Chapter Text
Jack loved pirates.
Which was odd for a young prince such as himself to like. But he found pirates fascinating, especially when his mother told amazing stories about old sea legends. His mother, Queen Sarah, would tell 7-year-old Jack all about pirates and the dangerous expeditions they went on. She told them with such emotion that had Jack enraptured. The little prince couldn't go to bed without a pirate story every night.
Sarah was finishing up a story about the great pirate captain who had just escaped from the clutches of a sea kraken. Once the story came to an end, Sarah pulled the blankets over Jack's body and tucked him into bed.
"Alright, dear. Time for bed now", the queen spoke softly.
Jack frowned, his nose wrinkling. "But Mama, can't you tell one more story? Please?"
Sarah chuckled. "One story is enough, Jack. I'll tell you more tomorrow. How about that?"
This made Jack grin. "Okay, Mama."
Sarah hummed sweetly and kissed her son's forehead goodnight. Then, once Jack closed his eyes and fell asleep, Sarah left the room. As she closed the door behind her, her husband King Matthew stood on the other side of the long hallway.
"Don't tell me you told Jack another one of those silly pirate stories", Matthew groaned in slight annoyance.
"Oh, chin up, darling. It's just a harmless story. And Jack loves pirate stories. It's the only kind he'll listen to", Sarah said in a calm voice.
Matthew pinched his brow. "Sarah, pirates are nothing but foul beings with selfish hearts. All they care about is their stupid treasures."
Sarah walked over to Matthew and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Some pirates are selfish, yes. But I believe that there are pirates with good hearts too."
Matthew scoffed a laugh. "And you've seen good pirates before?"
Sarah flashed her eyebrows at her husband, making him bit his lip. Then Matthew sighed. "Maybe. But the only pirates we've seen so far are dangerous. I just don't want our son to encounter one should it come to a pirate raid", the king spoke quietly.
Sarah patted Matthew's shoulder gently. "Jack will be fine. He'll run into no danger."
"I know you're right. He'll be safe, especially when he marries a fine princess when he's grown into a man", Matthew explained.
Sarah's brown eyes widened at that. "You're thinking about marriage for our son already?"
"Well, we have to be prepared, don't we? I already found a kingdom in Arendelle, and they have a daughter near the same age as Jack. She'll be the perfect match for him, and they will rule their own kingdom together", Matthew explained a bit eagerly.
"Aren't you getting ahead of yourself, darling? Jack is only 7", Sarah said with some concern in her voice.
Matthew kissed Sarah's temple sweetly. "Nonsense, dear. It's the perfect arrangement. Everything will be perfect."
Sarah crossed her arms. "For Jack, or for you?"
Matthew chuckled. "For Jack, of course. This is for him, after all."
The king then took his wife's hands in his own. "It'll be alright, I promise Sarah."
Sarah looked into Matthew's blue eyes, the same eyes her little boy had. She knew her husband meant well, but well he could be a bit overprotective at times. But maybe Jack getting married to the princess of Arendelle would protect them all. Most importantly, a marriage would keep Jack safe. That was all Sarah cared about.
So, Sarah sighed and smiled at Matthew. "Okay. You're right. I'll give it a chance. As long as it keeps Jack safe."
Matthew smiled back at his wife and kissed her lips. "For Jack."
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12 years later...
Jack brushed his silver white hair with his fuzzy hairbrush in front of his drawer mirror. After ten slow and long strokes, he set the hairbrush down. He turned his head left and right, making sure his hair looked neat enough. Jack's hair was a bit stubborn, but as long as it looked neat enough for his parents, then it was fine.
Jack sighed quietly and smoothed down his light blue shirt fit for a prince. His shirt was held together by four sliver buttons. The bottom of his shirt was tucked into his white clean pants. He wore brown boots to go along with the outfit. The sleeves of his shirt went down to his wrists.
Finally, Jack cleared his throat and exited his bedroom to go see his parents, who were waiting for him in the main throne room.
His father had told him that they had some wonderful news to tell him, and Jack wondered what the news could be about. He knew he'd have to be king one day, but he wasn't sure if that was what the news was about.
Once Jack pushed the doors to the throne room open, he was greeted by his parents, who sat in their thrones.
"There he is! Took you long enough", Matthew joked.
Jack tsked playfully. "I was brushing my hair. Had to make sure I looked like the prince I am", he joked back.
"And good thing you did, because you're gonna need it", Matthew said, smoothing his brown mustache.
Jack raised a curious brow at his father. "Oh?"
Matthew turned to Sarah and nodded. The queen looked a bit hesitant at first, but she gave Jack a small smile.
"Jack, your father and I have good news. We have found you a wife", she spoke slowly.
Jack's blue eyes widened in shock. "W-what?", he stuttered.
"Isn't that great, son? You and Elsa will be married and will rule this kingdom together side by side", Matthew chirped, grinning happily.
"But I don't even know who Elsa is", Jack rebutted.
Sarah got up from her throne and walked over to her son. "This was your father's idea, but I think this marriage will be good for you."
"You mean good for the kingdom", Jack gritted.
Sarah's eyebrows fell into a sad expression. "Jack, we only want what's best for you, really. I know it's sudden, but-"
"I'm not getting married. I just turned 19", Jack tried to reason with his mother.
Matthew frowned. "Jack, this is good news. You should be happy about this."
Jack glared at his father. "I'm going back to my room."
As Jack turned to leave, Sarah tried to go after him, but Matthew quickly got up from his throne and wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders.
"Let him be, Sarah. He'll come around", Matthew whispered.
Sarah gave her husband a weary glare, but she bit her lip and nodded. Jack was upset now, but maybe he'll come around.
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Two hours later, a maid had entered Jack's bedroom and told him that Princess Elsa had arrived. Matthew wanted Jack to come meet her.
As Jack entered the ball room, he found the princess there. She has white hair similar to Jack's, and her eyes were a darker blue than his eyes. Her hair was fixed into a neat braid that rested on her left shoulder. She wore a magnificent light blue dress that sparkled under the chandelier's lights.
"You must be Prince Jack", the princess spoke softly.
Jack nodded politely. "And you must be Princess Elsa."
Elsa hummed. "Indeed. It's nice to meet you."
Jack fiddled with his hands. "So, uh... we're supposed to get married soon."
Elsa nodded, glancing at the floor. "Yes. I'm not too happy about it, though."
Jack's eyes widened slightly. "Really?"
"No. You see, I don't... find men appealing. I'm already in love with someone back home", Elsa explained quietly.
"Who, may I ask?", Jack wondered.
"A village girl named Honeymaren. We've secretly been dating for a year now, but my parents don't know. Now I'm forced into a marriage", Elsa answered in a small voice, hinted with sadness.
Jack sighed out of his nose quietly. "I am too. I don't really care much for women either to be frank."
"Oh, that's a relief. I was worried that I'd hurt your feelings", Elsa chuckled.
Jack huffed a laugh as well. "No worries. So, Honeymaren? Where is she now?"
Elsa put her hands in front of her stomach in a proper manner. "She came here to see my wedding."
Jack cringed. "Yikes."
"Yeah. She has been trying to be supportive, but I know she's upset about it", Elsa spoke softly.
"Well, you don't need to worry and neither does Honeymaren. I'm running away", Jack said flatly.
Elsa blinked. "Running away? Where on Earth would you run off to?", she wondered curiously.
Jack shrugged. "I don't know. But I'll think of something on the way."
Elsa's brows knitted in slight concern. "But wouldn't your parents know that's you're missing?"
"Maybe, yeah. But they should have thought of that before putting me in a forced marriage", Jack answered a bit coldly.
Elsa hummed, nodding slowly. "I understand. I'm not too happy with my parents either."
Jack turned his back on Elsa and waved good-bye. "Well, I'll be off now. If I ever see you again, I'll say hi."
Elsa waved back. "Good-bye, Jack. And good luck too."
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It was at the dead of night when Jack snuck out of the castle. He changed out of his princely clothes and into a simpler look. He put on a loose blue shirt with sleeves that went down to his elbows. He wore light brown pants that went down to his ankles. He decided to keep the brown boots for it was his favorite pair to wear.
Jack did his best sneaking around the village as to not be spotted by any villagers that may recognize him. Now he needed to find out where he would run away to.
He did a double take when he spotted a large black ship resting on the kingdom's port. Jack remembered his mother telling him pirate stories and how their ships were the largest of the bunch. And what Jack was looking at was definitely a pirate ship.
Jack had always wanted to be a pirate ever since he was a child. Now, he had an opportunity and he wouldn't miss it.
So, the prince snuck onto the pirate ship, not knowing what he was getting himself into.