TITLE: THE IMMORTALITY OF LOVE
Chapter 2: FIVE YEARS
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"Hey, Jack!"
Before Jack could turn towards the source of the voice, a bone-crushing hug lifted him in the air.
"Agh!" he groaned unable to breathe.
"Hahah!" North laughed putting the boy back on the ground, "I took you by surprise this time!"
Jack chuckled. It was rare for him to get caught off guard, but this time he didn't expect North's visit at all.
"How are you, North? What brings you here?" the white-haired boy asked tucking a hand in his pocket.
Apparently Jack sensed that this was not just a visit, and he had reasons, North looked more cheerful than usual.
The older one decided to speak bluntly.
"I have a message from Man in Moon" he informed, "there is big emergency in the village of Arendelle, from Ice Kingdom."
"Strange" Jack frowned in confusion "that place didn't shine red." He looked up at the huge globe of the main hall, where red lights used to appear in places where the help of the guardians was needed.
"It is a special case" North said smiling.
Jack looked at him suspiciously.
"If it's an emergency, why are you so happy?"
North was a bit startled to hear the question.
Uh oh, he shouldn't have been so obvious... but, what could he do? He was Santa Claus! If he was happy, he just showed his happiness! He couldn't contain it! The belly tickled!
"Well, it's because ..." he looked around trying to find the answer in his mind, "I shouldn't lie, that's bad" he thought, he shouldn't set a bad example for children, right? "Because I have reasons to be happy!"
Oh yes, he was really smart.
"..."
"..."
"And those reasons are...?"
Oh no, Jack was really cruel.
"Well ..."
"..."
"It's a surprise!"
Jack continued to stare suspiciously, but then just laughed and decided to drop it. He'll find out anyway.
"And what exactly is the emergency?" he saw how North breathed relieved at the change of subject.
"It will be explained in detail when you get there."
"But what if there is another problem somewhere else?" Jack asked looking up at the globe again.
"You know, as always. Bunny, Tooth, Sandman and I will take care of that" North said grinning.
Jack couldn't help feeling suspicion about that grin… it was one of those smiles they seemed to get when they want to put you under the mistletoe with someone else to see you kissing.
He preferred not to think about it.
"Okay, I'm going to tell Merida and Rapunzel and go to the Ice Kingdom immediately" he held his staff firmly to fly and go find their partners.
"I'll take you in the sled to get there quickly" North offered stopping Jack's intentions to take flight for a moment, "When we arrive, the queen will receive us" Jack nodded in agreement, "I'll be waiting at the entrance of the Palace then" he said heading towards the door.
"Hey, North", the taller one turned to Jack and was a little surprised and confused to see the huge difference in the face of the boy "You..." Jack lowered his eyes before continuing the question "You didn't know anything about Hiccup recently, did you?
"..." North's expression also saddened a little, "Are you still looking for him?"
"Of course we are" he said firmly.
"..." North watched in silence. He could see the anguish and sadness in those blue eyes.
It had been five years since Hiccup disappeared...
/*/ Flash Back /*/
"You don't want to eat yet?" Rapunzel asked Jack after telling Phil what she wanted for dinner.
"No, thanks" Jack said. He was sitting on one of the shelves, holding a book in his hands, which he watched from all angles with great interest and curiosity, as if searching for the way to open it, "I'm not hungry yet."
"But maybe you'll be hungry when the food is ready, you should order something"
"Hiccup said that we don't have to wait for him for dinner." Merida said leaning on one of the desks in the room.
"Pfft, who says I'm waiting for him? I'm not hungry" Jack said again as if he didn't care, then smiled victorious when he managed to open the insurance of the book.
"What are you doing?" the redhead asked with accusing eyes.
When Jack opened the book and his eyes fell on the pages, his smile faded and wrinkled his brow feeling a little confused and frustrated. He began to turn the book as if looking for the correct angle.
"I'm reading Hiccup's diary" he replied without taking his eyes from the book.
"Really?", Merida smiled interested, "what does it say?"
"You shouldn't do that, Jack" Rapunzel said, even though she felt really curious too… but reading someone else's diary wasn't right… right?
The white-haired ignored her.
"I don't understand what it says, he uses a rare writing." he complained, trying to decipher what the yellow pages were saying, "Do you understand this, Merida?" He came flying at his companion and gave her the book.
"Let's see" Merida took it.
Rapunzel snorted audibly seeing she was being ignored.
"Oh come on, Rapunzel, Hiccup is a guy" Merida said grinning at the disapproval on the face of the blonde. "I don't think that he writes cheesy and embarrassing things that he doesn't want us to see" she laughed, and then started to read what was in the book, "oh, wow!" she exclaimed in surprise.
"What?" Jack asked anxious, "what does it say?"
"It says he loves me and he'll ask me for marriage."
"..."
"..."
"Hahahahah!"
"Why are you laughing?" Merida grumbled at the laugh of the white-haired boy. That was not the reaction she expected.
"Hiccup would never ask you for marriage, he doesn't want you to slice him into pieces. Besides, you're very irritating."
"Look who's talking!"
"Does it really say that?" Rapunzel asked.
"No, the truth is that I don't understand his writing either" the redhead confessed smiling.
The blonde sighed with excitement on her face.
"I think Hiccup has a secret love and meets her secretly" Rapunzel said surprising the other two "And I would want to know her! She must be a very special girl."
"Pfft, why would he keep it as a secret?" Jack questioned.
"Because that makes it interesting" Merida said smirking.
"Of course not, it's silly to hide something when there is no need to hide it. It makes no sense" he refuted.
"What else would be then?" the blonde asked.
"I don't know, but apparently you two don't care to know."
"We all left the palace to hang out. I go to practice archery and ride with Angus; Rapunzel goes to visit towns and meet the people, and you spend a lot of time playing with the children. It's not rare Hiccup also has a hobby" Merida said with a shrug.
"Everyone here knows about each others hobbies, but we don't know anything about him" Jack insisted.
"Yes, and I'm surprised you haven't followed him yet to see where he goes every afternoon" the redhead said looking at him suspiciously.
"..." Jack kept in silence for a moment before responding "I'm waiting for him to say it."
"You? Waiting patiently for something?" Merida asked smiling with total disbelief, "That's odd coming from you."
"Why don't you ever say anything? Doesn't it bother you that he keeps hiding things?"
"You distrust him?" the blonde ventured to ask.
"I don't distrust him; it's him who seems to distrust us."
"Well, you're not trustworthy" Merida said crossing her arms and grimacing, "what confidence can he have if you take what you think is his diary?"
"You wanted to read it, too" Jack reminded smirking, making Merida laugh and stick her tongue out playfully.
"That's not a diary, I guess they're his notes" Rapunzel said.
"Whatever it is, he should talk to us about it" the white-haired snorted.
"There is nothing wrong with having a secret love" the redhead held with a shrug.
"I don't think he has a secret love" the white-haired said grimacing.
"I do think so" Merida said leaning on a counter, just to see the irritation in the boy's face "Lately I've noticed him very thoughtful, he must be thinking of his girlfriend all the time."
"That's very romantic" the blonde sighed dreamily "It would be nice to have someone who thinks of you all the time ..."
"..." Jack was gazing at them in silence.
"You think it's a girl we know?" Merida asked Rapunzel, and now both were involved in the conversation, leaving Jack out.
"No, it must be someone unknown to us. What do you think she looks like?"
"I don't know... I'm not sure about knowing Hiccup's tastes. But I think she would have black hair."
"..." Jack was still gazing at them in silence.
"You think so?"
"Maybe she's older than him, that's why he's taking a little long to introduce us."
"I hope she's a good person."
"..." Jack was STILL gazing at them in silence...
"I hope they get married and-"
"Where is the rule book of the guardians?"
Jack's sudden question interrupted the lovely conversation, making the two girls look at him bewildered.
"Why do you want that giant book? Are you going to break his head with it when he arrives?" Merida asked raising an eyebrow.
"I want to read it."
"..."
"..."
Ok, now they were looking at him like he'd grown another head.
"Jack, are you feeling okay?" Rapunzel asked worried.
"Phil" Jack ignored the question and went to find Phil, who came to his call quickly "can you give me the rule book?" And then the Yeti, who was very confused, directed him to the place where the huge book was.
"No, he's not feeling ok" the redhead concluded.
A couple of hours later, dinner was served, and the girls sat down to eat. It was then when Hiccup arrived and it ended up in...
"Why do I bother? What would you know? You're Mr. Popularity." Hiccup mentioned with disdain. "You'd never understand."
Jack was surprised to hear that and felt his chest hurt. He'd never understand? HE'D NEVER UNDERSTAND? Hiccup was the one who didn't understand anything! What did he know about his feelings? Nothing! What did he know about all that he had gone through before being a guardian? Nothing! Hiccup knew nothing!
He looked at him furious.
"You know what? You're right, you're useless, I don't even know why you're here."
Jack clenched his fists to see Hiccup's hurt expression and deeply regretted having said that, that was not true...
But he continued to hold the glare; his pride wouldn't let him recognize the error of his words aloud.
Hiccup looked defiant and left the room.
"Hiccup" Rapunzel called and then Merida, but the brunet didn't stop.
Merida turned to Jack looking furious.
"You crossed the line, Jack."
"He asked for it!" Jack said, also leaving the room.
"Geez, they are idiots" the redhead mumbled.
.
The girls waited a couple of hours for the atmosphere to calm down, and then decided to go talk to Jack.
"Jack?" Rapunzel called entering one of the rooms of the palace.
Jack was sitting facing the huge window.
"What?" the boy asked without looking at her. Rapunzel came to where he was.
"Jack, you have to understand Hiccup, it's not easy for him."
"Why is he the victim?" Jack muttered dissatisfied.
"He hasn't found his talent and he feels he's being left behind, what would you do in his place?" she tried to make him understand.
"I'd wait" he responded almost immediately, "No one is pressuring him. He is the youngest of us, it's normal to take longer to find his special ability."
"You should go talk to him" Merida said coming in the room.
"To what? Apologize?" With his tone, he hinted that he wouldn't do that, "It's not my fault, he was the one who kept saying he was useless, you heard him."
He didn't think it was his fault, on the contrary, he had tried to convince Hiccup that he wasn't useless, but that scrawny viking had to be stubborn.
"You should know that what you said would hurt him", Rapunzel spoke.
"How would I know? He never tells me anything."
"That's because men think that talking is for girls" Merida said rolling her eyes, "Men are idiots but it's natural, you can't blame him for that."
"And it's not my fault that he prefers that lizard over us" the boy complained.
Merida crossed her arms and looked at him skeptically.
"I can't believe you're jealous of a pet"
"What? I'm not jealous!"
"Mmh…" she made a thoughtful pose "You were jealous thinking it was a girl that Hiccup was meeting every afternoon, weren't you?" the redhead figured smirking .
"I just wanted him to tell us where he was going."
"Yeah, sure."
Jack snorted dissident to the sarcastic tone of the girl.
"Cut it out, Merida, it's not funny."
"You're wrong, it is."
Rapunzel decided to intervene.
"Sometimes guys get jealous when their best friends are hanging out with someone else, but you shouldn't worry, Jack, you know you'll always be Hiccup's best friend" she told him conciliatory.
"I'm not jealous!"
Merida looked at him sternly.
"Go talk to him."
Jack snorted surrendered. How could he win an argument against two women?
After that and having considered things, Jack went to Hiccup's room.
"Hey, midget" he spoke from outside the closed door. He used to enter Hiccup's room without saying anything, but this time he thought it was better not to speak face to face at the moment; it would be more difficult "Merida and Rapunzel say they want to meet your lizard. You know girls like petting animals" he chuckled a little.
No reply came from Hiccup's room.
Jack stopped smiling and sighed.
"Hiccup, I'm sorry for what I said, I don't think you're useless" he confessed honestly, "If you want to keep that dragon, it's ok, and if you take it as your special talent it's ok too. If that dragon dies you can train another, right? So, there's no problem."
There was no response.
"Hiccup ..."
He called, and again the only thing he got was silence.
"Hey, at least answer me" he demanded beginning to get irritated, "I'm apologizing so stop being a drama queen."
Silence...
Okay, he had lost his patience.
"Hey, I'm talk–"
Jack tried to open the door and found it was locked.
No matter if he ruined the door, he hold his staff and covered the door lock in ice, freezing it and breaking it.
Then he opened the door and came in the room.
He looked around.
No one.
"Hiccup ...?"
.
.
Merida and Rapunzel, who were waiting in the main room, saw Jack again after a moment.
"Where's Hiccup?" Merida asked. It was assumed that Jack was going to be back with Hiccup and things already solved.
"I don't know" the white-haired said with a shrug "He's not in his room" he reported carefree as he leaned on the wall.
"What?"
"Where could he be?" Rapunzel wondered worried.
"Don't worry, surely he is playing around with his dragon and sulking a little, he will be back soon" the boy said.
*Five hours later...*
"I think he sulked enough" Merida said standing after the waiting so long. His companions did the same.
"Okay, let's go to look for him" Jack said holding his staff firmly, "Whoever finds him, hits him in the head."
"I'll get Angus!"
"I'll look around the zone" Rapunzel said before leaving.
*Several hours later... *
"Did you find him?" Merida asked approaching Rapunzel, who was at the entrance of the Palace.
"No" she denied tired.
"Me neither" the redhead said frustrated "Where's Jack?"
"He hasn't returned yet" the blonde said.
"We must continue looking."
Rapunzel nodded and both continued their search.
.
.
"Are you sure he is not here?"
Stoick looked at Jack in confusion, surprise and some fear.
"I'm sorry, he's not here. He came to visit me in the afternoon and then went to the palace. Is something wrong?"
"Uhm... " Jack felt awkward, he didn't want to worry the man unnecessarily, "no, well... I don't know, I don't think there's anything wrong, he must be somewhere in a forest playing with his new pet."
"Hiccup has a pet?"
Jack was about to explain, but then remembered how much Vikings hated dragons.
"Yes ... it's a ... a squirrel."
"A squirrel?" he made a face as if he actually can imagine Hiccup playing with a squirrel.
"Now I have to go" he dismissed quickly and started to fly "see you then, sir."
"Please, let me know when you find him" Stoick said, who was left with a worried face.
And he continued looking for him...
/ * / End of Flashback / * /
"I never knew anything about him again" Jack muttered looking down "It's like he vanished completely" he ran a hand through his white hair in frustration "It doesn't make any sense."
"He must be fine." North said putting a hand on his shoulder.
"No, he can't be fine" the boy flatly refused, "If he were, he would come back."
"Then he must be dead."
Jack was shocked to hear that.
"What? He can't die! He's immortal!" he knew North was just joking, but even the thought of it wasn't funny.
"We can't die but we can be destroyed, don't you remember what happened to Sandman and Pitch's incident two years ago?" North reminded.
Jack reasoned the example a bit, remembering the battle where they needed the help of the old guardians.
"But... Sandman came back."
"That's what I mean when I say that we can't die, but you can't always come back" the older one said.
Jack frowned and lowered his gaze.
"Hiccup couldn't have been destroyed either. He had no enemies, so no one would want to destroy him" he said.
"What if he destroyed himself?"
"It's not funny, North."
North smiled.
"You miss him, don't you?"
"..." Jack was a little surprised at the sudden question and then pursed his lips and looked away frowning, "heh, of course not, it's just that it's uncomfortable being alone with two girls. One of these days they'll make me wear a dress."
North laughed at the comment along with Jack.
But Jack stopped laughing soon.
"The last thing we did was argue" he murmured sadly "The last thing I said was that he was useless, but it wasn't true."
"You'll see everything will be solved." North said smiling, trying to lift the spirits, "Now... go get your companions and let's go!"
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"Is it necessary to take the horse?" North asked as he saw how the young guardians tried to climb Angus into the sled, pushing and stretching as he refused to cooperate.
"Of... course... it is!" Merida spoke hardly by the force exerted on each push she gave the horse "Why not help us instead of standing there watching and smiling?"
North laughed and went to help. With a final push, the horse was in the sled.
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"Helloooooooowh!" a feminine and cheerful voice caught their attention just after landing the sled in the entrance of the castle of Arendelle, they turned and saw in the distance a young girl in green dress running towards them and waving profusely "You finally arrived , North! Welcome back!"
"That's the queen?" Jack asked, somewhat surprised. The kings and queens he had met so far were very reserved in their ways, and seeing the girl coming to greet screaming and jumping was very strange.
"No, she's Princess Anna, her sister."
Anna curtsied when she got in front of them.
"I am Princess Anna, welcome, it's an honor to receive the guardians in our castle. Thanks for coming."
"Greetings, your majesty. My name is Rapunzel" the blonde greeted curtsying too.
"I am Merida" she curtsied as well.
"Jack Frost" Jack presented himself with simplicity, "you can call me Jack."
"Please follow me. We were waiting for you."
North and the guardians followed her into the castle.
"I apologize for the absence of my sister" Anna said while heading them into the huge castle "Elsa usually hangs out with her guardian at this time of the day and she forgets everything" she said laughing.
"Guardian?" Rapunzel asked curiously.
"Yes, a year ago she got a personal guardian" she smiled excited "I think they like each other. Yay! I want them to get married and give me nephews!"
"So... could you explain the problem you have in the kingdom, your majesty?" Merida questioned changing the subject.
"Oh, please, just call me Anna" the princess asked with a friendly smile "Well, I'm not aware of the details, but it turns out that a year ago a man wanted to marry my sister, but she refused. He vowed to avenge and bring an army to destroy the kingdom and all its inhabitants" she explained quickly "I don't blame my sister for rejecting him, the man was very ugly!" she complained a little dramatic and wincing in disgust, "and he was old, eew!"
"And he is back?" Jack asked paying attention to the conversation.
"Our friends the trolls informed us about the destruction in different areas of the forest around the kingdom, and effectively, everything was destroyed, but no one was there" Anna said with concern, "it was something we had never seen, the beautiful forest had become putrefied and polluted. The Man in the Moon informed North" she led her eyes to the mentioned, who nodded "that destruction was the work of that man and we couldn't defeat him by ourselves. We need your help."
"Isn't it dangerous for the queen to be out of the castle right now?" Rapunzel questioned with some concern.
"Oh, no, she knows take care of herself" Anna laughed "and she is well-accompanied and protected." she smiled knowingly.
"Well, while the queen is taking a walk, I think it's appropriate that we visit the places that have been attacked" Jack suggested putting a hand in his pocket.
"Good idea!" Anna agreed immediately "I can take you! We will give an entertaining ride on reindeer"
"Reindeer?"
"Yes, my boyfriend Kristoff has a reindeer. His name is Sven, he's a cutie."
"I'm in!" Rapunzel said.
"I prefer my horse."
"I'll fly" Jack turned to North "Are you coming, North? Or do you have to leave now?"
"No, I wish to know of the latest news, so I'll wait for the queen. You go to investigate."
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"It was delicious!" North cried cheerful after eating a cake served by the servants of the castle "Can I have the recipe?"
The servant stared at him considering the request and answered…
"No."
Without any compassion.
"Why not? I'm Santa Claus!"
Suddenly the trumpets announcing that the queen had come to his castle were heard, and North went to meet her.
"Lord North" the queen greeted showing a graceful smile as she approached the mentioned "You returned soon. Sorry I wasn't here when you arrived."
"How are you, Elsa? It is good to see you again" North smiled at the girl and then glanced toward the person who was walking behind her, her guardian… "Hello, Hiccup!"
"Hey, North" the boy smiled back. The man approached him, grabbed him by the neck with one arm and ruffled his head with his huge free hand, while the queen was looking at them giggling "Ow! Why do you like to make a mess of my hair every time we meet?"
"As if you ever used a hairbrush" the older said, making Elsa laugh with that comment "And where is Toothless?"
"He's out playing in the water fountain."
"Gentlemen, excuse me, please, I must go and prepare some things." Elsa said. They nodded and were left alone.
North turned to look at Hiccup, who was still watching with a small smile how the queen was elegantly walking away. The white-haired crossed his arms.
"Well?" he spoke getting Hiccup's attention "are you ready?"
"Huh? What for?" Hiccup asked feeling somewhat confused by the question.
"..." North only held his gaze.
"..."
"..."
Hiccup 's eyes opened wide as he realized what the other meant.
"OH, FOR ODIN! THEY'RE HERE!" he shouted startling North. He didn't expect Hiccup to be so distracted to react like that so suddenly, "They're here, they're here!" the boy began to look everywhere "they are here, right?! You went to bring them here! If you are already here, it means that they are also here!" North put his hand on the boy's shoulder to calm him down, while he inhaled and exhaled deeply, "I think ... I think I'm not ready, I think I better hide and-OW!" he complained in pain after the taller one gave him a smack on his head... softly ... but it was painful anyway because with such a strong hand it's difficult to control the force, "should I thank you for that?" The boy muttered rubbing the affected area of his head.
"Are you calm now or do you wish another zap?"
"Uhm... I'm not calm but I can pretend to be, for my own sake" Hiccup said wincing, clearly translated into: "I don't want another hit, thank you very much."
"Well, now listen" he spoke seriously leaning toward him and placing both hands on Hiccup's shoulders "It's been five years and they never stopped looking for you."
"Knowing that encourages me a lot" the viking boy said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"Just tell them the truth. They are your friends, they will understand and forgive you" he assured him with determination in his eyes. Hiccup looked away thoughtfully.
"You really think so?"
"Of course!" he affirmed grinning and gave Hiccup a couple of pats on his back that almost made him fall to the ground.
"I still think you should have been born a viking" the boy said shaking his shoulder to dispel the pain the "little pats" caused.
North laughed.
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Jack stood on one of the rooftops of the village. They had split to go to the places indicated by Anna, and he had to check the north zone, which was now done.
He looked around and thought the village, being one of the towns from Ice Kingdom, was very lacking of ice.
Suddenly a shadow passed over him, making him put his gaze upward.
"What's that?" he thought surprised to see something flying hidden in the clouds. It was too big to be a bird.
Jack immediately took flight and followed that thing that barely could be seen because of the clouds.
"It's…" he began to distinguish something as he approached it "…a dragon? ", he was very surprised to see the long black wings planning through the clouds. It wasn't normal to see a dragon in the Ice Kingdom; dragons were supposed to inhabit the Fire Kingdom only.
But then noticed something else...
The dragon had a rider.
For a moment he thought it was the enemy, but then remembered...
"Hiccup...?"
No, it couldn't be him. In Berk, several dragon riders had emerged (though he wasn't sure why they stopped hating dragons suddenly), and several times the team had erroneously thought that they had found their lost companion, but it always turned it was the wrong person. So this person didn't have to be necessarily Hiccup... right?
.
.
.
TBC…
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BETA: Pursaius
Well, hope you liked! And sorry for my bad english (again xD).
Thanks for your comments and support:
buslimpan; thetextmaser; Sanchey; Guest; DusstytheZommby; taureansland; Neko Kets; Anon; kittsujen; Aangelik; Remus J. Potter-Lupin; Alex is the name I'm a girl ; Were-Wouf.
Thank you, beautiful people! *-*