Chapter 10
Jack opened his eyes, smiling at the memory. He had stayed in Berk for six months after that, talking with Hiccup, playing with him, and had even attempting to teach him how to throw a snowball. Feeling his journey through the Time Machine ending, Jack stabilized himself as he was shot out of the portal, landing on his feet. It was night time in Berk, large snowflakes drifted lazily from the clouds above. And silent, the whole place was very, very silent. Looking around casually, Jack walked down the stone paths, and frowned, seeing some buildings that were in the middle of being repaired. "The war with the dragons is over right," Jack murmured to himself. "Why are there chunks blown out those houses?" Upon closer examination of the area around him, Jack saw that festival decorations and stands were still set up, but abandoned for the evening. "Clearly something good has happened," Jack said with a small smile, and then thought of Astrid. "Ooh," he said, a smirk coming to his face. "That sly dog," he said. "He must have gotten himself hooked without me," he began jogging up towards the main hall. "Maybe it's still going on, that'll be a blast…" His words faltered, seeing the dark of the main hall, and then seeing a lone figure standing off to the side of it, his back to him. Glancing down, Jack saw the prosthetic leg and smile, but then it faded. Squinting, he carefully walked forward, tilting his head to listen.
Twenty year old Hiccup had his head ducked low, his teeth gritting, and tears streaming slowly down his face. "I'm trying," he choke, nearly silent in the night. "But I can't hold it in all the time Dad. I'm sorry, but I still have to come crying to you, like a little kid."
"Hiccup?" Jack asked quietly, and the newly appointed Viking chief turned around, his eyes widening his surprise.
"Jack…" he breathed.
"What's happened here?" Jack said, looking around and taking a step forward."Why are you…" he stopped looking up. Looming over Hiccup's head was a giant stone statue of his father, Stoik the Vast. It as an honorable piece of art, which Jack unfortunately knew was only honored to those who were dead. "Oh no…" he breathed, looking back at Hiccup.
Hiccup's lips tightened as fresh tears welled in his eyes. "Well you're right on time Jack," he said, his voice breaking. "Sorry I'm such a mess," he tried to tease, giving a weak smile that quickly faded into an expression of total grief.
Jack quickly ran forward, embracing his friend, who hugged him back tightly. Jack shook his head as he pulled away slightly. "Hiccup…what happened?"
Hiccup inhaled slowly. "Drago," he said. "Drago Bludvest…killed…my Dad."
Jack cupped Hiccup's face. "Who is Drago Bludvest?" he asked carefully.
Hiccup carefully took Jack's wrist, turning away and leading him up the hill that led to his house. "Come on," he said. "I'll tell you, and there are a few people I think it's time you met."
Jack followed him, only looking back to see the snow slowly forming along the cracks of the great statue of the villages former chief.
***At the Pole, Pitch starred into the fading coals of North's fire, the cup of hot chocolate sitting idly beside him, he glanced up at the others who were talking, and then thought of Jack. If five years really had past, and if Hiccup really was twenty by the time Jack got back to Berk, then Pitch could not help but wonder how Jack would handle the changes, and the awful truths that would follow. He dismissed the thought with the shake of his head, smiling quietly, and sliding his tongue over his lips once. "And some things…" he murmured quietly. "I would rather keep to myself."
His head raised, his yellow eyes gleaming in the dark. "For know."