"Hiccup, Hiccup." He moaned as he turned over on his bed and pulled the pillow over his head. "Come on, get up." He glanced at the figure nudging him, her red curls bouncing past her shoulders, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief. She smiled, "Come see me." He blinked, and the visage was gone, in her place was his mother, an eyebrow raised. "Hiccup?" He blinked some more before rubbing his eyes and sitting up in bed.

"Good morning," he yawned. He paused, his mother was watching him rather intently. "What?"

"Why did you look at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like I was someone else." Hiccup blinked as his thoughts turned to the mound of red curls. "Were you having those dreams again, the ones about that red-haired girl?"

"Mom, I . . ."

She stood, sighing, "Maybe it's time for you to take a break. Why don't you take some time off and fly off with Toothless somewhere, I'll take care of Berk."

"But . . . you've never ruled a village before . . . what if . . ."

"Oh, I can ask Astrid for help." Hiccup winced at her name. "It's going to hurt for a while, but if the gods are sending you these dreams for a reason . . ."

"Mom, they're just dreams . . ."

"Of a girl you've never met." Hiccup glanced down at his prosthetic leg as he began to fiddle with it. "Maybe it's time you find out if she's real or not."

"But, what if I don't want to? What if I think what I have with Astrid is great?"

"Just go, if nothing comes of it, come back to Astrid."

"But if something does come of it?"

Valka sighed, "Just find out if she's real first, we'll take it step by step from there." Hiccup groaned as he tumbled out of bed. "Besides, she could just be visiting you because she needs help, and you could be the only person who can help."

"Well, if that's just the case, then I'll do what I can to help, but nothing more."

Valka nodded, "Then do just that."

"But I don't even know where to start looking . . ."

"You said she had fiery red hair?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"Start in Scotland, they're known for their fiery hair, and the fiery tempers to go with it."

Hiccup groaned, "Great, just great. I get to play with fire."

Valka laughed as she walked away, "Don't you do that already?" Hiccup smirked as he quickly changed, she had a point there, which probably made him the best qualified to deal with any Scots. But, having a break from chief duties and getting to explore with Toothless also sounded really good, and it was an opportunity he was not going to pass up. In the next couple of days, the preparations were made for Hiccup's departure, Astrid looking none the less happy about it, especially once she found out why Valka suggested it.

"Are you serious about looking for that red-haired girl?" she grumbled as Hiccup prepared Toothless.

"Maybe Mom's right and she just needs my help."

"But what if she's wrong and that girl wants to take you from me . . ." Hiccup placed a finger over her lips.

"I'd say don't worry about it. Just, concentrate on helping Mom with Berk, please? Eret's coming in with a new batch of dragons, and you know how she gets when there's new dragons around." Astrid nodded. Hiccup sighed, "I'm sorry Astrid, but, maybe going away for a while will help. I'll be back in a couple of weeks, I promise." He kissed her cheek before climbing on Toothless and flying off. He waved, but she turned and walked away. He turned and sighed, "What am I going to do, bud?" Toothless warbled with sympathy, though he was clearly excited to be flying with Hiccup again. They flew on in silence for the most part, stopping wherever they could for breaks and nourishment. They went at a leisurely pace, allowing Hiccup time to chart the islands they encountered on their way to Scotland. It was the eve of their third day out when they reached Scotland, though they didn't know it at first. Hiccup set about getting together something of a camp for the night while Toothless had fun catching fish in the stream. The two had a silent dinner before rolling over and falling asleep.

"Hiccup, Hiccup! Listen, I need you to go to Dunbroch castle, tell my family that I'm alright." Hiccup sighed with relief, she did just need his help.

"OK, well, point me in the right direction to Scotland and we'll take off."

She eyed him, "You're in Scotland now."

"We are? How do you know?"

She groaned and rolled her eyes, "I could see you from the castle where I'm being held."

Hiccup blinked, "You're being held prisoner?"

"Well yeah! How else would I be visiting you in your dreams? Apparently this spell allows me a few special abilities since I'm the princess."

"The princess!"

"Ugh, yes, the princess. Now can I tell you how to survive a castle full of Celts?"

"Oh, yeah, that would be helpful."

"Ya think? Think you can remember everything I tell you?"

"I'd better, my life apparently depends on it."

"I hope so. Listen carefully, you are going to have to tell them that I, Princess Merida, sent you, and you are going to have to describe me."

"Um, OK." Merida rolled her eyes before continuing, giving Hiccup a few details that her parents would totally understand as coming from her, in case they still doubted him, as well as how to deal with unruly Scots and what cues to look for if a Scot was itching for a fight. She went on to give him a little bit of the history of the Scots and the clans, before explaining what happened to her.

"So, wait, you're telling me this guy, uh . . . Shea . . ."

"Seamus Allaway."

"Right, so, Seamus, got mad that you wouldn't marry him right away and had to get to know you better? So he whisks you away and makes this witch turn you into a bear until you agree?"

"Yup, pretty much."

"But, why me? Why not one of your other suitors?"

"Well, the witch said that part of breaking the spell involved creating an alliance between old enemies, so . . ."

"And since I'm a Viking, an old enemy of the Scots, I would technically be your best bet."

"Exactly."

"So . . . you're not interested in marrying me, right?"

"Well, unless you're interested in getting to know me . . ."

"Aren't I doing that now?"
"Oh, uh, right." Merida turned her head away. "What's she like, your girlfriend?"

"What . . . how?"

"You've mentioned Astrid several times. You wouldn't exactly call your mum by her first name, would you?"

"Oh, uh, no . . ." Hiccup grinned sheepishly.

"So, what's she like?" Hiccup sighed and began to talk about Astrid before asking Merida who she was interested in. Merida admitted she wasn't particularly interested in any of her suitors, sweet as they could be. The two talked some more of other things before Merida had to go, and Hiccup had to wake up. After breakfast, Hiccup and Toothless immediately set out for Dunbroch castle, Hiccup's heart feeling light. Merida just needed his help, was all, simply because they had to forge an alliance between their peoples to break the spell! He was in pretty high spirits, so high that he and Toothless almost flew past Dunbroch castle. But he remembered everything she told him to do and say, and her people welcomed him with open arms, for the most part. Her parents were just happy to receive news of their daughter, explaining that she had been missing for well over a year. Once Hiccup explained that an alliance between their peoples was necessary to break the spell, they immediately set about putting together a pact that would please both Scots and Vikings. Once it was complete, Hiccup and Fergus signed it, and the two led a group towards Allaway castle.

"Why, Fergus! What a surprise! You'll have to excuse the disarray, I would have cleaned up had I known you were coming!" laughed Seamus. The dark-haired Scot was sitting down at his dining table, clearly having just sat down for dinner.

"Where's Merida?" growled Fergus. Seamus paused in wiping his mouth and glanced over the group before his eyes alighted upon Hiccup. Hiccup thought he saw anger flash over the Scot's face before disappearing into a cool demeanor.

"Now, what makes you think I know where the princess is? It's been, what, a year? How much more do you think I know now than then?"

"You knew this entire time, you bloody scoundrel!"

"Now what makes you think that?"

"Merida sent us a message, you kidnapped her!" Seamus' gaze instantly went to Hiccup's face.

Hiccup stepped forward, "Well, you seem to have no problem picking out the messenger." Seamus let out a low growl as he rose from the table.. "So, you do have the princess. Release her, and we'll be on our way."

Seamus let out a cruel laugh as he walked towards a side door, "I'll let you take her, that is, if you can find her." He opened the door, and various bear growls reached their ears.

"Oh no." Hiccup rushed towards the door followed by the Scots. "How many are there?"

"A hundred," Seamus answered nonchalantly.

"What? Why? Are they all people turned into bears or . . ."

"Women, they're all women who've been turned into bears."

"Why?"

Seamus grabbed a hold of Hiccup's shirt, "Because I'm not going to give up the princess that easily." Toothless began to growl. Seamus yelped and let go of Hiccup when he saw the dragon.

"That's . . . that's . . ."

"My dragon, Toothless, and no, you can't have him. Come on bud, let's go find Merida." The two dashed through the door, and were met with about a dozen bears chained to the ground. They just stood there, watching him, as if they were unsure of what to think of him. Hiccup cleared his throat, "I'm, uh, we're here to save you, but in order to do that, I need to find the princess! Can you show me where she is?" Several of the bears nodded in one direction. "Thank you!" Hiccup dashed down the path, other bears showing him where to go next, before one nodded towards the bear next to her. He didn't need the indication, though, for some reason, he knew who it was when he saw her. "Merida!" The bear's head snapped up at Hiccup's voice and garbled some noises. Hiccup ignited his sword and slashed through both bears' chains, the bear forms dissipating as the links fell to the ground. Hiccup gasped when he saw the other woman, "Heather! What? How?"

"There isn't much time to explain, there are both Scottish and Viking women here. We have to free them all." A loud roar interrupted them.

"What was that?"

"Seamus," blurted Merida as she glanced at Heather with fear.

"What?"

"He can turn into a giant bull. I have to find Windshear!"

"And I need my bow! Hiccup, you need to free as many of these women as you can!"

"What? Ugh, fine! Don't bother with telling me anything!" Hiccup mumbled as he set about freeing the others from their chains. He had cleared a path back to the door, the women taking off as soon as the chains fell to the ground. He turned to walk back into the room when a blast of hot air breezed by him. He turned, there stood quite possibly the largest bull he had ever seen. He yelped and began to run, "You could have told me he was on fire!" Toothless let loose a couple of fireballs as Seamus rammed through the door. The fireballs slowed him down a bit, but it was long enough for Hiccup to clamor onto Toothless. "A couple more, bud!" Toothless let loose a couple more before the two took off, grabbing Merida on the way. "What do we do to stop him!"

"I don't know!"

"You don't know! What do you mean you don't know? You've been in this castle for over a year!"

"Yeah, well, it's not like Seamus told us every single thing!" Toothless turned and let loose a couple of fireballs, the force of it slammed the bull into the wall. The bull bellowed as he got up and clamored after them. But he was back into the wall.

"Heather! Windshear!" exclaimed the two.

"I think I know his weakness. Merida, you're going to have to shoot into his mouth!"

"What?" exclaimed Merida.

Hiccup gasped, "Like a dragon!"

Heather nodded, "Yes! We'll try to get you an opening, be ready!"

"Right!" Merida exclaimed as she dismounted Toothless. She placed her hand on Hiccup's making him look at her. "Be careful." He nodded before he and Toothless took off to help Heather and Windshear. Merida readied her bow, and watched as the four battled the bull, her heart pounding in her chest. She pulled the arrow to her cheek, and waited for the right moment. There were a couple of times that the dragons and their riders got Seamus to open his mouth, but he quickly closed it, not even giving Merida a chance to release her arrow. Twice, Seamus came close to hurting both Hiccup and Heather, and Merida wanted to scream, but the dragons acted quickly and protected their riders. Once, Merida let go of an arrow, it only Seamus' side before burning up to a crisp. Finally, Merida saw her chance, and released the arrow. It flew, and it seemed that Seamus had closed his mouth just in time, but Toothless bit him right then, and his mouth opened a bit. It wasn't very wide, but it was enough that the arrow entered. With a moan, Seamus died, and the five regrouped.

"How, how did you know to shoot into his mouth?" asked Merida as the other panted.

"I snuck into his secret room and read the stone tablet, it explained how to kill him."

"And that's when he caught you."

Heather nodded, "But he didn't know that I had read it, it looked like I was just entering the room when they captured me."

"Why did you even come here?" asked Hiccup.

Heather nodded at the women heading for the door, "Several of them are Vikings, several of their tribes asked me to investigate, and my investigation led me here." She glanced at Hiccup, "And when Mer told me about how to break our curse, I told her about you. She found that she could contact people in their dreams, and the rest you know."

"Well, that explains everything."

Merida nodded, "But now we need to free the rest of the women."

"Right." It was a fairly easy task, there weren't that many left to free. The five walked back into the dining room once the last ones were freed.

"Oh no, I forgot!"

Merida glanced at Hiccup, "Forgot what?"

"Merida!"

"Dad!" Father and daughter joyously hugged each other. "Your leg!"

"Aye, but it could have been worse. Mind making me a new peg leg, lad?"

Hiccup chuckled, 'It would be my pleasure." The group made their way back to Dunbroch castle, where they just about collapsed from exhaustion. Hiccup helped Heather return several of the Vikings home, but for the most part, she took care of it while he talked some more with the Scots about the pact and dragons. He also found himself spending quite a bit of time with Merida, finding her company to be quite pleasant. As he and Heather made their way back towards Berk, Hiccup realized that a very important choice now laid before him. But the more he thought on it, the more clear his choice seemed to be. In fact, he almost couldn't wait to propose, to have her rule at his side.