The Heavy Weight of Duty is a Rise of the Guardians story written by Adelaide_rain
. The story takes place in a fantasy world, where Jack is the royal prince of Lunanoff, the moon kingdom. The kingdom is ruled by the Moon King, Jack's father, along with Jack's older siblings. While Jack has a quite good life in, his life changes the day where his father tells him that he has to do his duty of prince. A peace treaty has been drawn up with the land of shadows, ruled by the Nightmare King. In order to save the kingdom, Jack is given to the Nightmare King as a courtesan.
While this story seems to be just this, the story is a lot more than this. The story is very well written, and the magic world created by the author is perfectly portrayed. One of strongest points are the characters. The author doesn't forget to give a role to each of character appearing in both movie and book canon, with many Character Development, especially when it comes to the two main characters. Furthermore, the author also added very likeable OCs. If readers love royalty stories, with actions and romance, they will find happiness in this story.
This story can be read on Fanfiction.net or AO3
Tropes include:
- Abusive Parent: According to Jack, his father was this. While he neglected and ignored each of his children, his treatment toward Jack was the worst, being emotionally abusive toward him. That's mainly due to the fact that the Moon Queen who was his wife, died by giving birth to Jack. His grudge was strong enough to be able to give Jack to the Nightmare King as a courtesan for a treaty in the first chapter, because "Jack is the least important" to him.
- Action Girl: Almost every female appearing in the story is this. The best examples are Onyx and Toothiana.
- A Father to His Men: Alden. It takes a more literal sense when you discover that Kal is Alden's son.
- Arranged Marriage: Well, Pitch and Jack aren't exactly married. However, as in Umbra, a courtesan is like a second consort to the king, it can still counts.
- Perfectly Arranged Marriage: Even if their relationship doesn't always shine, Pitch and Jack eventually warm up to each other. It's implied that Pitch's arranged marriage with his spouse the queen, turned into this too.
- Berserk Button: Pitch has a lot of them. However, God help you if you harm anyone he cares about.
- Beta Couple: Onyx and Amber. Kal and Rikka too, at least until Rikka is revealed to be The Mole, and Kal is killed by Lunanovians.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Pitch is usually kind and polite toward people in appearance, but Don't. you. dare. piss. him. OFF.
- Big Bad: Ben. His children, Kader and Riann, serve as Co-Dragons (although Riann is more of a Dragon-in-Chief, which made her more threatening than Kader.
- Big Brother Instinct: Kal can be viewed like this to Jack. Also, Jack himself gradually becomes this to Seraphina.
- Cool Big Sis: Amber toward Jack. Onyx can count as one too, toward both Pitch and Jack. Then, there is Tooth too, who is Jack's biological sister.
- Crazy Jealous Guy: Pitch's one of main flaws. He is extremely possessive and overprotective toward Jack. However, that's justified as his wife and his daughter died in mysterious circumstances.
- Dark and Troubled Past: For a lot of characters but the best examples are Pitch and Jack. Amber is hinted suffering from this too.
- Dark Is Not Evil: Pitch, Onyx and Jethryn are good people.
- Defrosting Ice King: Pitch thanks to Jack.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: The Moon King isn't really evil, more of a jerk actually. In any case, he really loved his wife, who was Jack's mother. Ben is also revealed to have a family, but if he cares for them is debatable
- Evil All Along: Benard. Rikka too, even though she isn't really evil.
- Heel–Face Turn: Kader. Rikka made one too
- An Ice Person: Jack, like his movie counterpart.
- I Choose to Stay: After spending more time in Umbra and coming to know Pitch more, Jack decides this.
- I Just Want to Be Loved: Similar to the movie, Jack always longed for a true family, while his father abused him and his siblings mostly ignored him. His true and only friend before being brought in Umbra was Jamie.
- I Love You Because I Can't Control You: Pitch said that his wife the queen never treated him as her king but as her equal, which made him fall in love with her. According to
Word of God, he loves Jack for this too. - Incompatible Orientation: Kal has a crush on Onyx at the beginning of the story. However, she doesn't return his feelings for this reason.
- Jerkass: Benard isn't only the Big Bad but he is also one of the greatest jerks too. His daughter Riann isn't better and is even worse than him. Subverted for Kader, who can be viewed as a Jerk with a Heart of Gold.
- Killed Off for Real: Kal.
- Like Brother and Sister: They are technically cousins, but Onyx and Pitch's relationship is like this. She is also his Morality Pet.
- Lipstick Lesbian: Amber. Onyx is more of a Butch Lesbian, but she can also be very feminine too.
- Love at First Sight: Averted. At the beginning, Pitch only liked Jack for his appearance, but wasn't really in love with him until he learns to know him better.
- Mama Bear: Karine, Pitch's spouse, was hinted to be this. When she and Seraphina had been captured by Lunanovians, Rikka said that she fought the best as she could against Riann and others enemies. And it leaded her to her death.
- Maternal Death? Blame the Child!: The reason why the Moon King neglects and abuses Jack.
- The Mole: Rikka worked for Benard's plans all along. She regrets it later however.
- Posthumous Character: the Moon Queen. Pitch's wife and daughter, Karine and Seraphina. However, subverted for this latter as she is revealed to be still alive.
- Power Limiter: Jack's ice powers are bound as they can be dangerous if Jack can't control them.
- Shipper on Deck: Amber, for Pitch and Jack.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: One of main conflicts between Kader and Riann. They both are trying to catch their father's attention on them. Jack too, although his relationship with his father is shattered.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: You can view Benard as one, but actually he acts more for his selfish goals than anything else. However, Kader and are definitely this. They want to create a new Selena for people, but working under Benard wasn't the best idea. They go better however.
- Your Days Are Numbered: For Jack. However, thanks to Ombric it goes better.
