Well this is wonderful! Welcome to The official First chapter of No Path Back. I was very happy to see such a great reception of the prologue. And a Thank you to all of the Youtube fans who came here to see me make this video come to life!
And a big thank you to Of Resave, the creator of the video itself!
So this chapter begins the actual story behind Jack getting back to Hiccup. The reason I took so long to actually write this is because well… making a story line that makes sense. This story was actually insatiably complicated for me to think of. Luckily I have a good group of friends who helped me come up with an easy to understand story with no notable plot holes!
Now, onto reviews!
Kigan Dawn: Oh Danke! I was excited to write it out!
BurningBrightlyBlue: No need to beg! I have some more for you.
Pursaius: Well, happy birthday to you! May you have an amazing year and a lot more HiJack lovings!
Telidina: Well thank you!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my love for it. These movies belong to Dreamworks, respectively. The vid this fanfiction is based on is by Of Resave.
Here is Chapter 1.
Song of Time.
"I can't believe that North made gathering this guy my job…" Jack said as the forest path was suddenly revealed to him and he took to skirting along it as he flew. Apparently this man lived in a temple in the midst of the forests of Poland or Prussia… North wasn't quite sure. So with reluctance, Jack was sent off to find this perfect place in nature. And he did find it… but when the door opened he wasn't expecting the person behind it.
Father Time wasn't exactly what Jack was expecting when they traversed the dark forests of Europe. He had been traversing the woods for so long, he wasn't even sure if he was in Poland, Prussia or somewhere else. He figured a man who prioritized his privacy this much would be a bit more… impressive. But what he discovered when he entered the Temple of Time, a Golden structure with high columns and wide struts upon a flowing river, complete with flourished Gardens and massive waterfalls.
A pastoral setting in nature if ever there was one. You would think the person who created it would be as amazing… but it was like seeing the elder monk at a Shaolin Temple. Nothing too impressive about the man, who couldn't have been any taller than 5 feet.
Father Time wasn't Asian, despite appearing as a monk. His eyes were white… and that includes his pupils. This was different from being blind… he could see perfectly fine, but it was symbolism for seeing clearly. Nothing obstructed his sight. He was bald on top, with a head shinier than the marble flooring in the temple. His beard, however, was taller than he was, dragging on the ground beside him.
Jack scratched the back of his head and looked at him, "Uhh… Hello?" he said. As the man's white eyes regarded him… and then he tapped his cane, which had a golden clock on the handle, twice on the ground and allowed the door to open slightly for the White haired spirit. "Enter!" He said in a voice that was far more powerful than he sounded like he could produce… thundering loud as he turned on his heels and began floating in the air. He turned his head and looked back at Jack as the barefoot boy trotted beside him, carrying his own staff.
"So! For what purpose do I find a Guardian at my doorstep!" He said, tilting his head as his larger-than-life voice boomed in his ears. Jack shook his head, "Apparently preparing to nurse a headache…" he said as he felt a faint throbbing in his head start as Father Time began floating to the top of his precipice and looking down upon Jack, apparently not getting his point. "Welcome to the Temple of Time… my own temple dedicated to preservation of the variations of time and memories and control center of parallels." He said, hands held in the air as he gestured to the magnificent temple.
"I assume you are here to discover your memories? You are not the first to approach me with the same questions that most undead spirits seek. I can reveal them to you. That is free. What you do with the information is up to you. Fate, contrary to popular belief, is quite pliable if put into the correct hands… Trust me, I know." He said, seemingly finally taking notice of the boy after his introduction.
Jack had certainly considered these things… but they were to be left until after he delivered the news that he had been forced to deliver since he had found out about it. "Uhh, hold that thought. I actually came for a primary and a secondary purpose… The Primary reason being… The Man in the Moon has-"
"Chosen me? Hrumph! He waits until now, despite my connection to him? I have to wonder why he decided now is the ideal time to let me finally join the ranks." He turned and floated on, "Follow me and I will explain myself." He said as Jack scrambled after him. Upon reaching the top of the stairs… his breath was taken away.
The Temple of Time was… incredible. Shelves and shelves, Gears and Gizmos… and machinery all keeping time itself in check. All surrounded by a massive amount of clocks and hourglasses. "Impressed, are you? Yes, I know… my temple is my pride." He said as he began walking along the struts that lines along the top of the temple.
"It's… incredible! Is there really an hourglass for everyone here?" Jack asked as he watched several automatic arms began winding clocks and filling new hourglasses. Father Time nodded, "Without a doubt. Some are stored in other places to represent Spirits like us and of course… those who have died permenantly. Time is recorded and all memories are kept here. From Birth to Death. Hence why I felt the Man in the Moon was a bit foolish to wait on me. I am a true keeper of memories… and I am more organized than even your North. Bah, I can hear the man now. 'Oh, Zero, the only reason the Man in Moon chose me over you is your lack of childish whimsy!'" Zero said with another Hrumph in his tone.
Jack bit his lip momentarily, "Well, it doesn't matter now… he has finally decided you are ready I guess. North sent me here to let you know so we can initiate you and figure out exactly why he summoned you now." He said as Zero just smiled, "You know Jack, I can decipher the Man in the Moon's thoughts whenever I desire. You don't realize what I meant when I said he should have picked me first do you?"
Jack scratched his head again, "No… the only thing you are really doing is confusing me further. What do you mean? The man in the moon should have picked you first? What do you mean?"
Zero merely turned around and shouted, "Down!" He said as the Strut suddenly lowered to the floor… allowing Zero and Jack to walk forward toward a glass case. In which it contained 3 hourglasses.
"What are these? And will you just answer my questions?" He said before huffing, "I don't have all… well, I do have all day but that's beside the point. I would rather not hear you tell me about meaningless past." Zero merely looked amused, "Jack, if you were in my position, you would not say that any form of history, past, present, or future, is meaningless. It is our history that allows us to stand here instead of someone else. For example, what do you know about North's past?" He said as Jack rubbed his chin, "Not a lot… I know he was one of the first Spirits ever chosen by The Man in the Moon." He said as Zero nodded, "Correct, Jack. North was made at the same time as I and Pitch were."
"Wait… you and North were made along with Pitch?" He said, wondering why North never mentioned anything like this. But Zero merely read his mind, somehow. "The three of us are symbolic. Because since the beginning, three things have been certain; Light, Darkness, and Time. Our existence was necessary. From Light and Darkness came Happiness and Sadness, Joy and Fear, Life and Death… and Time kept these forces in balance."
"Could have fooled me…" He said as he remembered his battles with Pitch, when nothing seemed to be in balance. Zero merely waved a hand, "As time went on and the three of us grew apart, we found little need to keep tabs on others. I am busy worrying about the life of all living beings. I can't be everywhere at once." He said turning around, "Besides, it seems you cared for that little issue just fine. But something is still missing isn't it?"
I narrowed my eyes "How do you know these things?"
"I am connected to the Man in the Moon. All life, all memories… all of it, is allowed to me. Including yours, Jack… I knew of your family. I knew of the life you lived… it was tragic… that weak little cliff tumbling you into the freezing sea."
He grit his teeth, "So I guess that means you know the whole story, don't you?" he said as Zero merely rolled his eyes, "Someone wasn't listening. I said, all memories-" "Are allowed to you. I got it. I want to know these things, obviously you can tell I do. So why are you beating around the bush?"
"You didn't ask."
"Are you kidding with me?"
"I rarely joke, Jack." Zero said as he motioned for the Winter Spirit to follow him. "I can make the entirety of your memories clear, or those who knew you. I am aware you know of your family. Your sister… but would you be surprised to know you were engaged at one point?" He said as he approached four other Hourglasses, one for the other guardians.
"What do you mean I was engaged? Why was this information withheld from me?" Jack said, examining the various colors of sand in the hourglasses. Zero merely shrugged his shoulders, "Perhaps the man in the moon did not find the information needed at the time your memories were revealed to you. Obviously, they weren't needed when Pitch was running amuck. However, I don't think this choice was merely at the Man in the Moon's bidding… you were meant to discover it now. Maybe to form a sense of completion in your life so your duty can be more clearly defined." He said as the case suddenly opened and his hourglass, filled to the brim with Quartz colored sand, was set upon the ground.
"Go on then, Jack… touch it." Zero said, stepping back and awaiting for the Winter Spirit to take a step back, "Or not… and let the memories fester within. The choice, and the fate tied to it, remains forever yours." He said as Jack frowned, "I'm moving old man… this is just a lot to take in… this is everything about my life? All of it is here?" He asked, still cautious. Zero chuckled, "Absolutely… there is a reason I use clocks and hourglasses to contain memories. Every grain of sand, every second on the clock… another memory is recorded… and only the person who owns them or I can unlock these memories. These are yours… and they are your right to know. Of course, nothing you already know will be revealed again. So… go ahead or not." He said, gesturing to the hour glass yet again.
Jack took a shakey breath as the familiar brown hair flashed in his mind yet again… and he knew that if he didn't do this, these memories would haunt him forever. He stepped forward and placed his hand on the glass and waited… and waited… and waited. "What's… supposed to-" He said as the glass suddenly shattered and with it, the sand began flowing around him… bunching together as darkness fell around him…
"What the hell is this, Zero?" He said as the sand broke into five groups. And the quartz colored sand began reflecting various colors… Forest Green was the first and brightest, followed by Black, Brown and Red. They reflected the light they represented so brightly and suddenly… they swarmed him and the brown hair had a face.
"Hiccup." He said.
He remembered his face… the anguish as he fell into the sea… those deep eyes that accented his freckled face and matching tunic. He remembered the long nights they spent together, merely holding one another and whispering sweet nothings. He remembered their announcement of their engagement, daring anyone in the village to challenge their happiness. The kisses, their life, the dragons. He suddenly remembered all as these four colors flashed in his iris' and he saw what lay beyond it. The anguish in Hiccup's heart when he died.
"He never recovered… even until death, your name was on his lips as his children recorded in his diary. However, this never seemed to upset them or his wife… everyone knew you were his love. His life was already yours and remained that way after death and despite years of attempting to get over you… he still dreamed… he still cried. He still yearned and he still loved you above all others." Zero said as Jack finally came down from the rush of memories… the dull ache now turning into a harsh pounding as he shook his white hair.
"Why am I here when he died so horribly…" he said. He only pondered momentarily why his fiancé was a male but he never really had a lot of opportunity to find out his preferences, or lack of them. Not that Hiccup wasn't attractive. Even a blind person could see his beauty. And now that he knew this man… this Hiccup… was his lover… he was still unsatisfied. He suddenly felt incomplete. "Why do I get to live with this while he died so miserably?" He asked again as Zero regarded him sadly, "Fate is a cruel mistress, Jack. No one quite knows why things happen the way they do. Fate knew you would touch this hourglass before you did. These things happen for a reason."
"Is there any way to undo it?" He asked suddenly, standing up and Zero raised his eyebrows, "That's a… complicated question, Jack. One I am unsure I can answer and still have you comprehend it." Zero said as the Winter spirit pinched the bridge of his nose, annoyed
"Fine, let me simplify the question if it will simplify the answer… can you change Hiccup's memories to where… I never existed?" He asked, hoping for a less confusing answer.
Instead, he got one that was more so.
"Not this Hiccup. His memory of you will always be."
"What do you mean 'This Hiccup?'" Jack asked, head still poundind and attitude still annoyed.
"I can't explain that clearly to you Jack. Not if you seek a clear answer."
"Try me." He said as the Time Lord shook his head and turned on his heels, "Now, it has been a good many years until I have been to North's home… I would ask you to guide me there as soon as possible."
Jack narrowed his eyes at Zero and turned on his heels, still not satisfied with this answer. And he wouldn't be until Zero explained what he knew.
His heart laid heavy with anguish but for now… he would let Zero think he had one this debate on how important his emotions toward this Hiccup was.
Because above all that he remembered of him, he remembered the love they sharred. And that… he was determined to bring back that life. The Guardians be cursed if they didn't like it.
"Welcome to the Guardians, Zero!" North said, the seven foot Russian walking forward and hugging his tiny friend, only to produce a loss of breath in the Time Lord as he regarded Aster, Sandy and Tooth.
"Hmm, what a motley crew you have Assembled here… but I assume their duties are important. The Man in the Moon would not have chosen you otherwise." He turned to North, who sat him down and pat his head. "I will have to work some magic, but I assume that I will have to move my headquarters closer so we can keep tabs on one another, North… that and this shop could do with a bit of modern cleaning… the products the mortals have produced would not go amiss in this place."
North just smiled at Zero, "Ah, my friend, still as much of a stick in mud as ever. I missed you." North said as Jack muttered, "I doubt that…" and Aster let out a chuckle at the comment, stopping when Jack didn't laugh with him, turning from the duo beginning to converse further.
"You okay, Frost?" He asked as he fell in line with the retreating Winter spirit, who was planning on returning to his quarters and to prepare for a flight. Jack merely met his eyes and sighed deeply, "Lets just say I ain't too fond of this new Guardian…" He said as the rabbit quickly blocked his path, "Now listen here, Frost, we may not get along all the time, but I am your friend. Don't you think you owe me a little more than this vague crap?" the Australian said, sternly starring at the white haired boy. Jack sighed and looked over to where North and Zero stood conversing.
"Follow me. The guy is a mind reader, I swear." He said as the rabbit walked into Jack's quarters, complete with frigid air to accompany it. "Jeez, I get you like the cold, but that doesn't mean everyone else does too…" Aster said as he sat on one of Jack's bean bags, adjusting it to his comfort. Jack sat on his Hammock bed and sighed, "I didn't say anything about it but I've been feeling… these flashes of memories. Somewhere in the back of my head for a while but they were never really clear, you know? So I had to put them on the back burner for a while before I said anything. I figured they would just go away after a while but today… today this guy just hands these memories over and says some really cryptic crap like 'The memories are yours to claim or not' and 'Fate is pliable depending on who wields it.' And a bunch of other things and I figure that reclaiming the rest of my memories would set me at peace with it."
"They did the exact opposite, I take it?" He said, sitting forward with some effort.
"Oh, you bet they did. Turns out I was engaged in my life. But I died before all of that was possible."
"So, the infamous prankster Jack Frost had himself a girl, eh? What was her name?"
"His name was Hiccup." Jack said as the rabbit just nodded in response, a bit surprised but nonetheless understanding. "And I come to find out that he died miserably when I died… and my name was the last thing he spoke." He said with a deep sigh, "And I just want to undo it. I feel this warmth in my heart for him and this anguish at the pain I caused him."
"Jack… I don't know what you're thinking but I am not sure what you desire is even possible."
"Oh it's very possible. The boy just doesn't realize what he asking for." Zero said, suddenly making his presence known to the two and making them jump, and making Jack fall from his hammock. Jack looked up at him with anger and disbelief, "What do you mean 'It's possible' you old skin bag?! If that were possible why didn't you say so back at the temple?" He nearly yelled as the Time Lord just chuckled, "Jack, fate and all memories are known and dictated by me. If you couldn't figure this out, why should I offer it to you? But your desire for it is so strong so I don't have a strong enough reason to hide it from you now. You want to have a do over? Well let me explain how that part is impossible." He said, sitting on another bean bag chair.
Jack sat back on his hammock and began listening intently as he and Aster looked at the relaxing man.
"This world is not the only plain of existence… there are hundreds of them, what we call… parallels. Some are hundreds of years in the future… some set back millennia depending on which you visit. All of them have various forms of you and I… however, not all of these parallels exist naturally. In this timeline, you died. Hiccup's memories remain as they are… however, with a powerful enough sacrifice, I can almost completely recreate this timeline in essence, however it won't be quite the same. With it will come some significant differences."
Jack looked bewildered, "So basically you can have me reborn in a different timeline? Yes, I want that-" but Zero held up a silencing hand, "You do not realize what you ask of me. Yes, you and Hiccup can essentially be recreated but this… this is not the same as going back and doing it over. Essentially, this is a new world you could be put in… and it requires a huge sacrifice in return for it. You have too much responsibility and what would be asked of you may prove too great."
"How can you sit there and tell me all of this if all you are gonna do is just not do it! This is my life we're talking about! How can you be so selfish?" Jack said, yelling now, attracting the attention of the others.
"How is anything I am doing to you selfish? I am merely preventing you from making a horrible mistake and I am certainly not being selfish with the truth. You are a Guardian Jack-"
"If living with the pain of this loss is what being a Guardian is about, then it's not for me! I would never have been a Guardian if I was going to be forced to live with this!"
"Enough!" Came the roaring of North, who was suddenly standing between the duo, starring off intensely. Jack sighed deeply and angrily. "Fine… everyone get out… but I swear this isn't over Zero! You have a heck of a lot to answer for, old man!"
"I knew that before you ever said it Jack… but I assure you that if you continue to pursue this… you may not like the outcome of-"
"GET OUT." He said as the other five left his room, Jack flopping back down on his bed.
His sleeping was fitful that night… his dreams were filled with various thoughts… some of Hiccup and He's life… their love was so strong. How he wooed Hiccup into falling for him and his first kiss with him… how soft his lips had been and how nervous he was… their teeth clinked together a few times but he remembered they eventually got the hang of it.
Then they shifted to the various ways Jack would beat the living tar out of that old man to get him to work the magic and send him to this… what, this parallel dimension? Who cares what it is? Shouldn't any sacrifice be worth love?
He sat up in bed… knowing the night wasn't going to bring him any sleep… couple that with the occasional noise of North's helpers and the occasional sound of Zero's temple pieces being brought in for construction… He sat up and grabbed his staff.
If that jerk wanted to be this stubborn, then he would feel the wrath of Jack's tenacity.
No matter what… he was going to reunite with Hiccup.
Short blurb at the end to sort of set up the next chapter. Here is the Official Chapter 1!
Sorry for not mentioning the OC in the description. I didn't realize, when I wrote this story, how Pivotal Zero's role was. Isn't he such an ass? But I have hopes you will like him before the end… he has a heart, believe it or not.
And he's fun to write out. But the good news is a reunion is going to happen in the next chapter… or is that good news? Remember… there is a Sacrifice to all of this. But what, however, could that be?
Remember, Reviews are like crack. Chapters are like money. Give me reviews and I give you chapters… but don't give me crack… that's a bad idea. Don't do drugs.
Until next time.