Chapter 7
I was shocked to hear what was coming out of Hiccup's mouth. A dragon's nest? The Red Death? So that may be the reason why dragons have been invading and stealing from the small village of Berk. They would be eaten whole if they didn't grab enough food for their leader.
"I've finally found the nest that my dad was searching for," continued the brunette, "But, I can't jeopardize Toothless' safety if I ever tell him."
Hiccup loved Toothless like it was his own, same for me as well. His head tilted downward as he started to fumble around with his hands. It seemed as if he was disputing with himself to say whatever he was thinking.
"I-I… also have to kill a dragon today," Sighed Hiccup in a very dismay tone as he changed the subject.
Huh? Since when did Hiccup have to kill a dragon?
"I was chosen when they saw how good I was with defeating them," Hiccup twitched a grin and chuckled awkwardly, "I was going to tell you yesterday, but I felt like you'll think of me… differently."
Hiccup killing a dragon wouldn't change the way I thought of him. Yes, it felt uncharacteristic, but Hiccup wanted to prove to everyone that he could do it. I could clearly tell that this dilemma was tearing him apart. He had the dragon's nest to worry about also.
Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck, "As much as I don't want to kill a dragon, I have to."
"Why can't you just control it like you do with the others?" I asked.
He took a shaky deep breath, "I won't pass the class and my father will get angry at me."
It was true. Hiccup knew from the beginning that killing a dragon was a part of the chosen Viking's final exam. He thought that he would never be picked so he never gave any thought about it until now. Stoick relied on his son to do this so that he wouldn't be considered as an embarrassment to the Haddock family anymore.
I held Hiccup's hand, our fingers intertwined. I gently squeezed it to tell him that everything will be fine. It killed me internally that Hiccup couldn't feel the love that I felt for him. Pools of blue met with his pools of green as we sat there melting into each other's comfort. My heart pounded so fast that it sounded like a dull and obstinate hum. I could kiss him right now, but it didn't feel right and it definitely wasn't the right time.
"Thanks Jack," Hiccup said sweetly as he let go of my hand, "You are one great pal."
Pal? Being called 'pal' threw me off from the moment. I would have preferred to be called his 'best friend' instead. I glared at the boy as he called out for Toothless, but I managed to not let this really get to me.
That afternoon, I walked beside Hiccup trying to calm him down as we headed toward the arena that he will be fighting in. At that time, Toothless wondered why we had to leave earlier than usual. I could tell that the curious scaled fellow had an idea that something was up when he started to follow us causing me to shoo him away.
During our trip, Hiccup was in great distress as we came closer to our destination. His skin turned pale with angst making his palms sweat uncontrollably and his body to shake.
"I-I can't do this Jack, I just can't," Groaned the tense boy, "I'm not ready to fight! All I can do is tame them."
I looked straight into Hiccup's eyes and held his arms to steady him, "If you aren't ready for this, just do what you usually do. It's better to be safe than sorry."
And I meant it. I didn't want Hiccup to risk his own life for this one test.
We entered the arena and met up with Stoick. I could tell that he was so proud of his son. Stoick's face lit up when he gave Hiccup a huge bear hug. He finally got the acceptance that he needed from his father which was something to be proud about. Stoick was preparing to introduce Hiccup to the public so he excused himself and departed for the stage.
Astrid ran up to us as soon as she saw Hiccup. I was mimicking her, mocking her every move which caused Hiccup to release a small giggle.
I decided to take a look at the dragon that Hiccup will be facing. It was an advantage for him that I couldn't be seen by anyone so I could guide him during his battle.
Damn... It was a Monstrous Nightmare. The dragon stared at me intently which gave me a sudden twinge of fear and worry mixed into one. That type of dragon could spontaneously combust and char whatever was in their way. All I can say is that, ice and fire do not mix well.
It was time, Hiccup was going to fight. I hope that he took my words into consideration. It was better for him to do what he usually does rather than to do something that is completely impossible. I joined him when he walked into the arena. I whispered words of encouragement and gave him advice between right and wrong. I gripped my staff firmly to get ready for what was to come. When they unleashed the dragon, it was covered in flames as it crawled out, slinking its snake-like neck to observe us. I was in disbelief, Hiccup's mouth hung open as his eyes grew wider and wider watching the dragon crawl all over the roof of the arena.
"Are you still going to try and kill it?" I asked, my forehead beading with sweat.
The shocked boy replied with a simple no, "I am going to show them that dragons aren't harmful."
I stood behind him as the Monstrous Nightmare came face to face with us. Its breath was hot leaving me in a small daze. The temperature was scorching, weakening my limbs when I tried to grab onto Hiccup. The excruciating heat from the monster was affecting me strongly.
Hiccup held out his hand to touch the dragon when it stood still, "They're not what we think they are. We don't have to kill them," he tried to tell the audience.
Suddenly, a large shout bellowed to stop the fight. Stoick was insanely furious when witnessing his son's action causing him to dent the wires of the arena's roof. The loud noise startled the dragon from its tranquil state. Hiccup was in danger now. It was chasing him all over. There wasn't an open escape, he was trapped. Unbearable smoke heavily filled the room which completely blurred my vision.
I was enraged at that monster; I lifted myself with all the remaining strength that seeped through my body. When the fog cleared, I created ice to slow the monstrosity down. That wasn't the best option since it caused the dragon to come after me next, its wings crawling to my direction while it scorched the slippery ice beneath it.
"JACK," Screamed Hiccup, rummaging throughout the arena, trying to block the dragon's fiery blows.
The audience was baffled at what was happening. To Hiccup, the dragon was chasing me, but to everyone else, the dragon looked like it chased no one.
I took a quick glance sky and noticed a black figure; its lustrous wings spread across the daylight above shadowing the entire arena in temporary darkness. Thank the gods, it was Toothless. Toothless blew up the wired roof and aimed for the Monstrous Nightmare. Ready to attack, Toothless flung himself upon it. They struggled vigorously as they attempted to kill one another.
I had to think fast. The jaws of Hiccup's opponent were grabbing on to Toothless' neck ready to kill the helpless creature. Consternation was written all over Hiccup's face as he was being dragged away to safety yelling mine and Toothless' name in the process. Vikings started to jump into the arena ready to defeat the two terrors that battled each other. They seized Toothless restraining him until the black dragon could no longer move. When they attempted to grab the other, something in me snapped. My strong weakness from the heat started discarding my cold icy body. With a quick flick of the wrist, the Monstrous Nightmare slowed its pace as every inch of its strange anatomy turned into freezing, rock-hard ice.
I realized that I froze the dragon.
The Vikings in the arena and the audience above were bewildered. The Vikings that held Toothless down started to become uninterested in him. Some came up to observe the frozen sculpture of what was once a fire-breathing Monstrous Nightmare wondering what type of force could have done this. Hiccup watched from afar trying to unravel from his father's strong grasp. I guess Hiccup's final and the dragons fighting weren't the main focus anymore. I was astonished at what I had done. I never knew I had this strong, strong power in me. Probably witnessing Hiccup and Toothless in grave danger set me off.
But, everyone eyes started to trail and their shocked gaze landed on me?
An old man wearing a rusted Viking helmet divulged, mouth open with amazement, "Is that... really... Jack Frost?"
People started to murmur and whisper. I started to appear right in front of everyone. The Jack Frost that they considered to be just a 'foolish myth' was real. I was enraged. It had been years when I longed for so many to believe, but people started to believe in me after this? As I gazed at the struggling brunette, I thought of his mother Valka.
Valka... She was just around Hiccup's age when I first met her. I remembered that she approached every single person in Berk telling them that I was real. Usually, the people just laughed it off and thought that I was simply her imaginary friend, a childish type of mirage. Though, she didn't want to give up; she was overfilled with hope and determination. Sadly there was still no luck, years passed and Valka grew up. I remembered comforting Valka's sad, hurting demeanor. I could feel that her spark of faith came to a burnt out ending. I comforted her, but she just left without a word; ignoring me for days. I finally found her when I was giving Berk its yearly winter. When I came to greet her, she just passed right through me. I was heartbroken.
They should have believed her when she was still here, when she was trying to prove to Berk that I existed. Instead of calling her crazy, they should have at least tried.
I glared angrily at every person. All this adrenaline and feelings that jolted my body felt overwhelming. My mind was going to explode; I couldn't take in all of these things that were happening all at once which caused it to go blank. All I wanted to do was scream. I wanted to scream all of what was left in me. Instead, I left. I couldn't last in Berk any longer. I left to go to the North Pole.
