Chapter Forty-One: It has happened

Hiccup and Kate felt horrible the next morning. They both still had the feeling of chocking from the mist insides their lungs and mentally they never felt this exhausted before.

Concerned Josh observed them.

"How come that you are running around like normal?" Kate asked as she swept the sweat away from her forehead.

"I don't know. How I said. It's like I'm immune." "Yes, but why?" Hiccup asked. Toothless was licking his head in concern and his hair stood up in all directions. It made looking dignified and in charge of the situation slightly difficult.

"Isn't the question to what I am immune?" Josh asked.

"Those…voices." Kate said. "Yes. They said things…" Hiccup nodded. "I heard." Josh said. He took a deep breath. "Look, I don't know much about you and your backgrounds but what I could hear from the voices talking to Kate, they poked you there where it hurts most or…what you fear…" he hesitated "Am I right?"

Both stayed silent.

"I heard my father. I…I always was a disappointment to him. So I didn't care first. Then I heard my cousin. That was worse. But I was used to his bullying. But then I heard my old mentor. He…he was always the closest thing to a family and a friend I ever had on Berk. And he too…started talking…it…it was so terrible. But…but it got worse." By this tears were streaming down Hiccups face.

Did Josh just imagine or where they milky white?

"Then I heard my mother. But she's been dead since I was three or four. I never got to know her but from what I heard she was truly amazing. But she…she…" he stopped.

Sure enough his tears were the color of milk!

Just like…the mist!

Slowly the pieces fitted together.

"Ghosts of your past." Josh mumbled. "Of course."

He looked up.

"I think I know what happened!" Their eyes widened. "Really?" Kate asked. He nodded. "My old Gran told me before she passed away this story about fog-monsters and stuff. I think she just wanted to scare me so I would never wonder off in the middle of the night into the fog. But if those stories are real I think what you met was 'The ghosts of your past'!" "And?" Hiccup asked. "And according to the legend it's a monster that lives in the fog. And it can detect your greatest fears and dreams and hopes and hurtful parts of your mind and use them against you. If you survive that attack you're either mad or wiser. Most of them are killed and those that get out are mad so the chances are more negative." Kate had one eyebrow raised. "Anyway" he continued "You still look pretty sane." "But there are no fog-monsters!" Kate argued. Now it was Hiccups turn to raise one eyebrow. He pointed at Zhang. "Well, maybe not a monster but a dragon perhaps?"

They all looked at the dragon that happily played with its two new friends outside the cave. "Zhang? The fog-monster? Really? He's like an overgrown puppy!" Josh said. "Well he is now, that he has found his counterpart. His other side of the coin." Hiccup said. They looked at him with blank faces. He sighed and took out 'A Heroes Guide to Deadly Dragons' and opened it at the very ending.

"My ancestor Hiccup the Second realized that shortly before he died. In his notes it says that the history between humans and dragons goes a long time back. He thinks every dragon and human have an opposite. Something that makes them whole. Like a soul mate. That also the reason why dragons live so long. To find their other half."

"You make it sound as if…I don't know…as if they know that too." Josh said. "Because they do. Dragons are no animals. But neither are they humans. They are something more. It's hard to explain. Loki called them creatures of light. They were born from light and they bring light. And light and darkness are the two oldest beings in the whole universe. They are two sides of a coin, counterparts.

I think it's the same with humans and dragons. They are two opposites. But once joined together they are something new." As if to underline his words Toothless came bouncing into the cave and muzzled Hiccup affectionately.

"I mean. Before Toothless and I bonded he was the intimating legend, the Night Fury! The unholy offspring of lightning and death itself! And now look at him."

The others nodded.

"I don't know if Nightlight is my opposite. I got her for my sixth birthday from a breeder." "Believe me. She wouldn't let you ride her if she didn't feel your connection." Hiccup said gently and smiled at her.

She shyly smiled back.

"Good, but coming back to my immunity." Josh said. "I think I know why I'm not affected." He swallowed. "And? Wanna share why?" He sighed. "From what I could gather, your fathers are…disappointed, right? All of your families, because…you are different. Right?" "Understatement of the century." Hiccup snorted. "Well. I think I'm not affected because there is no one left in my live that I could disappoint. No one has any expectations for me. I guess like this I can't disappoint anyone I love. Because they are all dead and nothing can change that."

There was a long silence.

Then Kate got up, walked around the fire and sat down next to him. "I'm sorry." She said. "Don't be. It's been ages ago. I've come to terms with everything."

"But…my mom's dead too. Why…why could Zhang use her against me?" Josh shrugged. "I don't know Hiccup. That's something only you can know."

Hiccup took a deep breath.

"Something like this can never happen again. How can we prevent such things?"

Kate shook her head.

"This is nothing you can fight with a pointy sword Hiccup. I think what has to happen that we…have to get over the fact that our families will never be able to accept us the way we are. Maybe if we, like Josh, come to terms with that, we won't be so vulnerable any more…" she suggested.

But Hiccups face morphed from uncertain to furious.

"You want me to give up hope that my father might ever love me? That I might be accepted? You want me to turn down my only family? I'm sorry but I can't! As much as I want to hate and forget them, I can't! I don't know why it's not so hard for you, but I can't."

With that he got up and left the cave, Toothless right beside him.

"Well done." Josh mumbled. She just threw him a dirty look. "Okay, I'll go and look for him. Geez!"

Josh swatted a few twigs away and fought his way through a bush.

"Hiccup?" he called. Nothing. Great. Now the guy could also blend in with his surroundings.

"Hiccup! You really shouldn't be wondering alone in your condition!" "What condition?" asked Hiccup right behind him.

Josh swirled around. "God above, don't sneak up on me like that." "You were following me." "Look, Kate probably didn't mean it that way." Hiccup sighed. "I know." "She cares for you."

For a moment Josh was tempted to tell him how much she cared for him.

But then he decided that it was Kates' business and not his.

(And they called him insensitive!)

"I know. I care for her too. I mean I feel totally responsible for her." "Even though it's her that always saves your sorry ass?" "Shut up."

"Freeze." Both boys swirled around at the sound of the alien voice.

"I believe I told you to freeze."

Three adolescents, maybe slightly older than Hiccup, maybe Josh's age, stood behind them. The boy in front, who had talked was fairly tall and had platinum blond hair and cold grey eyes. He was dressed in deep blue robes and grey trousers and had a crossbow in gloved hands.

"What do we have here. Two…boys…roaming on our island. Who are you?" "Who is he calling a boy?" Josh growled.

"You only talk when order to." One of the other boys said.