Hello and happy new year. The first islands in the pacific have already crossed to the other decade so it is time to release this new year's chapter. (Actually I wanted to give it to you as a Christmas gift, but things happened. I hope this longish chapter is enough to compensate for the delay.)

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Comments:

erikatyusharon: You can always use more than one dragon at the same time if one doesn't have enough gas

Dragonrider's Fury: She has a quota to fill and you don't want to mess with HEATher or you might get burned.

Eris: Update! But you need to wait just a little longer to see Hakon again. Working on that right now. Big things in the next chapter after this.

Aurastar Warrior: Welcome. I usually release a chapter at the end of each month (not necessary the exact last day, but within couple of days of the month's end. Usually I just don't feel like holding out on the chapter for few days for specific date if I've already gotten it back from across the Atlantic.) with some bonuses over the year.

Fluffy McFluff : Forget the flock. There's a dragon loving telepath with a Night Fury brother that won't be happy to see Hakon's souvenir.

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Proofread by 3DPhantom

Hiccup sat up on the saddle, barely able to keep his eyes open against the wind as he watched the sun rising to a new day. Even sunrises had seemed brighter recently, and Hiccup had slept well enough to wake up and see quite a few of them despite how early it happened in summer. Everyone but him and Toothless were still sleeping far below and behind them. Then again, none of them had as much energy to burn for an early morning flight as Toothless. Hiccup just tried to enjoy every moment of each peaceful day.

The Wingmaidens might have had their doubts, and quirks of tradition, but not a single person had even looked at Hiccup and Toothless, or anyone in their flock, with actual hostility since the day they arrived. It was so relaxing after Fjoll and especially Berk. Hiccup leaned forward and held onto Toothless' neck just in time as the dragon took them into a steep dive towards the waves below. They spun around so when Toothless pulled up from the dive they were heading back towards the Wingmaidens' island. Toothless caught a mouthful of fish on the way.

They landed back next to a small hut a bit outside the Wingmaidens' village. Allowing men to live in the village would have been blatantly against their tradition, but apparently allowing visits from someone staying temporarily outside the village itself was okay. Fishlegs had just stepped out of the hut with Meatlug as the two brothers landed. Sharpshot was still asleep on Meatlug's back. Other dragons were laying around the hut or stretching, having just gotten up. Stormfly and Brightscale were bickering about something.

'Good morning everyone,' Hiccup declared as he slid down from the saddle. "How was the night?" He asked Fishlegs. The larger boy and Sharpshot both yawned.

"Too short. I stayed up late writing down what we learned from Atali about Razorwhips and their relationship with the Wingmaidens."

"Of course," Hiccup said with a smile and caught Sharpshot as the little dragon decided to fly straight at him.

'Why Viking brother and Night Fury brother wake so early. Bulky wing too small to sleep under.' Sharpshot quickly ran out of complaints as Hiccup started scratching his head and back on a spot between his wings. Toothless dropped his haul of fish and pulled a small one to the top. Sharpshot jumped on the pile as soon as Hiccup's fingers stopped for a moment. He couldn't help but chuckle a little as the Terror dove in and practically swam through the pile.

'Terrors act a lot like hatchlings,' Whiplash commented from nearby. 'They might be simple, but sometimes I think that is a blessing.'

Hiccup looked into the empty air for a moment and sighed. He left Sharpshot to eat and turned towards the Changewing.

'You want to talk about what's on your mind? I'm not going to intrude in your mind, but I can feel your sadness any time someone mentions hatchlings.' Whiplash looked at him. 'I've been hoping you'd trust us to share what happened,' Hiccup added.

'You found me from a hunter ship. They caught me on that ship when… when I tried to save my hatchlings and mate.'

'Hunters have them?' Hiccup asked.

'There was a fight. They died.' Whiplash laid down on the ground and rested his head. Hiccup kneeled next to him and after a moment of hesitation placed his palm on Whiplash's snout. Other members of the flock had moved closer by them. Even Sharpshot had climbed away from the fish and onto Toothless' head. Fishlegs was left outside the conversation but seemed to understand enough of what was going on. Whiplash took a moment to react to Hiccup's gesture and raise his eyes.

'I'm glad you could finally talk about it openly… and trusted us enough for that.'

'Maybe it was the time. All those Razorwhip hatchlings on this island… You never gave me a reason not to trust you, and I spent a long time looking for someone like that.'

Hiccup smiled. He moved his arm over Whiplash's head.

'I've noticed you have been looking over us more than anyone… except Toothless, and it wasn't just to find out if you can trust us. I don't think I ever thanked you for all you did while the Hunters had me. Ivar talked a lot about it.'

'Those people reminded me of the Hunters who took my family. I might have done worse things, more rash things, if it wasn't for Toothless. His rage scared me. I feared same might happen to me.'

'It scares me,' Toothless said from behind Hiccup.

Hiccup glanced back as his thoughts briefly soothed Toothless' own before he focused back on Whiplash.

'I just wish you could have opened up earlier.'

'Have you ever been afraid of yourself?' Whiplash asked.

'Ever since I realised how much my… power could do,' Hiccup answered. 'I haven't even tested its limits because of what might happen and didn't talk about it much. I can see how you might be afraid of losing control of your emotions, but I've never seen you really struggle with anger. Only sadness maybe. That's where this all started and… we can't return what you lost. But I hope we have managed to be a good new family.'

Whiplash raised his head and ended up pulling Hiccup up with him.

'Thank you.' Whiplash brushed his head against Hiccup, who patted it in return. He had to move his hand when Sharpshot jumped on the head.

'Is Whippy our brother now too?'

The dragons around them chuckled, except Toothless who puffed, annoyed.

'I think this whole flock has been turning more and more into a family for a long time.' Hiccup turned towards Toothless and rested his hand on the black snout while scratching under Toothless' chin with the other one. 'Stop pouting bud. You are still my number one overprotective mother hen of a big brother.'

Even with their minds bonded Hiccup had barely enough time to brace for the licking his actions brought upon him. Toothless stopped the instant the wind changed directions.

'We aren't alone anymore.'

"Seems they are early today," Hiccup said out loud.

"They came already." Fishlegs turned to look in the village's direction. A moment later two young Wingmaidens peeked above a nearby tree. They weren't quite as wide-eyed as on the first days, but couldn't pull their eyes away from the kids hanging out with adult dragons. Hiccup and Fishlegs waved at them to show they had been seen. The Maidens jumped from the tree and their hatchlings carried them to Hiccup and Fishlegs.

"Hello boys. Seems you are having a good time."

"It has been a good morning," Hiccup answered wiping saliva from his cheeks as he did. One of the Razorwhip hatchlings looked at Hiccup, tilting his head and quickly licked his Maiden's cheek. She flinched of surprise.

"They don't usually do that."

"Seems like he took a lesson from one possessive Night Fury," Hiccup said. "The little one is telling other dragons that you are his."

"I… think that is kind of cute," the Maiden said. "Anyway, we came to invite you to visit the village, just for a day."

"We'll gladly accept, but only for such time that will not violate your people's traditions," Fishlegs answered, complimented by an almost serious little bow. The Maidens smiled and got back into the air. By the time they landed in the village there was already a line of Maidens and their hatchlings.

"Am I bad at counting or are there more of them every day?" Hiccup remarked.

"It's not your math," Fishlegs said. "The number of people that believe in your ability seems to increase at a high rate."

"And everyone who does wants to have a chat with their hatchlings."

"It is really every Maiden's dream come true," one of the Wingmaidens said. "And you aren't even asking anything for it."

"We came to make friends, not money," Hiccup shrugged. "The Flock gets most of what we need to live anyway."

"Welcome our honoured guests." Atali stood in front of the line and greeted them upon landing. She even offered Toothless and Meatlug her hand in greeting. She didn't have time to do the same with Sharpshot, who jumped off from Toothless' back and onto her shoulder to play with her Razorwhip hatchling.

"Sorry about that," Hiccup said, but couldn't keep aa appropriately serious expression for an apology.

"None needed," Atali waved him off. "They seem happy and that is most important for a Maiden. But I'm not going to keep you away from the others for any longer. I'll let these two play somewhere out of the way." Atali grabbed her hatchling and Sharpshot each on one arm and walked away. Hiccup turned to the line of Wingmaidens holding their hatchlings and reached his hand out to the first one.

It didn't take long until Hiccup was surrounded, sitting in a ring of women and their dragons. Toothless laid down nearby outside the ring, happy whenever he caught a glimpse of Hiccup smiling at some hatchling's antics. Talking to hatchlings was challenging, sometimes even frustrating, but Hiccup still lost his sense of time chatting with the little ones and their caretakers. Fishlegs sat at the edge of the ring writing down everything they learned about the Razorwhips. Some were still sceptical when Hiccup shared their hatchlings' thoughts with them, but none seemed hostile or afraid like many people on Fjoll still did. Though the woman called Minden was more wary. She was always nearby when Hiccup and Fishlegs visited the village, but had never approached them after the day they had arrived

The morning passed quickly, and a meal was already being placed on tables in front of Atali's house when Hiccup suddenly fell silent mid-sentence. Simultaneously, Toothless stood and his ears rose to listen to the sounds carried on the wind.

"Is something wrong?" One of the Wingmaidens asked.

"We have to ask him," Hiccup answered and pointed at a nearby large tree. A Changewing materialized, hanging against the trunk as he did so. Nearby Maidens got scared and flew away from the sudden arrival. Minden stepped between Hiccup and Whiplash, armed.

"What is going on?"

'There's some trouble on the other side of the island you should know about,' Whiplash told Hiccup without caring about the woman. 'Whispering Deaths.'

"Whispering Deaths," Hiccup said to himself. "Here?"

Fishlegs gasped nearby.

"Whispering Deaths?" someone said louder.

"That's not good," Fishlegs added.

"Wingmaidens!" Minden ran from where she had been looking. "Arm yourselves and prepare to defend the Razorwhips." And so the group around Hiccup scattered. They got spears and assembled around Minden. Hiccup ran to her with Toothless in tow.

"Are you going to fight them?"

"We have to defend our village and dragons from anything that might threaten them, other dragons included," Minden said and turned her back to Hiccup. She took flight with other Wingmaidens without another word, leaving Hiccup to stare after them. Images of battles back on Berk flashed in his mind. It took a mental and physical push from Toothless to bring him back to his senses.

"We have to stop them."

"Hiccup," Fishlegs put his hand on Hiccup's shoulder, "if those dragons are actually threatening the island…"

"That's how it all started. They don't even know why the dragons are here."

'The Whispering Deaths were chasing away Razorwhips from area they were nesting at,' Whiplash said. Hiccup bit his teeth together. He grabbed Toothless' saddle and got on it.

"I can't just watch people and dragons killing each other again. This island has been a paradise of people and dragons coexisting. We have to do something to keep it that way." Hiccup had barely finished talking when Toothless jumped into the air. Fishlegs shouted for Meatlug below them, but Toothless didn't wait for the slower dragon. It only took a moment to catch up with Minden and the other Maidens.

"Are you going to help us?" Minden asked when Toothless settled to gliding next to her.

"I'm going to stop this battle from happening before this island too is tainted with blood."

"We aren't exited for this battle either, but if our people or the Razorwhips are in danger it is our duty to defend them." Minden swung her spear to the side, pointing it straight at Hiccup. Toothless growled and gave her a look that should have been enough to kill a person all on its own. "You can help or stay out of the way."

Hiccup tore his eyes away from the spear and stared quietly at the saddle. For a moment the only sounds were whirs of the wind and clicks from Hiccup's pedal. He didn't really have to think about it anymore. It wasn't even him really controlling the fin. His leg just moved as Toothless needed it to.

"I can't do that."

Minden never responded to him as screams from the Whispering Deaths and roars from Razorwhips split the air. Two Razorwhips were surrounded by five Whispering Deaths while covering a third one laying on the ground between them. Blood under the dragon was visible from the sky. Hiccup's face tensed. Why were those Whispering Deaths doing this? Maybe it would be better to just beat them so badly they understand to never come back. Hiccup blinked.

'Toothless?'

'Sorry, that was me. I don't have fond memories of Whispering Deaths.'

'I can feel that.' Hiccup put his hand on Toothless' head. 'We aren't going to fight them.'

'We still have to stop them. They won't care if you try to talk to them, and that Razorwhip doesn't have much time.'

Hiccup squeezed the saddle and bit his lip, unable to look away from the wounded dragon. The Maidens dove down ready for battle. He didn't want a fight, but couldn't let the Razorwhips suffer.

'You have the power stop this without hurting anyone,' Toothless said. 'Those Whispering Deaths look dangerous, but they won't stand a chance against that mind of yours.'

'I know but… What if I try and do something wrong?'

'You've never…' Toothless mentally sighed. 'You shouldn't fear your own power. You have always been in complete control of it.'

'Because I've never tried its limits. One little mistake or wrong thought and I…'

'So like every night for me,' Toothless said.

'Wha…?' Hiccup blinked.

'Any night, if I move in my sleep, if I hold you too tight, I could hurt you, like that time in the grass, or worse. Then you said you trusted me. You knew it wouldn't happen. You can stop those Whispering Deaths, and nothing is going to happen to them unless you want it.'

'You… You don't know that.'

'I do. I am the only one who has experienced your power and do so every day. You can do it, or I can dive down right now and blast them to death. I won't mind.'

'No… If you think it's okay…' By now Minden and her warriors had formed two lines against the Whispering Deaths, one on the ground and another one hovering above it. Toothless dove right between them and landed between them and the dragons. With some effort he controlled himself to not strike down the Whispering Deaths, if only for Hiccup's sake. Two of them turned to face the new opponents as Hiccup slid down from the saddle.

"What are you doing?" Minden asked.

"What I have to. No one should be hurt more today."

"I doubt you can talk those dragons into giving up."

"They won't have a choice if Hiccup is ready to do what I think he is planning," Fishlegs said, just then arriving with Meatlug.

"Toothless thinks I am," Hiccup said before he closed his eyes and extended his thoughts. 'I am sorry.'

Tendrils of his minds struck the Whispering Deaths like tips of spears. The dragons roared, but Hiccup too screamed. He held his head and almost tripped. He had to lean on Toothless' side. These dragons, their minds were different, simpler than other dragons, expect Terrors, but also darker and louder. All five of them now focused on Hiccup and charged. Toothless jumped between them with a blue glow radiating from his mouth. Hiccup fell on his butt behind his brother. The impact shook him back from the earlier shock.

He reached his hand towards the Whispering Deaths and threw his thoughts at them.

'STOP!'

The Whispering Deaths stopped like they had hit a wall. Unable to move even their wings, they fell in a heap in front of Toothless, forced to stare into the blue glow of death in the Night Fury's mouth.

'Toothless.'

Toothless turned around, lowering his head to help his panting brother up. Hiccup leaned on him both physically and mentally while sorting his thoughts from the earlier shock.

'See,' Toothless said, 'even when things went bad you only did what you were supposed to. Did you notice your power has grown a bit since last year? Even I am shaking after feeling that. They never had a chance.'

'Not sure if that is good.' Hiccup breathed in deep before pushing off Toothless' head to stand straight. He looked at the Whispering Deaths laying in front of him and the Razorwhips behind them.

"Help the Razorwhip! These Whispering Deaths won't get in your way!" he shouted to Minden and took a step forward to stand in front of Toothless. He touched the Whispering Deaths' minds more carefully than before. It made him feel a bit nauseous, but his feet remained steady. The hostility from the Whispering Deaths was quickly turning into pure terror as they found their bodies not obeying their will. All with a single mental command from Hiccup. The thought did nothing to help his nausea.

'Get up,' he commanded, very carefully. The dragons' minds appeared undamagedafter his earlier mental assault, but still. The five dragons got up from the ground but still could not do anything else, held by Hiccup's will.

'I can't allow you to do what you are doing here. This island is already inhabited, and you have shown you are not wanted here.'

Hiccup paused. With the terror radiating from the five dragons, they could already be done with this. He could let them go and they would go. But… Hiccup breathed in deep and closed his eyes to focus one more time. He pushed in deeper into the minds of these dragons, as deep as he had gone with the dragons of his flock to free them from the Queen. With the Flock he had left something of himself into all of the dragons to carry his will to protect them. Now he had to leave a bit of himself to carry a different will, but he didn't want to take these five dragons' free will, not any more than he had to, even if they had used it for bad things. One mistake and they all could be stuck following some misplaced order to their deaths. Better stay safe and make it simple.

'Leave this island and never come back here.' Hiccup pointed to the sky. 'Go.'

The Whispering Deaths spread their wings and took off simultaneously. Hiccup did not take his eyes off them for as long as the dragons were visible, and even then he could still sense them for a long time. The rest of his flock arrived while the Whispering Deaths were still visible, but they stayed out of the way.

"Hiccup."

Hiccup turned away from the now empty sky. Minden was standing in front of him with a serious look in her eyes. She let go of her weapon, letting it fall to the ground. The next moment her hands were on his shoulders.

"Thank you."