Chapter 10
The last light

Jack came back to his senses with a start, panting and disoriented. Shock and panic were swirling in him as he had just relived his memories, he took a few seconds to take it all in, then he beamed.

''Did you see… Did you see that ?'' He exclaimed.

Hiccup shrugged while the tiny tooth fairy shook her head no. Only the owner of the teeth could see the memories within it. Tooth could check them, but not her fairies.

It didn't stop the bubbling energy that filled Jack. He dropped the cannister and picked up the fairy, who chuckled and chirped to his childish burst of joy.

''It- It was… It was me ! I had a family, I had a sister ! I saved her !''

He laughed and dropped back, sitting on his knees, under Hiccup's watch. When the winter spirit managed to calm down and turned his head towards him, he hesitated, and the viking got nostalgic.

Something had changed in Jack's eyes, a familiar spark lighting them up, making the ice blue look warmer than ever. Hiccup smiled hesitantly, simply waiting, his whole body was tensing in anticipation, until Jack breathed.

''Hiccup…''

It was the viking's turn to breath, and his fake smile beamed.

''So it's really you.''

The boy nodded, then the viking threw his arms around him, hugging him tightly and resting his head against his. He took a deep breath of relief and took in the scent of the younger spirit. This fizzy scent of freshly fallen snow was nothing like Jack's human scent he had known, the winter cold temperature of the body neither, but it didn't matter to him. It didn't matter how much Jack had changed, because he was still there.

Hiccup had always been a sociable and friendly spirit, but still he was solitary. Ever since the death of his best friend Toothless – though the dragon had died from old age after a long and happy life – it had digged a hole in his heart. He had lost a part of himself that day and had built walls around him so he would not get attached again and suffer from the loss of someone he cared for.

The only bounds he had made with someone had been with Aster, the grumpy spring spirit always had had admiration for the viking and had forced his way through the walls, until he became a friend that helped Hiccup get over his grief.

Meeting Jack had been completely different. From the very first time Hiccup's eyes had landed on the five years old boy, he had known there was something special about him. The fact the toddler could see him, making him Hiccup's first believer, had only proved it. There was something special in Jack, something radiating from him every day and warming up hearts around him. The way he was playing with the other kids and caring for them, how he could find fun in anything, including the most boring chores, his unstoppable joy…

Hiccup had quickly grown attached to him. Effortlessly, just with his limitless joy, Jack had made his way right to the spirit's heart, and conquered him over the years. The only other place were Hiccup had settled for longer than in Burgess was in the Hidden World of dragons, because once he had met Jack, he had not left the small village in the woods. He had remained by Jack's side, watching over him while he was growing up. Hiccup had not realised back then what was this feeling growing inside of him, until the day the boy had shyly kissed him.

So many powerful emotions had flooded the viking, making him feel more alive than he had ever been since becoming a spirit. However, it didn't matter how strong these feelings were, it couldn't last. Because they weren't from the same world. One was immortal, had already lived a millenium and half, and would live through others after this the other was mortal, would grow up, grow old and eventually die.

Hiccup had explained this to Jack, filled with guilt as he had to break such a pure, joyful golden heart. Jack had needed a bit of time, but he had ended up understanding and live with this, and both had remained friends, cherishing this friendship and this peculiar connection between them. It had not made the feelings fade, actually it had made them grow even more. Hiccup had ended up understanding that, no mattered how much he would try to distance himself, he couldn't go without Jack. He needed the boy by his side.

Since he was to loose him anyway, he had decided to stay with him and make the most of their limited time, vowing to let him grow up, forget the spirits and magic, and vowing to keep on watching over him as he would build his own family and have children of his own, until his last breath. He had vowed to be there until the last breath of the one who had captured his heart and soul.

Unfortunately, that day had came way sooner than he had expected. Jack had turned seventeen only two days prior, he had taken his sister to ice-skating on the frozen pound. The ice had cracked. Hiccup had stayed afar, knowing his sole presence and heat would only make things worst. He had watched with fear and anguish, then amusement as Jack guffawed around to chase away Emma's fear and reassure her. He had held his breath and had been filled with admiration as Jack had saved his sister. Then he had been completely helpless and watched with horror as the one he loved had fallen in.

He had instantly lunged to his rescue, even if diving into freezing waters had caused him unbearable pain to both his body and magic. The dragon had not cared for pain, it had been nothing compared to the emotional pain of loosing his loved one. So he had dove and had swum fiercefully, trying to catch up to the sinking silhouette in the bottom. It had taken him way too long to do it, his weakened body numbing and slowing him down. And when Jack had finally been in his reach, the viking's fingers had went through him in a painfully familiar blue halo.

But it had not been Jack not believing anymore in Hiccup. It had not left this empty sensation he felt everytime he went through people who didn't believe. What he had felt then was nothing but freezing cold, complete nothingness, the kind of cold left by a body he couldn't touch… because it was devoid of life, devoid of soul. Hiccup had still fought the idea and tried again and again to catch Jack, but the result had been the same. Warm tears had mixed into freezing waters before the fire spirit's inner warning bells had screamed for him to save his magic from the bitting cold, forcing him to give up and go back to the surface.

He had remained still in the cold wind of this later winter evening, panting and his mind blank, flabberghasted by what had just happened, refusing to admit it. And when denial had finally been replaced by realisation, he had instantly stared up to the sky, to the Sun, and had begged him to save Jack. He had already spoken of the boy to the fire star, as if Søl had not noticed how his spirit had grown on the boy through the years. Hiccup had told him about this special joy and energy in Jack, and he used them as arguments to try and convince Søl the boy had a pure heart and a precious soul that deserved to be saved, to be turned into a spirit.

Lord Søl had been silent first, for longer than Hiccup could have endured, and when he had finally adressed his sobbing and broken child, his mystical voice had been nothing but sadness.

''I'm sorry, I can't.''

Hiccup had protested and insisted, anger flowing in him.

''I never asked you anything ! I went through your conditions and followed your rules all theses years, all these centuries, I thought we were friends ! Why do you deny me this ?! Why do you deny him this ?!''

''I'm really sorry. I can not explain it, my powers can not reach him. I can do nothing to get him back.''

Back then, Hiccup had thought it was lame excuses. So instead, he had asked something else. Saying he couldn't go on without Jack, he had asked for Søl to take back his immortality, to turn him back into human, or dead corpse already. He didn't care. He wanted to end all of this. But Søl had denied him this. He told him he would never destroy one of his spirits and would always do anything he could to maintain them. There was no way he was helping Hiccup disappear. That was what Hiccup took as a betrayal. Not saving Jack, at least he could understand, but denying him ending his suffering ? That was what ended their friendship. That was what made Hiccup turn his back on the Sun.

However, three hundred years later, at the bottom of this crevice in Antarctica, now Hiccup knew what had happened that day. Dusk had always weakened the sun's magic and increased the moon's. Søl would had never had enough power to raise a new spirit, he would had had to wait for the next day, but waiting too long after a human's death meant risking for the soul to be lost forever. So Lady Máne had taken action.

Back then, Hiccup had left, drowning in rage and despair, so he had not witnessed Jack's rebirth. He had never known. And he had grieved for three hundred years, without knowing the one he loved was roaming alone, without memories, without anyone to know he existed.

In this very moment, none of this mattered. All his pain and suffering had vanished while he was holding Jack in his arms. Jack's loneliness was done, Hiccup's pain and grief were done too, now replaced with only warmth and this urge to protect the young winter spirit, this being who had warmed up his heart and brought light in his life.

The moment seemed even more magic and surreal when sun rays descended on them, surounding them in its warm shine. Both spirits looked up to Lord Søl, illuminating the sky through a thin layer of clouds. He was smilling down at them. Hiccup smiled back and nodded solemnly.

''I'm sorry, Søl. For everything. Thank you for leading me to him.''

From the corner of his eye, he could see Jack stare at him, but he remained focused on the star that adressed them.

''You both have a very special bound, which went beyond time and the barrier of the worlds. Your magic is opposite but intrinsically linked, they're even more powerful when combined. On your own, you are extrems, you are fire and ice. Together, you are life. You are exactly like Lady Máne and me. This is why you have more responsabilities than the other spirits. You are more than elementals, more than Guardians. You are Protectors.''

''Pitch is still gaining power.'' Lady Máne added, as she had remained in the same place in the sky, now next to the Sun. ''He plans to strike again, you have to stop him and save the Guardians.''

Hiccup nodded with determination while the stars' light faded, meaning the astral spirits had receded. The white-haired boy remained sitting, he seemed confused and scared, but despite that he was craddling the little tooth fairy in a protective way. Hiccup smiled and offered his hand.

''Let's go, Jack. Let's go help our friends.''

The boy nodded and placed the fairy on his shoulder, she snuggled a bit in his hood, before he took the viking's hand to get up. However, he winced and pressed a hand on his chest.

''Jack, you okay ?''

''Yeah.'' The boy said, gritting his teeth. ''It's because Pitch broke my staff.''

The viking hesitated and watched as the younger spirit picked up the two pieces. That's when he recognized the G-like crook and realised he had seen this branch before. It was the one Jack had used to save Emma.

''That's a catalyst.''

Jack nodded, dull eyes glancing down at the object.

''I don't have powers without it.'' He murmured.

Hiccup saw how he seemed hopeless, as if the asbence of the staff was making him completely helpless and unable to help the Guardians. But the fire wielder knew about the catalyst. There were only few spirits needing some, but it always worked the same way for all of them.

''Of course you do. Your magic is inside of you, your staff is just a conduit. It helps you to use your powers, but it's not the source of it. You are.''

''What am I supposed to do without it, then ?''

''That would take too long for you to master your powers without your conduit. We don't have that time, but you can mend the staff.''

''What ? Do you really think some glue would be enough ?''

Hiccup chuckled at that and ruffled the snow-white hair.

''With you magic, you dummy.''

Jack pouted and glanced at his staff, he was sceptical. He checked how it had snapped and pressed the two pieces in place, before he focused on icing it back in one piece. They waited in silence, the fairy squeaking with hesitation. When the pieces slipped because Jack was pressing them too hard, he groaned in frustration.

''You can do it, Jack. I believe in you.''

The words felt like a soothing balm for Jack, even more the sincerity they held.

He took a deep breath and replaced the pieces, this time with more force. He closed his eyes and grimaced a bit, furrowing his eyebrows while blue light started to shine between the two pieces. Jack heard excited squeaks from the tooth fairy and a surprised gasp from Hiccup, and when he opened his eyes, the frosted light faded to unveil a mended staff. There was no crack left, as if it had never been broken in the first place. And now that it was mended, the pain in Jack's chest faded, and he could feel his magic flow in his veins anew. He beamed at Hiccup and noticed the viking looked proud.

''Let's take care of Pitch.'' The viking claimed.

A dragon and a winter spirit took off, darting throught the white, deserted landscape, floating in a gust of northwind. They headed where they expected to find the Boogeyman, in his lair. However, after searching the dark cave and its ruins, they didn't find him. He wasn't there, unlike the countless fairies. They were squeaking with joy seeing the two spirits arrive.

Jack ended up taking off and soaring here and there to open up all the cages. Tooth would certainly be happy to find her fairies back, and they would help for the upcoming battle. However, as the cages were now opened, none of the fairies came out.

''What's wrong ?'' He hesitated.

He took a closer look inside of the cage he had last opened, the one he was still perching on, and noticed how the fairies were trying to beat their wings, but the pink translucent appendages weren't answering.

''None of you can fly ?''

''Jack.'' Hiccup called from the ground.

The viking nodded towards Pitch's copy of the belief globe, on which they could see the lights still going out at top speed. There weren't much left… Jack landed next to Hiccup and started to pace around the globe. They could count the lights on their fingers. There were only six left. Six precious children still believing in magic and the Guardians.

Five…

Four…

Three…

Two blinked out at the same time…

Only one left…

Hiccup closed his eyes, he didn't want to look at it go out. Silence loomed around them, as if nothingness had befallen on them. At least, until he head Jack perch on top of the globe, making a slighlty metallic creek that caught the viking's attention. Fire orange eyes opened up and gazed up to find the winter spirit crouched on the globe, bending over North America, staring down with shining eyes to the last light.

What ? It hadn't gone out ? Hiccup stared and noticed that, unlike the others which had flickered before vanishing, this one was still shining. It didn't look like it was going to go out soon.

''Jamie !'' Jack smiled.

Both spirits then knew they had to go to the chestnut-haired boy, they had to protect the last light, because wherever Pitch was, it wouldn't take too long for the dark spirit to notice and go after the child.

Jamie couldn't sleep. He was supposed to for hours now, but he was still wide awake. He felt too bad to sleep. Easter had been a failure, his friends and him had spent all the afternoon searching without finding a single egg. He had watched them give up one by one and leave to go back home, convinced the Easter Bunny and the other fairytales were nothing but stories.

He wanted to keep on believing, but he was having doubts too. He didn't know where he stood anymore. Granted he had seen the spirits in his own room, but how could he be sure it had not been just a dream ? After all, why would they have gather to visit him specifically ? So there he was, in the dim light of his bedroom only lit up by a globe lamp, sitting on his bed and facing a stuffed bunny he had sat in front of him.

It was far from the Easter Bunny he had dreamt being chased by Abbey, but it would do. The real bunny could hear him through it, right ?

''Okay, look. You and I are obviously at what they call a crossroad. So here's what's gonna happen…''

Hiccup and Jack landed to the slightly opened window of the bedroom, both of them freezing as they saw the young boy. They remained silent and listened.

''If it wasn't a dream, and if you are real, then you have to prove it. Like right now.''

Jamie bent forwards, looking intently to the button eyes of the rabbit, but nothing happened. Jack crouched on the windowsill, his heart sinking.

''I believed in you for a long time, okay ? Like my whole life, in fact.''

He picked up the rabbit and leveled their eyes.

''So you kind of owe me, now. You don't have to do much. Just a little sign so I know. Anything.''

Jack came out of his thoughts as he felt a warm hand rest on his shoulder. He glanced over it and met Hiccup's eyes, who smiled and nodded towards Jamie.

''Go on.'' The fire wielder whispered softly.

The fact Jamie didn't react to the voice proved he had already started to stop believing in some spirits. Not all of them, maybe not in Aster yet, but already in Hiccup. Jack panicked.

''W-What, me ? But he doesn't see me and-''

''That didn't stop you until then, did it ?'' The viking smirked before he pointed to the drawing hanging on Jamie's wall. The one portraying the sledding accident on which Jack had tried to add himself with his frost. The spirit dressed in blue grimaced, but Hiccup insisted.

''You were still completely invisible a few days ago, but you succeeded to open up our eyes, the Guardians and me. You made us, even Pitch, believe in you. You can do it.''

Jack looked back to Jamie, who had been waiting for the sign. The boy lowered his head and sighed, then he dropped the stuffed bunny.

''I knew it…''

The winter bringer felt his heart break seeing the bunny fall on the ground, then he pushed the window and entered the room slowly, hesitantly.

Jamie was on the verge of tears when he suddenly heard crystal, muffled sounds coming from his window. He cast a glance and was surprised to see frosted patterns cover the second pane. Then, much to his astonishment, a drawing appeared, as if someone was running a finger on the frost. Soon, it took the shape of an egg, decorated with waves and points. An Easter egg. Jamie gasped and looked at his stuffed bunny, before he quickly stood on his bed, eyes wide as the fern-like iced designs spread on the upper pane.

Another drawing appeared, it was a bunny this time.

''He's real.'' Jamie breathed.

Jack couldn't help but smile, just like Hiccup, then the winter spirit let his joy express. He wanted the magic moment to last longer, so he focused on the bunny drawing and decided to use a little trick he had invented a few decades ago. The ice thickened on the window pane and ended up forming a corporeal bunny which hopped out of the window and into Jack's cold palms.

When it started to bounce and run in the bedroom, floating in the air, it was followed by specks of ice and snowflakes. Jamie giggled and immediatly chase after it, turning on himself and trying to catch the playful ice creature. Jack's bubbling laughter joined his even if only Hiccup could hear it.

After a few circles around Jamie, the bunny exploded in blueish sparks and snowflakes. It started to snow from the ceiling, a light and delicate snow, though it melted and vanished before it could touch the ground.

''Snow… ?'' Jamie gasped.

He stared in wonder at the unusual sight, and when one of the snowflakes landed on his nose, he remembered an old tale he had read once in a book at the library. A misknown tale.

''Jack Frost…'' He whispered.

Jack started at that.

''What ?''

He glanced at Hiccup, who was mouth-gaping at the little boy.

''Jack Frost ?'' Jamie hesitantly called out.

''Oh, he said it again !'' Jack breathed, his voice shaking and his hands starting to move nervously around him. ''He said… Y-You said…''

Jamie turned around, his jaw dropping as he faced Jack, who was still shaking.

''Jack Frost.'' The boy said again.

''That's right !'' The winter spirit breathed, running nervous hands in his hair while Hiccup stared amused at them, still by the windowsill. ''B-But that's me ! Jack Frost, that's my name ! You said my name !''

Jamie remained frozen, eyes wide and mouth agape, until he nodded slowly. Jack froze too.

''Wait… Can you hear me ?''

Jamie nodded again.

''C-Can you… Can you see me ?''

Another nod, then Jamie smiled, sending Jack in a sudden burst of pure, bubbling joy.

''He sees me ! He sees me !''

The spirit let out a victorious cry and made a summersault before landing on Jamie's desk, the boy started to jump and bounce on his bed.

''You just made it snow !''

''I know !''

''In my room !''

''I know !''

''You're real ?''

Jack jumped from the desk to stand in front of Jamie, both of them grinning like madmen and eyes sparkling.

''Yes ! Who do you think brings you the blizzards and the snowdays ? And you remember when you went flying on your sledge the other day ?''

''That was you ?''

''That was me !''

''Cool !''

''Right, hey ?''

''But… What about the Easter Bunny ? And the Tooth Fairy ? I mean, what about Santa- ?''

''They're real ! We're real, real, real !''

He picked up the stuffed bunny from the floor and clutched it to his chest, still smiling but sounding more serious.

''Every one of us is real.''

Jamie bounced again.

''I knew it !''

But all good mood dropped as they heard Jamie's mother talking from the corridor.

''Jamie ? Who are you talking to ?''

''Hum…''

The boy tensed his shoulders and gave an hesitant look to Jack, who simply smiled and nodded towards the door.

''Huh… Jack Frost ?''

The mother chuckled.

''Okay.'' She said before leaving.

Jamie smiled at Jack, as if he couldn't believe that actually worked. Then Hiccup stepped into the room and picked up the shepherd crook Jack had leant against the wall. Jamie breathed as he saw him.

''Wow, Horren Blaze !''

''Hi again, Jamie.'' The viking smiled.

''Oh, so cool, I can't believe it !''

While the little boy erupted into a delighted hysteria and bounced on his bed, making the mattress creek a bit, Hiccup gave back his staff to Jack and nudged him playfully.

''I'm proud of you.'' He murmured.

Jack felt like his ice was melting to the soft words.

However, a sudden gust of wind blew on the windows and made them bang the wall. Hiccup rushed to see what was happening as other sounds echoed in the street, magical sounds. What had looked like a flash of lightning had actually been a snow globe portal, and jingling bells could be heard in the sky. The two spirits' eyes followed the shadow of North's sleigh. It seemed unbalanced and ended up crash-landing in the streets. The hitch broke and freed the reindeers, leaving them fleeing away in the night.

''Oh no, come back !'' Nord whined as he tried to pull himself on his feet.

''North, are you okay ?'' Tooth worried.

She put one of his large arms around her thin shoulders and tried to hoist him up.

''It iz official, my powers are kaput.''

As he said that, one of the sleigh's runners gave in, unbalancing the whole sleigh. North fell backwards while Tooth managed to maintain her balance, and she pointed to the two spirits coming to meet them. Both barely had time to land the fairy jumped from the sleigh. She beat her wings but fell as they couldn't carry her anymore.

''Jack !'' She exclaimed as she fell again, this time in front of him.

She got up and dusted her feathers before loosing her balance, but he caught her before she meet the ground again.

''You okay ?''

North got out of the sleigh too, his skin even paler than last time, he was leaning heavily on one of his swords, using it as a cane. He looked like a old, tired man.

''What arre you doing herre ?'' He asked with suspicion, his thick eyebrows furrowed.

''Same as you.'' The younger spirit replied with a smile before he nodded towards the house.

Jamie slamed the door when he went out and froze with a huge smile as he saw the new arrival.

''The last light.'' North smiled.

The young boy, though he was only dressed in pyjamas and socks, ran to them excitedly.

''Wow ! It is you ! I mean it is you !''

He giggled as North took his hand to confirm it.

''I knew it wasn't a dream !'' He exclaimed as he turned to look at Jack, who smiled back.

Tooth and North were both surprised at that and smiled tenderly, like proud parents.

''Jack, he sees you.''

The winter spirit's smile grew and he playfully nudged Jamie's shoulder, but the good mood dropped as he noticed the Guardians were only two.

''Wait, but… where's Bunny ?''

The Guardians' smiles vanished and Hiccup got worried.

''Is he okay ?'' The viking prompted.

''Loosing Easterr took its toll on all of us, Bunny most of all.''

They turned back to the sleigh, and waited a bit before they saw a bunny hop on the railling. A tiny little grey and white rabbit, still the tribal marks on its fur couldn't be mistaken.

''Oh no…'' Hiccup gritted his teeth.

He didn't dare imagine how were the Guardian of Hope's powers, and even less how he was feeling.

Aster hoped and landed on the fin, finding himself at hip-level from the other spirits. The way his ears were twitching and how he was wingling his muzzle made him look like a cute domesticated bunny, far away from the Pooka warrior the viking used to know.

''That's the Easter Bunny ?'' Jamie laughed as he stepped closer.

Aster seemed to suddenly awake and got angry.

''Now somebody sees me ! Where were ya 'bout an hour ago, mate ?''

North and Jack exchanged a perplexed but amused glance, the simple presence of Jamie seemed enough to help the spring spirit.

''What happened to him ?'' The kid inquired. ''He used to be huge and cool, and now he's… cute.''

He scratched the bunny on the cheek, which made Aster roll his eyes in delight, even his paw started to tap the floor.

''Oh, oh that's good…''

Though he quickly pulled himself together and chased away the hand with his little paws. Then he death glared at Jack.

''Did ya tell 'him ta say that ?!''

He hopped down from the fin and rushed in front of the winter spirit, kicking his shin with his hinder legs before he took a step back and clenched his fists, bouncing like he was about to box the boy.

''That's it, let's go ! Me and ya, come on !''

While Jack stayed silent, visibly feeling very bad for the bunny, Hiccup hurt his throat as he tried to hold back from laughing seeing how ridiculous his friend looked like, he ended up bending forwards and leaning on his knees, teasing Aster.

''Oh, you're so cute when you get angry.''

''Say tha' again ?!''

Hiccup shook his head and was about to take Jack's defence, but Jamie proved faster as he placed himself in-between the two seasonal spirits, crouching in front of Aster.

''No, actually he told me you are real. Just when I started to think that maybe you weren't.''

Jamie fidgeted nervously with his fingers while admitting this, guilt showing on his whole face and his brown eyes. Aster instantly calmed down.

''He made ya believe… in me ?''

He seemed on the verge of tears when he looked back to Jack, then gave him a grateful smile. Hiccup smiled too as he saw this complicity between them come back to life, but the magic of the moment ended abruptly as lightning bolt suddenly lit up the sky. They all looked up and realised Pitch had arrived.