Author's Note: I got hooked on the big four and I've been working on a Fem! Hiccup Universe for quite some time. Here's a fun little thing about how Hiccup and Male! Merida (Prince Merad) meet. Astrid is also gender bended in this, into Aster.
Riders in Scotland
1. The Storm
Hiccup and Toothless had been wandering for a little over a month. The young Viking girl had gotten it into her head to explore everywhere Toothless's wings could take her. She had even taken up map making as a hobby. One night there was a rather bad storm and Toothless and Hiccup had been forced down on an unknown cove and forced to hide in a nearby ruin. It could have been a castle at some point but it was nothing more than crumbling stone and a small underground chamber, where Toothless and Hiccup now crouched waiting out the storm.
At the same time, unknown to the two intrepid explorers, a few miles away the clan Dunbroch was battening down the hatches as well. But one member of the clan was not inside on this dark and stormy night. Prince Merad was missing again. He was a free spirit, always found wandering the moors and riding off on his faithful steed Angus and practicing his archery and swordplay. He had been out when the storm began. As the rain beat down on his curly red hair he realized he wasn't going to make it home tonight. He was close to the old ruins and made for safety there. He and Angus hid in one of the few standing structures remaining above ground. He was just glad Mordu was no more, or this would have been more dangerous than it already was. As the storm wore on Merad thought he heard someone but it couldn't be sure so he put it down to the wind.
Hiccup shivered slightly. Toothless warbled.
"You cold?" Hiccup nodded. It had taken a while but after a year of working with Toothless she had finally learned dragonese. Toothless snuggled up closer to his rider. He was perfectly fine in this weather but Hiccup was soaking wet and shivering in her leathers. She had taken to wearing a bit more actual protection lately as their flights had been longer and farther into the unknown. After all their run ins with less than friendly natives Hiccup had decided it was best to be prepared with light leather armor that also helped her store her necessary tools like a small knife for sharpening charcoal pencils and occasionally getting samples of new plants, a compass and a book of paper sheets for her maps. She had also invested in a helmet that would not fall off during flights. It made her look a bit more like a dragon herself if Toothless was honest. It suited her. Her hair was a bit longer than it had been. She had taken to braiding several of the longer stands of her unevenly cut deep brown locks. She looked around as Toothless tented his wings above her. He was about to light a small fire but Hiccup put a hand on his muzzle to stop him. She had taken to speaking only dragonese to him, so she could practice it.
"Wait. Did you hear that?" Toothless listened and did hear something above them. The sound of hooves and someone speaking. Hiccup recognized the language though she wasn't very good at it. She could understand the voice.
"We'll be alrigh' Angus. It's just a wee bit o' rain." The sound of hooves echoed above them as they started at the ceiling of stone and earth. Two sets of green eyes followed the sound of the horse as it was lead to the opening of the ruins. The dragon and his rider backed slowly into the darkest corner of the room, both blending nearly seamlessly with the shadows. After all Toothless wasn't a Night Fury for nothing. He wrapped his wings around Hiccup as a set of footsteps came down the crumbling stairs. Hiccup could just see between the pitch black wings wrapped around her. The figure was tall, six feet at least but in the dark that was about all she could make out about it. It fumbled with something and a few minutes later a torch was lit and Hiccup got a good look at the man who stood before her.
He was tall as she had first suspected, his hair was short but insanely curly and the brightest red she'd ever seen. His eyes were blue as the sea. He was quite handsome but the sword at his waist and bow at his back made him a threat. More to Toothless than her, she had discovered in her travels that many people sought the 'honor' of killing a dragon. More often than not a simple show of force could drive them back long enough for her and Toothless to get away but sometimes they did have to light something on fire to distract the villagers enough to leave mostly peacefully. She slowly slid on her helmet, she didn't want this man to see her face if they got caught just in case she had to go into the town nearby for supplies before they left she didn't want to be recognized. The storm had done a number on Toothless's tail fin material. And she'd already used the spare on this trip. If the fin was in too bad of a condition they wouldn't be able to fly at all.
The night and storm wore on as the oldest Prince of Dunbroch remained unaware of the strange pair he now shared the ruins of the old castle with. Hiccup drifted off to sleep a few times as did Merad but he remained unaware of the young dragon wrapped Viking.
Finally, after what felt to Hiccup like an eternity the underground chamber began to lighten slightly and the red haired man sat up straight cracking his neck and standing stiffly. He picked up what looked like a saddle bag from beside him and slung his bow around his shoulders. He clambered out of the chamber and the dragon and his rider relaxed slightly but did not move until they heard the sounds of hoofs galloping away. Only then did Toothless unwrap his wings from around Hiccup who sat up straight and cracked her back.
"That was too close bud." The dragon nodded stretching his wings as much as he could in this confined space. Hiccup stood and pulled off her helmet, her leather armor was a bit too tight at the moment, wet leather had a horrible habit of shrinking, she'd discovered that the hard way and had taken to packing a few extra sets of clothing in her small saddle bags. She ignored her own discomfort for the moment and moved around Toothless as he stretched and scratched to get a good look at his tail. She swore loudly. The material of the tail fin was shredded beyond repair. She didn't have any extra, not that would work for the tail anyway. The fabric had to be tough like leather but moveable, she would have to go into that town she had spotted on their way down. She pulled a few things out of her saddle bags as she explained her plan to Toothless and changed into something more suitable. She knew vaguely where she was because of the red headed man's language so she knew what was appropriate to wear around others. That didn't mean she had to like it.
About twenty minutes later Hiccup climbed out of the cave dressed in a long green simple dress and brown leather belt. She had a small pouch of coins, almost all from different places, attached to her belt along with her small dagger. Her false foot made a soft sound on the stones of the path that lead to the castle Dunbroch and the market in the small town that was attached. Hiccup made her way as quickly as she could toward the town unaware of what waited for her. She thought she saw a glimpse of blue fire out of the corner of her eye but when she turned to look it was gone.