"Valka! Valka, put me down!" The only time Stoick had ever been afraid, or at least that he would admit, was when he was forced to watch helplessly as his family shrank into the distances as they were carried away. This, however, was quite a frightening experience. While Stoick was in no real danger, the rock pillars a carven walls seemed so much closer than they actually were. Though unwillingly, Stoick pulled himself a little closer to the four winged dragon.

"Valka! This isn't funny. Get me down!" Valka did not acknowledge hearing him but gave a tap on Cloudjumper's neck. Stoick was about to shout again when they gracefully descended into a small cavern. Stoick was dropped from a short distance above the ground so Cloudjumper could land properly. Stoick took the opportunity to retreat a few steps from the dragon.

"Sorry, this is the only way in unless ye want to squeeze through tight openings the whole." Valka climbed off of the Stormcutter's back. The dragon turned to his rider and gave a happy coo. Valka smiled in return.

"That's… that's the dragon. The one who took you, isn't?"

"Oh, Cloudjumper never meant to harm us. He just must we belonged here, though it's a bit more impressive on the inside."

"So you stayed away, fer seven years, because that beast wanted you here?" This elicited a hiss from said beast.

"This beast allowed me ta raise our son away from a warzone. They're kind, gentle creature, Stoick. When I looked into Cloudjumper's eyes… I knew that in an instant. I'm sorry you couldn't find that peace yerself. Besides, I don't believe Cloudjumper would have taken me back even if I wanted to return."

If Stoick had not been so used to politics, to keeping a straight face, Valka would have known what she just said tore her husband's heart in two. For seven years, Stoick had refused another bride. Now he found the one he wanted back all along, just to be told she never tried to return to him. Stoick's pain fueled an anger so intense he could not keep it out of his voice.

"You want to raise Hiccup in a safe place? So do I! But it's that monster's ilk who raid our town. Who steal our food, who burn our halls to the ground!" Stoick paused to let his point sink in. "They're demons, and the world isn't going to be safe until every last one of them are dead!"

"You don't mean that." A soft voice came from one shadowed corner of the room. Stoick turned to the boy, his son. Tears welled in his eyes, and he was squeezing the hatchling tight enough that it might have had trouble breathing.

"Hiccup-" Stoick was disgusted, knowing that it was his own outburst that upset his son.

"No! Shut up! You're stupid!" The boy screamed before taking off down another dark passage. Valka's rage was visible in her eyes as she glared daggers into him.

"Go patch up yer ship's hull." She spat. "I'll get a Seashocker to pull you back to your home. Only the Seashocker is to return, and it better do so unharmed." With that, she was on Cloudjumper and flying deeper into the nest.

A grunt and steel scratching stone announced Gobber's entrance from the tunnel Hiccup had come from. Gobber instantly knew something was wrong when he found his downtrodden friend instead of the wiry boy he was following.

"Stoick? What happened?"

"I lost her again. Odin gave me another chance, and I wasted it." Stoick sighed. "Come on, back to the men." They returned to the ship in silence.

Hiccup was sprinting as he entered to main chamber. Tears distorted his vision, but he knew where to stop to avoid running off the ledge and falling into the king's pool. He sat down on the rocky ground, setting the Nightfury in his lap, and with balled fists cleared his eyes. Upon opening his eye once more, he found that the White King had risen up to his elevation and was watching him.

"It's not fair! How can he say those things?" The king cocked his head, thinking for a moment. Hiccup's eyes had dropped to the ground. He did not notice as the king's mouth cracked open, releasing a burst of frost.

The icy wind swirled in a vortex around Hiccup, grapping his attention. He had seen the king build and rebuild portions of the nest with great amounts of ice, and was told the king marked new arrivals to the nest with a quick burst of frost, but this was the first time Hiccup had seen this.

After a few revolutions around the boy, the ice settled on his hair, skin and clothes. Hiccup shivered as he dusted the frost layer off him. It was a simple gesture, or at least Hiccup thought, but he was once again smiling. His smile faded as a surprised gasp escaped his mouth.

It is time we spoke, Hiccup.

"You can talk?!"

I could always speak. Now, you can listen.

"Does it work with all dragons?" Hiccup turned to the Nightfury

Feed me.

Hiccup giggled. "Silly toothless dragon."

Hiccup, Hiccup once again turned to the White King. I would not think of giving this gift to just anyone. Even your mother does not know of this. I give it to you because of your greater destiny.

"Destiny?" Hiccup was intrigued.

The man that has hurt you has done so only because an evil queen has targeted his village. He is ignorant to what we truly are.

Hiccup got a sense that he was included in 'we'.

You, however, can represent us. Show their nest the good in us. Do not let them blindly hate us. Then, one day, you shall face down the corrupt one. With their nest at your back, you will succeed.

"I can change them? They're not going to hate anymore!" Hiccup was on his feet, almost cheering. The Nightfury had fallen out of the boy's lap and sprawled out on the ground.

Correct, but first you must find your way to their nest. I suggest you make haste.

"Right, thank you."

Good luck.

"Hiccup! Hiccup, are you alright?" Cloudjumper landed nearby and Valka raced to embrace her son. "I know that man said bad things but-"

"It's alright mom! I'm going to get some fish for Toothless," He looked towards the Nightfury, whose eye lit up at the mention of food, "Then the king told me I was going to go on an adventure!"

"Alright, son. I'm glad to see you didn't let what he said get to you. And one of the Nadders brought back a big catch, he might share if you ask nicely."

"Then right after that I'll be leaving, so I might not see you for a while, so bye!"

Valka chuckled as her son ran off. "Can you believe my son's imagination?" She said to the White King, who was still watching. The great dragons laughed as he disappeared back into his pool, though Valka did not realize it was at her expense.