I fell like I've been neglecting my updating duties lately, and for that, I'm sorry. The problem is, I just don't have any chapters to update with! A nasty bout of writers block has taken over my mind, and I'm finding it hard to find inspiration with nothing to do but sit in the dark and stare at my screen. I have, however, managed to concoct this chapter for a nice follow up to the tiny cliffhanger last episode. So, enjoy!

Hiccup POV

I walked briskly out of the castle, pushing past every person that blocked my path. The energy and power I had absorbed from the shadow still coursed through me. This shadow had been especially energetic, filling me with the need to burn it off. I knew that Toothless was fine, I had set protective charms around the cove for that very reason. I left because I needed to get away, to fly on my own and clear my head.

I reached the edge of the grounds of the school. In my haste to get away, I had forgotten about the terms of the triwizard tournament. I couldn't leave school grounds. I stood just past the quidditch pitch, ready to try and step past the school boundaries. I took a step forwards reluctantly. Nothing happened, encouraged, I took another one.

A shock of pain coursed through me and the world turned black for a moment. I was launched backwards, away from the boundary. Groaning, I lay on the ground and slowly picked myself up, wincing as I did so.

"That was awfully violent." I uttered under my breath. The school grounds remained quiet.

I had an idea. The terms of the tournament stated that I couldn't leave the grounds, but could my animagus form? It could work, if the spell didn't include any loopholes. I considered transforming before I heard muffled voices behind me.

Of course they had decided to follow me. I had chosen probably some of the most stubborn group of friends in the school. I took a deep breath and prepared what information they needed to hear, and what I needed to keep from them. They approached quickly, with Rapunzel surprisingly in the lead.

I stood with my back to the boundary line, waiting patiently for them to arrive. I saw Merida pull away from Rapunzel and Jack, coming up to talk to me.

"What were you thinking?" I heard Merida's thick accent cut through the silence. "You weren't checking in on Toothless, you're out here doing who knows what-"

"I needed time to calm down." I told her quietly. I searched her bright blue eyes, trying to explain to her what was too risky to say aloud at the moment.

"What do you think you're doing, Haddock?" I heard Jack say from behind Merida. I tore my gaze from hers and looked over her shoulder.

"I'm hunting leopards." I said sarcastically.

No one laughed and I was reminded oddly of home, with stern faces surrounding me and my dry humor reaching deaf ears.

"Hiccup, what was that thing outside?" Punzie asked me. They had all arrived by now, and they formed a semi-circle around me.

"It was a shadow creature...thingy." I said, though it sounded more like a question.

"Please, indulge me." Jack said, leaning casually on his staff. "What's a 'shadow creature thingy'?"

I sighed. "They're these...creatures. They're made of pure darkness and are really nasty, evil things. When they attack people, mostly children, they steal their confidence and-and happiness, leaving them paralyzed from fear. It steals a part of their soul as it passes through them, and..." I stopped. "They normally don't recover."

"Wait a second." Jack held up a hand. "Why haven't the Guardians heard of these if they're attacking children?"

I paused. "There's no accounts of them in books, or stories. Nothing. It's like they never existed at all, until now."

"So why now?" Rapunzel asked.

"We don't know." Merida cut in.

I nodded in agreement. "Uh, yes. We don't actually know why they've started to appear."

"So we've never heard of these shadows before, but you can still fight them?" Jack asked, not buying the story.

"Uh, yes." I said.

"How?" Rapunzel asked.

"His sword." Merida said. "They can only be killed by a dragons fire, and Hiccup's sword uses a dragon's fire spell."

Merida's lie sounded so truthful, I almost believed her myself. I had always wondered how she had learned to lie so well.

There was silence for a few moments before Rapunzel suggested we return to the common room before it became too dark to see.

"Go ahead." I told her. "I have something I need to do."

She looked like she wanted to ask why, but pursed her lips instead and went over to Jack, whispering something to him. He nodded and they left, leaving only Merida and I standing on the hill.

"Why did you come this far out?" Merida asked me, walking over to stand beside me. She crossed her arms and stared out at the vast forest in front of us.

"I wanted to fly." I said, kicking a stone past the boundaries. "Except, the tournament's rules won't let me leave school grounds."

Merida was silent again.

"Are you okay?" She asked. "I know you hate the whole...shadow touching thing."

I nodded mutely. "It never gets any easier. No matter how many times I-"

I sighed and closed my eyes. Merida stood closely beside me, and I became very aware of her presence.

"Do you know what the first task is yet?" She asked, deciding to change the difficult topic we had stumbled upon.

"No. They don't tell you until minutes before."

"Are you nervous?" She asked, casting a sideways glance my way.

"What? Me, nervous? No way." I said. "I have totally got this."

Merida smiled gently and we continued staring out into the horizon in front of us.

"You know, if we get caught out here, we'll be expelled." Merida said.

"I can't be expelled until after the tournament." I told her. "All part of your master plan to make me stay, remember?"

Merida looked slightly guilty, but didn't apologize for anything.

"Why did you come out to the pitch, why not go through the forest?" She asked me, curiosity evident in her voice.

I took a deep breath. "The energy that I absorb...it's very potent. I need to get rid of some of it before I lose my mind and something happens. Sometimes it can...effect how I think, depending on the soul I-I absorb. Flying...helps. I couldn't spontaneously turn into a dragon in front of the school, or someone might see me."

"Why didn't you? Transform I mean, when you got here."

"I was going to fly off when I heard you but...the tournaments rules; I can't leave the school's grounds."

"How does it keep you in?" She asked.

I cast a rather bitter look at the ground in front of me, as though there were a bold line directing where the border was.

"A charm or a jinx. It gives you something similar to a shock, and then it throws you back, away from the boundary line. It's very violent, and painful." I added.

"So say I pushed you forwards..." Merida taunted.

"Oh, ha ha." I deadpanned. I rolled my eyes before turning to face Merida.

"I was thinking earlier, about how North said that I couldn't leave school grounds. I was going to try and pass through it in my animagus form, because then it's not actually me passing through. It's not Hiccup, it's the dragon." I faced the invisible barrier.

"What if it doesn't work?" Merida asked, facing the boundary line alongside me.

"Then this is going to hurt." I told her.