The only thing I remembered upon waking up was the words 'Spirit of Change'.

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The coughing fit that woke me up was terrible. I was quite literally choking on the ashes of my old life, though at the time, I thought it was only a very weird amount of dust. I even started believing that I would die if I didn't stop soon. Lucky though, it subsided fairly quickly.

I calmed myself down a bit before I started to wonder where I was. When I looked around, I couldn't see anything but ocean and black and gray ash.

It wasn't too hard to recognize that I was on the burnt remains of a ship. I had seen so many of them over my years that it wasn't usually a surprise anymore, this time though, I was more than a little freaked out.

"Where am I?! What happened?! What's going on!?" I knew there wasn't anyone around, hell, the remains of the ship was only big enough for me and me alone. Still, yelling made me feel better. If only slightly.

What surprised me was when I was actually answered.

"Calm down little spirit."

I will admit that I about climbed up a wall at that one. I actually almost fell into the ocean, had a breeze not pushed my weightless form into balance.

"Don't overreact little one." The airy giggle gave me pause and for a moment, I actually stopped and listened. If this voice was willing to give me answers, whether or not I believed it could wait.

"It's good that you are awake now Little one. I was beginning to believe you wouldn't awaken until winter fell."

"Just great." I said to myself, flopping down on the burnt wood. "I'm nuts. Yup. I flew the coop, lost my mind, lost my marbles."

"Don't be like that Little one. If you would like I will answer your questions."

I smiled a bit ironically as I shook my head. "Of course. Why not? Okay. First question. Where I am?"

"You are in the middle of the ocean my child. You were set to sea on a single boat that was set aflame in a so-called 'Viking's Farewell'."

The voice spoke very matter-of-factly, but suddenly it was the only things I could understand.

"A Viking's Funeral? Why would I be set to sea in a Viking's Funeral? That's only for Heroes who have died in battle. Did I die in battle?" I was being sarcastic honestly, I didn't expect the answer that the disembodied voice gave me.

"Yes you did."

I actually did fall into the ocean that time.

I was confused beyond belief, also pissed off but don't let the Woman in the sun hear that. She's nice when she wants to be but she isn't the Woman in the Sun for nothing.

"I'm dead?!" I was shouting now. Not really believing a word of the voice, but something in my gut told me it wasn't lying.

"Yes Little one. You are a Spirit."

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(Tell them where Toothless was.)

Oh yeah! Toothless was back at the Village with Astrid and my father. I remember him coming for me though. Isn't he the one that flew to the ocean to get me?

(Yes he is. He heard your call for help.)

Really? He never told me that.

(He probably doesn't remember. He wasn't like you Hiccup, he doesn't have any memories from before.)

Oh…yeah…that's right. Am I going to have to tell them about that too?

(Yeah. It's a big part of the story, don't you think?)

But it wasn't their fault. They were trying to save Toothless from grief.

(But that's not what you believed was it? Wasn't their actions why you left the Village in the first place?)

…Okay. So we have to tell them…

(Yes we do. But that can wait. Tell them what happened when Toothless took you back to Berk.)

Okay…

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I began to scream at the voice, calling it a liar, anger and desperation filling my bones when my stomach tightened. Just then, the very familiar roar of my dragon filled my ears.

"Toothless!" I called looking around for the Night Fury. Toothless wasn't too far off and he spotted me instantly.

When he rushed towards me, I lifted my arm, getting ready to hop on the dragon express. I'll never forget what the woman in the sun told me before I flew away.

"Be careful Little one. Not everyone is like your friend. Not everyone believes."

I ignored her at the time. Believing that if Toothless could see me, could touch me, than I must be alive. The voice must have been wrong. It had to be.

But it wasn't. I realized this when we landed on Berk.

The first person I saw was Snotlout.

He was never the nicest person. Hell, when I was younger he played the 'Ignore useless Hiccup' game for a full month before he started the 'Push Useless Hiccup in the mud' game.

So I wasn't worried when he couldn't see me, even when he looked up and greeted Toothless.

"Hey Toothless…" He sounded different to me. Deflated somehow, lifeless almost, but I couldn't understand why until I dismounted Toothless and made my way towards him as he made his way towards toothless.

My heart stopped the moment my form came into contact with his.

I passed right through him…

Suddenly I couldn't breathe. It was a struggle to get air into my lungs as my hands touched every part of my body. I was solid, I could feel my limbs, my arms, my chest, I was solid. I was…so why?

Toothless looked past Snotlout at me, his eyes confused and his tongue lollying out. When Snotlout raised a hand to touch my dragon, Toothless's eyes narrowed, his teeth bared as he growled. Roaring in Snotlout's face, Toothless dashed to my side, hiding behind me.

I could tell the other boy was terrified. He stumbled his steps and almost fell when he attempted to run away, but I was past caring.

I needed to find Astrid, I needed to find my father. They wouldn't play this game with me, wouldn't pretend and prank me like Snotlout.

I made my way to my house with Toothless hot on my heals.

"Dad! Dad!" I yelled as I pushed my way past the front door and into the little wood house he had built with his own hands. Stoic the vast was in my room, sitting on my bed holding my journal in his hands.

"Dad!" I called out, but he acted as if he didn't hear me. "Dad! Look at me! Dad!"

"Oh Hiccup…" Stoic pressed the journal to his forehead, his eyes squeezed shut tight. He looked so weak to me, so broken and I was unnerved. "I'm sorry son…I didn't believe in you. I didn't stop to listen to you. I'm so sorry my boy." He was crying. The greatest Viking in Berk was crying and my heart hammered in my ears.

"Dad, I'm here." My voice broke, I heard it but I didn't stop talking. Taking slow and easy steps toward the man. "Dad please, you can listen now. You can believe in me now, dad…come on, just, look up…"

He did. His head raised and his eyes flew to the door. He was looking at me. He actually saw me!

"Dad!" I began to run to him when he rose from the bed and started walking towards me.

Relief filled my chest and I smiled in hope. I spread my arms wide to hug my dad, but when he came up to me, he didn't stop.

Again, just like Snotlout, I passed right through my father and the very air I breathed went with him.

I fell to the ground as I heard Toothless whine at the door.

"I know you tried. You believed in him and were there for him when I wasn't. Thank you Night Fury." I heard my dad say right before Toothless growled again.

Suddenly the black/blue mass of my Dragon was crouched in front of me, hiding behind me.

"Dragon?"

I looked back to see confusion and apprehension fill my father's face. He was weary of Toothless, I knew he was. No matter why Dragon's did what they did, they had been our enemies for years. It would take more than one battle to change the mind of Stoic the Vast. Suddenly, I realized I had to get out of the house. If Toothless continued to act like this towards my dad, Stoic wouldn't feel guilt for killing him.

"Come on buddy!" I said as I climbed Toothless's back. We flew out the window and I didn't look back. I knew if I did, I would hope again.

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(Do you want to stop?)

I don't really know…They aren't very good memories are they?

(No, but it's only the beginning. They are only memories. You aren't there anymore.)

Yeah I know. Just give me a little while. I can continue.

(Alright. We can take a break. I don't think anyone would mind giving you some time.)

Thanks. Hey, do you know where Jack is?

(You mean the guy you called Jerk-face Frost?)

Yeah. I know he doesn't remember me, but now that I know he used to me my Jackson…I don't know. You know what, this walk down memory lane is making me home sick. Just tell me where Jack is okay?

(He's in his dorm. Are you gonna take Toothless with you?)

No. Let him stay here with you.

(Alright. Don't take too long boy, it's rude to make people wait.)

Yeah yeah, I know.