A/N: While there will be two one shots after this (ROTG and Frozen), both will be epilogues, so this begins the official ending to my story.

This first chapter takes place concurrently with the Tangled one shot.

Tangled belongs to Disney, Brave belongs to Disney and Pixar, How to Train Your Dragon belongs to Dreamworks and Cressida Cowell, Rise of the Guardians belongs to Dreamworks and Guardians of Childhood belongs to William Joyce.

Jack Frost was dead. It wasn't an idea that was easy for Merida to get used to. Mother Nature had warned her. So had Jack's family. They all said Jack was dead. Or at least partly dead. Only mostly dead. Something to do with the Guardians.

She'd denied it at first. She set out intending to find Jack alive. Well … she'd found Jack. When she'd first seen him, she assumed they were wrong. Jack was alive. At least he moved and spoke. But once she and Hiccup had gotten him away from Pitch Black, he fell into a dead sleep.

The lords' sons had taken them to an island near Hogwarts. Hiccup had built a shelter on this island a year ago. The teenagers covered it with dreamsand. The lords' sons kept watch for enemies approaching, while Merida and Hiccup took turns waiting for Jack to wake up.

Waiting. And waiting. Merida had had enough of waiting. First she was waiting for Harris to wake up, now Jack. And Jack's unconscious form worried her more.

Harris, though unable to move, has showed physical signs of illness. His face grew gaunt, until the nurse used a spell to help him eat. His hair would often be plastered with sweat. Jack did not show any signs of life. He didn't sweat, or eat, or toss and turn. She wasn't even sure if he was breathing. And it had been weeks.

Merida sometimes worried that he was all the way dead, but she quickly dismissed those thoughts. For one, Hiccup had heard him speak and seen him move, too. And Mother Nature had said Jack was 'chosen' by the Guardians. Plus, Pitch Black would gain nothing by keeping Jack in his lair if Jack was sincerely dead. He could gain more by parading the body around.

One day, as she came to relieve Hiccup from his watch, Jack's eyes flashed open.

Relief flooded through her as she looked into his now blue eyes as he babbled about a girl named Rapunzel. She had no clue what he was talking about, but it was reassuring to hear his voice.

"Maybe you met her when you … you know?" Hiccup said softly, not willing to tell Jack he had died.

Jack's face turned blue, "No! Rapunzel was - is- our friend! She's important! We've all been in school together for ages! She's in trouble, we need to go after her!"

Jack tried to get up. Merida pushed him back down. Her hands stung where she touched him. He was often cold when upset, but this was more than his usual icy demeanor. This was the coldness of death. She retracted her hands.

"Jack, you should rest. You've been through a lot. You … you..." She couldn't find the words.

"I died, I know. Pitch has proved it time and again," Jack snapped. "But Rapunzel is alive and in trouble. We have to save her. You must remember!"

Merida looked at Hiccup. He clearly didn't know who Rapunzel was, either. But he smiled gently at Jack.

"Why don't you tell us about her," Hiccup said softly, "while you rest? Merida is right. You've been through a lot."

Jacks face twitched, but he agreed. He told them about Rapunzel. Her magic glowing hair. Her very long hair, very blonde hair. Jack told them all about adventures that the four of them had gone on. Something rang true as he said it.

She remembered finding Night Mares in the woods. She remembered finding Fearlings in the school. She remembered sailing on a boat pulled by a dragon, and almost marrying a monkey king ...but her memory often fizzled out at certain points. Certain points that a girl with exceptionally long magic hair would fit. She still couldn't remember Rapunzel specifically. Aside from the hair, she wouldn't have known what the other girl looked like. But Jack convinced her.

"And while Pitch was holding me prisoner, he taunted me," Jack said as he finished. "He said Rapunzel would never be able to bother him again. She's in trouble. And the fact that you guys don't remember makes me think it's deep trouble."

"Jack, I get what you're saying," Hiccup conceded, "but what can we do?"

"We can go to her! I know where her tower is. It's protected with the Fidelius charm, but as the secret keeper I can-"

"Jack, I can't," Merida said firmly. "My brother Harris is still hurt."

She refrained from saying because of you. That kind of blame was what killed Jack in the first place. Besides, when she left the school earlier that morning, Harris was on the mend. The nurse thought he'd wake up soon. She didn't want to leave him for more than a few hours until he did.

"He's still alive?" Jack said, his eyes widening. "Pitch told me he was dead. He said … does this mean that Scotland hasn't razed the Archipelago?"

"No, Jack," Hiccup said. "We're all fine. Nothing's happened. And nothing ever will. We're going into hiding. All Vikings."

"So … Pitch lied to me," Jack said, rubbing his head. "I wonder if he lied about Rapunzel, too?"

"He might have," Hiccup agreed, "but it's still weird that we don't remember her, isn't it? Unless … "

Hiccup's eyes went wide and he gasped, "… I have to go check something."

Hiccup raced out. Merida had no clue where he was going, no ideas had clicked in her head. But that was Hiccup for you. Merida turned her attention back to Jack. As she looked at him, his face contorted. He grimaced.

"JACK! JACK!" Merida yelled, hoping Hiccup would come back. Jack's face became cold and distant.

"Jack is not here," Jack said. The voice. It was Jack's, but not. More melodic, and not as fun.

"Jack, what's wrong?" Merida asked again, not sure what to make of his statement.

Jack's blue eyes blinked several times. He looked around his surroundings as though seeing them for the first time. Then he looked up at her.

"You aren't Pitch?" he questioned. Merida was taken aback.

"Uh …"

"I suppose Jack forgot to introduce me," he said. "I am Nightlight."

Hiccup went over what Jack had told him. He couldn't remember Rapunzel. Something had affected his memory of her. He needed to get to the Hogwarts Library and do some research, but a plan was starting to take form.

The Archipelago was hidden. He didn't need to do anything else to protect his people. But this was too good an opportunity to pass up.

"HICCUP! COME BACK!" Merida's screamed. Hiccup sighed and turned back. He needed to get to the school before he forgot, but Merida apparently couldn't handle Jack alone.

When he entered the warm shack, he saw Jack ... glowing? And standing different. Somewhat. Jack smiled when he came in ... but it wasn't his usual crooked grin. This was much more formal. And then Jack bowed.

"Ah, allow my to introduce myself," Jack said. "I am Nightlight."

"Nightlight?" Hiccup said. "Jack mentioned you."

Nightlight nodded and explained, "We share a body. It is my fault Kozmotis hates Jack."

"Then ... do you know what's going on with Rapunzel?" Hiccup asked. "'Cause I've been thinking ... Jack said she was constantly attacked."

Nightlight nodded with a gentle smile.

"But now, she's disappeared. And we don't even know who she is," Hiccup said.

Once more, Nightlight nodded.

"How is that possible? I mean, I know memory charms exist ... but to forget someone who's supposedly your best friend ... that's not easy is it?"

Nightlight shook his head.

"Don't talk much, do he?" Merida said, her mouth still gaping open.

"Talking is not necessary, most of the time," Nightlight said. "I prefer to speak only when I must. I do not know more than Jack on the subject of Rapunzel. But I know who to ask."

Nightlight strode out of the hut. Hiccup and Merida followed.

It's funny. You never think of people having different gaits until you see someone walking in someone else's body. Where Jack often ran, jumped and skipped, Nightlight's steps were smooth and deliberate. It was a very un-Jack-like behavior.

Once outside, Nightlight looked up into the moon. Was it Hiccup's imagination? Or did the moon glow brighter, and the moonbeams seemed to dance around Nightlight. Nightlight blinked several times, then smiled, and then frowned.

"What's going on?" Merida demanded. "What did the moon say?"

"Good and bad," Nightlight said. "Manny witnessed everything. Rapunzel asked Queen Toothiana to erase everyone's memory of her. But something's gone wrong. I-"

Nightlight's face twitched and a more passionate one appeared.

"See, I knew she was-," Jack's voice cried. His face twitched several times, going between a panicked look in Jack, to the calm steady one of Nightlight. It finally settled on Jack. He collapsed on the ground, clutching his head, "We have to help her."

"Jack, I can't leave my brothers for a girl I don't even know!" Merida said, crossing her arms.

"But you do know her!" Jack pleaded. "If you could remember ... you wouldn't hesitate."

"That might be. But I don't remember her."

"I wanna help. But Merida's sort of right," Hiccup said. "How could we help find her when we don't even remember what she looks like?"

"Her hair is impossible to miss!" Jack said. "And I know where she is."

"And what if she isn't there?" Merida said. "What if she's left?"

"We'll find her, the way you found me!" Jack proclaimed.

"Jack, I can't," Merida protested. "I can't go on a wild goose chase for a girl I don't even know. I have responsibilities here."

Jack's face turned blue, and the air turned cold. A storm was starting to form around Jack. Hiccup gently got between Jack and Merida.

"Why don't we compromise," Hiccup said. "Jack, you are faster than me and Toothless. Why don't you fly out now and check on Rapunzel. Merida can stay here with her brothers."

"What about you?" Jack asked.

"I need to check on something, but I'll follow you as fast as I can. I'll meet you at Burgess. You can tell me what's going on, and if we need Merida, one of us will come back for her."

Jack didn't look happy with the arrangement, but he didn't have much of a choice. Since time was of the essence, he twirled his staff and flew off. Hiccup and Merida both headed back to Hogwarts.

"I feel bad, not going with him," Merida admitted, "but I can't justify leavin' me brothers. I want to be there when Harris wakes."

"I don't know what to do about your brother," Hiccup admitted, "but I think I found a way to save your kingdom."

Jack Frost flew as fast as he could. He soared above the clouds as he rushed out of Scotland, out of England, and over the ocean on his way to Corona.

As he flew, he couldn't help but feel his timing was perfect. He didn't know what, if any, kind of trouble Rapunzel was in, but by his calculations, he would get there on her 18th birthday. What better excuse to check up on her? If she was fine, he could wish her a happy birthday and go back to Hiccup and Merida. If not, he would rescue her.

That was all that was on his mind, until he reached the forest where the glen should be. No matter where he flew or how he looked, he couldn't find the tower. It didn't make sense. He'd flown here lots of times. He'd even stayed here last summer.

"I'm sorry," the voice came out of Jack's mouth, but it wasn't his thought. "It's my fault."

"What?" Jack asked, perching on the top branch of a tree. "Nightlight? What's going on? Why can't I find Rapunzel's tower?"

"The fidelius charm," Nightlight responded using Jack's mouth. "The fidelius charm is when a secret is contained within a person. When you died the bond was severed. Even though you came back, the charm no longer recognizes you as the secret keeper."

Jack knelt down on the branch, his hands clasped around his head. What could he do now? What should he do? He didn't know if Rapunzel was in trouble or not. How much of what Pitch told him was a lie? Going into hiding was her idea. Sort of. Maybe she liked that no one remembered her. Assuming she knew about it. He wasn't certain. Or maybe Gothel was mistreating her. But what could he do?

Jack sat in the tree, pondering this. He could make a snowstorm. Rapunzel might come out to investigate a freak snowstorm in the middle of summer. But without being able to find the exact location of the tower, he couldn't ensure it would be contained. Other people might see it. And they might get scared and that could be bad for Rapunzel if she ever did get free.

He thought about going for help. Telling Hiccup and Merida where the tower was. But if the charm no longer recognized him as secret keeper, what good would that do? They would be just as stuck as him. Maybe worse, since they couldn't remember Rapunzel in the first place.

It took Jack nearly all day, but finally he remembered Coronian tradition. On Rapunzel's birthday, the king and queen always lit floating lanterns. He hoped that even with modified memories they would still do that. Unless they couldn't even remember they had a daughter? He would cross that bridge when he came to it.

Jack flew over the woods, but landed just inside them. He knew the king and queen were purebloods, but that didn't mean it was safe for wizardkind in Corona. While Pitch probably would have taunted him about it if the kingdom had developed a civil war, there could still be unrest. Jack would keep his magical powers to himself, if he could help it.

He crossed the bridge on foot as the sun was sinking and was relieved to see a giant mural of the king and queen holding a baby girl with long blond hair. Even if they'd forgotten Rapunzel, no memory charm could undo their art. And from the shrine of candles in front of it, there was little doubt that the town still remembered it had a princess.

He was so busy looking at the mural, he didn't watch where he was going, until he ran into someone.

Jack scrambled to his feet and reached over to help the other man.

"I am so sorry," Jack said, pulling the red-haired man to his feet.

"Don't mention it," the man said with a lisp. It took all of Jack's willpower not to laugh at it. As he got up, he looked down at Jack's feet and gave an exasperated sigh, "Not another one."

"Another what?" Jack asked, not sure what the man was getting at. Had Jack accidentally made ice and outed himself as an ice elf?

"Another teenager who won't wear shoes!" the man said. "This isn't a fad, is it? I'll be ruined in weeks!"

"You've seen someone else who doesn't wear shoes?" Jack asked, his hope rising.

"Of course. She's all anyone can talk about. I didn't catch her name, but all that hair? Get her to a barber, says I. And then I've got some shoes for her."

"Really, really, really long blond hair, right?" Jack asked.

"Yes," the man confirmed. "At first it was getting tangled up in everything. But then her boyfriend got some Scottish girls to braid it. Much better. Say, can I interest you in some shoes? I've got loafers, saddle shoes, slippers-"

"I don't have any money," Jack said quickly. "When did you see this girl?"

"No money? What is this world coming to? I saw her this morning."

"Thank you, sir," Jack said respectfully, ignoring the lisp. The man walked off. Jack turned his attention back to the town.

Rapunzel was here. And from the sound of it, she was free.

Merida lightly dozed in the Gryffindor dorm room. As a dream started, she heard shouting. She slowly opened her eyes and rubbed the sand out of them.

"Merida!" Hamish called. "I lost a tooth!"

"That's nice," Merida yawned. "Put it under your pillow."

"I want to put it under Harris's pillow," Hamish said. "Maybe the Tooth Fairy will make him wake up."

She hadn't told her brothers that Professor Toothiana was the Tooth Fairy. The Guardians had only revealed their secret identities to a select few people. She wasn't going to break their trust and start blabbing.

Taking Hamish's hand, she went with him down to the Infirmary. As they walked to Harris's bed, her eyes went wide. A pair of bright blue eyes looked back at her.

"Harris?" Merida said.

"Sledding is not fun," the boy said. His voice was weak and gravely, but she didn't care. He was awake! Harris would live. And that meant it was time to take her brothers home.

After a quick reunion, Merida ran to the library, hoping to catch Hiccup as he conducted his research, but she couldn't find him.

"The boy was here," Mr. Qwerty, the librarian said, "but he found what he was looking for and went south."

"Thank you," Merida said, bobbing a curtsy. She raced down to Angus. No doubt Hiccup had left for Burgess already. Now that Harris was awake, she had no hesitations about joining him. She saddled her horse and rode out. She couldn't wait to tell everyone the good news.

The day after Rapunzel's birthday, when the Man in the Moon sent Jack to a hollow tree to activate Rapunzel's memories, he initially intended to wait around for her.

But the longer he waited, the more he started to wonder if he was making a mistake. What if Rapunzel didn't know about the tree? What if Mother Gothel had hidden them? Sure, Flynn's memories were there, too, but that didn't mean much.

And what if Rapunzel wanted to stay lost? From the descriptions of the villagers, the long haired girl who danced and painted their city had been having the time of her life. More fun than even Jack could give her on his snowiest snow day.

Jack ended up pocketing the memories and leaving a note. If whoever had hidden the memories wanted them back, they'd have to face Jack. And in the meantime, maybe he could use the memories to help Merida and Hiccup remember Rapunzel. Surely Rapunzel hadn't wanted her best friends to forget.

As Jack flew back over the ocean, he pondered what his village would think of him, now that he was legally dead. Would coming back as a ghost scare the people? Yes, probably.

Did he care?

He wasn't sure. A part of him wanted to scare them. It wanted revenge for all the hatred, being forced to stay inside just because he was different. But a larger part of him did not want that. The larger part of him just wanted everyone to have fun. But they probably wouldn't have fun with a ghost.

If he was a ghost, that is. He seemed solid. His friends could pick him up, and he could touch things.

So was he a zombie? No. Zombies are mindless. That's why they seek brains. Maybe a ghoul? No. Ghouls were usually gloom and doom. While Jack wasn't exactly happy about being dead, he wasn't all mopey. As far as he could tell, he still had the full range of human emotions.

How about a Draugr? He supposed he could be. But weren't they supposed to be in a state of decay? He'd been dead for several months. He didn't think he was rotting. His teeth had never been so white.

Maybe a Wight? Or Reverent. The closest undead creature would probably be a Lich, though Jack didn't particularly feel like calling himself that.

He supposed it didn't matter. The people would accuse him of being whatever they feared the most, wouldn't they? There was no room for logic in a mind turned by fear.

Jack wasn't paying much attention as he crossed over into England. He flew low over ground, until something shot up straight in front of him. He dropped his staff and plummeted to the ground.

Pitch fumed. He hadn't meant to let Jack Frost go. He'd intended to keep the boy his prisoner for eternity. Jack was a good source of fear. His age made him ripe for the picking, and thanks to the Guardians, he could not die. A very low maintenance prisoner, requiring no food, water, light, or warmth.

And having Nightlight as well was the icing on the cake. For too long, Nightlight had held Pitch prisoner. It was time to return the favor.

But now they were both gone. Rescued by Jack's friends. The worst part was that it was his own foolishness that led to them escaping. He wanted the dragon rider and princess to be afraid. He only meant to let them find Jack. He thought he could trap the lot of them. If the princess and the dragon rider disappeared, it would almost certainly stop the talks of peace, ensuring that the dark ages lasted a lot longer. And Jack's fear for them would be so sweet. But the children were more powerful, and more clever, than he'd anticipated. Not only did they get Jack out of Pitch's lair, but they'd managed to hide him while the boy recovered. Pitch didn't know how they did it. The Man in the Moon, perhaps. Those Guardians were always interfering.

He closed his eyes and thought of the prophecy. A darkness descends upon the land. Obviously. He'd achieved that. If it cannot be stopped, the world will be forever changed. According to the prophecy, he might never be stopped. A good omen. But there are four who have the power. The Guardians or the four children. Could be either. Pitch had been attacking both fronts just in case. Led by deathless light reborn. His first though was for Nightlight. That's the obvious choice. But now Jack had been reborn as well. And that rotten Flynn boy. All his pawns were running amok. He had to put a stop to it.

They can heal the bond that has broken and restore the peace, not if Pitch had any say in it. He'd been mostly affecting the world by striking particularly powerful leaders with fear. They then did the rest. But now ... maybe it was time to unleash the monsters. And he knew the first town to target.

The Burgess nightmare was about to begin.

A cold wind blew across the sea onto the deck of the ship. Rapunzel shivered in the night. She felt so exposed. Every few minutes, she reached up, intending to pull her hair down, only for her fingers to be met with the frayed ends of the short brown hair.

With a sigh, she went back to leaning on the rail of the ship, watching the horizon.

"Hey," Eugene's gentle voice said as he appeared beside her. "Couldn't sleep?"

Rapunzel rubbed her arms, "Not since ... Not since I left."

Again, she reached up for her hair, but found nothing. Eugene reached out and took her hands, letting her fingers twist around his.

"It'll be alright," he promised. "We've made it through the worst."

Rapunzel bit her lip, "What if we haven't? I don't know what my friends have been up to. I had nightmares that they needed my healing powers. I don't think there's another tear in me. What if they hate me when I can't cure them, just like Mother said they would?"

"Look, Blondie ... Er, I guess that name doesn't quite work now," Eugene sighed. "Rapunzel. I'm not gonna lie, you having super powers was fantastic. But even without them, you are the smartest, strongest, bravest person I know. Your friends will love you no matter what. Just as I do."

Eugene leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. The real forehead. Not on her hair, like Mother always did. Rapunzel leaned into his shoulder and started to cry. Eugene hugged her close ... like Mother.

She pushed him away and started to pant, leaning over the side of the boat, suddenly feeling nauseous.

"Are you alright?" he asked, not backing away, but not coming too close either.

"No," Rapunzel admitted, as she brushed back imaginary hair, "but ... I can't stop thinking about Mother ... and what happened. And what I did. I let her fall."

"She wasn't your mother," Eugene reminded her. "She kidnapped you, kept you captive. And hurt you. And me."

Eugene reached down to his stomach, where he'd been stabbed. Rapunzel reached out and touched it. There was no scar, no sign that anything had ever pierced the skin, but in her mind, she could still see the pool of blood.

"I'm ... I'm sorry, Eugene," Rapunzel said, tears starting to come up. Eugene put his finger under her chin and tilted her head up.

"Don't worry about it. We're both okay now. What Gothel did, and what happened to her, was not your fault. Trust me. I grew up in an orphanage. Half the kids blamed themselves for their parents' deaths, even when there was nothing they could possibly have done."

Rapunzel's brow creased, "Did you?"

Eugene shrugged, "I don't know what to think. I was found on the orphanage doorstep when I was a baby. Maybe my parents died and someone brought me there. Or maybe they didn't want me. Or couldn't provide. Maybe I was a muggleborn and they were frightened by my powers. I'll never know."

"You ... you could've looked at your memories, couldn't you?" Rapunzel asked. "You had both of ours?"

"Yeah. I could've. I thought about it," Eugene said, "but I guess I was too cowardly to look. You were lucky. Your parents wanted you. I ... I'd like to think mine wanted me. But I don't know if I could handle knowing they didn't. I'd like to think they were adventurers. Like Flynnigan Rider, and that they left me there to protect me. If the truth is different, I don't want to know it."

Eugene went quiet. Rapunzel leaned on his shoulder and they watched the sunrise as the boat got closer to England. Soon she would find out what she really meant to her friends.