Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A CHILLY FOG LINGERED over an azure sea like a heavy blanket as a small island of civilization gradually began to peak out from beneath it. There were two statues at the entrance of the harbor that stood as pillars of Vikings amongst crashing waves of Norse waters. They held their mouths open, greeting visitors with flames inside their open jaws, illuminating their docking port out of the darkness. Behind these statues was an island of flourishing greenery that village livestock fed upon freely while the highest peaks reached out toward Valhalla and mountainous ledges of magnificent views displayed the chillingly beautiful North Sea.

          Everything here looked peaceful as could be, but peace could be deceiving, and such silence only lasted for so long amidst places such as this one...

          Dozens of stalwart Vikings ran throughout their village. They held weapons of steel tightly in their hefty grasps, and battle cries rang out from their lungs and into the night breeze. All of them fought off such large scaly beasts, beasts known by the names of dragons, as they had swarmed into their village and attempted to raid the people of their resources; food being the main concern.

          There was not a single person left out of the action... except for one: a boy of notably slender build who still had quite a few years before he entered adulthood.

          A dark wood-paneled door to a small longhouse opened, revealing a young teenage boy standing on the opposite side of it, but instead of a great sunny morning full of birds chirping... he is brought face-to-face with a rather large scaly red dragon with particularly sharp fang-like teeth. The boy wasted no time before he slammed the door closed and put his back to its lumber, narrowly missing the dragon's extreme flames, which quickly set the door ablaze. The boy breathed in and out heavily as he listened for the sound of the dragon's wings for a signal the beast had flown off before he slowly reopened the door and rushed out into the chaos of his village.

          The boy proceeded to run through the pathways of his village without a word spoken to anyone around him, ignoring every single yell and call that was directed toward him, waving off their instructions for him to get back inside for his own good and survival. He soon got away from all of the villagers he bumped into as he ran around all of the chaos and disorder. It wasn't long before he almost found himself running straight in front of the firing range of an especially dangerous and triggered dragon—where he surely would have been barbecued like a drumstick—but he was swiftly pushed out of the way with a streak of a copper braid right as the beast blew his flames into the night.

          A sigh of relief left the boy as he stared at the blackened ground that had just been burned by the large and scaly beast. "Odin's beard," he spoke with a nervous laugh.

          "You know..." a feminine voice spoke slowly as the person next to him stood back up from the ground. "You should be more careful, Hiccup," she spoke with a grin in her tone.

          The boy, Hiccup, looked up quickly as soon as he heard her voice. He stared up at her like a sheep to an axe. Her hair was a magnificent shade of red that kind of glowed within the light of the dragon fire upon their village grounds, it was long but in a braid fit for battle, tied with twine to keep it in place. Her eyes were a blue whose depth could only be comparable to the North Sea that enveloped this island that they called home. Her complexion was one unlike any other, if you asked him, as her freckles shined through her pale skin which was attributed to their lack of sun but it didn't make her any less beautiful to him. It was needless to say Hiccup admired this girl to the point that he could have been considered lovesick.

          Hiccup was broken out of his spell as she offered a hand out to him, which he took, but not without stumbling as he stood back up to his own feet, "Thanks," he laughed nervously as he scratched the back of his head.

          "You're welcome," the young woman smiled kindly as she bent down again and picked up a bucket off the ground. "You should probably get back inside, you know, before the Chief finds you out here," she huffed out a laugh, smiling at him.

          Hiccup laughed nervously again. "Yeah, right, of course," he grinned at her.

          "Solveiga!" Someone suddenly shouted from behind the two teens, causing them both to spin around toward the voice, coming to see a blonde girl standing around the village well. "Too many fires, too few people!" she yelled in anguish as she dunked her bucket into the well.

          "On my way!" The girl, Solviega, shouted back quickly before she turned to the boy in front of her with a kind smile. "Duty calls," she smiled as she began to walk backward. She brought her index and middle finger to her forehead before saluting the boy, turning around, and beginning to walk off.

          Hiccup sighed with a grin on his face as he too turned around to continue wherever he was heading before... Wait, where was he heading again? Oh, right–

          "Oh! And, Hiccup?" Solviega shouted from behind him, making him swing back around in excitement. "Don't get yourself killed, please," she smiled at him kindly before once and for all turning back around and actually running off into battle with an iron bucket in her hand.

          Hiccup grinned like an idiot as he bounced off once again, quickly finding himself at the open doors of the village blacksmith's workshop, where he swiftly rushed inside the building. He found an older man standing in front of a welding station as he straightened out a curved blade placed it back into its original shape and set it for battle.

          "Ah," Gobber, the village blacksmith, emitted as he spotted Hiccup. "Nice of you to join the party– I thought you had been carried off!" he raised his voice half humorously as he continued with his work.

         "What? Who? Me?" Hiccup asked in a tone of fake surprise as he moved to tie a leather smock over his green tunic and furred vest. "Nah. Come on! I'm way too muscular for their taste," he joked half heartedly. "They wouldn't know what to do with all... this," he facetiously smirked, lifting up his arms in an attempt to show his muscles, only those muscles were particularly imaginary.

          "Well..." Gobber trailed off for just a moment. "They need toothpicks, don't they?" He asked in a teasing voice as he laughed while he worked.

          Hiccup rolled his eyes but gave no acknowledgment to his jabbing words as he moved towards a wooden counter and opened up the shutters. He instantly had a pile of sharp weapons thrown onto the counter, all requiring immediate mending, especially as their owners stood outside ready for battle. None of the Vikings could be patient as the teenage boy took their swords and axes into his thin arms. Hiccup dropped them into the fire for heating before he looped his arm around the handle of a bellow, struggling to push it down at first, but eventually getting it to budge and expel the necessary air needed to bring the hot coals back to life and begin heating up the metal weapons.

          A sudden yell soon caught Hiccup's attention again. "Fire!" Someone yelled into the night, causing Hiccup to walk over towards the open shutters, ignoring a sound of complaint that came from one of the Vikings waiting for their weapons.

          A group made up of three boys and three girls, all around the same age as Hiccup, stood a few feet in front of the blacksmith's station with pails of water in their hands. They moved as fast as possible to fill their buckets with the needed water to extinguish the house fire that the dragons had started from within their star-covered skies. Hiccup didn't pay much attention to the entire group, though, since his green eyes were set on a certain person who had saved him from death earlier.

          Soveiga moved her arms back before she threw them forward again and launched a stream of water onto the burning house in front of herself, trying to save as much of the structure as she could, with the help of the other five teens who aided her in this mission. She had always left Hiccup in something of a state since he was a child. He mostly admired her from afar, especially since his voice cracked when he spoke to or about her, but he had been thrilled that she'd even looked his way, let alone spoken to him– and then even asked him not to die.

          Thor... She was such a caring person.

          His state didn't last long after the group of teens raced off to help with any additional essential tasks that needed to be attended to, as Gobber swiftly came in, and moved Hiccup away from the open window and back into the working building of the blacksmith shed.

          "Oh, come on," Hiccup all but whined in annoyance. "Let me out, please? I need to make my mark!" He shouted in determination as he rolled his shoulders.

          "Oh! You've made plenty of marks," Gobber shook his head at the boy. "All in the wrong places," he reminded him as let him go and continued to shake his head.

          "Please! Two minutes. I'll kill a dragon. My life will get infinitely better," Hiccup begged as he animatedly moved his arms around. "I might even get a date," he said, his minding soon drifting off to a certain redhead, fighting back a grin as he thought of her.

          Gobber sighed as he shook his head... again. "You can't lift a hammer, you can't swing an axe, you can't even throw one of these!" He lifted up a bola from the ground just as another Viking ripped the rope and stones out of his grasp and then threw it at a dragon in the sky and brought it down to the ground with a loud thud.

          "Okay, fine..." Hiccup trailed off as he walked over to a wooden contraption at the back of the shed. "But this will throw it for me," he said proudly, leaning his arm onto the machine, only for it to malfunction and release a bola at the wrong moment and hit another Viking in the head, making the man yelp in pain and shock.

          "See!" Gobber shouted with a groan. "Now this, right here, is what I'm talking about," he spoke with a strong and heavy sense of exasperation in his tone.

         "A mild calibration issue–" Hiccup tried to defend himself, and his machine, but he was quickly cut off.

          "No, Hiccup," Gobber paused as he walked forward. "If you ever want to get out there to fight dragons, you to stop all... this," he said as he motioned toward the entirety of the boy's body with both his hand and prosthetic hook.

          "You just pointed to all of me."

          "Yes! That's it. Stop being all of you!"

          Hiccup stared at him as he shook his head. "Oh," he dragged out the word as he narrowed his eyes at the man in front of him.

          "Oh, yes," Gobber nodded with a mocking sense about him.

          "You, sir, are playing a dangerous game," Hiccup lifted his shoulders to seem more confident. "Keeping this much, raw... Viking-ness... contained? There will be consequences!" He yelled in a rather unconvincing tone of warning.

          "I'll take my chances," Gobber said, unphased by the news. "Sword. Sharpen. Now," he ordered as he tossed a heavy sword to the boy in front of him.

          Hiccup groaned in annoyance as he struggled to catch the object. He let out one long, exasperated sigh of defeat, and with a resigned expression, turned on his heels. Slowly, he walked over to the sharpening stone, which spun rapidly, whirring steadily as he finally got to work...

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          "NIGHT FURY!"

          Solveiga knew exactly what those two words meant. Her head shot up to the midnight sky as she heard a siren-like shriek fly through the air, watching as purple blasts of plasma seemingly came out of nowhere, and crashed into two of the very few watchtowers there were in her small village tribe. While those dragons' attacks were unmistakable, and plenty of people had been struck down by their perilously colored flames, there had never been a single person to ever see a Night Fury and live to tell the tale; not even the mightiest of warriors... such as Solviega's own dad.

          The young woman's eyes soon fell from the moonlit sky as something on the ground caught her attention, making her squint in an attempt to make out a figure that ran toward the edge of the village island. She could barely make out a human-shaped silhouette through the dark, but she soon identified who it must have been, all based on the unusual contraption they wheeled in front of themselves... Hiccup.

          Solveiga turned away from the silhouette of the boy as she looked over her shoulder, finding that her best friend had run off to help the others, and she was the only one still standing there. She sighed as she turned her gaze back in the very direction that the infamous boy had run off to, knowing that she couldn't just leave him to get himself into an undoubtedly dangerous situation. Her shoulders slightly fell before she took off after him and quickly made her way down the half-incinerated wooden staircase that led down one of the grass-covered hills lined with equally as destroyed shelters.

          The teenage boy stood with his slingshot machine open and pointed towards the sky, mumbling for the heavens to give him something to shoot at, not realizing that the redheaded girl he had been admiring only a few minutes ago, was now standing behind him with a look of bewilderment lingering in her eyes. She hadn't a clue as to what he was up to this time but she could make a sensible guess that he was seeking to shoot down a dragon.

          Solveiga almost jumped at the sudden sound of Hiccup's machine firing into the night sky, making her frown in even more confusion as there didn't seem to be anything there, but the sound of a dragon's roar made her eyes go wide in shock... he hit one. Hiccup, the boy who had been considered the weakest Viking of all, had actually managed to strike down a Night Fury out of the dead black sky and send the creature falling deep into the forest of their small island home.

          Hiccup paused in shock. "Oh, I hit it!" he raised his arms in victory as he yelled in astonishment at his own action.

          Solveiga still stared at the now empty sky. "Odin's beard," she suddenly said.

          "Solveiga!" Hiccup whirled around with a proud grin on his face. "Did you see that? I hit one! Did anybody see that!?" he laughed out of excitement, but Solveiga's expression had turned into one, not of the same but of fear... something else had caught her attention from behind the Viking boy.

          "Uh," Solveiga dragged out of fear, "Hiccup..." she trailed off speechlessly as she locked eyes with the black-slitted pupils of a huge, red-scaled, fire-breathing dragon.

          Hiccup frowned in confusion at her words, but as he turned around, he soon understood what she had been trying to convey to him. "Except for you," his voice shook out as the dragon in front of him let out a menacing growl and displayed its dagger-like teeth.

          Hiccup didn't waste a second before he took off running with an outcry of panic, making the creature behind him roar, and then take off after the boy while leaving the red-haired girl in the dust. Solviega's shoulders fell from their state of tension as she sighed and shook her head in disbelief. Yet, she quickly waved off her fear before she took off in pursuit of the dragon, and the boy who had little to no combat experience.

          Her legs hastened down the ledge of the land as she knew that the dragon was going to eventually corner Hiccup one way or another and they were heading straight towards the already half-burning village. The dragon's claws scratched the stone and it began to spit out lava-like globs of fire at Hiccup as he ran, barely being able to dodge certain death, and sliding around corners as he came up to them. He soon came up to a wooden pillar that was lined with metal on the bottom of it, which made it a suitable place to hide. Hiccup skidded to a stop as he reached the pillar, putting his back against the metal lining, just before the dragon unleashed its full flames and sent the heat directly at the column.

          "Hey!" Solveiga's voice echoed from behind the dragon. "Over here," she said as its head spun around at the sound of a different voice, making the eyes of the creature narrow down, and quickly begin to advance on her–Hiccup now forgotten.

          The young teenage girl could feel her heart pound within her ribcage as the huge dragon snarled in front of her. She knew it wasn't the brightest idea to switch its attention onto herself, but she couldn't just leave Hiccup for dead, and she had more of an idea of how to fight these lizards with wings... but she also didn't really know how to fight one yet. All she had for a weapon was a tiny dagger in her right hand. What could such a dainty weapon possibly do to a giant fire-breathing thing? Almost nothing.

          Solveiga took a deep breath as she stared the beast down confidently as it opened its mouth, giving her the perfect view of its hot orange glowing throat, and it was beginning to glow even brighter... but, right before the dragon could roar out its flames directly at her, it was met with Chief Stoick's fist, causing the creature to fall back out of the shock of the sudden and unexpected attack.

          Stoick glared at the dragon, stepping in front of Solveiga out of protection, as he noticed that the creature no longer had any fuel within itself for its flames. He only had to send three or four punches at the dragon's muzzle before it cowered away from him. Its wings quickly spread up as it made the decision to run away and soon took off into the sky that was beginning to lighten up with the rising sun.

          The Chief turned around as the pillar behind him crumbled from the prior charing of the dragon's fire, revealing Hiccup stood in the place of the tower, all while the rest of the villagers found themselves coming to stand around the three people, and the rest of the dragons began to fly off with almost all of their sheep held within their talons.

          "Sorry, Dad," Hiccup winces while looking at his father. "Okay but I hit a Night Fury," he stated, but Stoick would have none of it, and began to drag him away from the crowd that had now gathered around them.

          "Solveiga," the muted call of her name made the girl turn around and spotted a brunette woman standing around in the crowd, motioning her forward with a worried look on her face. "Are you okay?" she asked in a motherly tone as the girl rushed into her arms while nodding in confirmation.

          "It's not like the last few times, Dad!" Hiccup shouted as he tried to get his father to let go of his arm. "I mean, I actually hit it! You guys were busy and I had a very clear shot. It went down just off Raven Point. Let's get a search party out there before it–"

          "Stop!" Stoick yelled. "Just... stop," he sighed as he stopped in his tracks and let go of his son. "Every time you step outside, disaster follows. Can you not see I have bigger problems? Winter's almost here and I have an entire village to feed!" he tried to explain as he motioned to all the people standing around them.

          "Between you and me," Hiccup started, "–the village could do with a little less feeding, don't ya think?" he asked almost jokingly, getting looks and glares from the people around him, ones that held the question of 'are you calling us fat' within the gazes.

          "This isn't a joke, Hiccup!" Stoick shouted. "You just about got her killed!" he motioned toward Solveiga as he yelled, making Hiccup glance over at the fiery-haired girl whose mother was fussing over her worriedly, and he couldn't help but cringe at the thought of being at fault for her potential death.

          "I can't stop myself," Hiccup suddenly said as he turned his gaze back. "I see a dragon and I have to just.. Kill it, you know? It's who I am, Dad," he stated with a rather forced look of violent gestures.

          "You are many things, Hiccup. But a dragon killer is not one of them. Get back to the house," Stoick sighed as he set his hand on his helmet-covered head in a state of exasperation. "Make sure he gets there. I have his mess to clean up," he instructed Gobber before he turned away from his son before he stormed away.

          Solveiga sighed as she convinced her mother that she was just fine, not even having a scratch on her skin, and got her to let go of her for now. She watched as Hiccup was led away with his head bowed in shame and annoyance as she walked back over to the group of teenagers that she had been with before this whole thing. She came to stand beside a light blonde girl her age and leaned against the stone wall that all five of them were sitting against.

          "Quite the performance," Tuffnut snorted as Hiccup before he got a punch to the shoulder from his twin sister.

          "I've never seen anyone mess up that badly," Snotlout smirked at the boy as he walked past him. "That helped!" he laughed sarcastically, making Hiccup's shoulders slump in defeat, glancing at Solveiga apologetically before he wandered away down the sunlit hillside.

          "Oh, shut it, Snotlout," Solveiga rolled her eyes as she stepped away from the group and began walking towards her own home, harshly slamming her shoulder into Snotlout's, making him whine in annoyance before she sauntered off... having had her fill of ventures for one day.

Chapter Text

SOLVEIGA CROSSED HER LEGS over each other as she sat on a small wooden bed whose mattress was composed of straw and feathers to soften it, covered by white linen sheets, and a warm blanket knitted out of ivory wool by her mother just a few springs ago. Her head was slightly drooped down as to read the notes written in an old leather-bound journal that rested upon her open hands. It had been left behind by her father after he had died. It was full of information on all sorts of dragons, but a majority of what was in it was about a certain type, infamous for darkness... Night Furies.

          She had been just a child—barely old enough to form memories—when he passed on, but from all that she had heard over the years, told in hushed tones and occasional stories… it seemed he hadn’t exactly been known for his kindness and warmth. Still, despite the mixed opinions about his character, there was a general consensus that everyone had deeply respected, if not revered, his remarkable skill when it came to slaying dragons. Her mother, when asked, had described him in a somewhat dismissive tone as having been an “adequate husband”—though she had never really explained just what that was supposed to mean, and the phrase always left more questions, than it ever did answers.

          What had struck the girl most, and what she had thought about often as she grew older, was the bitter irony of his end—that after a life spent hunting and killing dragons, earning a fearsome reputation for it, he, himself, had ultimately perished by the very thing he fought so hard against… dragon fire.

          A soft knock echoed from the wood-paneled door, bringing Solveiga out of her head, and lifting her eyes from the pages before she set them on her brunette-haired mother. Her mother had always told her that her father had never meant the words he said to her. It was hard for her to believe that he would have actually regretted them.

          "Are you..." Her mother trailed off as she saw the journal. "Reading those old notes again?" she questioned, voice smooth and comforting, coming to lean against the doorframe.

          "Yeah," Solveiga shrugged her shoulders. "I figured they would have some... valuable information," she said as she slowly turned her eyes back down toward the leather in her hands.

          Solveiga and her mother didn't speak very often these days. After her father's death, their mother-daughter relationship became strained, and neither knew what to say to the other without it turning into an argument. Her mother tried to connect with her again, putting in as much effort as she could, but Solveiga rarely wanted to speak... thus silence had become their peacekeeper.

          Her mother sighed as she shifted her stance, "Are you alright after this morning?" she trailed off in a kind and caring tone from where she stood, getting a curt nod from Solveiga, causing her mother to sigh in concern, obviously not totally believing her.

          "Mom," Solveiga said with a sigh. "I'm fine," she confirmed with a quick gaze.

          "Okay," her mother nodded. "Are you excited for tomorrow?" she asked with a small smile on her cause, causing Solveiga's body to tense as she set the journal down on her bed, and glanced toward the woman in front of her again.

          "Oh... Uh..." Solviega awkwardly trailed off. Tomorrow. Tomorrow was the start of dragon training, and she had been dreading it for days, perhaps weeks... Of course, she had never voiced that to anyone; let alone her mother. "I suppose," she lied with a convincing nod, causing her mother to smile proudly at her before she'd turned around and walked off, leaving Solveiga to her unbeknownst dread, and eventually to let her sleep in anticipation.

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          The morning didn't lift Solveiga's spirits at all. Dragon, bird, human... she had no desire to learn how to take any sort of life away, but her mother had insisted, it was 'for her own good' so that she didn't end up like her father–dead. So, whether she wanted to or not, she was going to have to attend dragon training with all the rest of the teenagers in the village... at least she had a friend with her, though.

          "Well," Astrid spoke with a determined sigh. "No turning back," she said as she led everyone inside with an axe in her hand and determination in her heart.

          Astrid and Solveiga had been by each other's sides for years. They had been through every phase of life together. From the earliest days of childhood, to right now, at the cusp of Vikinghood. They had grown up together; sharing memories, experiences, and countless moments in between. Their bond was unshakable, so close that they were practically sisters in everything, except name.

          "I hope I get some serious burns!" Tuffnut whooped with a wide and excited smile, causing Solveiga to roll her eyes, finding the dangerous expectation stupid.

          "I'm hoping for some mauling, like on my shoulder, or lower back," Ruffnut agreed with her twin brother.

          "Yeah," Astrid spoke toward the twins. "It's only fun if you get a scar out of it," she admitted, slowly turning in a circle, getting a full view of the caged arena they'd been put into.

          "Yeah, no kidding, right?" the sound of a familiar voice made the other teens spin around. "Pain. Love it," Hiccup spoke, almost sarcastically, with a lifelessness in his hazel eyes that was almost concerning.

          "Oh, great," Tuffnut rolled his eyes, "Who let him in?" he asked with a scoff.

          "Uh-huh," Solveiga said as she glanced at Hiccup. "I, for one, would like to come out of this unscathed," she spoke, shaking her head in disbelief that even he seemed okay with it, which caused the twins to jeer in confusion as if her aversion to pain was some crime to the gods themselves.

          "Let's get started!" Gobber interrupted. "The recruit who does best will win the honor of killing his first dragon in front of the entire village," he informed all of them, causing Solveiga to have to fight back a wince of heartbreak, but she hid her discomfort commendably.

          Snotlout yelled out a laugh, "Hiccup already killed a Night Fury, so, does that disqualify him or...?" his dumb question made the twins laugh in amusement while the other three merely shook their heads at the endless teasing.

          "Can I transfer to the class with the cool Vikings?" Tuffnut snorted, turning around to walk away with the others as they went to stand in front of the several doors, all of which held dragons behind them.

          Solveiga rolled her eyes at her immature peers. She lingered from the rest of the group as she found herself glancing over to Hiccup, noticing how discouraged he was, obviously due to the group's dislike of him. She adjusted the sword within her hand as she tried to express her hatred of the weapon, knowing that a bow and arrow was a strong suit for her, but that it wasn't an option here.

          "Hey," Solveiga suddenly spoke toward Hiccup. "Ignore them," she told him, seemingly surprising him with the fact that she had spoken to him, even if it was only three words... but he still sent a goofy and awkward smile her way and she'd gladly returned it before they joined the others.

          "Behind these doors are just a few of the many species you will learn to fight," Gobber began his lesson in front of the large metal doors. "The Deadly Nadder!" he pointed toward a trembling doorframe.

          "Speed: eight; Armor: sixteen," Fishlegs, the heavier one of the teen group, mumbled to himself nervously.

          "The Hideous Zippleback!" Gobber continued to shuffle through the dragon cage doors.

          "Plus eleven stealth times two."

          "The Monstrous Nightmare!"

          "Firepower: fifteen."

          "The Terrible Terror!"

          "Attack: eight; Venom: twelve!"

          "Can you stop that?" Gobber suddenly yelled at the teen in front of him who was gradually becoming louder and louder with his excitement and nerves. "And... the Gronckle!" he grinned.

          "Jaw strength: eight," Fishlegs murmured over toward Hiccup as Gobber set his hand on the lever of the door. The action told Solveiga he was definitely going to open that door... and it had made her heart drop from her chest to her stomach in anxiety.

          "Whoa, whoa, wait!" Snotlout stepped forward nervously. "Aren't you gonna teach us first?" his voice cracked as he began to panic at what this crazy Viking in front of them was about to do.

          "I believe in learning on the job," Gobber held a grin on his face as he pushed the lever down and released the deprived dragon from its cage

          Everyone scrambled backward as the large cylindrical-shaped dragon with rounded spikes and tiny wings came breaking out of its cage. It wasted no time before it furiously flew around the arena, making unique dragon-like snorts as it went, crashing into the metal walls, and scooping up rocks into its mouth which it promptly swallowed for its fire fuel. The group of teens had no idea what any of them were meant to do as none of them had actually done this before, but then again, that was why they were there in the first place.

          "Today is about survival. If you get blasted, you're dead!" Gobber shouted toward the group. "Quick!" he yelled. "What's the first thing you're going to need?"

          "A doctor?" Hiccup shouted in alarm while tightly holding onto the ax in his hands.

          "More like a shaman!" Solveiga declared, nervously moving around the grasp she had on her sword, trying to focus on the dragon.

          "Plus five-speed?" Fishlegs inquired tensely with wide eyes full of concern and fear.

          "A shield," Astrid announced, her voice steady and confident, quickly taking command of the situation.

          "Shields. Go!" Gobber confirmed. "Your most important piece of equipment is your shield. If you must choose between a sword or a shield, take the shield," he informed them.

          Not a single one of them wasted a second after his words left his mouth before they rushed over toward a pile of shields lying around at the back of the arena. Solveiga clutched the first one she spotted, ignoring the loud sounds of the twins bickering over their shield colors, but quickly turned around at the sound of fire being shot toward them. She found Ruffnut and Tuffnut pushing themselves up from the ground as they had been hit by the dragon's attack; luckily they had been holding a shield, and it protected them before it had happened.

          "Tuffnut, Ruffnut, you're out!" Gobber announced, making the twins grumble as they stood up, and got out of the way of the practice battle. "Those shields are good for another thing: noise. Make lots of it to throw off a dragon's aim!" with that, Gobber's students were quick to hit the metal plates embedded in their shields with their weapons, making loud clanking noises, which caused disorientation within the dragon. "All dragons have a limited number of shots. How many does a Gronckle have?"

          "Five?" Snotlout shouted with a confused and panicked tone.

          "No, six!" Fishlegs yelled in response.

          "Correct, six!" Gobber nodded in acknowledgment. "That's one for all but one of you!" he stated right before Fishlegs' shield was hit with one of the fire blasts and sent him off screaming in terror of the dragon.

          "Fishlegs, out," Gobber announced. "Hiccup, get in there!" he yelled at the boy who was busy hiding behind a pile of wooden plank boards.

          Solveiga stood in the middle of the arena with her shield held close to her body and weapon clutched tighter within her hand than it had been a minute ago, causing her knuckles to turn pale, and her heart to race. Her eyes were set on the dragon still floating around the place without a certain target in mind. She had no idea what she was meant to do at this moment, especially since she didn't even want to be here in the first place, but she knew for sure that there was no way she would be going out of her way to attack the scaly creature hovering around.

          The Gronckle suddenly sent a blast toward Astrid and Snotlout, but Astrid quickly rolled out of the way, and Snotlout was the one to take the shielded blow.

          "Snotlout!" Gobber yelled. "You're done!" Gobber shouted as Astrid, Solveiga, and Hiccup ended up standing in line with each other.

          "So," Hiccup spoke toward Solveiga. "I guess it's just you and me," he said with a small smile on his face that made her frown in confusion as Astrid stood right beside her.

          "Uh, no?" Solveiga questioned. "Astrid is here," she stated, stepping slightly to the side to reveal the blonde girl, who soon sent a rather non-friendly glare toward Hiccup.

          "And now," Astrid started as she grabbed Solveiga's wrist. "It's just you," she said before she ran off while tugging Solveiga along with her... and right as the two girls ran off, the Gronckle sent one of its last two blasts toward Hiccup, sending his shield flying out of his hands, and rolling down the arena with Hiccup running after the only source of protection that any of them had.

          "One shot left!" Gobber shouted, but the running boy had nowhere to go, and no shield to protect himself from the deadly lava-like flames of the dragon behind him. "Hiccup!"

          Hiccup stumbled over his own feet as he panickily attempted to get the shield, but he fell to the ground with a hard thud instead, failing to catch up to the metal and wooden circle. His lungs heaved for air as the dragon inched closer and closer to him until they were face-to-face with one another. It let out a very deadly growl of rage, its mouth opening wide, and an orange glow immediately starting to build up at the back of its throat. However, before it could deal a killing blow, Gobber was able to catch its mouth with his hook and tear the dragon away from Hiccup... but the blast of fire is unleashed, which forces the teen to cover his head in panic.

          "And that's six! Go back to bed, ya overgrown sausage! You'll get another chance, don't you worry," Gobber yelled at the angry dragon as he led it back into its cage and quickly lowered the door down to trap it inside. "Remember: a dragon will always--always--go for the kill," he sent a stern gaze towards a still traumatized Hiccup, before turning around, and walking away from the first of many completed lessons...

Chapter Text

IT HADN'T BEEN MORE THAN A few minutes after the first day of dragon training that Solveiga had noticed Hiccup sneaking off into the woods behind the village–it was definitely odd for him. At first, none of her plans involved following him, but a sense of inquisitiveness had gotten the best of her, and before she knew it... she'd started wandering through the brisk woodlands of Berk.

          Solveiga tried her best to keep as quiet as possible while she walked a fair distance behind Hiccup in an effort to be unseen. A sharp breath inhales through her lungs as she quickly ducked behind a tree right before Hiccup could spot her. Her head peaked out from behind the rough bark, watching as Hiccup kneeled in front of the bola he had shot out into the sky yesterday morning, causing her brow to frown in confusion and curiosity about how it had gotten here...

          Perhaps there was no dragon, after all. Could her mind have played a trick on her? Had she not heard it fall out of the sky that morning? Maybe that was why she had followed him out here in the first place; to know whether or not he had actually brought down the rarest dragon.

          Solveiga stayed soundless and unmoving as Hiccup walked further into the woods before she slowly began to follow after him, just as silent, and far as before.

          She frowned as he had slowly made his way over toward a hidden cove that was quietly tucked away and entirely covered in vibrant greenery. Uneven grounds were blanketed in soft, spongy moss, while tall trees stood in a loose formation on the edges of the cove, their trunks casting slender shadows. At the heart of the soft and secluded place rested a deep, still pond, its surface undisturbed, mirroring the calm above—the entire space feeling almost untouched... as if it were something of a secret sanctuary.

          "Well," Hiccup mumbled to himself as he looked around. "This was stupid," he told himself with an exasperated sigh before he kneeled down and picked up a few shiny black dragon scales off the ground.

          Suddenly, and without warning, a solid black dragon let out a roar as it burst forth into the cove below, its limbs propelling it forward with urgency. It raced toward the nearby stone walls, clearly attempting to take flight, wings stretching wide with determination—but the attempt faltered. The dragon failed to gain flight and glided clumsily back over the surface of the pond, wings catching the air just enough for it to guide safely down, as it landed with a heavy thud near the water's edge, coming to rest beside... another Night Fury?

          Solveiga's eyes went wide at the sight, "There's two of them!" she exclaimed before she could stop herself from it.

          Hiccup let out a startled yell, a sharp burst of surprise escaping him as he stumbled half sideways, his balance momentarily lost. His head whipped around so quickly it was a wonder he didn't give himself whiplash, eyes wide and searching. "What... What are you doing here!?" he hissed in a loud whisper, his voice tight with urgency and confusion, doing his best to keep quiet so as not to startle or alert the dragons any more than he already had.

          "I—" Solveiga yelped in surprise, her voice catching as Hiccup suddenly reached out and took hold of her arm, his grip firm but gentle as he quickly tugged her downward, guiding her out of sight and away from the watchful eyes of the dragons. "I wanted to know if you actually hit it... and you did!" she breathed out, breaking into a soft, amazed laugh, her eyes wide with wonder as she stared down at the two dragons nestled within the cove below. Disbelief played across her face, the sheer reality of what she was witnessing taking a moment to settle in.

          Hiccup fought back a grin, the corners of his mouth twitching with restrained amusement as he turned his gaze toward the young woman beside him. For a moment, he simply watched her, taking in the way her eyes sparkled with amazement and curiosity. The excitement was still fresh on her face as she looked out over the scene below.

          "Where did the other one come from?" Solveiga asked, her voice laced with astonished thought as she continued to stare in disbelief.

          Hiccup slowly shook his head, the uncertainty clear in his eyes. "I don't know," he admitted honestly, his gaze fixed alongside hers on the two dragons below.

          The first Night Fury continued its repeated attempts to take to the sky, wings stretching wide with urgency and hope. But each time it leaped forward and tried to lift off, it failed—its powerful wings unable to gain the necessary lift. Again and again, it fell short, never quite making it off the ground.

          Hiccup hummed thoughtfully, the sound low and distracted, as he reached into his satchel and pulled out a worn leather-bound sketchbook. Carefully flipping it open to a blank page, he settled into a focused rhythm. With practiced hands, he began to sketch the outward anatomy of the dragon before him, his eyes flicking between the creature and the growing lines on the page, capturing every detail with quiet precision.

          Solveiga glanced over his shoulder in quiet surprise, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the intricate lines forming on the page. She hadn't realized before just how skilled he was at illustration—each stroke was confident, intentional, and full of understanding. For a brief moment, she found herself thinking that perhaps he, not the elders or scholars, should be the one to study these creatures, filling the village hall with books and drawings that captured their true nature.

          "Why don't you..." Hiccup began hesitantly, his voice trailing off as his gaze returned to the struggling dragon before him. He watched intently, his brow furrowing slightly with concern and curiosity. Finally, he asked softly, almost to himself and no one in particular, "—just fly away?"

          Solveiga slightly tilted her head in thoughtful curiosity as she stared intently at the struggling Night Fury, her eyes narrowing just a little. Something about the dragon seemed... off, unusual in a way, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She glanced down at the sketchbook resting in Hiccup's hands, then back up to the dragon itself as if searching for a connection between the two.

          Slowly, almost hesitantly, her hand reached out toward the book, prompting Hiccup to glance at her in mild confusion... but he didn't stop her as she carefully scooched the sketchbook closer to herself. With gentle fingers, she traced one of the tail wings drawn on the page, then softly rubbed it off. Lifting the book slightly, she held the remaining sketch up to the dragon before them, eyes widening as realization dawned. That was it—the dragon was missing a vital part of its tail.

          Hiccup leaned in closer to Solveiga, his eyes fixed on the sketchbook she held, trying to see what she had noticed. In the process, however, he accidentally dropped his pencil from his grasp. He lunged out a hand to catch it, but it slipped through his fingers and tumbled down into the cove below with a soft, unmistakable clatter. The sudden noise made both dragons immediately lift their heads, their sharp eyes snapping toward the source of the sound. In that instant, the two teenagers froze in place, each locking eyes with one of the dragons, their breath caught in their throats as tension thickened the air around them.

          Solveiga took in a shaky breath, her chest rising and falling unevenly as a wave of nervousness washed over her. "We should get back," she whispered quietly to Hiccup, her voice barely more than a breath, laden with caution.

          He met her gaze and nodded in silent agreement, understanding the urgency without needing more words. Together, they slowly pushed themselves up from the ground, moving carefully and deliberately as they began to back away from the cove, each step measured to avoid drawing any further attention.

          And with that silent understanding between them, they turned and began making their way back toward the village, their footsteps light but purposeful. The images of the dragons, still etched vividly in their minds, lingered with them every step of the way—unspoken thoughts and questions swirling quietly as they moved farther from the hidden cove...

Chapter Text

AFTER YET ANOTHER LONG AND EXHAUSTING day of dragon training—one that, as usual, involved Hiccup somehow managing to mess things up for himself in a variety of increasingly frustrating ways, and Astrid yelling at him for it with her characteristic mix of exasperation and annoyance—he and Solveiga scurried off together, slipping away from the bustle of the village and heading back out toward the woods, making their way through the familiar paths that would lead them toward the quiet, hidden cove where the two Night Furies awaited.

          “Uh…” Hiccup trailed off uncertainly, his voice tapering into an awkward silence as he reached up to scratch the back of his head, clearly unsure of himself. “Here,” he finally said after a moment, holding out a raw and noticeably slimy fish toward her, his expression tense with a nervous kind of hopefulness, a small, pursed smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he glanced at Solveiga.

          Solveiga instinctively cringed, her nose wrinkling slightly at the sight and smell of the fish, but she reached out and awkwardly took it from him anyway, gripping it gingerly between her fingers. “Thanks…?” she said, the word coming out more as a hesitant question than a genuine expression of gratitude, her brows raised in confused uncertainty.

          “It’s for the dragons,” Hiccup stated, his voice laced with a choked-back laugh as he tried to contain his amusement, clearly aware of how ridiculous the situation might have looked. “Come on,” he added a moment later, nodding his head in the direction of the cove below, his tone shifting into something more purposeful.

          Hiccup raised his shield and held it out in front of himself, leading the way down the familiar path. Behind him, Solveiga followed closely, still holding the slimy fish with visible reluctance. As they reached a narrow stretch between two large boulders, Hiccup tried to pass through—only for the shield to get stuck between the rocks. He tugged at it, but the more he pulled, the more firmly it lodged in place. With a frustrated sigh, he gave up, ducked under the shield, and slipped through the gap. Solveiga, doing her best not to laugh, followed after him.

          Then, suddenly, the dragon missing part of his tail leaped down from a large, sun-warmed rock nearby, landing with a muffled thud that stirred the sand around his feet. His movements were slow and deliberate as he began to creep toward Hiccup and Solveiga, his sleek body low to the ground, eyes fixed on the newcomers with cautious curiosity. His nose lifted into the air, twitching slightly as he caught the unmistakable scent of raw fish drifting toward him on the breeze. Step by step, he advanced, drawn forward by the familiar, tempting smell of food.

          Solveiga glanced over at Hiccup just as he reached for the knife strapped to his belt. The moment his hand touched the hilt, the dragon let out a low, warning growl—a deep, rumbling sound that echoed slightly in the clearing, filled with tension and mistrust. Without hesitation, Hiccup froze, then slowly drew the knife and tossed it onto the ground. With a quick nudge of his foot, he kicked it toward the edge of the pond, where it slid across the rocks and splashed into the water with a quiet plunk. That single action was enough. The dragon’s posture shifted almost immediately; the growl faded, and he lowered himself into a relaxed seat, his body language softening as a curious, almost innocent expression settled on his face.

          Hiccup let out a short, relieved chuckle, the tension in his shoulders easing as he held out the fish in his hand. Encouraged by the gesture, the dragon began to approach again—this time more cautiously, but without hostility. As he drew closer, he opened his mouth to take the offering. Both Hiccup and Solveiga leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing in confusion. They exchanged a glance, frowning as they realized something strange: the dragon had no visible teeth.

          “Toothless,” Hiccup huffed out, a breathless sigh escaping him as he shook his head in disbelief. “I could’ve sworn you had—”

          He was quickly cut off as the dragon suddenly flexed his gums, and with a swift motion, razor-sharp teeth sprang out, gleaming in the sunlight. Before Hiccup could react, the dragon snatched the fish right out of his hand and devoured it in just a few powerful clenches of his jaw.

          Hiccup stared in awe, his eyes wide as he finally found his voice and finished his sentence with quiet amazement, “—teeth.”

          Solveiga swiftly turned around with a sharp gasp, startled by a sudden, gentle nudge against the fish still clutched in her hand. She blinked and then locked eyes with a pair of large, bright blue eyes—intense and mesmerizing, with narrow black slits for pupils that seemed to pierce right through her. Her mind raced wildly, her heart pounding as she stood frozen in place, caught between awe and apprehension. This creature was known to be deadly, a master of stealth that was never seen before striking its prey… yet, despite the danger, she couldn’t help but think just how breathtakingly magnificent this creation of gods truly was.

          A shaky breath escaped Solveiga’s lips as she slowly lifted her arm straight out in front of her, holding the fish firmly, yet gently within her grasp. The female Night Fury eyed the offering with obvious suspicion at first, sniffing cautiously from a distance. Her sharp eyes flicked back and forth between the fish and Solveiga’s face as if trying to decide whether the human could be trusted.

          The female dragon glanced over Solveiga’s shoulder, locking eyes with the Night Fury behind her, and in front of Hiccup. In response, the Night Fury let out a low, reassuring grumble, a deep and soothing sound that seemed to calm the tension in the air. At the same time, he made an odd, almost deliberate motion with his throat, a strange gesture that somehow carried a sense of understanding and reassurance between the two dragons… causing the female to immediately snatch the fish out of Solveiga’s hands with hungry eyes.

          Soon, both dragons began slowly advancing toward the two teens, their movements deliberate but filled with quiet curiosity. Feeling the growing presence behind them, Hiccup and Solveiga instinctively took a step back, then another, until finally… their backs met as they both tried to give the creatures space. In their awkward retreat, they stumbled over each other’s feet and tumbled to the ground with two loud thuds, the surprise making them nervously chuckle at the dangerous reptiles.

          “Uh, no, no,” Hiccup said quickly, shaking his head as he spoke. “We don’t have anymore.”

          Solveiga watched as the female Night Fury came to a halt and settled down onto her hind legs, sitting upright with an almost regal stillness. Solveiga frowned, clearly confused by the dragon’s sudden shift in behavior. Then, without warning, the dragon opened her mouth and let out a strange, gurgling sound that echoed in the quiet clearing. A moment later, the slimy remains of the fish slipped out and dropped directly onto Solveiga’s lap with a wet, slimy splat.

          “Ohhh,” Solveiga groaned, fighting to keep the disgust off her face as she stared down at the slimy remains of the fish in her lap. She forced herself to look up at the dragon, her expression caught somewhere between horror and politeness. “Thank youuuu,” she said, dragging the word out as she plastered on a clearly forced smile, doing her best to disguise the cringe that threatened to break through.

          The female Night Fury stared at Solveiga with a steady, expectant gaze, her eyes fixed and unblinking. Solveiga frowned ever so slightly, the corners of her mouth turning downward as she stared back at the dragon, her expression marked by confusion. After a moment, she slowly dropped her gaze, looking down at the half-eaten fish head that rested awkwardly in her lap. Her shoulders faltered just a little, the subtle slump revealing her dawning realization, understanding what the dragon was waiting for…

          "I think…" Solveiga whispered, her voice uncertain as the words hung in the air for a moment. "They want us to eat… the fishes." She cringed slightly, her nose wrinkling in quiet distaste again, and cast a quick glance over her shoulder.

          Hiccup let out a sigh of disgust as he reluctantly reached down and slowly picked up the fish head that had been sitting in his lap. His eyes lifted, locking with the gaze of the male dragon positioned directly in front of him—as if silently pleading for confirmation that this was truly necessary. But the dragon simply clenched his jaw in response, offering no mercy. With a resigned breath, Hiccup exhaled in quiet defeat. Behind him, the girl mirrored his hesitation, and together, the two of them drew in a deep, steadying breath. Then, almost in unison, they raised the slimy fish heads to their mouths and bit into them, grimacing as cold, slick fish goo trailed down from the torn flesh.

          They both forced out exaggerated sounds of enjoyment, mockingly imitating the act of appetite even as their stomachs twisted in quiet protest. Deep down, they clung to the hope that they might be able to spit the foul bite out the moment the two creatures turned their backs. But that hope vanished quickly.

          Solveiga’s eyes stayed locked on the dragon in front of her, watching intently as the creature gave a subtle tilt of her head, the muscles in her throat shifting with a slow, deliberate swallow. The message was clear—unmistakable. She wanted Solveiga to follow suit, to swallow the bite of fish still sitting heavily in her mouth. In a final effort, Solveiga cast a pleading look at the female Night Fury, silently begging for mercy, for understanding—but it was pointless. Dragons didn’t understand human expressions, and even if they did, this one wasn’t budging. Resigned, she drew in a shaky breath, raised a trembling hand to her mouth in an attempt to hold back the rising nausea, squeezed her eyes shut… and swallowed.

          The female Night Fury let out a soft, trembling chirp, a sound that seemed to carry approval before she turned and began to saunter gracefully toward the male dragon who sat across from Hiccup. Solveiga, still seated on the ground, slowly shifted her position, turning around and moving to sit beside Hiccup. Her gaze never left the dragons. She watched closely as Hiccup offered the two creatures an open, friendly smile, his expression warm and genuine. Then, to her astonishment, the male dragon responded—his eyes narrowing with curiosity as he attempted to mimic Hiccup’s expression. Slowly, awkwardly, the dragon opened his mouth wide in what could only be described as a smile, his smooth gums exposed in a gesture that was oddly endearing and almost comical.

          Hiccup slowly extended his hand toward the male dragon, his movements deliberate and calm, careful not to make any sudden gestures that might startle the Night Fury. He moved with patience but it was futile. The dragon’s eyes narrowed, and a low growl rumbled from deep in his throat before he bared his teeth in a brief snarl. Without warning, he turned sharply and, with a clumsy bound, launched himself into the air, gliding awkwardly away from the two humans.

          Solveiga’s attention shifted back to the female dragon. Their eyes met again, and for a moment, the connection held. Unlike her male counterpart, the female seemed less skittish—calmer, more curious. But even so, after a brief pause, she broke eye contact, turned her head, and followed after him. Her wings spread with fluid grace, catching the sunlight in a way that made them shimmer faintly, almost iridescent against the soft glow of the afternoon sky…

જ⁀➴

          It became a kind of dance—an unspoken rhythm that carried on through the afternoon and into the soft hues of sunset. Hiccup and Solveiga spent hours trying, again and again, to inch closer to the two dragons. Sometimes they sat nearby as the dragons dozed like oversized cats, curled in the sand beneath the golden light. Other times, they crept forward, step by careful step, just to get a better look at the creatures’ breathtaking magnificence. But no matter the approach, the outcome was always the same. With something close to exasperation, the dragons would react—twitching tails, narrowed eyes, and expressions that practically rolled with annoyance—before standing and gliding a few paces farther away, leaving the two teenagers to try again.

          Eventually, the dragons seemed to grow tired of the constant attention. With synchronized annoyance, they each had wrapped their long, sinuous tails around a sturdy, low-hanging branch and hoisted themselves up, dangling upside down like enormous bats. Their wings had folded over their bodies like cloaks, shielding them from further human intrusion as they hung there in silence—clearly signaling that they were done entertaining visitors.

          Solveiga squatted quietly by the edge of the glistening pond, gently skipping smooth stones across its shimmering surface. Each soft plunk echoed faintly in the stillness around her. Nearby, Hiccup sat on a fallen log, absentmindedly drawing patterns in the sand behind her, his focus elsewhere. A small, almost shy smile tugged at Solveiga’s lips when she noticed the female dragon had quietly climbed down from her perch. The dragon stood not far off, her eyes fixed on Solveiga with curious interest, watching intently as she held the rocks in her hand and tossed them one by one across the water.

          “Daydreamer…”

          Soon, Solveiga’s attention shifted away from the female dragon, turning to watch as the male dragon quietly approached and settled down beside Hiccup. His eyes followed every movement as Hiccup scribbled patterns in the dirt with a stick. After a few moments, the dragon suddenly darted off, scampering toward a nearby tree. He returned moments later with a sturdy branch clenched firmly in his mouth. Placing it carefully on the ground, the dragon then began to mimic Hiccup’s actions, dragging the branch through the sand as if trying to copy the boy’s simple drawings.

          A curious smile slowly spread across Solveiga’s face as she rose to her feet and walked over to stand beside Hiccup, both of them watching the dragon. The male Night Fury carefully added one final dot to his drawing before tossing his stick aside. He then circled around his creation and settled down, his eyes fixed intently on the two humans standing before him.

          Solveiga watched closely as Hiccup began to step forward toward the dragon, but her brow furrowed when the Night Fury suddenly bared his teeth, and let out a low growl. Then she realized why—Hiccup had unknowingly placed his foot on one of the lines etched into the sand. As soon as he lifted his foot, the dragon visibly relaxed. But when Hiccup’s curiosity got the better of him and he set his foot back down on the line, the growl returned immediately… thus he took his foot off of it again and stepped over the line.

          She watched as Hiccup moved lightly across the sand, dancing through the lines etched into the earth, following the careful pattern the Night Fury had laid out. His steps were hesitant at first, then increasingly confident—fueled by a deep fascination. But just as she was caught in the rhythm of his movement, something shifted. A presence—large and quiet—made the hairs on the back of her neck rise, and her shoulders tensed instinctively. Slowly, she turned around… and found herself face to face with the female Night Fury.

          The dragon was seated calmly on her hind legs, her powerful front limbs braced gently against the ground to keep her upright. She stared down at Solveiga with an expression the girl couldn’t quite decipher—curious, perhaps, or something more. The dragon’s nose twitched, and her head tilted slightly to the side, eyes locked onto Solveiga’s with an intensity that wasn’t threatening, but… searching. Strangely, the tension in Solveiga’s body began to ease. There was something in the way the dragon looked at her that felt familiar. Deeply familiar. As if the creature wasn’t just studying her—but recognizing her. It was a quiet, inexplicable connection that settled in her chest. Almost as if they had always been meant to find each other. Almost as if this dragon had known her soul all along.

          That was when Solveiga’s hand rose—slowly, instinctively, without a single conscious thought. As if drawn by something deeper than reason, she reached out toward the beautiful creature standing before her. Blue eyes met blue eyes, and in that moment, it felt as though two halves of the same soul had finally come together. It was as if lifetimes—of longing, of searching, of something ancient and unspoken—collapsed into this single, silent breath between them.

          Her hand moved steadily, unshaken, and met no resistance. The dragon didn’t flinch or pull away. Instead, her cool, smooth scales welcomed the gentle touch as Solveiga’s fingers came to rest lightly against the bridge of the Night Fury’s nose. The contact sent a wave of wonder rushing through her—a pure, overwhelming astonishment, unlike anything she had ever known. It was as if, in that quiet connection, the world had stilled… and everything had fallen into place.

          A low, rumbling growl broke through the stillness, pulling Solveiga out of her trance. Her head whipped around, heart skipping, to find Hiccup standing nearby with his hand outstretched. His expression mirrored her own—wide-eyed, breathless—having just shared a moment of connection with the male dragon. But the moment had passed. The dragon let out another brief growl before scurrying off, his wings folding close as he darted away into the trees.

          The female Night Fury remained for only a second longer. She stepped back from Solveiga with measured grace, her movement slow and fluid. As she turned to follow her companion, she cast one last glance over her shoulder—directed at the teenage girl she had just touched, as if to say something silent, something meaningful. And then, without a sound, she slipped into the shadows after the other, leaving the air around them heavy with something unspoken…

Chapter Text

THE GROUP OF TEENAGERS ALL SAT together in a loose circle around the warm, flickering fire, quietly eating their dinner as the flames cast dancing shadows across their faces, while they listened to Gobber’s overdramatized and theatrical stories of the times throughout his lifetime when he had faced dragons… and, in the process, lost both his leg and his arm.

          "—And with one sudden twist," Gobber bellowed, his voice rising dramatically over the crackle of the fire, "he took my hand and swallowed it whole. And I saw the look on his face: I was delicious. He must have passed the word because it wasn't a month before another one of them took my leg!"

          Solveiga fought back a tired sigh as she forced herself to remain polite as she only half-listened to the story being told. Her legs were stretched out lazily in front of her, boots pointed slightly outward, while her weight rested on her arms, which were leaned back behind her to prop herself up. She was seated beside Astrid, who, from the unimpressed expression on her face and the slight slump in her posture, appeared just as uninterested and unamused by the story as Solveiga was—both of them well aware that this was simply just one of Gobber’s many recycled and overly dramatic tales.

          “Isn’t it weird to think that your hand was inside a dragon?” Fishlegs asked, his brow furrowed in curiosity as he leaned forward, clearly intrigued by the idea. “Like, if your mind was still in control of it, you could have killed the dragon from the inside by crushing his heart… or something," he continued with his eyes wide at the wild possibility as he punched the air in a dramatic gesture to emphasize his point.

          “I swear, I’m so angry right now!” Snotlout said, his face twisted in a fierce glare as he practically vibrated with exaggerated outrage. ”I'll avenge your beautiful hand and your beautiful foot.” he declared with absolute conviction as he pointed dramatically at Gobber. “I'll chop off the legs of every dragon I fight—with my face!” he shouted, puffing out his chest, and thrusting his chin forward… as if he were daring a dragon to challenge him on the spot.

          “Ah-ah,” Gobber said, holding up a finger and shaking his head knowingly, “It’s the wings and the tails you really want. If a dragon can’t fly, then it can’t get away. A downed dragon is a dead dragon.” He let the words hang in the air for a moment before letting out a long, exaggerated yawn. “Alright. I’m off to bed,” he announced as he pushed himself to his feet with a grunt and stretched his arms overhead.

          "You should be, too," Gobber said, pointing a finger at the group of teens as he began walking away, his voice tinged with anticipation. "Tomorrow, we start facing the big boys. Slowly but surely making our way up to the Monstrous Nightmare," he added with a grin, his eyes glinting with excitement under the firelight. He paused, turning back to face them for a moment. "But who'll win the honor of killing it?"

          "It's gonna be me," Tuffnut declared confidently, puffing out his chest as he rolled up his sleeve. "It's my destiny. See?" He thrust his arm out toward the group, revealing what looked like a crude marking on his bicep.

          "Your mom let you get a tattoo?" Fishlegs asked, his eyes wide with surprise as he leaned in to get a better look.

          "It’s not a tattoo," Tuffnut replied matter-of-factly, shaking his head. "It’s a birthmark."

          Ruffnut, who had been slouching beside him, raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "I’ve been stuck with you since birth, and that was never there before."

          "Yes, it was," Tuffnut insisted, sounding both offended and self-assured. "You’ve just never seen me from the left side until now.”

          As the twins continued bickering, their voices overlapping in a familiar tangle of nonsense, Solveiga sat quietly nearby, only half-listening. Her gaze shifted as she noticed Hiccup quietly stand up, his expression unreadable in the firelight. Without saying a word, he turned and jogged down the stairs of the watchtower they sat upon. She frowned slightly, her brow knitting in confusion as she watched him go, but she said nothing and let him disappear into the shadows of night.

જ⁀➴

          The next morning, Solveiga had made her way down to the docks, a fishing net gripped tightly in her hand, intending to gather more food for the dragons still hidden away in the quiet safety of the cove. She had come to stand at the edge of the worn wooden planks and stare out across the sea, letting her eyes follow the endless waves that stretched far beyond sight, crashing somewhere. That was the sea her mother, along with most of the other Vikings, had sailed into just days earlier, their ships swallowed by the dense fog that clung low to the water and refused to lift. Solveiga had watched them go, just as she always did, knowing that nothing about their return was ever certain.

          Each time her mother left, vanishing into the mist and into the dangers that lurked out there beyond the horizon, Solveiga felt a quiet ache settle in her chest. It was never just worry—it was a regret that grew heavier with each voyage. A part of her couldn’t help but feel sorrow for how distant she had become from her mother… how separate their lives were. They still shared blood, still lived under the same roof, and carried the same name—but with each and every departure into those perilous waters… her mother felt further away.

          “Hey.”

          Solveiga suddenly jumped out of her thoughts at the sound of that familiar, sisterly voice calling to her from behind. She slowly turned around, shifting her gaze away from the restless sea to find Astrid standing there on the dock, a soft, gentle smile playing on her lips. The sight of her friend was unexpected but it was far from unwelcome. Astrid’s presence brought a subtle comfort, breaking through the heaviness that had settled over Solveiga’s heart. Though she hadn’t anticipated seeing her here, the calm warmth in Astrid’s expression made the moment feel lighter, as if a small thread of connection had been woven back between them on this cold, foggy morning.

          “So…” Astrid began slowly. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with Hiccup lately,” she added, her voice edged with a hint of accusation, light but unmistakable.

          “Oh,” Solveiga said, blinking in surprise. “Have I?” she added with a nervous chuckle, looking away from her friend turned sister, quickly tossing her fishing net into the water.

          She tried to steady her expression, forcing her face into something neutral, but her mind was already racing far ahead of her. Thoughts tumbled over one another in a rising tide of panic as a flicker of worry sparked in her chest. Just how much had Astrid seen? How much had she figured out? And if Astrid had noticed something, had anyone else? The idea twisted uncomfortably in her stomach. The last thing they needed right now was for someone to discover the dragons they had hidden away in the woods.

          Astrid frowned at her friend, her brows drawing together slightly as she watched Solveiga’s reaction. “Yeah, you have,” she said, her tone more pointed now as she crossed her arms firmly over her chest.

          Solveiga gave a small shrug at Astrid’s words, trying to appear indifferent, even as her fingers moved with quiet urgency. She began to slowly reel the net back onto the dock, the rough fibers now heavy with the weight of flopping fish caught in its weaves. One by one, she started placing them into a woven basket at her side, careful not to let any slip free and flop their way back into the water. Her eyes stayed fixed on the task using the movement as a convenient excuse to avoid the girl still looming behind her, arms crossed, and presence unwavering.

          “You’re being weird,” Astrid announced bluntly, her voice cutting through the quiet sounds of the dock as she took a step closer, tilting her head slightly while she studied Solveiga’s turned back. “Did your mom put you up to it?” she asked with the implication clear in her tone.

          It wasn’t an innocent question—it carried the weight of assumption, the suggestion that Solveiga would never willingly spend time with the Chief’s son unless pressured to. The words struck a nerve, and Solveiga’s hands stilled for a brief second over the basket. Her lips pressed into a frown, the comment landing heavier than Astrid probably intended.

          “No,” Solveiga said firmly, the sharpness in her voice cutting through the space between them as she snapped the lid shut on the basket. “I can make my own decisions, Astrid,” she added with a huff, her frustration bubbling just beneath the surface—the accusation, however subtle, had clearly touched a sore spot.

          Astrid’s expression softened at once, her defensive posture faltering as she let her arms fall to her sides. “I didn’t mean it like that,” she said, her voice quieter now, tinged with regret. “I just… I don’t know. It feels like something’s… different.”

          “Yeah,” Solveiga sighed as the tension in her voice softened. She glanced down at the basket by her feet, then back at Astrid, her expression unreadable for a moment. “I should get going,” she added, her tone gentler now, though a trace of unease still lingered beneath it. “But I’ll, uh… see you tomorrow.”

          With a quiet exhale, Solveiga reached down and lifted the basket’s strap, pulling it over her shoulder in one smooth, practiced motion. Without waiting for a reply, she turned away and began walking off the dock, her footsteps echoing softly against the worn wooden planks. The weight of the morning—fish and feelings alike—pressed heavily on her back as she scurried toward the village, eager to disappear into its familiar bustle before anything else could be said.

જ⁀➴

          “Hey, Toothless and…” Hiccup began as he and Solveiga stepped into the quiet cove once more, the canopy above filtering the sunlight into soft, dappled patterns on the ground. “—what did you say you wanted to call her?” he asked, turning to Solveiga with a curious glance.

          Solveiga smiled at the question, her eyes already drifting toward the sleek, dark shape of the female Night Fury as she stood at the edge of the glistening pond, her reflection shimmering across its surface. “Daydreamer,” she reminded him, her voice soft, almost reverent… the name fitting even more now with the black dragon staring into the water as though lost in some far-off world of her own.

          “Right,” Hiccup nodded thoughtfully, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Well… we brought breakfast, courtesy of Solvi—I hope you’re both hungry,” he told the two Night Furies as he set the basket of fish down gently on the soft earth.

          Hiccup’s new nickname for Solveiga brought a gentle smile to her lips, one she couldn’t quite suppress. Every time he said it, she felt a flutter deep in her stomach—a light, nervous excitement that made her heart skip just a little. It was a small thing, really, but somehow the word carried a weight that went beyond just a name. There was something quietly special about it, something that made her feel noticed in a way she hadn’t before.

          Hiccup soon flipped open the lid of the basket with a quick, practiced motion, his movements fluid and confident. Then, without hesitation, he tipped the basket on its side, sending the fresh catch tumbling out onto the ground in a messy, scattered pile. The sight of the fish spilled haphazardly made Solveiga’s face scrunch up in immediate distaste, her nose wrinkling as she took in the disorder and the sharp, pungent smell that followed.

          “Okay, that’s disgusting,” Solveiga mumbled quietly to herself. “I think I may have lost my appetite for fish,” she admitted, a shiver running down her spine as she recalled the memory of eating that half-digested dragon fish… the thought alone made her shudder involuntarily, turning her stomach in an uneasy churn.

          The two dragons immediately perked up, their sleek bodies tensing with excitement as their sharp eyes locked onto the feast spread out before them. Their nostrils flared, lifting their noses high into the air as they caught the unmistakable, pungent scent of fresh fish. The aroma was strong and tempting, filling their senses with a hunger so fierce it seemed to pulse through their entire beings. Their stomachs growled softly, taking over their thoughts entirely, drowning out all other distractions.

          Every muscle in their bodies seemed to lean forward instinctively, driven by a primal urge to feast. With tails twitching and wings subtly flexing, they eagerly prepared themselves for the meal to come. The quiet of the cove was broken only by the soft splashes of water and the eager rustling of scales and claws, as anticipation hung heavy in the air around them.

          “We’ve got some salmon, some cod, herring…” Hiccup trailed off as he looked through the fish. “—and a whole smoked eel!” he exclaimed, holding out the snake like creature to the dragons, only for them to screech and snarl at the sight of it.

          “Woah, woah, woah!” Solveiga shouted, waving her hands in quick, calming motions as she stepped forward. “It’s okay! No eel. No eel,” she repeated firmly, shaking her head with urgency. Before Hiccup could react, she swiftly ripped the slippery eel from his grasp and, without hesitation, tossed it into the pond with a splash—eel disappeared beneath the surface, out of sight and, thankfully, out of smell.

          Hiccup let out a sigh of relief at Solveiga’s quick reflexes, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Yeah, I don’t really like eel much, either,” he admitted quietly, more to himself than anyone else, but beside him, Solveiga let out a soft, amused laugh that caught him off guard and sent an unexpected rush through his chest.

          The two dragons soon became completely absorbed by the fish, their sharp eyes and eager mouths focused entirely on the meal before them. There was no quarrel or jostling over the food; instead, they shared it peacefully, their quiet grumbles of pleasure echoing softly through the stillness of the cove. With every bite, their hunger began to ease, the tension in their bodies melting away as the meal settled comfortably in their stomachs.

          Solveiga moved quietly, slipping in step behind Hiccup as he carefully approached Toothless. Her eyes flicked nervously to the strange contraption cradled tightly between his arm and body, curiosity and concern mixing in her gaze. “Are you sure this is gonna work?” she asked softly, her voice low enough not to disturb the tense calm of the moment.

          Hiccup grinned warmly at Solveiga, the hint of excitement lighting up his eyes despite the tension in the air. “Only way to find out,” he said confidently as he tried to steady both his own nerves and hers with his steady tone.

          Hiccup mumbled softly to himself, his focus sharp as Solveiga carefully held Toothless’ tail steady, doing her best to keep the dragon unaware of their delicate task. Every muscle in her arms tensed just enough to prevent any sudden movements, knowing that even the slightest twitch could startle the massive creature. Slowly and precisely, Hiccup fitted the prosthetic tail fin onto Toothless’ tail, securing it with the belt-like buckle he had expertly crafted. He tightened the strap cautiously, making sure it was snug enough to hold firm but gentle enough not to cause the giant reptile any discomfort or pain.

          “That’s not bad,” Hiccup commented with a nod, his eyes carefully studying the prosthetic tail fin as it rested against Toothless’ tail. “It works,” he stated as he was already thinking ahead to how he could improve the design…

          But then, without any warning, Toothless suddenly unfurled his massive, bat-like wings with a swift, powerful motion, catching the wind beneath them and propelling himself upward into the sky at an astonishing speed. The sudden rush of air from his takeoff hit Solveiga like a gusting storm, knocking her off balance before she could brace herself. She stumbled backward, arms flailing wildly, and tumbled into the shallow end of the pond with a splash that sent droplets flying in every direction. The cold water soaked through her clothes instantly, shocking her senses as she gasped and scrambled to find her footing, startled but unharmed.

          “Hiccup!”

          The shout of worry burst from Solveiga’s lips before her mind could fully process the situation. He was still gripping Toothless’ tail with all his might, soaring higher, and higher into the sky at a speed that made her heart race. His frantic yells of panic barely reached her ears now, swallowed by the thick, swirling air as the distance between them stretched farther and farther with every second.

          However, in a matter of seconds, the sudden silence was shattered as Toothless and his unexpected passenger came crashing down from the sky, plunging into the pond with an enormous splash that sent water soaring like the blast of a cannon striking the surface of a restless wave. The impact rippled outward in wide circles, soaking everything nearby with cold droplets, stirring the calm waters into chaotic motion. Moments later, Hiccup burst through the surface, gasping and coughing but triumphant, a loud yell of victory escaping his lips as he confirmed that the prosthetic tail had actually worked.

          Solveiga’s eyes went wide once more. “Hiccup!” she yelled, her voice sharp with worry as she plunged into the waist-deep water without hesitation.

          Hiccup laughed proudly as he turned to face her with a broad grin. Solveiga couldn’t help but glare at him, though there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes as she fought back a smile. Before she could stop herself, she jabbed him playfully in the arm.

          “Ow!” Hiccup yelped, wincing from the surprise. “What was that for?” he asked, his brow furrowing in mock offense.

          She crossed her arms, letting out a scoff. “Scaring me,” she muttered, her tone softening.

          Then, without warning, she gave him a gentle shove that sent him stumbling back into the water. Solveiga laughed, the sound light and carefree, as she began to wade back toward the shore, the tension between them dissolving with each step…

Chapter Text

"TODAY IS ABOUT TEAMWORK," GOBBER announced from his position on the railing, his voice carrying across the training grounds as he looked down at the assembled group of teenage Vikings. "A wet dragon head can't light its fire—but the Ziipleback is extra tricky," he continued, pacing slightly as he kept his eyes on the young trainees. "One head breathes gas, while the other lights it... Your job is to know which is which," he explained, just as the two-headed dragon was suddenly unleashed upon the group, emerging from the cage in a swirling, blinding cloud of thick smoke.

          They had all been divided into groups for the purposes of this exercise. Hiccup had been paired with Fishlegs, Snotlout with Tuffnut, and then there was the final group of Solveiga, Astrid, and Ruffnut. Perhaps there was a touch of sexism in the way that last grouping had been arranged, a subtle assumption that the girls should be lumped together. Still, Solveiga didn't really mind, not in the slightest. In fact, she preferred it that way. She had no desire whatsoever to be partnered with anyone else—no offense meant to Hiccup, of course.

          "Razor-sharp, serrated teeth that inject venom for pre-digestion," came Fishlegs' voice, drifting through the dense, swirling smoke like a lecture given from the shadows. His tone was panicked but analytical. "Prefers ambush attack, by crushing its victims—"

          "Will you please stop that!?" Hiccup's voice cut through the fog with a hissed whisper, sharp with panic and irritation, urgency in his tone betraying the growing tension in the air... as if his nerves were about to snap.

          "If that dragon shows either of its faces, I'm gonna—" Snotlout's voice rang out, only to be abruptly cut off for a brief moment, as if he'd spotted something mid-sentence. "There!" he shouted suddenly, his voice rising with excitement or alarm—maybe both.

          A split second later, a sharp splash broke through the chaos, and Solveiga found herself drenched in a sudden blast of cold water. It had been aimed at the Zippleback dragon, of course, but that target was nowhere near the girls. Instead, it hit her squarely, soaking her through and leaving her sputtering, and also dripping as the smoke continued to swirl around them.

          Solveiga let out a low growl—an annoyed snarl that, in that moment, sounded more dragon than human as her voice cut through the haze and she shouted, "Snotlout!" Whipping around sharply, facing him just as the thick smoke began to lift, revealing the scene more clearly.

          Through the thinning fog, she spotted him, his expression frozen with a flicker of fear, eyes wide as he registered her fury. Her anger simmered just beneath the surface, bubbling over at his sheer carelessness, the cold water dripping from her clothes only fueling her rising irritation.

          "Hey!" Ruffnut shouted loudly in the direction of her twin. "It's us, idiots!" she snapped, her voice cutting through the air as she threw an exasperated glare at the two boys, though her eyes settled most intensely on Tuffnut, her expression sharp and unmistakably annoyed.

          "Your butts are getting bigger," Tuffnut said with a mocking laugh, his tone laced with amusement. "We thought you were a dragon," he added, continuing to chuckle to himself, clearly entertained. His laughter only grew louder as the three girls turned toward him, their eyes narrowing, each of them glaring daggers in his direction.

          Snotlout, ever the show-off, attempted to strike a pose he clearly thought was sensual, cocking an eyebrow with exaggerated flair. "Not that there's anything wrong with a dragon-esque figure—OW!" he yelped suddenly, the sentence cut short as Astrid landed a solid, punishing punch directly to his shoulder.

          At the same time, Solveiga, unimpressed and clearly unamused, hurled her water bucket with surprising accuracy, and all three watched as it smacked him squarely in the head. Mere seconds later, Ruffnut joined in the chaos by launching her own bucket—only hers was aimed directly at Tuffnut, who was entirely oblivious to what was coming... until he wasn't. The impact came just before he was abruptly yanked backward into the thick curtain of fog, disappearing with a high-pitched squeal that could only be compared to that of a distressed goat.

          For a beat, everything went silent. Solveiga stiffened, her eyes narrowing, her body tense. Slowly, cautiously, she extended her arm in front of Astrid in a halting gesture. "Wait," she murmured under her breath, barely audible.

          The three girls stood still, glancing at each other before shifting their attention outward, listening intently. The air felt heavy with anticipation, the fog pressing in on all sides. But before they had even a second to truly register what was happening or where the threat might be coming from, a massive tail whipped through the air with terrifying speed. It struck low, sweeping their feet out from under them with a powerful motion that slammed them to the ground with an echoing thud.

          "OH, I AM HURT! I AM VERY MUCH HURT!" came Tuffnut's unmistakable voice, ringing out dramatically and absurdly loud—like the blaring dragon raid bell that once signaled doom. He came tearing through the arena in pure panic, arms flailing wildly above his head, legs pumping furiously beneath him in a desperate sprint for survival.

          Still sprawled on the ground, Solveiga turned her head toward the commotion, her face blank with exasperation. With a long-suffering sigh, she rolled her eyes so hard it was almost audible, then braced herself, pushed up off the dirt with one arm, and rose steadily to her feet. Without a word, she turned her back on the madness and began making her way through the dense smoke, moving toward safety with determined strides.

          What a drama queen.

          "Chances of survival are dwindling into single digits now," came the unmistakable voice of Fishlegs, his tone teetering somewhere between resigned observation and quiet panic. His words drifted out from within the thick, swirling smoke, barely audible over the escalating chaos. A sudden splash echoed as water hit the ground with a sharp smack. "Oh. Wrong head," he added a beat later, the realization dawning far too late to be helpful.

          Almost immediately, a cloud of green gas began to spread, overtaking the grey smoke in a creeping wave that hissed across the arena floor. It took only a second for Fishlegs to process what was happening before he let out a high-pitched, thoroughly undignified scream—one that echoed like a frightened child—and bolted away, flailing comically as he fled the noxious fumes.

          "Fishlegs!" Gobber bellowed, his voice cutting sharply through the thickening fog, laced with frustration and urgency.

          The Zippleback, now visibly agitated, twisted its twin heads with a synchronized hiss, both sets of eyes locking onto Hiccup in an instant. One head sparked ominously, crackling with the dangerous beginnings of ignition.

          "Now, Hiccup!" Gobber shouted again, this time with greater force, snapping the teen to attention.

          Without hesitation, Hiccup reacted, swinging his arm forward and hurling the bucket of water directly toward the sparking head of the dragon. But in the split second between motion and impact, the bucket veered off course, slipping from his grip at a less-than-ideal angle. Instead of dousing the dragon, the water hit the arena floor with an unsatisfying splat, instantly soaking the dirt rather than neutralizing the threat.

          "Oh, come on!" Hiccup exclaimed, exasperated with himself as he threw his hands up in frustration.

          Solveiga stood frozen, her breath caught in her throat as she watched the dragon advance steadily toward Hiccup. Her eyes widened in alarm, tracking every calculated movement of the creature as it closed the distance between them. Each step the dragon took seemed heavier, more deliberate, and with it, Solveiga's heart clenched tighter behind her ribs, a cold knot of fear settling in her chest.

          Her body tensed instinctively, torn between the impulse to run forward and the helpless understanding that she might be too late. Time felt as though it slowed, the sounds of the world around her fading into a distant hum. All she could focus on was the narrowing gap between Hiccup and the dragon's snapping jaws.

          But then... something shifted.

          The dragon hesitated. Its twin heads lowered ever so slightly, nostrils flaring as it seemed to truly take in the boy before it. Without warning, it began to retreat—its massive body stepping backward, tail curling inward, and eyes darting nervously. The air seemed to hum with a strange tension, not of aggression, but something else entirely.

          Solveiga's brows furrowed as she watched, stunned. The creature was withdrawing—not out of strategy or misdirection—but from something deeper. There was no mistaking it. The dragon, once so threatening and dominant, was now recoiling in a way that could only be described as... fear.

          "Back! Back! Back!" Hiccup shouted as he planted his feet firmly on the ground, refusing to give an inch. He carefully guided the enormous dragon backward, step by deliberate step, toward its cage. "Don't make me tell you again," he warned, his tone low but unmistakably serious, addressing the lizard with wings as if it understood every word.

          The dragon hesitated briefly, nostrils flaring, but Hiccup's resolve seemed to seep through the haze of tension, encouraging it to comply. "Yep, that's right—back into your cage," he coaxed quietly, a hint of relief creeping into his voice as the massive creature obeyed, retreating with a mix of reluctance and submission.

          As the dragon inched closer to its enclosure, Hiccup reached up and subtly lifted the fur vest from his shoulder, the movement both deliberate and practiced. With a steady hand, he tossed a slippery eel in front of the dragon, the glistening fish sliding across the dirt floor like a peace offering. The two heads immediately focused on the treat, their fierce expressions softening as they hungrily snapped it up.

          Finally, with a heavy groan, Hiccup pulled the thick wooden door shut, the sound echoing through the arena as the dragon was securely contained once again. He let out a slow breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and stood there for a moment, watching the dragon settle inside, the tension in the air slowly beginning to dissipate.

          Everyone around them stood frozen, eyes wide and jaws slack, utterly shocked by the sudden shift in Hiccup's skill and composure. The way he had taken control so swiftly, turning a dangerous situation into one of calm command, left the crowd silently amazed. But amidst all the stunned faces, Solveiga couldn't help but break into a knowing grin.

          "Okay! So... are we done?" Hiccup asked, his voice slightly hesitant as he awkwardly turned around to face the group gathered behind him, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden attention. "Because I've got some things I need to, uh... yeah," he mumbled, stumbling over his words. "I'll, uh, see-see you tomorrow!" he added quickly, forcing a nervous smile as he turned sharply on his heels.

          Whistling an innocent little tune, Hiccup practically scurried away from the training grounds, his footsteps quick and uneven as he disappeared around the corner. The others watched him go, wondering where he could possibly be headed in such a rush—but Solveiga, with a sly smile tugging at the corner of her lips, already knew exactly where he was going...

Chapter Text

THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED WERE ones marked by a relentless cycle of trial and error, as Hiccup threw himself into the challenging task of helping Toothless take to the skies once more with the aid of his newly crafted prosthetic tail fin. Each attempt brought its own set of complications, often resulting in crash landings scattered along the coastline of the island. These repeated failures, however, were far from fruitless. Through them, Hiccup began to make fascinating discoveries about the nature and behavior of dragons—insights that had remained hidden to others.

          He observed, for instance, their unexpected fondness for soft, grassy surfaces, which Toothless had sought out after a tumble. He also found a sensitive spot along the neck—an acupuncture-like point—which, when touched just right, could send a dragon into a dreamy, trance-like state of sleepiness. Even more curious was their almost childlike fascination with darting patches of sunlight that danced across the ground; a phenomenon they would chase with an intense focus, as if enchanted.

          By taking note of these details and incorporating them into his methods, Hiccup began to build a reputation. Word spread quickly. What had started as a desperate attempt to rehabilitate his dragon companion gradually evolved into something much more—an innovative approach to dragon training that set him apart from others. Hiccup was becoming something of a local sensation, admired for his creativity and insight, as he continued to refine his techniques with each passing day.

          However, while Hiccup had eagerly embraced the thrill of flight, taking to the skies with Toothless as often as he could, his heart soaring with every lift off the ground, Solveiga did not share the same enthusiasm. In fact, she wasn't nearly as inclined to join him up there amidst the clouds. Whether it was a quiet unease with the height, a mistrust in the fragile balance between dragon and rider, or simply a personal preference to keep her feet planted firmly on the earth, something held her back...

          "Oh, no, no, no!"

          Solveiga spun on her heels and began to walk away briskly, shaking her head as if the very idea were something she had to physically escape. Her retreat was directed away from Hiccup, who stood there holding up a specially crafted saddle—one designed with great care and precision, tailored specifically for her dragon, Daydreamer.

          "Solvi, wait!" Hiccup called after her as he stepped in front of her, gently blocking her way without force, just presence, his expression calm and coaxing. "It'll be fun, I promise," he said reassuringly, his voice softer now, almost pleading with a hopeful smile tugging at his lips.

          Solveiga shook her head rapidly, her expression filled with firm resolve and a touch of rising anxiety. "I am not going up there," she declared, her voice edged with finality as she extended a finger upward, pointing directly at the vast, open expanse of the clear blue sky above them.

          "Come on," Hiccup said, drawing the words out in a hopeful, almost teasing tone as he looked at her with wide, pleading eyes. "You don't have to jump in all at once," he added quickly, sensing her hesitation was genuine. "You can ride with me and Toothless first and then we'll go from there," he suggested, his voice warm and reassuring, as if the sky itself would feel less intimidating with him by her side.

          For a long moment, Solveiga said nothing, the silence stretched by her inner debate... but soon her shoulders slumped ever so slightly as the tension eased just enough to betray her reluctant surrender. "Fine."

          And that was how Solveiga found herself perched on the back of Toothless' saddle, clutching tightly onto Hiccup's waist as though her very life depended on it. Her knuckles had gone pale from the force of her grip, and her entire body remained tense, unwilling to relax even for a moment. She kept her gaze fixed stubbornly ahead—or anywhere but down—determined not to acknowledge the dizzying height below them. The wind rushed past her ears, and the ground felt impossibly far away, but still she held on, caught between fear and the faintest flicker of awe at the dragon soaring beneath her.

          Solveiga turned her head to the right at the sound of a low, familiar rumble that vibrated through the air like distant thunder. Her lips turned up slightly as she found herself face-to-face with Daydreamer, who was soaring effortlessly alongside them, her wings outstretched in a smooth, gliding rhythm. The dragon's gleaming eyes locked onto Solveiga's, and for a brief moment, all the tension in her body seemed to pause. An almost goofy grin stretched across Daydreamer's scaled face—mischievous, playful, and entirely unfazed by the altitude. It was the kind of expression that made Solveiga question whether her own fear was as justified as it felt.

          "Okay there, bud—we're gonna take this nice and slow," Hiccup said calmly, patting the side of Toothless' neck with a steady hand, his voice reassuring... more for Solveiga's sake than the dragon's, though Toothless gave a low, knowing rumble in response. "Here we go. Here we go... position three—no, four," he corrected himself mid-thought with a slight shake of his head, eyes narrowing in concentration as he adjusted the gears controlling the prosthetic tail fin.

          Behind him, Solveiga leaned forward just enough to peer nervously over his shoulder, her grip on his waist still unyielding. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" she asked, her voice tight with uncertainty, laced with a hint of alarm as she eyed the shifting gears and unfamiliar controls at his feet.

          "Definitely," Hiccup replied with a confident nod, his tone bright and unwavering, but as he focused back on the mechanisms... his voice dropped to a mutter barely audible over the wind. "Probably," he added under his breath, the word slipping out with a sheepish edge, more honesty than reassurance.

          Hiccup soon began to ease Toothless into a gentle descent as he guided him lower toward the sea. The dragon's wings angled downward, slicing through the air before skimming the ocean's surface, sending up bursts of spray. The water shimmered beneath them, endless and deep, reflecting the movement of the dragons like a living mirror. Just beside them, Daydreamer followed in perfect sync, her flight fluid and playful, her reflection flickering across the waves.

          Together, they weaved through the salt-kissed air until a towering, rocky arch rose up ahead, majestic and weather-worn by time and tide. Without hesitation, they soared beneath it, the stone briefly casting a shadow over them as the cries of startled seagulls echoed above, wings flapping in a frenzied flutter. Then, as they emerged from the other side, sunlight pouring over them once again, Hiccup leaned backward, signaling Toothless to rise. With a powerful thrust of his wings, the Night Fury shot upward, climbing back into the open sky, with Daydreamer right at their side, the wind carrying all three higher and higher into the blue.

          "Uhhh," Solveiga stuttered, her voice trembling as her eyes locked onto a towering sea stack looming directly ahead. "Hiccup, look out—!"

          She tried to warn him, but before the words could fully escape her lips, they collided with the rocky formation in a heavy, bone-jarring thud. The impact made Solveiga yelp sharply in fear, her grip on Hiccup tightening instinctively, knuckles white with panic. Toothless let out a deep, rumbling protest, clearly displeased at the sudden, harsh contact with the unforgiving rocks, but he fought to keep his flight steady.

          "Sorry!" Hiccup blurted out, his voice tinged with both embarrassment and concern. "Sorry," he repeated quickly, this time softer, as he reached around and gently laid a reassuring hand on Solveiga's leg—touch meant to comfort, steadying her trembling form and letting her know he was there, focused on keeping them both safe despite the bumps along the way.

          No sooner had they regained balance than another sea stack appeared in their path. The second collision sent a frustrated growl rumbling from deep within the dragon's throat, a clear sign of annoyance as they scraped against the jagged surface once again. Despite the setbacks, Toothless held firm, his powerful wings beating steadily to keep them aloft amidst the rocky obstacles, despite Hiccup's faulty flying.

          Hiccup cringed once more. "That was my fault," he admitted, glancing over at Toothless with a half-grin, who responded by playfully smacking him in the face with his head fin, causing Solveiga to almost laugh.

          They soon began to soar upward again, this time with sharper, quicker movements that sliced through the sky with renewed energy. The wind rushed fiercely past them, whipping against Solveiga's face and sending her braided hair flying wildly behind her like a banner caught in a storm. The sensation was exhilarating—an uncontrollable force that made her heart race and her fears momentarily fade into the rush of the climb.

          "Yeah! Go, baby! Yes!"

          Solveiga laughed breathlessly, her laughter carried away by the wind as she glanced down at the tail fin, while Hiccup's triumphant shout echoed through the air, full of excitement and relief at the prosthetic's smooth, steady movement.

          "This is amazing!" Hiccup shouted over the roar of the wind, his face lit up with excitement. "The wind in my—CHEAT SHEET!" His tone shifted in an instant to one of panic as a piece of parchment slipped from the saddle and went spiraling into the air.

          Hiccup lunged forward, arm outstretched, fingers just grazing the fluttering edge of the parchment—but it slipped through his grasp, whisked away by the relentless wind. In the same instant, a sharp snap echoed above the rush of air—the leather strap securing him to Toothless's saddle had come loose. With the sudden jolt, the connection between dragon and rider broke. Toothless faltered, his wings wobbling as he instinctively tried to correct his balance, but the shift in weight was too abrupt. Momentum dropped.

          "HICCUP!" Solveiga screamed, her voice sharp with horror as the world tilted beneath her, the shift throwing her from the saddle before she began to fall alongside him, arms flailing in blind panic. "Oh, gods! Oh, gods!" she cried, her breath catching in her throat as the sky spun wildly around her, the ground rushing up far too fast, and her body whipped by the wind as gravity took hold.

          Solveiga continued to scream, her voice raw with fear as she plummeted through the open sky. Her body twisted uncontrollably, unable to orient itself in the free fall with arms and legs flailing in every direction as the wind tore at her clothes and whipped her hair into a frenzy. Her breaths came in sharp, panicked bursts, her chest heaving as she fought against the overwhelming sensation of weightlessness and helplessness.

          Then—through the chaos—came a sudden, powerful gust of air from below...

          Daydreamer.

          The dragon swooped in from beneath with breathtaking speed, her wings stretched wide and steady as she cut through the sky with unshakable focus. Her eyes were locked onto Solveiga, unblinking, sharp with intent. There was no hesitation in her flight, no wavering in her course—only fierce determination radiating from every movement of her lithe, scaled body. And just before the ground could reach her, Solveiga felt the rush of warm air shift beneath her, and then—security.

          Solveiga gasped the moment she felt the solid warmth of scales beneath her, her arms instinctively wrapping around Daydreamer's neck in a desperate, trembling embrace—her heart pounded in her chest, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins as she clung to the dragon, wide-eyed and breathless. Slowly, cautiously, she lifted her head, her chest still heaving from the ordeal. Strands of hair clung to her face, her braid wind-tossed and wild, but through it all, a small, stunned smile began to form. Her eyes met Daydreamer's—deep, gleaming, and full of emotion.

          There was no fear in the dragon's gaze. Instead, they sparkled with excitement, as if the thrill of the rescue had been nothing short of exhilarating. But more than that, there was something else—adoration. Pure and unmistakable. Daydreamer looked at her newfound rider as though she had always belonged there, cradled between her wings, meant to fly by her side all along.

          "Thank you," Solveiga whispered breathlessly, her voice barely audible over the fading rush of wind as she rested her head gently against Daydreamer's back. "Thank you," she repeated, softer this time, as her eyes fluttered closed and a deep, exhausted sigh slipped from her lungs.

          "YEAH!"

          The sudden shout broke through the quiet, making Solveiga jolt upright in surprise. Her head snapped up, eyes wide for a moment, still caught between lingering fear and the calm that had only just settled over her. She quickly looked out toward the horizon, heart pounding again—but this time, not from falling.

          Then she saw him.

          Off in the distance, Hiccup was back on Toothless, waving his arms and shouting victoriously as the dragon soared beside them. A visible laugh left his mouth as he threw his head back in celebration, clearly thrilled about one thing above all else—the fact that they were, against all odds, still alive.

          Solveiga let out a shaky, amused sigh, a small smile tugging at her lips as the tension in her chest loosened. Yes, it had been terrifying. Yes, they had nearly fallen to their deaths. But somehow... they'd made it out alive.

Chapter Text

SOLVEIGA AND HICCUP SAT AGAINST the warm sides of their dragons on the far end of their island, their backs resting against the sleek scales of the Night Furies. In front of the dragons, fish were scattered across the ground as the two creatures eagerly chowed down on their meal. Meanwhile, in front of the teenagers, two herrings were roasting slowly over the fire, flames crackling gently as they waited for their food to finish cooking.

          A low, gurgling sound caught Solveiga’s attention and made her turn her head toward Daydreamer, just in time to see the dragon regurgitate the head of a fish. The creature looked at the girl invitingly as she did so, as though proudly offering a gift. Solveiga’s face contorted slightly as she fought the twisted look of disgust that threatened to surface, her eyes fixed on the slimy, half-digested fish head lying in front of her.

          “Oh, uh…” Solveiga let out a nervous chuckle, her voice wavering slightly as she tried to keep the situation light. “I’m okay, thanks,” she added quickly, glancing at the creature with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, forcing it—a look that she hoped would be convincing enough—as she gestured awkwardly toward the stick she was holding over the fire, indicating the roasting herring was good for her.

          Daydreamer stared at her intently for a long moment with her wide eyes blinking slowly as if trying to decide whether or not to be offended. Then, after a brief pause, she turned her head back toward the pile of fish and resumed her meal without protest. She accepted Solveiga’s excuse without any question and chose instead to focus on filling her own stomach.

          Solveiga let out a quiet, almost imperceptible sigh of relief, the tension slowly easing from her posture as her shoulders subtly relaxed, now that the awkward moment with Daydreamer had passed without further incident. The offer may have been well-intentioned, but she genuinely couldn’t stomach the idea of trying to force down another bite of raw fish, let alone one that had already been partially digested and was glistening with dragon saliva. Just the image alone was enough to make her queasy.

          Her attention shifted as she heard a low, rumbling growl coming from behind her, and she instinctively turned her head over her left shoulder. There, she saw Toothless, his body tense and alert, emitting the warning sound as his eyes locked onto a group of Terrible Terrors that had begun to saunter toward their camp. The little dragons moved slowly but deliberately, their eyes gleaming with hunger as they crept closer, clearly sizing up the Night Furies’ scattered fish as an easy opportunity for a stolen meal. Toothless wouldn’t have that.

          One of the tiny dragons, emboldened by either hunger or recklessness, crept forward and made a bold attempt to snatch one of the fish from the pile that belonged to Toothless. With practiced ease and without even needing to rise to his feet, the larger Night Fury reacted instantly, snatching the fish back from the little thief’s jaws in a swift, fluid motion. All that was left behind in the smaller dragon’s mouth was a sliver of fish tail, dangling pitifully between its teeth.

          The Terrible Terror looked thoroughly offended by the loss, its tiny body bristling with frustration. With a snarl and narrowed eyes, it puffed up in defiance and prepared to retaliate. Opening its mouth wide, it took in a deep breath, readying itself to launch a fiery blast in Toothless’s direction. But before it could release even a spark, Toothless casually sent a small, controlled poof of flame straight into the creature’s open mouth. The fire didn’t burn—it filled. The little dragon staggered backward, wobbling unsteadily as a puff of smoke began to leak from its nostrils and mouth, its stomach now bloated with harmless smoke.

          Hiccup let out a single chuckle. “Not so fireproof on the inside, are you?” he asked the tiny and dazed creature.

          Solveiga’s expression softened with amusement as she made a gentle, high-pitched sound, the kind someone might use when calling a kitten over. “Here you go, little guy,” she said in a soft, soothing voice, her tone light and kind as she reached for one of the spare herrings beside her and tossed the fish through the air toward the tiny dragon.

          The Terrible Terror’s eyes lit up the instant it saw the unexpected offering, its earlier frustration melting away as quickly as it had come. All thoughts of revenge or defiance vanished as instinct took over. It perked up eagerly, tiny claws scrabbling across the ground as it lunged forward with surprising speed. Without the slightest hesitation, it pounced on the fish and gulped it down in one smooth, fluid motion—head first, as if it had done it a hundred times before. The herring disappeared in an instant, vanishing down the little dragon’s throat, and it let out a small, contented snort as it licked its chops and settled down, clearly satisfied with the unexpected treat.

          The little dragon then turned its gaze back to Solveiga, staring up at her with an expression she couldn’t quite read, something in its wide, gleaming eyes that hovered somewhere between curiosity and contentment, though she couldn’t be sure. It began to claw its way toward her, each small movement deliberate and determined. A flicker of nervousness stirred in her chest as it approached, but she held her ground, remaining still and calm as it closed the distance. To her surprise, the Terrible Terror didn’t stop in front of her. Instead, it moved around to her side, circling next to her left leg with slow, purposeful steps. Then, without a sound, it lowered itself to the ground and curled up beside her, its tiny body folding in on itself in what could only be described as a sleepy, trusting sprawl.

          Solveiga stared down at it, her brows raised in quiet shock, hardly believing the sudden shift in behavior. Slowly, cautiously, she extended her hand and rested her palm against the creature’s small, scaled back. To her amazement, she felt a gentle vibration beneath her skin—the rhythmic, contented purring of a creature that had just decided she was safe.

          “It’s all wrong,” Hiccup mumbled quietly, his voice barely above a whisper as he stared intently at the scene unfolding before him. “Everything we know about these guys… is wrong,” he added, his words heavier now, carrying the weight of realization.

          Solveiga and Hiccup locked eyes in that quiet moment, the flickering firelight reflecting in their gaze. Between them, an unspoken but unmistakable understanding passed silently, one that spoke volumes about the creatures before them… these dragons they had long thought they truly knew. They were not simply mindless, violent killing machines driven by a thirst for destruction. No, these beings were far more complex and relatable than the stories had ever suggested. They were like them—sentient creatures, fighting just as desperately to survive in a harsh world as they were. The Vikings’ entire understanding of dragons had been steeped in misconception and fear. Now, as the truth settled between them, it became clear… everything they had believed about these majestic creatures was simply all wrong.

જ⁀➴

           Solveiga moved quietly through the deep, creeping shadows of the village, her footsteps light and careful against the cold, uneven ground beneath her feet. She made her way slowly and deliberately back toward her family’s longhouse, taking no particular hurry in her steps. There was no urgency in her pace, no pressing need to get inside quickly, because she already knew exactly what awaited her there… the longhouse would stand empty and silent, its vast wooden walls echoing with an eerie quiet that felt almost unnatural. It would be too lonely to truly feel like home, lacking the warmth and presence she usually found within. Her mother was still out at sea, far away with Stoick and the other Vikings on their long voyage, leaving the house—and Solveiga—to face the long, quiet nights alone.

          She sighed softly as she came to a stop at the entrance of her home, the rough wooden door looming before her. For a moment, she simply stared at it, caught in a silent internal debate over whether she should just spend the night outside under the open sky instead. The thought of retreating into the cold darkness of the village appealed to her more than facing the emptiness inside. But then, her eyes flickered and caught sight of something unexpected through the narrow window beside the door—a soft, warm glow.

          A candle was burning inside. She frowned, confused. Had she forgotten to blow it out? No, she was certain she had extinguished every candle before going to bed last night. The realization hit her suddenly—if the candle was still lit now, then that meant someone else must be inside…

          Solveiga hurried through the door, her heart pounding as she stepped inside the familiar space. Almost immediately, she came face to face with her mother, who was seated quietly near the window. The soft glow of the candle flickered gently on the windowsill beside her, casting warm, dancing shadows across her calm expression.

          “Mom,” Solveiga said softly, her voice tinged with surprise as she took in the unexpected sight. “You’re back,” she added, the words coming out with a genuine sense of shock and relief.

          Her mother chuckled quietly, a warm, gentle laugh that filled the room. “Don’t sound so disappointed,” she teased lightly, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she looked at her daughter.

          Solveiga shook her head, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Sorry,” she said, her tone sincere. “I just… didn’t expect to see you tonight,” she admitted honestly, moving slowly to sit down beside her mother.

          Her mother’s voice softened as she replied, “We sailed inland early this morning. You were… busy,” she said, her tone carrying a hint of something unspoken, though Solveiga couldn’t quite place what it was.

          Solveiga nodded in understanding, a light laugh escaping her lips. “Oh, yeah, you know… dragon training,” she said with a soft chuckle, trying to keep the mood light despite the subtle tension lingering in the room.

          “Just that, hm?” her mother hummed thoughtfully, a mischievous glint lighting up her eyes. “I hear you’ve been spending plenty of your free time with the Chief’s boy,” she teased gently, reaching out to poke Solveiga playfully on the shoulder.

          “Mom,” Solveiga dragged out the word, a deep blush creeping slowly up her neck and spreading across her cheeks. She shifted awkwardly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she tried to hide her reddening face behind her hand. “We’re just friends,” she insisted, though her voice wavered slightly with embarrassment.

          Her mother chuckled softly again, clearly enjoying the moment. “They all say that,” she teased further, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

          “Mom!” Solveiga groaned in protest, her voice rising with a mixture of frustration and amusement. “I am not courting anyone,” she declared, blowing out a breath in an exaggerated huff.

          “Okay! Okay!” her mother said, throwing up her hands in mock surrender as she laughed warmly, clearly delighted by her daughter’s reaction.

          Soon, silence had gradually engulfed the room, a stillness that felt somewhat awkward in its weight. Solveiga let out a soft sigh, her breath barely audible in the quiet, as she turned her gaze toward the window beside which she sat. Her eyes lingered there, staring out into the night sky, where countless stars twinkled above in the vast darkness… and part of her, quietly and wistfully, imagined what it might be like to be up there once more.

          “Well,” her mother said at last, her voice softly breaking the silence that had settled between them. “You should get some rest,” she added, her words gentle and full of quiet concern as she slowly rose to her feet.

          She stepped closer, the fabric of her clothes rustling faintly in the stillness, and with a familiar tenderness, she reached out to place a loving hand atop Solveiga’s head. Her fingers moved with care, smoothing back the frizzled strands of hair that curled and clung stubbornly in place. The motion was unhurried, full of a practiced affection—soothing, instinctive, and deeply known.

          Solveiga looked up at her with a small smile, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, I will,” she replied, her voice calm, though her mind remained anything but.

          Her mother paused for a lingering moment at the foot of the stairs, casting one last glance in Solveiga’s direction, as if searching for something in her daughter’s expression—reassurance, perhaps, or understanding—before finally turning away. She began her quiet ascent up the staircase of their home, her footsteps soft and measured against the wooden steps, fading with each one.

          In her absence, the silence slowly crept back in, settling over the room once more like a familiar blanket. Solveiga remained seated by the window, motionless, her gaze still fixed on the vast, star-filled sky beyond the glass. And there, in that quiet, she sat alone, left with nothing but the glittering night above and the countless thoughts that drifted and turned within her, silent, but restless…

Chapter Text

THAT SAME NIGHT, SOLVEIGA quietly slipped out of the house, careful not to wake her sleeping mother, each of her steps measured and deliberate. It was strange, she thought, how deeply lonely she felt when her mother was away, yet that heavy loneliness never truly disappeared when her mother was home; instead, it transformed into something heavier still—something suffocating that clung to her like a second skin. The presence that should have brought comfort only deepened the ache, filling the space between them with a kind of silence that spoke too loudly. There was a tension in their closeness, an unspoken distance that seemed to thicken the air around them, making it feel dense, unmoving, and impossible to breathe.

          So, there she was, standing quietly in the hidden cove, a secret place nestled away from the world, where she found solace. She gently skipped rocks across the still surface of the pond, each stone leaping once, twice, then sinking below with a soft plop. The water, touched by the night sky, shimmered with starlight, and the ripples from each rock spread outward in widening circles, reflecting the scattered stars like tiny, moving mirrors.

          Daydreamer, curled up in the shadow of one of the tall, leafy trees at the edge of the clearing, lay peacefully sleeping, undisturbed by the motion or sound. Meanwhile, Toothless padded over silently and came to sit by the water's edge, his eyes fixed curiously on the circles expanding outward from each splash. He stared, entranced, at the shifting patterns on the pond, following every movement made by the stones she tossed.

          Solveiga couldn't help but laugh softly at his cat-like nature. His curiosity always seemed to get the better of him, drawing him closer to whatever caught his attention. Weren't dragons supposed to be timid creatures, shy and wary of the world around them? Yet, seeing him now, it was hard to believe that was true. It wouldn't have been a surprise if that idea were just another lie, much like everything else she had come to question and doubt.

          "Solveiga?"

          The sudden voice startled her so completely that she nearly jumped out of her skin, a sharp, startled shriek tearing from her lips as she stumbled forward in alarm. For one heart-pounding moment, she was certain she would plunge straight into the water, arms flailing, balance lost—if not for a hand that caught her just in time. And in one swift, fluid motion, she was pulled back and turned away from the pond, landing hard on the ground instead.

          Her wide blue eyes met a pair of equally startled green ones, the two of them frozen in that unexpected closeness. Her breath hitched, and warmth flooded her face as she realized she had landed on top of him, her hands braced against his chest. His quick reflexes had saved her from falling into the pond—but now it was her own racing heart she had to contend with.

          Hiccup let out a nervous laugh as he stared up at her, flustered. "S-Sorry," he managed between chuckles, his voice uneven as he continued to laugh, more out of embarrassment than amusement.

          "Oh, no," Solveiga spoke quickly, shaking her head with an awkward smile. "Thanks for saving me from a midnight bath," she added with a soft, muted giggle before she rose to her feet and extended a hand down to Hiccup, offering to help him up.

          Solveiga quickly looked away, gripping the side of her arm in a nervous gesture as she avoided Hiccup's eyes, hoping the heat in her cheeks would fade before he noticed just how red she'd turned. What was wrong with her? If it had been Snotlout, she'd have already socked him in the arm without thinking twice. This whole flustered display had never been her thing—at least, not until the past few days...

          "Soooo..." Hiccup drawled, scratching the back of his head nervously. "What brings you out here this late?" he asked, his tone awkward as he shuffled to stand beside her.

          Solveiga glanced at him and shrugged. "I guess... I just needed to get out of my house."

          "Heh," Hiccup chuckled softly, nodding. "Yeah, that I can understand," he admitted with a sigh.

          They both stood in silence after that, the only sounds around them the gentle rustling of leaves in the midnight breeze and the faint, rhythmic crashing of waves far off in the distance. The world seemed to slow down, wrapping them in a quiet calm that settled deep into Solveiga's bones. There was something comforting about the stillness, something unspoken and tender in the way nature held them both in its embrace. For the first time in days, maybe even months, she felt a sense of peace—a feeling of being truly welcomed, as if the hidden cove itself was offering her refuge from everything else.

          "Hey," Hiccup said, gently bumping her shoulder with his own. "Wanna go for a ride?" he asked, nodding toward the sky with a playful grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

          "Oh," Solveiga replied softly. "I think she's out for the night, actually," she said, glancing over toward where Daydreamer lay peacefully, snoring softly in her sleep.

          "Toothless never says no to flying," Hiccup said playfully. "Isn't that right, bud?" he asked the dragon, who responded by planting his front paws firmly on the soft ground, tail swaying back and forth, and his tuft perked up in excitement.

          Solveiga laughed softly at the scene, the sight of Toothless's excitement making her smile as she thought about how the cool breeze might help clear her head, then nodded gently. "Alright," she said quietly, a spark of anticipation in her voice.

          Hiccup smiled warmly at her quiet agreement, a gentle spark of happiness igniting in his eyes. But the real joy didn't fully surface until he turned to climb onto Toothless's back. In that moment, his smile blossomed into a wide, triumphant grin—the kind of pure, unrestrained excitement you'd expect from a child waking up on Yule morning, the air thick with magic and possibility.

          Hiccup cleared his throat, a little too loudly, and turned to the side with a flourish that was only half-sincere. "M'lady," he said in a mock-gallant tone as he extended his hand toward Solveiga.

          His attempt at chivalry earned a smile from her, the kind that hovered on the edge of a laugh. She shook her head slightly, amused by the gesture, but there was a flicker of something softer in her eyes as she looked at him. Still grinning, she placed her hand in his and let him help her up. She hopped onto the saddle with ease, her movements practiced but graceful, and settled herself behind him without hesitation. As her legs slid into place on either side of the saddle, her arms briefly brushed his back, and she paused for half a second longer than she needed to. Her smile lingered, though it became a little more uncertain, a little more real.

          Then, as soon as they were settled, Toothless didn't waste a second. With a powerful lurch and a sudden, exhilarating burst of speed, he launched himself into the sky, wings slicing through the air like a whipcrack. Solveiga let out an involuntary yelp, her breath catching in her throat as her body jolted forward. Instinctively, without thinking, and certainly without planning it, her arms shot around Hiccup's waist, gripping him tightly, almost desperately, as the ground vanished beneath them.

          The move surprised them both. Hiccup stiffened slightly under her grasp, his shoulders tensing as her chest pressed lightly against his back. Solveiga felt her face go warm, but her fingers only clutched tighter, unsure whether letting go would be more or less embarrassing. The silence between them was deafening for a second, broken only by the steady rush of wind and the unmistakable, rumbling chortle that came from Toothless. It wasn't quite a roar—more of a sly, guttural purr, vibrating with what almost seemed like smug satisfaction.

          They soared upward toward the clouds with breathtaking speed, Toothless cutting through the night sky like an arrow loosed from a bow. The wind rushed past them in a roaring current, cool and sharp against their skin, but not unpleasant—exhilarating, like being pulled into something wild and ancient. Solveiga's hair whipped behind her, tugged loose by the wind, and yet all she could focus on was the steady rhythm of Hiccup's breathing just in front of her, and the way her hands instinctively tightened around his waist instinctively.

          She wasn't afraid, at least not of flying anymore, but there was something about being this close, this exposed in the open sky with nothing but Hiccup and Toothless and the stars around her, that made everything feel more vivid... more complicated.

          As they leveled out above the sea, the rough ascent smoothed into a gentle, gliding motion. Toothless' wings stretched wide, riding the currents with ease, his body rippling with effortless control. The roar of the wind softened, replaced by a cool hush, like the world itself had gone quiet to let them breathe. Below, the ocean shimmered like black glass. Above, the stars revealed themselves fully, freed from the weight of village smoke and torchlight. They were impossibly bright, impossibly close... it felt as though they could reach up and pluck them from the sky, one by one, to keep in their pockets for later.

          Solveiga couldn't help but exhale a soft, awed laugh. "It's beautiful," she said, almost to herself.

          Hiccup glanced over his shoulder, intending only to make sure she was still comfortable and holding on, but the sight of her caught him off guard. Her face was softly illuminated by the pale starlight, delicate and serene, and her eyes were wide, bright, and full of quiet wonder. The stars themselves seemed to dance and shimmer in her gaze, reflecting back at him like tiny, distant flames flickering just for her. For a moment, he found himself holding his breath, caught between awe and something unexpectedly tender that tightened in his chest.

          "Yeah..." he murmured, his voice still caught, barely more than a breath.

          He hadn't meant to say it aloud, but it slipped out anyway like half a thought, half a feeling, lost somewhere between the rush of altitude and the thrum in his chest. He stared at her for a moment longer than he should have, his heart fumbling in its rhythm, caught off guard by how beautiful she looked up here, bathed in moonlight and stars and sky.

          Solveiga, noticing his gaze, tilted her head slightly. "Hmm?"

          Hiccup blinked, suddenly aware of himself. "Nothing! I just—uh... stars. A lot of 'em. Really... starry night," he said quickly, whipping his head forward again, ears visibly red even in the low light.

          Toothless gave a low, amused snort, his throat vibrating like a quiet chuckle as if he found their human awkwardness endlessly entertaining.

          Solveiga shifted slightly, leaning forward just a little closer. A soft, humming laugh escaped her lips, light and shy, while her chin came to rest almost brushing against Hiccup's shoulder. The warmth of her presence was suddenly more vivid, closer than before, and it made his heart skip in a way that had nothing to do with the flight. He swallowed hard, trying not to let the moment stretch too long, or for his face to betray how much that small closeness meant...

          "Yeah," she said softly, her smile lingering, gentle but with a hint of teasing in her voice. "Really starry."

          It fell quiet between them again, not awkward this time, but reverent, as though the sky itself had asked them to hush. Toothless began to circle upward, his powerful wings steady and slow now, carrying them higher into the sky's thinning breath. The clouds loomed just above, wisps of them trailing past like veils, until finally they breached the first layer.

          Solveiga smiled, a quiet breath of wonder escaping her lips. She lifted one hand from Hiccup's side, reaching out toward the mist that surrounded them. Her fingers slipped through it, expecting softness—something fluffy, like the kind of clouds painted in children's books—but instead it clung to her skin, cool and damp like a freshly wrung cloth. It startled her slightly, but in a way that made her laugh under her breath, the sensation oddly grounding amid so much weightless beauty.

          Above the clouds, the world opened into a sea of gold and lavender. The sunrise was nestled just on the edge of the horizon, crouched behind a curtain of light, as if deciding whether the world below was ready to see it. Rays of warm color stretched outward, catching on the mist like threads of flame spun through silver.

          Solveiga's eyes widened, her awe plain. She leaned slightly to the side for a better view, her shoulder gently brushing against Hiccup's. He didn't move away. They circled higher still, and for a brief moment, the sun almost revealed itself—just the edge, just a promise of warmth.

          And then, as Toothless curved his wings into another arc, they dipped beneath the line of clouds once more. The sky darkened around them, the light slipping away as if it had been nothing more than a dream. The sunrise hid itself again, waiting for the right moment to begin.

          Solveiga let out a quiet, tired hum, the kind that barely carried over the rush of the wind. Her body swayed slightly with the rhythm of Toothless's wings, and without thinking, she let herself drift forward. The side of her head came to rest lightly against Hiccup's back, her cheek pressing into the fabric of his tunic. She didn't mean to fall asleep, just to rest, just for a moment... but the warmth of his back and the steady motion of the dragon beneath them made her eyelids grow heavier with each passing second. Her grip around Hiccup's waist loosened a little, no longer from fear or tension, but from quiet trust.

          Hiccup went still. He felt the faint pressure of her head, the soft brush of her breath through the layers between them. His mouth opened slightly as if to say something, but no words came. Instead, he let out a silent breath and kept his hands steady on the reins, pretending not to notice how his heartbeat had picked up, or how the weight of her against him felt strangely... right.

Chapter Text

SOLVEIGA HAD AWOKEN NOT TO THE gentle warmth of sunlight on her face, or the distant sound of birdsong, but rather to the unmistakably wet and startlingly persistent sensation of something rough dragging across her cheek. Disoriented and still half-entangled in the haze of sleep, she groaned softly and blinked open her eyes, only to find herself lying atop a soft, springy bed of green moss, its earthy scent rising to meet her with every breath.

          Before her mind could fully process the comfort of her resting place, she became abruptly and unpleasantly aware of the culprit behind the rude awakening: a certain dragon—familiar, scaly, and far too enthusiastic—was looming over her, licking her face with all the eager, slobbery devotion of an overexcited puppy. The sensation was so unexpected and undignified that she let out a sputtering gasp, flinched backward instinctively, and, with both hands, hastily shoved the scaly beast away from her, her palms meeting the dragon’s warm, leathery snout as she tried to reclaim what little dignity she had left.

          “Daydreamer!” Solveiga shouted in protest, her voice sharp with groggy indignation as she shoved the dragon away with both hands. “Ugh,” she groaned, recoiling slightly as she sat up and dragged her sleeve across her cheek in a futile attempt to wipe it clean.

          With a thoroughly disgusted expression contorting her face, she flicked the lingering strands of sticky slobber from her fingertips, watching them arc through the air before disappearing into the moss. “That’s absolutely vile,” she muttered under her breath, casting a scowl in Daydreamer’s direction, who, unbothered and seemingly pleased with herself, simply blinked and gave an affectionate huff to her.

          Solveiga let out a long, weary sigh as she leaned back onto her arms, allowing her weight to sink into the mossy ground beneath her. Her muscles ached with the stiffness of sleep, and the remnants of dragon slobber still clung unpleasantly to her skin, but for a brief moment, she let herself breathe. She glanced around slowly, blinking against the brightness that filtered through the mouth of the cove as her gaze swept over the familiar stone walls, the shimmering pool nearby, and the way the shadows had shortened. And then it hit her. The sun was already high in the sky, well past its early morning climb. Late morning.

          Her breath caught. Her eyes went wide with alarm as the realization struck her like a slap to the face. She had been here all night.

          “Gods!” Solveiga exclaimed, the word bursting out of her in a panicked gasp as the full weight of her situation settled in. “I am so dead,” she muttered under her breath, the dread coiling tight in her stomach. Without wasting another second, she scrambled upright, brushing bits of moss and dirt from her clothes in a flurry of frantic motion. Her heart thudded against her ribs as she cast a quick, apologetic glance toward the two dragons.

          “Sorry! No time!” she called out, offering them a hurried wave that barely qualified as a goodbye before turning on her heel and breaking into a scurrying half-run, her boots thudding softly against the earth as she disappeared deeper into the trees—leaving behind the quiet cove, the warm sunlight, and bemused dragons blinking after her…

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          Solveiga pushed her way through the crowd, weaving between shoulders and elbows, ducking under outstretched arms, and climbing over the uneven ground beneath the crowd of Vikings gathered around the dragon training dome. The air was electric with excitement, the roar of cheers rising like a wave as the onlookers pressed in close, their attention fixed on the center of the ring. She barely managed to squeeze through a gap in the circle just in time to catch a glimpse of Hiccup and Astrid, both poised and focused, facing off against a lumbering Gronckle whose wings buzzed in anticipation.

          “Solveiga!”

          The familiar voice of Fishlegs rose above the din of the crowd, catching her attention just as she managed to wedge herself between two burly onlookers. She turned her head toward the sound, spotting him a few people over, standing on his toes and waving an arm to get her attention, his expression equal parts relief and anxiety.

          “Where have you been?” he asked the moment she reached him, his brow furrowed with concern as he leaned in so she could hear him over the noise. “Astrid was looking everywhere for you,” he added, his voice lower now, edged with that signature nervous frown he wore whenever things were even slightly off-schedule.

          “Uhh,” Solveiga’s mouth parted slightly, hesitation flickering across her features as she scrambled to come up with a believable excuse. She forced a small, uneasy smile and met Fishlegs’ concerned gaze with a practiced calm she didn’t quite feel inside. “I’ve been here the whole time, Fishlegs… just got… lost in the crowd,” she said, the lie slipping out, feeling it all but scrape harshly against her conscience.

          Solveiga paid no mind to the puzzled expression on Fishlegs’ face, choosing instead to fix her gaze on the dragon battle unfolding below. Her eyes followed Astrid as she moved with swift, purposeful strides, weaving in and out of the wooden barricades with silent precision. Every movement was calculated, every step taken with intent; it was obvious she meant to outmaneuver the Gronckle and catch it off guard. Her posture radiated fierce determination; this wasn’t just a competition to her—this was a challenge she fully intended to win.

          But down in the ring, Hiccup had already drawn the dragon’s full attention. Calm and composed, he stepped forward with quiet confidence, extending his hand with the kind of practiced ease that only came from experience. His fingers moved carefully, brushing the exact spot along the Gronckle’s side known to lull it into a drowsy calm. The dragon let out a deep, rumbling sound like a half-growl, half-sigh as its tense posture began to soften, slowly relaxing under the reassuring touch.

          Just as Astrid vaulted over the final set of wooden planks, she let out a fierce battle cry, her axe raised high and ready to strike. But the moment her boots hit the ground, she came to an abrupt stop. Her breath caught, eyes widening slightly as the scene before her came into focus—Hiccup, calm and assured, already in complete control of the situation. The Gronckle was settling under his touch, and the crowd, quick to recognize his success, erupted into another thunderous wave of cheers, their voices echoing through the arena.

          “No! No!” Astrid shouted, her voice sharp with anguish and disbelief. “Son of a half-troll, rat-eating, munge-bucket!” she bellowed, swinging her axe wildly in frustration as her face flushed with fury, her movements tense and erratic as she paced in a small circle, clearly ignoring the roar of the crowd cheering around her.

          Solveiga cringed as she watched Astrid storm across the arena toward Hiccup, her face dark with fury. The roar of the crowd drowned out her exact words, but the sharp, biting tone left little doubt about their intent. Hiccup’s eyes widened in alarm, and he instinctively took a step back, clearly caught off guard. He stared at Astrid with a mixture of confusion and apprehension, looking very much like he wanted to turn and bolt from the entire situation.

          Solveiga let out a quiet sigh before turning away and weaving her way back through the crowd, heading down toward the arena. Her movement didn’t go unnoticed as Fishlegs spotted her and quickly signaled the others to follow. One by one, they made their way to the gate just as Stoick’s voice rang out, demanding silence so the Elder could announce the winner. But Solveiga didn’t need to hear it—she already knew. The thunderous cheers from the crowd said it all. Hiccup.

          She lingered in the shadows of the entrance, a sad look lingering on her face as her gaze remained fixed on the celebration unfolding before her. The others had already rushed forward, hoisting Hiccup high into the air, their cheers and laughter filling the air as they celebrated his victory…

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          “Leaving! We’re leaving,” Hiccup declared theatrically as he strolled into the hidden cove, a basket of supplies casually slung over his shoulder. “Looks like you and me are taking a little vacation… forever,” he announced with a dramatic sigh, setting the basket down with a soft thud.

          Solveiga frowned as she followed a few steps behind him. “Wait—are you talking to me or the dragons?” she asked, a hint of a joke tugging at her lips, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

          Her attempt at lightening the mood fell flat as Hiccup sighed deeply, his eyes drifting over the contents of the basket he’d brought. Solveiga sighed as well, her steps hesitant as she wandered over to him. She cast a quick glance back at the two dragons, who lounged lazily in the cool shade beneath a nearby tree, seemingly indifferent to the tension between the two of them.

          Solveiga couldn’t hold back the squeal that escaped her as she spun back around. “Astrid!” she called out in shock, her eyes locking onto the blonde girl perched on the rock before Hiccup, sitting there calmly with a chilling intensity as she methodically sharpened her axe with deliberate, almost threatening strokes.

          “What the—!?” Hiccup yelped, jumping back instinctively. “Wh-what are you d-doing here?” he stammered, casting anxious glances toward the dragons still hidden in the shadows, silently hoping Astrid hadn’t spotted them.

          “I want to know what’s going on,” Astrid said, her glare sharp as she stood, towering over Hiccup. “No one just gets as good as you—especially not you,” she accused, stepping forward to corner him. Hiccup stumbled back nervously, caught off guard by her sudden intensity.

          Solveiga quickly moved between them, raising a hand. “Astrid, wait—”

          But Astrid wasn’t done. She spun toward Solveiga, her axe leveled and her eyes blazing. “One of you better start talking!” she demanded. “Are you two training together?”

          “Uh…” Hiccup hesitated, dragging out the word. “Training?” he echoed, trying to sound clueless, but it didn’t fool anyone, not even Solveiga.

          Astrid’s eyes narrowed, and with a sharp yell, she grabbed the leather vest Hiccup was wearing. “It better not involve this!”

          “Astrid,” Solveiga said, trying to catch her attention. “I know this looks bad, but I swear, it’s not—”

          Before she could finish, Hiccup blurted out, “Yeah! We’re done with the lies. We’ve been making… uh… out,” he said quickly, his face flushing as he avoided eye contact.

          Solveiga’s eyes went wide, and she almost dropped, breathless, “What!?”

          Hiccup scratched the back of his neck, stumbling over his words. “Yep. You got us. Drag us back. Go ahead. Here we go,” he kept talking, awkwardly grabbing Astrid’s wrist and placing it on his vest, as if that would somehow make the lie less terrible.

          Astrid, clearly unimpressed and silently searching Solveiga’s face for answers, fixed her gaze on her. But Solveiga could only gape, stumbling over her words without managing to say anything. Growing impatient, Astrid grabbed Hiccup’s arm and twisted his wrist sharply behind his back. He yelped in pain, stumbling forward and slowly sinking to the ground before she finally released him.

          “OW!” Hiccup shouted, eyes wide with shock and pain. “Why would you DO that!?” he demanded, rubbing his wrist.

          “That’s for the lies,” Astrid said coldly before dropping the butt of her axe onto Hiccup’s stomach, making him grunt in pain. “And THAT’S… for everything else,” she added, her voice dripping with annoyance.

          Suddenly, a deep roar thundered across the still surface of the pond, causing Solveiga’s head to snap sharply in the direction of the sound. Her breath caught as she caught sight of Toothless, his sleek black form tense and rigid. His eyes locked onto Astrid with a burning fury that was impossible to ignore—every muscle in his body radiated warning and anger.

          Beside him, Daydreamer mirrored the intensity. Her ears were pinned flat against her head, a clear sign of agitation, as she stood protectively close to her male counterpart. The two dragons exchanged a silent, charged glance, their fierce expressions echoing the tension in the air. Solveiga swallowed hard, realizing this was far from over.

          “Solveiga!” Astrid suddenly shouted as she charged forward. “Get down!” she yelled, colliding with her friend and tackling her to the ground, then quickly sprang to her feet and drew her axe before pointing it at the dragons. “RUN! RUN! RUN!”

          Hiccup panicked and jumped forward. “NO!” he shouted, pushing Astrid to the ground as his hand knocked the axe from her grip, and with a swift kick, he sent it skidding away.

          “Shh, shh,” Solveiga murmured, reaching out as she rose from the ground, her hands extended toward the two dragons. “It’s okay,” she whispered softly. “It’s alright.”

          “She’s a friend,” Hiccup said, stepping up beside Solveiga. “You just scared them.” He glanced over at Astrid, who stared at the other two teens like they had lost their minds.

          “I scared them!?” Astrid shouted, breathless and incredulous. “Who are ‘them’?” she demanded, her voice tinged with fear, slowly backing away in a defensive stance.

          “Astrid, this is Toothless and Daydreamer,” Solveiga said gently, trying to keep her voice calm and steady. “Toothless, Daydreamer… this is Astrid,” she added, speaking softly to the two dragons. In response, both dragons let out low, warning growls. Astrid blinked at them, then promptly turned, and bolted out of the cove without another word.

          “Da-da-da!” Hiccup spoke in a mocking tone, watching her disappear, then his expression dropped. “We’re dead,” he muttered.

          Solveiga turned just in time to see the two dragons huff and begin to walk off into the cove. “Hey! Where are you two going?” she called after them, throwing her hands up in exasperation as they ignored her, and kept on walking away without a care in the world…

Chapter Text

SOLVEIGA AND HICCUP RACED TOWARD Astrid on the backs of both Toothless and Daydreamer, rapidly closing the distance between them with every powerful beat of the dragons’ wings, as she continued to run through the dense forest, her footsteps pounding against the earth and echoing between the towering, moss-covered trees. She moved with urgency, weaving through underbrush and low-hanging branches, her breath coming in sharp bursts. With unwavering determination and speed, she launched herself into the air to clear a fallen log just ahead, her arms outstretched for balance, completely unaware of the silent shadows circling above her in the canopy.

          At that very moment, the dragons’ wings let out a thunderous whoosh as they sliced through the dense canopy above, sending leaves swirling and branches trembling in the sudden gust of wind stirred by their powerful flight. The sound echoed through the forest, sharp and unmistakable. But before Astrid's boots could touch back down on the forest floor after her leap, Daydreamer dove with swift, calculated precision, weaving effortlessly through the trees. In one fluid motion, she extended a clawed forelimb, grasped Astrid firmly by the arm, and lifted her upward, the force of the ascent pulling against Astrid’s momentum as the forest dropped away beneath them, rising fast into the open sky.

          “Great Odin’s ghost! This is it!” Astrid cried out with a sharp scream, her voice nearly lost in the wind as she stared down in horror, watching the ground shrink farther and farther away beneath her before she was unceremoniously dropped onto the edge of a slim, swaying tree branch. “Solveiga! Get me down from here!” she shouted, her voice rising in both anger and fear as she clung to the narrow branch with every ounce of strength she had, her knuckles turning white.

          Solveiga cringed at the withering look Astrid shot her, the kind that could freeze fire mid-breath. “You have to let us explain,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm and steady, even as she balanced atop Daydreamer’s back, the dragon’s powerful wings beating rhythmically beneath her to hold them both aloft in the air.

          “No!” Astrid yelled sharply, her voice ringing out with fierce determination, feet kicking wildly beneath her. “I am not listening to anything either of you have to say!” she declared angrily with her tone full of stubborn defiance and frustration.

          Solveiga sighed deeply, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. “Astrid… please,” she begged softly, her voice barely more than a whisper, filled with both hope and desperation.

          “We won’t speak,” Hiccup offered quietly, his tone gentle yet earnest, hoping to ease the tension between them. “Just… let us show you,” he said softly, his voice carrying a quiet plea for understanding.

          Solveiga offered Astrid a small, encouraging smile, reaching her hand out gently toward her friend, a quiet hope hanging in the air between them. Astrid breathed heavily, her chest rising and falling as she glanced back and forth between Solveiga’s outstretched hand, and the forest floor far below. Her mind raced as she weighed her options in silence. After a long moment, she let out a sigh and finally grasped her friend’s hand, allowing herself to be pulled up carefully onto the back of the dragon.

          “Now…” Astrid’s voice trailed off, her words caught in a heavy gulp as she steadied herself. “Get me down,” she finally ordered, her tone firm, but edged with lingering tension.

          “Okay,” Solveiga nodded firmly, determination flashing in her eyes. “Daydreamer, slowly,” she commanded the female Night Fury with a clear and steady tone, hoping to ease Astrid down safely.

          “See?” Hiccup said softly, his eyes watching Daydreamer’s wings flutter gently in the breeze. “There’s really nothing to be afraid of,” he added with a reassuring smile as he hoped to calm the tension in the air.

          But then, out of the blue, Daydreamer shot Toothless a look that could only be described as sly, a mischievous glint sparkling in her eyes. Without warning, she suddenly jetted into the sky at incredible speed, the rush of wind whipping past them all. Astrid let out a startled yell, her voice sharp with fear at the sudden wildness of the flight. Instinctively, she clung tightly to Solveiga, burying her face against her friend’s shoulder, trying to steady herself amid the chaos.

          “DAYDREAMER, NO!” Solveiga shouted, her voice sharp and urgent over the rush of wind. “I said slowly!” she cried out again, her frustration mounting as they hurtled forward at a reckless pace. “We need her to like you!” she added with emphasis, her final word stretching into a drawn-out groan as Daydreamer made a sudden, jarring movement toward the water that nearly threw her off balance.

          Daydreamer began to slap the surface of the water with her paws as she skimmed low, sending shimmering sprays into the air, soaking Astrid. Behind her, the unmistakable sound of Toothless’s amused snorts echoed through the sky… he knew exactly what she was up to. This wasn’t just flying anymore; it had become a game. With a playful flick of her wings, Daydreamer suddenly veered upward, rocketing back into the sky. Then, without warning, she launched into a wild, spiraling maneuver, spinning so fast the world blurred around her in a dizzying whirl.

          “And now the spinning,” Hiccup’s voice drifted faintly through the roar of the wind, flat and resigned. “Thank you for nothing... you useless reptiles,” he muttered in a deadpan tone and an unamused look on his face as his dragon followed closely behind.

          Solveiga gripped the saddle with both hands as Daydreamer finally leveled out, the wind still rushing past them. “She’s not usually like this, I swear—” she began, but didn’t get the chance to finish as the dragon abruptly halted mid-flight, wings folding in as she dropped like a stone.

          Astrid screamed as gravity yanked them downward, the sky whirling in a dizzying blur above her. “Okay! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” she shouted, panic rising in her voice as she clung desperately to her friend’s shoulders. “Just get me off this thing!” she cried, her grip tightening with every second of freefall.

          Then, just in time, the Night Fury calmed. With a swift, effortless motion, she pulled up and caught herself mere feet above the water’s surface. Smoothly, she transitioned into a graceful glide, her wings stretched wide as their tips skimmed the shimmering waves. The chaos faded into calm as she began to ascend again, slowly gaining altitude with each gentle flap, heading for the sky as the golden light of the setting sun spilled across the horizon, casting a warm glow over everything.

          A soft, contented rumble rose from her throat as Daydreamer and Toothless glided side by side beneath the fading glow of the setting sun, their dark silhouettes outlined against the golden horizon. Their wings brushed gently, a delicate, almost shy touch that spoke of a quiet bond forged through years of shared skies and silent understanding. There was a gentle warmth in their movements, an unspoken love that was both comforting and achingly tender, knowing they were the last of their kind, carrying the weight of a lost world on their shoulders.

          They soared through the endless sky for hours, drifting high enough for Astrid to reach out and brush the soft, wispy clouds with her fingers. The sun slowly dipped toward the horizon, painting the heavens in shades of amber and rose, while the first twinkling stars began to peek through the deepening blue. With every passing moment, the three Vikings grew quieter, more at ease, letting the gentle rhythm of the dragons’ flight soothe their spirits.

          Eventually, they glided over Berk, careful to keep a respectful distance from the village below—close enough, though, for Astrid to marvel at the familiar world beneath her and to feel the vastness of the sky stretching endlessly around them.

          “Alright, I admit it…” Astrid spoke softly, her voice filled with quiet awe. “This is amazing. She’s amazing,” she added with a gentle smile, glancing at Daydreamer, who seemed to respond with a pleased rumble of approval… Toothless, however, snorted dismissively, his expression unimpressed yet oddly fond.

          “So… What now?” Astrid asked quietly, turning to look at Hiccup. Her voice held a hesitant edge, as if she already knew the answer but didn’t want to hear it aloud. “Your final exam is tomorrow,” she reminded him, her words slow and deliberate. “You’re going to have to kill a—” She faltered, the rest of the sentence catching in her throat as her gaze dropped to Daydreamer as her expression softened, filled with a heavy, unspoken sorrow. “—kill a dragon,” she finished, barely above a whisper.

          Hiccup let out a long, sorrowful sigh, the weight of it seeming to carry all the conflict he felt inside. “Don’t remind me,” he murmured, his voice low and weary as his eyes drifted downward, settling on the water below, where the rippling surface reflected the troubled thoughts swirling in his mind.

          Suddenly, Toothless and Daydreamer’s ear fins snapped back sharply, their bodies stiffening in alarm. Their keen eyes darted across the sky, scanning the clouds with an intense, almost desperate anticipation. Without warning, both dragons plunged downward from the swirling mist above, their sudden, swift dive carrying a strange urgency—an unfamiliar, unsettling motion that sent a ripple of concern through the air.

          “Woah!” Solveiga exclaimed, her voice sharp with surprise. “What’s going on, girl?” she asked, her tone steady, but gentle as she reached out and laid a calming hand on the dragon’s neck. Yet despite her soothing touch and calm words, the dragon’s panic didn’t ease—it lingered, crackling in the air like static, refusing to be calmed.

          “What is it, bud?” Hiccup asked Toothless, his voice calm, but also laced with concern. Before either of them could react further, a sudden rush of movement filled the sky, a flock of dragons spiraling and swooping all around them. “Get down!” Hiccup hissed urgently, barely above a whisper, his tone sharp with warning.

          Instinctively, both girls dropped low to the saddle, pressing themselves into the shadows, trying desperately to stay hidden from the watchful eyes of the wild dragons flying around.

          Astrid gulped nervously. “What’s going on?” she whispered to Solveiga as her eyes darted from dragon to dragon.

          “I’m not sure,” Solveiga said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, glancing anxiously at Daydreamer before she tried to issue a calm command. “Daydreamer… get us out of here.” But the Night Fury didn’t respond to her words—instead, she pressed onward, cutting through the air and flying out over the vast sea, following the rest of the dragons.

          “Solveiga,” Hiccup whispered harshly, his voice sharp and urgent. “It looks like they’re hauling in their kill.” He pointed toward the dragons circling above, their talons clutching limp sheep and fish—lifeless prey, caught and ready to be devoured in a ruthless feast.

          “Uh…” Astrid stammered, her voice shaky as she instinctively clung tighter to Solveiga’s arm. “What does that make us?” she asked, her words laced with nervous uncertainty.

          Before anyone could utter another word, the entire flock of dragons suddenly dove as one, wings folding in tight as they plummeted downward, they weaved expertly through towering, jagged rock formations that jutted from the sea like ancient, crumbling spires. The wind howled around them as Solveiga and Hiccup gripped their dragons with all their strength, while Astrid clung desperately to Solveiga, her eyes wide with alarm.

          The landscape shifted quickly beneath them until they reached the peak of what appeared to be a massive, active volcano. Heat shimmered in the air as the dragons began to descend once more, swooping in graceful, practiced arcs toward a gaping, red-hot opening at the center of the crater. One by one, they dropped their kills—sheep, fish, and other prey—into the glowing abyss below. Smoke billowed upward in thick, dark plumes, the scent of ash and scorched earth filling the air as the dragons disappeared into the depths of the volcano.

          “Gods…” Hiccup breathed, his voice trailing off into the thick, smoky air. “What my dad wouldn’t give to find this…” he added, barely above a whisper, his tone filled with awe and disbelief as his wide eyes scanned the surreal sight below—the endless stream of dragons circling, diving, and offering their kills to the heart of the volcano like worshippers at a sacred altar.

          Toothless and Daydreamer flew in silence, their wings slicing through the hot air as they glided over the glowing mouth of the crater. Without a sound, they veered off from the others and found refuge on a shadowy, cave-like perch carved into the jagged inner wall. As soon as their claws touched stone, both dragons instinctively crouched low, muscles tense and eyes alert. There was a strange energy here—something lurking beneath the surface, something ancient and unseen—that made even these mighty creatures tread carefully.

          Solveiga leaned forward slightly, still staring at the volcano’s fiery core, her voice shifting to dry sarcasm. “I am thrilled to learn that all of our food is just being dumped down a hole,” she said, watching as dragon after dragon swooped in, releasing their prey into the pit as if fulfilling some kind of ritual

          Astrid leaned over Solveiga’s shoulder, her brows furrowed as she watched the strange ritual below. “They’re not eating any of it,” she said with a deep frown settling on her face.

          The three teenagers sat frozen in place, eyes wide with a mix of awe and dread, as they watched a lone Gronckle drift lazily over the glowing mouth of the volcano. Its wings beat slowly, unbothered, as if it were following some routine. With a slow, almost indifferent motion, the Gronckle tilted its head and released a single herring from its jaws, letting the small, glistening fish tumble into the swirling smoke and molten glow below.

          For a moment, all was still.

          Then, without warning, a deafening roar erupted from the depths—a sound so massive it seemed to shake the very stone around them. The Gronckle froze mid-air, its eyes going wide with sudden terror. Before anyone could react, a colossal shape burst from the molten pit—a monstrous dragon, larger than anything they had ever seen, its jaws opening wide. In a blur of movement, it snapped the Gronckle out of the sky and swallowed it whole in one terrifying bite.

          “What…” Astrid gasped, her voice barely more than a breath. Her eyes were locked on the pit below, wide with horror. “What is that!?” she cried, the words trembling with a mix of fear and disbelief.

          “Alright!” Hiccup broke the girls out of their stunned state. “We need to get out of here—now!” he ordered, urgency sharp in his voice.

          At Hiccup’s command, Toothless unfurled his wings with a powerful snap, the muscles in his back coiling before launching off the rocky perch in a single, explosive motion. He dove headfirst into the thick, smoky air, cutting through the haze with practiced precision. Just a heartbeat behind, Daydreamer sprang into action, her wings slicing the air as she mirrored Toothless’s every movement with flawless coordination.

          They surged upward in unison with the other dragons, wings beating fiercely against the thick, smoky air as they fled the chaos wrought by the colossal beast stalking them through the sky. The thunderous roar of the giant dragon echoed in their ears, a terrifying reminder of the deadly predator pursuing them relentlessly. Solveiga’s breath caught in her throat as she glanced down in horror, watching the monstrous creature clamp its massive jaws shut on a struggling Zippleback. In a flash, the smaller dragon was swallowed whole, vanishing into the creature’s gaping maw. The sight was too much. Solveiga turned her head away, her breaths coming ragged and shallow as her heart pounded with fear and disbelief.

          Without hesitation, Daydreamer surged forward, her wings slicing through the turbulent air as she navigated the jagged edges of the volcano’s rim. Toothless was right behind her, muscles rippling beneath his sleek scales as he matched her every move. Together, they soared higher and faster, leaving behind the burning crater and the nightmare within. The air around them still trembled with the aftershocks of the attack, and the acrid scent of smoke and ash filled their lungs. The three teenagers clung tightly to their dragons’ backs, silence settling over them as shock and confusion churned quietly in their minds.

          As the glowing volcano faded beneath the clouds, a heavy stillness hung in the air, thick with the weight of what they had just witnessed. Each of them grappled with the terrifying questions lingering in their thoughts: What was that monstrous dragon lurking below? How many others might be hiding in the depths? The unknown stretched out before them, dark and vast, as they began the long journey back to the safety of the cove, haunted by the fiery nightmare left behind…

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          “No, no, it totally makes sense,” Astrid said confidently as Daydreamer descended gracefully and came to rest in the quiet cove with her eyes sparkling in a new kind of understanding as she swung herself off the dragon’s back. “It’s like a giant beehive. They’re the workers, and that’s their queen. It controls them,” she explained, her voice filled with conviction. “Let’s find your dad.”

          Hiccup’s eyes snapped wide open at Astrid’s bold suggestion, shock and disbelief flashing across his face. “No, no!” he shouted, his voice cracking with anguish as the weight of the idea settled on him.

          Before Astrid could respond, Solveiga hurried forward, her steps quick and urgent. “Astrid, wait!” she pleaded, her eyes wide and filled with panic. “We can’t do that—not yet.” Her voice trembled with sorrow as she reached out, desperate to make her friend understand. “They’ll kill both Daydreamer and Toothless,” she warned, the thought of losing the last two Night Furies tightening her chest like a vice.

          Hiccup nodded slowly, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. “We have to think this through. Carefully,” he said quietly, his voice steady, but heavy with resolve.

          “We just discovered the dragons’ nest, the very thing we’ve been after since Vikings first sailed here, and you two want to keep it a secret?” Astrid asked in disbelief, her voice rising with frustration. “To protect your pet dragons? Are you serious?” she nearly shouted, eyes blazing with anger and confusion, not grasping the complexities of the situation.

          Hiccup spun toward Astrid again, his expression grave, so serious that even Solveiga was taken aback. “Yes,” he said firmly, his voice low and unwavering, leaving no room for argument.

          “Okay,” Astrid said, her voice tinged with surprise and a hint of cautious acceptance. “Then what do we do?” she asked, looking to Hiccup for guidance.

          “Just give me until tomorrow,” Hiccup said quietly with determination steady in his voice. “I’ll figure something out,” he promised, his gaze calm but resolute.

          Astrid nodded slowly, her gaze shifting awkwardly between Hiccup and Solveiga. “Okay,” she said softly, a hint of hesitation in her voice. “Well… I’m gonna head home. I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” she added with a sigh, then turned on her heels and began making her way back toward the village, her footsteps light but thoughtful.

          As soon as Astrid was out of sight, Solveiga suddenly reached out and pushed Hiccup into the cool pond. He yelped in shock, water splashing everywhere as he surfaced, dripping and sputtering. Looking up at her, his eyes widened in confusion. Solveiga met his gaze with a slight glare—serious yet playful—her expression carrying a quiet sense of judgment.

          “W-w-why!?” Hiccup stammered, still catching his breath, utterly bewildered.

          Solveiga crossed her arms. “‘We were making out’?” she teased, referencing his earlier excuse with a knowing glance, watching as his face burned a bright red.

          “Oh,” Hiccup muttered as he crawled out of the pond, water dripping from his clothes. “Yeah, that,” he admitted sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and straightened up in front of her.

          Solveiga nodded slowly, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. “Mmhm,” she murmured, her eyes sparkling with quiet amusement.

          “Look,” Hiccup began, voice a little shaky. “I’m really sorry. It was a stressful moment. I shouldn’t have said—”

          Before he could finish, Solveiga’s hand suddenly came up, brushing against the side of his face. Then, almost shyly, she leaned in and pressed a quick, soft kiss to his cheek. Hiccup froze, eyes wide and heart pounding as warmth spread across his skin. When she pulled away, his mouth hung open, words stuck somewhere between surprise and awe. For a long moment, neither of them said anything—just standing there, caught in the awkward, quiet hum of something new and unspoken.

          “Don’t worry about it,” Solveiga said with a soft smile, her eyes warm and teasing. “I thought it was cute.” She gave him one last lingering smile before slowly stepping back, creating a little space between them. Then, without another word, she turned and began her walk back toward the village, leaving Hiccup standing there, still caught in the quiet aftermath of the moment…

Chapter Text

“WELL, I CAN SHOW MY FACE in public again!” Stoick’s booming voice echoed proudly across the dragon arena, cutting through the roar of the jubilant crowd that had once again gathered to celebrate. The people erupted into laughter at his words, as though the entire situation were some kind of elaborate joke they were all in on. Stoick let the laughter ride for a moment before continuing, his voice rich with disbelief and pride.

          “If someone had told me that, in just a few short weeks, Hiccup would go from—well, being, uh… Hiccup—to placing first in dragon training…” He paused, letting the weight of it settle over the crowd, “...I’d have tied him to a mast and shipped him off, thinking he’d gone completely mad!”

          The crowd howled with unrestrained amusement, their laughter rippling outward like a wave crashing against the stone walls of the arena. It rolled through the stands, gathering strength with every passing second until it became a deafening chorus of joy and disbelief. Stoick threw back his head and joined them, his hearty, booming laugh carrying far and wide, full of pride, relief, and a touch of lingering amazement. His voice rang out over the celebration, rising above the din, a sound as bold and unyielding as the man himself. The combined roar of laughter and cheering swelled to a crescendo, a living, breathing force that seemed to pulse through the arena, shaking the very ground beneath their feet and reverberating through every stone, every heart, and every soul present to witness the moment.

          “But here we are,” Stoick said, his voice steady but thick with emotion. “And I can tell you this—no one is more surprised… or more proud… than I am.” There was a deep, unmistakable warmth in his tone, the kind that could only come from a father who had witnessed something extraordinary in his child. It was the sound of genuine pride—unshakable, heartwarming, and yet laced with a subtle, bittersweet edge, as though Stoick himself knew that this moment, as triumphant as it was, marked the beginning of something greater… and more uncertain.

          He turned toward the crowd, his chest rising with conviction. “Today, my boy becomes a Viking,” he declared, his voice rising with a fire that lit every ear and heart in the arena. “Today…” he paused, letting the words settle like thunderclouds gathering before a storm, “He becomes one of us!”

          With that final, thunderous proclamation, the crowd erupted with their roars filling the sky like a war cry, fierce and full of celebration, shaking the arena with the sound of unity and pride for their Chief’s son.

          Solveiga walked calmly, her steps measured and quiet as she moved beneath the looming shadows that stretched across the arena walls. The crowd's noise was muffled here, distant and almost dreamlike. She came to a stop at the front of the arena, where the iron gate stood tall and unyielding before her.

          “Hiccup,” she said softly.

          He stood just beyond the gate, his back to her, helmet dangling loosely from one hand. His shoulders were tense, drawn tight with anticipation, every muscle in his frame bracing for what lay ahead. Before him, the heavy doors remained shut, silent and unmoving, the final threshold between the uncertain boy he had been and the Viking everyone expected him to become.

          She came to a stop a few paces behind him, her expression soft but troubled. “If you get into trouble… don’t wait to run. Just do it,” she said, her tone laced with quiet urgency, the words hanging in the air like a secret she could only whisper now. There was a tenderness in her voice, a fragile note of fear masked behind steady resolve.

          The quiet urgency in her voice wove itself into the air, threading through the tension that clung to him like a second skin. It caught Hiccup’s attention, pulling him from his thoughts. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he turned to face her. His eyes were searching, uncertain, wide with the weight of all that lay ahead. There was fear in them, yes, but also something softer, something stirred by the quiet strength in her voice. He saw the worry etched in her expression, the unspoken plea behind her calm.

          In that moment, everything else—the gate, the crowd, the expectations—fell away. There was something unspoken between them, fragile and suspended, as if even a breath might break it. They didn’t have the time or the words to name it, but it was there, clear as firelight in the dark. And in her eyes, steady and unwavering, he saw what words could never quite say: that she believed in him, feared for him, and meant every syllable she’d just spoken.

          “I’m going to put an end to this, Solvi,” Hiccup said quietly, his voice low but steady, carrying a weight far beyond his years. “I have to try,” he added, more firmly this time, the words a quiet vow forged in the silence between them as he gave her a single, resolute nod.

          Solveiga smiled softly and gave a gentle nod, her eyes never leaving his. “I know you do,” she said, her voice full of quiet confidence, as if his promise had already been fulfilled in her heart.

          There was a brief silence before Hiccup spoke again, his gaze shifting, voice dropping with the weight of what he was about to say. “But… if something goes wrong…” His words faltered for a moment, hanging heavy in the air between them. “Just make sure they don’t find them,” he said finally, his voice steady despite the uncertainty pressing down on him.

          His eyes found hers again, trusting and sincere. He didn’t need to explain who they were, or what them meant—she already knew. And more importantly, he knew she would do it. Even if he couldn’t be there, even if things fell apart, she would protect the dragons. She would carry the secret forward.

          “I will,” Solveiga said, her voice quiet, laced with a pain she didn’t bother to hide. The weight of what he was asking settled heavily on her shoulders, but she accepted it without hesitation, because it was him. Because she believed in what he was doing.

          Then, after a pause, she tried to soften the moment with a faint smile—one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Just… make sure nothing goes wrong,” she added, her tone wavering slightly with the fragile hope behind the words. It was a wish more than a request, an attempt to hold onto something steady in a world that suddenly felt like it could collapse at any second.

          Suddenly, Gobber rounded the corner with a burst of energy, his voice booming through the quiet as he called out, “It’s time, Hiccup!” His eyes gleamed with pride and encouragement, and a wide, confident grin spread across his face as he clapped the boy firmly on the shoulder. “Knock ‘em dead,” he said warmly, his tone carrying both lightheartedness and genuine faith in Hiccup’s abilities.

          With a broad, sweeping gesture, Gobber warmly invited Hiccup to step forward, guiding him past the heavy arena gate—the very ring that would soon hold a dragon at its heart and serve as the stage for Hiccup’s most important moment yet. The boy paused for a moment, drawing in a deep, steadying breath to calm the fluttering nerves inside him. Slowly, he lifted his helm and carefully placed it atop his head, feeling the familiar weight settle firmly into place. Gathering every ounce of confidence, he then walked steadily into the arena, his steps purposeful and sure, fully aware of the eyes fixed on him. Behind him, Gobber closed the massive gate with a solid, echoing clang, sealing the space as the boy took his place within.

          Almost immediately, the crowd erupted, their cheers rolling through the air like thunder, swelling louder and louder as they spotted him standing ready to face what lay ahead. Hiccup ignored them as he went towards the board of weapons and picked up a shield and a single dagger from it with a sigh.

          Hiccup took a deep and thoughtful breath. “I’m ready,” he nodded toward the crowd.

          One of the heavy gates began to slowly crank open, the eerie sound of metal grinding and scraping echoing sharply off the stone walls of the arena. The tense silence was shattered by a deep, guttural growl—a dragon’s roar that sent a shiver through the crowd just moments before the gate burst wide open. From the darkness beyond, wild flames erupted in a terrifying blaze as a monstrous Nightmare unleashed a furious breath of fire, its skin glowing with fiery embers that danced and flickered like living sparks.

          The dragon roared in rage, its powerful wings beating fiercely as it lunged toward the arena walls, desperate to break free from its prison. With a sudden, terrifying snap, it fired a blazing stream of fire toward the crowd, a dangerous shot that narrowly missed, scorching the air instead. Slowly, its fiery body began to calm, the flames dimming as the beast steadied itself, still glaring with fierce anger but contained—for now.

          Hiccup stared in growing fear as the dragon’s fierce eyes locked onto his presence, its massive head lowering slowly from the heavy chains that secured it high above, trapping it within the arena’s confines. The beast’s hot breath washed over him like a furnace as it crept closer, every muscle taut with raw power and wild anger. For a heartbeat, Hiccup held his breath, then let out a slow, calming sigh—an attempt to steady his own nerves as much as to soothe the creature. He took a cautious step back, just a few feet, keeping his movements deliberate and unthreatening.

          Then, with a sudden, deliberate motion, he dropped his shield and dagger onto the ground; the metallic clank echoed sharply through the stunned silence of the arena. The crowd gasped collectively, a ripple of shock and fear spreading through them at the boy’s bold defiance of convention. But Hiccup remained unmoved by their reaction. Instead, he slowly reached out his arms toward the dragon’s massive snout, his hands trembling slightly but his gaze steady, offering peace in the face of danger.

          “Hey, it’s okay. It’s okay,” Hiccup murmured softly to the Monstrous Nightmare, his voice low and steady as he repeated the words like a chant. “I’m not one of them,” he said with quiet confidence, the conviction in his tone cutting through the tension in the arena.

          Then, with a deliberate motion, he let his helm fall from his head and crash onto the ground with a loud, resounding thud. The sudden sound echoed sharply across the stunned crowd, causing a collective gasp to ripple through the spectators. Chief Stoick’s eyes were widened in disbelief, his gaze locked on the boy who dared to lay down his armor and show such a cowardly vulnerability in front of everyone.

          Stoick stood abruptly, his face flushed with anger and disbelief. “Stop the fight,” he commanded sharply, his voice cutting through the charged silence like a blade. The crowd fell momentarily quiet, waiting to see if his order would be obeyed.

          But Hiccup remained steadfast. “No,” he said firmly, his voice calm but unwavering. “I need you all to see this.” Slowly, he reached his hands out again toward the dragon, whose fiery body was now beginning to settle, its wild eyes softening as it responded to the boy’s presence. “They’re not what we think they are,” Hiccup continued, stepping carefully closer, his tone filled with quiet conviction. “We don’t have to kill them.”

          The dragon’s massive head lowered gradually, bowing almost reverently as it sniffed at his outstretched hand. A fragile, electric moment hung between them—one that seemed to hold the promise of peace.

          But before anything more could unfold, Stoick’s voice rang out once more, louder and more commanding than before. “I said, stop the fight!” he bellowed, his words rolling across the arena like thunder. With a fierce slam, his mighty hammer crashed down onto the railings beside him, the impact reverberating through the stone and air, a forceful reminder of the power he wielded and the urgency of his command.

          Such a powerful action shattered the fragile calm, yanking the Monstrous Nightmare out of its trance as its massive jaw snapped open and shut with a fierce, desperate snap, aiming to seize Hiccup before he could react. The sudden shift in the dragon’s behavior sent a jolt of panic surging through the boy, and he shouted out in alarm as adrenaline took hold. Without hesitation, Hiccup spun on his heel and took off running, his feet pounding against the rough arena floor.

          Behind him, a blazing torrent of dragon fire burst forth, streaking through the air like molten lava as it slammed against the stone walls with explosive force. The fiery blaze chased him relentlessly, relentless as a cat pursuing a mouse, forcing the boy to push himself harder, his heart pounding in time with every step as danger closed in behind him.

          Solveiga rushed forward, her heart pounding as she sprinted toward the closed gate with her breath hitched, and fear tangled with determination in her voice as she called out, “Hiccup!” Her fingers clenched tightly around the cold, unyielding metal bars, knuckles whitening, desperate to reach him beyond the barrier that kept them apart.

          Her eyes were wide with fear, darting from side to side as she scanned the area behind her, heart pounding in her chest. Panic threatened to take hold, but she forced herself to focus, searching for anything that could help. Then she spotted it—an axe hanging on the wall of weapons, slightly rusted but sturdy, its handle within reach.

          Without hesitation, she lunged for it, her fingers curling tightly around the worn grip as she lifted it off the rack. The weight of it pulled at her arms, but she didn’t slow down. She dragged it across the stone floor, the sound of metal scraping echoing through the arena as she hauled it back toward the gate with growing urgency.

          With a grunt, she dropped to her knees and wedged the axe beneath the gate, gripping it tightly as she began to force it upward. She groaned with effort, muscles straining, teeth clenched, every part of her focused on the task at hand. The gate resisted at first, but then it began to rise, inch by inch.

          Wood and metal groaned and creaked under the pressure, the grinding sound sharp and jarring, filling the space around her. Slowly, the gate lifted just enough, the opening growing wider with every strained push. At last, she had forced it high enough to crawl under—wide enough for her to get through, yet narrow enough to ensure the dragon remained trapped inside with Hiccup.

          Solveiga’s breath heaved heavily in her chest, rising and falling in quick, panicked bursts. “Hiccup!” she yelled again, her voice echoing sharply through the air as she stood frozen, watching helplessly as the dragon was still chasing him, relentless in its pursuit, circling him around the arena while flames burst and spat wildly from its jaws.

          Her eyes landed on a hammer lying nearby. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward it. The tool was made of rough stone and solid wood—heavy in appearance, but surprisingly easy to lift in her grip. Her gaze flicked back to the dragon, locking onto the creature with a mix of determination and sorrow. With a regretful expression spreading across her face, she raised the hammer, let out a yell, and hurled the weapon straight at the dragon’s head.

          The hammer struck the dragon squarely in the head, the impact forcing the beast to stumble back for a brief moment. But instead of retreating, it simply shifted its focus. No longer interested in the boy, its gaze snapped toward the girl. Her eyes widened in shock as they locked with the creature’s, and in that instant, she knew—she was now target number one.

          “SOLVEIGA!”

          The shout came from her mother, distant and muffled in the rush of everything happening around her. It barely registered. Her body was already moving, feet pounding against the ground before her mind had fully grasped the danger. A massive lizard with wings was chasing her, and the realization hit like a stone in her chest. A flicker of fear showed on her face, raw and unhidden, but deeper than that was a strange understanding. The dragon wasn’t acting out of malice—it was lashing out in confusion, just like her. It didn’t truly want to kill. Something inside it screamed to escape, and it was just following that primal instinct.

          With a powerful yank, Stoick suddenly threw open the heavy gate. “This way!” he bellowed, his voice cutting through the chaos as he motioned frantically for the teenagers to run toward him and to safety.

          Solveiga didn’t hesitate. She scrambled away from the dragon’s fury, her boots skidding across the dirt as she bolted toward the open gate. Stoick reached out, grabbing her arm firmly and pulling her through to safety. His grip was strong, steady, and reassuring. With one swift motion, he hauled her out of the arena.

          He turned immediately to reach for Hiccup, but before he could get a grip on the boy, the dragon let loose a blast of fire, a searing wave of heat bursting through the air. Stoick instinctively threw himself over Solveiga, shielding her with his broad frame the way a father would protect his own daughter. His eyes remained fixed on the chaos inside the arena, watching helplessly as Hiccup darted away from the flames, once again running for his life.

          It didn’t last long, though. Almost immediately, Hiccup was thrown to the ground, the massive claws of the Monstrous Nightmare pinning him down. The beast’s deep snarl rumbled dangerously close to his face, its breath hot and heavy. Its eyes locked onto him with a fierce, threatening glare. But then, unexpectedly, the dragon’s expression shifted. Its eyes darted upward toward the sky, alert and tense.

          And then they all heard it—that familiar, piercing siren call. The shriek that spelled death and hope all at once: the call of a Night Fury.

          Suddenly, Toothless came charging out of the sky, purple flames bursting fiercely from his throat, melting the iron bars of the arena as if they were nothing but paper. Right behind him, like a shadow slipping through the night, Daydreamer followed, their arrival swift and unstoppable.

          Smoke thickened and curled through the arena, filling the air with a heavy haze. Only the shrieks and roars of dragons echoed, sharp and piercing, cutting through the dense cloud. Faint, shifting shadows of writhing scales and flailing limbs flickered just beyond sight, glimpsed only through the smoky veil.

          Then, suddenly, the chaos began to clear. From within the swirling smoke, the two Night Furies and the Monstrous Nightmare emerged, tangled and tumbling as they fought fiercely against one another. Two dragons fought for their humans, protective and fierce, while the third struggled desperately, battling not to be held captive, fighting to break free from the grasp of Vikings.

          People whispered in shocked murmurs at the sight of the two dragons, their voices low and filled with awe. While everyone recognized what the creatures were—legendary beasts spoken of in stories—the sheer reality of seeing them up close left them astonished. The Night Furies quickly gained the upper hand, their sleek forms moving with fierce precision.

          They positioned themselves protectively in front of Hiccup, who remained seated on the ground, still frozen in shock. His eyes followed the dragons as they circled back and forth, their roars sharp and commanding—clear warnings to the Monstrous Nightmare to stay back. For once, the beast obeyed. With a grudging, almost fearful retreat, it slunk back into its cage, defeated and subdued.

          Solveiga ducked quickly under Stoick’s outstretched arm before rushing back into the arena, ignoring his firm command to stay back. She knew, deep down, this was about to get messy—and she couldn’t just stand by.

          “Alright, Toothless, Daydreamer…” Hiccup’s voice was soft, almost pleading as he spoke to the dragons. “Get out of here!” he yelled, urging them to fly away, desperate to get them to leave. But instead of obeying, they stared back at him with worried eyes, hesitant and reluctant.

          “Daydreamer!” Solveiga called out as she reached the female dragon, placing a gentle hand on her head in thanks, but then pushing her back with a firm, urgent gesture. “You have to go, girl! You have to go!” she insisted, her push stronger this time.

          The female dragon lowered her head in confusion, her gaze locking with Solveiga’s—an expression so full of heartbreak it made tears well up in the girl’s eyes. Yet, despite the pain, Solveiga pushed the dragon back once more. “Please,” she begged softly. “Go.” This time, Daydreamer listened.

          The dragon glanced around at the gathering crowd of Vikings slowly pressing into the arena, then looked back at Toothless, exchanging a silent understanding that no human could grasp. With a powerful spread of her wings, Daydreamer took off, darting swiftly out of the arena and soaring into the sky, all before a single hand could touch her shimmering scales.

          The Vikings began to close in steadily around Toothless, their movements quick, deliberate, and filled with determination. There was no room left for the dragon to escape; he was trapped, pinned down by the encircling crowd. The tension in the arena grew thick and palpable, the noise from the crowd swelling louder and louder as anticipation and fear mixed in the air.

          Suddenly, cutting sharply through the clamoring voices and rising chaos, Stoick’s urgent shout rang out above the rest: “One is getting away!” The warning was clear and crisp, commanding immediate attention from everyone nearby. His voice carried a weight of authority and desperation that cut through the noise like a blade, halting many in their tracks as they turned to see what was happening.

          “Take it alive!” one Viking commanded, his tone filled with urgency and unwavering purpose. The call to capture rather than kill was clear, yet the tension and readiness in their movements showed they were prepared for anything. Around them, the crowd tensed, weapons being raised as they readied themselves to act on the command.

          From nearby, Astrid’s panicked voice suddenly broke through the chaotic roar of the crowd like a sharp, frantic plea. “Stoick, no!” she shouted, her words ringing out with desperation and alarm. The fear in her voice was unmistakable, and her shout carried over the tumult, grabbing the attention of those closest to her.

          Solveiga’s eyes snapped toward Astrid just in time to catch the sight of Stoick charging fiercely at Toothless, his powerful frame moving with surprising speed. Stoick’s ax was raised high in his hand, poised and ready to strike down the dragon in one decisive blow. The scene was heart-stopping, the danger palpable.

          “No, Dad, he won’t hurt you!” Hiccup called out desperately, his voice trembling with pleading and hope. His words were rushed, filled with a mixture of fear and determination as he tried to halt his father’s aggressive advance. He was desperate to prevent bloodshed and stop the inevitable disaster that seemed about to unfold.

          “No, don’t! You’re only making it worse!” Solveiga yelled urgently, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She could feel the surge of adrenaline as she saw the other Vikings moving forward, weapons brandished and ready to attack Toothless with swift and violent intent.

          “Toothless, stop!” Hiccup shouted with growing panic, his voice cracking under the weight of urgency and fear. The dragon lunged toward Stoick in a sudden burst of movement, and Hiccup’s cry rose higher, desperate to command his friend. “No! No! NO!” he screamed, the sound raw with panic and desperation, pleading for Toothless to halt.

          Then, miraculously, Toothless halted mid-charge. The mighty creature slowed to a stop, turning his head slowly to look at Hiccup. In those large, expressive eyes were pools of sadness, confusion, and a silent plea that seemed to say more than words ever could.

          “Get him!” a Viking ordered harshly, refusing to relent or back down despite the pause in the action.

          “No! Please, jus-just don’t hurt him!” Hiccup begged, raising his hands in a desperate attempt to halt the attack, his voice trembling with emotion. But before he could do more, Solveiga grabbed his arm firmly, pulling him back swiftly to shield him from the advancing crowd and to prevent him from putting himself in harm’s way.

          “Please don’t hurt him,” Hiccup pleaded again, his voice breaking with raw, aching emotion. But it was too late. The Vikings surged forward and forced Toothless down hard onto the ground, binding him tightly with thick ropes and heavy chains. Their grip was relentless and unyielding, securing the dragon so that escape was impossible.

          “Put it with the others!” Stoick commanded sternly, his tone cold and resolute as he watched the men drag Toothless away. The dragon struggled fiercely but was unable to break free from their hold.

          Without hesitation, Stoick turned abruptly, his grip firm and unyielding as he pulled Hiccup along with him. Together, they retreated swiftly from the tense, chaotic scene unfolding in the arena. The clamor of voices and clashing steel began to fade into the background, the once deafening noise gradually diminishing. As they moved away, the heavy tension that had hung thick in the air slowly dissipated, leaving behind a profound and heavy silence that settled over the space like a lingering shadow.

          Solveiga stood frozen in shock, her breath coming in heavy, uneven gasps as her mind continued to race, the adrenaline slowly ebbing, but her heart still pounding fiercely in her chest. The chaos around her seemed to blur at the edges as she struggled to process what had just happened. Then, her gaze landed on her mother, standing not far away, her expression one of pure disbelief, sharp and piercing like a sudden storm.

          Her mother’s eyes locked onto hers, wide and unblinking, as she silently motioned for Solveiga to follow her. The unspoken command carried weight, urgency, and something more—a warning. With a long, weary sigh, Solveiga pushed herself forward, stepping away from the arena’s edge. She knew, deep down, what awaited her next: her mother’s anger, fierce and unrelenting, ready to explode at any moment. With a heavy heart and a sinking feeling in her stomach, she followed, bracing herself for the confrontation she couldn’t avoid…

Chapter Text

SOLVEIGA STOOD SILENTLY IN THE VERY center of her longhouse, her posture still and watchful, while her mother paced back and forth in front of her. The motion was repetitive, almost rhythmic, a clear and familiar signal—this was something her mother obviously did whenever she was angry. The young girl remained quiet, offering no words in response, her lips unmoving, as her eyes carefully tracked her mother’s movements across the room. Perhaps there truly was nothing she felt compelled to say, or perhaps, more likely. It was simply that she had grown all too familiar, perhaps even numb, to this pattern of behavior over time.

          “I just don’t understand, Solveiga!” her mother’s voice boomed, echoing off the wooden beams of the longhouse like a crack of thunder. “How could you trust one of those beasts?!” she continued, her tone rising sharply, thick with anger and disbelief.

          Still, Solveiga said nothing. She stood there in silence, her lips pressed together, unmoving. But inside, her mind was anything but still—it was racing, churning with questions and worry. What was happening with Toothless right now? Was he safe? Where had Daydreamer gone—where had she flown off to in all the chaos? Had she made it back to the cove safely, or was she still out there, alone and vulnerable? And what about Hiccup? Her thoughts darted to him, unbidden. Was he facing a similar storm of words, a furious onslaught like the one now raining down on her?

          “Solveiga!” Her mother’s voice cut through the air like a whip, sharp and biting, dragging the girl out of the whirlwind of thoughts that had consumed her. The harshness in her tone snapped her back to the present, to the anger blazing in her mother’s eyes. “Answer me!” she demanded, each word striking with unmistakable force.

          “I—I—I…” Solveiga stammered, her voice barely more than a whisper, her eyes wide with panic and uncertainty. Words tangled in her throat as she struggled to make sense of her thoughts, to give them form. “Because… She—they aren’t…” Her voice faltered again, fading into silence as her mind scrambled for clarity, for something solid to hold onto.

          “They aren’t what, Solveiga?” her mother snapped, her tone now low and venomous, laced with suspicion and contempt. “What, Solveiga?” she pressed, stepping closer, her voice a sharp blade demanding the truth.

          Solveiga swallowed thickly, the lump in her throat stubborn and tight, lodged so firmly it felt as though even her body was rebelling against the words she needed to speak. Every breath she took was shallow, shaky, as if the air itself was too heavy to hold. Her hands, clenched into uncertain fists at her sides, trembled despite her effort to steady them. Fear, frustration, and something like sorrow swirled inside her chest. And yet—despite it all—she lifted her chin and met her mother’s eyes. There was no defiance in her expression, only a quiet, desperate kind of resolve, born not from rebellion, but from truth she could no longer keep buried.

          “They… they aren’t beasts, Mom,” she said at last, her voice uneven but growing steadier with each word. “They’re alive.” She paused, searching for the right words, willing her mother to understand. “They breathe, and they think, and they feel—just like we do. They’re not mindless. They’re not monsters. They… they are not what you think they are.”

          Her words hung suspended in the heavy silence that filled the room, delicate yet daring, trembling with vulnerability but charged with quiet courage. They floated between them like fragile glass—easy to shatter, yet impossible to ignore—boldly challenging the weight of years filled with fear, suspicion, and deep-rooted hatred that had long shaped and hardened her mother’s view of the world.

          “Not beasts?” Her mother’s voice was thick with venom, each word dripping with raw hatred and disbelief. “NOT BEASTS!?” she shouted, her voice booming through the longhouse like the wrath of Odin himself, filling the space with a furious storm. Her eyes blazed with grief and fury as she took a step closer, her whole body trembling with the weight of old wounds. “YOU LOST YOUR FATHER TO THOSE THINGS!” she yelled, the pain in her voice cutting sharp and deep, a wound still fresh despite the passing years.

          “That was HIS OWN doing!” Solveiga finally shouted back, her voice cracking with anger and years of pent-up frustration. “He hunted them for SPORT! He killed them in COLD BLOOD!” Each word hit like a hammer, sharp and unyielding, echoing through the room. “He murdered their BABIES! He caused a MASS EXTINCTION of the Night Furies—all for his own pleasure!” Her voice rose steadily with each accusation, trembling with both fury and sorrow.

          A deep, fierce glare settled in her eyes, burning bright and unwavering as it locked with her mother’s gaze head-on, bold, resolute, refusing to back down from the painful truth that had long been buried beneath lies and silence. Without a word, Solveiga turned away, her movements sharp and purposeful. She crossed the room and grabbed the leather-bound journal her father had left behind—years of his life, his thoughts, his darkness etched into every worn page. With a sudden motion fueled by anger and desperation, she flung the heavy book at her mother. It thudded heavily onto the wooden floor between them.

          “It’s all in there!” Solveiga yelled, her voice raw and fierce. “Every kill tactic he used, every twisted, psychotic thought he ever had, every cruel method of butchering—all of it!” Her words cracked the tense silence like lightning, angry and unstoppable. “Death was too merciful for that man,” she spat, her voice heavy with bitter conviction.

          Her mother stared down at the open book lying on the floor, her eyes fixed on the pages as if searching for answers she had long refused to face. For a long moment, silence hung heavily between them, thick and suffocating. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she finally spoke. “I should have known… There was always something wrong with you,” she said softly, the words carrying a quiet, bitter weight. “You hated all the stories of his success. You got queasy over his victories.” Her tone was calm, almost monotone, as if she had drained herself of any warmth or tenderness. “You had nightmares—not of the dragons,” she explained slowly, “but of him.” The admission fell flat, cold, like a stone dropped into still water, revealing a chasm of distance and lost care between mother and daughter.

          Solveiga swallowed hard, fighting to hold back the tremble in her lip, the tightness in her throat threatening to break through. Her voice came out shaky, cracking under the weight of her pain and resolve. “For good reason,” she whispered, each word heavy with truth and unspoken hurt.

          A long, heavy silence stretched between them, thick enough to fill the entire longhouse. Her mother remained standing by the door, her gaze fixed downward on the scattered notes and ink-stained pages at her feet, as if the weight of what she had heard pinned her in place. Solveiga stood a few steps away, her body tense, her eyes cast downward, unwilling to meet her mother’s anymore. Tears welled up unbidden, shimmering at the edges of her lashes—tears born of deep hurt, bitter betrayal, and a growing sense of hopelessness. The quiet between them felt endless, a chasm too wide to cross. And in that moment, a painful question hovered silently in the air: was there any way to fix this… at all?

          After such a heavy silence, her mother finally spoke, her voice steady but distant. “I have to go join the Chief. Stay on Berk.” She picked up her battle axe with little emotion and moved toward the door. Just before opening it, she paused and glanced back at Solveiga. “I love you, daughter… I just wish you had been more like your father.”

          With that, her mother opened the door and stepped out into the fading light. The door slammed shut behind her with a heavy finality, echoing through the longhouse like a closing chapter. Solveiga let out the sob she had been holding back for so long, the sound raw and trembling. Slowly, she sank to the floor, her knees folding beneath her as the weight of the moment crushed her. Her arms wrapped tightly around herself, as if trying to hold together the pieces of her broken heart, seeking comfort from no one but her own trembling hands. The pain inside her spilled out in ragged sobs, each one a sharp release of the hurt and loneliness that filled her chest…

જ⁀➴

          Solveiga let out a soft, weary sigh as she stood quietly above the docks, her arms folded loosely in front of her, the wind gently tugging at her hair. Her gaze slowly drifted across the harbor below until it finally settled on Hiccup, who stood alone, leaning forward against the worn wooden railing just ahead of her. He remained motionless in the stillness of the moment, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on the vast, endless stretch of sea unfolding before him. It was the same sea their families had vanished into only moments earlier, their ships shrinking into the horizon, carrying with them the caged form of Toothless, locked away deep in the hold of one of the vessels.

          "Hey," Solveiga said softly, her voice barely rising above the sound of the waves lapping gently against the docks below, as she stepped forward and came to lean beside him. "How did it go with your dad?" she asked at last, the question laced with a quiet, weary caution that hinted at the tension still lingering in the air.

          Hiccup let out a dry, bitter scoff that twisted into something like a chuckle, though there was no humor in it. “He basically disowned me,” he said, his voice edged with quiet disbelief, as if repeating the words might somehow make them less real. “Told me I wasn’t a Viking. Not his son.” There was a clear ache threaded through his tone, a deep hurt he didn’t bother to hide, though his gaze remained fixed and unflinching on the horizon, hard and unwavering, as if willing himself not to break.

          “I’m sorry,” Solveiga murmured, her voice falling to a low whisper as her gaze dropped toward the planks beneath their feet. “You’ll always be a Viking, though,” she continued after a moment, her voice gaining quiet strength. “He doesn’t get to decide that. Odin himself couldn’t change that,” she added, the conviction in her tone clear and unwavering.

          There was something so steady, so devout in the way she said it, an almost sacred kind of certainty, that it drew the faintest reaction from Hiccup; the corners of his mouth twitching upward, just barely, into the ghost of a smile that flickered across his face for the briefest moment. But as his gaze gradually shifted toward her, the smile faded. His eyes fell on her face, and what he saw made his chest tighten. Her eyes were red and puffy, the quiet shimmer of unshed tears still clinging to her lashes. The usual warmth and comfort they carried had dimmed, dulled by sorrow, as if something precious had been taken from her and left a hollow in its place.

          “Solvi,” Hiccup said gently, his voice barely more than a breath as he reached out, hesitating for a moment before nervously placing his hand over hers. His touch was light, uncertain, but full of quiet intent. “Are you okay?” he asked, the question soft but sincere, laced with genuine concern. His eyes searched her face with quiet intensity, scanning for the cracks in her expression, trying to understand the pain she hadn’t spoken aloud.

          Solveiga stared down at his hand resting gently over hers, her eyes lingering there for a quiet moment before she spoke. “I always admired your bravery from afar,” she said softly, the words slipping out almost unexpectedly, catching even herself by surprise.

          “Me?” Hiccup asked with a disbelieving laugh, the sound light, but tinged with disbelief. “Brave?” He chuckled again, shaking his head as if the very idea were absurd. “Did you hit your head in the arena?” he added with a crooked grin, glancing her over with mock concern, scanning her scalp and temples with exaggerated focus, half-joking but clearly checking for any sign of injury.

          “Yes, you,” Solveiga said, her lips curving into a small, genuine smile despite herself. “You’ve never been afraid to be who you are, even when everyone around you was shouting for you to be someone else.” Her voice softened into something almost wistful as she looked away. “My whole life, up to this point, has felt like a never-ending competition... with someone who’s not even here anymore—my father. A ghost I can’t seem to outrun.”

          Hiccup’s brows drew together, a crease forming between them as her words sank in. “Are you kidding?” he asked suddenly, the disbelief in his voice cutting through the quiet moment like a gust of wind.

          Solveiga’s face faltered, her expression shifting into a frown as she blinked at him in confusion. “What do you mean?” she asked, her voice soft but laced with uncertainty.

          Hiccup opened his mouth, then paused, his gaze dropping for a moment as he searched for the right words. “Well, it’s just…” he started, then trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. “You’ve always seemed so perfect to me.”

          That simple sentence struck her suddenly, like a crashing wave, and she felt a rush of warmth flood her cheeks almost immediately. Her eyes dropped away, darting toward the weathered planks beneath her feet, her heart pounding a little faster in her chest as a flush of embarrassment swept over her. Despite her silence, Hiccup kept speaking, his voice steady but touched with a quiet sincerity, a slight breathlessness that made the moment feel even more fragile and real.

“You fight. You’re strong. You’re smart. You’re…” He hesitated, his voice catching slightly. Then, almost too quickly, he glanced at her, just for a fraction of a second, as if afraid to linger. “—beautiful.”

          The word hung suspended in the air between them, weightier than anything either had said before, carrying the weight of unspoken feelings now laid bare in the quiet stillness. Neither of them broke the silence; they simply held each other’s gaze, eyes locked in a moment that stretched and deepened with every heartbeat. There was something unmistakable, almost electric, simmering just beneath the surface—something neither dared to name aloud but both clearly felt.

          Suddenly, the sharp sound of echoing footsteps shattered the fragile silence, pulling them both abruptly out of their trance-like state. They jumped apart quickly, breaking eye contact as their heads turned toward the source of the noise. Astrid approached, her strides long and purposeful, each step carrying a confident weight, like a warrior preparing to address her comrades before a battle. There was a determined energy about her that filled the space between them the moment she arrived.

          “This is a mess,” Astrid said bluntly, her voice cold and clipped, lacking any trace of sympathy. “You must feel horrible,” she added, the words hanging heavy between them, but spoken without the softness one might expect.

          “Astrid—” Solveiga began, her voice strained as she tried to interrupt, to push back against the harshness.

          But Astrid didn’t flinch or pause. She cut her off sharply. “You’ve lost everything.” Her gaze was unyielding as she ignored Solveiga’s attempt to speak. “Your father, your tribe, your best friend…” She trailed off, the weight of her words settling in the air as she shifted her stance, leaning casually against the railing beside Hiccup, her expression unreadable but intense.

          “Thank you for summing that up,” Hiccup said, his voice thick with deep sarcasm, bitterness threading through every word. “Why couldn’t I have just killed that dragon when I found him in the woods?” he asked, the question heavy with regret. “It would have been better for everyone,” he added quietly, the tinge of guilt clear in his tone, though beneath it all, the raw heartache betrayed the turmoil inside his mind, torn between what was and what might have been.

          “Yep. The rest of us would have done it,” Astrid said with a casual shrug, her tone edged with a challenge. “So… why didn’t you?” she asked, a strange, almost unreadable hint lurking beneath her words. She repeated the question as she turned fully to face him, eyes sharp and expectant. “Why didn’t you?”

          Hiccup hesitated, the weight of the question settling heavily on his shoulders. “I don’t know,” he finally admitted, voice low and uncertain. “I couldn’t,” he said simply, the words carrying an unexpected finality.

          “That’s not an answer,” Astrid said firmly, refusing to let him off the hook.

          Annoyance flickered across Hiccup’s face as he turned toward her. “Why is this so important to you all of a sudden?” he asked, frustration creeping into his voice.

          Astrid fought back a smirk, the corner of her mouth twitching upward. “Because I want to remember what you say, right now,” she told him, her eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and something deeper.

          “Oh, for the love of—” Hiccup rolled his eyes dramatically. “I was a coward! I was weak! I wouldn’t kill a dragon!” he shouted, his voice echoing off the quiet docks.

          Solveiga paused, a soft smile playing at the edges of her lips. “You said ‘wouldn’t’ that time,” she pointed out gently.

          Hiccup glanced at her, surprised by the observation. “Whatever! I wouldn’t!” he repeated, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “Three hundred years, and I’m the first Viking who wouldn’t kill a dragon!” he shouted defiantly into the wind.

          “Yeah,” Solveiga nodded with a knowing smile. “But you were the first to ride one.”

          Astrid glanced at Solveiga and mirrored her smirk, then she turned back to Hiccup with a pointed look. “So?”

          Hiccup took a deep breath, his expression softening as he looked away from both of them. “I wouldn’t kill him because he looked just as frightened as I was,” he said quietly, lost in thought for a moment. “I looked at him and saw myself.” His voice grew steadier as he continued. “And when we found her, it only solidified that decision—how could I have left her behind without him?” His words hung in the air, rhetorical but filled with a quiet, unshakeable truth.

          “I bet he’s really frightened now,” Astrid pointed out with a sharp glance, her smirk carrying a challenge. “So what are you going to do about it?” she asked, eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and expectation.

          Hiccup gave a noncommittal shrug, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Eh, probably something stupid,” he suggested, as if admitting to his own recklessness was second nature.

          “Boring,” Solveiga teased, a playful grin lighting up her face. “You’ve already done that,” she said, the sparkle returning to her eyes as if hope was slowly rekindling.

          Hiccup returned her smile, his grin widening with a hint of renewed confidence. “Then something crazy,” he declared, before turning sharply and bounding down the stairs with a burst of energy.

          “That’s more like it,” Astrid laughed, her voice ringing with approval as she patted Solveiga’s shoulder lightly, then took off after him, her footsteps quick and purposeful.

          “Okay,” Hiccup called over his shoulder, slowing just enough to give instructions. “Astrid, you go get the others,” he said firmly. “Solvi, you find Daydreamer—she wouldn’t have gone far without Toothless.”

          With those final words hanging heavy in the air, the three of them slowly broke apart, each stepping away with a quiet but resolute determination etched on their faces. The weight of the moment pressed down on their shoulders, mingling with a fragile spark of hope that flickered stubbornly in their hearts. As their plan began to take shape, the first deliberate steps were set in motion—each step carrying them forward into the uncertain challenges that awaited beyond the horizon...

Chapter Text

SOLVEIGA RAN THROUGH THE FOREST as quickly as her legs could carry her, feet pounding against the soft, uneven ground, her breath sharp in her chest. She weaved through the trees, dodging their outstretched limbs and low-hanging branches with practiced ease, the thrum of urgency pushing her faster. Her strides grew longer as she leapt over fallen logs and tangled roots, never slowing, never hesitating. Leaves brushed against her arms and twigs snapped beneath her soles as she raced onward, the canopy above flickering with patches of sky.

          At last, she broke through the tree line and emerged into the cove, arriving in record time, her chest heaving, heart hammering in her ribcage, and her wide eyes scanning the open space with wild, searching urgency. But there was nothing, no movement, no sound, no sign of who she had come for. She turned in place, gaze sweeping once more, slower this time. Her shoulders slumped, a weight settling on her back as realization dawned: the cove was empty.

          Then, out of nowhere, a scaly shadow lunged into view, leaping from behind one of the massive boulders that jutted out along the edge of the cove. In an instant, it pounced behind Solveiga, the movement sudden and jarring, breaking the stillness like a crack of thunder. She spun around at the sound, heart leaping into her throat, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. Her eyes locked onto the figure, and what she saw struck her like a blow to the chest. Daydreamer.

          The sight was heartbreaking.

          There she stood, tense, coiled like a spring, her powerful frame low to the ground, teeth clenched tight in a warning snarl. Her back arched defensively, and a low, menacing growl rumbled from deep within her chest, vibrating the air around them. Every line of her body radiated tension, ready to strike, ready to protect or to fight. But then, in a beat that shifted everything, her eyes found Solveiga's.

          And something changed.

          Her eyes, fierce and wild only moments ago, began to soften, the hard edge melting into something uncertain, something almost sorrowful. The growl wavered, faltered—and from within it came a soft, conflicted whine, barely audible but unmistakable. Her ear fins, which had been flared in fear or aggression, slowly began to fold back, not in submission but in sorrow, in recognition. What had been fear twisted gently into sadness, into grief, into something unspoken yet deeply understood. She didn't move forward. She didn't turn away. She simply stood there, caught between instinct and memory, the echo of what once was flickering behind her eyes.

          "Daydreamer," Solveiga sighed, her voice heavy with sorrow. "I'm so sorry, girl." The words came softly, barely more than a breath, trembling at the edge of grief.

          She began to move toward the dragon, each step slow and deliberate. Her movements were careful, measured, like one approaching a wounded creature who might flee at the slightest misstep. Her eyes never wavered from Daydreamer's, holding her gaze with calm determination. Though Solveiga's heart ached, her expression remained steady, gentle, and full of the quiet strength born from love and loyalty.

          Daydreamer didn't move. She didn't flinch. She simply watched, the slow rise and fall of her breath the only sign of the emotions stirring beneath her stillness.

          Solveiga extended a trembling hand and placed it gently against the side of Daydreamer's scaly head. The dragon's skin was rough and warm beneath her palm, familiar, grounding. She held it there for a long, silent moment, letting her presence speak what words could not. Then, slowly, she leaned in, resting her forehead against Daydreamer's. Their contact was quiet, intimate; a shared moment of connection and unspoken grief.

          "We're going to get him back," she whispered, her voice threaded with both desperation and resolve. "I promise."

          In response, a low rumble stirred in Daydreamer's chest. It wasn't loud or aggressive, just soft and sorrowful, resonating with pain still fresh and unhealed. But beneath the sadness, there was something else. Trust. Fragile, but present. A quiet agreement passed not in words, nor fire, but in stillness and silence.

          Solveiga quickly climbed onto the saddle still fastened securely to Daydreamer's back, her hands moving with practiced ease despite the weight of everything pressing down on her heart. She settled into the seat, tightening the straps around her legs and waist, her fingers lingering for a moment as she steadied herself. Then, gently, she reached forward and gave Daydreamer a firm, reassuring pat on the neck; a silent gesture of trust, comfort, and the unspoken bond between them.

          Daydreamer shifted beneath her, muscles coiling with familiar energy. With a single beat of her massive wings, they lifted off the ground, rising above the cove in a rush of wind and weightlessness. The earth fell away beneath them, and the trees that had once towered above now looked like nothing more than mossy patches on the forest floor.

          Berk wasn't far. Just a few minutes away by dragonback. They would be there soon, soon enough to face whatever waited for them. The battle ahead loomed large in Solveiga's mind, but for now, there was a stillness in the sky, a kind of suspended calm that wrapped around them like a breath held in time. The wind roared past, pulling at her hair and clothes, but it brought clarity rather than chaos. In those few stolen moments, it was just the two of them: no voices, no yelling, no threats, no fear. Only the steady beat of Daydreamer's wings and the endless stretch of sky.

          When they finally reached the arena, Solveiga could see the others already assembled, each one standing beside a dragon; one dragon for each rider, though Ruff and Tuff, of course, shared a Zippleback, bickering quietly as usual even in a moment like this.

          As Daydreamer descended, her wings slicing through the air with a thunderous whoosh, all eyes turned toward them. The moment her talons touched the stone floor, every rider froze. The sight of the Night Fury, sleek, powerful, and notoriously rare, stole the breath from the group. Their eyes widened, disbelief etched across their faces as they made eye contact with the dark, scaly figure now standing protectively beside Solveiga.

          Daydreamer bared her teeth, a snarl curling her lips as a warning. Her deep, guttural growl reverberated through the arena, loud and full of mistrust. The other dragons shifted uncomfortably, responding to the tension that rolled off her in waves.

          Solveiga slid off the saddle with practiced ease, landing softly on the ground. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and placed a calming hand on Daydreamer's neck, her touch gentle despite the dragon's rigid posture.

          "It's alright, girl," she said in a low, soothing voice. "They're friends—like Astrid." Her hand gestured calmly toward the blonde Viking standing closest, her battle axe strapped to her back and a cautious look on her face.

          Astrid gave a small, tentative smile—more respectful than warm—and nodded slowly toward the Night Fury. Daydreamer's growl quieted into a low hum as her gaze locked with hers. There was still wariness there, but the rage began to ease. Her sharp, golden eyes scanned the rest of the group. She tilted her head slightly, ears flicking, nostrils flaring as she sniffed the air, taking in the strange new scents—human and dragon alike.

          After a long moment, the tension in her body loosened. Her shoulders relaxed, her wings shifted back into a neutral position, and the rumble in her throat softened into something resembling contentment. She let out a low, approving sound, almost like a hum of curiosity wrapped in acceptance.

          She didn't trust them.

          Not yet.

          But she didn't see them as enemies either.

          "Alright," Hiccup nodded, his voice steady as the others began mounting their dragons one by one, the sound of shifting saddles and rustling wings filling the air. "Let's go," he added, a flicker of determination lighting his eyes. For a moment, he looked every bit the leader they knew him to be: focused, confident, and ready.

          Then he turned to Solveiga, and the air around him shifted. His expression softened into something more uncertain, almost sheepish. He stepped forward, glancing briefly at Daydreamer's towering frame before meeting Solveiga's eyes. "I, uh... hope you don't mind if I ride with you...?" he asked, the question catching slightly in his throat. His hand lifted instinctively to the back of his neck, rubbing it in that familiar, awkward way, his boots scuffing lightly against the ground as he came to stand in front of them.

          "Of course not," Solveiga replied without hesitation, her voice calm and sure. She gave him a small, muted smile, gentle but warm, and extended her hand to him. With one quick pull, she helped hoist him up behind her onto Daydreamer's saddle, his arms settling carefully around her as he adjusted to the seat. "Let's go save Toothless," she said, the quiet confidence in her words echoing louder than any war cry.

          Without delay, Daydreamer crouched low, muscles coiling beneath her sleek frame, then launched into the sky with a powerful surge. Wings snapped open wide, catching the wind with practiced strength as they soared high above the arena. Behind them, the others followed—dragons rising into the sky one after another, the rhythm of wings beating like a battle drum. They flew in tight formation, a determined blur against the vast sky.

જ⁀➴

          When the group descended from the sky, the sight that greeted them was devastating. The nest island lay in ruin; a chaotic jumble of shattered Viking ships and jagged volcanic rocks strewn across the blackened shore. Amidst the wreckage stood the massive dragon queen, her scales a mottled greyish-green that seemed to absorb the dull light of the overcast sky. She towered over everything, her immense frame casting a shadow that swallowed the trapped Vikings beneath her.

          The people on the ground were caught in the dragon's intimidating presence, unable to move, hemmed in by her sheer size and power. The air was thick with tension, the ground trembling slightly under her weight. But before the queen could turn her full attention on the group, her eyes caught sight of the teens descending from above. The moment they appeared, her focus shifted abruptly, the intensity in her gaze sharpening, preparing to size up the newcomers.

          "Ruff, Tuff! Watch your backs!" Hiccup shouted urgently toward the twins, his voice cutting through the chaos like a sharp blade. His eyes scanned the surroundings rapidly, searching for any sign of danger lurking nearby. "Move, Fishlegs!" he barked next, his tone sharp and commanding, pushing the big Viking into motion.

          "LOOK AT US!" Tuffnut yelled down toward the Vikings, his voice ringing with a wild mix of excitement and disbelief. "WE'RE ON A DRAGON! WE'RE ON DRAGONS!" He shouted again, louder this time, as if to remind everyone just how extraordinary their situation was. "ALL OF US!"

          "Tuffnut!" Solveiga called out sharply, her voice slicing through the air as she tried to reel the wild boy back to focus. "Focus," she said firmly, her gaze locked on the massive dragon looming before them, every muscle in her body tense and ready.

          Behind her, Hiccup's lips curled into a brief, amused smile at her sudden no-nonsense attitude. "Up, let's move!" he shouted back to the group, his voice steady and filled with resolve as the dragons spread their wings and began to ascend once again, rising above the chaos below.

          "Fishlegs!" Solveiga called, catching his attention with a quick nod. Her smile was encouraging, filled with quiet confidence. "You're up," she told him, handing over the moment with a sense of trust.

          Fishlegs swallowed his nerves but nodded firmly in response. His eyes narrowed as he carefully studied the dragon below, taking in every detail with the meticulous focus that defined him. "Okay," he began, voice steady as he spoke with the precision of someone well-versed in dragon lore. "Heavily armored tail—built for bashing and crushing anything in its path. Best to steer clear of both ends," he warned, pointing to the thick, spiked tail swaying behind the beast.

          His gaze flicked up to the dragon's head. "Small eyes, but large nostrils. It relies heavily on its hearing and sense of smell, so being stealthy is key," Fishlegs added, his tone layered with respect for the creature's instincts and strengths.

          "Okay," Hiccup nodded quickly, eyes sharp and focused. "Lout, Legs, hang in its blind spot. Make some noise—keep it confused," he instructed with precise authority, already envisioning their moves. "Ruff, Tuff," he called to the twins, "find out if it has a shot limit! Make it mad!"

          Ruffnut grinned wildly, a manic glint lighting her eyes. "That's my specialty!" she laughed, the excitement barely contained.

          "Since when?" Tuffnut shot back, grinning mischievously. "Everyone knows I'm way more irritating!" He twisted his dragon's head upside down, flipping himself along with it. "See!?"

          "Hey!" Astrid's sharp voice cut through the chaos as she shouted at the twins. "Do you wanna die?! Pay attention!" Her tone was fierce, no-nonsense, a reminder that this was no game.

          "Just do what I told you!" Hiccup yelled toward the twins, his voice sharp and commanding, cutting through the rising tension. "Astrid, you're point leader—keep them on task," he instructed, earning a sharp, determined nod from her. She understood the weight of the role, especially with this unpredictable group.

          Solveiga gave a firm nod to the team. "We'll be back as soon as we can!" she assured them before she guided Daydreamer's powerful wings back into motion, dipping back down gracefully toward the water below.

          Daydreamer soared over the chaos of the island, weaving carefully to avoid the burning boats that floated and sank in the water below. Smoke curled up in thick, black plumes, and flickering flames cast an eerie glow across the shattered vessels. Her eyes searched frantically, scanning every inch of the fiery wreckage for any sign of her other half. Suddenly, her ear fins flattened back sharply as a faint sound caught her attention.

          Hiccup and Solveiga exchanged quick, sharp glances, their senses on high alert as they tried to pinpoint the source of the sound that had caught Daydreamer's attention. For a tense moment, all they could hear was the crackling of fire and the lapping of waves against the wreckage—until, suddenly, a distinct noise broke through the chaos: Toothless's chirping roar, panicked, desperate, and filled with fear.

          Hiccup gasped suddenly. "There!" he shouted, pointing down toward the sinking boats ablaze with fire, where Toothless remained trapped inside a crude Viking-made cage as the water steadily swallowed the vessel.

          Daydreamer angled her wings and dove down toward the burning ship, cutting through the smoke as the flames crackled beneath them. With precision and urgency, she hovered just above the wreckage, giving Hiccup the perfect opening. Without hesitation, he leapt from her back, landing hard on the deck in front of Toothless, who was thrashing wildly inside the cage, his eyes wide with panic, his body tense with fear as he fought against the cold, iron bars.

          "Go help the others!" Hiccup shouted over the roar of the flames, his voice firm, yet focused—but Solveiga hesitated, eyes narrowing in confusion as she looked down at him, unsure why he'd ask her to leave now, right when they'd just found Toothless.

          She shook her head, unwilling to move. "What?"

          "Solvi, go!" he yelled again, louder this time, urgency tightening his tone as he glanced back at the sinking ship. "I'll be fine," he added quickly, flashing her a confident smile; steady, reassuring, even though the danger pressed in on all sides.

          Solveiga sighed, the sound heavy with hesitation, but she gave a reluctant nod before turning Daydreamer back toward the sky. Her heart tugged in Hiccup's direction, but she trusted him. As she rose into the air once more, she cast one last look down at him, watching as he knelt beside Toothless and began working frantically to free him from the iron cage.

          She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts—the panic, the doubt, the overwhelming weight of everything happening at once. None of it mattered right now. She needed to focus. Focus on the fight, on the others, on the moment in front of her.

          Her eyes swept across the battlefield again, landing once more on the massive dragon queen wreaking havoc in the middle of it all. A flicker of disbelief, and maybe just a hint of amusement, touched her face as she spotted Snotlout diving recklessly toward the queen's face, smacking at her small, sensitive eyes with his fists like a man possessed.

          A smile almost curled at the corner of her mouth as she spotted Astrid nearby, circling above him, shouting loud encouragement like a coach on the sidelines. Her voice carried clearly, half serious and half entertained, urging him to keep going. Of course. Leave it to them to turn a suicide mission into a competition.

          Suddenly, Snotlout was thrown from the head of the dragon, her massive neck snapping sideways with a violent lurch that sent him hurtling through the air. For a split second, it looked like he was going to fall straight off—but at the very last moment, he managed to hook his arms around a bony ridge along her skull, holding on for dear life. His muscles strained as he dangled there, legs kicking, breath caught in his throat. With a loud grunt and a surge of effort, he dragged himself back up, scrambling onto the surface of the dragon's massive head once again.

          "He's up!" Astrid yelled sharply, her voice cutting through the roar of battle as soon as she heard the unmistakable sound of Toothless's wings beating the air alongside Hiccup's steady presence. "Get Snotlout out of there!" she commanded urgently, directing her makeshift battalion with fierce determination, her words echoing over the chaos like a rallying cry.

          The dragon let out another roar, and the surface beneath him shifted. Without missing a beat, Snotlout broke into a sprint, feet pounding against rough, unsteady scales as he ran toward the front of her head. The dragon's skull tilted forward sharply, throwing off his balance as the angle shifted dangerously beneath him. And then, with no time left and nowhere else to go, he jumped. He soared through the air with a panicked yell, arms flailing as the world spun around him. The ground rushed up fast, but just before impact, two dragons swooped in with reckless speed... A certain pair of twins caught him mid-fall, barely slowing down.

          Solveiga sighed in relief as she and Daydreamer finally turned to follow the group that had just taken off, their dragons' wings beating steadily as they disappeared toward the horizon. But no matter how frantic Daydreamer's powerful wings flapped, they remained frozen in midair, suspended and unable to move forward. The massive dragon queen was inhaling deeply, drawing in a long breath, and Solveiga's heart sank as she realized what was happening—it was trying to suck them both into her cavernous mouth, intent on making them a quick mid-battle snack.

          Panic surged through both girl and dragon, their voices rising in desperate cries of fear as they struggled to evade the terrifying, gaping maw that loomed closer and closer with each passing second. They twisted and turned through the thick, smoky air, every muscle tensed as they searched frantically for any possible escape route, any sliver of space to slip through, but the dragon's vast, crushing jaws closed in relentlessly, narrowing the space around them until it seemed there was absolutely nowhere left to run...

Chapter Text

IT HAD BEEN AN ENTIRE WEEK SINCE the fierce battle at the dragon's nest, and Berk had undergone a remarkable transformation—changed in ways that felt both hopeful and profoundly new. All around the village, new longhouses were rising steadily, their wooden frames strong and proud against the sky. Some were already finished, boasting sturdy walls, warm hearths, and welcoming doorways that invited both Vikings and dragons alike to find shelter and comfort within.

          The air buzzed with the steady rhythm of building—hammers striking wood, saws slicing through timber, mingling with bursts of laughter and the lively chatter of villagers reconnecting after so much hardship. It was the gentle hum of everyday life returning, a soothing melody that spread across the island like a breath of fresh air, signaling not just survival but a hopeful new beginning for all who called Berk home.

          Berk itself had blossomed into a vibrant tapestry of color and movement, alive in ways it hadn't been before. Bright banners fluttered in the breeze, flowers bloomed along the pathways, and dragons soared playfully above, their wings casting dancing shadows on the ground. The island was no longer just a place to survive—it was a home renewed, thriving with the promise of peace and unity.

          Solveiga sat peacefully atop a high, wind-kissed peak, the soft blades of tall grass swaying gently around her like waves in a quiet sea. The sun was warm on her back, casting a golden hue over everything it touched. Around her, tiny yellow flowers bloomed in clusters, delicate and bright, and she idly wove them between her fingers; slowly, thoughtfully, as if each one carried a memory she wasn't quite ready to let go of.

          Her gaze lifted, and a smile curved across her lips as her eyes landed on the scene before her. Just a little ways off, Daydreamer stood tall and regal, her wings folded neatly against her sides, but her narrowed eyes and twitching tail betrayed her growing annoyance. Not far from her, Toothless was rolling wildly in the grass, limbs flailing, all while Daydreamer stared as if the entire world had wronged her somehow. Whatever had upset her, it was clearly serious—in her mind, at least.

          "Are you pouting again?" Solveiga asked with an amused tone, her eyes glinting with quiet laughter as she turned toward Daydreamer.

          The dragon responded instantly, lifting her nose into the air with exaggerated dignity, her posture stiffening as if she'd just been gravely insulted. The movement was so dramatic it bordered on theatrical, as though the mere suggestion of pouting had deeply wounded her pride. Her eyes narrowed, and she gave a tiny, disdainful snort, the kind only a creature with far too much self-importance could manage—clearly signaling she would not dignify such accusations with a response.

          Solveiga couldn't help but chuckle at the display. "He can't fly on his own!" she reminded gently, shaking her head as she plucked a stray blade of grass from her lap. "Do you want us to leave him behind?" she added, her voice light and teasing. "That's not very nice, you know."

          Daydreamer huffed, a low, breathy sound that spoke volumes, that was clearly unimpressed by Solveiga's logic, but not truly upset. It was the kind of response that hovered somewhere between playful defiance and mild annoyance. Her tail gave a sharp, irritated flick through the grass, rustling the tall blades as she shifted her weight. With a sideways glance full of pointed disapproval, she looked toward Toothless, who was still rolling on the ground, limbs splayed and snorting dramatically as if the world itself had offered him this grass.

          Solveiga couldn't help but smile again, her chest warming at the sight. There was something deeply comforting in their antics; the way their personalities clashed in small, harmless sparks, like an old joke retold a hundred times but never growing old. It was these simple, quiet moments of affection and familiarity that reminded her just how far they'd all come.

          "Alright," Solveiga said as she rose to her feet, brushing bits of grass and stray petals from her pants with a few quick swipes of her hands before she stretched slightly, glancing down the hill with a faint sigh of contentment. "Let's get back before they send a search party," she joked, casting an amused look toward the two dragons.

          Toothless flicked an ear in lazy response, still sprawled across the grass like a sulking child refusing to get up, his eyes half-lidded but watching. Daydreamer, on the other hand, gave a small, deliberate grunt, low and pointed, as if to say finally, her wings twitching in mild impatience. Solveiga chuckled softly under her breath, shaking her head fondly at both of them as she turned to head down the slope. The wind tugged gently at her hair, threading through the strands like invisible fingers, carrying with it the scent of fresh grass and distant salt from the sea. The sun dipped just a little lower on the horizon, casting the peak in a soft, golden light as they began their quiet descent back to the village.

જ⁀➴

          Solveiga laughed as Toothless bolted the moment they stepped foot back into the village, his wings half-spread and tail swinging behind him like a banner of purpose. One second, he was beside her. The next, he was a blur of black scales darting through the pathways of Berk, leaving startled villagers and confused chickens in his wake. It was no surprise. He'd practically appointed himself Hiccup's personal guard since the moment they returned—loyal, stubborn, and completely immovable. Toothless had barely let anyone near the recovering boy, even growling at a healer once for getting too close with bandages. Getting him to leave Hiccup's side for even a few minutes had become a full negotiation, complete with bribes, distractions, and sometimes outright trickery.

          She shook her head, smiling to herself. "So dramatic," she muttered fondly, already trailing after him.

          Behind her, Daydreamer let out a sharp, unmistakable snort, part amused, part exasperated, as if perfectly echoing Solveiga's own thoughts. The sound was quick and clipped, carrying a hint of playful reproach that made Solveiga smile all the more. Without even turning her head, she could imagine the expression on Daydreamer's scaled face: those narrowed eyes glinting with quiet satisfaction, the slight upward curl of her gums forming that familiar, smug look she always wore whenever she was absolutely certain she was right about something.

          Solveiga frowned as she rounded the corner of a longhouse and immediately spotted almost the entire village gathered in a tight, bustling crowd around the Chief's house. The air was thick with excitement—cheers, laughter, and the rhythmic pounding of drums filled the space, creating a lively, almost overwhelming cacophony that bounced off the wooden walls. Faces glowed with joy, and voices called out in celebration, their energy infectious.

          She hesitated for a moment, feeling slightly out of place in the midst of such uproar. Slowly, she began to push her way through the crowd, careful but determined. Her voice nearly faltered as she excused herself, almost lost beneath the roar of jubilation that seemed to grow louder with each passing second. But then, as she finally reached the front steps of the longhouse, her breath caught, and her eyes went wide—something unexpected awaited her there, something that made the noise and celebration suddenly fade into the background...

          Hiccup.

          Her legs moved faster than her mind, driven by a surge of relief and overwhelming emotion. Without hesitation, she rushed forward and threw herself at him, closing the distance in an instant. In that moment, she forgot—or maybe just didn't fully register—that he had just lost his leg, still learning to balance on the new reality. As she wrapped her arms around him, his footing wavered, and before either of them could react, he lost his balance. They tumbled together to the ground, a sudden, awkward fall that sent up a small cloud of dust and startled a few nearby onlookers.

          Hiccup winced sharply as they hit the ground, the sudden jolt sending a sharp sting through his leg. "Ow!" he shouted, his eyes squeezing shut instinctively against the sudden pain.

          "You scared me," Solveiga said suddenly, her voice firm but trembling just a little as she ignored his shout. "You scared me!" she repeated, sitting up from him, her hands resting gently on his chest to steady herself—and when Hiccup tried to push himself up, she reached out quickly and firmly pushed him back down.

          "What!?" Hiccup shouted, his voice sharp with confusion and a flicker of frustration. His eyes searched Solveiga's face, trying to find an answer he wasn't sure he wanted to hear. "Is it always going to be this way?" he asked quietly, the question hanging heavy between them.

          Solveiga reached out a steady hand toward him, her fingers brushing gently against his wrist. For a moment, Hiccup hesitated, uncertainty flickering in his eyes, but slowly he decided to take it. He allowed her to pull him up with careful, deliberate strength. Every movement was measured, cautious—a silent acknowledgment of the new reality they both had to face, yet also a quiet promise that they would face it together.

          "'Cause, if it is—"

          Before Hiccup could even finish his sentence, Solveiga reached out—then paused halfway, as if suddenly unsure what she was doing. Her hand hovered near his chest for a beat too long before she finally grabbed a handful of his shirt, not quite firmly, not quite gently, like she wasn't sure if she meant to pull him closer or hold him in place.

          Her eyes met his, wide with something somewhere between panic and hope. Hiccup blinked. His mouth opened, but whatever clever thing he'd planned to say got completely lost in the fog of her closeness. They just stood there for a second, frozen, their faces way too close for casual conversation.

          Then, with a breath that came out more like a nervous laugh, Solveiga leaned in—not quickly, not gracefully, but with the kind of uncertain momentum that made Hiccup forget how lips were supposed to work. It wasn't bold, and it definitely wasn't practiced; it was the sort of lean that said I hope this is okay, even as she kept going.

          The kiss was soft, tentative, like they were both trying to figure out what they were doing mid-flight. It wasn't graceful or perfect. It was warm and real and slightly off-center. But it worked. Somehow, in all its fumbling sweetness, it worked. And when they pulled apart, breathless and wide-eyed, neither of them spoke for a moment.

          Hiccup's fingers hovered awkwardly in the air, like they couldn't decide whether to reach for her or retreat. A crooked grin tugged at his lips, unsteady but genuine. "Oh," he breathed, still a little dazed. "I, uh... I could get used to that." The words tumbled out more sheepishly than smoothly, like he wasn't quite sure he meant to say them aloud, but once he had, he didn't want to take them back.

          Solveiga couldn't help but match his grin, hers shy, but glowing with quiet relief. "Good," she said, the word slipping out on a breath of laughter, soft and a little surprised, like she hadn't meant to say it out loud but was glad she did.

          "Welcome home," Gobber said with a broad grin as he stepped forward, holding out a carefully crafted new tail wing designed especially for Toothless.

          The metal gleamed softly in the fading sunlight, its smooth, carefully crafted surface catching and reflecting the warm, golden hues of dusk that slowly draped the village in a gentle, calming glow. It shimmered like a beacon of hope amidst the shadows of uncertainty, a shining symbol not only of renewal and healing but also of the enduring, unbreakable bond forged between rider and dragon. This bond, tempered through countless trials, quiet moments of trust, and shared adventures that had shaped them both, spoke of loyalty, courage, and the promise of a future where they would face whatever came together, side by side.

          "Night Fury! Get down!" a Viking shouted with a teasing laugh just as Toothless came bounding toward them with wild, joyful energy

          In his exuberance, Toothless charged forward with boundless energy, his powerful legs sending up small clouds of dust as he barreled toward the crowd. Before anyone could react, he playfully collided with several Vikings, sending them tumbling to the ground in a heap of flailing arms and surprised laughter. The unexpected chaos sparked a wave of joyous laughter that rippled through the crowd like a warm breeze. Watching Toothless's mischievous spirit and infectious joy, everyone's faces lit up with smiles—reminders of the deep connection and belonging that had grown between the dragon and the village, a bond that no challenge could break.

          Hiccup chuckled quietly as he carefully secured the new tail wing onto Toothless, adjusting straps and fittings with practiced ease. Once everything was perfectly in place, he climbed onto Toothless's back, steady and confident, feeling the familiar strength beneath him. Beside him, Solveiga mounted Daydreamer, who stood loyally with her wings twitching, clearly eager for flight.

          "You ready?" Hiccup asked Toothless, his voice calm but charged with excitement.

          Toothless responded with a powerful, triumphant roar that echoed through the village, a clear and spirited "yes."

          Solveiga smiled, a warm flutter rising in her chest as they lifted off, the familiar rush of wind brushing past her face as they glided smoothly above the village streets. The world below began to shrink, houses and people becoming tiny dots nestled among the green patches of Berk's rugged landscape. Behind them, Astrid, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruff, and Tuff soared upward, their dragons' wings beating in perfect rhythm to create a breathtaking procession of strength and unity. The sky stretched wide and inviting ahead, the soft billows of clouds rising like a vast, endless ocean. Together, they pierced through the misty veil and soared beyond the village's borders—a tight-knit group of dragon riders whose bond was forged in friendship, tempered by courage, and strengthened by the promise of countless new adventures waiting just beyond the horizon...

Chapter Text

QUICK RUSHING SHADOWS FLEW OVER Berk as frightened sheep in the village desperately attempted to hide between the closely packed longhouses. Animals pressed themselves tightly against the rough wooden walls and crouched low, hoping to remain unseen. But it was a futile thing to even try, as a dragon suddenly came sweeping down from the sky with terrifying speed and precision, its powerful wings beating the air fiercely. In a swift, unstoppable motion, the creature snatched one of the helpless sheep right off the cold, hard ground beneath its trembling hooves.

          A wave of cheering erupted from the gathered crowd just after that dramatic moment. Fishlegs grinned broadly, sitting proudly atop his sturdy dragon, Meatlug, who carefully clutched the unimpressed sheep in her powerful talons. The excitement in the village was palpable, as everyone watched the scene unfold with wide eyes and hopeful hearts.

          But that brief, happy celebration didn't last long at all. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Snotlout came barreling forward with surprising speed and force, riding his own fierce dragon, Hookfang. In an unexpected and chaotic collision, Hookfang slammed into Meatlug, causing the grip on the sheep to falter. The startled animal slipped free from the Gronckle's hold and tumbled through the air, only to land safely in Snotlout's outstretched arms.

          "Oh, I'm really sorry, Fishlegs!" Snotlout shouted loudly, a mischievous smirk spreading across his face. "Did you want that, huh?" he taunted, clearly enjoying the moment and teasing his friend without holding back.

          "Snotlout!" Fishlegs yelled back, his voice rising with frustration and disbelief. "That was mine!" he demanded firmly, trying to reclaim what was rightfully his.

          "Here you go, babe," Snotlout suddenly said with exaggerated charm as he casually tossed the sheep toward Ruffnut, flashing his trademark smirk. "Did I tell you that you look absolutely amazing today? Because you do," he added, his voice dripping with a lovesick tone that was impossible to miss, clearly trying to impress her with his usual over-the-top bravado.

          Ruffnut let out a loud, exasperated groan of disgust. "Ugh," she muttered under her breath, before turning to her half of the Zippleback. "Come on, Barf. It's starting to stink around here," she said sharply, rolling her eyes in dramatic annoyance at the young man in front of her, unimpressed by his attempt at flirting.

          "Nope, still hates you!" Tuffnut called out with a grin as he swooped in on his half of the dragon and got directly in front of Snotlout, cutting him off mid-moment. "Let's blow this place, Belch!" he announced with theatrical flair, raising one arm dramatically.

          Almost on cue, one of the Zippleback's twin heads released a thick, swirling cloud of dark smoke that spread quickly through the air, curling and twisting like a living thing. The other head followed instantly, igniting the dense fog with a sudden burst of flame that erupted into a blazing fireball. The force of the explosion hit with a thunderous whoosh, and in the blink of an eye, Snotlout was launched backward through the air, completely caught off guard. He let out a startled yell of surprise, his limbs flailing wildly as he tumbled head over heels before vanishing into the thick haze of smoke and flying sparks that now filled the space where he had been standing just moments before.

          The twins soared high through the air, weaving skillfully around the jagged peaks of the island with reckless enthusiasm. Their dragon twisted and dipped as they circled back toward the cheering crowds of Vikings gathered below, all of whom were shouting encouragement and excitement. With perfectly timed coordination, the twins let out two loud, triumphant yells as they dropped their captured sheep straight into the score basket, earning another wave of applause from the spectators. Wasting no time, they pulled the dragon upward again and sped off to rejoin the others already back in the sky, eager to keep the momentum going.

          Suddenly, from high above, a sharp, shrill divebombing sound pierced the air, echoing across the island like a warning. All heads turned upward just in time to see Solveiga come shooting down from the sky, riding swiftly on the back of her dragon, Daydreamer. The two were locked in perfect sync, descending with incredible precision and breathtaking speed. Their flight cut through the air like an arrow, unwavering and direct. Without even slowing down, they leveled out just inches above Hookfang—close enough for Solveiga to reach out effortlessly and smack Snotlout hard on the back of the head with the flat of her hand. The crack of the impact echoed nearly as loudly as their entrance, leaving Snotlout stunned in their turbulent wake.

          "What are you doing, Snotlout?" Solveiga demanded sharply, her voice cutting through the noise as she glared at him with disbelief. "You're supposed to be trying to win, not helping others beat you!" she added, her brows furrowed and her face twisted in a mixture of confusion and frustration, as if she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing.

          "She's my princess!" Snotlout declared proudly, a grin spreading across his face as he puffed out his chest with exaggerated confidence. "Whatever she wants, she gets!" he added with unwavering devotion, clearly lost in his own fantasy.

          Astrid and Stormfly soared swiftly through the air, gliding over toward the scene unfolding below. As they approached, Astrid leaned forward, squinting in disbelief. "Ruffnut!?" she called out, her voice tinged with confusion. "Didn't she try to bury you alive?!" she asked, her tone rising with incredulity, as if she couldn't fathom how Snotlout had already forgotten, or forgiven, such a thing.

          Snotlout let out a deep, dreamy sigh, his eyes half-lidded as he stared off into the distance with a lovestruck expression. "Only for a few hours," he said wistfully, as if that small detail didn't matter in the grand scheme of his romantic fantasy.

          Solveiga and Astrid exchanged a brief look filled with equal parts confusion and disbelief before shaking it off, focusing once again on the race at hand. Daydreamer flapped her powerful wings against her sleek body, gaining momentum as they dove sharply into a narrow tunnel carved through the rocky terrain. Inside, they sped through a bustling dragon stable, where dozens of different dragon species were housed in their individual pens, their scales shimmering and eyes watching curiously as the pair zipped past. Without missing a beat, they shot out of the tunnel's far side and burst back into the open sky, cutting through the air with renewed speed and determination as they rejoined the rest of the racers soaring above.

          Solveiga let out a sharp gasp as she spotted a baby dragon nearby let out a huge, unexpected sneeze, sending a burst of flame that quickly ignited one of the nearby buildings. Alarmed, she reached out and gently patted Daydreamer to grab her attention, then pointed urgently down toward the growing fire below. The larger dragon grumbled softly in response, shifting her wings as she banked sharply and dove once more toward the ground. With precise aim, Daydreamer swooped past a tall pillar that held a large bucket of water perched precariously on top. She knocked the bucket over with a swift swipe of her snout, sending a heavy cascade of water pouring down onto the flames. The fire hissed and sputtered, quickly dying out as the water soaked the burning timbers, allowing Solveiga and Daydreamer to continue on their way without delay.

          Suddenly, a loud, commanding horn blared sharply through the air, its deep, resonant notes echoing across the island and signaling to everyone that the final lap of the race had officially begun. The crowd below fell into a brief hush before erupting once more into cheers and shouts of encouragement. Without hesitation, every rider and their dragons surged upward in unison, bursting into the open skies with renewed energy, fierce determination shining in their eyes. Their powerful wings sliced through the air, sending gusts of wind rippling through the clouds, as their dark silhouettes darted and weaved with speed and precision.

          "Hey," Solveiga said with a warm smile, turning her head slightly to meet her dragon's bright, eager eyes. "Wanna win this thing?" she asked playfully, her laughter ringing out as she caught the excited, almost mischievous look that Daydreamer gave her in response.

          Daydreamer rushed swiftly over the rooftops of the village, expertly weaving and dodging between the jagged peaks with remarkable precision and years of practice. Her sharp eyes stayed peeled, scanning the area intently for the elusive black sheep, the key to guaranteeing their victory in the race. A happy chirp escaped her throat the moment the sheep was suddenly flung into the air right in front of her. Her powerful paws and sharp talons stretched out instinctively, ready to snatch the terrified animal. But just before she could make the grab, Fishlegs swooped in from below, moving with surprising speed and timing, and snatched the sheep right out from under her grasp.

          Solveiga stared wide-eyed as Fishlegs swiftly tossed the sheep toward Ruffnut. "What!?" she shouted with her voice filled with utter confusion and disbelief at the unexpected move as Astrid and Snotlout appeared behind her.

          "Wait," Astrid said, her voice filled with shock and disbelief as she tried to process what she was seeing. "You guys are fighting for Ruffnut?" she asked Snotlout, her tone laced with pure confusion and a hint of incredulity, clearly surprised by the unexpected rivalry unfolding right before her eyes.

          Before Snotlout could even begin to answer, Fishlegs and Meatlug were suddenly shoved away by Ruffnut with surprising force, sending them tumbling through the air and flying straight back toward the three standing nearby. Solveiga and Daydreamer quickly reacted, swooping down and veering sharply out of the way just in time to avoid becoming part of the impending collision. Unfortunately, Astrid and Snotlout weren't so lucky. The unexpected impact sent them both flying backward as Fishlegs crashed into them, his momentum carrying him right into the two dragons, as well. The chaotic pileup left everyone momentarily stunned and tangled in a whirlwind of flapping wings and scattered limbs.

          Solveiga fought hard to suppress a laugh as she took to the air once more, flying swiftly toward the twins. A wide grin spread across her face as she spotted the two siblings arguing fiercely over the sheep—Tuffnut loudly complaining about Ruffnut stealing his glory, which gave Solveiga the perfect opportunity to turn the tables and steal the game back for herself.

          "Get them, Solveiga!" the Chief's voice rang out as a muted yell from the crowd gathered ahead, filled with urgency and encouragement.

          Her eyes remained locked intently on the bickering duo below, carefully calculating every move and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Slowly and gracefully, she shifted her weight and rose to a standing position on Daydreamer's broad, sturdy back, balancing expertly despite the dragon's steady movement. As Daydreamer maneuvered closer and closer toward the Zippleback, Solveiga's focus sharpened, every muscle poised and ready. Then, with flawless timing and precise control, she launched herself off the dragon's back, soaring through the air before landing squarely on the twins' dragon with firm confidence, prepared to make her next bold move in the race.

          She sprinted swiftly up the rough, scaled back of the Zippleback, her legs pumping powerfully with every step. As she neared the edge, she pushed off with a strong leap, flinging herself into the air with perfect timing. Her hands shot out and grabbed the black sheep right out of the desperate grasp of the fighting twins below. A triumphant laugh escaped her lips as she skillfully landed back onto Daydreamer's broad back, who responded with a deep, victorious rumble, clearly sharing in her excitement and success.

          "Whoa!" Tuffnut shouted, his voice ringing out in surprise as he stumbled backward, momentarily caught off guard by Solveiga's quick move.

          "Solveiga!" Ruffnut whined, her tone filled with frustration and complaint as she glared daggers at her rival, clearly unhappy about losing the sheep.

          "Well played!" Stoick yelled out with a booming laugh that echoed across the crowd, clearly impressed by the clever move. "That's my future daughter-in-law!" he cheered proudly, raising his fist in the air as the Vikings around him erupted in applause and cheers.

          Solveiga couldn't help but smile warmly at Stoick's proud comment. It had been five years since everything had changed on Berk; the day their lives had taken a new, unexpected path. In all that time, she and Hiccup had been going strong, growing closer with each passing day through countless adventures and challenges. After several heartfelt attempts—and plenty of persistent encouragement from her mother—she had finally accepted Hiccup's proposal, embracing the promise of their future together with excitement.

          Daydreamer swooped down swiftly toward the towering score baskets, her massive wings beating powerfully against the air as the wind whipped through Solveiga's hair. Solveiga's grip tightened around the struggling black sheep, determination shining in her eyes as she prepared to make the crucial toss that would seal their victory. But just at that critical moment, Fishlegs suddenly surged into view, colliding with them with unexpected force. The impact knocked both rider and dragon off balance, sending them careening slightly to the side and momentarily throwing their carefully planned move into chaos. The crowd below gasped, the tension thick in the air as the race teetered on the edge of a new turn.

          "Uhhh," Snotlout said, stepping confidently into her path with a cocky grin. "Excuse me?" he added, lifting his hammer slowly with a playful smirk, as if daring her to try and get past him.

          "Daydreamer!" Solveiga shouted in panic, her voice sharp and urgent as she urged her dragon to react. Instantly, Daydreamer dove steeply toward the water below, the sudden change in direction sending them spiraling into a dizzying spin. "Ahhh!" Solveiga cried out in surprise, gripping the black sheep tightly with one hand while clutching the saddle with the other, desperately fighting to keep her balance and avoid tumbling off during the wild maneuver.

          Then, with elegant precision, Daydreamer gracefully swooped back upward, twisting her powerful body in a smooth, fluid upside-down motion that positioned Solveiga at just the right angle to make the crucial throw. Solveiga steadied her breath, focusing all her concentration as she carefully aimed. With steady hands and perfect timing, she released the black sheep into the air. The sheep soared through the sky in a perfect arc, gliding gently toward the waiting basket below before dropping neatly inside, securing precious points for their team as cheers erupted from the crowd.

          "That's thirteen points!" Stoick cheered loudly, his booming voice carrying across the crowd. "Solveiga takes the game!" he announced proudly, his face lighting up with excitement as the Vikings erupted into joyful celebration all around him.

          Solveiga laughed joyfully, the sound bright and carefree, as she slowly rose halfway to a standing position on Daydreamer's broad back, feeling the dragon's powerful muscles ripple beneath her. Around them, the cheers of the crowd below swelled, a wave of triumphant energy that filled the air with excitement and relief. She waved enthusiastically at the Vikings gathered in the village square, their hands all stretched high toward the sky, fists pumping and voices shouting in celebration. Reaching out with a grin, she offered high fives to as many as she could, sharing brief but meaningful connections with her friends and fellow racers as she and Daydreamer soared past them, riding the wind like champions.

          Then, with a mighty, purposeful flap of Daydreamer's powerful wings, they surged upward into the endless expanse of open skies, spinning gracefully as the wind rushed past them. Below, the familiar rooftops and rugged cliffs of Berk grew smaller and smaller, fading into the distance as they soared higher and farther away from home. Ahead stretched a vast, shimmering sea, its surface sparkling under the sun's golden rays—a long and uncertain journey awaited them across those waters. This was no ordinary flight; it was an urgent quest to find a certain person and his dragon, whose presence was more important than ever before. With hearts full of hope and determination, Solveiga and Daydreamer embraced the unknown, marking the thrilling beginning of a brand new adventure...

Chapter Text

SOLVEIGA AND DAYDREAMER SOARED high above the vast, rolling ocean waves, their dark silhouettes slicing cleanly through the bright blue sky like shadows carried on the wind. The horizon stretched endlessly around them, where sea and sky blurred together in a shimmering line. Below, the surface of the ocean glittered under the warm sunlight, a living canvas of motion and light. Dragons swam gracefully through the deep—some darting beneath the waves like sleek sea serpents, others breaching the surface in great arcs, sending up sparkling plumes of mist and water that shimmered like diamonds before falling back into the sea.

          Daydreamer glided with practiced ease, wings steady as she rode the air currents, her nose twitching as she followed an invisible trail, faint, distant, but undeniably familiar. Hiccup and Toothless. Their scent clung to the wind, subtle but unmistakable, weaving through the salty air and guiding them onward. Solveiga leaned forward slightly, her gaze focused and thoughtful, the sea wind tugging at her hair as she let her heart guide her alongside her dragon, chasing the presence of two souls long gone from Berk but never forgotten.

          They soon approached the peak of a tall, grassy pillar of land that jutted out from the ocean like the spine of some ancient creature. The signs of disruption were immediately clear; trees snapped clean in half, branches hanging limply as if something large had crash-landed through the canopy. Leaves fluttered down like soft green snow as Daydreamer glided silently overhead, her wings brushing the treetops.

          As they flew beyond the tangled upper forest, a lower clearing opened up beneath them, revealing a quiet, sunlit stretch of grass nestled between the trees. There, sitting side by side in the open meadow, were Toothless and Hiccup; calm, still, and unaware they were being watched. The sight sent a flutter of emotion through Solveiga's chest. Before she could call out, Daydreamer let out a joyful, piercing shriek, her eyes wide with recognition as she spotted Toothless below.

          The shriek broke the stillness of the moment, making both Hiccup and Toothless turn quickly toward the sky. Hiccup stood up slowly in surprise, a smile spreading across his face as he recognized the familiar shape above. Solveiga couldn't help but smile too, warmth blooming in her chest as the moment they'd been chasing finally came into view.

          Hiccup glanced up with a faint smile, then casually kneeled back down over the weathered map spread out in front of him on the grass. "Afternoon, milady," he said in a half-joking, overly formal tone, a playful glint in his eyes as he looked up at Solveiga.

          Just then, Toothless let out a joyful chirp and bounded forward with eager energy, his green eyes wide with excitement as he rushed toward Daydreamer. His sleek black tail flicked through the grass behind him, kicking up blades as he moved. Daydreamer responded with a delighted trill, lowering her head to greet him. Solveiga slid smoothly down from the saddle, landing softly beside them. Still smiling, she reached out and ran a hand gently along Toothless's snout, offering the affectionate Night Fury a few well-earned pets, which he leaned into with clear satisfaction.

          Hiccup continued to sketch and scribble across the weathered map, his brow furrowed in focus as he marked a few more points with practiced ease. "Where have you been?" he asked casually, not bothering to look up, as if they'd only just spoken yesterday... which, they had.

          "Me?" Solveiga replied, raising a brow with a playful smirk. "I should be asking you that," she added, half-joking as she sauntered over to him, her boots brushing through the grass with each step.

          "Oh, you know," Hiccup said with a casual shrug, the corner of his mouth twitching into a faint, amused smile. "Avoiding my dad," he admitted with a sigh, his tone light, but honest.

          "Uh oh," Solveiga said, half-cringing as she tilted her head toward him, her tone playful but concerned. "What happened?" she asked softly, already bracing herself for whatever absurd story was coming.

          "Oh, you're gonna love this," Hiccup said with a dramatic sigh and a pat on her arm, smirking as he glanced sideways at her. "I wake up. The sun is shining. Terrible Terrors are singing on the rooftop," he began, painting the picture with exaggerated ease.

          As he spoke, Solveiga casually reached over and plucked the pencil from his hand without missing a beat, her movements smooth and familiar. She leaned forward, her focus shifting to the map, and began to continue the sketch exactly where he'd left off. Her lines were careful but confident, her hand steady as she traced the shape of the land ahead with practiced ease. It was an unspoken rhythm between them, seamless and natural, as if they'd done this a hundred times before, partners not just in flight, but in thought.

          "I saunter down to breakfast," Hiccup continued, waving one hand as if narrating a grand tale. "Thinking all is right with the world. And then I get..."

          He stood to his feet with a groan, puffing up his chest and deepening his voice into a rough, barely-passable imitation of Stoick. "'Son, we need to talk,'" he said, arms folded in mock seriousness, eyebrows furrowed.

          "That's terrible," Solveiga laughed, nudging his leg playfully as she motioned toward his half-hearted impersonation. "Your acting skills are almost as bad as your posture," she joked, a teasing sparkle in her eyes.

          Hiccup scoffed, feigning offense with a mock glare that only made Solveiga laugh harder. He crossed his arms and huffed exaggeratedly, pretending to take great umbrage at her teasing words. But before he could say another word, Solveiga was already grinning mischievously, eyes sparkling with playful challenge. She cleared her throat with a flourish, as if preparing to deliver a grand performance, leaning slightly forward and adopting a theatrical stance that promised she was about to steal the spotlight—and maybe even top his awkward impersonation. The moment hung between them, light and full of warmth, the kind of easy camaraderie that only came from years of friendship and trust.

          "Here, let me try," Solveiga said as she straightened up, rolled her shoulders, then dropped them in a mock slouch, mimicking the way he often carried himself. "'Not now, Dad. I've got a whole day of goofing off to get started,'" she said in an exaggerated version of his voice, complete with a dramatic eye roll and a sarcastic tilt of the head.

          "Okay, first of all, I don't sound like that," Hiccup said with a scoffed laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "Who is this character you're trying to pull off?" he added, throwing his arms out in exaggerated confusion. "And second, what is that thing you're doing with my shoulders?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

          Without missing a beat, Solveiga grinned wider, her eyes sparkling with playful mischief as she repeated the exaggerated shoulder shrug-and-bounce motion, making it even more over-the-top than before. Hiccup couldn't help but shake his head in amused disbelief, a small, reluctant smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he watched her antics. Easy warmth between them filled the moment, turning what could have been a simple joke into a shared memory neither was eager to forget.

          "A truly flattering impersonation—Anyway," Hiccup laughed, shaking his head with a smile. "He goes, 'You're the pride of Berk, son, and I couldn't be prouder...'" He shifted into his best Stoick voice, lowering it to a deep, gruff tone while puffing out his chest.

          "Aw, thanks, Dad," Solveiga said in a mock-Hiccup voice, adopting the same playful tone. "'I'm pretty impressed with myself, too,'" she added, moving her arms dramatically as if she were putting on a show. Hiccup burst out laughing at the exaggerated performance.

          Shaking his head, he shot back, "When have I ever done that with my hands?" Then, with perfect timing, he demonstrated the exact same arm movements she'd just done, making her giggle at the irony.

          "You just did," Solveiga teased with a sly smile.

          "Okay... Just..." Hiccup trailed off, stepping closer and kneeling gently in front of her. He took her arms softly in his hands, his expression turning mock-serious. "Hold still. This is very serious," he said, half-joking as Solveiga nodded with exaggerated solemnity, playing along, before Hiccup stood back up, the warmth of their playful exchange lingering between them.

          "'You're all grown up, and since no Chief could ask for a better successor, I've decided—'" Hiccup began, but Solveiga gasped, her eyes widening with realization as the weight of his words sank in, and without hesitation, she sprang to her feet.

          "To make you Chief!" Solveiga exclaimed excitedly. "Hiccup, that's great!" she added, lightly shoving his chest in encouragement, such a movement causing the leather fin of his suit to pop out suddenly, making him yelp in surprise.

          "You're gonna wear out the spring coil!" Hiccup exclaimed with mock alarm. "The calibration is very sensitive," he explained, carefully rolling the dial back and pressing the fin flat against his neck once more, causing Solveiga to let out a soft, amused chuckle at the whole spectacle.

          Suddenly, Daydreamer and Toothless came leaping around the corner, their playful chase bursting with joyous energy and excited yips. Lost in their wild game, neither noticed Solveiga and Hiccup standing in their path until it was too late, and they crashed into them with a heavy thud that sent both riders tumbling to the ground amidst surprised shouts and bursts of laughter.

          Solveiga's lips curved into a warm, tender smile as she gazed down at Hiccup, her eyes catching the exasperated glint flickering in his; an expression softened by quiet affection. Slowly, she traced a gentle thumb over the rough stubble on his chin, a delicate, intimate touch that spoke volumes amidst the swirling chaos around them. Then, with a soft breath, she rose gracefully and extended her hand toward him, her fingers intertwining with his as she helped him to his feet, their connection lingering in that small, meaningful moment.

          "Yeah, so..." Hiccup sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as if carrying the weight of the world. "This is what I'm dealing with," he said, voice tinged with both frustration and resignation.

          Solveiga let out a soft sigh of her own as she studied him thoughtfully. "What did you tell him?" she asked gently, her eyes searching his for the story behind the weariness.

          "I didn't," Hiccup admitted. "By the time he turned around, I was gone," he told her.

          Solveiga nodded thoughtfully. "It's a lot of responsibility," she said softly, her voice carrying both understanding and empathy as she bent down carefully, picking up the map with gentle hands, then began folding it away with deliberate care.

          "It's just not me, you know?" Hiccup asked, his voice tinged with vulnerability as he looked to Solveiga, clearly searching for some kind of reassurance from her. "All those speeches, the endless planning, running the village..." He trailed off with a heavy sigh, the weight of expectation pressing down on him. "That's his thing," he said quietly, nodding toward his father, the unspoken comparison hanging heavily in the air.

          "I know," Solveiga nodded gently, her eyes filled with quiet understanding. "It's up to you, of course, but..." She paused thoughtfully, searching for the right words. "A day will come when you have to do it," she reminded him softly, the weight of the inevitable hanging between them—the day every Viking faces their journey to Valhalla.

          "I know. It's just... I'm not like you," Hiccup admitted with a heavy sigh, his voice carrying a mix of frustration and longing. "You always seem to know exactly who you are. You always have," he said, but the subtle look in Solveiga's eyes told a different story, that beneath her confident exterior... she still wrestled with her own uncertainties and doubts about her purpose.

          "But me? I'm still searching... I know I'm not my father. And I never even met my mother, so... what does that make me?" Hiccup trailed off, his gaze distant as he slowly walked over to the cliff's edge and lowered himself down, lost in thought as the waves crashed far below and the land in front of him seemed ever wider.

          Solveiga sighed softly as the cool, salty breeze swept across the cliffside, tugging gently at her hair and brushing it back from her face. The vast expanse of the ocean stretched out before them, its rhythmic waves crashing far below, echoing the turmoil in their hearts. She moved gracefully to sit beside Hiccup on the rough, weathered rocks, carefully closing the small space between them, as if seeking to share not just the moment, but the unspoken weight that lingered in the air.

          Without uttering a single word, Solveiga's fingers reached out with a quiet tenderness, finding a loose strand of Hiccup's hair. Her touch was light and deliberate as she began weaving it into a simple braid, each twist and turn a silent act of reassurance. The gentle, steady motion conveyed far more than words ever could—a heartfelt promise of comfort, of steadfast presence, and of understanding amid the swirling doubts and uncertainties that hovered between them. In that fragile silence, their connection deepened, binding them in a shared calm against the storm of unknowns looming ahead.

          Solveiga's voice broke the silence, soft but steady. "I barely remember my father," she admitted, her gaze fixed on the horizon where the sun kissed the sea. "But his existence doesn't define who I am." She turned to look at Hiccup, her eyes gentle yet filled with conviction. "And her—your mother—shouldn't determine who you are either." Her words hung in the air, a quiet encouragement that their identities were theirs to shape, beyond the shadows of those who came before.

          "What I mean is... what you're searching for isn't out there, Hiccup," Solveiga said gently, her voice low and thoughtful as she motioned toward the endless stretch of sea and sky before them. "It's in here..." She turned back to him, placing her hand over his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her palm. "Maybe you just don't see it yet," she added softly, her eyes meeting his with quiet assurance.

          Leaning in, she pressed a caring kiss to his cheek, tender, grounding. But as she pulled away, her expression shifted to surprise and mild disgust. A sticky trail of dragon slobber clung to her skin, clearly the result of Toothless having snuck in a nuzzle of his own at just the wrong moment.

          "Ugh—seriously?" she muttered, wiping at her face with the back of her hand, a look of disgust tugging at her lips.

          "Maybe... But, y'know..." Hiccup trailed off as he leaned forward. "There is something out there," he said as he stared off into the distance.

          Solveiga nodded without looking up. "Sure, but—" She was cut off when Hiccup gently placed his hand to her chin and moved her head in the direction of the mountains ahead.

          A bellow of thick, black smoke was rising steadily into the air in the distance, curling upward like a dark serpent uncoiling from the earth. It twisted and rolled, staining the once-clear sky with its heavy, inky presence. The sunlight, bright only moments ago, dimmed beneath the weight of the growing plume, casting a strange shadow over the cliffside. The wind shifted, carrying with it the harsh, acrid scent of burning wood. It clung to the back of her throat, sharp and unmistakable. The smoke wasn't thinning. If anything, it was growing, rolling out across the sky like a storm brewing just beyond reach...

Chapter Text

SOLVEIGA AND HICCUP SOARED HIGH ABOVE a scarred landscape, the wind howling past them as they glided over forests that had been reduced to ash and ruin. The sky above was tinged with smoke, casting a dull orange haze across the land like a wounded sun refusing to set. Below, what had once been a vibrant, living expanse of green had become a desolate graveyard. The trees, once strong, reaching proudly toward the sky, were now nothing more than blackened skeletons, stripped of leaves, bark, and life.

          Some roots still clung stubbornly to the scorched ground, their blackened tendrils half-buried in cracked soil, smoldering with a dim red glow that pulsed faintly in the shifting shadows, like the dying embers of a once-living heartbeat. It was as if the earth itself was struggling to exhale, trying to breathe through the suffocating aftermath of fire and ruin. The air hung heavy around them, thick with the acrid stench of smoke and soot, a choking mixture that stung the eyes and settled deep into their lungs.

          Solveiga's eyes swept the horizon, her expression dark with worry, while Hiccup kept scanning the ground below, trying to make sense of it, trying to see any pattern, any sign of what had caused such devastation. But there was only ruin. No movement. No sound. Not even the cry of a bird or the rustle of wind through leaves, because there were no leaves left. Nature had gone silent here, retreating in the face of something it could not endure.

          Then, their faces shifted from grim determination to stunned disbelief as they emerged from the scorched wasteland, only to be met with a sight so unexpected it seemed to silence the very air around them. Rising from the deep sea, massive and immovable, was a glacier unlike any they had ever seen—its towering spires of green and blue ice jutting skyward like the prongs of a colossal trident forged by the gods. It stood in stark contrast to the desolation behind them, cold, untouched, and impossibly grand, a monument breaking the horizon, silent and still.

          Hiccup glanced over his shoulder at Solveiga, his brows drawn tight with uncertainty. She met his gaze, her eyes wide with disbelief, and slowly shook her head, lips parted as if to speak but unable to form words. The look she gave him was one of helpless confusion, an unspoken question they both shared. Whatever this was, whatever force had carved ruin into the land and raised that towering glacier from the sea, neither of them understood it. And that, more than anything, unsettled them both.

          "Stay close," Hiccup said, his voice firm yet laced with worry, less a command than a plea; it was concern cloaked in urgency, the kind born not from fear of what they knew, but from the dread of what they didn't.

          Solveiga nodded silently, her expression still shadowed with disbelief, and with a beat of wings, they took to the skies once more. This time, they flew straight toward the towering glacier, its jagged peaks looming ever larger as they approached. The cold hit them like a wave, sharp and sudden, the wind carrying a chill that seemed to whisper through the air. They began to weave through the icy spires, gliding up and around the massive cracks that fractured the glacier's brilliant blue surface like veins of frozen lightning.

          Inside those gleaming walls, something strange caught their eyes.

          Embedded within the ice were remnants, fragments of a long-lost presence. The unmistakable shapes of structures frozen mid-collapse. Wood splinters jutted out at odd angles, scattered from the base of the glacier to its towering crown. Some were twisted beams, others pieces of what might have been ships or buildings, all of them sealed in crystal-clear ice as though the glacier had swallowed them whole. It was not just a natural formation; it was a tomb, a monument, or perhaps a warning.

          "What is all this?" Solveiga whispered, her voice barely audible over the howl of the wind and the creaking ice, unable to help but ask the impossible question as she stared in awe.

          "Easy, bud," Hiccup murmured softly, reaching out to soothe Toothless as the dragon's muscles tensed and his eyes flicked nervously toward the shimmering ice.

          "Shh, shh," Solveiga whispered gently, her hand resting lightly on Daydreamer's scaled neck as the other dragon shivered beside them. "It's okay, girl," she coaxed softly, her breath warm against the cold wind, voice steady, a quiet anchor in the strange, frozen silence that surrounded them.

          Solveiga kept her eyes peeled as they slowly glided onward, her senses sharp against the eerie stillness of the glacier. Every shadow, every glint of ice, seemed to hold a secret—or a threat. Her heart pounded quietly beneath her ribs, a steady drum of caution and anticipation. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted movement—two men standing at the helm of a broken ship trapped within the ice. Their figures were stark against the pale blue backdrop, tense and ready, each clutching strange net launchers in their hands.

          Before she could warn Hiccup or react, a sudden whistling sound cut through the silence. A heavy net shot out, snapping through the frozen air like a steel trap. In an instant, it crashed down over her and Daydreamer, entangling them tightly. The rough fibers bit into her skin and scales alike, constricting movement and pulling her downward.

          Her voice rang out loud and clear in the oppressive stillness of the glacier, sharp and raw, a startled cry of surprise and alarm that cut through the cold air like a jagged blade. The sound bounced off the towering walls of ice, echoing back in haunting waves that seemed to mock her struggle. Each reverberation faded into the frozen cavern's silence, swallowed by the vast, icy expanse that surrounded her. She twisted and pulled against the relentless mesh of the net, its rough fibers biting into her skin and scales, tightening with every movement.

          "Hiccup!" Solveiga's voice rang out, sharp and trembling with fear as she struggled against the unforgiving net. Panic surged through her veins, fueling her desperate cries for help.

          "Solveiga!" Hiccup yelled back, his voice raw with alarm. Without hesitation, he urged Toothless forward, the dragon's powerful wings beating furiously as they surged through the icy air, closing the distance between them in a blur.

          But before either of them could reach her, Daydreamer acted instinctively. With a mighty sweep of her enormous wings, she shielded Solveiga, wrapping her protectively in a barrier of shimmering scales through the net. Then, with a sudden, powerful descent, they crashed hard onto the slippery surface of the glacier. The impact sent shards of ice scattering like glass beneath them, the cold biting sharply as they hit the frozen ground. Yet through the pain and shock, Solveiga felt the fierce strength of her dragon beneath her, a steadfast guardian in a world turned suddenly hostile.

          "Watch the jaw!" a rough, unfamiliar voice barked sharply through the chaos, cutting through the roar of flapping wings and the pounding of claws on ice. "Tie up those legs!" he ordered again, his tone fierce and commanding as he directed his men with practiced precision.

          Solveiga yelled sharply as she was suddenly pulled from beneath her dragon's protective wings, the warmth and safety she'd felt moments before instantly replaced by the harsh cold of the glacier air. She was caught off guard, but her spirit refused to break. Struggling fiercely, she pushed back with every ounce of strength she had. With a quick, sharp kick, she managed to connect with the man's face. He yelped in surprise, his grip loosening just enough for her to wrench herself free.

          Heart pounding and breath sharp in the cold air, Solveiga wasted no time. She scrambled to her feet, steadying herself on the slippery ice beneath her. Eyes darting around, she slipped into a guarded stance, every muscle taut and ready, her mind racing as she prepared to face whatever might come next in this frozen, dangerous place.

          "Okay, okay," the stranger said again, his tone sharper this time, but trying to sound unthreatening. "Calm down," he ordered, stepping closer with hands raised in a gesture meant to soothe—but Solveiga wasn't having any of it.

          She glared at him fiercely, fists clenched and raised in defiance. "Make me, asshole!" she snapped back, her voice ringing out with anger and stubborn resolve.

          The shrill roar of Toothless diving from the sky shattered the tense silence, a piercing sound that sent a wave of shock rippling through the gathered men. Heads snapped upward in unison, eyes widening as the sleek black dragon cut through the icy air with breathtaking speed. His powerful wings beat fiercely, slicing the glacier's cold, still atmosphere like a blade through glass. The frozen landscape seemed to tremble beneath the force of his descent, the very air crackling with sudden urgency and raw energy as Toothless closed the distance, a living shadow against the pale blue sky.

          "Stop!" Hiccup's voice rang out sharply, cutting through the chaos like a blade slicing through thick fog. Without a moment's hesitation, he leapt from Toothless's back, landing firmly on the slick ice with practiced grace. His hand moved swiftly to draw his Zippleback sword, the blade igniting in a fierce orange flame that flickered against the cold air, casting an eerie glow on the frozen ground beneath him.

          His eyes locked onto Solveiga, his betrothed, who stood defiantly against the man confronting her, strong and unyielding, yet somehow vulnerable against the harsh, jagged backdrop of the glacier's icy spires. The biting wind whipped through the air, tugging at her red hair and chilling the skin beneath her clothes, but she held her ground with quiet resolve. Every muscle in Hiccup's body tensed, a storm of emotions raging beneath his calm exterior. He wasn't just displeased—he was furious that anyone would threaten her in this unforgiving place.

          Hiccup's eyes narrowed and hardened as they locked onto the man standing before Solveiga. His voice dropped low, edged with steel and warning. "Let her go," he demanded, the words sharp and almost threatening, carrying the weight of a promise, a clear warning that any harm to her would come with consequences.

          The man standing before Solveiga, no more than five to ten years older than her and Hiccup, paused, his gaze sharp and calculating as he measured the tension thickening the air between them. For a moment, the only sound was the faint whistle of the glacier wind weaving through jagged ice formations and the faint growling of Daydreamer on the ground. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he raised his hand and signaled his men to lower their weapons and step back, granting passage to Solveiga.

          Despite the reprieve, Solveiga's frustration and anger didn't fade. A low, angry growl rumbled from her throat as she stormed toward Hiccup, her movements sharp and purposeful. The chill in the air seemed to fade beneath the heat of her fiery spirit. Hiccup met her halfway, reaching out quickly with his free hand to cradle the side of her face. His touch was gentle but firm, steadying her as she trembled slightly from adrenaline and cold.

          His eyes swept over her pale skin, searching for any hidden wounds or bruises. Relief softened his features when he found nothing more than a few shallow scratches, faint traces of the fall they had endured moments before. "Are you alright?" he whispered, voice thick with concern, as if willing to shield her from any further harm through sheer force of will.

          Solveiga blinked back the sting of cold tears and nodded, her fierce gaze meeting his. Then, with steady resolve and a surge of protective instinct, Hiccup stepped forward without hesitation, positioning himself firmly between Solveiga and the looming threat still in front of them. His stance was solid and unwavering, a pillar of strength amid the fragile quiet of the glacier. Though his outward demeanor radiated calm authority, beneath the surface burned a fierce protective fire, a fierce determination to shield the woman he loved at all costs.

          "Soil my britches... We've got two Night Furies," the man said with a sly grin, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction as he glanced between Toothless and Daydreamer. It was clear from the way he carried himself and from the subtle nods of the men around him that he was the leader of this rough group. "I thought they were all gone for good," he continued, a low chuckle rumbling from his throat.

          "Looks like our luck's taken a turn for the better, lads!" His eyes gleamed with a dangerous excitement as he addressed his crew, who eagerly exchanged glances, their faces lighting up at the unexpected prize before them. "Don't reckon Drago's got one of these in his dragon army," he added with a smirk, pride and challenge woven tightly into his words.

          "Dragon army?" Solveiga's voice rose in shock and confusion, her eyes narrowing as she tried to make sense of the unfamiliar term. The idea of dragons being organized into armies was foreign to her, and it made the situation feel even more precarious. "What do you mean by that?" she demanded, her tone sharp but tinged with disbelief.

          Hiccup stepped forward, his expression calm and measured despite the tension thickening around them. "Look," he began, his voice steady and even, aiming to defuse the growing hostility. "We don't want any trouble," he said firmly, locking eyes with the man in front of them.

          "Ha!" The man let out a harsh, dry laugh that echoed sharply against the icy walls of the glacier."You should've thought of that before you stole all our dragons and blasted our fort to bits!" His voice cracked with rage, and he bared his teeth in a fierce snarl, the memory fueling his fury.

          "What are you—" Solveiga started, her brows furrowed as she glanced around at the men and the frozen wreckage surrounding them. "—talking about!?" she finished, her voice rising in frustrated confusion, eyes darting between the strangers and the glacier around them.

          Hiccup stepped forward slightly, disbelief etched across his face. "Wait," he said, almost breathless with surprise. A short, incredulous laugh escaped him. "You think we did this?" he asked, gesturing broadly to the scorched forest, shattered ice, and whatever destruction they were blaming on him and Solveiga.

          "Dragon trapping," the leader said, pausing as he gestured toward Daydreamer, still bound and thrashing on the ice, her eyes burning with fury. "—is hard enough work as it is," he continued, his tone growing colder, "without a pair of do-gooder dragon riders sneaking in to play heroes and ruin months of planning."

          "What do-gooder...?" Hiccup echoed, his voice trailing off in confusion as his mind tried to catch up, then his eyes widened. "There are other dragon riders?" he asked, genuine shock lacing his voice.

          The leader let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "You mean, other than your thieving friend from last night?" he shot back, eyes narrowing. "You tell me."

          Solveiga's brows furrowed. "Friend?" she repeated, clearly thrown, but the man didn't wait for an answer.

          "You may have an ice-spitting dragon on your side," the leader continued, gesturing once more to Daydreamer, still snarling and bound on the ground, "but we still have a quota to fill. Orders are orders." Then, his expression darkened. "How do you suppose we explain this mess to Drago Bludvist?" he asked, his tone dropping to something low and dangerous.

          "Drago what-fist?" Hiccup repeated, his face scrunched in confusion. "Does anything you say make sense?" He looked between the men, frustration and disbelief growing in his voice.

          "He's expecting a new shipment of dragons for his army by tomorrow," one of the men cut in, his tone cold and matter-of-fact, like it was just another day at work.

          "And Drago don't take well to excuses," another added darkly, swinging his weapon lazily over one shoulder, though the warning in his voice was clear.

          The leader took a step forward. "This is what he gave me the last time I showed up empty-handed," he said grimly. He grabbed the collar of his shirt and yanked it down, revealing a jagged burn mark seared into the flesh of his chest. The scar was shaped like an unfamiliar emblem—twisted and cruel in design, its edges still puckered and raw-looking despite how long ago it must have happened. "And he promised to be far less understanding in the future."

          "Look," Hiccup said, throwing his hands up in exasperation, his voice thick with disbelief. "We don't know anything about a dragon thief, or an ice-spitting dragon, or your lunatic boss and his so-called dragon army, okay?" His words came fast, almost rhetorical, trying to knock some sense into the situation.

          "Just give us back our dragon," Solveiga added, stepping up beside him. Her voice was calm, but there was steel behind it, no friendliness, no negotiation. "And we'll leave."

          "Strange-Hostile-Person-Whom-We've-Never-Met," Hiccup muttered under his breath, gesturing to the man accusing them with the kind of sarcasm that meant he was trying very hard not to lose his temper.

          "Oh, where are my manners?" the man said with a mocking bow of his head. His tone dripped with sarcasm. "I'm Eret. Son of Eret. Finest dragon trapper alive."

          Solveiga's expression didn't change, just a flat, deadpan look that said exactly what she thought of his bravado. "That's a dumb name," she muttered, rolling her eyes with dramatic flair as if she couldn't believe she was even wasting her breath.

          The tension in the air wobbled for a second, just long enough for a few of Eret's men to glance uncertainly at each other, caught somewhere between amusement and alarm. One even stifled a laugh, only to cough awkwardly when Eret shot him a glare. His smug grin faltered, a twitch of irritation breaking through his carefully constructed bravado. His pride, clearly stung, simmered just beneath the surface.

          "I'll pretend I didn't hear that," he said through clenched teeth, voice low and tight.

          Eret straightened slowly, squaring his shoulders as if shedding the sting of Solveiga's insult. The smugness crept back onto his face like a mask he'd worn many times before. With a flourish that spoke of confidence and a need to reassert dominance, he reached behind his back and drew a long, wicked-looking sword. The blade gleamed cold and sharp in the pale glacier light, its edge chipped from use but no less threatening. With a practiced, fluid motion, he leveled the weapon directly at Hiccup and Solveiga, his eyes narrowing as the tip hovered between them.

          "After all," Eret spoke again with a smirk, his eyes gleaming with pride, "it's not just anyone who can capture a Night Fury—let alone two."

          At that, Toothless let out a thunderous roar that shook the stillness of the glacier, a primal sound that echoed off the frozen cliffs and sent a tremor through the air. His wings flared wide, casting a looming shadow across the ice, his body low and tense, every muscle coiled and ready. The ground beneath him cracked with the pressure of his fury, thin fractures spiderwebbing outward in the frosted surface.

          From where she lay restrained, Daydreamer snarled fiercely, her ocean eyes blazing with rage. Though bound, her strength surged against the restraints, wings twitching, tail lashing, as if she could tear through the ice itself to stand beside Toothless. Her fury rose to match his, two Night Furies, united in rage, filling the glacier with the raw, unspoken threat of what would happen if another move was made against their riders.

          "And this," Hiccup said firmly, motioning to the furious dragon at his side, "is Toothless." The Night Fury growled low, pupils narrowed to slits, smoke curling from his nostrils. Hiccup stepped forward, voice like iron. "He says we're going. Now."

          Eret's smirk only widened. "Heh. They all say that." Then, without warning, he roared, "RUSH 'EM, LADS!"

          The men surged forward with fierce determination—but their advance was abruptly cut short. With a deafening blast that shattered the tense silence, Toothless unleashed a brilliant plasma bolt straight into the ice just behind them. The fiery explosion reverberated through the glacier like rolling thunder, sending shockwaves rippling across the frozen expanse. A massive chunk of the glacier wall cracked ominously, groaning under the sudden strain, before breaking free and crashing down in a roaring cascade of jagged ice shards and snow. The ground trembled beneath their feet as the falling ice thundered to the surface, forcing the attackers to halt, scramble, and scramble desperately to avoid the deadly barrage.

          "WATCH OUT!" several of the trappers yelled, stumbling back as shards of ice plummeted, smashing into the ground and sending snow and mist flying.

          Hiccup didn't hesitate for a moment. He dashed across the slick, uneven ice, careful to keep his footing as he made his way toward Daydreamer, who remained trapped, her tail flicking nervously with restrained energy. Drawing his Zippleback blade with practiced ease, he brought it down in a swift, precise arc, cutting through the thick netting that held her captive. The bindings gave way with a sharp snap, falling away like brittle threads, and Daydreamer sprang to her feet in an instant. Her wings unfurled wide, catching the cold air as her eyes blazed with fierce adrenaline and a hunger for freedom. She let out a low, triumphant growl, ready to take flight at a moment's notice.

          "Daydreamer!" Solveiga shouted, her voice urgent and full of command as she sprinted toward her dragon. "C'mon, go! Go!" she urged fiercely, not wasting a single second. With a fluid motion, she leapt onto Daydreamer's broad back, her hands gripping the saddle tightly as the dragon flexed her powerful wings. In a burst of strength and speed, Daydreamer propelled herself upward, wings beating the cold air with fierce determination, lifting them both swiftly away from the danger below.

          "Toothless—up!" Hiccup called sharply, his voice cutting through the chaos. In response, the sleek black Night Fury leapt gracefully into the air, wings unfolding with powerful strokes as he ascended swiftly to soar alongside Daydreamer and Solveiga.

          Below, Eret's furious voice tore through the icy mist, raw and desperate. "YOU'LL NEVER HOLD ON TO THOSE DRAGONS, YOU HEAR ME?!" His words echoed off the glacier walls, carrying a chilling promise.

          Solveiga cast a quick glance over her shoulder as the vast glacier receded beneath them, its jagged edges fading into the misty horizon. Amid the swirling snow and drifting frost, Eret's dark silhouette stood out sharply, a defiant shadow against the pale landscape. Though distant, his presence felt immense—his figure growing larger in her mind with every heartbeat, charged with fierce rage and unyielding determination that promised their fight was far from over.

          "DRAGO IS COMING FOR THEM ALL!"