Dragon Friend (sequel to the dragon boy) Chapter 26 - Goodbye
frostcup fanfic

Authors note: I'm sorry... Have your tissues ready. Please review enjoy and I will see you tommorow with the last chapter... The last chapter... Tommorow is the last chapter... Oh gosh. I'm gonna get all emotional TwT

Jack looked around at the tiny sparks floating round him. He never really thought of fire as beautiful before- mostly before he was to afraid to really look. But it really was beautiful.

He soaked up the moment, letting the wind blow through his hair- the peculiar sensation he always loved when he became human. No life threatening situation. No impending doom. His family returned. Berk safe. He was not Alpha... and now Hiccup was here with him, he thought, as he noticed the Viking's approach. That just completed the perfect moment.

He turned to him, smiling, and was surprised to see that he wasn't- at least, not all that happily. He just stood there for a bit, watching the Sky Dragons depart one by one. Jack watched with him.

He'd almost forgotten about the not happy smile he was wearing, when he spoke.

"So... I guess this is it, then." Hiccup muttered. Huh? What was he going on about? It sounded like something was ending. He frowned at him.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"Well, you'll be off now, won't you..." He said. Would he, he thought. He hadn't really thought beyond that moment... What was he going to do? "I mean... you've got all your friends back, now, haven't you." Hiccup continued. He had, but what did he mean by that? What was he getting at? "You'll be off with them." Hiccup said, not particularly happy or sad. If he felt either emotion, he was hiding it well. Perhaps... He hadn't really decided yet, but... yeah, he probably would. But what was he acting so forlorn about? This happened every year.

"So, I guess this is goodbye." Hiccup said.
"Goodbye?" He repeated. Why did he say it like that? It wasn't as if he was "leaving" leaving. He was coming back... right?... Wasn't he?... Or didn't he want him to come back?
"Well, let's face it. You don't really need me anymore, you've got them back. Besides, I don't think either of us were expecting it to last forever. You've been a good friend, Jack, but you belong with them, now."

What, so he didn't belong with him?... And what did he mean not need him? Did that mean Hiccup didn't need him?... Or didn't want him... was he pushing him away, again?

It was worse than the argument the previous morning, because, this time, it wasn't anger behind his words. They all played to his hidden fears: that they wouldn't last forever, that Hiccup might no longer need him, that he didn't belong with the humans. He hated it... because a part of him thought he was right. But did he really not want him anymore?! Was this really it?!...

... It must be, he thought, miserably. Hiccup knew who he was now... He had his favourite- his big Alpha Night Fury. He had his mother and his father back together again, and he was well on his way to becoming chief. No, he didn't need him- didn't want him- anymore. He was pushing him away... This was goodbye.

But why?! Why did it have to be goodbye? He didn't want to leave him?! He'd been such a big part of him, for so long! He hadn't just found his old family again, and mended his heart, just to lose his old one, and have it break again... But... if Hiccup no longer needed him, and didn't want him by his side anymore... then that's what he'd do, he decided, with a heavy heart.

If Hiccup was pushing him away, then alright. So be it. If that was what he wanted, he'd go. If it made him happy... then, perhaps, it was for the best. Jack lowered his eyes.

Hiccup saw the sadness in his friend's eyes. He didn't hear anything from his mind. He'd cut himself off from it, to spare himself the long, drawn out pain of losing him- he just wanted to get it over and done with. But a part of him wanted to go into his mind. To make the most of his final moments with him, but, he knew, if he did that, he might never let him go. These were the tough decisions a chief had to make... even if they broke his heart. He'd better get used to it.

"So this is it, then." Jack muttered, sadly. Of course he was upset, goodbyes were always sad... But he'd be okay in the end. This was for the best. This was the right thing to do.
"Yeah." Hiccup replied, quietly, turning to look at his friend one last time.

His pale skin. The mischievous glint in his eyes, that never left the deep, blue spheres. The white, wind swept hair. His face- engraved into his memory- that had never aged a single day. A reminder that they couldn't be together, forever. His skinny form, that had been criss crossed with cuts the first time they'd met.

He remembered the time he'd had to wear Hiccup's old clothes because his had been ripped to shreds- he'd joked about how skinny they were. He remembered how he'd stolen his leg so often he'd made the prosthetic semi permanent... In fact, that was the first thing he ever did, steal his leg. He danced about with it cackling as he hobbled after him. He remembered how he'd helped them fill out the Book of Dragons- they'd had the beginnings of their bond even then. He remembered the first thought he heard from him 'I thought I smelt something strange.' He remembered how he'd bravely given himself up to save the entire village. He remembered the ice skating he'd helped him with. The mad heart attack flying tricks, and sky dives, he'd enjoyed over the years. He remembered how they flew together. It seemed like only days ago... And yet... They'd grown so much... And become so close.

He thought about how he'd prank them by rigging the doorways with snow, thrash them at every snowball fight, been there for him when he found his mother, well... how he he'd been there for him all the time, really... and all the fun they'd had...

That magnificent, playful trickster. Show off. Play buddy. Flying partner. Sky Dragon. Guardian. Friend. No... Never a friend. He was so more more to him than that.

He'd miss him. Every last, little, stupid bit of him. Especially that bright, dangerous smirk that so often lit up his face. He wished he could see it one last time, but goodbyes were not happy affairs.. he doubted he would see it again.

Everything they'd been through together. All the times they'd saved each other, laughed with each other, joked around with each other, flown together (he recalled the one time he'd ever flown on the Sky Dragon's back- the memory bittersweet, as it was never to happen again). All of it was over now.

He stared at his friend, not quite sure what to say. What did you say when, after five long years, their time together was coming to an end... and with a bond so strong as theirs...

He couldn't think of anything. No amount of words could thank him enough for being his... All this time and they still couldn't define what they meant to each other... But rather they felt it- in their minds, their souls... and their hearts. Just a few hours ago they said they couldn't imagine life without each other. Yet here they were.

He felt a shove from behind him. It was gentle, but inexpected enough to make him lose his balance. He stumbled forwards. Falling towards the ground... Until he caught by Jack's arms.

The years fell away, and it felt like it was five years ago- Jack holding Hiccup up after he'd tripped over on his clumsy feet, or the Sky Dragon's own ice. He smirked at him with that smile he loved so much, and then the years seemed to come back.

"Still picking you up after all these years." Jack smiled, as he held him up. Hiccup smiled back, recovering his footing, and drew him closer, into an embrace. Perhaps the adults would groan at him for it, but he didn't care. This was goodbye forever... and they meant a lot to each other. They were brothers- perhaps even closer than that... and this was the final farewell.

They held onto each other, feeling the strange warmth and strange cold of their loyal friend.

They pulled away from each other, as a high pitched call made them look skywards. A beautiful, long, feathery dragonness was looking at her long lost companion, and calling him. They were going now... This was it...

Their eyes met... So much they wanted to say to each other... but in the end, none of it mattered.

Jack smiled at him, the grin faltering slightly. His eyes shining more than usual.
"Well... goodbye, Hiccup." He managed without his voice breaking. Now for Hiccup's turn.
"Goodbye Jack." He said, likewise struggling, but succeeding, in holding back the lump in his throat.

He watched as he transformed into the pure white dragon. Taking in the small miracle he'd taken for granted, for the last time. He took off, huge silver wings beating him towards his green, feathered companion. He was joined by three others- golden, red and blue.

They flew off together towards the golden sunset horizon. The sun was sending stunning rays across the sea and sky, so that there was barely a definition between them. It looked as though Sky Dragons were flying over a great open expanse of light. Flying towards the sun.

The white dragon turned, and looked back at him one last time. He wouldn't ever forget that young Viking. The one who he'd given everything... And been everything to him.

He blew out a light cloud of ice mist, and willed the wind to carry the newly formed snowflakes towards the watching boy.

Then, he turned back towards the horizon, following his friends as they lead him away from Berk- the one place that he would ever consider his home.

Slowly, the Sky Dragons flew high up into the clouds of sunset. Rising into the gold. Until they vanished into the depths of light... And then... Just like that... They were... He was... Gone... Forever.

The collection of snowflakes swirled round him- he closed his eyes as the wind beat about his hair- just after the dragon was gone. A final thanks, and wish of luck from the Sky Dragon who he'd trusted with his life... and been trusted in return.

Hiccup continued to stare after them, long after the the sky was empty- and matched how he felt. He'd made the right choice, right? He would be happy?

He felt a soft nuzzle under his arm, and didn't need to look to know his Night Fury was there. The black dragon also gazed out at the horizon, and he whined- keening at the loss of his friend.

Hiccup scratched him, gently.
"I know, bud... I'll miss him too." He stared at the spot where'd last been. He was gone now. Gone forever. But... whilst that might be true... he wasn't ever truly gone. Not so long as he held his memory.

"I'll never forget him." He muttered, half to himself. Toothless mumbled in agreement, as they stood and watched the sunset turn from gold to deep orange.

'Goodbye Jack...' He thought, no longer sure if the Sky Dragon would hear it. 'You'll always be a part of me.' He finished. Jack might have left, he might never see him again, but he wasn't ever truly gone. Not to him.

Farewell might seem like the end... Hiccup thought. But he had his memory in his heart... and he'd stay there forever. He turned away, towards his house.

'... Goodbye...'