AN: Hello... This is another one of those chapters where y'all are gonna flip, I think... Hopefully it's a good kind of flipping. We'll see, I guess...

To the Guest who requested translating this series!: Thank you so much, you are too kind! And don't worry about your English, it's very good! Absolutely YES! you have my full permission to translate the story! If you could send me a link somehow, I would love to share it with my followers on tumblr!

Music: "Miss Missing You" by Fall Out Boy

NOTES: "Sometimes the person you'd take the bullet for is behind the trigger..."

Chapter 19: Miss Missing You

"YAH!" North called, cracking the reins as the reindeer thundered through the sky. The wind roared in Jack's ears and rushed through his hair as he looked out over the side towards their destination below.

It was bad enough that Rapunzel was in trouble with the Council because of the return of her apprentice yesterday, but that morning they'd received word that the asylum Emma had been sent to almost two weeks ago had come under attack. The nearby village didn't know anything about it until one of the male nurses stumbled out of the forest screaming about monsters and bleeding from his head.

While Toothiana stayed behind to help Rapunzel and Jim, Jack went with his dad, Bunny, and North. They had left almost immediately, taking the sleigh and one of North's snowglobes to get there as quickly as possible.

When they landed, they were met by the head doctor who led them into the very large but old building. There was blood splattered on the walls and floors, some of it old and some of it new, which made Jack's gut twist. There were parts of the interior that were badly burned and blackened with soot.

"We've moved all of our patients to the other wing where there is considerably less damage." The Doctor was explaining as he led them down corridor after winding corridor. "The more serious cases are being transferred to a different facility as we speak. I'm afraid, however, the only one not accounted for is Miss Frost."

"We were told she would be safe here." Percy growled, and Jack glared at the doctor, too.

"This is a hospital, sir! Not a fortress! We protect patients from their own minds, not outright attacks!" The doctor defended himself as sweat started collecting up on his brow.

The argument was reasonable, Jack supposed, but he still wanted to know what happened to his little sister. He wanted to know who was responsible.

"And you're saying that absolutely no one got a look at what it was that attacked? In the middle of the day?" Bunny gave the doctor a sideways look. The doctor came to a stop just before turning the corner and gave them all an exasperated look.

"No!" He emphasized, extending one arm to motion them on ahead of him. "But I have a pretty good idea about a culprit."

Jack moved forward with the others, but when he saw the state of the corridor, his heart dropped to his feet and shattered. The long hallway was scarred with black scorches and long claws marks. All the blood there was more recent and only one of the heavy metal doors was left open towards the end of the hallway. Jack almost didn't want to keep walking, but his father was already pressing onward, marching towards that open door. Jack followed, keeping his eyes on his dad's back as he came to a stop just outside the open room. The door was hanging on only one hinge and the inside of the room smelled of old socks and vomit.

Jack was reminding himself to breathe when he noticed Percy's hands clench into fists.

"That is all for now, doctor. We will find you if we need anything else." North cut into the conversation, quickly dismissing the doctor who stood there gaping at him for a moment. After a hard, pointed look, the doctor relented and left.

Jack felt Bunny's paw on his shoulder and jumped, looking up at him.

"You okay? You look like you're going to pass out." Bunny remarked, though his tone was emotionless and his expression was shadowed with anger.

"M'fine." Jack mumbled, swallowing hard to keep the bile down.

"There's nothing we can do here." Percy said quietly. "Emma is long gone... Which may just be a blessing in disguise." He muttered the last part as he brushed passed North, heading back the way they'd come.

North and Bunny exchanged a worried look, but Jack rushed to catch up with his dad.

"Dad?" He murmured, not sure of what else to say. Percy reached out and placed a hand on Jack's shoulder as they walked.

"It's going to be okay. We'll find her." He said, but Jack had to swallow again because of the lump growing in his throat.

"But this was a Dragon and -!" Jack argued, but Percy nodded.

"I know, I know. Listen, Jack, I know this is terrifying, but you need to breathe." Percy's hand moved to the back of Jack's neck, bringing them to a stop and facing each other. "I've got a hunch... And wherever Emma is, it can't be any worse than this hellhole."

"...You think she's okay?" Jack asked after a long moment of quiet.

"Yes. I think we just need to find her." Percy nodded, and his confidence with that statement was pretty comforting.

"Percy!" North's voice drew their attention, and the two Frosts' looked over to the larger man. "The Council just contacted me," North said, holding up the small scrying mirror. "A team of Aurors will be sent to formally document and look for clues here, but the fleet just west of here is under attack. We've been ordered to provide reinforcements."

"Which fleet?" Jack asked as all four of them started for the sleigh with long strides.

"The Dragon Hunters. Lead by Viggo Grimborn." Bunny answered, shoving open the main entrance door. "Sandy's already sent some of his flyers up the coast to help, but they can't offer much more without leaving the Inland Sea unguarded."

"Now wait just a moment! Where do you think you're going?!" The doctor appeared as they all hopped into the sleigh. North glanced down at him briefly.

"Business calls. Our people will be in touch." North smirked and then turned forward, cracking the reins. "YAH!"

The rush of the portal gave way to instant chaos. The battle was in full swing with Nightmares filling the sky. The fleet below was made up of mostly Dragon Hunters who were all muggles. The only air support was the Ravenclaw Graduates; the reinforcements Sandy managed to spare for assistance. Tadashi and his team outnumbered and losing ground, so North angled the sleigh right into the thick of it.

Bunny leaps off the sleigh and into the fray, jumping from Nightmare to Nightmare as he destroyed them. Percy was throwing precise icicle daggers, defending their flank when a small pack tried to rush them. Jack peered over the edge on the opposite flank, facing the sea.

Suddenly a blue dragon burst from the cloud in front of Jack, heading straight for them. It squawked loudly as it twisted upwards to avoid crashing into them, passing right over their heads. Jack followed it, spotting a barely conscious Fred dangling from one of the dragon's feet and his broomstick from the other.

"There, North!" Jack shouted.

"I see it!" North called back, yanking the reins to his left to give chase after the dragon.

Just as they were straightening out and beginning to gain speed in their chase, another, much larger, dragon burst down from the clouds above. It spread it's wings wide as it descended, coming between them and the smaller dragon. The larger one was red and it's whole body was on fire as it snapped at them warningly.

North was forced to veer off to the side, and the dragon matched the motion, causing them to circle each other. Jack glared at the beast and stood up on the side of the sleigh. He let himself fall backwards into the sky and after he'd cleared the sleigh, Jack threw his staff up to fly on it. He circled around, intent on taking the dragon from the side while it was focused on North.

He rushed forward once he was in position, but before he could do anything a pure black dragon shot up from below, spinning as it stretched it's massive wingspan and separated all three parties. Jack tumbled back in surprise, and North took evasive manuevres away from the new opponent. The red dragon, despite being larger and all flamed up, backed down almost instantly at the sight of the black one and flew away.

The slimmer, black dragon hovered for a moment, flapping it's wings as it glanced at Jack and then the sleigh. Jack just glared at it, but then all of the air seemed to escape his lungs at once as he spotted the rider on the dragon's back. His face was completely covered by a metal helmet, but he moved with the dragon as if they were one.

For a moment, everything was still, and then that all too familiar burning feeling in Jack's gut grew to an inferno. His blood boiled as he rushed at the Dragon Rider with a yell.

The dragon and it's rider didn't seem to notice, though, because they flipped around and shot off after the blue dragon that was carrying Fred. They were heading for the ships, so Jack gave chase with North and his dad right behind him. The three Guardians watched as the blue dragon approached one ship that was slightly away from the others. The creature dipped low and for some reason dropped Fred and his broom onto the deck of the ship before trying to fly off without even stopping. In the same instant, the black dragon and it's rider zoomed onto the scene and shoved the blue dragon out of the way of an arrow.

The blue dragon shot off into the sky, but the black dragon wobbled. It swooped awkwardly, landing on an overhang above the ocean before running into the forest.

All the other dragons on the battlefield rushed upwards, disappearing into clouds and out of the fight. It was as if they were following some secret command as they all seemed to vanish within an instant. All except the black dragon and it's rider. They didn't fly out of the forest and off into the air. They were grounded, and Jack wasn't about to let this opportunity get away from him.

If that arrow was keeping them grounded, then Jack was going to find them and finish this.

"Jack!" Percy yelled after him, but he wasn't listening.

He knew the sleigh was too large to follow him through the trees, but he was fine with that. Besides Bunny, Jack was the fastest among them right now, and he was not going to let this dragon riding killer get away.

Jack's eyes dart back and forth as he searches the forest for any sign of the mysterious pair. In the corner of his eye, he manages to catch a small flicker of movement, and he whirls around to see the dragon bounding through the trees. Jack rushes after it, dodging as the rider absently threw the arrow over his shoulder.

The trees are whizzing by and foliage whips at him occasionally, but he refuses to slow down. He threw an ice blast at them, but it splintered a tree just by the dragon's tail instead. He threw another one, but it burst out into sharp icicles on top of a rock when the dragon scurried around it. Jack flew over it, gaining more ground on them. The third blast he shot at them managed to at least partially hit it's mark.

The blast hit just by the dragon's back legs, exploding and sending them careening forward with a wave of snow. They hit the ground and rolled, dragging to a stop at the center of a clearing that overlooked the ocean. Jack ran through the powder still falling softly back to the snow-covered ground and took a fighting stance, raising his staff and pointing it at the dragon rider. The dragon groaned, panting as it rested on it's side. The rider was sitting on his knees and gently patted it's head, keeping his head angled more away from Jack.

The rider's helmet was knocked off in the blast and was laying in the snow between them, just outside of the rider's reach.

"Get up." Jack ordered, shifting his weight back and forth on his feet as he glared at the person in front of him. "Get up and fight!"

The rider tilted his head slightly towards him, listening, but beyond that he didn't move. Didn't show his face. He just sat there like Jack had already frozen him solid. Jack's grip on his staff tightened and he grit his teeth. That idea was sounding better and better to him.

According to Pitch, this guy was the reason Hiccup was gone. And now his sister was missing after a dragon attack just two days away from where they stood.

"Get up and fight, or I'll just freeze you now. You can face the Royal Council for all your crimes!" Jack spat.

"No." The rider said softly.

"What?" Jack bit out.

"I won't fight you," He said, still not lifting his head so Jack could see his face.

"Yeah? And why not?!" Jack snapped, his grip on his staff getting even tighter as he started getting angrier.

"I can't... I won't." He replied, finally lifting his head.

Jack gasped, nearly dropping his staff as he took a few steps back, as if he'd been slapped. His heart was pounding, his ears were ringing, and his throat felt tight. He didn't know what to do, or how to respond, so he just stared and whispered one word.

"Hiccup?"

Jack stared. His jaw was moving, but no sound was coming out.

Hiccup. It was Hiccup. Grown up and really different, but still... Hiccup. From his auburn hair to the freckles to the bright green eyes. Jack would know him anywhere.

The anger and the shock collided in his mind and heart, freezing him to the spot. His brain provided no coherent thoughts. He just kept staring at Hiccup whose eyes were sad and... cautious. Uncertain. Jack almost snorted. Kind of typical Hiccup.

"They're over here!" The shout came from somewhere behind Jack, and they both snapped their necks around to look.

A single hunter was running towards them. The others were too far away to spot, but Jack could here them calling out to each other. The hunter reached them, passing Jack and raising his crossbow at Hiccup as the dragon growled and struggled onto it's feet.

"What a catch!" The hunter cackled, knocking his arrow and taking aim. "I know a lot of people who will be happy to have your head!" Hiccup crouched and growled, but he wouldn't leave the dragon's side as it stood up on shaky legs, snarling.

Ice shattered against the back of the hunter's head and he fell forward into the snow, out cold.

Jack stood there, feeling just as surprised by his attack as Hiccup looked. The younger boy looked up at him with wide eyes, and Jack just stared back for a moment before shaking his head to clear it. He clenched his eyes shut, tilting his head down, and gripped his staff tight. He could hear the other hunters getting closer.

"Go." He said lowly, opening his eyes and looking over at Hiccup from under his brow. Hiccup still stared at him, hesitating.

"Jack -?"

Jack gave a yell, throwing his staff towards Hiccup. The blast hit the ground just to the right of Hiccup's foot as he lunged into action.

The dragon rider grabbed his helmet and shoved it back on as he leaped over the edge of the cliff alongside his dragon, swinging into the saddle with the same movement. The pair flew off, albeit a bit slower than Jack had seen them going before, and Jack ran to the edge of the cliff with the hunters right behind him, grumbling about missing their chance to catch him. Jack just stared up into the sky with a furrowed brow, watching the dark silhouette get smaller and smaller.

And Jack could've sworn he saw him look back.