Author's Note - Hello, everyone! I've emerged from the depths of hiatus. My sincere apologies for the extended absence from updating this fanfiction; nearly six months have passed. During this time, I've been preoccupied with various events, most notably, my final exams. Regardless, I hope you'll savour this new chapter.
It had been nearly half a year since Jack had last embarrassed himself. Finally, he had managed to pick up the pieces and move on with his eternal life. He had come to terms with the fact that he had blown any chance of a relationship with Hiccup. Instead, he focused on Jamie, taking on the role of an older brother figure. In the warmth of summer, you could often find Jack either hanging out with Jamie or relaxing in North's workshop.
Over the past few weeks, Jack had offered his assistance to Tooth in collecting children's teeth from around the world. Boredom had finally driven him to action, and he found solace in his conversations with Tooth. She had become something of a mother figure to Jack, albeit with an inexplicable fascination for his teeth. Nevertheless, she was not only a motherly presence but also his best friend.
Hiccup had seemingly disappeared from their lives since their last encounter. Even North, who was closer to Hiccup than any of the other Guardians and Spirits, hadn't seen him. Initially, this bothered Jack, but he had come to accept that it was likely his own fault that Hiccup had vanished without a trace.
One night, while sleeping in North's workshop, Jack had a terrifying dream. In this dream, he saw Hiccup, but it wasn't the Hiccup he knew. His eyes glowed with an eerie yellow, reminiscent of Pitch's, only much brighter, and a wicked grin adorned his face.
A paralyzing fear gripped Jack, and he was compelled to move closer to Hiccup. He had no control over his own body as he inched forward, one step at a time. Hiccup's evil smile deepened as he leaned down and whispered in Jack's ear.
The words Hiccup uttered shook Jack to his core. "Help me, Jack!" Hiccup's voice pleaded, filled with unmistakable pain.
Jack abruptly awoke, jumping into the air before crashing onto the hard floor. He panted heavily, struggling to understand what had just occurred.
"That was just a dream," he repeated to himself, but the more he said it, the less he believed it. The pain in Hiccup's voice felt too real to dismiss as a mere dream.
"Where are you!?" Jack cried out, but there was no response. He rested his head on the floor, convinced he was losing his sanity.
Something on the floor caught his eye—a piece of paper. He picked it up slowly. It appeared to be a riddle. Jack read it aloud, attempting to decipher its meaning.
"Where love once thrived, search within your heart, venture forth and rescue me from the torment I endure."
Jack racked his brain, trying to decipher the riddle's cryptic message. He contemplated sharing it with the others for their input when he noticed a small footnote at the bottom.
The message was clear: "Come alone, or else." Jack's heart raced as he absorbed those ominous words.
Suddenly, an inexplicable surge of emotions overwhelmed Jack. His feelings for Hiccup, buried deep within, now resurfaced with an intensity he hadn't felt before. Despite the inherent danger, he resolved to heed the cryptic instructions hidden in the footnote. Keeping the note's existence a secret from his companions, he discreetly slipped it into the pocket of his hoodie.
Now, the only puzzle left to solve was the riddle itself. Jack racked his brain for an answer, but his efforts yielded nothing.
"I'll find you, I promise," Jack murmured to himself, a vow carried on his breath as he slid open the window and embarked on a journey into uncertainty, his destination shrouded in mystery.
Author's Note - Hi, everyone! I thought I'd include a time skip to illustrate how Jack has managed to cope with the realization that he believes it's over with Hiccup. This will also show how much he has grown and how he can no longer deny his feelings for Hiccup that he's kept bottled up. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed it.