Old Friends, New Beginnings:

Stopped in a forest for the evening, Jack and Hiccup had long finished setting up camp and were waiting for Snotlout to get back with food. Jack was lying down, his back to the ground as he played with the snowflakes manifesting above him. Hiccup was sitting back against a tree, her knees up as she drew in the small journal she always carried. It was filled with all kinds of sketches ranging from various dragons, to the people in Berk, to her father and Toothless. Now though, she was sketching Jack. She loved sketching people when they didn't know it. It always resulted in the most natural of poses and expressions. It was always so much more real than if her subject knowingly posed for her, and Hiccup couldn't help but now add Jack to her collection in this quiet moment. When she was finishing the last details, though, she hadn't noticed when Jack moved, not until his voice startled her.

"What are you drawing?" he asked, suddenly standing beside her.

Hiccup immediately jolted and unconsciously covered the sketch. "Oh, nothing much", she said, though she knew she was blushing.

Jack smirked, though whether it was out of amusement for making her fluster or because he wasn't buying it, Hiccup would never know.

"Thought we agreed no more secrets", he said smoothly, before taking the journal. "Wow, this is pretty good", he then praised as he looked at the sketch of himself lying on the ground with a child-like smile, snowflakes scattered above him. "Though you didn't get my good side." Handing the journal back, he posed with his staff, his 'good side' turned towards her as he took a cocky stance.

Hiccup chuckled, knowing Jack was only playing, but began sketching it anyway. Hiccup smirked when she saw Jack's eyes widen at her action just the tiniest bit; now he was stuck like that. Lucky for Jack, Snotlout came back just a few seconds later.

As Hiccup put her journal away and Jack moved from his pose, Toothless landed at Hiccup's side, having gone with Snotlout to help him hunt. Phil cooed a polite hello to the fellow dragon, having kept a watchful eye on the camp and its inhabitants the entire time. Now that everyone was back together, he could relax a bit.

"Hey, bud", Hiccup said to Toothless. "Have fun hunting with Snotlout?"

"No", Toothless grumbled.

"So, what did you manage this time?" Jack asked.

"Nuts", Snotlout plopped a bag to the ground. Hiccup crawled over to it and looked inside.

"Snotlout, I think this is a rock", she took one out.

"Well you go out there and see how easy it is", he told her irritably.

"Alright, alright, don't worry about it, Snotlout. Nuts are fine", Hiccup said.

"Yeah", Jack came to sit beside her. "So, we're a bit hungry for another night. We'll survive."

Snotlout only responded with a glare, but before he could retort, a loud sound interrupted.

BOOM!

"What was that?" Snotlout asked, the three humans and their dragons startled.

BOOM!

"I don't know", Hiccup stood. "Come on", she headed towards the sound, Jack quickly following.

"You know, normally you run away from strange noises!" Snotlout shouted. "Not towards them!"

000

As they followed the sounds, they found themselves in a trench. Hiding behind a fallen tree trunk, Hiccup suddenly gasped at the sight of the young man who was causing the noise. He was using vines to move, carve, and push rocks, dirt, and clay out of the way within what looked like a small peaceful garden. The boulders in which he burst into pebbles, seeming to use vines to embed and shatter them from the inside out, were what were making the loud booms.

"A spring caster", Jack muttered, silently wondering what exactly it was that he was doing all the way out here. There were bushes, flowers, and even small stones all in strategic places in the established part of the garden. It created quite the calming atmosphere, and it looked like he was trying to expand. But why create a personal garden out here? His thoughts were put to a halt when Hiccup suddenly stood.

"Fishlegs!" she called with a smile, and 'Fishlegs' turned with a startled gasp, immediately stopping what he was doing. When he saw Hiccup, though, his worried and scared frown turned into a smile.

"Hiccup?" he exclaimed with surprise. He had green eyes and short blond hair atop his head, and wore a simple green shirt, tan pants, and brown boots.

"Sup, Fishface", Snotlout now stood and joined in the apparent reunion as Hiccup stepped passed the tree trunk towards the spring caster.

"Snotlout? What are you guys doing here?" the spring caster now asked. "Not that I'm not happy to see you of course, just…"

By this point, Jack was standing up from the hiding place as well and moving towards Hiccup and Snotlout.

"We're on our way to the northern archipelago, so Jack and I can learn autumn casting", Hiccup gestured back to him. "Oh, that reminds me; Jack, this is our old friend, Fishlegs. He and his mom used to live on Berk, but then moved to the Spring Kingdom to be with his dad."

"Nice to meet you", Jack greeted to the now star-struck boy, when said boy suddenly spoke.

"So the rumors are true. The Guardian is back", he started quietly, clearly in awe. "And you're traveling with him?!" Fishlegs suddenly squealed to Hiccup. "When?! How?! You have to tell me everything!"

Hiccup just laughed to her excited friend. "I'll explain everything, Fishlegs, don't worry."

"Are you staying somewhere tonight? You're more than welcome to stay at my place", Fishlegs rambled on. "Ooh! I can even show you this new crab cake recipe my mom came up with. I know how much you loved her old one on Berk."

"If that means more than nuts for dinner, please and thank you", Jack finally cut in.

"Hey, I worked hard for those nuts", Snotlout exclaimed.

"We'd be more than happy to", Hiccup said.

"Great! Follow me. Oh, but, uh… just one thing before we go. Don't tell my mom, or anyone, you saw me spring casting, okay?"

"What, why?" Hiccup asked, sounding confused, and as Jack looked around the secluded garden Fishlegs had made, he was wondering the same thing, his thoughts from earlier returning.

"Just don't, Hiccup", was all he said, before turning back around and leading them to a nearby town.

000

Hiccup was honestly a little bewildered by Fishlegs' request. Why would he want to keep his actions of spring casting secret from his mom? And now that she thought about it, why was Fishlegs casting so far from the village? In her excitement at seeing her childhood friend, she hadn't really paid attention to the oddity of him being out there in the first place. Why couldn't he just do all that stuff at home? Why did he need to create a garden in the forest? And why couldn't they mention spring casting to his mom?

When they arrived to Fishlegs' village, Hiccup noticed how, unlike The Dark Kingdom, there wasn't very much plant life surrounding the homes or markets. It looked so…lifeless.

"This is strange", Hiccup muttered.

"I know", Jack muttered beside her.

"So, Fishface, how's life been since you left?" Snotlout stole their attention.

"Snotlout, stop calling him that", Hiccup reprimanded. She'd always hated how he gave Fishlegs that 'nickname'. It was more mocking than anything else.

"Fine", Snotlout shrugged with a roll of his eyes. "So?" he turned back to their friend.

"Its been okay. Though, it used to be better", Fishlegs said, though he didn't elaborate.

Soon they were outside a shop, and Fishlegs opened the door for them to step inside. His mother was behind the counter. She was a tall plump woman with green eyes, much like her son, and had blond hair that was tied up into a braided bun.

"Fishlegs, there you are", she said with a hint of worry, though it didn't really surprise Hiccup much. She'd always been a worrier for her son. "Where have you been? It's nearly sundown", she then scolded. That's when she noticed the three of them.

"Hiccup? Snotlout? Is that you?" she asked.

"Hi Mrs. Ingerman", Hiccup greeted, Jack waving beside her as well.

"What in Thor's name are you doing here?"

Before answering, Fishlegs' eyes drifted to the door, and he quickly moved over to it and locked it, before closing the shutters as well.

"Mom, this is the Guardian", Fishlegs then gestured to Jack, his voice quiet. "Hiccup and Snotlout are traveling to the Northern Archipelago with him, and we sort of ran into each other. Could they stay with us for the night?"

Mrs. Ingerman looked between the four teens in her shop, mild shock and confusion written on her face, before finally nodding. "Of course. But just for tonight. If they found out we were harboring the Guardian…well, I don't even want to think of what the consequences would be."

"Open up!" a loud voice, coupled with knocking, suddenly sounded from outside. Snotlout went to the window and peaked out.

"Summer Nation", he exclaimed hushly. "Jack, hide."

"Behind the counter, quick", Hiccup pointed, and Jack leaped behind it. Once hidden, Fishlegs' mom, a determined look in her eyes, stepped towards the door and opened it. The man behind the door was a Summer Nation soldier. Without prompt, he walked in, and Mrs. Ingerman's look hardened.

"What do you want? I already paid you this week!" she told him.

"The tax just doubled", he said. "And we wouldn't want an accident, would we?" he then threatened, his hands forming a ball of brightly glowing sun fire. "Summer's heat; sometimes so hard to contain."

Mrs. Ingerman's resolve faltered, and with a defeated sigh, she moved behind the counter where Jack was hiding and took out a box. There wasn't much inside, but she gave the man what he wanted.

"You can keep the copper ones", he uncaringly dropped the coins to the ground, then left.

"Nice guy", Snotlout sarcastically commented as Hiccup helped Mrs. Ingerman pick the coins up and place them back in the box. As she got a better look inside, she noticed just how empty it really was. There was barely any money.

"How long has the Summer Nation been here?" Jack asked as he rose from behind the counter.

"Almost five years now. Summer Lord Mordu uses our town's coal mines to fuel his ships", Mrs. Ingerman said soberly.

"Since they moved in, they've stolen everything. And there's nothing we can do about it", Fishlegs continued, but Hiccup wasn't convinced.

"But Fishlegs, you're a spring caster; you could help", she looked hopefully to her friend, but his mom immediately shut it down.

"Spring casting is forbidden, Hiccup. He is to never use his abilities."

"Never? But that's… W-why? H-how could you say that? Asking Fishlegs not to spring cast is like asking me not to autumn cast. It's a part of him." And clearly he couldn't stay away from it. His insistence on them not speaking a word about his casting suddenly became clear, but that didn't mean Hiccup thought it was right.

"You don't understand."

"I understand you could fight back", Hiccup interrupted. "What could the Summer Nation do that they haven't done already?"

"They could take him away", the mother's voice hardened. "Just like they took his father."

The air stilled from that statement alone, not a sound spoken after. It was only Jack's hand on her shoulder that kept Hiccup grounded.

Taking them to the farm, Fishlegs left them in his family's barn to sleep, no room for them in the house, but that was okay. They were only going to be there 'til morning, and it beat sleeping out in the woods. As they waited for Fishlegs to come back with some provisions he promised, Hiccup couldn't stop pacing. It was making her dragon dizzy.

"Hiccup, will you stop pacing? They're fine", Snotlout said from where he sat on a hay-bale.

"Are they?" Hiccup stopped. "Their life is no better here than it was on Berk. In many ways, it's worse."

"Look, the most we can do right now is to keep doing what we're doing. The faster we get to Caldera Cay, the faster we put an end to all of this."

"Snotlout's right, Hiccup", Jack then said as he stood by Phil, though he sounded sad with that fact. "There isn't anything we can do right now."

"I know", Hiccup conceded, if only a little, "but Fishlegs is my friend. It's hard seeing him have to live like this."

"I know", Jack agreed, his eyes cast down.

The door to the barn suddenly opened, and in stepped Fishlegs. "I hope this will be enough", he said as he handed the previsions to Hiccup.

"It's more than enough. Thank you, Fishlegs. You really didn't have to."

"I know, but I wanted to", Fishlegs said.

Jack came over to take the basket of food and medicines off her hands, and Hiccup allowed him to take it and store it in Phil's saddle. As she watched him do that, one of her hands rose up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, before looking back to Fishlegs.

"Can we talk?" she asked, and after a moment, Fishlegs nodded. With Toothless following, they stepped outside, and once they were a little ways from the barn, Hiccup spoke, walking as she did. "I'm really sorry all this happened. You tried to move for a better life, and now… I'm sorry", she couldn't help but apologize again. She knew she had nothing to be sorry for, but it just felt like the right thing to say. "The ban. Is that why this place looks so barren?"

"Yeah", he answered. "When the Summer Nation came, my dad and the other spring casters tried to fight back, but they were outnumbered ten to one. After they lost, they were taken away, and the ban was put in place. If anyone gets caught spring casting, they're taken away."

"That's…awful." Hiccup didn't know what more to say than that. They stopped at a hill facing towards the sunset. Even in the darkest of moments, it was nice to know there was still beauty in the world. It always stood to remind Hiccup the world wasn't the bleak and dark place the Summer Nation wanted them to believe, that there was still things to be hopeful for and look forward to. Jack reminded her of that too the day they met, the day he brought childhood innocence and fun back into her life.

"You know, it's hard", Fishlegs suddenly spoke again, "Not doing what you were born to. It's why I had to make that garden out in the woods. And in a way, when I'm out there casting, bringing life into the world, it's almost like my father is still with me. Kind of like your necklace", he glanced to the pendent hanging on her neck by a string.

Hiccup solemnly palmed it. It was the last thing she had of her mother since the day she was killed, and Fishlegs knew that. Everyone on Berk did. It was the last shred of her she still had to remember her by.

"It's not enough, though", Hiccup's voice was soft.

"It isn't", Fishlegs spoke the same.

They sat on the grass after that, and just looked out to the sunset. Toothless laid on the grass as well, his head rested on Hiccup's leg. The reminder of her mother made Hiccup sad, but over the years she'd grown able to distance herself from the feelings the mention of her mother's death brought. It was why she could talk about it to Jack. But the fact that Fishlegs was now going through something similar, that her childhood friend had to deal with similar feelings, made worse by the fact he didn't know if his father was dead or alive, it made the mention so much more painful. Fishlegs had been her best friend, and she still considered him to be; she didn't want him to have to go through all of this. But there wasn't anything she could do to fix it. It made her feel helpless and weak, and that wasn't a feeling she liked.

"Jack seems nice", Fishlegs suddenly brought her from her thoughts. He'd probably seen she was upset and wanted to change the subject, or maybe it was for himself. Either way, it was a welcome change.

"He is nice", Hiccup answered, smiling to herself at the warm feelings his mention brought.

"Are you two…?" Fishlegs trailed off, and Hiccup's head snapped towards him, a little shocked at what she knew he was about to say. "I saw the way you guys interacted with each other; how you each stand at the other's side, the way you look to each other, it's kind of obvious", he explained as he subtly made flowers bloom on the ground before him.

Hiccup just shook her head. "You were just always good at reading people", she dismissed with an amused expression. "I don't really know what we are right now, but, whatever it is, it's good."

"Well, whatever you are, I'm just glad to see you're happy, Hiccup. It's nice."

"Yeah. It's nice to be happy", she looked back out to the sunset, and as the sun dipped lower beneath the horizon, they sat in silence.

000

As it was getting late, and dinner would be ready soon, Hiccup and Fishlegs made their way back, but as they did, they heard what sounded like a rock slide. Rushing to the scene, they saw an old man trapped in what looked to be the entrance to a collapsing mine, an avalanche of rocks and dirt crushing his body.

"Help!" the man called as he reached out.

As the two made it to the mine, Fishlegs tried to stall the mine from collapsing completely with the use of his body, and Hiccup tried to pull the man out. She wasn't strong enough, though, and the old man's body was too wedged in.

"It's not working!" she exclaimed. "Fishlegs—"

"Get help! I'll stay here and try to keep it at bay for as long as I can!"

"There's no time! But— But what you were doing in the garden―"

"I-I can't! What if…"

"There's no one around to see you. Fishlegs, please, we don't have much time!"

"But…"

"Fishlegs!"

His eyes squeezed shut, Fishlegs stepped out from where he was keeping the mine at bay and stood in front. Hiccup stepped back, and Fishlegs unleashed a torrent of vines that embedded themselves into the boulders trapping the man. With a narrowed look from Fishlegs, the vines then broke them apart into nothing but chunks of stones, and Hiccup was able to pull the man to his feet away from the mine just as it finally gave out and collapsed completely.

"Fishlegs, you did it!" Hiccup exclaimed in proud elation, and Fishlegs looked down to his hands.

"I guess I did", he muttered, then moved to help Hiccup take the injured man home.

That night, as she, Jack, and Snotlout were about to go to sleep, Hiccup told them what happened before she and Fishlegs had returned for dinner. "You should have seen him. The way he saved that man, I'd never seen Fishlegs look so determined. Well, unless you count the time Snotlout stole one of his books", Hiccup smirked with the memory.

"Sounds like you really inspired him", Jack said.

"I don't really know what I did", Hiccup shrugged.

"Yeah, okay, you saved a guy, whatever. Just get some sleep now. We leave at dawn", Snotlout pulled up his blanket and turned his back to them.

"Dawn?", Jack almost whined. "Ugh, can't we sleep in for once?"

"No way", Snotlout turned back towards them. "This village is crawling with Summer Nation troops. If they discover you're here, Jack, we'll be eating sun-balls for breakfast. Goodnight", he finished, then turned back around.

"Rather be eating sun-balls than nuts", Hiccup smirked.

"Good! Night!"

Hiccup and Jack chuckled, then the lantern was blown out, and darkness coated the barn.

There was heavy knocking on the front door, though it was late at night. Having just woken from it, Fishlegs tiredly made his way to it, and opened the door. He knew he wasn't supposed to, but he also didn't want to disturb his mother's rest. She deserved all the rest she could get. That night, he wished he had listened, for when he opened the door a group of Summer Nation soldiers and the old man he and Hiccup had saved greeted his eyes.

"That's him! That's the spring caster!" the man exclaimed, and Fishlegs could only yelp as hands suddenly grabbed him.

Dawn came, and though Jack and Hiccup weren't too happy about having to wake so early, they knew it was for the better and got to work. Now, as Snotlout and Jack finished getting everything set to go, Hiccup went out to fill their water supply. Just as she'd exited the barn, however, she noticed Mrs. Ingerman outside her house crying. Hiccup didn't understand what could have upset her so much. There was really only one thing that could have had her crying like she was, and that was…

It suddenly hit her like a ton of bricks, and Hiccup's eyes grew wide with terror.

000

"They took him!" Hiccup suddenly barged through the barn doors.

"Took who?" Jack stood, as did Snotlout, worried by the way Hiccup had shouted.

"Fishlegs! The Summer Nation came last night and took him! That man we saved must have turned him in. Oh, it's all my fault; I forced him into spring casting! He didn't want to, but I forced him, and now he's locked in a Summer Nation prison, and—"

"Whoa, whoa, Hiccup slow down", Snotlout tried to get her to clam down, but Hiccup was rambling at this point, starting to pace in her guilt ridden, terrified hysteria. Not even Toothless could get her out of whatever world she'd gone into.

"We have to save him!" she then suddenly exclaimed, fiery determination now shining in her eyes. The suddenness of it almost gave Jack whiplash.

"And we're gonna do that, how?" Snotlout asked. "We don't even know where they took him. And it's not exactly like we have tracking dragons with us."

"We won't need to track him. Because they are going to take me right to him", her eyes narrowed.

"And…why would they do that?" Jack hesitantly asked. That look, it was one he'd never seen from Hiccup before. It was an unwavering determination that he knew couldn't be swayed. It both intrigued and scared him.

"Because they're gonna arrest me for spring casting", she said, and Snotlout immediately facepalmed.

000

Setting the ruse was easy enough. Hiccup's plan was simple. There were ventilation shafts throughout the mines. All they had to do was tie a few vines to the bars of one vent and leave them hanging upside down until Hiccup gave the signal and Jack blew a stream of wind into another vent nearby, making the green vines rise up and appear like she was spring casting. As they were setting up, Snotlout wasn't very happy.

"Hiccup, you understand how insane this is, right?" he said, though he helped tie a vine down anyway.

"Does it look like I have a choice?" Hiccup said back.

"Yes. You can choose not to go on another one of your stupid rescue missions. Jack, sure, he's the Guardian and we owed him. But Fishlegs?"

Hiccup just gave him a look that clearly said she wasn't changing her mind. "You know as much as anyone, Snotlout. No one gets left behind. Especially when it was my fault he got captured in the first place."

Snotlout just groaned.

"Is this normal?" Jack asked. The way Snotlout was acting, it seemed like it was.

"Unfortunately", Snotlout confirmed in a mutter. "Back home, it was dragons. Every time she saw an injured dragon, or saw one in some type of trouble, she just had to go on one of her 'Hiccup missions' to save it. Caused us more trouble than it was worth."

"Okay, so the mother Typhoomerang didn't like the fact I took her baby", Hiccup started. "It was a misunderstanding! His leg was hurt and she was nowhere to be found. I couldn't just leave him like that. And besides, everything worked out in the end."

"Yeah, after she almost destroyed the village", Snotlout sarcastically replied. "And you know that wasn't the only time. What about the 'Deadly Nadder incident'? Ooh, or that time with the Scauldren? Or how about the Changewings? That was fun."

"This isn't up for discussion, Snotlout", Hiccup said. "This isn't like one of those times. This is a friend who is in trouble because I forced him into doing something he didn't want to do."

"You were trying to save that man", Jack reasoned.

"Yeah, and then he turned Fishlegs in for spring casting. There, that should do it", she said in finality, the last vine tied.

"I hope you know what you're doing", Snotlout said as they stood up.

"Trust me. Now, Jack, when I give the signal, you're going to shoot wind into that vent behind that boulder, which will make these vines shoot up and make it look to the guards like I'm spring casting. They'll arrest me, take me to the same prison they took Fishlegs, then once I find him, we'll grab him and get out. Simple."

Taking Toothless off her shoulders, Hiccup walked with Jack behind the boulder. "Stay here, bud", she placed him down. "I'm afraid you can't come with me this time." Toothless clicked and crooned, speaking Dragonese to her as Hiccup called it, or Draconic as Snotlout preferred, but Hiccup just smiled. "I'll be fine, Toothless. Don't worry", she pet him. "You remember your cue?" she then asked, and Jack waved off the concern.

"Of course I do. Don't worry", he said, and she smiled in return. Standing back up, Hiccup made her way back to Snotlout. Meanwhile, Jack kept Toothless' mind occupied with snowflakes.

000

As Hiccup made her way back, Snotlout still frowned disapprovingly. "I still don't like this", he voiced, but it was drowned out by who came next.

"Here they come", Hiccup said as a group of Summer Nation soldiers walked towards them.

"Alright, just follow my lead", Snotlout said, then shouted, "Hey, watch where you're going, pipsqueak!" It gained the soldiers' attention. Now if only Hiccup could act.

"How… How dare you call me pipsqueak, you, you little troll!" she shouted back.

"Okay, ow. Mean", Snotlout whispered, breaking character for a moment. Did she really have to take it there? Five foot, six inches wasn't that short.

"Apologize later, fight now", Hiccup whispered, before continuing. "Look at you! I bet even puppies have to look down to see you!"

"Oh yeah, well I bet if you weren't a ten foot giant, you wouldn't call average sized men trolls!"

"A giant?! That's it! I'll show you!" Hiccup shouted, then raised her hands to the vent, and...

Nothing happened. Subtly looking over Hiccup's shoulder to Jack, Snotlout saw the dolt wasn't even paying attention, too busy playing with Toothless and snowflakes.

"I said, I'll Show You!" Hiccup repeated louder, and that got Jack's attention, the guy startling, before realizing he was late and shooting a gust of wind, mindful of snowflakes or frost, down the vent. It came up the other side, and the vines shot up from where they were tied. It really did look like Hiccup had just made vines shoot up by herself.

The soldiers who had been watching the scene then suddenly moved into action. "Hey, stop right there!" one shouted. Jack's wind stopped, and the vines fell limp.

"I'll hold her", Snotlout gripped Hiccup's wrists, then whispered in her ear, "You've got twelve hours to find Fishlegs, okay? No more, no less. We'll be right behind you."

Hiccup pretended to glare at the soldiers as they apprehended her, as if angry at the injustice as they took her away. Now they could only hope the Summer Nation would take her to the same prison as they took Fishlegs. If they didn't, the plan was shot.

Armor stripped from her, Hiccup was told to put on a raggedy brown dress over top her red one, her long red sleeves poking out from the short brown sleeves of the prison garb, and then was taken to a boat with several other prisoners. By nightfall, the ship came to some type of rig out in the middle of the ocean, completely made from metal. With the new prisoners lined up, who Hiccup could only assume to be the warden stepped into view. He was a short and stout man, almost reminding her of Snotlout, except this man had white hair that stood up in odd angles and cold brown eyes.

"Welcome, prisoners, I am your warden, the once esteemed Commander Dingwall―ye make one wee bit mistake and ye suddenly get demoted to prison duty", he muttered offhandedly, before continuing where he left off. "―and shepherd to you sheep. That means you answer to me, my men, and even my son, wee Dingwall; that is if he ever decided to visit, the ungrateful brat", he went off and muttered to himself again, though everyone could still hear him. Seeming to realize it this time, the warden recollected himself, cleared his throat, and continued. "All I ask from you is—"

One of the men beside Hiccup coughed, unable to mute the sound. The warden abruptly turned to the prisoner who made the sound, before manifesting a whip and smacking the man back with it's tail, nearly burning him.

"Did I say you could interrupt?! No, I didn't. A week in solitary confinement with you!" the warden declared, and the poor man was taken away by one of the guards. "Now, where was I before I was so rudely interrupted. Ah, yes. All I ask is you follow the rules and treat me with the respect I deserve. Do that, and we'll get along just fine", he smiled, but it looked more like a sick smile to Hiccup's eyes.

The warden then led them through the prison, giving them the rest of the orientation. "You will notice, spring casters, that this rig is entirely made of metal. You are miles away from any seeds or soil. So, if you have any illusions about using what you people consider casting, forget them", they stopped at an open doorway, Hiccup able to turn and look out to the miles of ocean that separated them from any sort of land. "It's impossible. Enjoy", the warden finished, and the guards led them into what Hiccup could only guess was the main prison yard, a few long-cabins strategically placed for what Hiccup could assume would be their shared sleeping quarters. Metal doors shut behind her as quickly as the last prisoner came through; they were effectively locked in.

"Okay, Hiccup. So far so good", Hiccup muttered to herself. She was in. Now, she just had to find Fishlegs and get out. Simple.

And it was actually more simple than she could have hoped. Within seconds of wandering through the yard, gated with a tall metal wall to keep them from the rest of the rig, a small fence on the remaining sides, and miles of ocean, Fishlegs' voice caught her ears.

"Hiccup?" he stood from where he'd been sitting on the ground a little ways from her.

"Fishlegs", Hiccup exclaimed and rushed over to him in relief, so glad to see him okay.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to rescue you."

"By getting yourself arrested?"

"Yes. But don't worry. Snotlout and Jack are right behind us. As soon as night falls, we'll meet them over by the fence, jump on Phil, and get out of here."

Fishlegs shook his head, though it was sad. "I'll never know how you do it. Come on, it's time you finally meet someone."

Leading the way, Fishlegs took her over to a group sitting on the ground and eating together in a circle, much like everyone else was.

"Hiccup, I'd like you to meet my father, William Ingerman", Fishlegs introduced, gesturing to a man in the same prison garb as the rest with blond hair and blue eyes. They looked rather tired, but also resilient, and his beard, short as it was, was a bit unkempt.

"That's an…interesting name", Hiccup said, having never really heard the two blended in such a way. It was only now she realized Ingerman wasn't a Spring Kingdom surname, yet that's where William was from.

"Yes", he answered with a chuckle, probably knowing she'd have this reaction, and not phased in the least by it. "My ancestors were Vikings from the Archipelago. It wasn't until I married Eerika my family's connected back to those roots."

Hiccup nodded, rather amazed how William's family had, in a way, come full circle.

"A shame I couldn't stay there, but at least Fishlegs got to grow up in Berk for the time that he did. He's told me much about you, Hiccup Haddock. Told me you were an autumn caster actually. So, tell me, what's an autumn caster like you doing in a spring caster prison like this?"

"I came to find Fishlegs and bring him home", Hiccup answered truthfully. "It's my fault he got put in here in the first place."

"I see. Here", William then offered a bowl of whatever it was he and his friends were eating. "You must be hungry."

Hiccup gratefully took it, and sat down. It was then she looked at what was inside the bowl, however, and Hiccup was suddenly hesitant to actually eat it. It looked like some kind of gray soup with weird chunks. Maybe potatoes? She wasn't sure.

"It's better than it looks", Fishlegs' father assured, so Hiccup took the spoon from the bowl and took a bite. She nearly gagged. "It's still pretty bad, though", he chuckled warmly.

"William", another prisoner came up from behind, placing a hand to William's shoulder. "The prisoners are saying there aren't enough blankets to go around", he said.

"I'll talk to the guards", William answered. "In the meantime, make sure the elderly are taken care of. The rest of us will simply have to hope for warmer weather." With a nod, the other man walked off to do just that.

"Um, sir, if you don't mind me asking", Hiccup started, "What's your escape plan?"

"Excuse me?"

"The plan to get everyone out of here. You do have one, right? Mutiny, sabotage…?"

"The plan is to survive. Wait out this war. Hope at least some of us can get back home and forget this ever happened."

"What? So you're just…giving up? What about Eerika? She's back at the village all alone. And what of Fishlegs? Do you really want this to be his life?"

"Hiccup, I admire your courage, and I envy your youth, but people's lives are at stake here. The warden is a ruthless man, and he won't stand for any rebellion. You take my son, and I'm afraid the rest of us may pay the price. I'm sorry, but here, young autumn caster, we are powerless", he finished, looking completely defeated. It even seemed to spread to Fishlegs.

But those words seemed to ignite something in Hiccup. They weren't powerless, they just weren't. Hiccup knew what it felt like to be powerless; she'd never felt it more than when her mother was taken from her and her dad was forced to leave her for the war. But it was only a feeling, a terrible feeling you just had to overcome in order to push forward. If only they could see that, then maybe, just maybe, they'd see there was a way out of here more than just hoping they could wait it out.

Hiccup stood, and the two Ingermans beside her looked up to her curiously, but Hiccup paid no mind. She merely went to a table which had a ladle and some pots. Taking the ladle and a pot cover, Hiccup climbed atop the table. There was only a moment of hesitation before she clanged the two together, gaining everyone's attention.

"Spring casters! You don't know me, but I know of you! Every child of my Autumn Tribe village was rocked to sleep with stories of the kind, resilient, and strong spring casters of the Spring Kingdom! Some of you may think the Summer Nation has made you powerless, and yes, they have taken your ability to cast, but they can't take away your courage! And that courage, it runs deeper than any mine you've been forced to dig, any ocean that keeps you far from home! It is the strength of your hearts that make you who you are, hearts that will remain unbroken even when all that is left is a barren Earth! The time to fight back is now! I can tell you the Guardian has returned! So, remember your courage, spring casters, and let us fight for our freedom!"

Hiccup expected to be greeted with cheers or battle cries, or…something, but all she was met with were hopeless looks and defeated stances. It deflated Hiccup a bit as well. She'd been so sure that would work. She'd seen her father give rousing speeches when things were at it's lowest, and they always picked the tribe up. She'd even done it a few times herself since he'd left. They weren't always hits, sometimes met with indifference, but never had she'd been met with this reaction. Defeat.

000

That night, Hiccup met with Jack and Snotlout at the fence just like she'd told Fishlegs, only she was alone.

"Your twelve hours are up. Where's Fishlegs?" Snotlout asked from inside Phil's saddle.

"Snotlout, I need more time."

"What? No way. We had a deal. Now if Fishface isn't here, we're leaving. There are guards everywhere. Come on" Snotlout extended a hand to help her on, but Hiccup didn't move.

Toothless chirped in concern.

"Hiccup, what's wrong?" Jack asked.

"I'm not leaving. I can't. Not until I can find a way to help these people. All of them."

Hiccup gasped when she saw a light coming towards them. "Hide."

Hiccup fled to behind one of the long-cabins, the boys and Toothless following as they hopped off Phil onto the rig and Phil was instructed to dive under.

000

Just as he had, however, the men in which the light had come from, one of the two holding a lantern, saw his form escape under the waves. They looked to each other, eyes wide.

"Tell me exactly what you saw?" the warden asked again. He didn't believe a word of what they'd just reported.

"Well, like we said, it looked like a dragon, sir", the one who'd been holding the lantern answered.

"What kind of dragon?"

"Uh, we didn't really get a good look before it went under the water", the other said, wary of Dingwall's short temper.

"Water? I thought you said you saw a dragon", he looked at them with an incredulous look.

"Well, dragons can live underwater too, sir, you know", the first answered again. "There's actually several—"

"Are you suggesting I'm stupid?! Of course I know that!" the warden blew up.

"N-no, no, sir, I wasn't. I was just― Ah!" the man was cut off when Dingwall grabbed him and threw him overboard, his body hitting the ocean with a loud splash. The other man looked over the side, eyes fearful.

"You!" the warden shouted, and the guard straightened himself out. "Wake the captain; search the entire rig!"

"S-sir―"

"What?!"

"That…was the captain you just threw overboard."

"Then wake up someone I haven't thrown overboard! There's something going on here, and I won't have it."

000

"This is great, Hiccup. Just great. Why did I think this would be simple? It's never simple with you", Snotlout whispered as they continued to hide behind the cabin.

"Snotlout, you know, maybe she's right", Jack butted in. "If there's a chance we can help them―"

"Don't even finish that sentence. Last chance, Hiccup. We need to leave, now. Jack, get ready to call that dragon back."

"I said no", Hiccup stayed firm on her stance.

Snotlout growled. "Arg, fine. But if something goes wrong, I'm blaming you."

"Deal."

Snotlout took a deep breath, then turned back to Hiccup. "So what's the plan?"

"I…haven't figured that out yet."

"Of course you haven't."

"Maybe I could make a blizzard", Jack suggested.

Hiccup and Snotlout responded with disturbed looks.

"What? It'll create the perfect distraction. We could take the warden out and escape to the ships easily."

"Right, uh, we'll put that under maybe", Hiccup said, then sighed. "The real problem is they've completely lost their confidence. I tried talking the spring casters into fighting back, but it was no good. If there was a way we could help them help themselves, I think that'd be it."

"But in order to do that, they'd need some form of plant, or something they could use to grow things", Jack said, and he was right. Hiccup thought for a moment, trying to recall anything she might have seen or heard.

You are miles away from any seeds or soil.

Hiccup turned to the ocean, and that's when an idea struck her. "Of course... I have an idea. The warden said we were miles from any soil, and while that might be true, it doesn't mean there aren't plants. The ocean is full of them."

"Okay, but they can't see or touch them", Jack pointed out.

"Yes, but we can still bring the plants to them. Here's what we'll do. Jack, take Phil and gather as much kelp and seaweed as you can find. The more, the better."

"What do I do?" Snotlout asked.

"And me", Toothless jumped in.

"You and Snotlout are with me. We are freeing these spring casters."

000

By the next morning, Jack wasn't back yet. Snotlout, Hiccup, and Toothless stood by the fence waiting, but they couldn't even spot Phil.

"Where is he?" Hiccup wondered.

"Late", Snotlout said.

"There's the intruder!" they heard someone shout, and behind them were a group of guards, four of which had spears pointed straight in their direction. With the fence at their backs, the two were practically surrounded.

Immediately, Snotlout took out his ax, the one he'd gotten from Wing Maiden Island. "I swear, when we get out of this, I'll kill you and Jack myself."

"Hiccup, stop!" Hiccup heard William's voice, he and the rest of the prisoners witnessing the scene. "You can't win this fight!" he warned. And he was right, to a point. She couldn't cast, didn't have any weapons, and only had Snotlout and Toothless to protect her. No, she and her cousin couldn't win this fight, not alone. But then, a Bewilderbeast rose from the ocean in a grand display, and a pile of fresh green seaweed and kelp was plopped onto the metal ground. Jack landed on deck with his staff, ready for when Hiccup's plan moved into full swing.

"This is your chance! Take it!" Hiccup exclaimed, raising a strand of kelp for them. "Your fate is now in your own hands!"

It had the opposite reaction she'd hoped. Instead of rallying together to defeat an enemy, the people coward away. A single condescending laugh cut through the silence.

"Awe, what's the matter wee lass, your plan not panning out as you'd hoped?" the little man mocked. "Well, what did you expect? Did ye really think a few inspirational words and some seaweed would change these people?" he then asked. "Look around! Their spirits were broken down a long time ago! Oh, but you still believe in them", he continued to mock with a laugh. "How sweet."

Despite the mocking tone, the warden was right. If not even a bountiful supply of plants could make these people's spirits return, maybe they really were broken beyond repair. Was there really nothing she could do for them?

It was then, when he'd just closed his eyes in a mocking chuckle, that the end of a seaweed strand hit the warden's forehead like a whip. At first, he was shocked, much like everyone else, but then there was anger, his eyes on none other than Fishlegs Ingerman.

With a furious shout, a ball of sun-fire came hurtling towards Fishlegs, but a thick wall of seaweed stopped it. It wasn't Fishlegs who had made it, however, but his dad. The act only made the warden angrier.

"Show no mercy!" he cried, and a flurry of arrows, streams, and balls of light came at the spring casters. Together, four spring casters, plus Fishlegs and his father, manipulated and grew the strands of seaweed, making them thicker, longer, and stronger as they were weaved together. In a matter of seconds, they created an even stronger wall than the last, and it withstood the attacked.

"For the Spring Kingdom!" William then bellowed, and he and the spring casters shoved the wall to the summer casters across from them, the summer casters only barely dodging. An all out fight broke out; spring caster vs summer caster. With each strand that was burned came a new stronger one in it's place.

Meanwhile, Snotlout cut down the spears of every Summer Nation guard he, Jack, and Hiccup passed as they ran through the chaos, Hiccup and Jack knocking back any remaining guards that tried to come at them with their own casting. Snotlout tossed the pointed tips up to Toothless, and the dragon caught each one high above the guards' reach with each spear cut.

Fishlegs and his father in the meantime thrust the usually flimsy plant into the metal wall, their strength and momentum carrying into the plants as they punctured through over and over again, eventually creating a hole big enough for them to escape.

"Get to the ship! We'll hold them off!" William shouted, and people ran.

"Don't let them escape!" the warden yelled, and he and his guards fired at the people fleeing. With Jack, Hiccup, and Snotlout at the back of the crowd, though, helping William and Fishlegs make sure everyone got out, Jack was able to easily intercept and extinguish the attacks with a wave of frost from his staff. Then in their distraction, Hiccup was able to take the withered seaweed she'd been casting, and wrap them around their opponents ankles. It wasn't until Jack's counter attack had completely extinguished their attack that they noticed, and it was too late by that point. Hiccup pulled her arms back, the seaweed following her movements, and the warden and his guards' feet were pulled out from under them.

William, Fishlegs, and another caster then took it from there, lifting the warden and his guards on a bed of the seaweed until it was over the ocean.

"No! Wait! I can't swim!" the warden exclaimed frantically.

"Don't worry. I hear cowards float", William said, then the three dropped their casting, and the seaweed fell apart, the humans atop it falling to the waters below.

Upon three ships, the prisoners were free and sailing back to the mainland. Hiccup and Toothless rode the lead ship with William and Fishlegs, Snotlout and Jack riding on Phil as the dragon swam alongside the ship.

"Hiccup", Fishlegs approached. "I wanted to thank you. You really helped us today."

"Oh, it was nothing. All it took a little bit of seaweed", she waved off.

Fishlegs shook his head amused. "It wasn't the seaweed, Hiccup. It was you. You're an inspiration, Hiccup. Really."

"Thank you for all you've done for us, Hiccup Haddock. My family, and everyone here, owe you so much."

"Thank you for all the gratitude", Hiccup felt honored. She didn't really feel like she did all that much to deserve so much praise. "I guess you're going home now", she then said.

"Yes. To take back my village. To take back all of our villages!" William bellowed. "The Summer Nation will regret the day they stepped foot on our land!"

Hiccup smiled with the declaration. He sounded so much like a leader, so much like her father. She missed him.

"I guess this is goodbye then", Fishlegs then said, and Hiccup turned back to her friend with a gentle smile.

"Not forever", she placed a hand to his broad shoulder. "We'll see each other again, Fishlegs, I promise you that."

"Thank you again, Hiccup. For bringing my dad and I back together; for everything", he took her into a hug, before solemnly pulling away saying, "I wish there was some way I could return the favor."

"I know", Hiccup's hand went to palm the pendent of her necklace, but when it reached her chest and she couldn't feel it, Hiccup's eyes widened with panic. "My mother's necklace. It's gone!" How? When? She couldn't remember, and it only served to scare her more.

As the sun set, the rig in which the prison had been on was left desolate and abandoned. The only sounds that could be heard were the ocean's waves, the howling wind, and the echoing footsteps of a certain princess and her men. Her sources led her to this place, but the only sign that the Guardian could have been here were the mess of scuff marks on the metal floor and seaweed, both green and brown, strewn about what was once the prison yard.

That was when something caught her eye, however. Something different from all the water, seaweed, and metal. Something wooden. It was a necklace, a circular wooden pendant with detailed lines carefully carved into the shape of a maple leaf held by a string.

Princess Merida took the necklace into her hand. There was only one guess as to who this pretty little trinket belonged to.

Okay, personally, I think this is one of my best chapters yet for this book. Thoughts?