Hiccup didn't bring up the talk with Astrid, in fact he avoided eye contact with her at all costs for the next few days. Instead he threw himself into his work preparing the villagers for the rescue ahead.

"The riders will set out first, followed by the a team. Scouting only. Once we have a bearing on their fleet we will regroup back here and plan our attack."

The riders nodded going their separate ways to prepare their dragons for flight. Jack and Thiana headed back to Hiccup's hut whereas Aster stayed behind.

"Thank you for this Hiccup. I don't know what we would have done otherwise." Aster thanked with a grateful smile.

But his smile quickly faded and lightning gathered in his irises. "But if you ever say anything to hurt Jack again I will personally see to your demise."

"I deserve that." Hiccup scratched the back of his neck out of pure awkwardness. Aster stalked off after Jack and Thiana allowing Hiccup to breathe.

Hiccup gathered his things and called for Toothless. Together they went off for the stables where they were to meet with the scouts.

They needn't wait long. Within ten minutes everyone was saddled up and ready to go. Thiana had opted to stay behind and, not wanting her to be alone, Aster begrudgingly stayed back too.

That left Jack to lead the way past the northern straights to the last known location of Dragon's fleet. They would have undoubtedly moved after the breakout but they had to start somewhere.

Jack was considerably further ahead and flying haphazardly, zig zagging across the sky as if improving his vision.

Hiccup wanted to give him some space but one look from Astrid spurred him to catch up.

"Hey Jack you shouldn't stray too far from the group."

"The further we spread the quicker we will find them." Jack replies, lacking his usual energy.

"Jack, we will find them. But it isn't safe for you to be separated. What if we get- LOOK OUT!"

A flaming arrow pierced the clouds only narrowly missing Jack's wing. Having been split in two the clouds parted to reveal a fleet twenty ships strong, each with the familiar turquoise metal worked into the hull and masts.

"Pitch." Jack snarled starting to dive towards the ship. Toothless blocked his path but it was too late.

"Jack remember what we came here do you. Scout and report back to Berk." Hiccup hissed grabbing hold of Jack's arm.

Dozens of arrows whistled through the air not quite reaching high enough. They stood as a warning, one that Jack was quite willing to ignore.

"You can't take them on alone. We need to retreat and regroup."

"Hiccup let me go." The white of his eyes seeped into the blue like frost.

"I am not letting you get yourself killed. After we regroup we can-"

"No!"

Jack twisted Hiccup's arm to the brink of discomfort creating a layer of frost that held it in place long enough for him to break free. He hovered mid air staring apologetically into Hiccup's emerald eyes before disappearing beneath the clouds.

"Shit." Hiccup ran his hand through his hair and turned to the group. "Gustav! Return to Berk and inform any available riders to come help."

Hiccup shattered that layer of frost and gripped his saddle telling toothless to dive. His team followed suit and the battle began. Huge spears and arrows were being thrown around all dipped in dragonroot; an old trick the chief thought he had seen the last of.

Jack charged at the largest ship of the fleet, freezing any arrow that came within an inch of him. He landed on the deck with such force the boat rocked dangerously. Before the soldiers could react Jack froze their feet to the deck and walked by with a dark smirk.

He broke the latch locking the hatch to the lower deck and threw it open. Jack could instantly make out the tiny pleas of the cadets trapped somewhere below. But the cries for help were interrupted by manic laughter that Jack knew all too well. His fingers twitched as two daggers of ice bloomed in his palms.

Pitch stood on the top deck clapping his hands slowly. A sinister smirk twitched at the corner of his mouth succeeding in angering Jack further.

"I have to admit you are quite persistent. But you have to be smarter if you want to take on me."

"I think I have the upper hand here." Jack spat gesturing to the bodies littering the deck.

Pitch gripped the railing and lent forward menacingly. A sly grin spread across his face as he conjured a ball of writhing black sand.

"Oh I don't need to fight you. I just need to take away the thing you care about most."

"What are you-" Jack followed his gaze and his heart dropped. "No. No!"

But it was too late. A deafening explosion echoed around the cliff face as the sand threw Hiccup from Toothless's back. He plummeted through the air, unconscious.

"HICCUP."

Toothless could only watch as his rider fell beyond his reach. If he dived after him they would both drown as Toothless had yet to master the art of gliding in his own.

"What will it be frost? Me or your precious chief. You can't have both." Jack's wings trembled as he watched Hiccup fall. Any second he would hit the water. Why wasn't he moving?

"It burns you to have come so close."

An ear splitting roar ripped through Jack's throat. His eyes misted over as his power shone through his veins creating beautifully menacing lines against his skin. The scales dotting his back wrapped around his torso growing in size and strength.

He jumped into the air and was instantly surrounded by a blinding silver light. When he emerged Jack was unrecognizable. In his place hovered a magnificent silver dragon with blue tipped wings and pure white eyes, similar to toothless in build but significantly smaller.

Frost zipped across the battlefield at high speeds yet everything was moving in slow motion. Hiccup, still unconscious, only a few feet from the unforgiving arctic waters.

He turned on to his back catching Hiccup just in time. Without thinking he wrapped his wings around Hiccup's body and began a rapid descent to the shore. He landed on the rocky, snow covered beach with a thud, cutting great gashes in his scales from the impact. Frost laid Hiccup down gently and waited until Toothless joined them before shooting back into the sky.

Pitch watched from his ship in horror as the dragon stared him down. Power radiated from every scale, his eyes could cut through gronkle iron. Every beat of his wings made Pitch quiver in fear until he made a break for it.

He sprinted across the deck desperate to get below deck where the dragon fire wouldn't reach him thanks to the reinforcements. Alas he barely made it down the stairs before balls of burning ice rained down upon him.

Cocooned in a shield of sand, Pitch waited out the blasts only to find the sand solidifying under the fire, mingling with the ice to create wonderfully terrifying shapes. Pitch banged against the ice watching through the warped surface as Frost drew closer.

The primal part of Frost was deeply enjoying his former master's terror; he was looking forward to make him experience as much pain and torture as possible. But his more rational human consciousness knew that for now entrapment was enough. Free the cadets and get Hiccup home, that was all he needed to do.

He landed gently on the deck without so much as a glance in Pitch's direction. He sauntered over to the hatch and jumped down into the depths of the boat. His movements were almost feline whipping his tail around much like a cat. Scratching any guards that cross his path like one too.

Before long he had located the cadets and with a strategically placed blast opened the cages. The older cadets ushered the young ones out first ensuring they were safe. Frost over saw all of this offering kind nudges whenever a child tripped.

"Jack?" Frost's ears perked up at the familiar voice and he purred.

"You're...a dragon. Since when could you fully transform?" Frost nudged the large man with his snout gurgling with happiness. North scratched under Frost's neck before pushing him into the crowd of cadets swarming above deck.

"Go with them. I will stay and take care of stragglers."

Frost nodded and bounded ahead of the crowd leading them to safety. Those who could sprout wings and flew out of the hatch, those who couldn't were loaded on Frost's back who then ferried them outside. Similar scenes were happening all across the fleet. Hundreds of children now filled the harbour all growling menacingly at their captures.

"Jack!"

Screams of pain echoed around the harbour; pain mixed with horror that made Frost's blood run cold. Using his enhanced senses he flew towards the source only for his heart to drop into the ocean below. Astrid and Snotlout were crouched next to Hiccup struggling to keep him breathing.

Mid-air Frost began to transform back, landing on the snow in his human form. Hiccup's face was deathly pale lips tinged blue. Black sand writhed around his neck, binding him to an eternal sleep.

"Jack what's wrong with him." Astrid cried.

"I don't know."

"Do something." Snotlout yelled desperately, feeling for a pulse and failing.

Jack wept as he stroked Hiccup's hair back before resting his hand against his icy cheek. His hand travelled down to Hiccup's chest and he closed his eyes. A tiny ball of light appeared in his palm growing brighter with every breath Jack took.

Aster and Thiana landed with a group of cadets and did a double take. Thiana clamped her hand over her mouth as Aster ran to stop Jack. Snotlout held the shifter back refusing to let him pass.

"What are you doing? Let me through" Aster shouted pushing against the viking but he held strong.

"He is saving Hiccup."

"By killing himself."

"W-what." Astrid stuttered.

"He is extracting his magic and giving it to Hiccup. If you let him do this Jack will die." Thiana sobbed.

"Jack stop!" But it was too late. The light faded and Jack slowly opened his eyes to Hiccup staring back at him. They sat and stared at each other for a moment before Jack lent down and pressed a chaste kiss on Hiccup's lips.

"I'm sorry." He whispered as he pulled away.

"J-Jack?"

"I love you." Life left his eyes and Jack slumped against the young chief's chest. Hiccup sat up hauling Jack with him, laying him gently against his lap.

"Aster what's wrong with him?"

"I'm sorry Hiccup. He- Jack gave his life to save yours."

"No," Hiccup's eyes widened as he glanced down at Jack whose breaths had become incredibly shallow and ragged. "Why would you do that? I can't lose you as well."

Tears brimmed in the eyes of all who were watching as Hiccup broke down before them. Astrid crouched down next to him and rested a hand on her friend's shoulder. Hiccup collapsed into her torso as he gripped Jack's hand, shaking with grief.

"Hiccup we can't stay here." Astrid whispered gently.

"I'm not leaving him here." Hiccup sniffled yet somehow spoke with an authority Astrid wouldn't dare undermine. He uncurled himself from Astrid's side and, with a shaking hand, brushed Jack's silver hair from his face. He looked so at peace, all to similar to his father. 

"I'm not leaving him."