OMG (and I never say OMG) it feels so weird writing a chapter that doesn't start with "Journey" :)

New Directions

"I'm not seeing it."

"Relax! It'll come!"

"Wait. There it is!"

"Where?"

"There! You see it!"

"That's just a trick of the light."

"No! There it is again! I'm sure of it!"

"Would you guys stop crowding him?" Fishlegs complained. "The paper will get burned."

Despite the gang's skepticism, Death Ride's flames were doing their job. The secret lines were hard to see at first, probably due to old age and dust, but now they were brightening, snaking across the page, forming symbols and—hopefully—a hidden message.

"What's it say Fishlegs?"

"Can you read it?"

"What's for lunch?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Hey! I'm hungry."

"You always are."

Fishlegs sighed.

"Guys, do you want to eat before I read the map, or…"

He was met with a frantic barrage to continue.

He turned back to the page huffily, and started deciphering the old text. He had a perfect storytelling voice, Ruffnut noted happily, reading the words slowly and carefully.

Fishlegs frowned. "It seems to be a…warning."

"This page maps a destination you must not seek.

The certain misery far outweighs the potential euphoria.

I have made this mistake myself.

it is too late for me.

Heed these warnings, I beg of you."

Fishlegs gulped, then continued.

"There will be those who read ahead,

blinded by wanton greed or desperation.

It is for these poor souls I continue.

I make this map to guide those stronger than I,

to a place of unthinkable treasure

surrounded by unspeakable horrors.

Use the page to seal your fate, for good or for worse;

but do not bring companions.

None need suffer for your mistakes.

Before you back away or forge ahead, remember:

However sad your existence is now,

there is always something worse.

I speak from my heart;

from what broken pieces are left.

You have my blessing, however much it is worth—

it takes valiance to continue when told certain failure awaits.

I have been called many things, many names;

but 'liar' is not one of them.

Fishlegs sat down softly, the gang sobered into silence. It seemed like a spell had been cast over the previously cheerful atmosphere, tainting it with the threatening words.

Hiccup was the first to speak after more than a minute of quiet. "What does the map say?"

Fishlegs wordlessly handed him the page, and the rest of the gang slowly walked to peer over his shoulder.

The map showed a series of silhouettes of irregular islands. Though all the sizes and shapes were different, they clearly formed the shape of a cross, or a compass—one island at North, South, East and West. In the center was another island, larger than any other. There were words in some of the hollow coastlines, some were blank.

Several other shapes littered the background, presumably lesser islands. Most were clearly marked in Latin symbols. A couple had no label.

"Hmmm…" Fishlegs tried to decipher the labels of the smaller islands. "That one says 'Useless,' loosely translated. So does that one! That one says…'place of insanity,' that's the closest translation. There's one right next to it…whoa."

"What is it?"

But Fishlegs was silent, perusing the map, making calculations in his head.

"Fishlegs?"

He started, like he was brought back to reality by the words. "Well…I was thinking about the 'place of insanity.' I don't know any of the coastlines on this map; they seem to be silhouettes of places we've never visited. But that one…" he pointed at the island "is very familiar—both the name and the island shape."

Astrid caught on with a gasp. "Berserk!"

The rest of the gang held their breath for a second.

Fishlegs nodded slowly. "If I were a Roman, and I had gotten beat up in battle by a bunch of vikings that went insane during battle, that's what I'd call it."

Hiccup followed the islands with his fingers. "Then that means…that island right there with no Latin…is the Edge."

There was silence after that. No one wanted to say what was on everyone's minds. Berserk only had soldiers that went insane after Heather ramped up the training regime, and she did that while the Edge was occupied. That means the only time the mapmaker could have added the coastline was by spying on the island while the Riders were there. And the Riders had some of the most advanced security measures in the archipelago in place. The mapmaker must have had incredible skill.

"Well," Snotlout muttered. "good to know we were being watched."

"Technically, he could have made the map of the coastline after he made the map of Berserk, after we had already gone…"

"Impossible." Hiccup sighed. "The ink making up the Edge is lighter than that of Berserk. It was made before, but not by much. And we were there a long time."

The gang gazed at the map thoughtfully. Tuffnut scratched the back of his neck, looking troubled. Ruffnut scratched her helmet, looking anything but intelligent.

"Wait, there!" Fishlegs pointed excitedly towards the southernmost island in the cross, the smallest by far. "The latin! It says 'Aeternam Crepusculum!'"

Hiccup's eyes widened. "And Berserk is in the southwest area of the cross…Fishlegs, which direction did we go when we found the edge?"

"Northwest."

"Can you find where Berk would be?"

"Um…" Fishlegs stared at the map, muttering calculations. "About here." He said pointing to a blank spot northwest of the southern island.

"How far have we flown?"

"We flew due south at forced pace for about 3 hours…then we took a detour here, going east for maybe 5 minutes. That would put us…about here." He pointed to a spot quite close to the southernmost island.

"Can you determine how far a flight it is between where we are and 'Aeternam Crepusculum?'"

"Certainly! It was about 3 hours flight in between Berserk and the Edge—and they're about two inches apart on the map. That means…we're barely two day's flying away! At forced pace, of course, maybe three if we're more relaxed."

Hiccup thought carefully. Though tactfully no one had mentioned the Slitherwing incident, he realized it was his fault everyone almost got killed. He wanted to make no mistakes this time.

"We probably scared off the Slitherwings for the time being, with the incredible light show Death Ride here put on…" He absentmindedly scratched Death Ride on the nose. The dragon purred in agreement. "…but that will only be for the next couple of days. They'll be back, and Stormfly hasn't completely healed yet. So, sentry duties start back tonight. Toothless and I will take first and second watch, Fishlegs and Meatlug third, Snotlout and Hookfang fourth. We'll alternate each day until Stormfly's wing heals. Agreed?"

Everyone nodded. There weren't any complains; they all knew what could happen again if there weren't any sentries.

Fishlegs started to role up the map, but Hiccup placed a hand on his arm to stop him.

"What do the other islands say?"

Fishlegs furrowed his brow as he looked at the other islands in the cross.

"Well, the southward island reads 'Eternal Twilight' of course. The northward one reads 'Ignis Frigida,' or Cold Fire. West says 'Terra Infractus Vitrium,' which means the Land of Broken Glass. And East reads 'Animi Contritem,' or…Shattered Mind, if I'm reading it right."

A somber silence greeted his words.

"Now I kinda to wish you hadn't told us." Tuffnut muttered.

Hiccup wasn't swayed though. "And the center?"

Fishlegs took a deep breath.

"The word is unfamiliar, and has no Norse translation. It seems to be a combination of four or five words. If I'm reading it right…the island is called Dracovivamortem Imperiacaptionem."

"And that means…"

"It is implying the island is home to some sort of dragon monster…one that can control the life or death of others at will. Such a dragon is shown to be unstoppable and uncontrollable. However, the wording also implies the island is not just a home, but a prison. It keeps the monster trapped, keeping the world from destruction." Fishlegs paused. "Latin is very descriptive. It can convey different emotions with different words, and in five words can convey all I just said in several dozen. If it was different, I would not be able to have so much information."

"You've done very well, Fishlegs. We couldn't be here without you." Hiccup assured him.

The group shared a moment of awkward silence, none able to break the somber mood.

Except Ruffnut. "I'm hungry."

Everyone chuckled, and made their way out of the stable, towards the sick bay, which also served as the food hall.

Fishlegs stayed behind for a few minutes. He gazed at the cross of islands, but especially at the center. Toothless was the king of dragons, right? No one could stop that.

But a dragon that could kill instantly…

He shook off the sudden uncomfortable feeling and hurried after the others.