Forgotten Tale of the Past

It was one of the strangest sensations Hiccup had ever felt. One minute he'd been calling out to a child, the next thing he knew he was blinded by some weird illumination. When he could see again he was shocked by what had happened. He didn't know how long he'd been out, yet when he came too he was shocked by what he saw. The last glimmer of painted light from the fading autumn sun glisten in the eerie cavern's light. He awoke and first thing he realized that something wasn't right. He couldn't explain it, nevertheless he felt well extremely light, and he also felt like nothing! Like he was nothing! He felt no sensation of any kind! None at all!

At the same time as he tried to make sense out of all it, he heard a noise at the mouth of the cavern, and turned and saw the silhouette of Astrid, and he dashed quickly over to her. However it was like she didn't even see, hear or feel him. Then he realized something that made him feel very cold inside. He was looking at himself lying in front of him was himself! There wasn't a mirror so it wasn't his reflection and that when he took a good look at himself. His hands were transparent! He tried to lay a hand on Astrid as she left with his body; however he went right through her! He at that moment began to panic some. Now he realized not only was he invisible, but he was also intangible, furthermore not a soul knew he was still in this strange cavern!

"What in the name of the Gods is going on?! What just happened?!" he cried out aloud as he watched Toothless being ridden by Astrid away from the cavern. He was very scared at that moment. Strangely the person he wanted to be with more then anyone else at that moment wasn't his father or even Toothless. Right now he was so terrified in addition to perplexed he wished his mom was still alive so she could comforted him. In view of the fact that that was moms were for. When worst came to worst they'd always took care of their babies and always made sure they're safe. Right now all he wanted was to at least be holding his mom's precious gift, that small dragon toy. He actually wept a teardrop, but like the rest of him at the moment it had no real substance to it.

"What in the name of Asgard is going on? What just happened to me? Am I dead now? Is this the afterlife? Am I just a ghost now?" he questioned aloud. He was starting to feel a bit more hopeless then he took notice of the sound of someone else crying. It was that child's voice he'd heard that led him here.

Hiccup knew he didn't have time to be puzzled or feel sorry for himself. A child needed him and he knew he had to help them someway. He noticed that he was sorta gliding as he traveled deeper into the cavern. He glided about maybe about ten minutes or so then he came to a peculiar sight.

In front of him was a small child, a little girl who looked about five years old. Her skin was so pale it looked like she'd never seen the sun. Her hair was the palest shade of blond he'd ever seen. There was something unique about her hair as well. The tips of the hair were the exact shade of lilac just like the spring beautiful flowers. He also noticed that her hair looked as if someone had taken a shard of glass and cut it. It was messy and uneven. Whoever had cut it hadn't known what they're doing. She wore a simple snow white dress. Nothing fancy just a simple white dress. She was currently sleeping on a stone mound with a ring of lilacs around her. She was shivering and her face was tearstained. So he took off his fur vest and laid it over her. The little girl stopped shivering at once but continued to sleep.

Without much to do for the time being Hiccup spent the next few hours just watching her sleep and trying to figure out what was going on. He quickly realized that though he had bee a bit hungry before coming to the cave that he felt no hunger now. Or need to use the bathroom either. It was the strangest thing that had happened to him in his life. He was busy studying a few runes craved into the eerie shimmering jade green stone walls of the cavern when he heard the little girl stir. Quick as Toothless he dashed to be by her side and stroked her strange hair.

"It's okay, little one. I'm here now. So you'll be safe now," Hiccup told the child in a comforting voice. He instinctively hugged her close and was startled when he found he could touch her. He couldn't touch Astrid but he could touch this little girl. It didn't make a lot of sense at that moment but it was comforting to him to know he could at least touch someone! The little girl was smiling elatedly as Hiccup hugged her tightly.

"Oh, thank you for coming! I thought I never see another human ever again! Thank you for coming to me! Thank you!" she said in a grateful tone of voice. Her voice sound a little hoarse as though she'd strained it from yelling too much. He guessed that was the answer. If she'd been calling for help for so long she must have yelled herself hoarse!

"It's okay, I'm here now. You're gonna be alright. So you're gonna be just fine, trust me, okay?" he assured her. He smiled at her with an affectionate smile and she seemed to be calming down from that.

"Thank you for coming. I've been calling for so long I never thought anyone would come. I figured I was forgotten and I'd be alone for the rest of eternity. So thanks," she confessed in her raspy voice.

"Do you need something to drink? You sound like you've just about lost your voice. Is there any place I can get you water?"

"Well, there's a small pool of fresh water next to the glowing crystals just a little ways away. I've got a cup for some," the child replied as she crawled to a corner and picked up a worn-out chipped wooden goblet. She crawled back over to Hiccup and handed it too him. "Here, it's down that way," she said as she pointed her left hand pointer finger down the darkened way.

For a second time Hiccup was amazed he was able to grasp this cup. Why could he touch some things but not others? Why did he appear to be solid when he was with this child? Still he knew he'd to help this child. So he walked down about four feet and found the crystal pool of water. He dipped the old cup into the water and too a small sip. It felt refreshing and soothing. It also tasted good so he brought it back to the child and gave it too her. She seized the cup and began to guzzle down the water.

"Don't drink it too fast, you'll get the hiccups," he said with a bit of a giggle. He just started laughing at his own joke and kept giggle till he couldn't contain it any longer. He then just burst out laughing and didn't stop till she was looking at him strangely.

"What's so amusing?"

"Nothing, other then the fact I just made a joke about my name is all."

"What's your name then?"

"Hiccup, well actually if you wanted my full name its Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, Hope and Heir to the Tribe of Hairy Hooligans. I know it's a funny name."

"Why would anyone name their child after a case of hiccups? I mean that doesn't really even seem like a real name if you ask me."

"Well," Hiccup started to say as he rubbed the back of his neck, "In my culture parents believe that a hideous name will frighten off gnomes and trolls. Though I think just being our crazy and ridiculous selves would satisfied. I mean some of my friends have stranger names than mine. One of my friends name is Fishlegs!"

"Fish don't have legs, but you've got a point, it ain't as silly," she agreed with a giggle of her own. She seemed to be a bit happier now. At least there was a little more color to her cheeks.

"So what's your name?"

She looked at him with a strange look etched upon her pale face. It was as if it was the strangest question she'd ever been asked. "I don't remember. It's been so long. I don't really remember."

Now it was Hiccup who looked at her oddly. "You sure you can't remember? I mean it can't be that hard to remember your own name. Go on, think. Take your time."

So she pondered this for a few moments and it looked like she was straining to remember her own name. Her pale cheeks became redder then an overripe tomato and she looked like for a moment she would exploded and then she clapped her hands.

"I've got it! I remember my name! It's Una! That's my name!" she exclaimed excitedly. She was more giddy then he'd been a few moments ago. She got up and did a fast spin on the stone pedestal and the lilacs that grew there shown as bright as the stars outside. Unfortunately she went too fast and tripped on the hem of her dress and toppled over. Hiccup managed to catch her and was still surprised that he could even touch her.

"Okay, Una, I think we both need to take it easy. Now that we've at least introduced ourselves to each other I think we need to figure out the next step. Which is how do we leave this cave?"

"Leave the cave? We can't leave the cave! I was told to stay here till he came back." Una said in a confused tone.

"Till who comes back? You called to me! You needed help! You wouldn't have called unless you needed help. And now I'm stuck here too unless you help me. So tell me what's going on? What's up with this cave?"

"I can't remember everything. It's very fuzzy after all this time. I just remember bits and fragments. I can't remember everything! I'm sorry, Hiccup!" and Una then began to cry again. He took her in his arms and hugged her closely.

"Its gonna be okay, Una. How about this? I tell you a little more about me and we'll see if you can recall anything a bit later, okay?"

She wiped the tearstains off her face and nodded. "Okay, Hiccup I love hearing stories. So tell me more about yourself."

"Well for the most part I've not had an easy life. For most of it I was alone and friendless as well as mocked. People of my village kept telling me I was too weak and way too small. That I would never be a true Viking at all. Many times I felt I was stuck in a place that I would never really belong in. My mom died when I was very small and me and my father Stoick the Vast couldn't connect at all. I knew he loved me but it wasn't till recently that I thought he actually liked or cared about whom I was. I felt strongly he was embarrassed by me. He never once said he was proud of me and he never let me get a word in edgewise."

"That must have been hard to deal with. Being different and everyone saying it was wrong to be true to yourself. It cannot have been easy to live that kinda life. What happened that changed all that?"

"Well for the longest time killing dragons was what we were all about. It granted status, honor and all bunch of other trivial things like that," Hiccup started to explain when all of sudden Una burst out with a passionate interruption.

"Killing dragons? That's wrong! No human has the right to decide when another human should die and it's wrong to kill anything. Animal or human! It's still innocent blood on your hands! Dragons aren't monsters! They deserve some respect as well! I may not remember everything about my past, but I do know for sure my family thought all life was sacred!"

"Well, I do have to agree with that statement, Una. Yet I've got some blood on my hands in a way. After years of trying to prove my worth and win my fathers love as well as earning the acceptance of my tribe something happened that turned everything upside-down."

"What?"

"One night during another dragon raid on the village, which I was told yet again told to 'stay inside' I took an invention of my own design called the Mangler, I ran to shoot down a Night Fury and succeeded. However, before I could savor my victory and show it off to someone, I was attacked by a Monstrous Nightmare and ran for my life, and my father had to step in and save my skin. He was most displeased with me yet again. But I went to get my kill. I found the dragon but I couldn't kill it, for he looked just as scared as I was. I freed him. I soon learned I did the Night Fury some damage. One of his tail fins was missing thanks to me. So I made him a new one and named him Toothless. We became good friends and eventually after losing everything I had I saved my whole tribe from the Red Death. Which was this dragon as big as a mountain and it was evil. It would kill or eat anyone, even other dragons! Toothless and I manage to kill it. Though I lost my left foot in the process," he told her as he pointed to his foot, to which Una looked shock.

"So you were forced to kill it to save many other lives? You killed this monster in order to save both dragons and humans alike? Well I again don't approve of killing, yet this was done for a greater good, so maybe it was alright, in one way. So after this event everything changed?"

"Yeah, for the better, in fact. I was hailed as a hero and my father let the dragons come live with us on Berk and everyone now loves me! I became the leader of the Berk Dragon Training Academy. I've done a lot of good, and best of all I've got a girlfriend. The hottest and coolest girl in the whole tribe, Astrid," he said that last part with a longing sigh and it was obvious to Una that Hiccup truly loved this girl.

"That sounds all very nice. So you defied tradition and made life better for yourself and everyone else it seems. You've got a good heart, Hiccup. You know that I do remember something from my past. I think it was my brother said it on one occasion to me. He said a real hero isn't someone who's big and strong. He said a real hero is one with the biggest heart, someone who uses love over violence and fighting."

"Your brother was wise. I do love my family and friends. And I think that what will make the difference when it comes my time to lead the tribe. So do you remember anything else, Una? Like how you came to be in this cave?"

She flicked a stray lock of lilac hair out of her face, and nodded. "I don't remember everything. Yet it's starting to come back to me. Or at least the last few days before I came to this cave. I was with my big brother, Boden that day. He looked a lot like you. Only he was slightly more muscular and his hair was so long he kept it in a ponytail. But he had your eyes and smile. That much I do remember."

Hiccup felt his cheeks flush red from being told this. Una herself was blushing. She gave him a loving smile and continued on. "We're out exploring that day. Summer was coming to an end and autumn was approaching fast. So we're enjoying Balder's final days of summer."

Hiccup nodded, "Yes, Balder, he's the God of light, summer and innocence. I say he blessed my tribe this past summer so we'd have such a bountiful harvest this year. So it was late summer you said? What happened next?"

"Well, we got in a boat and went up the coastline and came to this area. We hit rough waters and I thought we'd drown, but out of nowhere a large dragon, which was as black as the night skies came, and helped guide us to safer waters and eventually to the safety of the shore about an hour's journey from here. We thanked the dragon and watched as it flew away with a few little ones following it."

"Other Night Furies? Or other dragons?"

"I think it was its kin, seeing how they looked just like the one who led us to safety. We then decided it be best to find shelter because my big brother said a massive storm was coming. He told me that the dragon had led us to this spot so we'd be safe from the storm. So we went to find a place to be safe and we came to this cave. Boden told me we'd be safe and I was so scared because then all hell came falling from the sky! It was pouring with flashes of lightning and thunder! It was so scary! I thought it was Ragnarok for sure! My brother promised me we'd be safe. That after the storm passed we'd go home and everything would be alright. To pass the time we did some exploring and found these lilacs. They're my favorite thing in the whole world! He grounded up the petals and made a dye from them and colored my hair with them."

"So that's why you've got a lilac tint to your hair. But why is so messy and uneven? Didn't you have scissors or something to cut it properly?"

"Well, I use to have very long hair that it reached to my waist. But on that day of exploring I got it caught in a thick bramble bush and all we had to get me free was a broken piece of our water jug. So Boden took the shard and cut me free."

"Alright, continue."

"We spent many hours in this cavern. I fell asleep and when I woke the next morning it looked like my brother hadn't slept all night long. It was still storming badly and I was still scared. I remember asking him if we'd ever leave this cave."

"What did he say or do? I know it's hard to remember but I'm sure you can do it, Una. Here drink up. That should help some."

"Thank you, Hiccup. Well it rain for three days and three nights. Our supplies were getting low. Still my big brother kept promising me he would protect me and get me home safely. On the fourth day the storm finally passed. I wanted to go home, but Boden told me he had to make sure it was safe. I was really eager to leave this cavern, yet he told me to wait. He said he wanted to make sure it was safe for us to go. He told me he'd only be gone for a little bit. He told me to wait here till he came back. He promised he returned!" she suddenly started to cry.

"What happened, Una? What going on?"

"He left in the early morning, and promised he'd be back within two hours. He was just going to make sure it was safe and that our boat would be alright. He told me to stay in the cave till he came back. But minutes became hours and hours became days and days turned into weeks. And," she was really crying now. "He never came back! He left me all alone! He never came back! He broke his promise to me!"

"Maybe something happened to him? I mean when did he leave? Maybe he hurt and we can go find him together?"

"I can't leave, Hiccup! I promised I wouldn't leave! And I cannot break a promise to my brother. He was the one who broke it! My brother promised he protect me and bring me home! And he left me! He left me all alone!"

"Una, I may be an only child, but I doubt your brother would abandon you. I'm sure something happened to him. I'm sure he went to keep his word and get you home. I don't think Boden left you alone. If I had a sister I sure wouldn't leave her all alone in a cavern in the middle of the woods. Come on, Una. I'll take you back to Berk and then we'll get you back home."

"Boden broke his promise! Don't you see that? I've waited years for him to come back and take me home! But no! He never came back and I won't break my word even if he did break his! I never left the cave in life and I cannot leave even if I wanted to now. I'm bound to this cave! I've tried leaving but I can't! I'm doomed to remain here till the end of the world comes!"

Hiccup looked at her strangely, and suddenly an idea occurred to him, and he realized the awful truth. There was only one reason why Una was so pale and why only he could touch her. Why she wore only a simple white dress, and not Viking clothes. It chilled him to the bone but there was only one explanation of what happened. "You died, didn't you? You waited in vain and died at the age of five, didn't you?"

"Yes, I'm a spirit, but now I won't be alone for the rest of eternity. You came to help me and the only reason the Gods would bring you to me is if you're meant to be my new brother! We'll spend the rest of time together and I won't be alone anymore! Hello, big brother!" she exclaimed and hugged him.

For a moment Hiccup was puzzled but it wasn't like he could do anything at that moment. All he could do at that moment was hug the little ghost and wonder how the hell was he suppose to leave this cave now?