"What you're looking for isn't out there. It's in here."—How to Train Your Dragon 2—Astrid
Frostbite kindly whimpered under Jacks hand. She seemed to be saying, "It's going to be okay." But Jack couldn't believe that, not this time. It took everything in him not to scream. He looked at the ground, not able to look anywhere else. Not even at Frostbite. With Rapunzel with Pitch who knew what could happen to her. What kind of tricks and traps were laid out. They needed her. Now she was gone. He was so angry and upset.
Merida knelt down so that Jack had to look at her, "It's going to be okay Jack, you'll see, don't loose spirit now." She smiled.
Jack turned away, "Rapunzel's gone, I was supposed to take care of her and now…" he felt tears burn behind his eyes. "Father Time was right; I shouldn't have taken her here."
"You were only doing what you thought was right Jack." Hiccup said. "How could you have known this was going to happen?"
Jack didn't answer. He just kept staring at the ground. Astrid let out a breath, "For the god's sake. Jokul look at me." Jack looked up to Astrid. Astrid crossed her arms, "If you give up now then we're giving Pitch exactly what he wanted." She frowned, "And if you're the kind of person I think you are you wouldn't give into to Pitch that easily." She grabbed his shoulder and forced him to look her in the eye. "So don't give in now." She jeered. She let go of his shoulder.
Jack gawked at her. He didn't seem to know what to say. He looked at Frostbite then at the rest of them. Finally he nodded, straightened his staff, and climbed onto Frostbite. "We have to hurry, there is no telling how long we have. Rapunzel is powerful and if Pitch has managed to sway her he could use her powers for all the wrong reasons." Merida looked ready to cheer. Hiccup nodded. "So what do we do Hiccup?" Jack said, "How do we find this Changewing of yours." Jack smiled.
"We'll fly up high and look around the area we should—" Hiccup was cut short by Merida grabbing his arm. He turned to her and saw her eyes wide. She put a finger to mouth, motioning for them to be quiet. Then she pointed. All of them followed her finger. There at the end of the circle was a small glowing blue dot. It was like smoke, or fire. Yet in floated mid air suspended to nothing. Tiny, white, unblinking eyes stared at the. I had small swirls like arms curling and uncurling in a gesture that seemed to mean, follow me.
"A will o' wisp." Merida said, in a hushed tone.
"A what?" Hiccup whispered, still looking at the strange floating creature.
"They'll lead you to your fate." Merida said, "Come on, we have to be quiet. Follow me."
They walked through the forest. There feet hardly made a sound. Even the dragons didn't make a noise on the woodland floor. Leaves hardly cracked beneath huge clawed feet. They were all so quiet for so long some had to look back to make sure the others were following. But what was more eerie than them all being quiet was how quiet the forest was. Not a bird whistled in the branches, not an animal rustled in the bracken. It was as if the forest was holding its breath. Waiting for something. The branches of mighty trees wound so tightly together they couldn't see the sky. And tree trunk grew so close together that it was hard to believe they could make it through. Soon the leaves cleared as if swept up and clean green moss squished underneath there feet.
Jack felt Frostbite pressed her head close to Jack. "It's okay." Jack whispered, even though he knew it wasn't.
Merida didn't stop once. As they followed the blue orbs each one disappeared, vanishing in a cloud of blue smoke. Finally they ducked under a branch and saw to there amazements one of the smallest houses ever. It's roof was a mixture of broken beams and moss, the door hung crooked on its hinges and a broken window showed no light. But walking around the front, a pile of wood in her hand was possible the ugliest old ladies Jack had ever seen.
Her hair stuck out like Frankenstein's wife and was as grey as a storm cloud. She wore something that may have been dirty green rags by his point of view. She wore no jewelry and her wrinkled face held no pleasure in what she was doing. She grumbled as she worked, mean while a molting crow jumped from the old ladies shoulder to the pile of wood.
"The Witch!" Merida whispered. She practically ran toward the cottage. Jack reached out to stop her but she was too fast. Before Hiccup and Jack could say a think Merida was half way to the shack. Of course the Witch heard her. She turned her beady grey eyes to the sound then gave a startled shriek so loud it could have wakened the dead. She dropped her bundle of twigs and ran into the house. The bird followed only to pump in the closed door. A ruffle of feathers swirled around him as it shook it head and then quickly dived in to broken window.
But Merida didn't stop, she slammed on the door. "Miss. Witch we need your help!" she called.
"Go away!" the Witch shrieked.
Merida saw her head in the broken window, and walked to it. Almost at the same time curtains fell over the glass. "But it's important!" she shouted to her.
"Dun't care!" The Witch shouted back, somewhere inside the house. "Yuh destroyed my house you did. With yuh'r potion mixin' and well. I'll have nun of that nonsense again."
Merida pressed a pale palm on the window, "But I didn't mean it!" she shouted into the cottage, "I was scared and confused and—"
"I sead I dun't care!" The Witch shouted.
"But if you don't help Jack Frost could die!" There was a long silence inside the cottage. So long that Merida thought that something happened to the Witch, and then the door opened. Jack who had been standing on the hill with Hiccup still now was beginning to come closer. Although it wasn't exactly willingly.
"Jack Frost?" The Witch said, "But that's impossible. Jackson Overland isn't born for the next…600…700 years!" That's when the Witch turned her head and spotted Jack. Jack stopped in his tracks. The old woman looked him up and down and then whispered, "Goodness gracious! It is he!" She looked at Merida with narrowed eyes then back at Jack. "Very well, I'll let the lad in. But no exploding my house you Red Headed Wench."
"Thank you." Merida said and pushed past the Witch into the cottage. The old woman held out a wrinkled hand to Jack.
"Come my boy." She said. Jack followed her into the cottage. Hiccup, Astrid and even Toothless, Frostbite and Mordue surprisingly fit into the cottage comfortably. It was a lot larger inside then it looked. A small fire was in the corner, burning brightly in dark room and a cauldron was bubbling in the middle of the room. Jack was amazed. He looked around stunned and then back at the Witch. The Witch took his hand. "Come here child." She whispered.
It was far gentler of whisper then her shrieking before. He followed her to the fizzing cauldron. "From wut little I know of this world I know that you are not supposed to born for some time." She waved her hand of cauldron, an image of him as a boy before the accident appeared. "But you stand before me now." She looked at him with narrowed eyes, "And I am not the only one who knows why." She looked at the others, "Everyone in here knows the reason."
"You can see the future?" Jack asked.
"No, I can see only what I am allowed to see, shadows mostly." She looked at him sadly, "But what I see do see I do see in you I do not like." She frowned deeply, "Dark days are ahead of you Jack, if you choose to return to your time you may never return at all."
Jack weighed what she said. It could be the words of a mad woman or the words of a wise woman. He swallowed hard. But he couldn't change his mind. He had to stop Rapunzel if he could, from the making the biggest mistake of her life. "I have to go back." He said.
The Witch turned to the others, "And do yuh wish to do the same." She asked them. Merida frowned and looked at the ground un able to answer. Hiccup felt Astrid place a hand on his shoulder as he nodded.
"Yes miss." He said.
"And yuh make this decision of your own accord?" she asked. "Remember, once yuh go to Jacks time you may never come back. Yuh may never see yuh'r loved one's again."
Hiccup looked at Astrid who nodded. He looked back at the Witch. "Yes." He said again, "I do." Jack couldn't look at either Astrid or Hiccup. He placed a hand on Frostbites head.
The Witch nodded. "Very well." She looked at Jack, "Where is the vial Jack?"
He knew what she was talking about even though the rest of them were confused. He reached into his pocket. But as he reached in he realized it wasn't there. He let out a gasp. "It's gone!"
"Gone?" the Witch said.
Jacks Three companions looked at each other confused as Jack dug into his pocket, "It must have dropped out when I—" his eyes widened and looked at them all horrified, "When I fell!"
"What are you talking about Jack?" Merida asked.
The Witch ignored her, "You must get it Jack." She said, "It is the only way to get back to your time." Jack's face went a new shade of gray and he turned to the door. Frostbite followed behind him.
"I'll be back, I promise." He opened the door and hopped on Frostbite. There was no point in flying but they could run. He slammed his heel into the side of Frostbite, "come on girl." He said and she leapt to speed. They all ran out after Jack, but he had already disappeared into the forest.
Merida let out a breath and turned to the Witch. The Witch put a hand to her chest, "Well dun't luk at me. Follow him!" she said.
Merida scowled but jumped onto Mordue. Hiccup and Astrid jumped onto Toothless. Before they could think twice they burst forward into the forest. Suddenly the Witches eyes flashed with horror. "Wait! Merida stup!" she called but it was too late. Merida had already disappeared.
Jack looked around in the grass on his hands and knees. He could remember falling, and could still see a slight imprint from where he had fallen, and where Frostbite had protected him. The nightmare was still a frozen statue of terror. Its golden eyes frosted in his direction. Frostbit had refused to enter the circle this time. Standing right out side it waited for Jack to look. When Toothless came bounding in with the rest of them.
Merida jumped off of Mordue, "Yuh, white haired twit!" She shouted as she marched up to Jack, "Yuh, got to stop running off without explaining!" She said.
"I wanted to." Jack said, without looking at her.
"Wanted to huh?" she spat. "Well yuh didn't, yuh'r lucky if I don't send you flying into the next life Frosthead!"
He ignored the name as he searched the grass, "Look, it's a long a story and I don't have time to—"
"Guys stop!" Hiccup said, he jumped off of Toothless, his prosthetic leg clanking on the ground. "Right now is not the time to pick an argument. We have more important things to do."
"Oh sure." Merida said waving her hand in Jack direction, "Choose his side!" she scowled at him, her eyes flashing.
"I'm not choosing anyone's side!" Hiccup said walking in her direction, "But we don't have time for a fight right now Merida."
"I don't have to listen to you!" she spat.
Jack stood up. He had heard something, and Frostbite had clearly heard it too. Her ears pricked, and she turned to the forest. Behind them Hiccup and Merida were still fighting. "Guys?" he whispered. The forest trees shook and Jack stepped back. Frostbite took her place next to Jack.
Merida ignored him, "At least I don't smell like dragon breath you one legged freak!"
Hiccup scowled, "I'm warning you Merida."
Astrid turned to Jack who was looking at the forest in horror. She saw branches move and pulled out her ax, "Uh, Hiccup."
"I don't care if yuh'r the chief or not!" Merida said, "You don't get to boss me around like a child!" she spat.
"Well let met tell you—"
"Hiccup! Duck!" The shot came from the forest seemingly from mid air. Toothless wacked Hiccup out of the way with his tale sending him diving to the earth. Hiccup picked himself up and swirled. A dragon clinging to the trees began to appear at the edge of the forest. A long nose, huge wings that shimmered. It clung to the trees like a bird. It growled revealing sharp teeth like daggers. Merida pulled out her bow and arrows. Frostbite stood in front of Jack. Hiccup pulled out his sword. "The Changewing." He whispered.