Disclaimer: I don't own HTTYD

A/N: So this is three mini-vignettes in one, hence the chapter title, as I didn't have enough material for each of them on their own. Anyway, here ya go!

I'll Find You in the Dark

*OBEY. OBEY. OBEY*.

No! Toothless struggled, pushing back with all his might against the crushing force of the Alpha's will. He might as well have been trying to hold back a glacier, or a flash flood. All the defences he'd built up after Her were washed away like sticks and pebbles. He felt his limbs tense and refuse to move the way he wanted them to. His pupils shrank until everything was a hazy scarlet blur.

*OBEY. KILL HIM. OBEY*.

Over and over, the command was beaten into his mind...over and over, his mind screamed in turn, No! I can't! I won't! He could not, would not harm his other half. He couldn't see Hiccup, could barely hear his voice, but Toothless could smell his fear. Hiccup was afraid of him...and rightly so, because the other half of his heart and soul was about to kill him in cold blood! Like a monster!

Against his will, he summoned his flames, hot and bright. What was wrong with him? He should be fighting this! He should be firing anywhere else but right in front of him; how could he kill his other half? It made no sense. They would both die! He couldn't hold his fire back much longer. He was too weak. Hiccup would never have fallen prey to this control. I'm so sorry, brother. I failed you...

*KILL HIM*.

Before he knew it, Toothless had fired. The Alpha withdrew from his mind, and he slumped, panting, eyes closed. He didn't want to open them. Any moment now, he'd slip into an endless sleep with Hiccup...moments passed, and still he didn't feel like he was dying. Not really. In spite of the fear that gripped him like prey in its jaws, fangs stabbing into him, Toothless reluctantly opened his eyes.

The sight before him was one he had dreaded: Hiccup's body, limp on the ground, charred from Toothless' own flame. A despairing wail clawed its way out of the dragon's throat. Helpless, keening in grief, he staggered forwards and nosed at Hiccup's soft face. It was cold to the touch of his sensitive snout, and he couldn't feel or hear any breathing. Hiccup was dead, and it was all his fault.

Hiccup was dead...so why wasn't he? "You don't deserve it" a voice whispered in the shadows around him. Toothless startled, and crouched protectively over Hiccup...Hiccup's corpse instinctively. "Where was that protectiveness before?" the voice hissed. The dragon whined guiltily. It was true; he had sworn to protect Hiccup no matter what, and he had failed utterly. He had done this.

"You're weak. Pathetic. You're nothing without me." Much to Toothless' horror, the owner of the voice stepped out of the shadows. It was Hiccup, albeit faded and ghostly. He glared at Toothless, and the dragon cringed. "I begged you to stop. Are you really so weak-minded that you need to have me touching you for you to remember I exist?" Hiccup's ghost asked, voice dripping with incredulous scorn. Toothless whimpered. *I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you...I tried...*

"You should have tried harder. You're not dead, because the heart bind broke. You broke it the moment you chose to be weak, and give in to the Alpha's demands" the ghost told him. Toothless bowed his head in shame. "Don't even think of killing yourself, either. You deserve to suffer and live with this guilt for the rest of your life" -

*STOOOP!*

Both dragon and ghost looked up, startled, at the roar. Toothless stared in utter bewilderment as a small brown Night Fury dropped out of the sky between him and Hiccup's ghost, and spoke with Hiccup's voice. *Stay away from him!* the Hiccup-Fury snarled, fangs bared, wings spread as if to shield Toothless from view. The dragon looked past his wing, and saw Hiccup's ghost staring in shock.

The ghost stared; then his face cleared, and he slowly reached out to the strange dragon. "It's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you..." he crooned, so reassuring and gentle that it broke Toothless' heart. The brown Fury hissed viciously at him. *I'm not an idiot* he said...in the blink of an eye, he was replaced by Hiccup, solid and alive. "You are not me" he insisted, "I'm the real Hiccup. You? You're just lingering guilt and fear, given form."

He snatched Inferno from his thigh and ignited the blade. "And I won't let you torment my other half with my face and my voice!" The sword swung down, slicing through the ghost-Hiccup...with no effect. Hiccup winced. "Ah...should've figured that wouldn't work" he admitted, sheathing his sword again.

He turned to Toothless and smiled comfortingly. "It's okay, buddy, I'm here. You're having a nightmare." A...nightmare? Toothless whimpered uncertainly, staring wide eyed at living Hiccup, then ghost-Hiccup glaring at him from behind the others back, and finally down at dead Hiccup lying at his feet. "You killed me" ghost-Hiccup hissed accusingly.

"Shut up" Hiccup snapped. To his dragon, he said more gently, "I'm alive, Toothless. You never hurt me. Don't listen to it, it's not me, it's just your own mind playing tricks on you. You're dreaming, bud" he murmured. Toothless looked up at him, confused. "We went to bed, remember? I found myself in our dream realm, but you weren't there, so I came to find you. I didn't think you...oh, buddy, do you really still blame yourself? He made you do it!"

Toothless slowly backed away a few steps, not taking his eyes off of Hiccup's. *That's...the problem. I'm too weak* he whimpered. *I'm not...strong the way you are. I'm scared. I don't want to hurt you.* Toothless lay down and rolled onto his back, exposing his belly and throat in submission. Hiccup stared at him in concern. Toothless thought he was weak? There must be more going on here.

To the surprise of his dragon, Hiccup proceeded to lie on his own back, tilting his head so he was squinting at Toothless upside down. "Ah, this isn't that comfortable, is it? What d'you say we lie on our fronts instead?" he suggested, doing just that. Toothless copied him, and they ended up eye to eye again.

Resting his weight on one arm, Hiccup reached out with his free hand and caressed the dragon's face. Despite himself, Toothless purred and pressed closer. "I don't blame you" Hiccup murmured, "You know that. Why are you still blaming yourself?" he asked. Toothless looked away. "You said you were weak. Toothless, you're one of the strongest people I know! What gave you the idea you were weak?" Hiccup inquired. Toothless glanced at him nervously, and finally answered, "He took me over."

"That wasn't your fault! No dragon could have resisted an Alpha like that; and besides, you did resist. You were fighting the whole time! You're not weak, Toothless, not at all" Hiccup told him. The dragon's tail twitched with frustration. Hiccup didn't understand. *I'm weak-minded. I know I tried to fight him off, but...I nearly didn't. If Eret hadn't stunned me, I might have...I would have...* he closed his eyes in shame.

"Hey, hey, hey, shhh" Hiccup whispered, wriggling closer and placing his hands on scaly black paws. "Toothless, look at me." He waited until the dragon had opened his eyes, before saying "I know it was a close call. If the worst had happened, I wouldn't have blamed you. If we woke up in Valhalla together, the first thing I'd have done is forgiven you" he declared, open and honest and loving.

Toothless tried to purr, but only a whimper emerged. He didn't deserve Hiccup's forgiveness; he didn't deserve Hiccup. "And don't go thinking you don't deserve to be forgiven, or some nonsense like that" his perceptive human admonished gently, "it was not your fault. I don't understand, Toothless. Just because you couldn't resist the Alpha's commands, it doesn't make you weak-minded."

*You would have resisted* Toothless said mournfully.

"Well...it didn't really affect me. I'm not a dragon" Hiccup pointed out.

*Exactly. Dragons...our bodies are stronger than humans* Toothless conceded, *but your minds are so much stronger than ours. You don't even know about will and yet you have so much of it, you're bursting with it. It's what let you stand up to dragon raids for generations. When we fought the Red Death, and Usurper, having you riding us helped shield us from those Alpha's control* he tried to explain.

Hiccup waited patiently for Toothless to gather his thoughts. *I was too busy to think about it, before...but now I can't stop thinking about how I almost...I know it wasn't really my fault, but there's so much that could make me hurt you. Alphas, dragon root, those leeches - if I lose control of myself and attack you again...* he trailed off with a whine. Hiccup squeezed his paws and reached a hand up to caress his face.

"Oh, Toothless. It'll be okay" he murmured softly, "You don't have to worry. We can avoid grimora and dragon root, and as for being under an Alpha's control, that's not going to happen again. We're Alphas now, you and me, that makes us immune...doesn't it?" A hint of uncertainty crept into his voice, because he didn't actually know. He had just assumed that surely, they would be immune to that control...

*You're immune, and I...should be, but what if Usurper comes back? I'd have to fight him with my mind as well, and I don't know if I'm...*

"You are strong enough, Toothless" Hiccup insisted, "and we're stronger together, we always have been. I'll be right there with you."

Toothless stretched his neck forward and nuzzled Hiccup gratefully. *Hiccup, will you promise me something?* he asked.

"Of course, bud, anything."

*If I do lose control of myself, promise me you'll run. Don't try to snap me out of it, just get away. And if...if you have to hurt me to stop me, just do it. I don't care if you hurt me, I can take it, but I could hurt you so much and I couldn't bear it if I did* Toothless explained. He'd rather feel pain for a little bit, than guilt from hurting his dearest one for much, much longer.

Hiccup looked at him for a long moment. "Only if you promise the same" he said finally. Toothless tilted his head, confused. What could make Hiccup lose control? "We don't know for sure that there's nothing out there that could make me...act different. I'll make your promise if you do; if anything makes us turn on each other, we'll save each other, but we'll save ourselves first. Deal?"

Toothless nuzzled him again. *Deal. I promise.* His heart ached at the thought of anything making him hurt Hiccup, but at least this way, Hiccup would be safe. Calmer now, he heaved himself to his feet and stretched his wings out, jerking his head at the saddle invitingly. Hiccup grinned and scrambled up. "I thought you'd never ask" he joked, swinging into the saddle. At once they were up in the air and away.

Cracking the Shell

All over their new, different-yet-familiar nest, the Swift-Wings of Myrkr played and bickered and slept and chattered, far away and safe from any humans who might hunt them. All throughout the warren of caves and tunnels beneath the glaciers, jet-black dragons formed knots of friends and family in the gathering place, and the kits played under the watchful eyes of their dams in the nursery.

In the depths of one cave, a single drakaina snarled and paced with heavy footsteps back and forth. Her tail lashed in frustration. Oh, how she hated these caves. Too small, too narrow, none of the wonderful sprawl of their proper Nest. Why was everyone so happy to be here? Their pack had lived in that mountain for generations; their flock-mates had died to defend it. Then they just left.

Eclipse's wing ached. She had been so bored, that month when it was broken. She'd left the healing caverns just in time for Shadow to return; he came to her with beseeching croons, apologising, saying they could still be friends. Eclipse had swatted his nose to draw blood and chased him away. He had left her; he could keep leaving, as far as she cared! She didn't want or need him anyway!

Selena had been even worse, prancing through the nest cooing delight about all the friendly humans and dragons she'd met. Eclipse soon grew sick and tired of hearing it. Hiccup might have bound her wing so it would heal right – she could, begrudgingly, agree that he at least meant dragons no harm – but that didn't mean any other human could be trusted. Humans were still dangerous.

Queen Phoebe had looked at the ships come to catch them and led everyone away from their home. There were too many humans to fight off; it was safer to flee, safer to hide. No-one but Eclipse seemed to care why the humans knew where to find them; because they'd let a human live, and then more came. Just like she knew they would, and she would have killed every last one of them!

Eclipse had fallen in the hierarchy; and to add insult to injury, that drakaina learning from Ekaren and her heart-bound mate had been honoured by the Queen. Eclipse had been higher in status than them; now she was lower. Not to mention, the Queen-to-be had abandoned her pack and her duty to go and flick her tail at Toothless. He was an Alpha now, and called his pet human alpha too.

Grumbling to herself, Eclipse scorched the cave floor and curled up on it, her bitter yellow eyes fixed on the entrance. She would not sleep yet, and even when she did, a part of her would be on guard. It hurt that she could not feel safe in this nest. It hurt that she was by herself, but her pride would not let her seek companionship. Eclipse swallowed a whimper. She wanted to go home.

She saw the shadow flowing over the stone; her ear-flaps flicked at the sound of stealthy paws. Straightaway she rose to her feet, a snarl in her throat. *Don't growl at us* the orange-eyed drake said disapprovingly, curtly, as he rounded the corner. Eclipse bristled when his mate joined him, feeling cornered. She knew these dragons, they were parents to her – her former mate's best friend.

They were also above her in the hierarchy. *Raven-Shade* she greeted warily, rising from a wary crouch to sitting back on her haunches. *What brings you here?* she asked. The older Swift-Wings paced into her cave and sat down at the side. Eclipse could dash for the mouth of it, if she needed to. *If Black Fire has done something foolish, I swear to the Moon I had nothing to do with it.*

Raven calmly answered *This is not about our son. We're here to talk to you about humans.* Eclipse flinched; what in Moon's name did they want to talk about that for? Shade continued, before she could say anything, *You've withdrawn from the pack, all because our thoughts on humans have changed, and yours have not. There is talk of you going rogue again, or worse* he said.

Indignant, Eclipse flared her wings and hissed. *You think I would turn on my pack-mates?!* She demanded, slit pupils glaring. *No one is more loyal to our pack than I! The only reason I went rogue, as you put it, was to get rid of that wretched human* Eclipse snarled. How dare they bring up her greatest shame, as if they'd found an old scar and clawed at it until it bled again. It wasn't fair!

Raven-Shade were undisturbed. They merely stood, raising their own wings, and silently reminded Eclipse that they were older, and stronger, and more importantly, there were two of them. *Now what?* she growled stubbornly, *are you two going to pin me down like a squalling kit until I behave?*

*If you act like a hatchling, then we will treat you like one* Raven answered coolly. The thought of being humiliated like that gave Eclipse pause. Reluctantly, she folded her wings again, and briefly bared her throat. They relaxed as well, acknowledging the gesture of submission. *We don't think you will turn on us. We're worried you will do something reckless, and get yourself hurt or killed.*

Eclipse blinked. They were worried? About her? *Why do you care?* she asked; it came out snappier than she intended. *Sorry, but I mean, I'm not friends with Black Fire anymore, and Shadow isn't my mate…not to mention I'm lower in rank than you are.* Even lower now than she had been, for all these years.

Shade answered *Believe us or not, it was Shadow who asked us to talk to you. He thought we would know how to do it best. After all, we believed the same as you, not long ago.* At least, he and Raven had thought of humans as the enemy until Toothless-Hiccup had turned everything on its head, five years ago. For a dragon, of course, five years was still 'not long ago'. Unless they were a Biter.

Eclipse's eyes narrowed. *Not you too* she almost whined. *Am I the only dragon left in this nest with any sense? Don't tell me you like humans now.*

*We still don't like them* Raven insisted in the same calm, stoic tone. *Part of us still fears them. Perhaps we always will* she admitted, and Shade curled his tail around her in a rare – for them – gesture of affection. *But we've met Hiccup properly, and a few other humans, like his mate and dam, that treated us with respect. We know now that not all humans want to harm us* she said.

Shade carried on. *Raven and I have always tried to do what made sense to us; and killing humans on sight no longer does. We'd kill them to defend ourselves, if we had to, but what good has murder ever done? Humans fear dragons, especially Swift-Wings, but that fear does not drive them away. Strange creatures that they are. Every human we kill is one they wish to avenge.*

Frustrated, Eclipse lashed her tail. *So what else are we supposed to do?* she demanded. *Just hide like cowards when humans come to hunt us, or abandon this nest too? Should we fly down to greet them and look cute? Before humans found us, we were safe. Now they know about us, and even if the ones on that island don't hunt dragons, sooner or later the ones that do will come looking!*

She'd leapt to her paws, fangs bared, desperate to make them see. Shade spoke of things making sense – well, this made sense! If 'good' humans knew about them, then bad humans would know about them. *We killed humans on sight to stop them from finding our nest, remember? To protect our pack! Now it feels like I'm the only one who cares about that* Eclipse revealed, slumping.

There was a pause; then Raven crooned sympathy. *You're not the only one. Eclipse, these good humans do not know where our nest is, and they do not want to know. Hiccup even told us all that if we were ever threatened by hunters again, to call on him and Toothless. They will bring their pack to help defend ours, just as some of our pack-mates have helped to defend theirs.*

*Eclipse, we do know how you feel* Shade reassured her. *When Sable and Jet were killed*, she flinched, a tremor through her scales, at the reminder, *we would have taken you in as our own if Dusk's parents had not offered* he said.

That's the problem. *Shade, please* Eclipse begged with a whine. *Please try to understand! My dam and sire were killed by hunters, right in front of me…and it was my fault* she admitted, the guilt clenching like jaws around her heart. *I flew off alone and saw humans, and I couldn't see any sharp things or catching things. One of them saw me and fled; I thought it was scared, but it wasn't.*

*And the other one lied* she snarled. *It let me follow it back – it lured me back with fish, and then they threw nets over me and tossed me in a cage…I was so scared! I screamed for help and they came, my parents, and the humans shot arrows at them, so many arrows – you were there!* Eclipse roared at them suddenly, *Shade, you blasted the cage open and Raven, you carried me away!*

*Why couldn't they have done it?* she wailed. *Why did they have to fend off the humans, why did they have to die?!* Eclipse remembered it all too well – the noise, the fire-blasts everywhere, the terror she'd felt, struggling and screeching in Raven's paws, looking beneath and behind her as her sire and dam were brought down and dragged away on the ship, never to be seen again.

Glaring, Eclipse declared *If I had done this in the first place, my parents would still be here. Do. Not. Trust. Humans!* She beat each word into the ground with her paws, full of anger; at her parents, at Raven-Shade, at humans, at herself.

Raven and Shade looked at each other, and Eclipse, with concern glimmering in their uniquely coloured eyes. As quick as her burst of rage had begun, it ended, and Eclipse crumpled with a whimper. She hunched up, drawing her wings and tail in defensively. *Do not trust humans* she repeated. *Even if – especially if – they pretend to be kind. That night, I vowed to never make that mistake again.*

The silence seemed to last forever, and yet no time at all. *You still think Hiccup was pretending?* asked Shade. *I doubt he would betray us, after all this time.*

Eclipse tried to growl, but it came out as a moan. *I – no. Hiccup is…different. He had no reason to help me with my wing, but he did. I can believe he does not want to hurt dragons. I can believe the humans he knows don't want to hurt dragons. But what about the ones they know? Or the ones those ones know?*

Raven stood up slowly, and approached Eclipse on gentle paws. Shade followed her lead, and they settled on either side of the younger drakaina, not touching, but there. *Eclipse, we won't tell you that everything will be okay, or that things are different now. We know you don't want to hear all of that* she remarked. *But we want to remind you that you're not alone. You're part of this pack…*

*And packs stick together* Shade finished. *You've been shunning your friends for so long, but they do not want to shun you. It's just hard when you drive away any pack-mates who try to help. Even we thought you were fine, but now I'm glad Shadow asked us to talk to you. I think anyone else would have been chased off with a scorch mark on their rump* he said, with an amused purr.

The mental image made Eclipse snort. *So what are you trying to say?*

Raven nudged her with a wing. *We're saying you should let go of this bitterness and try to make friends again. Just because some of us no longer hate humans, doesn't mean that's the only thing we talk about. There's nothing that will change your mind, is there?* she asked, not judging or hopeful, but as matter-of-fact as ever. Eclipse could appreciate that about her and Shade.

Eclipse was about to deny that she would ever change her mind about humans…but the tiniest bit of doubt stopped her. After all, if dragons as wise as Raven-Shade had changed their minds, maybe she was missing something… *The only kind of human I would trust would be one who hates them as much as I do* she declared at last. *As for making friends…I promise I'll try, at least.*

First Flight

At long last, a special day had arrived. Astrid finally decreed that Helena was old enough to be taken on a flight around the island by Hiccup and Toothless. Her father had prepared for it in advance; he'd made her a harness modelled after his old one, in her size, with her own belay lines. Helena was very excited. She had wanted to go flying ever since she first saw them soar through the open sky.

"Come on! Come on! Come on!" she cried impatiently, bouncing up and down. Their little family, including the newest additions Selena and Ebony, were gathered at the nearest cliff to give Toothless a decent launching point. The five year old had run back and forth between the cliff and her parents, full of too much energy and excitement. "Come ooooooonnnn!" she whined dramatically.

Astrid chided "Helena, be patient. Honestly, anyone would think you wanted to grow wings yourself and be done with it. You really are your father's daughter."

"Yeah, but she gets the bossiness from you" Hiccup teased, and dodged a swat to his arm. "Alright, settle down" he said to Helena. "I hope you're not going to jump around this much in the saddle, young lady. You've got to stay still."

"I can stay still!" Helena insisted. To prove it, she suddenly froze like a statue. Hiccup chuckled, grabbed her under the arms and swung her, giggling, onto Toothless' back. He clipped the safety lines on the saddle to her harness and climbed on behind her, attaching his own straps to his belt. Once he'd double-checked they were both secure, he asked "Okay, sweetheart, you ready?"

"Yeah!" she cheered, beaming. Astrid mounted up on Stormfly; Ebony was perched on Selena's shoulders. Toothless padded to the edge of the cliff and spread his wings; his rider and passenger braced themselves, and he leapt. The wind caught his outstretched wings and he glided out over the ocean far below.

It was only a very tame flight, but Helena loved it. "Whee!" Toothless banked gently and soared over the village, low enough that his niece could wave to everyone. He, Selena and Stormfly made a lap of the island, over Urchin's ice cave, the cove, and through the stone arch. "Uncle Toothless, go higher!"

The black dragon warbled and flapped his wings, carrying them up above the peak of Berk's mountain, up to the clouds. Helena felt such a thrill as the ground and the sea fell away below them, so far down! Yet with her dad's arm around her waist, and her little hands tight on the handles, she was fearless. The dragons climbed and levelled out, catching an updraft and hanging in midair.

"Daddy, look at the clouds!" Helena exclaimed in wonder. "Fluffy clouds…" she leaned out boldly to grab a handful, and pouted when her hand came back wet but empty. Hiccup chuckled, and she wrinkled her nose at him. "Don't laugh!"

"Sorry, darling" he apologised, trying and failing to hide a grin. "You having fun?" Hiccup asked, and Helena nodded, beaming at him. She waved to Ebony, who had her little wings spread instinctively, feeling the currents shifting. One day, the two year old kit would be old enough to glide on her own, Helena on her shoulders, and the two of them together would be unstoppable.

In true childish fashion, of course, Helena rapidly got bored. "Wanna do some tricks!" she announced suddenly, "I wanna loop the loop, and, and spin, and go whoosh!" This last part accompanied by a flail of her arms that was probably meant to be a dive. "Daddy, you said Uncle Toothless is the fastest dragon!"

Hiccup looked over at his wife for her opinion on the matter. "Astrid?"

"Don't look at me, she gets it from you!"

"I know that! But can we? Nothing too extreme, honest!"

Astrid rolled her eyes. "Alright! But so help me, Hiccup, if you jump out of that saddle with or without Helena, I will make sure you regret it!" she threatened.

Permission granted – sort of – Hiccup grinned down at Helena and Toothless. "Well, you heard her, bud. Let's show Helena some moves" he prompted, letting the tail-fin out. Toothless put on a burst of speed that had her squealing in delight, then started swerving back and forth. Helena soon got the hang of keeping her balance in the saddle; she was a natural, just like her father.

Toothless pulled off a neat loop the loop; Hiccup held her very tightly when they went upside down, but Helena was laughing all the while, like it was the most fun game. "Whee! Again!" she begged, so they did another. "Mummy, look!"

"I see you!" Astrid waved from Stormfly's back. *She must be a dragon soul too!* the Spike-Tail remarked, *It's like she was born to be flying in the air.*

"She is five years old, everything is exciting at that age" Astrid pointed out, before admitting "but it wouldn't surprise me. Like peas in a pod, those two."

Helena decided that she wanted to "Spin! Uncle Toothless, go roly-poly!"

"Woah, hang on, sweetheart. I'm not sure that's the best idea" said Hiccup. "You'll get dizzy and be sick." Getting thrown up on wasn't Toothless' idea of a good time, and it would take ages to get sick stains out of the leather saddle.

Helena pouted. "Will not!" she insisted. It always looked so cool when her dad and his dragon spun through the air, like that toy she'd gotten for Snoggletog one time. Except they didn't fall over and get lost under the bed. "Please, daddy? Just once!" she begged, looking up at him with big, pleading eyes.

Hiccup firmly told himself to resist the cuteness! Which was easier said than done. It didn't help that he was biased; she was his little girl, how could he not want her to be happy? *She can probably manage a barrel roll* Toothless reasoned. He could sense his other half's resolve crumbling like sand.

With a sheepish half-smile, Hiccup peeked over at Astrid. She didn't look too impressed. Helena was still pleading with him. "Ask your mother" he said abruptly, his go to response whenever she asked something he knew he really shouldn't say 'yes' to. Astrid was better at resisting her cuteness anyway.

"Mummy, can I go for a spin?!" Helena asked, giggling at her own good joke.

Astrid sighed. "Alright. Just one, mind!" she said sternly.

"Okay!" Helena agreed at once. She never did that when Hiccup told her 'no'.

Hiccup told her to crouch down low and hold on tight. He double checked that the straps would hold; the last thing he needed was for them to be thrown out of the saddle; and gave Toothless the go ahead to barrel roll. The dragon decided to go one better; he angled himself upwards and climbed a bit, then folded his wings and fell, spinning vertically before snapping them out again.

Helena did indeed get dizzy; but it was so much fun! The sea and sky blurring together, until she didn't know which way was up and which way was down. She could get used to the dizziness. "Let's do that again!" she cheered.

"Oh no, we said one spin, and we meant it" Hiccup said in his firmest voice. The voice that made dragons look like scolded puppies, and sometimes – if he was lucky – made the twins not do whatever crazy stunt they had planned. Well, more like very occasionally, on that last part. Helena started begging him anyway. "Why does she always do this with me and not you?" he asked Astrid.

"Because she knows eventually you'll cave" his wife informed him blithely.

Stormfly pointed out *We're almost there, and we're still very high. Maybe we should go lower; and didn't Helena say she wanted to dive?* she asked.

*I believe her exact words were 'go whoosh'* Hiccup commented wryly.

Ebony perked up and wiggled excitedly at the mention of a dive. She wasn't just clinging to her mother, but strapped in with her own little harness. Hiccup had suggested it as a way to make sure the fidgety little kit wouldn't fall or try to jump off Selena's back. *Dive! Mama, dive!* she squeaked out impatiently.

"Helena, we're gonna land soon, but we've got to get lower. Time to go whoosh" Hiccup told his daughter. Her green eyes – like his own – lit up. "Okay, you ready? Hold on tight!" he urged her as Toothless folded his wings and dived. It wasn't nearly as steep or as fast as he would normally go, but Helena screamed just for the fun of it as they levelled off with a great big whoosh.

Hiccup rubbed his ear. "Aaaaand I'm deaf" he announced, deadpan. Helena giggled. Toothless purred. Ebony let out a triumphant, adorable little roar.

The three adult dragons came to a landing on the largest sea stack. Astrid dismounted and went to help untangle Ebony after she tried to jump down and got pulled up short. Hiccup unclipped them both and climbed off, before getting Helena down as well. "So, did you enjoy your first flight?" he asked her.

She beamed at him, face flushed pink, her smile as bright as the sun. "Yeah!" Helena cheered, wrapping her arms around his legs in a tight hug. She let go just as quickly and embraced Toothless' head. "Thank you, daddy. Thank you Uncle Toothless." Helena purred like a little dragon, nuzzling her cheek against his. Toothless crooned happily and nuzzled her back, giving her a lick.

Her parents smiled fondly. "You're very welcome, sweetheart."