Chapter 01 - Jackie
The Journey of a Believing Prince (A Tangled Guardian)
I told you guys I'd do it.
“My name is Jackson Flynn Fitzherbert, also known as Jackie for short. I am the older brother of Princess Emma Rose, the grandson of Adrianna and the late Jeremy Corona, the son of Queen Rapunzel and King Eugene, and the current Prince of the Kingdom of Corona.”
“I was born on May 7, here in my home Kingdom. As the Prince, I am obligated to someday take over the throne and be a King, just like how my parents and grandparents had done so. I have brown hair and dark brown eyes. Back when I was younger, people would always say I was a spitting image of my father. I didn’t mind, because it was true, and it meant I would someday grow up to be as handsome as him. And I mean, who wouldn’t want that?”
“Uh, I am currently 17 years old, and I’ve changed quite a lot in the past decade. Now that I’m older, and have grown remarkably in many aspects, I am now ‘responsible’ enough to go on my own adventure and to prove that Legends exist. Why did I wait so long? I made a deal with the rest of my family that I wouldn’t journey unless I was seventeen and take all of those stupid mannerism lessons. Oh, and one more other thing they made part of the deal.”
“I had to bring Emma with me.”
“I know what you’re thinking. Why do I have to take my cute, adorable, and innocent baby sister on a dangerous adventure that will most likely involve vicious dragons, bloodthirsty monsters, ghosts, glitches, vampires, and bad guys?! That is too much to take for a seven year old.
“Jack, I am not seven years old.”
“Huh? You’re not? Then how old are you?”
“I’m 12 for pete’s sakes.”
“Whoa really? You don’t look twelve. How come I never see you grow taller?”
“Maybe because you’ve grown just as much as I have?”
“Hm, true, true. Hey wait, what are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be HERE. I’m trying to narrate my story, Emma.
“Narrate? Jack, you’re just standing in one of the empty rooms of the castle with the Kingdom’s orchestral group. Good morning guys.”
“Good morning, Princess Rose.”
“Guys... just Emma is fine, thank you.”
“Ugh, just tell me why you’re here.”
“Uhm, Mom and Dad are calling us. We have a Family meeting to discuss about our adventure, remember?”
“Oh right! Silly me. Thanks sis!”
“No problem, Jack.”
“It’s Jackie. Take five, guys!” taking off the ear muffs and putting down the hollowed cone, Jackie stretched his arms and legs as well as dismiss the Orchestra he had with him. The group stood up all together, bowed, and then began leaving the room through a different door. Jackie walked over and beside his younger sister, and together they walked out.
~!~
“Hey, are you excited, Emma?” the older brunette asked excitedly while they strolled their way to the throne room where both their parents were waiting at. Emma, who was reading a small book, stopped to look at him.
“Well, actually, I—”
“NO WAIT, DON’T ANSWER THAT. I REMEMBERED I DON’T WANT YOU TO COME WITH ME.” he cut her up, off, arms now folded and a pout going on his face. Emma smiled and shut her small book. “I don’t even know why you would add that to the deal. You’re only seven; you can’t journey when you’re seven, heck I wasn’t allowed to journey when I was seven and look at you!”
“Again, I am twelve. And the only reason you weren’t allowed to go was because you had no one to go with. But for me,” she patted his bulky arm. “I have my big, tough, brother to protect me.”
“What even is your goal anyway? My goal is to meet all the Legends in my Spirit Journal. What’s yours?” Emma shrugged at the question and then nodded her head in acknowledgement at two maids who bowed to both of them when they passed.
“I don’t know actually.” She admitted and Jackie threw his arms up in the air.
“THEN WHY DID YOU MAKE THE DEAL THAT I HAD TO BRING YOU WITH ME?!” he shouted with exasperation, and a servant turned from the corner to see what the commotion was. Emma raised her hand to show him she would handle things.
“Manners, Jack. A Prince or Princess does not raise his or her voice without reason. Lesson 4.” Jackie grunted, and the both of them continued with voices to a minimum level.
“But seriously speaking, Emma.” She looked at him and saw that his expression did hold seriousness. “I don’t want you to come with me. Not because I don’t want your company during our travel, but because you might get hurt. You’re still young, and you’re still my baby sister. I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything were to happen to you.”
The young girl was silenced, and she looked like she was in deep thinking. Then she looped her arm around his and stood by his side closer. “I’m lucky to have a brother who cares. I really am. But… I made my decision, Jack. I’m going to travel with you.”
“But why? Why do you have to do that?”
“Because… I need to see that world, okay?” she sighed and smiled meekly. “I’ve been cooped up in this castle for twelve years. I never once left, and going to the gardens didn’t count. Every morning I had this big schedule lined up to prepare myself as a Princess, and maybe future Queen if you ever decided not to be the next heir, though I highly doubt that. And you… you were different. Whenever you would wake up in the morning, you’d sneak off and go riding with Adagio and then you’d go to the City and you’d just have fun and… I guess I was just jealous.”
They reached the grand doors of the throne room, and the guards were about to announce their arrival when Jackie raised his hands. “Could you just… give us one more moment?”
“Anything you wish, Prince Jackson.”
He nodded at them then looked over to his younger sibling. “If you wanted to go out so badly, why didn’t you? It wasn’t exactly illegal to go to the City or anything.”
“Yeah, I know that. Whether or not it was allowed wasn’t the problem, Jack. It was… the confidence.” Jackie widened his eyes slightly. Her? His sister? Not confident? Now that didn’t sound right.
“What are you talking about? You have a lot of confidence, Emma. You’re one of the bravest people I know!” he tried to make her smile, and had accomplished that small feat when her lips curled up. “Remember a year ago when we were to give away that speech? I was a babbling mess until you came along! And that time when I had to dance with the Princess of Celestia. I was such an awkward ball of yarn that you had to go substitute me and be her partner instead!”
Emma giggled. “Awkward ball of yarn?”
“You know I use words that seem suited to my vocabulary.”
“True, true.” She nodded. Then after a while of staying quiet she spoke up again. “I’m still going through with this, you know.”
“Really?” the older one frowned, and the female brunette patted his hand. “I feel as if you have another reason for coming.”
“Yeah. And that’s to be with you.” She got on her toes to bop her brother on the nose. He responded with playfully grabbing her, lifting her up, and then spun her around. Their little moment was filled with such love, joy, and sincere laughter that anyone who should see this would go ‘aw’.
“Aww.” The two guards who stood by the doors chimed together, making the two siblings stop. They immediately resumed their serious and blank positions and faces, only to make Jackie and Emma laugh once more.
“Heh.” Jackie chuckled one more time before placing his sister to the ground. They looked at each other, their faces reflected against both of their pupils. “You ready?”
“Only if you are.”
And together, they entered the room.
“Presenting, Prince Jackson and Princess Rose.”