Frost easily. None of the other adults except for Eugene and Rapunzel could see him. Eugene realized soon that no one else could see Jack, who leaned on his staff tired from his efforts to protect all of them. He took a deep breath and whispered thank you under his breath so only Jack and Rapunzel could hear.

Jack nodded.

Eugene tried to help Rapunzel again, but she screamed in pain and the guards ran over. Jack watched as the former king and the guards all stood around her. The captain frowned, "She broke a few of her ribs, it will take sometime to heal."

"But how can we move her into the palace without hurting her." Eugene asked.

"It will hurt, no matter what. If we had something to numb the pain that would be great." he looked at Eugene, "But she's been hurt for a long time, the best thing to do is take her into the palace the best we can as carefully as we can."

"I could do something." Jack Frost said. He reached out with his staff and frost covered her ribs, all around the dress. Soon the frost thickened. "It's not much but it can numb the pain a little if I keep my staff touching." he looked at Eugene, who nodded understanding. Rapunzel did too. The guard had no clue what they were deciding.

"I'll carry her." Eugene said, "Something tells me she'll be okay." He reached down and scooped her up in his arms. This time Rapunzel never screamed. She wrapped one arm around his neck and the other she used to hold the collar of his shirt. Jack followed close, his staff never leaving the spot where it touched her ribs. He smiled as he followed at Rapunzel.

When the emerged into town people gasped at the sight of there dirty new queen. Her hair, clothes, skin a mess. Many people didn't know what to think of the former king follow, holding a tired little girl while a woman followed, with a tear stained face. The guards seemed to turn the least amount of heads. The little girl lifted her head and turned to look at Jack smiling. She waved at him, and he waved back. Then he curled his hands and a snowflake appeared floating through the air and landing on her nose. She giggled and her mother looked at her confused.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine mommy." She said smiling, "thanks to a few new friends."

***

"They escaped." She said. "Thanks to that Jack Frost."

"Good, then things are going as planned, we just have to follow him to the next time gap." He smiled, "Well, one of us have to."

"What do you mean?" Gothel said, she crossed her arms.

"I'm proud to say you've been promoted from Henchwoman, to level one henchwoman." He walked away from her.

"Ha, that's where your wrong," she swept her arms behind her proudly and turned her back, "I'm no one's henchwoman. Your on your own, Boogieman." Pitch appeared in front of her making her jump back. "I hate it when you do that!" she shouted and pushed past him.

Pitch scowled, "Like it or not Gothel, I am your only chance of having your wish come true." She kept walking in away. "I understand you want to get revenge on Rapunzel, but if you walk away from me you'll never get that chance."

"I'll figure out my own way." she said waving to him, "Goodbye!"

"Not if she goes with Jack to become a Guardian." Pitch whispered.

She stopped in her steps, she swirled to face him black hair bouncing, "What do you mean."

Pitch looked away, with his back to her he smiled, "Man in moon sent Jack to pick up a new Guardian, if what I've seen is correct then Rapunzel is no doubt the next guardian they are looking for."

"If guardians are all your enemies then why does it make you so happy that he found her." she shouted, "He just got one more person to beat you but."

"Ah!" said Pitch swirling around, "What he did was add one more person to my masters plan." he grabbed her chin, "And gave me one more person, to help me." he let go and walked away, "Believe me, follow me and my master and you will be rewarded, you could have the revenge on Rapunzel you always wanted. You won't need her anymore, your immortal now. And you will have believers to cower before us! We will have unlimited power."

"What's the catch." she crossed her arms again frowning deeply.

"You do what I say." Pitch said.

"I hate it already."

"But you hate Rapunzel more." he said.

That was true, she hated Rapunzel with a passion. That little girl had escaped her, discovered the truth and killed her. She scowled, "I suppose so. Fine, what must I do."

Pitch smiled triumphantly, "First is first, no doubt Jack will return to the present to drop introduce Rapunzel to the other Guardians, blah, blah, blah. We will follow them and you will be dropped off to get to work."

"What kind of work?" Gothel said.

"Every Guardian has a center." said Pitch, he looked at her, his sharp toothed grin frightening, "You must work your skills in order to find it, once you do you can be an official Dark Guardian and join me and my master."

"How do I do that?"

"I have a certain family," Pitch said, he leaned in close, golden eyes sparkling, "I need you to do what you did to Rapunzel all those years back to the family, along with anyone else possible." he leaned back, "I believe you will find there son and daughter the hardest to break." He smiled, "They are Jamie and Sophie Bennet."

***

In the palace, Rapunzel lay in bed in her room. Nicely dressed in a pink night gown, her hair clean and her eyes now sparkling with a new glow. She had been wrapped up neatly in a cast that you couldn't see of course and was holding her baby who smiled, and reached out with pale chubby fingers. "I missed you Elizabeth, my beautiful princess."

The baby made a bubbling noise like laughter and grabbed onto the bow that hung around her neck. Then she wiggled and laughed again. Rapunzel winced painfully. "Okay I think that's enough Rapunzel." Eugene walked over and took the baby from his wife's arms.

"But Eugene! I haven't seen her for a whole night and a day." She tried to get up and yelped in pain. Pascal jumped and climbed to her other shoulder. He too had been cleaned and refreshed.

"I'm sorry Rapunzel but too much movement--"

"You sound like our doctors." she said, she pouted, "I'm so bored, I can't paint on the walls, or dance or--"

"You'll fine plenty of things to occupy yourself I'm sure." Eugene leaned down and kissed her. "I'll bring you some canvasses and new books from the library, but until then just sit still and be calm."

"That's going to be hard." she said smiling at him. "How's that little girl?"

"Fine Rapunzel." he sat on the bed and held her hand, "We gave her and her family a room in palace."

"Good." she said, she leaned back on the soft pillows that had been stacked behind her, "I want to make sure they are okay, that girl did allot for me."

"Not as much as you did for her." Eugene said, he brushed back her hair and smiled.

"He's right." Jack appeared on the window sill. He sat there, a crooked smile on his pale face. His blue eyes sparkled and he jumped from the sill. Spun his staff around a moment and a small light snow started to fall in the room. A snowflake swirled and landed on the baby's nose. Her laughter filled the room making it glow even brighter.

"Jack!"

"In the flesh!" Jack smiled, "How are you doing queenly?"

"Better, thank you." She turned to Eugene who nodded.

"You saved our lives." He said, "How can we thank you?"

"No need," Jack said, he walked over to the baby crib, the baby reached for flakes of snow, "All part of my job description...Sort of."

"And what is your job?" Rapunzel asked.

"I'm a guardian," he said.

"Like a guardian angel?" Rapunzel asked confused.

"No, uh, they work on a completely different level." he rubbed his neck, "I'm a Guardian of Childhood. I'm supposed to protect the wonder, hopes and dreams in kid's lives, use fun to make life easier." He leaned on his staff. "That kind of thing."

"But you protected me." Rapunzel said, "And Eugene, and we aren't children."

"Yah, well." he shrugged, "You needed help, I guess I didn't see any reason...not to." Jack smiled.

"Well thank you, we really mean it." Eugene grinned, "I don't know what we would have done if we lost her again, especially her parents."

"Again?" Jack frowned, "What do you mean?"

Rapunzel sighed, "I forgot, you were asleep when I told the girl my story."

"I could tell it if you'd like." Eugene said.

"Okay."

"Here's the short version," Eugene said, "When Rapunzel was a baby she was born with this amazing power in her hair because of a flower. When you sung a certain song it could heal the sick. A woman named Gothel wanted to use the power to keep her young so she kidnapped Rapunzel and put her in a tower, pretending to be her mother and hoarding the gift for 18 years."

"18 years!" Jack stared at her stunned, "You stayed in a tower for 18 years!"

"If Eugene hadn't climbed in my window trying to get away from the guards and maximus I wouldn't be here, with my family." Rapunzel ginned at Eugene.

"And if it hadn't been for you I would be alive." Eugene said to Rapunzel then noticing the look of confusion on Jacks face he went on with the story. "Gothel managed to trick Rapunzel and put me into a prison, I managed to escape with the help of some..." he thought for a moment, "Friends, I guess, at the Snuggly Duckling. I ran to the tower to get her."

"By now I remembered who I was. Gothel wasn't happen and tied me up to take me away."

"I climbed the tower to get to her and..." he looked down and winced.

Rapunzel squeezed his hand. "Gothel stabbed in the back with a knife, I promised to go with her if she let me heal him."

"Rapunzel always keeps her promises, I couldn't stand living knowing that somewhere she was being forced to use her powers for Gothel. So I cut her hair." Eugene said, this time Rapunzel winced, "It ended her powers, Gothel died, and so did I."

Now Jack stepped back a step and looked at Eugene funny. "But uh, what are you a zombie or..."

"A zombie?" Eugene looked at Rapunzel, "What's a zombie?" She shrugged.

"I don't know, what happened after was...amazing." she smiled, "I was crying and a tear must have landed on him. I sung, I was so upset, but the song worked and Eugene...He healed and came back to life."

"What!" Jack stared at the two of them, "You brought him back to life!"

"No, my magic did, even though they cut my hair my magic wasn't gone. It healed him, and brought him back to Me." she smiled, "We celebrated for a week!"

"To be honest, I don't remember most of it." Eugene laughed, and Rapunzel gave his shoulder a small shove.

"Then, a couple of years later we got married and I had Elizabeth."

"That's some story." Jack said, he smiled at the two of them and flew up in the air a moment before landing on the foot board of there bed.

"So why are you here?" Rapunzel said.

"Huh?"

"Well it's clear you're not here just to rescue a damsel in distress." Rapunzel gave him a sly smile, it was clear she was joking but he couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable. He smiled funny then fell back off the foot board. He landed on the ground looking at the ceiling. Eugene peeked over the edge.

He smiled funny, "Okay there stud?" he said.

Jack blinked and quickly jumped to his feet, "I'm fine." he said, "I just tired my self out in the house and with all that stuff collapsing..."

"Of course!" Rapunzel blushed bright red, "You must be exhausted, get some sleep, I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay." Jack said, he leaned back on his staff, "But I should get going, and leave you two to get some rest."

Jack swirled his staff through it over his shoulder and headed for the window. "Wait Jack!" Jack turned Rapunzel handed something to Eugene, who frowned at her but finally seemed to give in. He walked over and held out a small glass bottle, crystal clear with a cork lid, the bottle was no bigger then  his pinky.

"What's this?" Jack said.

"It's a little bit of my tears." Rapunzel said. Jack stared at her, feeling like for just a moment he was looking at a mad woman. "Let me explain," she said recognizing the look, "Over the last few years, since Eugene brought me home seven years ago, I have collected my tears in case of an emergency."

"Really?" Jack said.

"Yes, it seems a strange effort but it's something that might work, all it takes is a drop and a song, and it can heal anything, if there was a war, or some kind of plague we could stop it."

Jack looked at the small bottle in aw. Then his stomach sunk, "I shouldn't have this."

"It's only a little." Rapunzel said, "I still have some." she took out the yellow bottle with a purple lid, it was three quarters of the way filled, "Besides, it's the least I can do after saving our lives."

Jack smiled real small, "Thank you." he mumbled, then louder, "Thank you so much," he looked at the bottle then placed it in his pocket, "I'll keep this safe, I promise."

Rapunzel nodded, "But you need to know the song in order for it to work, just promise you won't tell anyone else, okay?"

Jack nodded.

Rapunzel closed her eyes, she hummed a tune then began to sing softly,

"Flower gleam and glow.

Let your power shine.

Let the clock reverse.

Bring back what once was mine.

Heal what has been lost.

Change the fates design.

Save what had been lost.

Bring back what once was mine.

What once was mine."

She opened her eyes and smiled, "Always remember it, and if ever you need to use it, it could help."

Jack nodded, "Thank you, again." he looked out side. "I really should get going now."

"Maybe we'll see each other soon." Rapunzel said.

"Maybe." Jack knew it was a lie. "Bye." then Jack stepped on the sill, waved and disappeared.

They all looked out the window at the moon, it silver glow on the bed chamber floor. As silver as Jacks hair. Rapunzel leaned on Eugene who smiled and brushed back her brown hair again. She sighed, "I'm going to miss him."

"He seems like a good kid." Eugene said, then he frowned, "But he never told us what he was here for."

***

Jack leaned against the wall outside the window listening then flew off. He flew over the roofs of houses over the sea and into the forest, just at the edge of the beach. He stood there for a moment pacing then he looked up at the moon and scowled. He stood tall, "How could you ask me to do this!" he shouted.

The moon didn't answer.

"I know the kids need a new Guardian, but to take her away from her family from her home!" he looked up, "Your not answering me!" He flew up into the air and landed on a tree branch, "You never answer me! What's your problem!" he waited still know answer, "There has to be someone else, someone else who can--" but he knew there wasn't. No one else who was suitable to be a Guardian, she was the new guardian, at least on of them. "It's no fair!" he shouted.

He landed on the sandy beach looking at the palace, the moon showed over it. "You took me away from my family, I can't ask her walk away from hers." He fell on his knees, "I can't, please don't make me do that." he could feel tears well up. He dropped his eyes. "I can't." he whispered, "I just can't."

He looked up at the moon, still no answer. He sighed, his anger gone, there was no point in yelling at a temperamental moon. Jack may had been given this mission but he couldn't complete it. He would back to the future, tell Man in Moon and Father Time to choose someone else. If this was what he was supposed to do he didn't have the heart to do it. She had just gotten her family back. She had a kid, a husband. Jack had been dead, sure that was a good excuse, but Jack couldn't take her from her family. An image of his sister came back to mind, her smiling face and her look of horror as he fell through the ice.

No, he wouldn't take her away. He could never do that, never. He stood up, he'd just take one more look at them to make sure they are alright and go home. Someone else could have the job. He flew up into the air and soon was back in the window of Rapunzel's room.

Rapunzel, Eugene and baby Elizabeth were all asleep. The room was dark except for the moon light. He walked in and looked at the walls, covered in painting. He brushed a hand over them, then saw a new picture just next to the bed. A painting of him, laughing and holding the staff as he danced with the girl. He sighed and looked away. He saw a paint brush on the ground and kicked it.

He should have known he's fail the job, none of them would ever see him as responsible again. But he didn't care, as long as Rapunzel was happy. He walked into the moon light again at the window. The heard a clunk and turned. The bottle had slid out of his pocket, the lid off and the magical tears dripping onto the floor. "Oh, no." he whispered so he wouldn't wake them.

He quickly put the topper on and sighed. He couldn't even take care of a small bottle. He scowled and shoved it back in his pocket. The clear liquid showed like silver in the moon light. He looked at it then looked at the little bit of liquid left in the bottle, then back at the liquid on the floor.

Was it just him, or was the liquid glowing gold. No, it really was glowing. Jack stared in amazement as the liquid swirled around the floor, like roots. Then tendrils of golden light lifted into the air, swirling and glowing, winding around like vines. "Woah!" he stepped back as the light wrapped his feet, filling the room with swirling gold.

The light increased becoming brighter bigger. A huge golden flower appeared swirling with pinks and oranges like a sunset, it grew huge, a giant golden bud. The bud burst open. A flash of light so bright Jack had to turn away. He covered eyes, trying to keep from being blinded by the glow.

Then the light faded. Jack turned back to the light, it slowly dimmed, and things began to become clear in the room again. And a woman began to appeared in the middle of it all. A long lavender gown was on her. Her back was to him and he could see long golden hair braided perfectly so that only the tip brushed the ground. The light faded completely and the woman's feet touched the ground, bare pink toes. The woman moved and Jack jumped behind a curtain just as she turned around.

"Where am I?" she whispered, she looked at her hands, "What am I?" she peeked at herself, purple gown, purple corset tied in the front. She felt something tickle at her heal and saw the end of her long braid. Then she looked up, green eyes sparkling as she looked at the moon. She didn't saw another word but took a step forward. Her toe kicked a small brush, she picked it off the floor.

What was it? A toy? She held it in her hands a moment then waved it. Glowing colors and flowers appeared, filling the open air with colors. She laughed and touched the wall. Glowing flowers of every color appeared where she touched it. She laughed and again. She spun around, waving the paint brush. The brush left a trail of gold that wrapped around her. Her dress changed, from long to about knee length edged in lace and embroidered with pink flowers. She looked down at herself. She brushed it again and the dress turned blue.

Anything she imagined could happen with just a swipe of her brush. She smiled then heard a noise and swirled around. She waved a brush and frying pan fell in her hands. She had no clue what it was, but it felt comfortable at her fingertips. She put the brush in her hair. She lifted the pan and walked to the curtain that moved. Underneath was two white feet. She swung the curtain back and swung the pan. But it hit nothing. There was a flash of blue and silver above her head and she swirled whacking the flash out of the air, making a thunk as the pan contacted.

The figure yelp and fell out the window.

She gasped, had she hurt them? Did she mean to hurt them? Who were they? She ran to the window and peeked over the side. A boy flew up, at least it looked like a boy, with silver hair and a long covered shepherd's staff. He floated in the air out her window. Then came closer to it. She stepped back and he landed on the ground in front of her.

Jack stared at her and she stared back. Who was she? Was she really Rapunzel, she had Rapunzel's face, Rapunzel's height, but she looked younger, around his age and her hair was gold. And her eyes, they flashed with rainbow colors, purple, green, blue, as though her eyes couldn't make up there mind. He looked from her to the sleeping brunette then back to her. "Rapunzel?"

She looked startled, "Who are you? How do you know my name?" she said.

"I--" Jack cocked his head, she didn't know who he was. But how, then he looked at the moon, it didn't say a word. He looked back at her, "How...how do you know your name?"

She looked outside at the moon, "The moon told me." she said.

He looked back at the moon, "Did he tell you anything else?" he asked.

She shook her head.

Jack realized what had happened. Man in moon had used some of the tears to create another Rapunzel, a new one, so that she didn't know her family, and the real one could stay and live her life. Jack let out a breath of relief. Manny understood, he had trusted Jack and understood why he didn't want to take Rapunzel from her home.

"You still haven't answered my Question." She said.

Jack looked at her and smiled, "My name is Jack Frost, Manny sent me to find you."

"That's his name?" she looked at him, "I like it."

"We do too." Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out the clock, "So will you come with me?"

Rapunzel frowned, "Come with you where?"

"Come with me to meet the Guardians." he said, he whispered in the clock the correct date.

She looked at him a moment. He through the clock and a white swirling vortex appeared she jumped back. Her eyes widened. He looked back at her. She looked at him. She wasn't sure about this boy. His silver hair waved in the breeze that seemed to come from the white, glowing vortex. The light illuminated his face, making the already pale features look more pale and making his blue eyes seem to glow. He was strange, but he knew her, and the Moon had sent him. At least that's what he had said. She didn't know where she was, or what she was doing there. But she knew she didn't belong here, she belonged with Jack Frost. Was it the moon that told her? Or was it just a feeling she had? She stood there a moment, unsure the said. "I guess I'll come." she walked to the swirling vortex. "Is it safe?"

"Yah, but I would close my eyes if I were you." he smiled crooked, "You don't want to loose your lunch."

"What's lunch?" she asked.

Jack laughed, "Never mind, I'll go first okay?" He stepped in and disappeared. Rapunzel looked at where he had stood a moment before then looked back at the dark room. A sleeping man and woman, a sleeping baby, and a silver moon. It was all so strange to her, but comforting in a small way. Did she really want to leave, this was where she was born. But something pulled at her to join Jack Frost. She took a step to the vortex then dropped through.

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"Perfect." Pitch stepped out of the shadows and into the light. Gothel followed, "Now we step through and when he goes back to find the other two guardians you will stay behind and take care of the Bennet family while I follow him to find more dark Guardians." He walked to the Vortex.

"Is that all?" she asked.

"You be given more to do when I come back." He stepped in and vanished. Gothel stood there a moment and looked around her. She had just seen Rapunzel walk through a glowing light and Pitch, never answered her questions. She could stay behind. Did she really want to join him in his Masters plan. World domination did seem rather lovely to her. Yes it did. She stepped into the vortex and it closed.

The room became dark and quiet again. The colorful glow faded from the flowers that Rapunzel had painted before she left and there was nothing left but paintings, all except for painting of Jack Frost that still shimmered in the moon as though made out of ice.