So much had happened to him. so much had change in such a short time. He'd gone from being a skinny little wanna-be Viking, to being a dragon knight who was fighting curse lords and… Hiccup groaned as he sat back up, kicking out at a small rag Hiccup watched as the cloth sailed through the air before falling back down to the ground. When had it all become so complicated? At what point had he gone from being a simple child to someone who was supposed to fight evil? Sighing again Hiccup closed his eyes and willed himself to relax. There was nothing he could do now. Aria was asleep and If the wind outside was any indication the storm that was coming was going to be a big one. leaning back Hiccup allowed himself to drift off, into his first deep sleep in months.

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CHAPTER 22

ARIA'S POV

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Slowly Aria began to move. Opening her eyes she found that she was in a hut, outside she could hear thunder and lightning. Slowly sitting up Aria shivered as the blankets that covered he fell away. she was still only wearing Hiccup's shirt. Leaving the bed Aria stopped as another flash of lightning made the hair of the back of her neck stand on end. She could feel it, the tingling along her skin, someone was using magic. As another bolt of lightning forked across the sky Aria's eyes widened. the magic pulsed with the lightning, someone was using magic to control and power the storm.

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Leaving the room she was in, Aria made her way down a small ladder and found herself in a medium sized main room. To her right in a little alcove she could make out a small area where dried meats, fruits and vegetables hung. While to her left a doorway was blocked by a sheet on a rod. She had been about to go through the covered doorway when a loud snore grabbed her attention. Kneeling down Aria smiled as she found Hiccup asleep in one of the chair that surrounded a firepit in the middle of the room. Kneeling down Aria leaned in so she could look at Hiccup more closely.

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He really wasn't bad looking. Yes her dragon mind had found him attractive and now that she had her human body back…Aria shook her head. No, they had bigger things to worry about instead of her…physical wants. Sighing Aria's eyes slowly moved over Hiccup's face and body. while he did not have bulging muscles like most men from her time, but when she touched his skin Aria could feel the muscles under his skin. Shaking her head again Aria forced herself to look away from Hiccup's sleeping form and instead turn towards the covered doorway she had been about to go in before. pushing the curtain aside Aria smiled as she found herself in Hiccup's room. Off In the corner a hammock hung from the walls. The majority of the room's main wall was covered in diagrams and maps. Moving closer to the wall Aria located the map with the largest range of land covered.

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Eyeing the map Aria found the village of birk and then began to scan the map for a location or a landmark she would recognize. Aria's eyes went wide. She was at the very northern edge of the continent, in what looked to be the jarl mountain range. Touching the map with her finger Aria began to trace a trail that in her time had been called the river of dawn. Following the trail Aria's finger came to a stop over a nearby settlement; one that had regrettably existed even in her time 'cinderhall' biting her lip Aria began to think. She had no love for cinderhall; in fact she found the very thought of the settlement horrific. Even in her time it had been a blight on the country. That being said back in her time the Oathkeepers had maintained a small embassy not far from the city.

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If they could get there they could meet up with the Oathkeepers and hopefully begin to put things right. Nodding her heads Aria began pouring over the other things hung up on the wall. Some of them were blueprints; design for mechanical gadgets. Others were simple drawing, aria smiled as her eyes fell on one Hiccup had done of her dragon form. Looking around the wall Aria felt the smile drop from her face slightly. There seemed to be no drawing of his family. Nothing of his father or mother. Turning to the rest of the room Aria smiled as she found several shelves full of mechanical parts, or small models of larger machines.

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But a bolt of lightning flashing past the window made her look up; at her reflection in the glass. she looked gaunt; as though she hadn't slept in years. Sighing Aria made her way back into the main room of the house and sat down. Closing her eyes Aria allowed her mind to stretch outwards, over the village and the surrounding mountains. She could feel it. The source of the storm magic, strong, pulses. Brushing the magic with her mind Aria let out a low gasp as she felt the magic touch her back. She could feel it. The violence of the storm, it had started out as a small storm, a few clouds, maybe even a little rain. But the magic had changed that, the magic had warped and perverted the storm; made it stronger and more powerful despite what the storm had wanted.

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Opening her eyes aria stood up and made her way to another window. Focusing magic into her eyes Aria watched as the landscape jumped forward, zooming in and allowing her to see the mountains off in the distance as though they were directly in front of her. But even with her magic she could barely see anything. Only a faint outline of a person; but whether man, women, shade, or anything else she could not tell. Releasing the magic Aria turned as Hiccup began to move. Moving across the room Aria knelt down so she was next to Hiccup. She watched as slowly his eyes opened and he blinked a few times before smiling at her. "so it wasn't a dream?" Aria shook her head. "no. it's real." Hiccup smiled and shifted so he could stretch.

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He watched as Aria turned towards the window as another bolt of lightning lit up the night sky. As Aria turned Hiccup felt his face flush as he realized she was still only wearing his shirt. Looking away Hiccup spoke. "Aria….would you like some different clothes?" for a moment Aria didn't respond. Hiccup flinched as he felt a set of hands touch the sides of his face. A moment later his head was being turned; he felt his face flush even deeper as he found Aria had turned his head so he was now looking at her. She had leaned forward to grip his head and the way she had turned it was giving Hiccup a rather…unrestricted view of her breasts, and chest.

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Trying to look away Hiccup closed his eyes in embarrassment as Aria spoke. "Hiccup….did it ever occur to you that I want you to see me like this?" Hiccup shook his head. To be honest he'd been to busy trying to process what had happened to him in the last 24 hours. However his eyes flew open again as he felt Aria's hands leave his face and instead wind their way around his own. Hiccup swallowed nervously, as he felt Aria move his hands so they were resting on her naked hips. "Hiccup….I just spent who knows how long as a dragon. They don't feel things like we do. They register the feelings but they don't…..feel it. Feeling your skin against mine…you can't imagine how good it feels." Hiccup moved to let go of Aria's hips only to feel Aria's grip tighten; as she continued speaking.

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"Besides I remember what you said before… you love me." Hiccup's face went even redder if it was possible. It was true he had said that, and he did mean it…..but it was strange to hear someone else remind him about it. "And I meant what I said to you Hiccup. I love you." That made Hiccup look up at her. For the first time since meeting Aria, Hiccup found himself really looking at her. she was probably as tall as he was, her body was slim but not skinny. Her face was smooth the skin a light brown color similar to those who worked out in the farm fields all day. Her hair was shoulder length, and jet black. And her eyes were a dark green that reminded Hiccup of pine trees. Aria opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted when another bolt of lightning split through the sky. But Hiccup was barely paying attention. His eyes we caught by Aria's which were staring into his with such intensity Hiccup wondered if she might be casting some kind of spell.

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For a long moment neither of them spoke, they just stared at each other. And then slowly…Hiccup felt his body move on its own; slowly leaning forward, mimicking Aria who was doing the same. Hiccup's heart was in his throat and he was sure that at any moment something would happen and they would break apart…..then he felt their lips touch. Hiccup's eyes slowly closed as his rough lips pressed against Aria's soft lips. The kiss was gentle, all be it a little unskilled. They stayed this was just long enough for Hiccup to feel his lungs beginning to burn. Breaking apart Hiccup could feel his face burning as he looked down at the floor. "sorry." He was sure why he was apologizing, but somehow it felt like the right thing to do. But his words were cut off as Aria spoke, while at the same time shifting his hands up her hips so they now rested against her back.

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"Hiccup, there is no need to be sorry. I want this. I want you. I won't push you, but…..I'll never get mad at you for looking at me or my body." Hiccup felt Aria's hands leave his own and go back to cupping his face; tilting it upwards so he was looking up into Aria's face. "I want you to look at me." Again Hiccup felt his face heat up again as his mind wrapped around what she was saying. "Aria….I…" but Aria spoke over him. "it's ok Hiccup. I understand all this is happening a bit fast." Hiccup rolled his eyes. a little fast? "but I just want you to know; that if you need to talk….or need to release some stress, I'm here. I'll help you. Ok?" Hiccup nodded, his face felt like it was on fire. But his embarrassment was cut short as a massive clap of lightning arcked through the sky. A moment later a blast of thunder shook the air; the blast was so loud that it shook the house they were in.

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DRAGON ISLAND

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Malacath shuddered as he felt the wave rush over him. he could feel it, the magic…the power…it had shifted. There was a new force in the world. Closing his eyes Malacath allowed his mind to calm. As he did so his body began to change, shrinking until it was no longer that of a dragon but that of his old body. "so it begins." "do not be so hasty. Or have you forgotten what happened last time?" Malacath turned towards the source of the voice. His gaze met a man. The man was glad head to toe in rough jagged armor; while his face was obscured by a crimson hood. "no, crimson lord I have not forgotten. How can I? it was only with your magic that I was able to return to my human form." The crimson lord shook his unseen head. "not your form. Malacath's form. And you are not complete, for you do not have the former affinities Malacath had." Malacath glared at the crimson lord. "I am Malacath. There is not a spell he knew that that I don't know how to cast." The crimson lord chuckled. "you can cast them only through raw power. Not through affinity. Do not rush into battle with this new force."Malacath nodded.

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"what would you have me do then? Nothing?" the crimson lord shook his head. "no. even now my spell traps the force. As for what we will do; Xeziner…" in response to his words the shadows writhed and warped, and slowly rose from the floor into the rough shape of the upper part of a human. "what is your biding master?" "go the village. Find this new force, convert it if possible." "and if no conversion is possible?" "then kill it."

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AN) WELL FOLKS CHAPTER 22 IS UP AND DONE.

HOPE EVERYONE LIKED IT.

SO I HOPE EVERYONE LIKES HOW I PORTRAYED ARIA. THIS ISN'T HOW SHE'LL BE THE WHOLE TIME. BUT IT FELT NICE TO WRITE HER A BIT.

AND MALACATH ISN'T AS WEAK AS THEY ALL THOUGHT. AND WHO IS THE CRIMSON LORD?

AND JUST WHAT IS XEZINER GOING TO DO?

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NOT SURE HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE CABLE/SATELITE, BUT I RECENTLY SAW A COMMERSIAL ON CARTOON NETWORK ADVERTISING THE NEW CARTTON 'DRAGONS, THE RIDERS OF BERK.' THERE WILL BE A SPECAIL 1 HOUR SNEAK PEEK EPISODE ON AUGUST 7TH AT 7;30. BE SURE TO CHEK YOUR LOCAL LISTING TO FIND OUT WHAT TIME IT'S ON NEAR YOU.

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ALSO WE ARE RAPIDLY REACHING THE END OF THIS STORY. THAT'S NOT TO SAY THERE WONT BE MORE. BUT THIS STORY IS COMING TO AN END, AND I'M WORKING ON THE NEXT PHASE.

HOPE TO GET LOTS OF COMMENTS AND REVIEWS.

*hug*