PROLOGUE - ENDGAME 2 - FIELD TRIP OF DESPAIR

So! Here we go again! Not much to say this chapter except that... well, I have some good news at the end of it!

For now, let's dive in into the story!

Jack's POV this time around.

The world as we know it has a very firm set of laws that governs it. These rules dictate what is possible and what is not, and that is what we accept as our 'reality', what passes as normal.

What was happening right now broke all the rules of that reality, of that normalcy.

Not having memories is certainly not 'normal'.

Dragons being real was absolutely not normal either.

And that... thing who was laughing so hard that it had to hold its belly was not even close to my definition of normal.

Because what was in front of me was a stuffed toy in the shape of a bear. A stuffed toy that moved so effortlessly that it looked alive. A stuffed toy that laughed.

See what I mean?

What was in front of me was utterly bewildering, and yet it stood there, so out of place in this place. This thing... awoke something inside of me. A sense of dread so out of nowhere that it almost seemed primal. As if fearing this thing was a necessary instinct.

And yet, instead of running away from this stuffed toy, I found myself moving towards Hiccup, who was a crying mess. I instinctively stood in-between him and the stuffed toy, my back towards the freckled boy. I don't know why I did it, but it somehow felt right. Looking at the boy over my shoulder, I noticed just how miserable and frightened he was as he held the dragon in a hug. It was clear to me now that this dragon, who I assumed was Toothless, was very important to him. Somehow, this realization gave me a burst of courage. Why? I don't know, but this day was full of questions without answers.

Using that courage, I turned my head to stare at the stuffed bear. Now that I had my full attention on him, I noticed just how odd this stuffed toy really was. It wasn't very big, truth be told. Just about 30-ish centimeters or so tall. What was odd about him was his design; the bear was separated in two distinct sides by the middle. The left side of the bear was pure white, the only thing interrupting that pureness being a small, black spot-like eye. The left side was so normal looking that it actually made the right side of the bear more out of place. The right side of the bear was pure black, which accentuated the eerily big red eye which was shaped in an odd 'W'-like form. To complete the off-setting look, the right side possessed a big grin, totally in opposite to the more ordinary mouth of the left side.

This... bear and its existence was a contradiction and it design reflected that.

No one was moving, everybody either looking at the bear or the dragon, still in shock.

Finally, the bear spoke. He jumped off from the school bus' roof and landed just a few feet in front of me. I visibly tensed my stance as he did this but he paid me no mind as he addressed us all.

And when he spoke, he did so in such a cheerful tone that was so out of place that it actually made me shudder.

'Hey! Howdy! Hello! Is everyone here, then? Good! Now let's get things rolling!', said the toy as he danced around with every word he said.

That cartoony tone of his... veiled something sinister. It was as if a vortex of malice was hiding behind those words.

'Sorryyyyy for the delay! Something got in my way as I drove here but I simply smashed it to bits just like this wall here, ha ha! In any case, don't worry anymore children! Your beloved Headmaster Monobear, that's me, has finally arrived!'

After hearing those words, everyone snapped out of their dazed state, seemingly processing the meaning behind Monobear's words.

Soon, questions we're flung towards the self-proclaimed Headmaster.

'Is that stuffed toy... moving?!', asked Tuffnut.

'Don't be alarmed! I'm sure its just a very complex robot or something...' said Fishlegs in an unsure tone. The boy was actually sweating bullets and he looked scared.

'How rude! I am not a stuffed toy!', said Monobear in response, stomping his feet in anger. 'I am Monobear! I am waaaay too technologically advanced to be classified as a mere toy! NASA is so jealous of me, its unbearlievable! And as I have already told you... I am Hope's Peak Academy's Headmaster!'

'So, this really is Hope's Peak...', said Pitch in a thoughtful tone.

'Of course it is! I thought you guys were Ultimates, not Dumb-timates, sheesh! Where else would you be!?', said Monobear in response, mockingly.

This time, Aster stepped forward, shouting. 'Well, this place looks like a dump! O' course we we're wondering where the 'ell are we!'

Tooth also stepped forward and spoke: 'Yeah! If this really is Hope's Peak Academy... then why is it like this? I hardly think such a prestigious school would look like a war zone!'

At this, Monobear dropped his head, in an attempt to look sad, but his tone of voice still had that fake, forced feeling when he spoke. 'Yes, about that... that's why I've come to pick you guys up, you know? Hope's Peak Academy is going through some serious trouble... and as your Headmaster, it is my duty to protect you guys... so...!'

Doing a little spin in place, Monobear looked at us in an what I suppose was an attempt at a smile, speaking after he finished spinning: 'That is why we at the Hope's Peak Academy Committee have decided to take you guys in a mandatory Field Trip while we take care of this situation! Did I mention it was mandatory? Puhuhuhu!'

A tense silence followed Monobear's giggle.

None of this made any sense.

I didn't remember much of my time before here and even I knew this wasn't right. Everyone else started to voice their confusion soon enough.

'Hold on! This makes no sense at all!', said North.

'Yeah! I read the school pamphlet like, 30 times and it made no mention of any situation, field trip or you!', said Rapunzel.

'Yeah! I'm not going on any fucking field trip! I only came here to study in this place because they promised a bright future! I didn't sign up for this bullshit!', shouted Snoutlout.

Monobear just stood there as everyone voiced their discomfort. I wanted to say something too, but I was too focused on Hiccup to do so. The boy had stopped crying and he was now looking at the Headmaster with a thoughtful glare, his green eyes tinted red from all the crying.

A sigh pulled my attention back to Monobear. The Headmaster just shook his head before he spoke.

'The youth of today are really stupid...' and then, the malice that had been hidden behind his cheerful tone finally surfaced as he continued, 'Do you bastards know the meaning of the word 'mandatory'? I REALLY hope I don't have to explain this to you. You are to attend this Field Trip without exception.'

The Headmaster lifted his left paw and a very sharp looking set of claws popped out from it. 'Do you understand? You are not to disobey your Headmaster. Really, I thought kids like you would have at least that much common sense.'

Astrid and Merida suddenly stepped forward and looked down at the bear without fear. Astrid spoke first. 'I think you're the one who lacks common sense'. Astrid bent down and reached under her skirt, pulling a small combat knife from who knows where before pointing it at the bear.

Merida followed suit and took aim at the bear with her bow, 'Yeah. I mean, you do realize we outnumber you? You really can't force us to do anything, oh so called Headmaster.', she said with a smirk on her face.

Monobear just looked at them and as Merida let an arrow fly towards him, he sighed as if he were disappointed.

Everything happened so fast.

Suddenly Monobear had vanished from where he stood. As I looked around for him, I heard Astrid gasp and I turned around to look at her.

Monobear was clinging to her back, holding the arrow Merida had shot at him in his paw, pressing it near Astrid's neck.

'You bastards really are foolish.' said Monobear in his cheerful voice, though it sounded colder than usual. 'I already told you. You are not to oppose me. You are to board that school bus and to attend this Field Trip peacefully. Are we clear now?'

No one moved, everyone still trying to process what was going on. Had Monobear really moved faster than an arrow? It was as if the laws of this world didn't apply to him.

Annoyed at the lack of a response from us, Monobear hopped off from Astrid's back and walked towards the bus before declaring: 'You know, I really hope you guys aren't planning to overthrow me with your superior numbers...'

As if in response, hundreds of Monobears came out of the school bus, standing next to the one addressing us. Everyone's hope in the plan of overpowering Monobear went up in smoke at the sight.

We all realized it at the same time; our situation was completely hopeless. There was no choice for us but to comply.

Satisfied with the look on our faces, Monobear waved his black paw and dismissed the other stuffed toys, who disappeared as fast as they had appeared.

'Beary well, then! Nice to see you bastards finally grasping just how stupid it is to defy me. Now everyone, board the bus! We're going on an exciting Field Trip you'll never forget!'

As everyone grudgingly and slowly started to move towards the bus a quiet voice, but distinctly filled with defiance, spoke up.

'No.'

Everyone, including me, turned around to see who had spoken against the Headmaster. I didn't need to turn around who said so, though. I already knew, since I had heard this voice a lot. And yet, I had never heard the voice of this person with such an... intense feeling behind his voice.

Hiccup was standing with his head bowed, shaking visibly. But there weren't tears or sobs coming out of him anymore. His stance was tense and his small, freckled hands were balled into fists.

Monobear simply tilted his head at the boy. He spoke in a completely carefree tone: 'Huuuh? What do you mean, 'No.'?'

Hiccup spoke up again, this time more loudly than I had ever heard him talk. 'I'm not going to your stupid Field Trip or whatever!'

At this, Monobear stood silently, as if processing what Hiccup was saying. Before the Headmaster could utter a response, Hiccup spoke up again, this time practically shouting.

'Y-you! You did this to Toothless, didn't you?', Hiccup said as he pointed an angry finger at the Headmaster, 'When you said something got in your way and that... that you s-smashed him to bits...! You meant... you meant you did this to him with that stupid bus, didn't you!?'

More silence from the stuffed bear. His vacant stare never left the small Viking as he continued his outburst.

'I'm... NEVER! Going along with someone... who did THIS to my friend! Never!', said Hiccup as he glared at the bear with such an intense hatred that it looked like the green in his eyes were like flames.

After a few seconds, Monobear spoke up in a flat tone. 'Are you done?'

Hiccup merely stood there, dumbfounded at the calm response of the stuffed toy.

Monobear continued. 'So what if I did run over him? That stupid lizard got in my way, so OF COURSE I ran him over with my Super Deluxe School Bus! Really, that overgrown gecko was stupid enough to get in my way, so he got what he deserved! I mean, trying to stop a bus with your own body? Utterly idiotic! Ahahahahahaaa!'

Monobear's taunting laugh and explanation made Hiccup snap. Worried that he would get hurt if he dared to fight the Headmaster, I grabbed him as he ran past me in an attempt to attack the bear.

Man, for being so small, he certainly was strong. Despite how small his arms were, whatever muscle was in there was toned. Despite my surprise, I managed to hold him back in a tight embrace, as he violently struggled and kicked in a desperate attempt to get free and exact his revenge on the monster that had hurt his friend.

Monobear simply smiled at the boy's struggle, and laughed again, before speaking, 'Aww, but that's too bad... you have no say on whether you want to go or not... but if you're being that rude... then I guess I'll just let your overgrown lizard here to die...'

At those words, Hiccup stopped struggling. Holding him back was actually tiring, and though I hated Monobear for what he was doing to my... friend?... I was grateful his taunting had made Hiccup stop.

'...What are you saying?', said Hiccup, his voice still tense and angry.

I swore Monobear's red eye lighted up as he spoke, a malicious tone permeating his words, 'All I'm saying is... your stupid lizard is baaaadly injured... and he doesn't seem like he'll hang on to his life any longer... And y'know, we at Hope's Peak... well, let's just say we're the best at treating student's injuries. But we only do that for kids who behave... and actually follow orders from their smoking hot Headmaster! Do you understand?'

So that's it. He was trying to coax Hiccup wit a promise. A promise to heal Toothless.

But why was it so important that we attended this Field Trip, to the point of resorting to bribery and violence? There was obviously an ulterior motive behind this Field Trp, and yet...

We were being forced to participate. This feeling of knowing that something was wrong and yet being unable to do anything about it... it could only be called despair.

As if to drive the point home, Monobear's cheerfully fake voice filled the room once again. 'Not like you really have a choice. You can come with or without your stupid lizard alive. The end result will still be the saaameee! 16 students will attend this Field Trip, whether you like it or not!'

I had enough. I shook Hiccup a bit to get his attention, and the look of sadness he gave me almost broke my heart. He looked absolutely miserable and torn, unsure of what to do. This look, however, motivated me to speak up in an attempt to comfort him.

'Hiccup... you... you should just go...'

Hiccup's sad eyes quickly turned into a glare as he pushed me away and spoke back at me with disbelief. 'Jack...! Are you crazy...? Are you seriously trusting this... this toy?!'

No. No I wasn't. But I knew that losing Toothless would hurt Hiccup more than anything in this world. I didn't want to trust Monobear... but this was the less painful path.

I shook my head as I spoke to the terrified Viking in front of me in a soothing voice. 'Hiccup... I don't trust the bear that much... but I do know this.' I walked towards Hiccup and put my hand on his shoulder, 'I know how much Toothless means to you... and if cooperating with that stuffed toy can save him... then I think it's worth the risk.'

Hiccup looked at me, uncertainty filling his green eyes, before he lowered his gaze and nodded.

It's funny. I have no memories of anything besides my name and age, and yet talking and being with this fishbone of a guy has kept me calm in this weird situation. I am afraid, yet I am not paralyzed by it, just by being around a guy who I've never met. And yet... the same odd feeling of familiarity strikes me as I look at his hair full of messy auburn hair. A feeling of wanting to be close to him, to protect and comfort him.

Truly, the world was not making any sense anymore. But this was my reality now.

Monobear rudely intruded in that reality by clearing his throat obnoxiously. 'Well, if the lovebirds are done, I'd like to start this Field Trip already! Everyone board the bus. Now.'

L-lovebirds? Of all the comments that Monobear had uttered, this was the one that actually got under my skin?

I noted Hiccup was blushing as he stepped away from me. He looked hesitantly at Toothless before marching towards the bus, which everyone else had already boarded. I made my way towards the bus shortly after, hurrying after him.

Once inside the bus, I looked around for Hiccup. It didn't took me long to find him huddled at the farthest seat in the back, sitting by himself. I walked over there quickly and sat next to him. Hiccup barely acknowledged my presence, understandably full of worry.

Soon, a group of Monobears in nurse and doctor costumes rushed in, carrying Toothless to the back of the bus, upon where they started to treat him, or so I supposed. Hiccup looked at the Monobears working, his gaze never leaving them. He actually jumped back when I put my hand his shoulder in order to reassure him. I offered him a weak smile, doing my best to appear calm. He returned the smile weakly as well, before turning his attention back to the stuffed toys who were moving too fast for us to see what they were actually doing it.

...Damn it! Why can't I find the words needed to calm my friend? I always had a joke at ready to lighten any mood but this time it was different! How infuriating!

Monobear, that is THE Monobear, jumped up to the drivers seat and addressed us all in that cartoony voice of his: 'WELL! It took us some time but we're finally ready to start our very exciting, heart-throbbing Field Trip! And about time too! I was getting sooo bored! So without further ado, let's depart!'

Saying this, the Headmaster plopped down on the drivers seat. But instead of taking the wheel, he pulled a lever next to his seat. In an instant, the bus' door closed and a green gas started to fill the bus.

As everyone panicked and stood up at the sight of the gas, myself included, Monobear's voice rang through the whole vehicle, 'Now, I realize the life of a high school student is filled with stress and worry. So that's why I decided to help you guys! This gas will help you guys get some much needed shut-eye! Puhuhuhu! Aren't I a thoughtful Headmaster?'

And sure enough, the effect was almost instantaneous. My limbs started to lose strength as I flopped back into my seat, my eyes struggling to stay open.

In my last moments of consciousness, I felt the bus move. It gained speed and for some reason it jerked violently in an upwards direction. However, before I could make any more observations, I succumbed to the gas' effect and fell into a deep slumber.

Is this going to become a thing? Well, wouldn't be a mystery novel if we didn't abuse the 'protagonist falls unconscious´trope.

Now for the good news! I have found myself with an ample amount of free time... which means more time to write these chapters which also means chapters will be uploaded at a more steady pace! Neat, no? In fact, expect another chapter either today or tomorrow! And that's all you're gonna get from me today! Cheers!

...Just kidding! First, I'd like to thank everyone for their reviews! I'm gonna thank you all directly for that. Much appreciated! Really, it makes me feel confident in my writing, due to English not being my first language. So, really, thank you! Beary much so!