Hey everyone, I hope you enjoyed my last chapter. bet most of you didnt see that coming did you. lol. Anyway, now you know Astrid's true purpose in the plans of the Princes. And now that she's back on Berk, but still supporting the Black Moons, she can begin to turn people away from Stoick and towards them. With her help on the inside, Berk will eventually ally themselves with the Dragons of Dead Mountain. And now that the queen is dead, and the princes have returned home, more Black Moons will come into play. I cant wait to get to those bits. but there is a minor thing that I want to adress, which you will read about in this chapter. You will know what I mean once youve read it, and there will be another note at the end.

And thankyou to everyone who sent a review. You guys keep me motivated to write more. However, just a heads up, I am about to start uni in a few short weeks, so I might not update as fast. Sorry in advance, but I will not neglect this fanfic, so dont worry about that.

Keep on smiling everyone!

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Every minute of the meeting as torture. After an hour of interrogations, Astrid was ready to leave. It was late, and she was very tired. Yet Stoick hadn't allowed her to take one moments rest, demanding that she tell them everything that happened since she was taken.

And as instructed, she told them everything: about how the six dragons had carried her to Dead Mountain, how it took two weeks to do so, and no, she couldn't tell them where about on a map their island was. She told them about meeting with the seventh – the eldest one – and how they reacted to each other. She told the village what they were – that they were princes, royalty. She told them about Shadow, Midnight, Dusk and Dawn, Ghost, Sky and Storm.

And when Stoick demanded she tell them about Shadow's relationship with Hiccup, she looked him dead in the eye and told them what she knew, and didn't feel regret for one moment when she told him that they made a good couple. The look on Stoick's face had been worth it.

She told them everything that happened, right down to the last detail until the early hours of the morning. What they didn't know, was that there was one thing she was sworn not to tell. One thing she lied about. She never told the village how and when the dragons changed their forms. It was the one demand that Shadow had made, that she keep that information a secret, and she kept it.

She was eventually allowed to leave and spend time with her family. Once they had gotten home, they had asked over and over if she was ok, if she was hurt, and what they did to her. She calmly told them exactly the same thing that she had told Stoick. She hadn't been touched. The Hoffersons were extremely glad to have their daughter back, and hoped she had no more dealings with those great black beasts ever again. Astrid refused to have them take away her flying leathers. They tried to take them, to rid the Black Moon's influence on her, but she hid the flight suit when they weren't looking.

And now, as the sun was rising the next day, she knelt on the floor of her bedroom, and pulled away the loose floorboard. Underneath was the space that she had hidden her flight suit. It hadn't even been twenty four hours, and already, she wanted to go back. She missed the princes and their banter. And she missed Hiccup, who over the month she had been with them, had become a good friend.

But Astrid knew of their plans to get Berk and the other clans to join them, she knew what roll she had to play. It didn't stop her from wishing it could be otherwise so she could be with them. She really missed Midnight especially.

There was a knock at her bedroom door, and Astrid quickly stuffed her flying leathers into their hiding place before answering. It was her mother. "Good morning sweetheart. Just came to see how you were doing after everything." She said.

"I'm fine mum, don't worry." She answered.

"That's good. You have no idea how much your father and I missed you when you were taken." She sighed. "Oh, Fishlegs is at the door. He asked if he could see you today. I think he wanted to ask you about what happened. I think it would be a good idea for you to have someone to talk to after everything you've seen."

Astrid gave her mother a nod and promised to be down soon to meet with him after she changed. Once she was back alone in her room, she smiled. The plan was working, and Hiccup had been right. With Fishlegs coming to talk to her about the Black Moon Princes, she could begin to convince others that siding with them was better than seeking war. If Fishlegs was willing to learn about these creatures apart from their killing power, she might just succeed in her part of their plans.

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Back at Dead Mountain, things had been stepped up a notch. With the defeat of the Red Death and the takeover of her territory, the Black Moon Princes were readying the mountain to receive the oncoming hordes of dragons. It was time to call them to their new home. Every day for a week, the seven princes had gathered in the dining hall and sang. Soothing songs that drew you in, that made you want to come to them. Hiccup couldn't help but be drawn by their voices, no matter how far away he was. He was lured by their call, just as all the other Black Moons would be.

They were expecting the dragons to begin arriving within the next two months, and they had to be ready. With all the other common types of dragons helping, production had increased tenfold and the princes barely had to do a thing. Hiccup had been constantly making adjustments to his flying leathers as well as the princes armour to pass the time since there was not much else to do at this point.

It had been some weeks now since Astrid had been left behind, and Hiccup was beginning to miss her company, but he kept reminding himself that at some point – hopefully soon – she would be able to come back to them. He had been sitting at the stone dining table in the main hall, musing over his fish dinner, when he started to tune into the princes conversations. Shadow and the twins had been busy for weeks teaching the other dragons under their protection how to map their islands, and so they weren't there. As of right now, Hiccup was more or less by himself.

Currently seated at the table were Midnight, ravenously digging into her food with nothing but her fingers, Storm, who was reading from a newfound book (how he got it way out here, Hiccup didn't know) Sky, who was sketching strange designs on a piece of parchment, and Ghost, who was meddling with unusual items in a small wooden box.

"Have you come up with anything yet Sky?" asked the tattooed drake as he rummaged through his box.

"Hmm, some designs I kinda like, but nothing confirmed yet. Still working on it. How about you?" asked the youngest female. Ghost grunted. "I've got all my tools and stuff ready for when you finally come up with something you like. But I don't want to wait around forever."

It was at this point that Hiccup turned his attention from the conversation to the box in front of Ghost. There were quite a lot of bottles inside, filled with dark liquid that looked like ink, as well as a bunch of different sized needles and a few other objects. There were even a few candles and a jar of salt.

Eventually, Hiccup's curiosity made him break his silence. He called Ghost's name to grab his attention, then asked what the items in the box were for. It was that moment that he saw the drake genuinely smile for the first time.

"Before I came here to join Shadow's court, I was a tattoo artist. I travelled all over the world, developing my skill and mastering my craft. Sky here wants to get her first tattoo, and is currently designing it."

"Wow, that's really cool. What kinds of tattoos do Black Moons usually get?" asked Hiccup.

"Well, a lot of males, especially warriors, get intricate patterns and swirls over their chests and shoulders for luck and glory on the battlefield. Some choose to get their life story tattooed on them in our ancient language, mostly on their arms and chest. I've done world maps, tally marks for number of kills, names of lovers, family crests… you name it, and I've probably done it."

Ghost then turned back to Sky as she exclaimed in glee at her finished design. He took a few moments to look it over and add in his own professional opinion. "I thought Shadow said you were an interrogator?" said Hiccup.

"Oh don't worry, I am. I just don't spend all my time doing it. This is more of a past-time and my hobby." Said Ghost.

"So how come I haven't seen any of the other princes with tattoos? You are the only one that's got one that I can see" Hiccup pointed to Ghost's inked face, the skull pattern circling his eyes and framing his face.

"I got my tattoos when I was fifteen, much to my father's displeasure. I had met an old man in a human war camp who did tattoos, and got him to do the skull for me. He then taught me some of his skill, and though my life I've kept up the skill.

"Our father, Armageddon, forbid all of us from getting tattoos. Said something about not wanting ink to cover our battle scars. This was my way of saying 'screw that'." He smirked while indicating his face.

"And now that we have our own court and are not trapped by our father's influence, most of us want to get tattoos, with Sky being the first one to ask. Since you are part of our court, maybe you should consider getting one. A physical mark to say that you are a part of our family." He suggested.

Hiccup smiled and nodded before settling back down with his food to think. Now that Ghost had brought it up, he realised that he was indeed part of their little family. And he too was no longer under the influence of his father. Maybe he should get a tattoo for himself. But what?

He sat there thinking for a very long time…

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Ehhhhhhh, so now I bet you have guessed what I mentioned in the first Authors Note. yes, the topic of tattoos. A lot of th characters in books i have read have tattoos, and I wanted to do it here as well. my desire for tattoos on my characters come from books such as 'Daughter of Smoke and Bone', 'Throne of Glass', and 'A Court of Thorns and Roses'. quite a few of the characters in those books have tattoos, respectively: tally marks for kills, life story in an ancient language, and swirly patterns for luck and glory on the battlefield.

Now, I want Hiccup to get a tattoo. Although, I've already decided what he will eventually get. But I want to hear your thoughts as well! I would love your input as to what the other princes should get (and maybe Hiccup as well if you like). Oh, and one more thing! BIG THING! I have a fantastic idea of how Hiccup will show Shadow his tattoo once its one, however, that will include nudity and most likely smut. if you are ok with this and want me to write it then let me know. if I get enough yeses then I will do it, if not, I will skip it entirely. it will include Male on male if I do write it (you have been warned), and it will be the first time I have ever published full on smut online. I know I can do it, but I am just a bit nervous about it.

But yea, gimme ideas for tattoos, and yes or no to future smut. cant wait to hear from you. Bye now!