Chapter 9
Within memories

''Jackson !'' A chestnut-haired woman shouted, though her voice was ringing with laughter. ''Slow down honey, Mommy can't keep up !''

The little boy with the exact same hair didn't listen and kept on running in the woods. The kid was barely four years old by he was already making life hard on his parents with his unlimited energy and his habit of always playing around.

His favorite playground was the forest. It was where he met the other kids from the village, where they were racing, playing hide-and-seek, climbing the trees, trying to find earlier where the Easter Bunny would hide his eggs and even try to hunt forest spirits.

His mother kept on trying to catch up with him, her basket swinging and dropping some of the mushrooms they had been collecting. After a while, the slender, graceful woman stopped to catch her breath, then she placed her basket on the grassy ground. She put her fists on her hips and smirked.

''Where is my little gremlin ?'' She teased.

She held back a chuckle as she heard a muffled laugh come from behind a tree near by. Her son was not much discreet, but it was normal for a toddler, especially a mischievous one like him. She took slow steps towards the tree, faking not knowing he was there.

''Blimey, he's getting so good at hide-and-seek, I will never be able to find him. Oh, I really don't know where he is. Huh, maybe he climbed that tree ? Maybe he slipped under this bush ? As fast as he is, he's surely already back to town and I'm looking here in vain.''

When she finally reached the tree, she quickly rounded it and grabbed the startled little boy. She wrapped her arms around him and blew in his neck to tickle him, making him giggle.

''Oh, I got you, you little rascal ! Now you will suffer my tickling wrath !''

''Mommy, stop !'' The boy laughed, shedding tears of laughter and struggling to breath.

''Oh no, I don't think so.''

''Daddy, Daddy, look ! There's someone in the tree !''

''What are you talking about, son ?'' A tall, brown-haired logger man laughed.

He looked up to the tree his son was pointing at but couldn't see anything, so he assumed it was just his son's overflowing imagination.

Though the boy was not imagining anything. He simply believed. He believed in all the fairytale his parents and his friends' parents told him. He believed in Santa Claus, in the Tooth Fairy and in the Easter Bunny. He also believed in Mother Nature, the Groundhog, the Stork bringing babies, the lucky Leprechaun and even the turtle that beat a hare at racing.

So seeing a man dressed in scales-covered armor, sitting in a tree, it was not strange for him. The man's startled expression, however, was. The auburnet dressed in black and dark brown got down and hesitantly stood in front of the boy, chocolate brown eyes following every of his movements.

''Wow…'' The little boy breathed. ''Are you a soldier ? You've got a soldier armor.''

''You… Can you see me ?''

''Yeah, duh.''

The man blinked.

''Well, you're the first to.''

''Really ?''

The armored man smiled and crouched down in try to level their eyes. The boy beamed at him, showing off pearly white teeth.

''It means you're special.''

''You think so ?''

The man nodded, making the boy beam even more, to the point he started to bounce.

''I'm Jackson, and you ?''

''Horren Blaze.''

''Horren Blaze ? That's a weird name.''

Though the words could seem harsh, the boy was clearly only curious, so the spirit snorted at that.

''Yeah, I know. Not as much as my full name, actually.''

''What's your full name ?''

Innocence seemed to radiate from the toddler, which made the man grow softer.

''I can't tell you, that's a secret. See, spirits' full name have influence on them. If you knew mine, you could use it to force me to do anything, including bad things I wouldn't want.''

''Oh, but I'd never do that !''

''I believe you, you seem a really nice small boy.''

''Hey, I'm not small, I'm five !''

''Oh, my apologizes, mister.'' The spirit teased, slightly bowing.

It made the boy giggle, the spirit joining him.

''So how do I call you ?'' Jackson asked.

''You can call me Hiccup, okay ?''

''Is that a nickname ?''

''Kind of.''

''Then you can call me Jack !''

Hiccup laughed again, then he softly patted the boy's mop of chestnut messy hair.

''Jack it is, then.''

''Jack, honey, we have wonderful news to tell you.''

Mary knelt in front of her son. With his seven years, he found himself slightly taller than her as she did so. He didn't know what she wanted to tell him, but his smile mirrored her own. Seeing his mother happy was making him happy, especially when his father was happy too.

''You're gonna be a big brother.''

''How so ?'' The boy hesistated.

Jonathan laughed and put a hand on his wife's shoulder, the other resting on his son's head.

''Daddy and Mommy are going to have a second child. You'll have a baby brother or sister.''

A blinding smile bloomed at the boy's face, and he started to bounce excitedly.

''Really ? Cool ! I'm gonna play with them ! We'll race in the woods, we'll make snowball fights and snowmen, iceskating, bug hunting and…''

His parents chuckled seeing how ecstatic he was.

''Do you rather a brother or a sister ?'' Jonathan asked.

''I don't care ! I'll love them the same and play with them and teach them a lot of things !''

Hiccup smiled by the window. This boy was something, he had to say.

Jackson's reaction to the baby's birth went through different phases. First there was this mixture of excitement, apprehension, worry – would his parents still love him the same ? – then fear during the delivery when his father and the healer forced him to wait outside the house. Then apprehension and excitement rushed back when he was allowed back in, then pure curiosity.

And when his eyes finally landed on the baby for the very first time, he grimaced. The pink thing was all chubby and wrinkled at the same time, small fingers looking like sausages. Mary chuckled at his face and told him he looked like that too when he was born, but he didn't believe it. Then his parents let him carry his baby sister, which they had named Emma, and the moment she opened her caramel brown eyes was simply magic.

Jack's face lit up, his eyes filling with renewed sparks. Just like a lot of big brothers before him, he vowed to protect this tiny being. Except that, unlike other children, he added another promise as he heard the bubbling warbble of the baby smiling at him. He vowed he'd do anything to protect his baby sister and make sure she was smiling and laughing every day of her life. And he kept his promise. At least, as best as he could, because there had been days he didn't manage to.

''Jack !'' Marie called out. ''You can't have fun all the time !''

''Of course I can !'' The nine years old chestnut boy replied before making a funny face to his sister. ''Right, Em' ?''

Emma giggled at that and tried to follow him when he ran away, but Mary was still holding her hand to help the toddler walk. The mother shook her head in a mixture of amusement and annoyment.

''Jack, you're gonna get hurt !''

Emma and two of her friends, along with Hiccup, looked up to look at the big brother tightrope walking on a branch in the tree. The small brunette was bitting her nails with worry.

''Jack, get down of there, you're gonna fall !''

''I won't, look, hop ! Without the hands !''

He sat on the branch and dropped himself backward, only using his legs to hold on the branch and flailing his arms with a goofy smile to make the kids laugh. Even his sister gave in.

By a chilly summer night, Jack and Hiccup were sitting on the same branch Jack had seen the fire spirit for the first time. With his thirteen years, the boy had became a rebellious teen and seemed to grow up more and more every day, turning from small cherub boy to taller, twig-like slim teen.

''Why can't Molly see you anymore ?'' He asked as his legs were hanging.

''These things happened.'' Hiccup explained. ''When growing up, children stop to believe in magic. And when they do, they forget and stop seeing spirits.''

''It's sad.''

''It's life.''

''Does it mean I'm going to forget you ?'' The chestnut boy asked, his voice full of worry.

He looked up to the taller spirit with pleasing chocolate eyes, and Hiccup looked down at him with melancoly all over his face.

''I'm afraid so, yeah.''

''No ! That's never gonna happen !''

Jack straightened and turned so he could face the spirit, angry frown on his childish pouting face. Hiccup chuckled at the contrast.

''I'm never gonna forget you ! I won't grow up and stay a child to always believe in you.''

Hearing this, the fire wielding spirit erupted in laughter, which made an embarrassed crimson blush bloom on the boy's face.

''Ah, you really are something, Jackson Overland.''

''What ? It's true. I don't wanna forget you, Hiccup. I love you too much for that, and we don't forget people we love.''

Hiccup's laugh calmed down but he kept his soften smile, then he ruffled the chestnut hair.

''I love you too, bud.''

Jack smiled at that, then he lowered his head shyly, his cheeks turning a lighter pink. Much to the spirit's surprise, the teen leant in and pressed a quick, shy peck on his lips, before he jumped from the tree branch and ran away to go back home.

The crackling fire was lighting up the wooden wall of the house, now turned into an improvised shadow theatre.

''And so the spirit of the forest emerged from the woods and stomped towards the village.'' Jack told.

The children around him couldn't help but giggle seeing his antics. He had picked up two sticks and was holding them on each side of his head so they would look like a deer antler, and he was stretching his legs and taking exaggerated steps to look like he was a giant.

''You're so funny, Jack !''

The tears just wouldn't stop. No mattered how much Jack was trying to hold them back, they just wouldn't stop. Try all his might, focussing all his will, nothing helped. All he could do was wail and whimper, moaning as his eyes and throat were on fire, pressing his head against the armored chest covered with auburn scales. His mind barely registered warm arms wrapped around him, holding him in place where his legs couldn't, drawing soothing circles on his back. His mind barely registered the voice trying to comfort him.

His father was dead. He had been killed by an accident while hunting. They made the funerals soon after the hunters had brought back Jonathan's dead body, and Jack hadn't recovered from the shock before the villagers had told him that now, he was the man of the house. Now he had to stop his childish antics and grow up to help his mother take care of the house and his sister. But he was only fifteen, he still felt like a child. His mother had never forced him to grow up too fast, but now the rest of the village was doing do.

Still that was not what was reaping his heart appart. What was killing him inside was how much he already missed his father.

''Jack, Jack !'' Emma cried, shaking and fisting her brother's back. ''Mister Foxy-Fox fell under my bed ! You hafta go get him !''

Jack groaned and pressed his face further into his pillow, burying himself under the blankets. Why did Emma have to wake him up ? The day had already been too long and exhausted, he hadn't have time to play with her or the other kids because he had too many chores to do. Was it some kind of payback she wanted from him ?

''Emma, lemme sleep, m'tired…''

''But Mister Foxy-Fox…''

''You can go get him yourself.''

''No, he fell under the bed ! The Boogeyman's gonna catch me !''

Jack sighed and got up. He followed his sister as she dragged him across the room they shared, pulling him but the sleeve while he was dragging his feet. When they reached her bed, he yawned and bent down. He outstretched his arm under the bed and took a hold of the stuffed fox left there. That's when he got an idea. He smirked and, instead of retreating the fox, he kept his arm like this and faked pulling with all his strength.

''What's wrong ?'' Emma worried.

''I don't know, he's stuck… Oh ! Ah ! Something caught my arm !''

Emma started and grabbed his shoulder, trying to pull him, but the teen was stronger than his little sister.

''Oh no, it's the Boogeyman ! Emma, don't let him take me !''

''Hold on Jack, I got you !''

''Oh non, I feel it, he's pulling me ! Ah, he's too strong, I can't !''

''Stop, let my brother go !''

''Emma !''

Jack was slowly slidding under the bed, Emma holding him by the collar but stepping back each time her feet started to slip under the bed.

''That's it, that's the end ! Emma, let me go, I don't wanna drag you with me !''

''No, I'm never letting go !''

''You have to, don't sacrifice your life for mine. You have to survive, Emma, who's gonna retale my jokes and adventures if you're not there anymore ? Who's gonna make the kids laugh ? Emma, you have to live and laugh. Promise me you will laugh for me.''

''No, I don't wanna loose you !''

''Promise me, Em'.''

''Okay, okay, I promise ! But hold on, please !''

When he saw tears streaming his sister's face, Jack knew the joke was going too far, so he let himself fall backward, as if the thing pulling at him under the bed had suddenly let go. Emma yelped as she fell too, her brother's back landing on her legs.

''What, what, what happened ? Is he gone ?'' She asked.

Jack tried to find an excuse, and he got an idea as he looked at the stuffed fox. He lifted it a bit and looked at it with wide eyes.

''What ? Seriously, Mister Foxy-Fox ?''

He waited a bit, then laughed out loud, much to Emma's dismay.

''What did he say ?'' She prompted.

''He bit the Boogeyman ! Oh, looks like Mister Foxy-Fox just saved me ! My hero !''

He threw the fox in the air and caught it, still laughing, but his sister stole the fox before he could do it again, she backed and hugged the stuffed animal tightly.

''Thank you Mister Foxy-Fox.'' She said, sniffling. ''Thank you for saving my dumb brother.''

'Hey !'' Jack protested though he was still laughing.

''Jack, what is 'marriage' ?'' Emma asked.

Her brother and her were taking a stroll into the woods, hand in hand, so they could marvel at the beauty of the colorful authumn leafs, until the question came out of nowhere. The teen's face paled.

''Where did you hear that from ?''

''Mommy told you about it, this morning, didn't she ? She said you were grown up and you had to marry.''

Jack groaned and rolled his eyes. Why did his sister had to overhear this ? Why did his mother even had to bring this up ? Next winter, he was going to be seventeen, he was supposed to be an adult, leave the house and make his own home, with a wife and children of his own. But he wasn't ready. He still felt too young for that. Just like he had promised Hiccup, he refused to grow up and kept on believing in magic and spirits, even if the others said he was too old for that.

Moreover, Jack didn't want to leave his home.

''Marriage is when two people love each other and want to spend their life together.'' He explained without much emotion. ''Like Mom and Dad had done. When this two persons get married, they build their own house and have their own children.''

''Oh ! So you're gonna marry Hiccup ?''

Jack's face turned a deep crimson red, making his sister chuckle.

''I knew it !'' She beamed.

''No, Emma, not Hiccup.''

''But you like him, don't you ? And he likes you too, he told me.''

''He must have told you too we can't be together.''

Just like he had told him after Jack had kissed him, four years ago.

''Why ?'' Emma asked with confusion. ''Because he's a spirit ? Because adults say he's not real ?''

''Yeah. That's exactly why, actually.'' Jack sighed.

Emma stared at him intently, as if waiting for him to laugh and tell it was one of his pranks. But he didn't. It wasn't a prank. So she pouted.

''Adulthood sucks.'' She groaned.

''Yeah, I know.''

Actually, he couldn't agree more on that.

''Be careful.'' Marie said as she walked her children to the door.

She looked at them walk away, iceskates hanging in their hands. Emma was dragging her brother by the arm, trying to make him move faster, but he took his time to turn back to his mother and flash her one of his mischievous grins. She couldn't help but worry, she had gone over-protective since Jonathan's death.

''We will.'' Jack grinned.

Really, his mother was too worried, but he would miss this when the time would come he would have to leave the house.

Jack felt his heart beating fast, echoing in his chest because of the panic he was trying to keep in and don't show. He slowly placed his second ice-skate down on the ice and focused on his sister, standing in front of him, out of arm reach.

''It's okay, it's okay.'' He soothed. ''Don't look down, just look at me.''

''Jack, I'm scared…''

Emma glanced down to her feet, forcing her brother to do the same. The web of cracks in the ice spread a little bit, the cracking sound echoing in Jack's ears.

''Yeah I know, I know.''

He took a cautious step towards her, but the ice cracked under his toes too. He gulped his fear and forced a smile to his sister.

''But y-you're gonna be alright. You're not gonna fall in, huh… We're gonna have a little fun instead !''

''No, we're not !''

''Would I trick you ?''

''Yes, you always play trick !''

''No,'' He chuckled as he took another step, then bent a bit to level their eyes. ''okay well but not- not this time. I promise, I promise, you're gonna be… You're gonna be fine.''

His smile softened, while Emma looked up to him.

''You have to believe in me.''

His sister stared at him, then she ended up nodding shyly. Her brother would trick her, but he would never lie to her, especially when he promised. He was a damned prankster, but he had always kept his promises.

''You wanna play a game ? We're gonna play hopscotch. Like we play everday !''

Emma smiled to the mention of her favorite game, her brother was just so ridiculous when he was tripping and flailing his arms everywhere.

''It's easy as this… One…''

Jack took a step on the side, but the ice cracked under his feet. He waited a bit for it to stabilize, then focused on chasing away his sister's fear, so he faked tripping and flailed his arms and his leg with exagerated gestured, managing to make her laugh.

''Two… Three !''

He gave a beaming, victorious smile as he landed on thicker ice, no crackling web appearing under his feet. There was a small pile of branches and sticks there, it would be handful for Jack. He rummaged a bit through it and found a long staff with a crooked end. Perfect. He crouched and pointed the G shape towards his sister, readying himself to catch her. But she was still too far. She had to get closer. If she could just take two or three steps towards him, he could catch her. He just had to keep her calm.

''Alright, now it's your turn.''

He gave her a playful smile, and she smiled back, she wasn't afraid anymore. So he started to count. Emma took a first step, but the ice cracked under her, making her gasp.

''That's it, that's it.'' He reassured her, outstretching the staff.

The second step had the same result, but the ice started to make louder crackling noises, which fed Emma's fear.

She couldn't move anymore, it was too risky, so Jack took the step and acted quickly. He snaked the crooked end of the staff around her waist and used his own weight to add force as he pulled and threw his sister behind him. She slipped and glidded over the cold surface until she reached the shore. Jack didn't pay attention when he lost his balance and landed, he only focused on his sister, making sure she was safe.

He quickly sat up and checked on her. She was sprawled on her belly, she looked up and seemed a bit disoriented, then she beamed at him. He smiled back and stood up, chuckling. He couldn't believe it, it had worked ! He had saved her ! He aimed to get back to her and take her back home to celebrate, already plotting to make another shadow theatre about it, but he only had the time to take one step before the ice underneath him gave in.

He fell in. He spotted his sister stretching her hand to him and heard her scream his name before he was engulfed in freezing waters.

Jack didn't know how to swim, but even if he did, it wouldn't have changed anything. Weather had never been merciful during winter in Burgess, and the water was so cold you barely had time to drown before freezing to death. Yet he didn't have this chance. Sure he felt the bite of the cold, but it paralyzed him without killing him. The water did. And all along his agony, he kept his eyes darted up. He could see the hole he had fell through, and through it he could see the sky. Blue sky troubled by dark waters, but still the moon shone.

It was so bright its glow seemed to pierce the darkness in try to reach him. But still everything turned dark.

It was dark.

It was cold.

He was scared.

And he was alone.