Chapter 9

DNA or magic?

"Jack! Jack wake up!"Jack's eyes fluttered open. What time is it he thought. He remember hunting,chasing Elsa then falling asleep on the beach with Elsa close beside him. The soft slush of the waves was the only thing filling the air. He yawned then transformed into his human self.

"What...time is it?"he mumbled sleepily. "It's a bit before dawn."Elsa said. The sky was a dark blue,indicating that there'll be a storm soon or it was early dawn. "Well,we should get back before they start worrying."Jack said. "Yeah."Elsa agreed. They transformed into their dragon selves. Jack shook the sand off him and they flew off and away from the islands,back to the sanctuary and towards a huge cave. When they got to the cave they landed at the mouth of the cave,where there was two guards,and transformed into their human selves. Elsa walked to one of the guards.

"I'm here to see my parents."she said. The guard nodded,"Follow me."he said and lead the way into the cave. Along the side walls were lighted with torches,lighting the way. At some point the cave started to widen. A while after they got to the end of the cave. It was as big and wide as ten dragons,there was a table,as long as two dragons with twelve chairs and plates.

Where did they even get this furniture in a place like this?! Jack thought confused. They must've lived somewhere else because there is no way that there was furniture here when they came. Hiccup,Merida,Punzie,Iduna and Agnarr were seated,eating. When they entered Agnarr looked up. "There's our little shapeshifter,"he said. "Good morning Jack."he added. "Good morning to you all."Jack and Elsa said. "So,did you two have a good time?"Iduna asked. Elsa looked at Jack then quickly looked away,blushing. "Um yeah we um had a great time."Jack stammered. "I'm sure yeah did."Hiccup said with a wink. Jack blushed lightly and looked down. "Well come,sit down and eat."Punzie said. Jack nodded and they took a seat.

On the plates was eggs,bacon and toast with a cup of hot chocolate. Jack took a piece of bacon and began eating. "So,"Punzie was saying. "What do you guys think about James and Striker?" "I think that he'll be an excellent dragon rider once his training is finished."Hiccup said. "Same."Jack,Merida,Elsa and Punzie said. "To be honest he actually reminds me of Hiccup when he started dragon training. Excited,full of energy and always ready."Iduna said. "True."Hiccup said. "I'm thinking of putting him with the guards once his training is complete. Maybe even second-in-command."Agnarr said. "He'll make a great second-in-command."Elsa said.

"Same."Jack said only half listening. "Hey Jack. There's something on your mind?"Hiccup asked,thought it sounded more like a statement than a question. "Why do you assume that?"Jack asked. "Well you just have the face of someone who has a question."Hiccup said simply. "If you have any questions Jack,don't hesitate to ask."Iduna said to him. "Well,actually,I do and it's for you two,your majesty."Jack said. Iduna and Agnarr looked at each other then said, "Ask away." "Well you know how Elsa is a dragonshifter."Jack said.

They nodded.

"Well,I want to know how come you guys aren't dragonshifters as well." Agnarr looked at Iduna with a raised,questioning eyebrow. She nodded. He clasped his hands together and spoke. "For me to answer your question you need to be more specific." "I want to know if the dragonshifting thing is like DNA or if it's like magic."Jack said. Now the others were getting interested in the conversation. Agnarr didn't seem to mind. "The dragonshifting ability is...well both."Agnarr said. "What? How?"Jack asked.

"You see my father was a dragonshifter. When he died,his dragonshifting ability stayed with him,unlike DNA where it's passed down from generation to generation. Once Elsa was born I guess he gave that ability to her. So tectonically,it depends on the person. If the person wants only a certain person to have the ability he or she can skip generations until the right person comes then I assume their ability is passed down to them,acting like magic. If the person wants to the ability to passed down to the next generation it'll act like DNA going from generation to generation."

"So it's almost like giving up your soul?"Punzie said. "In many ways,yes."Agnarr replied. "But how do you know that the person you're giving it to is the right person? Also wouldn't you have to be alive to give the ability?"Merida asked. "Well I can't explain it in detail but the way I understand it is that the person with the ability can sense something in the person that makes that person qualified to have the ability. As for your other question Merida,no you do not have to be alive to give the ability. When you die here you're dead but once you are in the afterlife you are still alive,if my research of the afterlife is correct. So once the right the person is born they remove the ability from them and give it to the person."Agnarr explained. "So basically what I understand is that the person can either skip generations until the person with the ability gives it to the person they think should have it or they can make it run through the family."Jack said.

"Precisely."Agnarr said. "But if the person is dead and they don't have a son or daughter how can it be passed down like DNA?"Elsa asked. "Well that part I don't know,"Agnarr admitted. "My only guess is that they have a daughter or son before they die,to ensure that it runs like DNA." A silence fell over the table as everyone was pondered about they just heard. "Father,"Elsa said,breaking the silence. "Are you able to steal the dragonshifting ability from someone? Or has someone ever been able to do that?" Everyone looked at her in shocked silence.

"I'm not thinking of doing it,"Elsa said,rolling her eyes. "I'm just asking out of curiosity." "Well there was one dragon to ever be able to do that in history. His name was Valor." "Valor?"Jack said puzzled. "He's the dragon god,"Hiccup said. "Or also known as the the god of death,he who is death,power thief,death-" "Yeah I think I get it."Jack replied. "Valor had a rare power,the power to steal other dragonshifters powers. For example,he could take Jack or Elsa's ability and he'll be able to breath ice or…" "Frost."Jack finished. "So he can't shapeshift into my dragon self or look like me when I am a dragon?"Elsa asked. "No. He can only use your powers."Agnarr replied. "So there was no one to stop this Valor guy?"Jack said in disbelief.

"Actually there was one other dragon that could stop him and was more powerful than him,Hiccup said. "His name was Talos the god and father of all dragons." "Talos?"Jack asked. Hiccup turned to him. "Do you not know any of the dragon gods?!"he asked. Jack shook his head. "How? Nevermind,once we're done here I'm taking you to the library to learn about the gods." He turned back to the others. "Anyway he's also known as the king of heaven,he who is life,death destroyer,heaven-" "Hiccup we get! These gods are known by many names."Punzie said,emphasizing the word many.

Hiccup smiled sheepishly.

Iduna smiled. "When it comes to dragon knowledge you can always count on Hiccup to know about it."she said. "Indeed,"Agnarr agreed. "Anyhow,there's a story that one day Talos confronted Valor about taking the dragonshifters abilities. He said that taking their abilities was wrong and that it was ruining the balance of power. Valor said that only a god should have this kind of power and the two had a fight. Most say it was a battle for history to remember,but in the end Talos won." "What happened to Valor?"Merida asked. "I don't know. Some say he managed to survived the fight and ran away,some say he died and the rest say that they were both wounded so badly that they both died."Agnarr said.

He looked at Jack. "So did all that answer your question?"he asked. "Yes it does."Jack replied. "Good. Now we must be on our way. We shall see you all soon."Agnarr said. They nodded. He and Iduna got up and walked out the cave. "Alright Jack. Time to get you to the library."Hiccup said. "Yay. This should be fun."Jack said sarcastically. Hiccup ignored him. They got up from the table and walked to the mouth of the cave. "Hang on. I have to call our dragons."Hiccup said. He brought two fingers to his mouth and whistled. A minute after Toothless,Pascal and Agnus appeared. Merida,Punzie and Hiccup ran to their dragons and hugged them.

Jack looked over at Elsa and saw that she was watching them with a sad,longing and regret in her eyes. Jack instantly knew what she was thinking. He walked up to her and took her hands in his. She looked up at him in surprise.

He looked her straight in the eye. It wasn't your fault he hoped was the message she was getting. She did and gave him a small smile. "Thank you."she whispered. "Your welcome."he whispered back. "Hey if we are interrupting something you can tell us."Punzie said. Jack turned around and saw that they were watching him and Elsa. "No you g-guys weren't interrupting anything."Elsa stammered,removing her hands from Jack's.

"You guys sure?"Merida asked. "I mean if you two want some privacy then there an inn not too far from here."Hiccup said. "Hiccup!"Jack and Elsa yelled. Hiccup laughed. "Well if we're going to the library then let's go."Elsa said.

She transformed into her dragon self and flew off. "You heard the princess let's go."Punzie said. They climbed onto their dragons and flew off. Jack transformed into his dragon self and followed them to the library.