Jack walked through a deserted corridor. Most students were in class. The rest of the Slytherin fifth years were in Care of Magical Creatures. He wasn't sure where to go. He could go sit in the club room, but it would be empty. Merida was in Care of Magical Creatures and Hiccup and Rapunzel would have Herbology. He supposed he could go back to the Slytherin dungeon. Derek wouldn't be there to bother him and the other kids didn't shut him out anymore. But some of the girls did act very strange around him. While Jack did love attention, it was just a little too weird for him to be completely comfortable with them.
Finally, Jack decided to go outside. Nothing like enjoying summer. After all, in just one short week it would be fall and then a week after that the other schools would be here.
Jack waved his staff and flew down the stairs and out the building into the clear afternoon sky. He went straight to the lake and walked out onto the water, freezing it with each step.
A few other students who didn't have class walked over to the lake as Jack ran his staff over it, creating frost across the ice.
A first year tapped the ice with her shoe. It was the same girl he'd sat with on the train, Iolanthe, "Is it safe?"
Jack smiled, "Long as I'm here to freeze it!"
Timidly, the girl walked out onto the ice. Jack started running over the lake, further solidifying it. He wasn't paying much attention, and accidentally bumped his staff on the ice, sending frost spiraling directly under the girl. She slipped and fell flat on her face. Before the girl could react to her fall, Jack waved his wand and cast the cheering charm. A lone snowflake flew out, landing on the girl's nose. She started to laugh.
Soon, some of the children seeking to avoid the late summer heat ventured out onto the ice. Jack made a bit of snow. In no time at all, the lake was filled with children playing, sliding, and throwing snowballs.
Jack hurled his snowballs as fast as he could make them, trying to seek out every student who dared to be on his ice. As he scanned the ice for more victims, he spotted the same first year leaving the ice heading into the woods.
"Hey!" Jack called, but the girl kept walking deeper into the woods.
Jack dropped his snowball, tapped the ice once more to make sure it held, and ran into the forest after the child.
"Hey, stop!" Jack shouted again as the sun disappeared behind the trees. The girl kept walking as if in a trance. Jack ran after her and grabbed her shoulder. The girl jumped. Jack let go.
"You shouldn't be here," Jack scolded. "The forest is really dangerous."
"I thought I saw something," the girl said. "A little blue light. It made the most wonderful sound. I hoped it was a magical creature. I've been dying to see them. My grandfather used to tell me all about fairies and thestrals, you know. But I don't remember what he called the blue ones."
"A wil 'o the wisp," Jack muttered, remembering what Merida said about them. Jack turned to the girl, "My friend says they lead you to your fate, but I don't think your fate is here in the forest."
Something black flashed by behind the girl. She didn't see it, but Jack did. He smiled at her, "Why don't you go back and help clear off the ice before it melts? You'll have seven years to learn about magical creatures."
She nodded and left. Jack held his staff tensely. He gingerly walked to where he'd seen the black flash. It wasn't one of Pitch's horses, was it?
Jack could still hear distant laughter from the the lake. If this was a monster, he'd have to stop it before it got a chance to attack the students. He would be their guardian.
Another flash of black darted past him. He charged after it, staff ready to blast the black sand away. When he finally got a good look at it, he saw it was not made of sand. It was covered with scales.
No doubt about it, Jack was standing face to face with a ferocious looking black dragon.
He waved his staff, blasting ice at the creature. The creature blasted the ice mid-air with a bright fire. Jack, realizing his ice had no effect, turned and fled.
By the time he reached the lake, most of the students had evacuated. The ice was starting to melt, becoming even more slippery. Jack didn't bother refreezing it. The sun was starting to set, hardly any students were out now, and those that were were making their way back to the castle. Jack glanced behind him. He didn't see the dragon. Jack quickly encouraged the stragglers to head back inside.
Satisfied that the grounds were safely cleared off, Jack gave a sigh of relief. The dragon hadn't followed him. Okay, the number of reasons not to go into the forest kept growing. Maybe the school should consider making it a forbidden forest. Jack was about to go back in the school, when he chanced to see one last student outside. Hiccup … and he was going into the forest. Jack quickly flew after him.
"Hey, stop!" Jack called. Hiccup stopped and looked up as Jack landed in front of him. "Don't go in there!"
"I … I think I left something during Care of Magical Creatures," Hiccup stammered. "I'll catch up with you later."
Hiccup tried to push past Jack, but Jack stood his ground, "No! I saw a dragon. A dragon, Hiccup. I swear I saw a dragon."
Hiccup looked down at his feet, "I'm sure it was just your imagination."
"No! It was black as night and it breathed fire. My ice did nothing."
"You used your ice?" Hiccup asked, sounding a little outraged. Quickly he shook his head, "Look, my tribe … we've got dragons. You know that. I can handle myself against a dragon."
"Hiccup, last time you took one on, you lost a leg."
"And that is the kind of mistake I won't make again!" Hiccup snapped. "Trust me. I need to go into the forest."
Hiccup glared at him, his green eyes fierce. Jack had never seen Hiccup look so determined. He could tell Hiccup wasn't going to budge.
"Do you want me to go with you … I can fly you out before you lose any limbs."
"No. I need to do this myself," Hiccup said firmly. Reluctantly, Jack backed off. He flew up to the empty classroom.
Rapunzel was braiding Merida's hair when Jack flew in the window.
"What happened to your hair?" he said to Merida. She scowled.
"I've decided to start wearing it up," Merida said, "at least some of the time. Anyway, Rapunzel's helping me find the best style for my curls."
Quickly, Jack told them about the dragon and Hiccup's odd behavior.
"I've got it," Merida said.
"What?" Rapunzel asked as she tied off the braid.
"I'll bet you anythin' Hiccup knows about the dragon. He's always goin' on about killin' one, isn't he? And some kids from his tribe are probably going to be here next month. I bet he wants to make the kill before they get here."
"Hmm, you might be right," Jack said, "but why wouldn't he tell us?"
"I wish Hiccup was here," Rapunzel sighed. "He was always good at solving our crazy conspiracy theories."
"Well, I've got a plan to bust 'im, just wait and see," Merida promised.
Before she could reveal the details of the plan, the door flew open and Tooth, wings and feathers displayed, flew in.
"There's a Guardian meeting in ten minutes in the headmaster's office," Tooth informed them.
"So, you guys were serious?" Jack said in shock. "You want us to be in on this stuff?"
"Of course," Tooth assured him, "you don't have to come if you don't want to. But Manny says you should probably attend this meeting."
"What about Hiccup?" Rapunzel asked.
"The Man in the Moon will alert him," Tooth said, not meeting her eyes, "then it's up to him to decide where he wants to be."
With that Tooth flew out of the room. Merida stood up and marched out of the room. Jack and Rapunzel followed her up to Headmaster Ombric's office. Ombric quickly ushered them behind a folding screen.
"Madame Malika has returned," he explained.
"So you won't be translating for Vigor anymore?" Jack said. For the past month, the children had been told that Malika was too sick to translate for Vigor. Ombric could speak all animal languages, so he took over the job of translation.
"No, although it may be a few days until she has recovered enough to resume lessons. As honorary Guardians, you kids are entitled to hear her tale, but I don't want her to know you are here. The last thing we need is for Pitch to know we're recruiting teenagers. Remain behind the screen and do not speak."
The kids promised and Ombric left them to get Malika as the other Guardians filed in. Rapunzel looked through the crack at the hinge. Bunny, Tooth and Katherine were there. From a window, she could see the moon. No sign of Sandy, North, Mother Nature, or Hiccup.
Soon, Ombric returned bringing a distraught looking Malika with him. He pulled a chair out for her and summoned tea and cookies. To Rapunzel's surprise, a plate of them appeared next to the teenagers as well.
Merida took one as they listened to Malika.
"Where have you been?" Katherine demanded. "We told the children you were sick."
"I have been with Pitch," Malika said.
"Why in bloody 'ell would you 'ave been with 'im?" Bunny demanded. Ombric put his hand up to silence the professor's outburst.
"What did he want?" Tooth asked in a much more gentle tone.
"A prophecy. He wanted me to recite all prophecies that Vigor has issued in the last 20 years."
"And?" Ombric encouraged.
"I did it. I said everything I knew."
"What prophecies did you give him?" Katherine asked. "What did he seem interested in?"
"I said so many … but I did notice his posture changed on one of them."
"And?" all the Guardians pressed.
"What's this bloody prophecy?" Bunny demanded.
Malika cleared her throat, "A darkness descends upon the land. If it cannot be stopped the world will be forever changed. But there are four who have the power. Led by deathless light reborn. They can heal the bond that has broken and restore the peace."
"The light?" Katherine whispered.
Rapunzel turned the puzzle over in her mind. The prophecy mentioned four. She and her friends were four. It also mentioned healing. Her hair could heal, and it did glow, but she was no leader. She had no clue about the light that would lead them.
The Guardians continued to grill Malika but Rapunzel didn't hear anything of consequence. After they escorted Malika away, Ombric told the teenagers they could come out.
"Do you have any idea what the prophecy means?" Jack asked.
"We have … suspicions," Ombric said, locking eyes with Katherine. She looked almost as shook up as Rapunzel felt.
"You don't think the light could be -" Katherine started. Quickly she shook her head, "No, that's impossible."
"It's gotta be us," Bunny said. "We're the Big Four. The Main Guardians. Tooth, me, North and Sandy."
"What about the 'led by light' part?" Katherine asked.
"Well … uh, the Man in the Moon is a light, ain't he? That's what it meant. The four of us led by the moon can stop the the darkness, otherwise known as Pitch."
"But it could be him!" Katherine pleaded. The other Guardians looked away, not meeting her eyes.
"Who is 'him'?" Jack asked.
"Nightlight," Katherine whispered. "My ... my first love."
"First love?" Rapunzel said, a little wistful. She wondered if she would ever have a first love. Out loud she said, "I didn't know you were married."
"I'm not. Nightlight died years ago."
"Years ago? Geez, how old are you?" Jack asked.
"Guardians live a lot longer than most humans," Tooth pointed out. "I'm already well over 100. Katherine is a bit younger than me, but still quite old."
"So who's this Nightlight guy?" Merida asked. "And why'd you think the prophecy is about him?"
"For a very long time, Nightlight was a boy," Ombric said. "I'm not sure his exact origin. Possibly he was born before even the people of the golden age. Even though many of the people from the golden age had very long lives, they always grew up. But not Nightlight. He was truly an ancient force. But he was pure. Pure good. He valiantly stood over all the Tzars of the Lunanoff family. He became the playmate and companion of each child. And he was there to defend when Pitch attacked and killed the Lunanoffs."
"Some Guardian," Merida said, rolling her eyes, "letting them get killed."
"Oh, but he did his best," Katherine said. "Nightlight might not have been able to save the Tzar and Tzarina, but he did save Manny. And he single handedly held Pitch off for years. Because he glowed, he could pin Pitch down in a way others couldn't."
Rapunzel almost froze. Glowing hurt Pitch. Her hair glowed. She might have the power to fight him. But she didn't want to. She was too weak, too scared. Surely, she'd screw it up somehow. Unaware of Rapunzel's inner turmoil, the Guardians continued their story.
"But he didn't have to do it forever," Ombric pointed out. "A moonbeam came and relieved him of his duty, though it freed Pitch at the same time. He started to rise again. And Nightlight joined us in the fight to put him back in his place. That's how we all became Guardians. Once Pitch was defeated, Nightlight fell in love with our young Katherine here."
"So ... what's the deathless light thing?" Jack asked.
Katherine wiped away a tear, "We had many wonderful years together once I reached adulthood. We were the best of friends ... and more. But Nightlight had been a child for so long ... once he started to experience adult things, he couldn't stop. He started to age. Rapidly. Manny tried to give him the immortality that he gave me, North, and the other humans-turned-Guardians. But Nightlight refused. He said he wanted to experience all of what it was like to be human. And he passed on."
"Which is why 'e can't be the deathless light," Bunny said, patting a tearful Katherine on the back. "I know you want it to be him. You want him back. But it isn't him. It's Manny. The moon has always been our guiding light."
"I suppose," Tooth said. Then she turned to the teenagers, "Do you have any idea what the prophecy means?"
Rapunzel's heart started to thump in her chest. This was it. She had to confess that she had magic hair that glowed when she sang, "Well ...-"
"No. We don't have a clue," Jack said, putting his arm around her protectively. He and Merida escorted Rapunzel out, back to the club room.
"Why didn't you let me tell them?" Rapunzel said, still shaking.
"Because we don't know anything for sure," Jack said, "and I don't trust adults. The Guardians mean well, and it was nice of them to come rescue me and Merida last year, but they still let Pitch get away with an awful lot before we outted him. And now we hear about this other Guardian that died? Who supposedly could hold off Pitch all on his own. They expect me to believe that while they not only employed Pitch here, but promoted him to the Head of Slytherin House?"
"They didn't know who he was," Merida said.
"Maybe not, but still … I just don't trust their observational skills. Or their judgement. If they knew Rapunzel had hair that glows and heals, they might try to turn her into some weapon or something. Trust me. I got one or two of those at home myself. Muggles coming, demanding that I cast spells to make them rich, or curse people they don't like or something. When I refused, they joined the witch hunters. And there are lots of wizards. You're the only person I know with glowing hair. I don't want to put you through that."
Rapunzel smiled at Jack. It was good to know she had such loyal friends.
"Besides," Jack continued, "we don't know that it means you."
"But then who?" Merida protested. "Besides this Nightlight, Manny, and Rapunzel, Who else glows?"
"I don't know. But just because we only know of three people with glowing powers, it doesn't mean they're the only ones. I'm the only known half-elf. But according to my father, he's had relations with hundreds of women. It's possible I have dozens of half-siblings out there. The same thing might have happened with Rapunzel. How did you end up with magic hair again?" Jack asked.
"Mother Gothel said my real mother, Queen Arianna, took a healing potion before I was born. I guess the properties of the potion went into my hair."
"See? Not impossible to duplicate." Jack said. "There could be any number of other kids … or adults or something, with magic hair."
"Unless the ingredients are super rare or something," Merida pointed out.
"Not helping," Jack said sharply. "You don't know what was in the potion do you?"
"No," Rapunzel said shaking her head. "I don't even know if Mother Gothel knew. But I don't know. I've never seen anyone with hair as long as mine before."
"Maybe others cut it?" Merida suggested.
At this, Rapunzel brushed back her hair, revealing a short brown lock behind the gold, "Once it's cut it turns brown and loses its power."
"See, that's what happened," Jack said. "Dozens, maybe hundreds of other kids might have started out with magic hair and accidentally cut it before they were aware it even had magical powers. But maybe, just maybe, there's one more who didn't cut it. And maybe that one is the one the prophesy spoke of. Or hey, it could be the Man in the Moon, just like the Guardians think. I don't know. So there's no reason to sweat it. What happens will happen."
"I wish Hiccup were here," Rapunzel sighed. "He always came up with the best crazy theories."
"He'd say the same things I'm saying," Jack insisted. "Hiccup doesn't even believe in prophesies."
"I still wish I had his advice," Rapunzel said.
"Don't worry. I'll get him back," Merida promised, "even if I have to drag him here by that peg leg of his."
Hiccup took his seat on Toothless's back and opened his tail for a night flight around the school. There was nothing better than the vibration of a dragon, the wind in his hair, and no cheat sheet to worry about dropping. No need to worry about a Viking on the ground thinking they were under dragon attack and throwing a net at them.
Life was perfect.
Toothless dove down and did a flip. Hiccup moved his leg in perfect time with the dragon. They were totally in sync. They soared up and through the clouds, coming out of the moisture, the moon shown down on him. The beams seemed to be leading back to the school. May be a message from the Man in the Moon, but Hiccup ignored it. Toothless needed to stretch his wings. That was more important than any event at the school.
As Hiccup glided above the spirals of the castle, he remembered his romantic flight with Astrid. Had that been only this summer? He'd been interested in her for so long. He always thought the way to her heart was by killing a dragon. Turns out all he needed to do was learn to ride one.
Hiccup would never be able to thank Toothless enough for what he'd done. Besides helping Hiccup hook up with Astrid, Toothless had also managed to heal his and his father's relationship, and his reputation on Berk. Without Toothless, Hiccup would have been an outcast on Berk, just like Old Mildew.
Hiccup doubted Mildew had stopped complaining about the dragons, even if Hiccup's plan to train them was working. Most Berkians still didn't ride dragons. The older generation was having a much tougher time adapting to the new ways than the young people, but at least they were willing to meet Hiccup half way. He would get them all on dragons by his seventh year, he promised himself.
As the moon sank lower, Hiccup leaned forward and Toothless matched him, coming to a stop at Toothless's new home. Hiccup hugged his best friend and walked back to the school.
He wished his dad had allowed him to fly Toothless out in the open. He hated having to keep it a secret. Again. But he understood why his dad would want that. The other islands could be quite hostile. Hiccup was glad Dagur had been expelled from Durmstrang, or else he'd have to worry about the deranged prince of the Berserkers coming as part of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Hiccup had many bad memories of Dagur trying to kill him as a child. Stoick always put a stop to it, but if Dagur ever showed up here, Hiccup wouldn't be able to count on that protection. And having to keep Toothless hidden just made it all the more dangerous.
Luckily, Dagur wouldn't be coming with the Durmstrang kids. But Astrid would. Hiccup could look forward to that. Thinking of his girlfriend, Hiccup drifted into a peaceful slumber.
Merida pulled the invisibility cloak low as she snuck out of the castle the next Saturday evening. Technically, students were still allowed to be up, but she didn't want anyone to see her.
She went down to where Care of Magical Creatures was held and watched.
As the sun started to sink below the horizon, she saw him. Hiccup, his metal leg creaking as he tip-toed away from the school and into the forest. She left her post and followed him.
Merida was quite used to walking around a forest, and her recent adventures with the bear spell had only improved her sneaking skills, but Hiccup was a lot smarter than most of her clan. Several times he stopped to look over his shoulder. Merida ducked behind trees and bushes, forgetting that she was invisible.
After a long walk he came to a clearing. Hiccup stopped. From his vest, he pulled out a fish. Merida tilted her head. She knew Berk was a fishing community, of course, but Hiccup didn't seem the type. She couldn't imagine he was sneaking out of the castle in the middle of the night to go fishing. And he had no weapons if the fish was supposed to be bait.
He put the fish on the ground and waited. This was boring. Just as Merida was thinking she should leave Hiccup to his fish watching, she felt hot breath on her shoulder.
Merida turned, praying it was not a bear. What she saw horrified her more than anything. She was staring into the vicious green eyes of a horrible black Dragon.