Merida gasped in stunned shock. Jack was…gone?

She noticed Hiccup scrambling on the floor, trying to drag himself over to Rapunzel. Still in a daze, Merida went over to help him up. He hopped the rest of the way and they collapsed on the floor next to the traumatised girl.

"No…Jack…!" They heard Tooth's whispered cry come from behind them as the other Guardian's gathered around. Toothless, who had managed to jump across to the platform now it was at the same level as the others, came up behind them and let out a mournful whine.

Rapunzel had gotten up from her lying position on the floor and was now kneeling, staring at her hand – the hand that until only a few moments ago had held the hand of the boy she loved.

"Punz…" Hiccup softly spoke to her, his voice heavy with sorrow and empathy.

It seemed to break her numbed silence, because something cracked in Rapunzel's empty gaze and a wracked sob escaped her throat.

Hiccup and Merida knelt either side of their friend and surrounded her in a loving hug; Merida stroking the girls hair with one hand and holding Hiccup firmly to them with the other to help him balance. Tears streaked down their cheeks.

Rapunzel could feel something inside her breaking. It was shattering and cold ice was tearing at her insides. Maybe the ice shard had got her too? She looked down at her own chest numbly but there was no wound. Then why did it feel like she was bleeding?

Why wasn't Jack here? Where had he gone? If he was here, she could heal him and everything would be fine. Why wasn't he HERE?!

She crashed her fist down on the stone floor in frustration, letting out a broken cry of anguish. She could feel her friend's arms around her, a soothing hand stroking her hair.

She squeezed her eyes shut. And began to sing. She had not sung this song for over 300 years. Not since she had become a spirit – she had never needed to. But for some reason now, at her most desperate time, the song echoed in her brain and she felt as though some comfort may be gained from it.

"Flower, gleam and glow
Let your power shine
Make the clock reverse
Bring back what once was mine"

Sure enough, a wave of warmth seemed to spread through her. It was different to the kind she usually felt when healing someone though. This – this was stronger somehow. And it felt- strange. What was this? Was it from the power boost the key gave them? Her whole body was alive, skin tingling with power.

She felt the hand stroking her head start to reverse its direction, stroking from the back of her head to the front. Then the arms that were wrapped so firmly around her released her and she could feel her friends bodies move away. She opened her eyes but never stopped singing her song.

"Heal what has been hurt
Change the fates' design"

Her eyes grew wide in amazement. Everything was going – backwards? Merida and Hiccup hopped almost comically backwards across the floor, before separating and going back to lying down. The Guardians parted, expressions changing from heart wrenching sadness, to shock, to tense expectation.

Her own body moved out of her own control, until she was lying back down on the rough stone floor, her hand stretching out in front of her. The box burst open again, the wind resumed howling around them, and she could feel the tug on her hair as Pandora clung to it once more.

"Save what has been lost
Bring back what once was mine"

Before her astonished eyes Jack's body materialised out of thin air; his hand returning to hers. She flinched as the shard flew out of his body, behind her head to Pandora, and then back to Jack's hand before it disappeared in a blaze of ice.

"What once was mine…."

Everything stopped reversing at its frenzied pace. Jack was clinging onto her hand as if he would never let go, and the wind whipped their faces cruelly. But she did not hide her face from it, nor close her eyes against its sting. She couldn't believe it. She never thought she would see him again – but he was HERE. Her eyes drank in every detail of him and she gripped his hand so hard to make sure he was real that he flinched and raised an eyebrow at her.

"It's ok Punz! Don't be afraid, I've got you!" he smiled reassuringly.

A ferocious tug on her hair caused her to yelp in pain. She saw Jack's features quickly flash from one of concern to determination, and she saw the shard of ice form in his hand as he looked at Pandora and took aim.

Rapunzel panicked. She couldn't go through this – not again! She couldn't lose him!

"WAIT!" she screamed at him. He jolted in surprise and looked at her in confusion.

"Don't throw it Jack! Don't."

"But Pandora…"

"Cut off my hair!"

"What?!"

"Just do it!"

She saw something register in his eyes and he gave her a slight nod before he leant over and with a great heave, he sawed through her hair with the sharpened ice.

A howl of outrage could be heard from behind them as Pandora and the rest of Rapunzel's hair flew into the box and it sealed itself once more with an echoing thunderclap.

Silence fell.

Jack lay there for a few moments in stunned silence. They'd done it – they'd actually done it! He turned to smile at Rapunzel in relief. She had an odd look on her face, and her blonde hair now fell in ragged wisps around her cheeks.

He leant over and gently wiped a stray strand away from her face.

"Your hair…Punz I'm sorry-"

But he didn't have a chance to complete his sentence. Before he realised what was happening Rapunzel had flung herself onto him and pulled their lips together in a passionate kiss.

He froze momentarily before grinning against her lips and pulling her closer, his hands threading through her short blonde hair to deepen the kiss. The force of her attack sent him toppling backwards onto the ground again, and she fell down on top of him, but he didn't mind – he would be happy to lie here on this hard stone floor forever if it meant she would continue kissing him.

Alas, someone had a different idea however.

"Ahem" came an amused cough from above them.

The two pulled apart and looked up to find Hiccup and Merida, his arm slung around her shoulder, standing over them with amused grins on their faces. Toothless was peeking at them from Hiccup's other side, a mischievous smile somehow also apparent despite his dragon features.

"We hate to interrupt…." Hiccup said, his eyes twinkling with amusement that promised Jack he hadn't heard the end of this.

"But we thought it was about time we got outta here." Merida finished; a teasing smirk on her lips.

"Unless of course yer have somethin' better ter do?"

Jack and Rapunzel looked at each other, blushing slightly, but smiled in relief and happiness. Yes. They were ready to go.

"Oi! Watch it you two!" Merida shook snow out of her hair as Toothless and Hiccup came in to land beside her, sending up a spray of the stuff.

"Ooops…sorry" Hiccup grinned sheepishly as he dismounted, but she could see he was too elated from his practise flight to really be worried. She rolled her eyes and forgave them.

"Never mind" she scratched Toothless' head. "How was it then?"

"Amazing!" Hiccup enthused. "North and the yetis followed my specifications exactly, and even came up with a few ideas to add to it – this new leg adjusts perfectly between walking and flying; did you see there is even a little compartment here where I can switch out different fixtures at ease and it fits flawlessly into Toothless' tail mechanism in order to operate it…"

"Ok ok!" Merida interrupted him laughing. "It works great, I get it!"

Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I guess I get a bit carried away huh?"

"I'm just glad ter see the both of ye back on yer feet….and wings" Merida smiled back fondly. Toothless purred in agreement.

"Well, all we have to do now is say goodbye to the others and-GAH!" Hiccup slipped on a patch of ice and went barrelling into Merida who, luckily for him, managed to brace herself and catch him before he fell over.

"Argh - JACK!" Hiccup called out in a complaining voice.

"Someone call me?" a distant, mirthful voice could be heard from back towards the entrance to North's workshop.

Hiccup rolled his eyes, and Merida helped steady him on his feet again.

"As much as I'd like ter blame all snow related incidents on that Snowball, I think tha' might'a been you that time Hiccup" Merida chuckled lightly. Then, since their arms were still wrapped around each other, she leaned forward and kissed him sweetly on the lips.

"What am I gonna do with yer, eh?" she admonished teasingly.

"Well you could always do that again" he smirked, referring to the kiss.

"All ready Hiccup?"

They turned to see Jack and Rapunzel exiting out of North's workshop and coming towards them.

"Yep!" he replied chirpily as they drew closer. "Was just figuring out the last few kinks but now we're ready to go."

"You gonna be alright flying back with him hot head?" Jack teased Merida. "With the amount of loop-the-loops he's probably going to be doing, you'll end up bright green – green and red is a bit Christmassy for a summer spirit isn't it?"

"Har, har, yer so funny Frost" Merida laughed sarcastically. "I'm sure I can manage it. Punz, ye sure ye dunnae want a lift back with us? Knowing that eejit he'll probably drop yer, and ye dunnae have yer hair to tie onto him as a safety net now either."

Rapunzel giggled. "I'll be alright" she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear a little self consciously. In truth, her hair had already started to grow back extremely quickly - it fell to just above her shoulders now. She had explained to the others that it always did that; it was why she had given up cutting it in the first place.

"Well I suppose it's fer the best then" Merida sighed dramatically. "If Jack gets himself inter trouble on the way at least yer hair can heal him again" she teased.

"Hey, don't act like I'm some damsel in distress! I don't always need saving!" Jack protested.

"Just from life or death situations, Aye?"

Jack sighed and rolled his eyes. Rapunzel had since told them the truth of what had really happened in the cave - no one else remembered the alternate version where he had died, but no one doubted her for a second.

She assured them that cutting her hair hadn't affected her healing powers and that it would grow back in a short amount of time, but in truth it was the fact that she had the power to reverse time with a song that he found a little unnerving.

She had offered to try and save Hiccup's leg, but the Autumn spirit had firmly turned her down – it was too risky he said. If she went back that far, then the tide of the battle could still easily have turned so that Pandora got hold of the key, and he couldn't let that happen.

After getting over the shock of how close Jack had been to death, Merida was quick to turn it about and use it as a teasing argument for how reckless and in need of their help he was. He liked to think it was her way of showing she cared.

"Yeah, yeah Merida. Just remember it's YOUR boyfriend that has a habit of tripping over his own legs – and that's when he had TWO of them."

"Hey, how did I get dragged into this?!" Hiccup said indignantly.

"Ok you two, no more bickering. Just admit you love each other already and say your goodbyes." Rapunzel said firmly.

She and Hiccup burst out laughing as their two friends turned bright red.

"Pfft – who would care about a hot head like her?" Jack muttered, eyes fixed on the sky.

"Love that snow-brain?! As if!" Merida huffed.

"Snow-brain?!"

"Yeah, because yer brain is full of mush."

Before Jack could continue their bickering Rapunzel sighed and threw her arms around Merida.

"I'll miss you Mer" she said, squeezing her around the neck tightly.

Merida's heated expression immediately softened and she hugged the girl back.

"You too Punz – but I'll see you for the passing over of Spring to Summer right?"

"Right" Rapunzel nodded happily.

"That goes for you too Hic" Jack jumped over to his friend and roughly tousled his hair affectionately. And maybe I can race you and Toothless again when I come to improve your Season?"

"Improve?" Hiccup raised a sardonic eyebrow.

"Improve, make better, you know what I mean" Jack waved a hand dismissively, turning away to hide a cheeky smirk.

"Ignore him Hiccup - I look forward to seeing some more of those beautiful leaves" Rapunzel said hugging him warmly.

"And I'll come visit sometime soon to see those spring flowers of your ok? Maybe I can even try my hand at painting some of them!" Hiccup grinned at her.

He swung himself back onto Toothless and held out his hand to Merida. Grabbing onto it, she leaped up behind him, and adjusted her bow and arrows before holding him tightly around the waist.

"Try and work on yer aim whilst we're gone, eh Jack? I plan on challenging yer to an archery competition when we next meet!"

"Count on it!" Jack grinned back. He turned to look at Toothless' head. "See you soon Toothless; look after that rider of yours for me won't you?"

The dragon purred in agreement, as Rapunzel stroked his nose and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead. "You're such a sweetheart – be careful in the skies alright?"

He nudged her playfully and she giggled before stepping out of the way and moving to stand next to Jack. The two of them held hands and waved as they watched their friends take off into the sky and soon fade to a black smudge against the blue, before vanishing completely.

Rapunzel sighed inwardly. She supposed it was about time she and Jack set off back to their own respective Seasons too. Though she could get there easily enough herself, she had jumped at Jack's offer to take her – anything to prolong their time together. She would be happy to stay with Jack forever if there wasn't so much work that needed doing in Spring – she had been away from it for far too long. She winced as she thought of all the work she had to catch up on.

Suddenly she felt Jack's hand tugging at hers as he pulled her across the snow.

"Where are we going?" she asked curiously.

"I want to show you something" he replied mysteriously and continued to lead her around the side of North's workshop.

They rounded the corner and came to a beautiful area of sheltered, flat snow. Smooth as silk, and protected from all sides by the workshop and glaciers, it was like a snowy sanctuary from the arctic wind. But that wasn't what made Rapunzel gasp in delight.

In the middle of the snowy blanket stood a tree made entirely out of ice. It was huge, and perfect in every detail; right down to the last leaf. By the base of the trunk were ice flowers – identical to the one Rapunzel had painted on her satchel, though these were crystal clear rather than golden.

The whole place sparkled and shone with rainbows as the light shone through the tree and bounced off the leaves. Before she knew what she was doing she was running underneath the branches and twirling in joy. Just complete and utter joy. She had never seen anything so beautiful in her life.

In the midst of her spinning she abruptly found herself face first against something hard; she bounced off it with a slight "oof!" and would have fallen into the snow if it were not for the firm hands that gripped her waist.

Looking up, she realised she had bumped into Jack and her palms were now splayed out against his chest. Her cheeks, already pink from the cold, went even pinker as one of his hands left her waist to gently cup her cheek.

"I've wanted to say something to you for a really long time now." He murmured in a low voice. The deep resonance from it sent shivers down Rapunzel's spine. There was a rougher quality to his voice at the moment that she had never heard before – something protective and raw.

"This is going to sound cheesy but I mean every word" he said sincerely. "For so many years my heart was frozen, but when I met you - it began to melt. Rapunzel, do you know what snow turns into when it melts?"

She blinked at him, frozen like a deer trapped in headlights. "Water?"

He smiled. "No, Spring"

And with that he leant down to kiss her, capturing her lips with his, both hands knitting tightly into her hair.

She gasped softly and clung to the front of his hoody – rustling up the material in her grip in order to pull him close.

Jack groaned as he felt Rapunzel return his kiss with a hungry one of her own, and soon her lips were red and swollen from his attention.

His hands moved from her head back down to her waist, where his thumbs swept up and down her sides. Leaving her lips for the moment, his mouth began to travel down to her neck, relishing in the taste of her soft skin.

Rapunzel felt her head drop back in bliss as a quiet moan escaped her, and she ran her hands through his tousled hair. His kisses were sending electric shocks all over her – his skin was cold, and yet every kiss felt so hot – her body was overloading with sensations.

She felt a desperate need for more – to be closer. She pulled his face back to hers and kissed him passionately, before jumping up and wrapping her legs around his waist.

Jack, unfortunately, was taken completely by surprise at her sudden enthusiasm, and barely had time to bring his hands up beneath her legs to support her before they both went toppling over into the snow.

Rolling over, Jack sat up quickly, looking over in concern to make sure she was ok.

But he need not have worried – she was laughing and giggling; her hair covered in snow.

He broke into a grin of his own and began to chuckle. "Do you always plan on knocking me over when we kiss?" he teased.

And so the two of them lay there, laughing - in their sanctuary of rainbows. And Jack was whole and happy.

Author's Note –

Oh my goodness it's finished! *cries* I'm happy to have completed it, but so sad it's over all the same. To those who have read and commented on my story, I would like to thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for making my first story a wonderful experience; I have loved every moment and have been properly bitten by the writing bug! I shall almost definitely be writing more drabbles about The Big Four, so feel free to send me in your prompts and ideas - I love a bit of inspiration!

I hope everyone is satisfied with the ending and that it doesn't feel too cheesy, but I'm a sucker for romance and happy endings – of course I couldn't leave Jack dead!

I always thought the lyrics in Rapunzel's song needed to be addressed, because the ones about 'make the clock reverse' had so much more potential to it rather than just healing.

Anyway, if you have any questions left un-answered about this story then please send them to me! Some stuff I haven't been able to answer before as it would give away things in up-coming chapters, but if you still have questions I am more than happy to answer them!

And a friendly reminder that your comments and reviews are honestly like a writers life force – nothing gives me more pleasure than to see other people have been reading the story I have spent time on and seeing what they thought of it. So if you have a moment to tell me what you thought I shall love you forever! I hope to see you in the future for more stories, but if not then I truly hope you enjoyed this one :)

NOTE – the line about Snow turning to spring is a line from the anime Fruits Basket – it just worked too well for their situation not to use it!