AN: Another chapter! Hope you all enjoy this next installment!

Music: "Dangerous to Dream" from Frozen the Broadway Musical

NOTES!: "True friendship isn't about being inseparable. It's being separate and nothing changes."

Chapter 24: Dangerous to Dream

"Yah! Ha! YEE-AH!" His tiny voice squeaked and chirped as he swung his wooden sword valiantly at bushes and tree stumps.

Stoick was laughing. The moment was full of so much joy.

"Did you see that, Dad?" Little Hiccup, maybe seven years old at the time, scampered up to one of the massive tree roots that had grown above the earth. "This one's a Monstrous Nightmare! Yah!" He declared, whacking it with his toy. He looked over to a rock just across the path and pointed with his sword. "And this one's a Deadly Nadder!"

Once he had conquered all the villainous beasts, he stood at the center of the path. His little sword was at the ready and there was a grin on his face.

"Not as deadly as me, though! Right, Dad?" He looked back at him, and Stoick gave another full-belly laugh.

"Not nearly as Monstrous either!" Stoick teased affectionately, knowing this amount of boundless energy and bouncing attention span was tame for the little boy.

Hiccup beamed, though, and turned back down the path. He was swinging his sword, cheering and whooping as he practiced his skills. He froze suddenly, however, with the sword poised above his head. He was looking down at the ground where a tiny fledgling was crawling helpless on the forest floor. Hiccup lowered his arms, his sword forgotten as he got down on his hands and knees to look at the little creature.

"Huh? What's wrong with him, Dad?" Hiccup looked up at him with such large and innocent eyes. Stoick walked over and knelt down beside him.

"It fell from it's nest and broke it's wing." Stoick sighed, looking up into the branches above where, as he suspected, a small nest was tucked. "Oh, very sad... These things happen son." Hiccup looked up at him with wide eyes that didn't quite understand. "The only right thing to do is to end it's suffering."

Stoick looked at his little boy, but his eyes were on that tiny sparrow. For all Hiccup tried to have the same bullishness as the other children, he was much more thoughtful. Much more caring. He had a big heart, and Stoick knew it would make him a great Chief someday. But he also knew that Hiccup would be crushed to see the bird die. And it was Stoick's job as his father to protect him.

"Go on down the path." Stoick ordered, giving the boy a push to his feet.

"No, Dad!" Hiccup cried, twisting back around. His big eyes were already filling up with tears. "No..."

"Hiccup," Stoick sighed.

"Can't we help him? He's little like me." Hiccup sniffed and one of the tears bullied it's way out to drip down his cheek. "Can't we help him get better?" Hiccup looked down and swiped at his face, trying to hide his crying and sniffling.

Stoick's heart twisted as he looked at his son, and then back down at the sparrow.

"Fetch me a twig." Stoick finally ordered.

Hiccup looked up, bravely drying his eyes and then turning to do as he was told. "Okay." He went and snapped a tiny branch off of a fallen tree, bringing it back to Stoick quickly. "Here."

"Now hold him, very carefully." Stoick instructed, gently passing the tiny bird into Hiccup's hands. Hiccup stared in wonder as Stoick tore a loose thread from his cloak and used both it and the twig to fashion a splint for the bird. "He's your responsibility now, son. You must feed him and care for him..." Once the splint was finished, Stoick softly folded Hiccup's hands to cover the bird, protecting it and keeping it warm.

"Until it's able to fly free and return to the wild."

Hiccup looked down at that tiny sparrow with wonder and care before looking back up to take in the amount of responsibility Stoick was passing on to him.

"I will, Dad." He smiled brightly up at him. "I promise."

The atmosphere was tense. The vote on whether or not to accept what was now being referred to as 'the Pirate Treaty' had passed by one vote. Stoick's vote. The Pirate King, Talia Eagle, was given a seat on the Royal Council, and she introduced Captain Eret as her second and Captain Cat as her Champion.

It wasn't looking as though the alliance would have a smooth start, though. Many were cautious or downright against working with the Pirates and made their stances known to Talia whenever she spoke up. The girl held her ground, however, and despite her young age, Stoick could admit he was impressed by her boldness.

The overall shock of Hiccup being alive had sunk in for the most part, but Stoick was still floundering with everything else. His son, his little boy, was the Dragon Rider and a Pirate Lord. He wasn't sure how to feel or how to approach it at all. Hiccup had denied any identity having to do with Berk or even Stoick. In the eyes of the Royal Council, he was a stranger. And as much as it made Stoick's heart ache, he couldn't deny that he didn't entirely recognize or understand him. All he wanted was to speak with his son, but going to him now would only do more harm than good, probably both politically and emotionally. Stoick had to keep himself focused on the war, especially because a few of the other nobles had already looked at him suspiciously since the Dragon Rider was brought before the Council.

The hardest part was the dragons. Already there was a Night Fury among them. And Stoick had to stop his train of thought whenever he started spiraling into the fact that the beast kept following his son everywhere. Because Captain Cat was Talia's Champion, he was often by her side during the meetings and therefore so was the dragon. Many of the nobles had voiced their opinions about that. If that wasn't bad enough, Talia was already advocating to bring more. Stoick couldn't deny that having the beasts would give them a great tactical advantage, but the very idea of being on a battlefield with one made his skin crawl.

However, Stoick and everyone else couldn't deny the perks that came with their newfound alliance. The Pirates brought many ships and troops, as well as their secret trade routes to help replenish supplies to the Allied Forces. Of course, they didn't disclose the location of said routes, but they did bring lots of food, water, and materials for them to use. The greatest of all their resources was the Gronkle Iron. Talia had ordered Captain Cat to give a demonstration before the Council to display it's attributes; how light the metal was, but still stronger than any other material they had.

Gobber had nearly started drooling.

Talia promised all of this, as well as the fleet to assist Arendelle. Queen Elsa hadn't hesitated, and Stoick couldn't blame her. In such a situation, even despite his reservations, Stoick probably would've been convinced to do the same... Though perhaps he had some bias.

Later that evening, Stoick was in his chambers, washing up for the dinner feast. It would be more grand tonight as a show of strength and wealth to the Pirates. A waste of time and an opportunity for the Pirates to get probably one of the best meals they've ever had. Still, it was to be expected in the political game, and Stoick would have to attend. Though, he was glad to have some time to speak with Spitelout and Gobber before they'd be expected. Snotlout was also there with them, as the current apparent heir, though that position was now in question as well.

"Every bit the bull-headed, stubborn viking you ever were!" Gobber was shaking his head as he eased himself back into one of the large armchairs. Stoick could only nod in agreement. "I still can't believe it..."

"Well, you'd best get used to it." Spitelout retorted as he rose from where he was stoking the fire. "He's not going away now."

"Stoick, I think you should let me learn about the Gronkle Iron along with the other smiths! It's a completely reasonable explanation and nobody will be able to say crap about it." Gobber snapped.

"Whether they can speak against it or not, everyone will know. It was no secret you were the boy's mentor. By now all of the other Royals and nobles have gotten their spies to gather all that information and more!" Spitelout pointed out.

"Spitelout's right, Gobber." Stoick rumbled from his own seat, fingers steepled together in front of him. "Everyone was suspicious when all we could tell them was that the raids suddenly stopped a few years back. There are a few who were convinced we were hiding some new weapon to use against them. Now... There's even more evidence in their eyes."

"Maybe that's why he denied relations to Berk." Snotlout spoke up for the first time, and the men turned to look at him. The boy was as outspoken as his father and didn't back down. "Maybe he knew how it would look and decided to disassociate himself for our sake."

"I wouldn't put it past him, Stoick." Gobber agreed with a nod.

"All the more reason to not risk blowing it by approaching him." Spitelout argued. "Let's get through this war before we go stirring up another. Especially with the Prime Minister."

"Spitelout is right. The other tribes want answers as well. Dagur is the only one who hasn't made a fuss about it, as strange as that may sound." Stoick informed them. "We need to assure them that we really did have no idea what had happened. You're free to learn about the Gronkle Iron, but you stick close to the other smiths. Don't approach him."

"Is that an order?" Gobber's tone was clearly angry and annoyed by it all, but Stoick couldn't afford to care this time.

"It is if it has to be, Gobber." Stoick replied sharply, but then sighed heavily as he looked at his closest friend. "This isn't easy for me either."

"I know," Gobber mumbled, his tone softening and his eyes more understanding.

"Um, Chief?" Snotlout stepped forward this time, his hands fidgeting at his sides and his brow furrowed in thought.

"What is it?" Stoick asked.

"I think there's some details you should know about our quest to find the Buffalord..."

It was weird being back. Very, very weird. And a little more nerve-wracking than he'd expected or was willing to admit.

Hiccup stuck close to Talia's side, focusing entirely on finishing the treaty and preparing the fleet to save Arendelle. If he acknowledged the constant glances or straight up stares from his father and Gobber, or the way North and Bunnymund watched him carefully, he didn't show it. He discreetly met Percy's eyes a few times with the occasional nod, and he'd actually exchanged a hidden smile with Rapunzel, Merida, and Jack, but besides that he didn't interact with anyone that wasn't absolutely necessary.

Making this alliance was Talia's idea. A way to force the Ministry to stop hunting them at least until the war was over so they could reestablish some hideouts and havens for their people. Also as a way of making new relations that might be useful in the future. It was also apparent to almost all the Pirate Lord's that they would be dragged into the conflict one way or another if it kept going on the way it was. Hiccup had been the last one to agree, and it had only been the news of the Arendelle siege that convinced him.

From a Pirate's perspective, this alliance was fantastic. From Hiccup's very specific point of view, the risks were equal if not more than the benefits. He'd made it very clear to the others when he finally agreed that absolutely no one from the Allied Forces could know what he was. The others had assured him that they knew what he'd face and they had no intention of putting him in that position. Part of the Pirate Code that they actually listened to; not turning each other in to the authorities.

So Hiccup's main goal was to keep his secret a secret... And to not become whatever harmful thing that was predicted of him long ago. That task seemed a whole lot easier when there was a lot of distance between him and Rapunzel, Merida, and Jack.

When evening came and a full feast was presented as 'a celebration of new relations', Hiccup had to resist rolling his eyes. He stayed by Talia for the majority of the evening, milling about. A lot of wining and dining with a lot of nobles, some of which had never even seen battle. Many of them approached Captain Cat to "wish him luck on his quest tomorrow" though Hiccup was certain they were lying through their teeth. Elsa was sincere enough to thank him for taking part in the battle to come.

Overall it was a very boring and stuffy party.

Hiccup glanced across the room where Jack, Rapunzel, and Merida were in a circle with the other Guardians. He wondered if he was their topic of conversation considering how tense they all looked, but promptly reminded himself that he couldn't be involved with it. But there was still a tiny warm spot in his chest that made him want to smile. Made him want to believe.

"You certainly know how to make an entrance." The familiar voice made Hiccup turn around, perking his head up. Percy was leaning against the wall behind him and raised his glass in greeting.

"Mr. Frost." Talia nodded a greeting to him.

"I've been told I have a dramatic flare." Hiccup told him, and Percy chuckled.

"It's good to see you again, Cat. And you as well, Toothless." He smiled and nodded at the dragon.

Toothless couldn't be convinced not to join them, but Hiccup also couldn't claim he'd tried that hard. He had known the Night Fury's presence at his side would make people think twice before approaching. Now he gave a friendly warble in Percy's direction.

"Though I don't believe we've had the pleasure, your Majesty." Percy straighten and tipped into a bow for Talia.

"Not formally, no. But I've heard a thing or two about you, Mr. Frost." Talia said, raising her glass to him in return.

"Mr. Arrow and the Paladins send their best. Arrow can't get away from the Auror's HQ, and the Paladins are leading the fight back on Altea's front-lines." Percy informed him as they all moved off more to the side to avoid being in direct view of anyone else.

"All due respect, Mr. Frost, but should you even be talking to me?" Hiccup asked shrewdly.

"Maybe not, but I've never been all that exceptional at following rules." Percy smirked.

"This place could use some rule-breaking. I've been here since the start of the school-year and it's become painfully dull. Well, aside from the occasional attack or mystery." Talia looked around the room as she spoke and then drew her eyes back to Hiccup and Percy. "After going to a few celebrations with Pirates, this seems more like a funeral."

"I don't blame you." Percy chuckled. "I won't keep either of you long, but I was hoping to ask you something, Cat..."

"Fire away." Hiccup nodded.

Percy casually took a drink from his glass. Once finished, he shifted on his feet as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, which caused him to lean a bit closer as he whispered one word: "Emma?"

Percy leaned back again and rubbed his nose politely with the small white linen before straightening. He looked at him without any added weight in his gaze, but Hiccup knew he was waiting for his answer.

Hiccup simply nodded.

"I thought so." Percy smiled, and though he looked down to hide it, Hiccup was certain that was relief in his eyes. "You are aware if you're in need of help, I'd gladly offer whatever specialties I can."

"Noted. But I think it's best for everyone if we stay on our toes." Hiccup sighed. "As easy as it turned out to form this alliance, it's tremulous at best right now. I don't want to raise anymore problems." His eyes drifted again to that one corner of the Hall.

"You know... they've missed you very much." Percy told him gently.

"And I won't deny that I've missed them. But I have to be cautious here, and they are in very extreme positions." Hiccup explained. "These are treacherous times... it's dangerous to dream."