Queen Elinor kissed Harris while Merida gathered her friends. Merida had explained how he got hurt. How it was an accident, and how magic had saved his life. Of course, had Merida not taken the boys in the first place, he wouldn't have needed saving. Still, it was a relief to have all her children back.

"Hubert, Hamish, you are both alright?" the Queen asked. The other two boys sat on their father's lap next to her.

"Yes, Mummy," Hamish said. "Merida took care of us."

"She's the best!" Hamish added.

Elinor didn't know how to feel about the boys' feelings towards Merida. Of course she wanted her children to get along and take care of each other. But she never imagined it happening in this way. And now she had a hard choice to make. Should she tell the boys that Merida was wrong to have taken them? Or should she let them keep seeing Merida as their hero?

The door opened and Merida's friends filed in. Elinor pushed down her feelings. She could sort it all out when their guests had left. Some of them she knew. The lords' sons, naturally. The Viking boy. But others were strangers. A teenage girl with short brown hair, and her companion. And, for some reason, a child.

"Are all these people necessary? Can't the Viking speak for himself?" King Fergus growled. Queen Elinor put her hand on his arm. He was still angry over what Merida did. So was she. But she was more relieved to find her children safe. She wasn't going to spoil it by contradicting what Merida wanted this early in the recovery.

"Perhaps introductions are in order. I know why the Viking is here," Queen Elinor interjected. "And the lords' sons represent their clans, if I'm not mistaken."

"And Muggles," Merida added. "And Emma stands for Muggles, too. She's from a town that carried through a plot to remove a wizard's magic. That would be Jack. Where is he?"

"Antarctica," the Viking boy supplied. "He's working for the Guardians now."

"Who are the Guardians?" King Fergus asked.

"Santa and the like. They're fighting Pitch Black. But we must help them," Merida said. "We need to stop the hate."

"How?" Queen Elinor asked, running her fingers through Hamish's hair. "We've made magic legal. That's all we can do."

"Actually, it isn't," Hiccup said. "Princess Rapunzel gave me the idea."

"Princess?" Fergus asked. "Of where?"

"Corona," Rapunzel stated.

"Corona doesnae have a princess," Queen Elinor said.

"I'm the lost princess," Rapunzel explained. "Eugene found me. But since Corona isn't at war, we came here before I go see my parents. I suppose I'm here to represent Corona, and continental Europe. But I don't know what idea I gave Hiccup."

The Viking smiled, "Since Snoggletog, two world-wide events have happened. One, Rapunzel disappeared from everyone's memory. Two, I hid the Barbaric Archipelago."

"You can't hide an Archipelago," Young Macintosh said.

"You can with magic," Hiccup replied. "Merida did it on a smaller scale, making wizarding towns, villages, and schools disappear from Muggle view. I took it a step further and put the entire Barbaric Archipelago into hiding. If you sail there, all you'll find is fog."

"So we can't make war, even if we were so inclined," Elinor said, partly relieved that Fergus could not go further. Now that her children were back, she'd be just as happy to leave the barbarians alone.

"I say we keep going with the hiding spells. We don't just hide wizard strongholds. We hide the entire wizarding world. Not just here. The whole world over."

Queen Elinor shook her head, "It's a good idea, but I'm not sure how you could put it into effect. There will always be people who don't want to go into hiding and those that won't accept wizards and witches just disappearing."

"That brings me to the second thing that happened this year. Princess Rapunzel disappeared."

"She's always been missing," Fergus grumbled. "Corona's always had a lost princess."

"No. They haven't," Hiccup said. "In fact, she stayed here for a few days one year. She even took princess lessons from you, Queen Elinor."

"I think I'd remember that," Queen Elinor said.

"No. And Merida doesn't, either. Even I don't. Because last year, Rapunzel erased everyone's memory. Everyone except for Jack and Flynn. I mean Eugene."

"Thank you," Eugene said.

"It worked. No one remembers that the lost princess wasn't actually lost. So I propose we do the same with wizards. Jack will come back for his sister. He can take us to the Guardians. We can ask the Tooth Fairy to erase everyone's memory of wizards."

"That's brilliant," Merida said.

"There's only one problem," Rapunzel said. "When Tooth erased everyone's memory of me, she replaced it with the legend of the lost princess. It kept people from thinking of me. How can we do that for all wizards?"

Hiccup looked down. To Elinor's surprise, it was Fergus who supplied the answer.

"We'll tell 'em that wizards are fantasy. I never used to believe in magic anyway. As king ... I suppose we can condemn those who believe in wizards and witches. Convince everyone that it's silly superstition."

"You would do that for me?" Merida asked. "After everything I've done?"

Queen Elinor looked at Fergus. He nodded, granting her permission to decide Merida's fate on this issue.

"There will be consequences for your actions," Queen Elinor said, "but the fate of an entire population should not be it. We will help."

"Mum, Dad?" Merida said. "I know I've promised to turn myself in. And I meant it. But may I go with my friends to cast the spell? I will return and face my fate. No complaints, no rebellion. I promise."

Queen Elinor nodded, "You may go. But the boys stay."

"They've been away from home too long," Merida agreed.

The young people raced out of the room. Queen Elinor turned to her boys.

"Now, tell me everything," she commanded, "And I'll see to it that you get sweet keets."


After a long flight, Jack landed in Antarctica. Nightlight almost immediately took over, sending Jack into blackness. He wondered why Nightlight would not let him see and hear as the spell was cast. Maybe it took too much concentration for Nightlight to let him stay awake. Or maybe Nightlight knew more about what would happen then he let on. Maybe he was trying to protect Jack.

After several long minutes filled with Jack wondering what kind of spell it was, he was able to see and hear again.

"Did you have to block me like that?" Jack demanded.

"You would have passed out anyway," Nightlight said. "The spell affects All Guard-"

Nightlight froze. Jack blinked a few times, before he saw it, too. A tall, dark shadow.

He gripped his staff.

"I'm not afraid of you," Jack cried, sending a blast of ice at the shadow. The shadow dodged.

"My little pet," the shadow said, laughing, "you've strayed from home."

"You sent the Ice Elves," Jack accused.

"Only after you escaped. Now, do your friends a favor, and come back to my lair. I'll leave them alone if you come back."

Jack took a step back. The shadow grew.

"Why isn't he trying to force me?" Jack asked quietly to Nightlight.

He can't. You are a Guardian. We've put Antarctica under the spell. It's a level playing field now. And in this bright snow and ice, you would win.

"It was cold and icy when he took us before."

You'd just died. And I had not controlled a mortal body for eighteen years. We have more strength now.

Taking Nightlight's reassurance to heart, Jack sent out his power, sending swirling winds and chunks of ice. The shadow disappeared in the twisting snow. Jack jumped into the air and flew north as quickly as he could.

Somewhere over Africa he noticed that he was thinking of Katherine. Of her smile and her laughter. Things Jack had never known. These were not his thoughts. They were Nightlight's, seeping in.

Jack tried to ignore them, but the boys were too intertwined. Jack could barely tell which memories were his and which were Nightlight's.

He was glad when he reached Castle DunBroch. Talking to people in the here and now would help keep the confusion from taking over. As he landed, he saw his friends in the courtyard, mounting their horses and dragon.

"What's going on?"

"Jack? That was fast," Hiccup said. "I thought it would take longer."

"Now that I'm a Guardian, I can fly even faster than I could before," Jack said. It was true. He wasn't sure why. Just a consequence of no longer needing pesky things like breathable air? Or was it an actual power boost from the moon? Maybe he was tapping into the same source that let them hide eggs and deliver gifts in one day.

"But … didn't you have to do something for the Guardians down there?"

Nightlight took over, "Antarctica is not populated with humans. The spell I cast was a simple one, a mere precaution in case humans ever move there. It will take longer for the others to cover their continents."

"Where are we going, now?" Emma demanded.

"I'm supposed to go to Tooth Palace," Jack said, "but I came to warn you all to keep your guard up. Pitch threatened me when I was in Antarctica. He's not out yet."

"We need to see the Tooth Fairy, too," Rapunzel said. "Hiccup's got a plan."

"Great. We can go together," Jack said. He looked down at his sister. He wondered again about the spell the Guardians had cast. Would it work? Would they stop Pitch? What would Emma think of him once the change took place?

He could tell what she was thinking now. She was afraid he was going to leave her behind again. Well, he couldn't do that. He was all she had left. And she was all he had.

He scooped her up and waved his staff, lifting into the air. He hesitated, then landed.

"Um. How do we all get to Tooth Palace?" Jack asked. "I can only fly one person at a time."

"Why don't we just apparate there?" Rapunzel asked. "That was how Tooth took me."

"Who here can apparate?" Merida asked. Everyone looked down. Merida sighed, "I can side-along apparate one or two of you at a time, but I don't know where Tooth Palace is, so I'm not sure if it's a good option."

"Does anyone know where Tooth Palace is?" Hiccup asked.

"It's in India. I know how to get there. But it took me months. Even sailing would take weeks," Eugene said.

The young people debated, when suddenly a gust of air blew up on them.

Against the sky were four dragons and five riders. The Riders of Berk.

"Guys, you shouldn't be here," Hiccup shouted to them. "The Treaty is only just fulfilled. They might still think of you as a threat."

"We took care of that Viking ship in England," Fishlegs said. "But when your dad heard you were going to Scotland alone he sent us in case you ..."

"In case you needed us," Astrid finished. "We overheard. You need a flight to India?"

"What about the horses?" Rapunzel asked, stroking Maximus's snout.

"We can't take them across the ocean" Eugene said. "Trust me. I already went to India with this horse. It's too far."

Eugene helped Rapunzel dismount. Maximus snapped at him.

"Hey! I'll bring her back. I promise," Eugene said. "We'll meet you by the Snuggly Duckling. Then I'll take her to her parents. I swear."

The horse whinnied, but turned and stomped off. Merida dismounted, too, giving Angus a pat, "Stay home, boy. I'll be back shortly."

Merida climbed behind Astrid. Rapunzel mounted Barf and Belch.

"Who's this loser?" Snotlout asked as Eugene climbed up behind him.

"Ignore him," Hiccup instructed Eugene. "My cousin is an idiot sometimes."

"HEY!" Snotlout snapped.

Hiccup rolled his eyes and made proper introductions, mostly for the benefit of Eugene who had never met the Riders of Berk or their dragons.

Jack didn't put Emma on a dragon. He preferred to fly her himself, and he found that with his control of the wind, he could make them all go faster, as long as they didn't mind a bit of a chill.

Emma laughed as Jack danced with her in the sky.

They were making good time, and had almost crossed the ocean when he suddenly felt ice in his chest. That wasn't normal. A hopeless feeling came over him. He heard screams, and the world went black.


Hiccup heard the girl scream before he saw what was happening. Jack had let go of Emma, and both were falling out of the sky. Toothless dived, catching Jack in his paws while Hiccup reached out and caught Emma around the waist, pulling her close to his chest. Toothless, flew low, depositing Jack on a small island before landing. Hiccup dismounted and set Emma down as the others landed.

"He just fell," Emma babbled. "He's never fallen before. Not like that."

Hiccup turned Jack over as Rapunzel fingered her hair.

"I wish I could heal him," she mumbled. Eugene massaged her shoulders.

"Can he be healed?," Eugene questioned. "He said he was dead."

"When we busted him out of Pitch Black's lair, he was covered in cuts and bruises," Merida said, "but they healed really fast. Faster than they did when he was alive. Must be Guardian magic."

Hiccup leaned over and checked for a heartbeat. He couldn't hear anything. "Does anyone have anything made of glass?"

"I kept this," Eugene said, pulling out a shard of mirror. Hiccup took the mirror shard and held it under Jack's nose. It didn't fog up, as it would have under a human's nose, but it did develop a layer of frost. Hiccup handed it back to Eugene.

"I think he's still with us," Hiccup pronounced. "But we don't have time to wait for him to come to. Maybe the Guardians can fix him."

Eugene and Snotlout picked up Jack and helped Hiccup get him on Toothless, while Fishlegs held out his hand to Emma.

"It'll be okay," Fishlegs said. "Your brother is probably fine. The Guardians will help."

Hiccup gave the signal and they all took off again.

The journey was harder without Jack. The wind worked against them instead of with them. And a heavy mood hung over all of them as they looked at Jack's unconscious form.

Hiccup had never been to India before, so he had to let Eugene, and consequently Snotlout, direct them.

As Hiccup fell behind the others, he checked over Jack, but there were no other signs of life. Was it just him, or did the cold feel colder? His heart started to pound. All of a sudden, memories of all the bad things in his life started to flood through him. Getting poisoned by Pitch Black. Being kidnapped and tortured by Alvin. Falling through the flames and losing his leg. Watching his father sail off to certain doom ... even a strange memory of his father calling out for Valka as she disappeared.

No matter how many times he tried, he couldn't think of anything happy.

"EVERYONE LAND!" Rapunzel screamed.

Hiccup nodded as he hunched over Jack. The dragons went into a dive. Fortunately, they'd been across the continent for several hours.

"What's going on?" Merida asked. "I feel awful."

"You mean this isn't because of the Fearling in me?" Hiccup asked.

"No, I feel it, too," Eugene said. "I can't stop seeing Rapunzel in chains."

"And I see you dying on the floor of my tower," Rapunzel said.

"All I can think about is being trapped in the castle, while my Dad led the hunt on my Mum. All my fault."

Even the Riders of Berk looked shaken, though as Vikings they weren't as willing to share feelings.

"I've felt this before," Rapunzel said. "Though I didn't have the same horrible memory then. Jack was with me. It's a Dementor."

Hiccup looked into the sky. What he'd thought were dark clouds were moving in a distinct pattern. Hiccup had never seen a Dementor before, but Jack and Rapunzel had told of their experience. He pulled out his wand.

"You wanna lead us, Rapunzel?" Hiccup asked.

"Okay. You need to cast a Patronus to drive them off," she said. "Call upon a happy memory, and it will take the shape of an animal and drive them away, before they can suck out your soul. Expecto-"

"WAIT!" Hiccup said. He went over what she'd said in his head. "Don't drive them off completely."

"Why not?" Astrid questioned. Hiccup looked at Jack.

"I think we need them," he said. He didn't elaborate more. He might be wrong. He was taking a huge risk. If this was a miscalculation, it could be the end. But if not ...


Peter and his father marched at the head of the mob.

"Which way?" his father asked when they came to a fork in road.

"Um," Peter looked down the trails. He hadn't quite made a note of which one he'd come up but left felt correct. He pointed. As the mob marched down the path, he wondered again if he was doing the right thing. He was mad at Mom for not sticking up for him ... but did he really want her to be caught and killed by these people?

Maybe they'll spare your mother and just take Mrs. White, he tried to reassure himself. Surely she deserved it. A bitter old woman who would pick on Muggles deserved to be captured by them.

This was the right thing to do, he tried to tell himself. But the nagging feeling didn't go away.


Jack felt weak. It had been months since he'd eaten anything. But for some reason, he felt worse this time.

Jack, wake up, Nightlight screamed in his head. The Guardians' spell has taken effect. It hit us hard like they warned you it would. But you are not out of it. Your friends need you. Try to wake. WAKE!

Jack forced himself to crack his eyes open. He wished he hadn't. As he woke up, a cold feeling settled in his chest. He was under a dome of light. Merida leaned over him. Her face broke into a grin as he pushed himself up.

"You are alive," she said. "Sort of."

"Jack! You'll save us," Emma cried as she wrapped her arms around him. Jack returned the hug as he reviewed the rest of his surroundings. The Vikings were casting shield Patronuses, keeping them safe from swooping Dementors.

"You're up," Hiccup said. "Jack, you need to get out there."

"Um. What?" Jack asked, breaking away from Emma and pulling out his wand. "Shouldn't I just cast my Patronus? It's powerful enough to get rid of them."

"I think they might be your chance to split from Nightlight," Hiccup explained.

"How? The Dementors suck ... You're right. I've got to go out there," Jack said.

Hiccup and Astrid stepped aside to let Jack pass. As soon as he was outside the dome, the Dementors attacked.

All Jack could think about was drowning. Falling through the ice, the cold. The fear for his sister. The horrible feeling when he saw Burgess destroyed.

Jack didn't fight as the Dementors surrounded him.

His fears started to change. Rather than seeing his sister, he saw Katherine, but as a young girl. She was lying still as death in a glass coffin. No hope of waking.

The Dementor got closer.

Jack thought of the Man in the Moon, or rather the Man in the Moon's parents. He saw them turn into Constellations as Pitch seized their ship. Jack watched as the whole crew was murdered.

The Dementor pulled back its hood, revealing its horrible face. It put its empty mouth against Jack's and he felt the suction.

The memories and feelings were all horrible. Jack was inside Pitch Black, stuck holding onto a dagger. He was in a box, his glow growing dimmer.

Jack gripped his wand as he felt faint. He had to wait.

The sucking continued. Soon, he saw a blue light in front of him. His memories cleared. The Dementor was still sucking. But it was time. Jack waved his wand.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" he screamed. From his wand burst a dolphin. Jack closed his mouth before the glowing blue soul could reenter. His friends, seeing his Patronus, quickly cast theirs. A dragon, a bear, a horse, a bird, among others. All together the Patronuses charged the Dementors, driving them away.

Jack stared at the blue light. It slowly changed from an orb into a spectral boy.

The boy seemed to be made entirely out of light. He gave a gentle smile.

"Thank you, Jack, Hiccup. You've returned me to my normal form." Nightlight bowed his head, "I must help the Guardians."

Nightlight took off. Jack smiled and looked to his friends. They looked worse for the wear. He didn't know how long they'd waited for him to wake up. The Dragon Riders of Berk especially looked ready to collapse. They didn't have the experience fighting Fearlings and Dementors that Jack and his friends had.

"Eugene, where are we?" Jack asked.

"I can't be certain, seeing it from the air and all, but I'd say Ukraine."

"You've been to India before. How close are we?"

"A little less than halfway," Eugene said. "If I'm right."

"Let's take a break," Jack said. The others quickly agreed. Jack was grateful that they were tired. He didn't want to admit that he needed the break. That he still felt a bit woozy. Was the feeling from the recent separation? From the Guardians' spell? He didn't know, but he hoped he recovered soon. He hoped Nightlight's prophecy was wrong.


"Penny for your thoughts," Astrid asked, handing Hiccup a mug of yaknog she'd conjured. Hiccup put it down without drinking.

"I'm thinking about the future."

"Being chief?"

"No. Divination."

"You're going to start soothsaying? Are you sure that's a good idea? You remember your grandfather, Old Wrinkly-"

"I know. I know. Prophecies are usually inaccurate. But we heard one a few years ago. I'm just thinking it over. Wondering if it's come true."

"Rapunzel told me about it," Eugene said. "But not the exact wording."

"Yeah, tell us," Fishlegs demanded.

"A darkness descends upon the land. If it cannot be stopped the world will be forever changed. But there are four who have the power. Led by deathless light reborn. They can heal the bond that has broken and restore the peace," Hiccup recited.

"The darkness was Pitch," Merida said, "and the witch hunts."

"'Four who have the power.' We always assumed it meant us," Jack said. "Us or the Guardians."

"'Deathless light reborn,'" Eugene said. "I died but didn't."

"So did Nightlight," Jack supplied. "And me."

"'They can heal the bond that has broken and restore peace,'" Rapunzel repeated.

"That's what we're doing," Merida said.

"What about 'If it cannot be stopped the world will be forever changed' bit?" Fishlegs asked.

"That's what's puzzling me," Hiccup admitted. "You see … we have a plan to restore peace, but in our plan the world is changed. Is the prophecy saying there's another way to go?"

"Just because there's another way to go doesn't mean it's the right way," Eugene said. "Pitch told me to take Rapunzel back to her tower. That only by locking her up could I save her. I chose a different path. One that lets her be free and safe."

"Hiccup, do you think the change we plan to make will be good?" Merida asked.

"I hope so," Hiccup said.

"Then let's continue on this path," Merida said. "The prophecy doesn't say if the change is bad or good. Just that it's coming. Let's make it a good change."

They all agreed and started to get up. It was clear that most of them had been traveling too much. No one was looking forward to getting on a dragon again. As they mounted with much groaning, a soft glow appeared on the horizon. One, a golden light; the other, blue. It was Nightlight and Sandman!

Sandman landed among them. Signs flashed above his head. Nightlight nodded several times, then pointed to Hiccup.

"What?" Hiccup asked. Sandman floated to him and took Hiccup's hand. Hiccup felt his insides flipping and relaxing. Golden sand came out of his ears. Sandman gathered it into a ball and threw it in the air where it dissipated.

"Was that the Fearling?" Hiccup asked, coughing out the last of it.

Sandman shrugged. Nightlight explained.

"Yes and no. Sandman has never seen a dead Fearling before."

"Dead?" Hiccup asked. Nightlight pointed to Rapunzel.

"Her celestial hair killed it," he said.

Two sand clouds appeared. Nightlight pointed to one, "To Tooth Palace."

And to the other, "Back to Berk."

The meaning was clear. And from the tiredness, the riders didn't fight it. They and their dragons climbed the cloud that would take them home. Hiccup, Jack, Merida, Rapunzel, Jack's sister, Eugene, and Toothless climbed aboard the other one.

Everyone started to yawn as the gold sand came down on them, even the dragons. Hiccup slid down next to Toothless and closed his eyes, feeling peaceful at last.