Hiccup stared out at the horizon, blinking back the tears that glistened in his eyes. The only sound heard was the waves crashing against the rocks below, threatening to swallow the island whole.
"Far beyond what we can see, lies the Hidden World," he said, glancing down at the three-year-old girl in his arms.
The little girl gazed out over the sea in awe, before looking back up at her father.
"And in that Hidden World, lives the mighty Night Fury. He protects all the dragons that live there, and one day, when you're a little bit older, I'll take you and your brother there to see them."
"Really?"
The voice of his daughter was so small and innocent, and Hiccup finally understood what his own father must've felt all those years ago.
"Really," he laughed, pressing his forehead up against her's.
Zephyr giggled and placed her palms against her father's cheeks. Hiccup pulled back after a moment, and his attention returned to the bright sky. It was such a lovely day.
"The Night Fury's name is Toothless," he continued, "and he was my best friend."
"Wow," Zephyr breathed, staring up at her father with a whole new admiration. Hiccup watched her reaction out of the corner of his eye, and he smiled proudly. "Will he ever come see us?"
At first, Hiccup was startled by the question, and then he sighed sadly. "I don't think so, Zeph. His job is to stay with the dragons, and ours is to be here, on New Berk."
"Oh."
Noticing his daughter's disappointed expression, Hiccup bounced her lightly to get her attention, and the stunning blue eyes that matched his wife's met his own. "But don't worry, you'll see him someday," he reminded her.
"Hiccup!"
Hiccup turned around at the sound of the faint yell, and spotted Astrid. She stood just close enough to be seen, looking as beautiful as ever with the light shining off of her golden hair, and the tiny bundle held tightly in her arms.
"It's time for lunch!"
"Yay!" Zephyr exclaimed, wriggling to be set down. "Mommy said we can eat in the big house today!"
Hiccup chuckled at his daughter's nickname for the Great Hall as he gently lowered her to the ground, then they started the trek back to the village. Zephyr ran ahead of him to catch up with her mother, and when she reached Astrid, she grabbed onto the hand that wasn't supporting her baby brother, and the three of them continued on their way.
Just before the cliffside vanished from his view, Hiccup turned back, and when he glanced up at the sky, he felt a sense of satisfaction wash over him. "Happy tenth anniversary, Bud."
As the words left his mouth, Hiccup could've sworn he saw the shadow of a Night Fury move amongst the clouds, and he somehow knew that, wherever he was, Toothless was thinking of him, too.