A/N: So, here is the next one. hope you all enjoy it. Read and review ^-^
"Are you... talking to me?" Hiccup asked the strange princess before him. The rest of the vikings had moved on down the hall, leaving Hiccup behind, and the rest of the hallway was otherwise deserted. Where had she come from? The dining hall? She couldn't be talking to Jack, could she?
"Why would I be talkin to yeauh?" The princess asked turning her blue eyes to him. "Ay'm talking to Jack Frost here, don'cha see 'im? Who are yeh anyway?"
Jack laughed and patted Hiccup on the back. "Of course Hiccup can see me. Its great to see you, Merida. How has been in ol' Scottland?"
She turned back to Jack. "Pretty good, pretty good. Mother and I had a little fight over the summer about gettin' married and that led to a wee little curse that turned Mum into a bear. Its all settled now though. We've never bin closer."
"Seems like I missed out on a lot; you'll have to tell me more about it sometime. I'm glad everything turned out alright, though. How're the 'little wee devils'?"
"Still gettin away with Everything. Ugh."
Jack laughed, he was obviously very familiar with this princess. He nudged Hiccup, "Taught them everything they know." Hiccup just stood awkwardly, feeling a little out of place as they talked about things he didn't know about.
"Hey, did Ay tell yeh that they've been learning archery too?'
"No way. That sounds pretty dangerous, you had better keep an eye on them so they don't poke someone's eye out."
"Thats what my Mum keeps saying, but Da' started teaching me at the same age."
"Will someone please tell me whats going on here?" Hiccup interjected. He was still trying to figure out how this red-head could see his invisible friend. Jack had told him that almost no one could see him, and yet here he was talking with this foriegn girl like she was an old friend.
Merida looked at Hiccup as if remembering that he was even there. Jack palmed his forehead. "Oh sorry," He said, "Hiccup, this is Princess Merida DunBroch of the Scottish Highlands. And Merida, this is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third of the Hairy Hooligan viking villiage from the Island of Berk." Hiccup instincively winced at his very long, very embarrassing full name. He had always hated that name. It didnt't help that the princess laughed.
"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third?" Merida was trying to hold back more laughs. "Hairy Hooligan? What kind of names are those?""The vikings believe that having a hideous name will frighten off gnomes and trolls. Mine isn't the worst of them believe it or not." She snorted at that. She didn't believe him, but it was true. Just take Snotlout's name for example. Or Mildew; Hiccup is mild compared to that.
"I feel sorry for the poor soul with the worst. Wha' is't?"
Hiccup thought for a second,. "Dogsbreath the Duhbrain. He also has an odor that makes actual dogs breath smell good."
"No, no. Midew is a much worse name. Nobody ever wants mildew to grow." Jack added. "Fishlegs is pretty bad. Who ever heard of a fish having legs." "Bucket." "Mulch."
"Ruffnut and Tuffnut" "Snotlout." "Gobber the Belch." Jack let out a big burp to emphasize the name.
Merida listened to the names and burst out laughing. Her laughter was infectious and Jack and Hiccup joined in too. Soon they were all gasping for breath. "I cannae believe... you have a... whole... village... full of people... with names... like that." Merida managed to say between breaths and laughter. She had to lean against the wall for support. "Dogsbreath? Mildew? Fishlegs?" She slid to the ground. Jack found her reaction extrememly funny and laughed harder. Hiccup calmed down after a few seconds, though. Those were wierd names by other countries standards, but they were normal for him. He had one of those names after all.
He noticed a woman coming up the hall, regal and stern in her features and looking displeased at the group. "Merida, a lady does not roll on the ground laughing hysterically. Get up now." Merida, mood changing immediately, gave out an exasperated sigh before getting back up. She stood in front of her mother who brushed off and straightened her dress. "Your father and I were wondering where you had gotten to. I see you made friends."
Merida nodded and gestured at Hiccup. "This is Hiccup of Berk. He's a viking. We were just talking about the names his people give each other. Someone's actually named Bucket!" She giggled, earning a look from her mother.
"It's nice to meet you, Hiccup." The woman said, "I am Queen Elinor from the Scottish Isles." The queen gave a perfect curtsy, then turned to her daughter. "Come, Merida. We have a busy day tomorrow and you'll need your sleep. Good night." She nodded toward Hiccup and walked off, leaving the trio behind.
Merida gave the boys and apologetic shrug. "Well, see yeh guys tomorrow. It was nice ta meet ya, Hiccup. Bye, Jack." And she was off, walking behind her mother, mass of red hair bouncing. At the end of the hallway she turned and gave a little wave before turning around the corner.
"She's really something, isn't she?" Jack asked when she was gone.
"Why didn't you tell me other people could see you?" Hiccup turned on Jack. "I was under the impression that I was the only one who could see you. I thought that was the reason you always hung around me all those years." He added quietly. Jack had acted so excited when he met Hiccup and found that Hiccup could see him. In fact, Jack had told Hiccup that no one had ever been able to see him until that day, five years ago. Hiccup couldn't help but feel a little hurt that his best friend had kept this a secret from him. Another believer is a big deal to the winter spirit. Why wouldn't he have shared?
Jack got defensive. "That isn't the reason I always came around." He said, "No- wait, it was at first." He paused, running his hand through his snow white hair, obviously uncomfortable. Hiccup just folded his arms and waited. "Look, you were my first friend. I'd never met anyone who could actually see me until you came to the woods that day and called out my name. It wasn't just that you were the only one who believed that I hung out with you. You were also cool and fun and my best friend."
"And what about Merida? Why didn't you tell me other people could see you?" Hiccup asked.
"I met her two years ago. She comes from another world. I didn't think you'd care that much to know about it. And you were kind of busy at the time, dealing with the dragons and all."
They stood there in an awkward silence for a moment, before Hiccup spoke up. "I guess I was kind of preoccupied. There was so much to do I kind of didn't see you a lot that winter."
Jack nodded. "So, we good?" He asked.
"We're good." Hiccup smiled. "Let's head back to the room."
When they reached the room, Jack said good night and left to go do his winter work around the world. He didn't have much to do since it was technically summer for most of the world, but there were still places he needed to visit. Inside the suite, Hiccup found Stoick asleep in one of the beds. Apparently he didn't want to wait up for his son. Hiccup went to bed himself, still reeling with the encounter with the Scottish Princess who could also for some reason see his best friend. Before he knew it, he was asleep, exhausted by the day's events.