How to Train Your Dragon one-shots

by HorrorFan6

A collection of short stories occurring in the "How to Train Your Dragon" universe. Stories will contain Hiccup-Toothless friendship, Hiccup-Astrid romance, Hiccup-Stoick father-son relationship, etc. There will be in-universe stories, AU stories, songs, fairy tales, and anything else that I can think of. Rated T for potential violence, nothing too extreme unless otherwise noted.

34. Hiccup Haddock and the Seven Terrors

Hiccup Haddock and the Seven Terrors

A/N: So…hi there. Sorry about being absent for so long, but you see…I had surgery last week. Yep. I had to have my gallbladder taken out. I would have told you about it, but I didn't find out myself until literally the week of. I went in for a surgical consultation on Monday and was told I'd have the surgery done that Thursday. Surprise! So yeah, I'm now minus one gallbladder. There were some post-operative complications, but on the whole I'm doing okay. Still, I'd appreciate any thoughts and prayers you could send my way for my recovery.

Anyway, here (finally) is "Hiccup Haddock and the Seven Terrors," the next HTTYD fairy tale in my lineup, based on "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" by the Brothers Grimm. It's partially for Guest/Mirror Mirror, who asked for a HTTYD retelling of the film Mirror Mirror. While it's closer to the original fairy tale in plot, I did include some elements of the film. I hope you all enjoy it! :)

Once upon a time, there was a terrible war that waged between Vikings and dragons. The people living on the Isle of Berk, a small island in the middle of the North Sea, were in constant fear of attacks and raids, which occurred with some regularity for many years. The beasts would come in the night, take whatever food they could get their talons and teeth on, and then disappear into the darkness. There was no stopping them and no fighting them, for no one knew where the creatures' nest was. The Chief of Berk, Stoick the Vast, sent out hunting parties with great urgency, but each voyage met with disaster, and the location of the nest remained a mystery.

Stoick the Vast was a widower with one son, a scrawny lad by the name of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. He was everything a Viking was not supposed to be: small, short, skinny, and inquisitive. Much as he tried to fit in with the other kids his age, he never truly belonged. An embarrassment to his father and a general nuisance to the rest of the tribe, Hiccup yearned to find a way to become a part of things.

His chance came when, one dark night during a dragon raid, the fifteen-year-old boy shot down the most feared and mysterious dragon of all: the Night Fury. Yet even then Hiccup did not act as a normal Viking would have. Instead of slaying him, he let the injured dragon go, even going so far as to create an artificial tailfin to replace the one that he'd damaged when he shot the dragon out of the air. He christened the beast Toothless, for he possessed retractable teeth, and the two became the best of friends.

There was also a girl in the village, a brave young lass by name of Astrid Hofferson. She once discovered Toothless in his hiding spot, a cove in the middle of the forest. But before she could report Hiccup to the village, the little Viking did yet another tremendous, unheard-of feat: he changed her mind about dragons. He took her on a sunset flight with Toothless, and her eyes were opened to the true, good nature of the beasts she had for so long hated.

It was on this flight that they discovered the dragons' nest, which was ruled over by a truly gigantic and terrifying monster: the Red Death. Hiccup, Astrid, and Toothless barely escaped the massive dragon's teeth and returned to Berk. The next day, Stoick discovered the secret his son had been hiding and, in his rage, disowned the boy. He then took Toothless and used the dragon to lead a hunting party to the nest, for only a dragon could find it.

Knowing the kind of battle his father and the tribe now faced, Hiccup rallied Astrid and the other teens on the island and taught them how to ride the dragons they kept for training purposes. They then joined the adults on Dragon Island, where the fight was already underway. Hiccup was reunited with Toothless and reconciled with his apologetic father before boy and dragon worked together to kill the Red Death, destroying her completely.

But the battle was not won without cost. One of Hiccup's legs was lost in the fight's final moments, and he would spend the rest of his life with a prosthetic replacement.

However, this did not dampen Hiccup's spirit, for in defeating the Red Death, he achieved what he'd always wanted to have: the acceptance of his father and tribe. Dragons were welcomed on Berk, and Hiccup and Toothless were free to fly together for the rest of their days.

But perhaps you already know this story? It is quite well-known among the Vikings living in this Archipelago. You have heard it? Yes? Well then…I shall tell you a different tale. A tale that you may have heard before…but I doubt it.

This story takes place not long after the end of the war, a time when Hiccup, once the village screw-up, was now Berk's hero. A few weeks after the Red Death's defeat, the island gained a new citizen: a beautiful young woman named Heather. She was the sole survivor of an Outcast raid and came to Berk to live, where she was welcomed with open arms. She was delighted to meet Hiccup, the fabled Dragon Conqueror, and before long she came to desire him for her husband. But Hiccup's heart did not belong to her, and she soon became jealous and enraged. She swore that she would one day win Hiccup's affections.

And if she couldn't have him, no one would…

…

This isn't exactly how I thought today would go, Hiccup thought as he parried another thrust from Astrid's sword.

"Nice one," Astrid remarked as she slashed again. Hiccup was so pleased to hear her praising him that he almost didn't manage to defend himself in time. As it was, his next block was a bit clumsy, yet still effective.

That morning, Astrid had approached him, carrying two swords that had been padded for their users' protection. When she'd handed one over to him and he'd raised his eyebrows, she'd said, "You need to learn how to defend yourself, Hiccup. Flying a dragon is one thing, but you need to be able to fight on the ground as well."

So he'd spent the last hour or so in what seemed to be a never-ending mock duel with the girl he'd befriended atop the back of his dragon. Befriended and…perhaps more? It was hard to tell, to be honest. After all, she had kissed him after he'd woken from his coma following the Battle of the Red Death…

His distraction cost him dearly: Astrid struck, and before Hiccup was even aware of what had happened, his sword was airborne. Astrid grinned a little cockily, convinced the fight was won, but Hiccup surprised her. He lunged to the side and seized his weapon. Astrid blinked, surprised. Then she laughed softly. "Well…have to admit, I wasn't expecting that."

"Really?" Hiccup asked as he restarted the fight. "And why not?"

"Well…" Astrid parried his blow easily and struck back. Their swords pressed together, forcing them to step closer. Hiccup could see an amused glint in her beautiful blue eyes as she said, "Most people don't continue the fight once it has been lost."

"That so?" Hiccup retorted, smiling as he shoved forward, causing Astrid to stumble slightly. "I wasn't under the impression the fight had been lost, merely paused for a moment."

"Hmm," was all Astrid said in reply. The duel continued for a few more minutes, neither of them gaining the upper hand over the other. "I have to admit, you've gotten better," she acknowledged after a while. "Though you are without a doubt the most unconventional fighter I've ever met."

"I'll take that," Hiccup grunted as his sword clanged against hers, "as a compliment."

Astrid frowned as she swung. Hiccup ducked, and the cushioned blade swished over his head. "It's not the Viking way, to do things unconventionally," she pointed out.

Hiccup grinned a little wildly and returned, "Then it's a good thing I'm not a traditional Viking." He slashed, Astrid sidestepped, and the fight went on.

"I've noticed," Astrid teased. "For instance…why are you using your left hand? You know the right hand is the proper sword fighting hand, don't you?"

Hiccup shrugged in between two parries. "I know, but I'm better using my left hand," he explained. "So I figure I'm better off going against tradition in this case. It just might save my life someday."

"True," Astrid conceded. "However…" She surprised him with her next attack, and once again his sword went flying from his hand. This time, though, she snatched it out of the air before he could even make a move toward it. Smiling and breathing just a little heavier than usual, she pointed both swords at him and said, "It won't win you this fight. Now yield. You've been bested, so be a good Viking and yield."

Hiccup frowned, but then his smile returned. He let out a shrill whistle, and Astrid's face clouded over with confusion. "What are you—?"

But her unfinished question was suddenly answered when Toothless came bounding out of nowhere and pounced on Astrid, forcing her to the ground. Both swords dropped out of her hands and skittered across the ground. Hiccup picked them up and pointed them at Astrid, who scowled up at him. "I hardly count that as playing fair," she grumbled.

Hiccup shrugged again. "In a life-or-death situation, I hardly think being fair matters much." Then he motioned for Toothless to get off her, which the dragon did, letting out one of his weird little dragon chuckles as he retreated.

"All right, fine," Astrid muttered, though Hiccup could see the amused light still shining in her eyes. "You win…this time."

Hiccup grinned and handed her back her sword, which she took…except Hiccup didn't release it. Instead, feeling emboldened by his success, he pulled it back toward him, forcing Astrid to stagger in his direction…

…and right into his arms.

Astrid's eyes widened rather comically, and for a moment she looked as if she didn't know what to do. Hiccup hesitated for just a moment, questioning himself at the last possible second.

Then he kissed her.

Astrid stiffened for just a second in shock before her body relaxed, and soon she was kissing him back. Hiccup's heart began to soar. She loves me! he thought, elated. She really loves me! I love her! Gods I love her!

He didn't know how long the kiss lasted. It might have been hours or only seconds. Either way, it wasn't long enough for his liking. As Astrid drew back, she gazed at him, her face wearing a contented, even giddy expression that he'd never seen before.

Then she grinned mischievously and said, "Why do you have to be so darn cute?"

Hiccup blinked, but before he could articulate a reply (not that one really came to mind anyway) she pulled her arm back and punched him hard on the shoulder. He yelped, bewildered. "That's for cheating," she informed him.

Hiccup rolled his eyes, one hand rubbing his sore shoulder. "I told you, Astrid, it wasn't cheating! I—"

Astrid kissed him again, softer but no less passionately, and his words died on their way from his brain to his lips. "And that's for everything else," Astrid added.

Hiccup could only grin in reply.

So intent were they on their duel and subsequent kissing that neither noticed they were being watched.

On the cliff overlooking the beach where Hiccup and Astrid stood, Heather gazed down at the boy she wanted to win and scowled. So…it seemed as though he favored the blond beauty instead of her. She snorted. How was that possible?! She was a thousand times fairer than Astrid! Her skin was paler and contrasted beautifully with her raven-black hair. Her clothes were tighter and hugged her body, accentuating her every curve. And her eyes, forest green, were almost the exact same shade as Hiccup's. How could he not see that she was the one for him?! Was the boy blind?!

She huffed and whirled around, storming back to her little hut at the edge of the village. Several people, mainly young men who found her attractive, waved or called out to her as she passed, but she ignored them all. She entered her house and locked the door behind her. Then she walked into a back room and closed and locked that door as well, just to be safe.

Then she turned to face the single object that occupied the room: a full-length mirror with a beautiful golden frame covered in strange shapes and symbols.

It was her most prized possession, and indeed the only thing she had carried with her when she'd fled her home island. To most people, it was a commonplace object, and there had been more than a few raised eyebrows when she requested it be handled with the greatest care. She said that it was a family heirloom, but that wasn't the complete truth.

The mirror was enchanted.

She approached the smooth glass surface, gazing at her perfect reflection, and murmured, "Mirror, mirror, on the wall."

Then she stepped through the mirror and emerged on the other side into a dark chamber. There was pitch blackness all around except for a little path that stretched out in front of her, lined on either side by dim lanterns providing only enough light to see by. She stepped purposefully onto this path and approached a second mirror, though this one lacked the ornate frame of the first one. As she walked up to it, however, no reflection was cast. It remained a blank sheet of glass.

This didn't seem to bother Heather, though, who came to a stop a mere foot away from the looking glass and said clearly:

"Mirror, mirror, on the wall

Speak to me, answer my call

Reveal what is and yet to be

All the truths that you can see

By the power of my magic spell

I ask you your secrets to tell"

As she finished her incantation, an image appeared within the mirror. At first glance, it seemed to be Heather's own reflection. But she was not dressed as Heather was: the girl in the mirror wore a floor-length black dress that blended in with the surrounding darkness so that her head seemed to float in midair. The illusion was quite unsettling, but Heather didn't so much as flinch.

"What is it you wish to know?" the mirror asked, her voice completely without inflection.

"I wish to know of Hiccup's heart," Heather said. "Who does it belong to? Does he love me? Can he ever come to love me?"

The reflection gazed impassively at her and pondered for a moment. At length, she replied, "Do you really wish to know my answer?"

"Of course I do!" Heather snapped. "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know!"

The reflection didn't react. She merely answered, "Hiccup sees you as no more than a friend. His thoughts are only of her, the girl Astrid Hofferson. It is to her that his heart belongs, and to her it will always belong."

Heather snarled. "What does she have that I don't? Am I not fairer than any other girl on this island?"

"Indeed you are most beauteous fair," the mirror replied. "But beauty alone does not stir young Hiccup's feelings. His love for her is not based on appearances, but rather on what lies within."

Heather was starting to shake with rage. "So that's it, then?" she asked through gritted teeth. "He will never love me? He will never ask me to marry him?"

"No," the reflection replied simply. "His heart belongs to Astrid and Astrid alone. And to her it will always belong."

Heather let out a wordless shriek of anger, but the girl in the mirror didn't so much as raise an eyebrow. Heather fell into a sullen silence for a moment or two. And then her face lit up. "What if," she asked, "Astrid was to encounter an unfortunate…accident? Would he not then come to love me in her stead?"

But the reflection shook her head. "No, for Hiccup's affections would not die with her, nor would they be so easily transferred onto another. In short, you have no chance whatsoever of ever winning his heart."

Heather scowled, but before her retort could make its way from her lips, she froze. Then she smiled wickedly. "Oh…in that regard, mirror, you are quite wrong."

For the first time, the reflection reacted. She raised her eyebrows as though mildly offended by Heather's remark. "I will possess Hiccup's heart," the black-haired girl went on. "Mark my words, mirror. Hiccup's heart will belong to me and me alone…one way or another…"

…

Heather knew that she drove all young men on Berk wild with desire, but she'd never thought to use that to her advantage before now. Her beguiling good looks had done nothing to woo Hiccup to her side, so she'd dismissed the attentions of the other men, paying them no mind and giving no thought to what they might do if she asked.

But now…

She approached who she considered to be the most brainless of the lot: Snotlout Jorgenson, Hiccup's cousin. They were as different as winter is from summer. Snotlout was big, brawny, prided himself on his physical strength, and had the mental capacity of a limpet. He would therefore be exceedingly easy to manipulate…almost too easy, Heather thought. It would hardly even be any fun, for where was the fun without a challenge?

Ah well. Another time perhaps.

It wasn't hard to get the boy's attention. She merely strutted up to him, swaying her hips more than was strictly necessary, and said in his ear, "Meet me in the woods tonight. I have something I want to talk to you about. Tell no one."

Snotlout nodded, his cheeks going a glorious shade of red, and stammered, "Y-you got it!"

He did as told and didn't mention his rendezvous to anyone, and when the village fell asleep he hurried off into the woods. He met Heather in a little glen and nearly fainted at the sight of her. She had dressed in a snow-white gown that really had no place in a Viking village. It clung to her form and rendered him utterly speechless, which in and of itself was no small feat.

"Hello, Snotlout," she said, stepping forward. "I'm glad you could meet me here tonight. I have something I need done, and I know you to be a very capable man, someone I can depend on to carry out whatever task I request."

Snotlout nodded vigorously. "Yep, you've got the right guy!" he declared. "I'll do whatever you want me to do! Name it, babe, and consider it done!"

Heather smiled cruelly. "Good. I want you to kill your cousin Hiccup."

Snotlout's jaw dropped. "What?!"

"Kill him and cut out his heart," Heather went on, pulling a small box from the folds of her dress. "Put it in this and bring it to me once the deed is done."

Snotlout merely gaped at her for several seconds with wide my-ears-are-deceiving-me eyes. Then he rediscovered the use of his voice. "But…but why? What's he done?"

"Never mind that," she said lightly, stepping toward him and placing the box in his shaking hands. She leaned close, and she saw his eye twitch. He breathed in her scent and felt his legs turn to water. "Just make sure no one sees you when you do it. Convince him to take a walk with you. I'm sure his dragon will come along, so you must find a way to subdue him. Then, once you are alone, kill him. Do it swiftly and as quietly as possible. Do you understand me?"

Snotlout found he couldn't speak, so he just nodded. Heather chuckled quietly and stepped back. "Excellent," she crooned, raising her hand to stroke his face, letting her fingers linger over the stubble growing on his chin. "Do it tomorrow."

Snotlout nodded again, and Heather retreated into the woods, leaving him quite alone. The empty box seemed to weigh a ton in his sweaty hands.

The next day, Snotlout convinced Hiccup to accompany him into the forest under the pretense of a new dragon species he claimed to have discovered. As Heather had predicted, Toothless ambled along behind his human friend. He seemed to sense that something was off, for he was constantly shooting suspicious glances at Snotlout as he led his cousin deeper and deeper into the trees. "How much further was it?" Hiccup asked, sounding excited. New dragons were something that never failed to pique his interest.

"Just…just over that hill there," Snotlout replied uncomfortably. He was steeling himself for what he had to do.

Hiccup didn't notice his cousin's distress and hurried up the little knoll, Toothless trailing just behind him. He frowned. "I…don't see anything…" he began, but he never got any farther than that.

Snotlout pulled a bola out from his vest and hurled it at Toothless before either the dragon or the boy could comprehend what was happening. The Night Fury fell with a roar of rage that echoed through the forest and fired a plasma blast, but Snotlout ducked out of the way and quickly threw a second bola to clamp the dragon's mouth shut, rendering him unable to fight back.

"Snotlout?!" Hiccup yelped. "What are you—uhn!" He grunted as he fell backward, for Snotlout had lunged for him and now straddled him upon the forest floor. He pulled a dagger from his vest and raised it above his head. Hiccup's eyes widened in terror. "No!" he cried, trying to wriggle free. "Snotlout, why?! Why are you doing this?!"

Snotlout shook his head and prepared to strike. Hiccup squirmed and writhed but was pinned and couldn't move. Toothless snarled and growled but was bound tight and couldn't come to his human's aid. Snotlout took a deep breath, then two, then three. He closed his eyes.

Several seconds ticked by.

And then he slumped in defeat. "I can't do it," he moaned. "I just can't do it."

Hiccup was totally bewildered and more than a little frightened. He continued to struggle against his cousin's grip, but when Snotlout suddenly relented and stood up, he was so shocked that he was physically unable to move for a few moments.

"I…I'm sorry, Hiccup," Snotlout murmured, not looking at him. "I'm so sorry."

Hiccup gaped at him. Then he clambered unsteadily to his feet and said, "Snotlout, what…why in Thor's name…?"

"Heather," Snotlout replied, raising his eyes to his cousin's. "She told me to kill you."

Hiccup blinked. "Heather?" he repeated. "But why…?"

"I don't know, she wouldn't tell me," the bigger boy said hurriedly. "All I know is that she wants me to kill you and cut out your heart and take it to her in this." He withdrew the box she'd given him and showed it to Hiccup, who went pale. "Look, just…" Snotlout gestured wildly at the forest around them. "Just go! Get out of here! Leave Berk! I'll…I'll tell Heather I did the deed."

"Wait," Hiccup said, still looking bewildered. "Why don't we go back to the village and tell my dad about this? Surely he—"

"No," Snotlout insisted. "Heather is…there's something wrong with her, Hiccup. I'm starting to see it now, but I should have seen it before. She's…she's capable of terrible stuff. I don't know what exactly, but…she might even be a witch. If we go to your dad, there's no telling what she'll do. So just go! I'll figure something out. Maybe after a while we can find a way to bring you back here, but for right now just get out of here!"

He hurried over to where Toothless lay captured and cut the cords that bound him. The Night Fury unfurled his wings with a snarl, but Hiccup said, "Down, Toothless. It's okay," and the dragon reluctantly obeyed his human, hurrying over protectively to his side. Hiccup climbed into the saddle and latched his metal foot into the special stirrup that controlled the artificial tailfin. He hesitated and asked Snotlout, "Are you sure about this?"

"Positive," Snotlout confirmed, nodding. "Just go somewhere she can't find you. We'll figure out the rest later." He paused and then added, "Good luck, cousin." And without another word he turned and hurried away.

He didn't slow down until he was nearly to the edge of the village. He came to a stop in order to catch his breath and decide on a course of action. Heather would be expecting Hiccup's heart, and he had no heart to offer her. What was he going to do? She was going to be so furious when she found out he'd failed…

There was a faint shuffling sound followed by a pained grunt, and Snotlout looked around. His eyes widened. An injured wild boar was hobbling his way.

He gazed silently at the creature for several seconds, and then he smiled. It seemed the gods were looking out for him after all.

…

Hiccup and Toothless were airborne the moment Snotlout vanished into the trees. "Okay…okay…" Hiccup murmured, trying to think quickly about the situation at hand. "We need to disappear, bud. We need to go somewhere Heather won't find us. That means Dragon Island is out…" He considered for a moment, and then he nodded decisively and turned Toothless to the north. "Come on, bud. We haven't been up this way yet. Maybe we'll find another island to stay on until we can decide what to do. Let's go!"

Toothless roared and shot off into the late afternoon sky. Soon they had left Berk behind completely and were soaring over open ocean, with nothing but water as far as they could see in any direction.

Their flight took hours, hours that passed in absolute silence. Hiccup's mind raced with what Snotlout had said. Heather wanted him dead? Why? What had he ever done to her that she wanted his heart cut out and presented to her in a little box? He couldn't even begin to fathom it. True, they weren't exactly the best of friends, but he'd always been at least cordial to her, always pleasant and polite. Why then did she ask Snotlout to kill him?

He wondered what was going on back on Berk. Surely by now Stoick and the other teens had noticed his absence. What would they think of it all? Would they perhaps think he'd run away from home? Or that something bad had happened to him? He felt guilty: his poor father would be frantic with worry. So would Astrid. He wondered if there was some way he could contact them without Heather catching wind that he was alive. He wondered if Snotlout would tell his father and friends that he was well. He wondered how they were going to fix this terrible mess. He wondered if Snotlout was right and Heather had powers that he didn't even know about…

His musings were suddenly interrupted by a flash of lightning, followed immediately by a crack of thunder. He let out a little yelp of surprise. He'd been so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't realized he and Toothless were flying right into a storm. Night had fallen, and dark clouds obscured the moon from sight.

"Whoa!" he cried as another bolt of lightning barely missed them, and Toothless instinctively dove down until they were skimming just above the surface of the ocean. Rain began to fall from the clouds, soaking them to the bone in moments. "We…we have to get out of this!" Hiccup gasped, leaning down low over his dragon's neck to protect his face from the lashing rain pelting at him.

The words had no sooner left his mouth that he saw something up ahead, and he felt his heart lift. There was an island down there, a tiny little piece of land amid endless ocean. And judging from the lack of light, it was uninhabited. Perfect.

He directed Toothless to land, and soon they had taken shelter in the trees of a forest that seemed to cover the entire isle. But the storm was so fierce that even the branches overhead couldn't protect them from the weather. "Come on, bud," Hiccup said through chattering teeth. "Let's…let's see if we can find a place to stay…someplace dry…"

They'd only been searching for a few minutes when they came across a small cave dug into an earthen mound. It was rather cramped, but it was big enough for the small human and Night Fury to take refuge in for the night. Toothless sniffed it warily and growled faintly in his throat, but Hiccup was too bewildered and exhausted to notice or care. He curled up in a ball, shivering, and Toothless fired a plasma blast into the ground, creating a small fire. Hiccup grinned up at his friend. "Thanks, bud."

Toothless crooned in reply and settled down next to his human, allowing him to press himself to the dragon's warm, scaly hide. He sighed and closed his eyes, and before long his fatigue overpowered him, forcing him into a deep, dreamless sleep.

As it turned out, there was a reason Toothless had growled upon entering the cave: it was already inhabited.

And as Hiccup slumbered, the cave's occupants returned to their home.

He awoke to Toothless issuing a low warning growl, which was followed by a startled, angry squeak. He stirred and forced his eyes open, blinking several times. For a moment he frowned, trying to figure out where he was and how he'd gotten there. Then the memory of what had happened that afternoon returned to him, and he sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Toothless?" he mumbled. "What's going…?"

He stopped and stared. He'd suddenly realized that he and the Night Fury were no longer alone. There were seven Terrible Terrors standing in front of him, each of a different color, eyeing him and Toothless warily. "Oh," he said, and then he smiled. "Well hello there. What brings you here to our little hideout?"

"Your hideout?!" squawked the blue Terror indignantly. "This is our home, human invader!"

Hiccup's face went totally blank for a second or two as his brain struggled to comprehend what he'd just seen. Then he yelped and scurried backward into Toothless' side. "You…you can talk?!" he squeaked.

"Well of course we can talk," said the green Terror, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Why wouldn't we?"

Hiccup found he didn't quite know how to answer that. "Well, because…" he stammered, "um…back where I come from, dragons don't…I mean…they don't speak Norse. I mean…" He gestured over to Toothless. "…even he can't. I've never met a dragon who could speak my language before."

"Ha!" laughed the black Terror derisively. "Guess you have a lot to learn about the world you live in, don't you?"

Hiccup considered that for a second and then nodded weakly. "Yeah, I guess so…" There was an awkward pause. Then he added, "So…this cave is your home?"

"Yes," replied the purple Terror. "We dug it with our own claws." The little dragon then inclined his head and went on, "I am Amethyst, and these are my brothers and sisters. Go ahead and introduce yourselves," he said to the other six Terrors. "I don't think this boy means us any harm."

"How do you know that?" snapped the orange-gold Terror, narrowing his eyes suspiciously at Hiccup. "He could be making plans to kill us all in our sleep right now."

"No, I would never do that!" Hiccup exclaimed. "I love dragons! My best friend is a Night Fury, for Thor's sake! I would never hurt any of you."

Amethyst nodded in satisfaction. "That's good enough for me," he said. "Well go on, you all. Introductions all around!"

"I am Ruby," said the red Terror, inclining her head politely.

"I am Sapphire," said the blue Terror, his voice a little stiff with uncertainty. Clearly he was not as trusting as his purple brother.

"I am Emerald," said the green Terror, and she promptly licked her eyeball.

"I am Aquamarine," said the blue-green Terror, her voice soft, shy, and quiet.

"I am Onyx," said the black Terror, his voice gruff yet friendly.

There was a pause.

"And," said Amethyst, rolling his eyes and gesturing toward the orange-gold Terror who had suggested that Hiccup planned to kill them, "this is Citrine. Forgive him, he's a little territorial and doesn't like to share."

"That's not my problem!" Citrine protested heatedly. "My problem is that I don't trust this human! What is he doing here in our cave? Why has he invaded our territory? We did not invite him here! He is a trespasser!"

"Oh quiet down," Onyx growled. "You're overreacting as usual."

"He does bring up a fair point," Sapphire said, still eying Hiccup warily. "We don't know who this human is or why he's here. Perhaps an explanation is in order."

"That seems fair," Amethyst conceded, and he looked back up at the human boy. "Who are you, and what brings you to our home?"

"My name is Hiccup," he said. "Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third. And this is Toothless, my best friend," he added, gesturing back at the Night Fury.

Emerald gasped. "Wait, I've heard of you!" she said excitedly. "You're the Dragon Conqueror! The one who defeated the Red Death and freed the dragons from their enslavement!"

The other Terrors all looked more interested at this, though Citrine and Sapphire both seemed offended by the title Emerald had uttered. "Well, yes," Hiccup confirmed, nodding. "I did, with Toothless' help, of course." The Night Fury crooned. "But I actually don't like to be called the Dragon Conqueror. I'm more of a trainer, to be honest."

This seemed to appease Sapphire a little, though Citrine still didn't look pleased. "That doesn't explain why you're here," he said.

And so Hiccup launched into an explanation of Heather's wish to see him dead, how she'd enticed his cousin to kill him and cut out his heart, how Snotlout had been unable to harm him and instead insisted he flee, how he and Toothless had flown through the storm and found the island. "We stumbled across the cave and came in to get out of the storm," he finished. "I was just so tired that I fell asleep at once. I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was already occupied."

The Terrors all observed him in silence as he told his story, and when he was done they looked to each other, as if silently asking whether or not they believed the tale.

"Well," said Ruby after a moment, "I'm truly sorry, Hiccup. You've had a rough time of it, I'd say."

Hiccup smiled weakly. "That's one way to put it, I guess. Thanks."

"Indeed," Onyx spoke up, his rough voice filled with pity. "So you should stay with us for the time being. At least until you figure out what your next step will be."

Everyone, including Hiccup, looked down at him in surprise.

"Are you crazy?" Citrine demanded. "He just told us that someone is trying to kill him, and you want him to stay here with us?! He'll bring down who knows what kind of destruction upon us if we let him stay! If that girl finds him—"

"But how could she?" Amethyst asked. "She has no idea where he is. For all she knows, the boy is already dead, so why should she come looking for him?"

"And even if she did, she has no idea where to look for him," Ruby pointed out.

"If the boy could find this place, then surely this girl can too," Sapphire said doubtfully.

"So we should just turn him out into the world and let her get her hands on him?" Onyx demanded angrily.

"No," whispered Aquamarine bashfully. "No, we can't do that to the poor boy."

"Agreed," Amethyst declared. "Then it's decided. Hiccup will stay here with us for the time being." He turned to the boy in question, who had observed their meeting with intense interest. "How does that sound to you?"

"Great," Hiccup replied. "Thank you so much! I promise I won't be a nuisance."

Citrine snorted and grumbled under his breath, but he didn't make any real protest. Apparently Amethyst was their leader, and his word was law among them. The orange-gold dragon stomped away, and Amethyst said to Hiccup, "Sorry about him. Don't worry, he'll come around."

Hiccup rather doubted it, but he smiled and nodded nonetheless.

The Terrors dispersed around the cave and settled down to sleep for the night. Hiccup noticed that Citrine took a spot as far away from the newcomers as he could and tried not to let it bother him. Amethyst, by contrast, chose a spot close by and curled up on the cave floor. "Good night, Hiccup," he said. "No need to worry. I'm sure everything will work out in the end."

Hiccup grinned and said, "Thank you, Amethyst."

The purple Terror nodded and then closed his eyes. Soon the cave was filled with the sound of deep, slumbering breaths as the dragons drifted off to sleep. Still smiling faintly, Hiccup leaned back into Toothless' side and soon followed suit.

…

Heather waited impatiently for Snotlout to return, pacing the length of the front room of her house. "Come on," she growled. "What is taking that idiot so long? He's barely a twig of a boy, he shouldn't be so hard to kill!"

The words were scarcely out of her mouth when there was a knock on her door. She blinked and froze in mid-step, too surprised to move for a moment. Then she smiled cruelly and lunged for the door, opening it eagerly. Snotlout stood on the threshold, carrying the box in his hands. There was a trace of blood streaked on the side.

"You've done it?" she hissed, hardly daring to believe it.

Snotlout nodded curtly. "It's done," he said stiffly.

Heather's smile flickered for a moment. He sounded as though he wanted nothing more than to run as far away from her as he possibly could. Which probably meant she couldn't seduce him into staying quiet. She'd have to come up with a better way to keep his silence.

"Good," she crooned, reaching out to take the box. But as he hands clasped upon its surface, she leaned in close and added in a deadly whisper, "Speak to no one about what you've done, or I promise you will sorely regret it."

Snotlout's face went pale, but his calm expression didn't change. He merely nodded and relinquished the box before turning and hurrying away. He didn't look back once.

Heather barely contained herself as she rushed into the back room of the house, locking the door behind her. She faced the mirror and chanted, "Mirror, mirror, on the wall," before stepping through to the chamber beyond. She approached the second mirror and recited the incantation to awaken the reflection.

"What is it you wish to know?" the mirror asked.

Heather held the box aloft and opened it, revealing the ugly mass of red, bloody muscle that lay within. "Ha!" she cried triumphantly. "Do you know what this is, mirror?"

The reflection observed the box and its contents for a moment. "Yes, I know what it is."

"It is Hiccup's heart!" Heather cackled. "I told you I would possess his heart one way or another, and now it is mine! Mine and mine alone! No one will ever steal him away from me, for now he is dead and gone! What do you have to say to that?!"

The girl in the mirror gazed impassively at Heather while she ranted. Even when she had finished, there was a pause.

Then the reflection said simply, "That isn't Hiccup's heart."

Heather blinked and her smile flickered slightly. Then she scoffed. "Of course it is! Snotlout told me—"

"He lied," the mirror said, still without inflection. "Hiccup is alive. The heart you hold is that of a wild boar. Snotlout has tried to trick you into thinking he has done as you asked. But Hiccup lives on, and his heart still belongs to Astrid Hofferson, not you."

There was a long silence that seemed to stretch on into infinity.

Then Heather shrieked in rage and flung the box into the dark nether regions of the chamber. "That little half-troll!" she screamed. "How could he lie to me?! Does he think me a fool?! Did he think I wouldn't find out?!"

These were clearly rhetorical questions, so the mirror gave no answer. She merely watched as Heather ran her hands through her hair, attempting to calm herself. Then she faced the mirror again and asked, "Where is Hiccup now?"

"He is on an island to the north of Berk, a journey of three hours on the back of a dragon," the reflection replied tonelessly. "He and his Night Fury are staying in a cave near the center of the island, which is the home to seven Terrible Terrors who have allowed him to remain with them for the present."

Heather pondered this information for a moment. Then, slowly, a smile turned the corners of her mouth. It wasn't a pleasant expression.

"Well," she said quietly. "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself." Her eyes lit up as an idea came to her, and she chuckled darkly. "And I know just what to do…"

…

Hiccup was very glad he'd packed his sketchbook into Toothless' saddlebag before heading into the forest with Snotlout the previous day. He'd planned on doing a quick drawing of the dragon his cousin had claimed to have found, and while there had been no new dragon to study, now the little book was coming in handy to stave off boredom. He smiled faintly as his charcoal pencil moved swiftly over the page, creating smooth lines that formed soft shapes and figures. When finished, it would be a sketch of Toothless, who was lying curled up, fast asleep in a corner of the cave.

The seven Terrors had left first thing that morning. As Amethyst had explained to Hiccup, "We like to explore the region. We'll be away all day, checking out the nearby islands and seeing what there is to see. You are welcome to join us if you wish, or you may stay here and explore this island more thoroughly. Whichever you prefer."

Hiccup had half-glanced at Citrine, who seemed furious that his brother was inviting the human along on their expedition, and replied, "I think I'll stay here. But thank you. Maybe another time."

That was several hours ago. Now the sun was almost directly overhead, bearing down on the island. Hiccup and Toothless had returned to the cave in order to escape the scorching heat. The Night Fury was taking a nap, and Hiccup was quietly drawing, a small smile turning the corners of his mouth.

There was suddenly a faint rustling sound, and Hiccup looked up, turning toward the cave entrance. Toothless grumbled a little in his sleep but did not wake. Setting his sketchbook aside, Hiccup stood and tiptoed to the cave mouth, peering around cautiously. "Hello?" he whisper-shouted. "Amethyst? Are you guys back already?"

Seconds passed in silence. Hiccup hesitated, wondering if he'd perhaps imagined the noise or if it had been made by some forest creature, but just as he was about to retreat back into the cool shade of the cave, a flurry of motion caught his eye. He looked around in time to see an old woman dressed in a black cloak emerge from the woods, long white hair spilling lankly from under the hood that shadowed her face. Her back was bent and she carried a walking stick. There was a shapeless bag slung over one shoulder.

She looked up, and Hiccup saw that her eyes were surprisingly sharp, green in color and…was he imagining it? They seemed oddly familiar to him, though he couldn't place how or where he might have seen them before.

"Excuse me, young man," the woman croaked, sounding weary as she staggered toward him. "Do you perhaps have a flask of water that an old lady may take a drink from? I am so terribly thirsty."

Hiccup felt a wave of pity come over him. "I don't have anything," he said, "but there is a stream not far from here. Here, I'll show you."

He hesitated for just a second, glancing back at Toothless. There was no need to wake the sleeping dragon, not to escort an old woman to the stream. He turned back to the lady, who was smiling gratefully at him. "Oh, that is very kind of you, young man. So very kind."

Hiccup grinned and gestured toward the forest. "It's this way, follow me."

Amethyst had shown the stream to Hiccup that morning before he and the other Terrors had departed on their explorations, so he knew what path to take through the trees that towered all around them. They reached the little brook in no time. The crone sighed in relief and sank to her knees, bending over the river and scooping handfuls of water to her frail lips. Hiccup watched her drink with a small smile on his face; he liked helping those in need.

After a few minutes, the old woman struggled to her feet once more, leaning heavily on her walking stick. She turned to face Hiccup and said, "Thank you, dear boy. It is rare to find a heart as good and pure as yours these days."

Hiccup blushed slightly and rubbed the back of his neck. "You're welcome, miss. Are you feeling better now?"

"Oh yes, quite better," the crone said, nodding. "And to thank you for your generous help, I have something for you. A gift." She reached into the bag on her shoulder.

"You don't have to give me anything," Hiccup protested hurriedly.

"I know," the woman replied with a croaky laugh. "But I want to. Kindness ought to be rewarded, young man. Here…" She pulled out a long cloak made out of the richest brown fur Hiccup had ever seen. He couldn't help but gasp at the sight of it. Even his father's chiefly robe was nothing compared to this garment. He doubted there was anything as fine as this cloak in the entire Archipelago. "This is for you, lad. A cloak fit for a chief. Go on, try it on."

Hiccup reached out hesitantly and accepted the proffered fur, and a tiny sigh escaped his lips as his fingers brushed the soft, plush surface. Smiling, he swung it around and rested it on his shoulders, reaching up to fasten the clasp at his throat.

The effect was immediate: the moment the cloak was secured under his chin, the chain tightened, pressing into his neck. He gasped and coughed, reaching up to pull it away, but it wouldn't budge, instead digging deeper into his skin. With his windpipe under pressure, he started to panic and thrash about, struggling to remove the cloak. His fingers fumbled with the clasp but he found himself unable to remove it. And now he couldn't breathe at all: his face turned first red and then blue. He fell to his knees as his resistance weakened, gazing up in bewildered terror at the old woman who merely looked coldly down at him.

Then he collapsed, his body going limp.

The crone continued to stare down at Hiccup's lifeless form for a moment longer. Then she chuckled darkly. "A perfect fit," she crooned.

Then she spun around and vanished on the spot.

Very fortunately for Hiccup, Toothless woke up around this time and, noticing his human's absence from the cave, went searching for him, following his scent to the spot where he lay prone on the ground. He arrived just in time to see the old woman disappear into thin air, but the Night Fury hardly noticed her: he was far too concerned that Hiccup was lying motionless, his eyes closed and mouth parted in a silent scream.

Toothless roared and bounded forward, swiftly studying the boy's form. He located the problem at once and ripped the cloak away with his teeth.

The instant the garment was pulled away, the clasp snapping like a twig, Hiccup inhaled deeply and started coughing violently. He sat up, his hand coming up to his throat as he slowly began to breathe again. He looked wildly around, looking for the evil lady who had tricked him and instead finding only his dragon friend. "T-Toothless?" he croaked. "What…where is she? That old woman? What happened?" His eyes fell on the tattered remnants of the cloak and he drew instinctively away from it. Then he looked back up at the Night Fury and asked, "Did…did you free me?"

Toothless nodded his head, and Hiccup smiled weakly. He reached up and stroked the dragon's scaly snout. "Thank you, bud. You saved my life."

When the Terrors returned from their explorations that evening, Hiccup told them about the old woman and what had happened.

"So the cloak tightened on its own?" Emerald asked, and when Hiccup nodded she went on, "How strange…I've never heard of anything like that before."

"I have!" Sapphire said. "Magic! Only a curse could have made it do that! Hiccup is very lucky to be alive! If Toothless had been a moment or two later in finding him…" He trailed off and didn't finish the statement. He didn't have to.

"You see?!" Citrine squawked. "I told you this would happen! It is that girl that tried to have him killed before! She must have known he was still alive and came here to find him and finish him off!"

"But how?" Aquamarine asked timidly, speaking so quietly that Hiccup could barely hear her. "How did she know he was alive? And how did she know to find him here?"

"The same way she was able to disguise herself as an old woman and curse the cloak, I imagine," replied Ruby calmly. "She is capable of incredible magic. None of us know just what she can do with her powers, but clearly she has the advantage here. It didn't even take her a day to find our island. And I daresay she probably already knows that she's failed to kill him, meaning that she'll likely try again soon."

"Exactly!" Citrine shrieked, flapping his wings in rage. "Which means she'll come here again, putting us all in extreme danger, all because the rest of you are too soft-hearted to kick this human out! You lot are going to get us all—"

"Oh shut up," snapped Onyx. "How can you be so cold-hearted as to force this poor lad into the witch's hands?"

"I'm trying to keep us safe!" Citrine retorted. "And between us and him, I say—"

"Enough!" barked Amethyst, and Citrine fell silent at once with a glower. "Arguing amongst ourselves won't solve anything. Now I realize that the situation is much more dangerous than it was last night, but we do have one thing to our advantage."

"And what's that?" Sapphire asked warily.

"We know the girl is seeking him out," Amethyst explained. "Which means we can prepare for her arrival. We have good reason to believe she'll try to kill him again, so we'll just have to take some precautions. Now that we are aware, I see no reason to panic over this. We just need to be careful." He turned to the young Viking, who had been listening to all this in uncomfortable silence. "Hiccup, this means that you don't accept any gifts from strangers, no matter how innocent they look. Got it?"

"Yes, of course," Hiccup agreed, nodding.

"And stay close to that Night Fury," Onyx suggested, nodding toward Toothless. "He obviously cares a great deal for you, and I have no doubt he can protect you if the need arises."

"Agreed," Amethyst said. "As long as we're all smart about this, I see no reason we can't best her."

"Sure, this time," Citrine said. "But do you really think she'll give up? Or that we really have any chance of defeating her, as powerful as she is?"

"Well, there are more of us than there are of her," Emerald pointed out.

"Yes, but she has magic on her side," Citrine reminded her impatiently. "She can kill us all in the blink of an eye if she wants to!"

"Hmm…I don't think so," Ruby mused. "After all, she could have just killed Hiccup with a curse today. But instead she went through the whole charade with the stream. I don't think she can actually cause him harm directly. It has to be through indirect contact, like with the cloak. And if that's true, then Amethyst is right. If we're careful, there's no reason she should be able to harm the boy."

"So that settles it, then," Onyx said, grinning in satisfaction. "The boy stays here, and we'll all be on the lookout for the girl and any tricks she might try to pull."

Amethyst nodded. "That's right," he said, looking back at Hiccup. "Please be careful, lad. That girl clearly wants you dead, and she'll stop at nothing till she's got what she wants."

Hiccup smiled a little and replied, "Thank you, Amethyst. I'll be careful, I promise."

…

Of course, Heather was not happy to find that she'd failed in her mission to kill Hiccup.

"How could it have failed?" she shrieked to her mirror. She'd shed her magical disguise and was young and beautiful once more, though now her face was so terribly contorted that her visage was nothing short of terrifying to behold. "That cloak was cursed to kill! I watched him as he fell!"

"You did not stay long enough," the mirror replied calmly. "His Night Fury freed him from the cloak almost the moment you left. It was a very near thing, but the boy is still alive and well. And now he'll be expecting you, so your task is harder than ever."

Heather snarled wordlessly and started to pace back and forth in front of the looking glass. Her reflection watched her in silence, waiting for another question to be asked that she could answer. "He won't trust a stranger anymore, that's for sure," Heather muttered to herself. "Which means I have to find some other way to get his attention, to gain his trust. And I also need to find another way to kill him, one that won't be so easily countered by his dragon."

She suddenly stopped as an idea hit her. "I've got it!" she cried, cackling with delight. "The perfect spell to kill him! It's foolproof! The poisoned apple! There is no way its effects can be countered, is there?"

It was a rhetorical question, but the mirror answered it anyway. "Actually, there is. True love's kiss can reverse its spell."

But Heather merely scoffed. "His dragon won't be able to deliver such a kiss! And his dear beloved Astrid doesn't know where he is. She and the rest of Berk are searching all over for him but haven't got the faintest idea where to find him. And even if they do, it will be too late. The wild dragons will have devoured Hiccup's body." She laughed in triumph. "There won't be any lips for her to kiss!"

The reflection did not reply to this. But Heather wasn't even looking at the mirror anymore. She was gazing blankly into the darkness that surrounded her. An evil smile was twisting the corners of her mouth.

"And I know just how to deliver such a gift. Poor Hiccup won't even know what hit him!"

And with that, she set to work, laughing maniacally all the while.

…

The Terrors were surprised that Hiccup again decided to stay behind while they went exploring the next day. After the previous evening, which they had spent chatting and laughing away, all of the little dragons – Amethyst in particular – thought the boy would be keen to join them. Even Citrine seemed unsettled by Hiccup's declaration that he and Toothless would stay in the cave. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," he told them. "I know not to speak to strangers. If Heather shows up, Toothless will protect me. Besides, I doubt she'd try again so soon. She'll probably wait until my defenses are down."

"Are you sure, Hiccup?" Amethyst asked worriedly. "It seems awfully risky. We're starting to grow rather fond of you, lad, and we'd hate to see anything happen to you."

Citrine snorted and grumbled something about how not all of them were so fond of him, but his voice lacked its usual conviction. Hiccup smiled faintly and said, "I'm sure, Amethyst. You all go on and have fun. I'll be here when you get back."

The Terrors still seemed uneasy, but they respected Hiccup's wishes and left, squawking good-byes as they took to the air. Toothless barked cheerfully at them and then turned to Hiccup, his head cocked to the side as if to ask, "Remind me why we aren't going with them?"

"Because I don't want to crowd them," Hiccup replied with a shrug. "Most of them are nice, but Citrine still obviously doesn't care to have me around. And I figure it's best to give him space for the time being. Maybe once he gets used to me he'll be more at ease with my presence, and then we can go exploring with them."

Toothless grumbled, clearly worried that his human had some seriously mixed-up priorities. Hiccup just grinned and added, "But that doesn't mean we can't go flying."

Toothless perked up at once at that.

A couple of hours and one hair-raising flight later, they returned to the cave, where Toothless lit a fire so Hiccup could cook some fish they'd caught for their lunch. Hiccup hummed a tune under his breath as he watched the flames crackle merrily, and for a moment he was able to forget that somewhere out there was a young woman who wanted to see him dead…

Toothless suddenly raised his head, his ear flaps going upright as a sound reached him. "What is it, bud?" Hiccup asked, immediately concerned. He jumped to his feet and pulled out a dagger, his eyes scanning the woods around them warily. "Is there someone here, Toothless? Someone out there, watching us?"

Toothless growled softly, uncertainly.

There was a sharp snap, and Hiccup wheeled around to face…

His eyes widened in shock. "Astrid?"

The golden-haired beauty smiled in delight and ran forward to meet him. "Hiccup!" she cried in joy, throwing her arms around him. "Oh my gods, Hiccup! You're here! You're alive! Oh we've been so worried about you! Where have you been?! Why did you leave Berk?! Why didn't you say good-bye?! How—"

"Easy, Astrid!" Hiccup broke in with a faint laugh, gently extricating himself from her embrace. "One question at a time, please."

"Sorry," Astrid said a little breathlessly, brushing her bangs out of her beautiful blue eyes. "I just…I've missed you so much! And I was so worried! You just left us without a word about where you were going and why you were leaving and I just didn't understand! And your father…Hiccup, he's been heartbroken! He thinks you left because of something he's done, and he can't figure out how to make things right!"

Hiccup's heart sank at this. "Oh no," he moaned. "No, it's not Dad's fault at all! He hasn't done anything wrong! I…I left because…well…" He hesitated for a moment. How in Thor's name was he supposed to explain all this?

In the midst of his silence, Toothless started growling again. Hiccup turned to look at him, frowning in confusion. "What's the matter, bud? It's Astrid, see?"

Toothless just continued to growl and glare at the newcomer. Something was wrong, he could tell. This girl looked like Hiccup's future mate (because that's how he viewed Astrid), acted like her, talked like her…but for some reason, he couldn't shake the sensation that she wasn't that girl. The smell was off somehow, sending mixed and bewildering signals to his brain.

"Toothless, what's your problem?" Hiccup asked.

Toothless barked and advanced, but he suddenly froze. Hiccup didn't see it, for his back was to her, but Astrid was no longer smiling. Her face was set in an expression of cold disdain, and she made a quick, subtle motion with her fingers. The moment her spell was cast, Toothless collapsed into a stupor, as if someone had shoved a handful of dragon nip under his nose.

"Toothless?" Hiccup hurried over and knelt down beside him, running a hand along his smooth black scales. "Bud, what's wrong?"

The only answer he got was a faint snore from the dragon's throat.

"He must be tired," Astrid offered, chuckling. "Dragons. What can you do, right?"

Hiccup didn't reply as he continued to gaze at Toothless worriedly. He felt suddenly nervous and couldn't figure out why.

Astrid put a hand on his shoulder. "Hiccup?"

He looked sharply around at her, and then his face softened. "Sorry, Astrid. It's just…he's never acted like this before. I'm a little worried."

"Oh, Stormfly does that all the time," Astrid replied, waving her hand airily. "Whenever she's tired she just flops down and goes to sleep. Must be a dragon thing."

"Where is Stormfly, anyway?" Hiccup asked, looking around and noticing the Nadder's absence.

"She's off exploring somewhere," Astrid answered, glancing around at the forest. "She'll find us sooner or later, I suppose." And when Hiccup showed no sign of relaxing, she changed the subject: "So what's the story? Why did you just disappear like that?"

Hiccup paused for a moment before sighing and gesturing for her to sit down. She did, looking at him expectantly as he sat beside her. He launched into the story, telling her of how Snotlout had tried to kill him under Heather's orders. Astrid's eyes widened in shock. "Heather? But…but why would Heather want to have you killed?"

"I don't know," Hiccup replied, shrugging. "I don't understand it. And as it turns out, I'm not safe even here. She visited me yesterday, disguised as an old woman. She tricked me into trying on a cursed cloak that almost suffocated me. If Toothless hadn't been there…" He trailed off, his eyes returning to his sleeping dragon. What in the name of all the gods was wrong with him?

"Hiccup, that…that's terrible," Astrid said, her voice filled with sympathy. He looked back at her and saw that she seemed truly troubled by this news. "I had no idea…I wish I knew why…"

"Me too," Hiccup sighed.

Silence fell between them for a moment, until the smell of burnt fish reached their nostrils. "Oh no!" he yelped, hurrying to take his lunch off the fire. The cod was totally blackened on all sides, and he knew the meat would be all but inedible. "Well that's just great," he grumbled.

Astrid chuckled. "Don't worry, Hiccup, I've got something," she said, reaching into a bag she had slung over her shoulder.

She pulled out a shiny red apple.

Hiccup blinked and gazed hungrily at the fruit for a moment or two. He had to admit, it did look delicious. But he shook his head. "No, that's all right."

"Here, I insist," Astrid said, holding it out to him as he sat back down beside her. He eyed the apple but still didn't take it. "Go on, I won't eat it."

Hiccup frowned. "Then why did you bring it?"

Astrid shrugged and huffed, "Well, it was going to be my lunch, but I'm not hungry and you are, so I'm giving it to you."

Still Hiccup hesitated. He wanted the apple, that he couldn't deny. But something in him stopped him from reaching out to take it. Amethyst had warned him about taking things from strangers…

But Astrid's not a stranger, he thought. I know her. I trust her. Surely there's nothing to be afraid of, right?

Slowly, a teasing smile spread across Astrid's face. "What, do you think I've poisoned it?"

Hiccup's heart missed a beat, but he forced himself to smile and reply, "Of course not."

Astrid just laughed and said, "Well, here, if you're so worried about it, we'll share it. I'll take the first bite, and then you can take the next. We'll take turns. How does that sound?"

Hiccup considered this for a moment. Then he nodded. "All right."

Smiling, Astrid took a bite from the apple, moaning softly as the juices filled her mouth. "It's delicious!" she declared as she handed the fruit over to him. "Now you take a bite from the other side."

Hiccup nodded and raised the apple to his lips. Its sweet aroma filled his nostrils, and he felt his mouth water. He pressed his teeth to the red skin, paused for the briefest of seconds, and then bit into it, taking a chunk and chewing it.

His first thought was that it was indeed a delicious apple, the most delicious and juicy and satisfying he'd ever tasted.

His second thought, which occurred to him as he swallowed the bite, was that Astrid was suddenly looking strangely at him, her features slowly turning cold, a triumphant smile spreading across her face.

What came next wasn't a thought at all, but a sense of panic as he realized he'd been tricked. He could feel it: there was something wrong with that apple, and whatever had been put into it was working its way rapidly through his body. He felt suddenly very lethargic. He was having a hard time keeping his eyes open, and the world around him was starting to fade into shapeless blurs.

"Good thing I only poisoned half of the apple, isn't it?" Astrid asked, except it wasn't Astrid's voice that echoed in his ears. Hiccup forced his eyes open and saw that Astrid was no longer sitting beside him. In her place was a pretty girl with black hair and stony green eyes.

Heather.

He opened his mouth to ask her why, why she wanted to kill him, what he'd done to deserve this, but all he managed was a faint huff as he exhaled for the last time. Then the blackness claimed him, and he slumped to the ground, dead.

Heather stared down at Hiccup's body for a minute or two. Then she threw her head back and started to laugh. "Finally!" she screeched. "It is done! He is dead! Dead! His heart will never belong to anyone now, for that heart has ceased to beat! It is finished! At last!" She continued to stand there, laughing and cackling while Toothless slept on and Hiccup lay motionless at her feet. It was over at last. Now she could return to Berk and revel in the knowledge that she had…

"Hey! Who are you?! What're you doing here?!"

She whirled around and gasped. Seven Terrible Terrors were swooping down toward her, their talons extended and eyes narrowed viciously. She scowled and snorted with contempt, and then she spun on the spot and vanished into thin air.

"Who was that?" Emerald asked as she and her siblings came in for a landing.

"If I had to guess, I'd say that was Heather," Onyx replied urgently. "Where is Hiccup?"

He directed this question at Amethyst, but the purple dragon did not answer. He was gazing in mute shock down at the body of the boy they had taken in and tried to protect. He'd had a bad feeling all morning that something was going to happen and had convinced the others to return with him, but they were too late. Hiccup was dead.

"No…" Ruby gasped as she too noticed the boy's lifeless form, and one by one the others saw it too. All seven dragons fell silent as they looked at Hiccup's corpse. They could tell he wasn't breathing, that his heart had stopped beating, and they knew there was nothing in the world they could do.

"Oh no!" Aquamarine cried, turning away, unable to look upon Hiccup in such a state.

They heard a faint rumble from behind them, and they all turned to see Toothless coming out of his daze. He shook his head to clear it and rose unsteadily to his feet, sniffing the air around him in confusion. His eyes landed on the seven Terrors, and he looked from one to the next, his head tilted to the side.

And then he saw Hiccup.

His eyes went wide and his ear fins shot up in alarm. He roared in fear and bounded forward so that he stood over his motionless friend. He nudged Hiccup frantically, urging him to rise, to open his eyes, to just breathe! But Hiccup didn't respond. He was gone.

There was a beat. Then two. Then three.

And then Toothless let out a roar of fury and anguish that broke the heart of each and every one of the Terrors watching.

…

The days passed by in an endless blur. Toothless and the Terrors carried Hiccup's body into their cave and vowed to protect him from any beasts that may try to devour him. The Terrors' explorations came to a halt as they refused to leave the boy's side for even a moment. They all felt responsible for his death. If only they hadn't gone off that day and stayed with him, if only they'd insisted he come along with them…

Toothless was inconsolable. He lay next to his rider day in and day out, balking at the very idea of stepping away even for a moment. He rested his head on Hiccup's chest, wishing that he could somehow make it rise and fall once again. But all his wishing was for naught, for Hiccup could not be revived.

Though their grief wasn't as strong as the Night Fury's, the seven Terrors all mourned as well. Even Citrine, who had never exactly been fond of the lad, found himself wishing that he'd been a little kinder to him while he was alive. Amethyst, who felt personally responsible for what had happened, sat by Hiccup's head, his eyes downcast.

Surprisingly, Hiccup's body seemed immune to decay. His skin retained its color, his hair stayed thick and full, and his body remained as it had been in life. He did not smell of rot and decomposition, and he looked for all the world as if he were merely sleeping. None of the dragons could fathom it, but they were all too saddened to care much about it.

Weeks passed like this, weeks in which Toothless and the Terrors silently mourned. But unbeknownst to them, Hiccup's story had not yet come to an end, for on the Isle of Berk dwelt a girl who had not given up hope of finding the boy she loved.

Astrid Hofferson – the real Astrid Hofferson – knew Hiccup was out there somewhere. And she stubbornly refused to stop searching until she had discovered where he'd gone and why he'd left Berk. And so it was that on one fine morning, she climbed onto Stormfly's back and took off into the skies, heading north. She wasn't sure why she chose that direction. Search parties had scoured every inch of the Archipelago, and all trips to the north had come back empty-handed. She had no reason to believe that her expedition would turn out differently. Yet she thought about the endless grief of their chief Stoick, the way he shuffled lifelessly about the village, the way he would stare up at the sky as he silently prayed to the gods, entreating them to return his missing son to him. She thought also of that kiss she and Hiccup had shared the day before he went missing, the way her heart leapt at the sight of him, the way his crooked little smile could suck all the air from her lungs.

Why had he gone? What had they done to drive him away from his home? Had Snotlout or the twins said something to him? Had one of the villagers mistreated him somehow? Had he argued with his father?

Or…had she done something? Had she perhaps been too forward? Not forward enough?

She didn't understand. It didn't make any sense. She had to find him, had to find out why…why…why…

It was the question that plagued her for hours as she and Stormfly soared over calm seas. The day was clear and windless, and the sun beat down upon the back of her neck. Multiple times she wondered if she ought to turn back, but Stormfly seemed to be holding out well. Besides, she didn't want to return to Berk, not until she'd gained at least some clue as to Hiccup's whereabouts. But if she didn't find something soon, she might not have any choice…

And then, quite suddenly, Stormfly squawked and dove down toward the ocean. Astrid gasped and tightened her grip instinctively. "What is it, girl?" she asked, but her question was answered a moment later as her eyes fell on a tiny little island, so small that it was really no surprise it had been missed by earlier search parties. Astrid's heart gave a small bound. She didn't understand it, but she had a good feeling about this place. "Let's take a look," she said, directing her dragon to land amid the trees of the forest covering most of the island.

She slid down from Stormfly's back and stretched her stiff muscles. "Well," she said, looking around. "What do you think, girl? You think Hiccup's here? Hey!" She yelped as her Nadder, picking up on some scent or other, jogged off into the woods, leaving her mistress behind. "Where are you going?! Come back!" She ran after the dragon, wondering what in Thor's name had gotten into her. It was quite unlike Stormfly to just run off like that…

She suddenly emerged into a small clearing and pulled up with a gasp. A cave lay directly ahead, and Stormfly was standing at the entrance, calling out to whatever creature dwelt within it. And as Astrid watched, a dark shape began to stir in the depths of the cavern. She braced herself, preparing herself for an attack.

Then the creature emerged into sunlight, and Astrid blinked. "Toothless?"

The Night Fury gazed at her impassively for a moment, ignoring Stormfly entirely. For a second or two the dragon and the Viking merely stared at each other, as if they both couldn't believe the other was there.

And then something clicked in Astrid's mind: if Toothless was here, then Hiccup must be too!

She stepped forward. "Toothless!" she called. "Thank all the gods! I've been looking all over for…"

She came to a sudden halt as Toothless started to growl, baring his teeth, his pupils reduced to slits, his wings spread threateningly to the side. "Wha—?" Astrid took a hurried step backward, holding out her hands. "Toothless, it's me! What's the matter with you? It's me, boy, Astrid. Don't you remember me?"

Toothless stopped growling, but he didn't drop his suspicious stance. He warily approached her and started to sniff her from head to foot. Astrid held perfectly still, wondering what in Thor's name had gotten into the dragon.

Then Toothless backed off and relaxed, crooning softly as his pupils dilated to their usual rounded state. Astrid shook her head in bewilderment. "Toothless, what is it, boy?" she asked. "What's the matter?" And, when the Night Fury made no response, she added, "Where's Hiccup?"

At the sound of his human's name, Toothless visibly cringed. He whined and gestured toward the cave with his snout. Astrid looked from the Night Fury to the cavern and back again. "He's in there?" she inquired, her voice shaking slightly. Something was wrong here…very, very wrong…

Toothless crooned again, but Astrid hardly heard him. She was already making her way toward the cave mouth. "Hiccup?" she called. "Are…are you in here?"

"Yes, he's here," said a voice, and Astrid inhaled sharply as her eyes fell on seven Terrible Terrors. The purple one was surveying her up and down. "You must be Astrid," he said. "Hiccup told us a great deal about you." And then, when it seemed that Astrid was incapable of saying a word, he added, "Yes, we can speak Norse."

Astrid didn't know how to respond to that, but a second later she saw something that drove all thought of talking Terrors out of her head.

Hiccup was lying a few feet away.

"Hiccup?" She stepped closer and knelt down beside his motionless form. She should have been jumping up and down with joy at finally finding him, but this wasn't right. He was too still, too pale… She put her hand to his cheek and felt that his skin was cold as stone. "Hiccup?" She pressed her cheek to his chest in panic. No, it wasn't possible. It couldn't be…he couldn't be…

There was no heartbeat.

"No…" Astrid drew back and stared down at Hiccup's body. She shook her head in disbelief as the reality of it struck her. Hiccup was dead. Gone. He would never open his eyes, crack a joke, grin his goofy little smile, or kiss her ever again. It was over. All over.

"Hiccup!"

Tears filled Astrid's eyes and obscured her vision, but that didn't stop her from bending down and scooping Hiccup into her arms. A loud, choked wail escaped her lips as she rocked back, holding the boy she loved up to her chest. Hiccup's arm dangled at his side and his head lolled lifelessly. Astrid cried and sniffled and reached up to stroke his face. "Hiccup…oh Hiccup…I'm so sorry. I…I don't know what happened, what drove you away from Berk, or what happened to cause…all this…but I…I…oh gods, Hiccup!" She dissolved into wordless sobs as she cradled Hiccup's body.

"I'm sorry, Astrid," the purple Terror said quietly, stepping forward and inclining his head to her. "I know Hiccup cared a great deal for you. He told us that you were the only girl he loved in the entire world, that he would do anything for you. I…I just thought you should know that."

It was impossible to determine whether or not Astrid heard this. She had her face buried in Hiccup's hair and didn't acknowledge the purple Terror. At length, however, she raised her head and gazed sadly down at the young Viking in her arms. "Hiccup," she mumbled, brushing his bangs out of his face, "I…I am so sorry. I wish I understood what happened. I wish I'd been there to help you with whatever it was. I…I…" She sniffled and leaned in close. "I love you, Hiccup. I love you, and I am so, so sorry I never told you…"

She bent down and brushed her lips against his in a gentle kiss.

Ten whole seconds passed, ten seconds in which Astrid continued to hold Hiccup's body, sobs shaking her shoulders, tears rolling down her cheeks. Ten seconds in which Toothless and the seven Terrors watched the girl's display of grief in somber silence. Ten seconds in which no one moved or said a word.

And then, at the end of those ten seconds, Hiccup stirred and opened his eyes.

"As…trid?"

Astrid gasped and nearly dropped him in her shock. "Hiccup?" she squeaked. "You're alive?! You're really alive?!"

Hiccup blinked a couple of times in confusion. "Uh…yeah, I guess so…"

"Hiccup!" the purple Terror squawked, scurrying forward, and at the same instant Toothless let out a roar of pure joy, bounding toward his rider. "You're okay! I don't believe it! You're actually okay!"

"Yeah, I am," Hiccup replied, sitting up and putting a hand to his forehead. "But why wouldn't I…" Then he blinked and his mouth dropped open as memories came flooding back. "Heather!" he gasped. "Heather was here! She tricked me! She…" He glanced up at Astrid and said, "She was disguised as you. She offered me an apple, and it must have been poisoned."

"Heather?" Astrid repeated, bewildered. "What has she got to do with this?"

And so the whole story came out. Hiccup told her how Snotlout had tried to kill him under Heather's orders, how he'd fled Berk out of fear without knowing exactly how he was going to be able to set things right, how he'd met the seven Norse-speaking Terrors who had welcomed him into their home, how he'd been attacked by Heather the first time by the stream, and finally how she'd disguised herself a second time and tricked him into biting the poisoned apple.

"The last thing I remember is Heather losing her disguise and taunting me as I was dying," Hiccup finished. "The next thing I know, I'm waking up here with you."

"But how?" Onyx asked. "Not that I'm not happy to see you alive again, Hiccup, but I don't understand how it's possible. You were dead for weeks, so why are you suddenly not?"

There was silence for a moment or two as everyone considered this. It was Aquamarine who finally ventured shyly, "True love's kiss?" The others all turned to look at her, eyebrows raised. The timid little Terror looked down bashfully and went on, "I've heard it can counter dark magic. And Astrid did kiss him, so…" She trailed off.

"Yeah," Hiccup said slowly, nodding. "That could be it." He turned to face Astrid and smiled. "True love's kiss, huh?"

Astrid blushed faintly but smiled. "You know it," she said, punching him good-naturedly on the shoulder. Hiccup chuckled and then leaned over, kissing her tenderly. A few of the Terrors sighed happily while Toothless rolled his eyes. He simply didn't understand these strange human behaviors.

When they finally broke apart, Astrid said, "Hiccup, please come back to Berk with me. We'll talk to your father, and we can confront Heather together. We'll make sure she'll never try to hurt you again."

Hiccup considered this for a moment. "Do you think we can go against her? I mean, now we know what she's capable of. I don't want you or anyone else to get hurt."

"I know you don't," Astrid replied, smiling. "And I can't promise anything. But we can't let her get away with this, Hiccup. And besides, your father is worried sick about you. The whole village is. We have to show them that you're okay."

Hiccup hesitated, and then he sighed and nodded. "All right. Let's go back to Berk." Then he looked over at the Terrors and added, "You're all more than welcome to come with us if you want."

Amethyst glanced around at his brothers and sisters before saying, "Of course we will come, Hiccup. We will do our best to protect you from this girl."

The other Terrors – even Citrine, to Hiccup's immense surprise – agreed to this, and soon they were all flying back to Berk.

The reunion was something Hiccup would never forget. The moment he slid from Toothless' back he was seized and enfolded in his father's incredibly strong grip. "Hiccup!" Stoick gasped. "Oh my Hiccup! You're home! You're safe! Thank all the gods! I feared the worst! Oh son, I'm so happy to see you safe and sound once again!"

"Happy to see you too, Dad," Hiccup managed to croak. His father was squeezing him so tightly that he was finding it hard to breathe.

Stoick finally released his son, who immediately took a deep breath and massaged his chest. He was almost sure one of his ribs was cracked. "But why did you go?" Stoick asked. "Son, we were all so worried about you! You just left without a word and we didn't know why! Was it something we did, son? Did I say something to hurt you? Was it—"

"Dad, no, it was nothing like that," Hiccup interrupted, and he went on to explain everything. With every word he said, Stoick's face darkened until he looked ready to explode.

"Is that so?" he growled when Hiccup had finished. "Well, she will certainly pay for this. I can promise that."

"Careful, Dad," Hiccup cautioned, but Stoick was already storming toward Heather's house, forcing his son and the others to trot along behind him. "She's powerful and quite capable of causing harm. We need to tread lightly."

But Stoick was beyond listening to reason. He made a fist and pounded on Heather's door. A moment later, she opened it and peered outside.

In the endless second following the opening of the door, several things happened. Heather's expression went from bemused to shocked when her eyes landed on Hiccup, and then her face darkened in a scowl that made the hair on the back of Hiccup's neck stand on end. At the same moment, Toothless and all seven Terrors started to growl, their backs hunched and their teeth bared. Astrid lifted her axe and held it before her, the blade glinting in the afternoon sun. All of this took no more than the span of a single heartbeat.

Heather was the first to speak. "So," she snarled at Hiccup, "I see my little spell wasn't as effective as I thought. You certainly are hard to get rid of."

Hiccup decided not to remark on this. Instead he asked, "Why, Heather? What did I ever do to you that made you want to kill me? Will you please explain to me why you wanted me dead?"

Heather smiled, but it was a cold expression that did nothing to enhance her beauty. "Never underestimate the jealousy of a woman's heart, Hiccup," she murmured.

Hiccup blinked and looked around at Astrid as understanding suddenly dawned on him. "You…you were mad because I love Astrid and not you?"

"You're perceptive," Heather remarked as she conjured a sword and held it aloft. "I loved you, Hiccup, yet you never once looked my way. No, your head was turned by this girl instead." She glared at Astrid, who returned her glower with interest. "So I decided that if I couldn't have you, no one would."

"That," said Astrid, "is the sickest thing I've ever heard."

Heather didn't seem to hear her. She pointed her sword at Hiccup and went on, "But clearly I underestimated you. I thought my little traps would be enough to finish you. Obviously, if I want to end your life, I'm going to have to do it the old-fashioned way."

And with that, she lunged, the point of the blade directed at Hiccup's heart.

Stoick and Astrid both moved to defend him, but there was no time to stop her. The dragons all shrieked in rage and tried to attack the girl, but they were too far back to cause any damage, at least without hurting Hiccup too.

But Heather's sword didn't cut Hiccup down. Instead, it met another blade with a loud clang and went no further. Heather's eyes widened in surprise.

Hiccup held his father's sword, which he'd seized from the sheath at the chief's hip and raised to defend himself.

In response to Heather's stunned expression, Hiccup raised his eyebrows and said, "Did you really think I'd just let you kill me? No, Heather. I'm going to do what I should have done from the very beginning, from the moment Snotlout told me that you wanted me dead. I'm going to confront you myself. I will save my own life instead of relying on others to save me."

Heather's face contorted. "How noble of you," she sneered. Then she swung her arm, and the duel began.

Stoick, Astrid, and the dragons all backed away as the two young Vikings fought, their swords flashing and clashing without pause. The villagers, attracted by the sounds of the conflict, surrounded them in a perfect circle, whispering excitedly amongst themselves. Several of them marveled over the fact that Hiccup had returned while others wondered aloud why in Thor's name he was trying to kill Heather. Stoick watched on with a worried frown creasing his forehead. "He's fighting with the wrong hand," he said, his eyes on the sword held in Hiccup's left hand. "How can he possibly win when he's not even using the sword arm?"

"Let him fight his own way, chief," Astrid replied, smiling faintly as she remembered the practice duel she and Hiccup had fought the day before he'd gone missing so long ago. "He knows what he's doing."

Despite Astrid's certainty, it didn't look as though Hiccup had the advantage. Not long into the fight, Heather disarmed him. Stoick gasped and tensed up, but before he could do anything, Hiccup was already moving. He dove for his fallen sword, dodging Heather's next attack. A second or two later, he turned and blocked his opponent's slash, his weapon back in his left hand. Heather snarled in frustration and swung wildly.

Her anger was the root of her downfall. The attack was clumsy, and Hiccup deflected it easily. And before she could make another move, he had turned the tables and disarmed her. Her sword swung through the air and landed in front of Stoick, who seized it at once and clutched it triumphantly in his massive fist.

Hiccup leveled his blade at Heather's throat. She blinked in disbelief and took an unsteady step backward. "Hiccup," she said shakily. "Hiccup, please…"

Hiccup raised his eyebrows. "Really? After everything you've done to me, you expect me to let you go because you said 'please'?"

"I…I loved you," Heather said desperately. "Everything I did, I did it because I loved you."

Hiccup scoffed. "No, Heather. You never loved me. People don't try to kill those they love when the feeling isn't shared. If you really loved me, you'd have wanted me to be happy no matter who I chose to be with. Whatever you felt for me, it wasn't love."

Heather tried one last tactic. "You shouldn't kill me. It isn't fair to kill an unarmed woman."

But Hiccup shook his head. "Considering this is this fourth time you've tried to kill me, I don't think you're in any position to instruct me on what is fair and what is not." He raised the sword to emphasize his point. "Besides, in matters of life and death, I don't play fair."

There was a pause.

Then Heather whirled around and bolted.

"Out of the way!" she shrieked, and the surrounding Vikings scurried back in sheer terror at the wild, crazed look in her eyes. Before Hiccup, Stoick, Astrid, or the dragons could do anything to stop her, she had retreated into her house and slammed the door shut behind her.

"After her!" Stoick roared. "Don't let her get away!"

Heather locked the door and rushed into the back room. "Mirror, mirror, on the wall," she hissed, and she darted into the magic mirror, vanishing from the room just as the villagers broke the front door down and barged into the house.

Hiccup just managed to catch a glimpse of her foot as it disappeared into the glass. "There!" he cried, pointing. "She's gone into the mirror!"

Inside the hidden chamber, Heather hurriedly uttered the incantation to wake up the reflection. "Help me!" she cried when the girl appeared in the glass, calm and composed as ever. "What can I do? I am trapped! How can I escape these fools?!"

The reflection merely shook her head. "There is nothing you can do now. You've created a trap for yourself that you will never make it out of."

Heather blinked. "No! No, there has to be something!"

The reflection barely reacted. "I'm afraid not. Your biggest mistake was coming in here. Don't you realize that this chamber only has one entrance and exit? And if that portal is destroyed…"

The realization hit Heather a second too late. On the other side of the hidden chamber, in the room of her house, Hiccup, Stoick, and Astrid were in the middle of trying to tip her mirror over. It tottered, teetered…

…and then fell to the floor, where it shattered into a thousand pieces.

The moment it smashed, the magic of the mirror broke. The chamber in which Heather stood went completely dark. "No!" she screamed, whirling around to face the reflection. Except there was no longer a reflection. No mirror, no reflection, and no portal. She was trapped, alone, and lost in endless darkness, and there she would remain until the end of time.

She vented her rage, fear, and defeat in one long scream, but no one heard it.

Back on Berk, the villagers celebrated Hiccup's safe return. Soon his story became known to everyone. Stoick was furious with Snotlout for first agreeing to kill Hiccup and then not telling anyone about Heather's treachery, but Hiccup urged him to offer forgiveness. "He saved my life, Dad," he reasoned. "He didn't kill me, and he lied to Heather at great personal risk to ensure my survival. Besides, I should never have left. That mistake was mine, not his." Stoick was reluctant, but he eventually relented and begrudgingly forgave his nephew.

The seven Terrors were lauded for their kindness and courage in allowing Hiccup to stay with them, and Stoick welcomed them to live on Berk should they so desire. Amethyst replied, "We would be honored, chief." His brothers and sisters agreed wholeheartedly, and before long they had taken residence on the island.

Citrine approached Hiccup and said he was sorry for how he treated the boy when he first showed up, and that he hoped they could be friends from now on. Hiccup smiled and answered, "Nothing would make me happier than to call you my friend." Citrine squawked happily in reply.

Later that night, as an impromptu celebration was underway at the Great Hall, Hiccup pulled Astrid aside. "If it wasn't for you, I'd still be lying dead in that cave," he said. "Thank you, Astrid. Thank you for not giving up on me, for loving me enough to keep searching, even when all seemed lost. I'm sorry for worrying you so much. Please forgive me for not telling you the truth from the start."

"I forgive you," Astrid replied at once, reaching up to embrace him. "I'm just glad you're okay."

Hiccup returned her hug and whispered, "Astrid…will you marry me?"

Astrid gasped and drew back. "Hiccup? Did…did you just…?"

"Yes, I did," Hiccup said, blushing furiously and looking away. "It's just…well I figured…since you kissed me back to life, and-and-and it was a true love's kiss that broke the spell…well…I thought I'd…I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked so soon, I'm rushing things, forget I said—"

Astrid cut him off with a brief yet passionate kiss that effectively halted his brain function. When she drew back she said, "Yes. Yes, I will marry you, Hiccup."

Hiccup blinked. "You…you will?" he squeaked, sounding as if he didn't dare believe it.

Astrid nodded…and then she punched him on the shoulder. "That," she said over his grunt of pain, "was for assuming I'd say no." And before he could respond, she kissed him again. "And that's for everything else," she added.

Hiccup just smiled in response.

Their engagement was announced the next day and was met with celebration. The seven Terrors all congratulated the happy couple, with Amethyst informing them that they fully expected having at least one child named after them. (Hiccup and Astrid both blushed and were unable to look at each other for several seconds after this.) There was a slight problem with Astrid's father, who was protective and feared they were moving too fast, but the situation was saved by Astrid's mother, who recognized true love when she saw it and gave them both their blessing.

They were married in a magnificent ceremony later that month, and when it came time to recite their vows, Hiccup promised to love, protect, and cherish his new wife forever and always, hoping that he would someday be able to repay her for all she'd already done to save him. In return, Astrid told him that he'd saved her too, in ways he probably didn't even know himself, but that if the time ever came when she needed to be defended, she had no doubt he had the strength and courage necessary to protect her. She went on to say that she loved him, and that she always would. Their vows said, they shared a tender kiss, and they lived happily ever after.

A/N: Poor Heather…how I have maligned you in this fairy tale… I really don't hate Heather as a character. I actually quite like her. But for the purposes of the fairy tale retelling, I figured I'd play up the more conniving side of her a bit. I promise, in later tales she'll be more likeable.

So…some fun facts about "Snow White": we're all familiar with Disney's version, but did you know that the poisoned apple is actually the queen's third attempt to kill Snow in the original fairy tale (not counting the huntsman)? She disguises herself three times and tricks Snow into dying three times: the first time she offers her a lace bodice that she ties so tight that it stops Snow's breath. The dwarfs cut the stays and revive her. The second time she gives her a poisoned comb, which when placed in her hair kills her. The dwarfs remove this too and revive her again. The third time is when the queen brings the poisoned apple, of which only half is poisoned so that the queen can take a bite herself to show it's safe. I chose to reduce it to two because I figured Hiccup was too smart to be tricked three times. Also, in the original fairy tale, there is no true love's kiss to break the spell. The prince sees Snow in the glass coffin and decides to take her back with him to his castle (because…yeah, that's not creepy or anything…). The coffin is jostled, and this jars the piece of poisoned apple loose, which revives Snow. I almost went with this ending, but ultimately decided that the true love's kiss thing was, well…more romantic. But seriously, you should read these original fairy tales if you haven't!

Anyway, I don't know what I'll be writing next. Ever since my surgery my writing has been kind of…bleh… So I might be taking a break. The next fairy tale in my lineup is "Astrid and the Beast," based on "Beauty and the Beast," and after that I'll do "The Sleeping Viking," based on "Sleeping Beauty." I hope you enjoyed this! :)