The three flocks followed Ringfire into the opening. Toothless and Stormfly lowered to hover so their riders could watch. Hiccup glanced up and signaled. Barf and Belch flew closer, Sugar and Spice right behind him. Knowledge and Wisdom flew over but did not stay near to the mated Zipplebacks. He chose to hover behind Toothless.

"Thanks, guys," Hiccup said, shifting the saddle so that the Zippleback Elder knew he was included. Hiccup then turned back to the twins. "Go on back. Snoggletogg still needs to be decorated."

Ruff and Tuff glanced at each other then stared at Hiccup.

"You're not coming?" Ruff asked.

Hiccup gestured to the opening. "When I know they are settled," he said.

The twins looked at each other again and then tapped the sides of Barf and Belch's neck. The Zippleback dove and to Hiccup's surprise came to hover even with Toothless' right wingtip. Sugar and Spice moved to hover at Barf and Belch's right side.

"Uh, guys?" Hiccup asked.

"If you're not going to be there," Ruff said, "we're not going to be there."

"But.. your family.. they will be waiting for your help," Hiccup began then pointed at the two Zipplebacks. "And they're leaving in the morning. Go spend some of the holiday with them."

Tuff shook his head. "No, boss man. Our minds are made up. We'll stay with you until you can decorate with us."

"But-"

"H," Tuff said softly, "we were the reason you couldn't decorate five years ago. We were the reason you had to stay in the forge every year since."

Hiccup took a deep breath. "I know, Tuff," he began only to be interrupted by Tuff once more.

"You knew? Of course you knew!" Tuff turned to his sister. "I told you he was a mage just like Gyda."

"No, dear brother, I told you."

"I distinctly remember telling you, dearest sister."

"Guys!" Hiccup called. "I'm not a mage. I'm just observant. I saw you both that day."

The twins found the tops of their dragon's heads interesting. Hiccup sighed. He heard a slight hiss and turned to his left. He groaned. Astrid looked as if she realized something unpleasant. So much for keeping her from guilt. Hiccup pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Hiccup," Astrid began, her voice small. "Gobber…Gobber said he found a barrel of weapons in front of your workshop door just after evening meal that day."

Hiccup hissed and ran his fingers through his hair. He did not want to go into this. He did not want to relive that day five years ago. He did not want his friends and his future queen to deal with that past when they should be celebrating with their dragons before said dragons left.

"Hiccup," Astrid said again. "Who?"

Hiccup sighed, knowing he would not get out without answering. Astrid would not let him. He would either answer now or she would bring up the topic again and again until he answered later.

"Dogsbreath," Hiccup whispered. "Him and Baneson. I heard them. They…they said they were making sure I didn't leave and completely ruin Snoggletogg.. like… like I had ruined the wooden supports for the tree."

Astrid gasped. "Had Gobber not gone back.. Had he not wondered why you didn't come to eat.."

[I will kill him,] Toothless said.

"No, Toothless," Hiccup cried, placing a hand upon his brother's head. "You can't kill Baneson."

[Why? He almost killed you. I may not know much about humans, but I do know your kind cannot survive a night in this season without the fire in your dens. I've seen that small den you use sometimes, brother. There is no fire. There is no place for a fire.]

"You still can't kill him, Toothless. You are not a murderer."

[But, brother.. I have killed humans.]

"I know. I know most of the dragons in the nest have, but you all are free of that tyrant queen. You don't have to fear death should you come back to the nest without food. You don't have to fight to ensure you have that food. You don't have to kill anyone anymore unless you are defending the nest or yourselves. Killing Baneson over something that happened five years ago is neither of those."

Toothless let out a frustrated snarl but Hiccup felt his brother relax.

"Now I know why Gobber insisted on staying in the forge with you since then," Astrid whispered.

Hiccup hissed at the guilt he heard in her voice. He glanced over finding her staring at Stormfly's saddle.

"Astrid," he whispered. "Look at me."

She lifted her head and Hiccup wanted to pull her off Stormfly's back and into his arms. He could see the shine in her eyes and knew she was holding back tears.

Hiccup hissed again. "Everyone land!" he ordered.

The dragons immediately dove to the small beach at the bottom of the cliff face. Hiccup dismounted as soon as Toothless' wings curled. He stared at Stormfly. She lowered herself. Hiccup turned to Barf and Belch who lowered their heads.

"Guys, dismount. Please."

The three Viking teens did as Hiccup said. Hiccup groaned when all three stared at their feet.

"Guys," he said, "look at me."

All three teens looked up.

"I grant you all forgiveness."

"But-" Ruff began, "it was our stupid prank and you almost died over it."

"And I forgive you," Hiccup stated. "It's over. It's done. No more guilt guys. This is the first holiday without the threat of war. It's a time for happiness. Not tears."

"But, boss man," Tuff began, "you can't forgive us."

Hiccup frowned. "Yes, Tuff, I can and I do. It's time to move on, guys. It's time to heal from the past. Not be shackled by it. Now, please, go spend some time with your family and your dragons."

"You sure?" Tuff began.

"I'm sure."

"And you are coming to decorate?" Ruff asked.

Hiccup smiled. "I am coming to help decorate though Astrid's already claimed my help. We'll just have to work as a group."

The twins brightened.

"Can we?" Tuff asked.

"Yes."

Hiccup blinked as the twin each lifted a hand and slapped the other twins' hand. They then spun and climbed back into their respective saddles.

"We'll go, but we'll be waiting, boss man," Tuff said.

The mated pair of Zipplebacks bowed, Barf and Belch not lowering their heads as much so as to not drop their riders. The two Zipplebacks then flew back up to the village. Hiccup watched them then turned to Astrid.

"Astrid," he said, noting she was staring at the water in the inlet.

"I was so mad at you that day," she whispered. "You… Baneson and Dogsbreath said you had set fire to the tree's supports. Then each year after Gobber had to miss out and babysit you. But…you didn't do anything! You could have died that night from the cold and you didn't do anything wrong!"

Hiccup placed a hand upon her shoulder and spun her to face him. Before she could protest, he had his lips covering hers. She did fight for half a heartbeat but kissed him back. Hiccup's arms encircled her and he felt her hesitate before her arms enclosed around him. Hiccup kept the kiss soft even though he wanted to give her one just she had given him on the sea stack after they failed to find the wreckage of Heather's parents' ship. Now was not the time for such kisses.

"The alpha forgives you," he whispered after he had pulled back and regained his breath.

"How?" Astrid whispered. "How can you forgive all of us? How can you really forgive me?"

"Because I know what holding onto the bitterness of the past does. I've seen it. You've seen it. This tribe has lived it. My grandfather still won't let me acknowledge him as such and still glares at Dad. Dad was so obsessed with finding the Nest that he almost lost everyone he was supposed to protect. It's time to heal now."

Astrid took a deep breath. She laid her head upon Hiccup's shoulder. Hiccup hummed when her lips pressed against his neck. She shifted, her lips rising to rest near to his ear.

"Thank you," she whispered.

She shifted again, her lips pressing against his neck once more. He hummed and pulled her closer. He then sighed. While he would happily stand there and hold her for the rest of the day, he knew they had to get back.

"Come on," he whispered.

Astrid placed one last, lingering kiss upon his neck before leaving his arms. Hiccup took a moment to quell his beating heart and then climbed back into Toothless' saddle. He blinked, noticing the Elder Zippleback was still with them.

"Oh, sorry," Hiccup said.

[Do not,] Knowledge began.

[Worry, our alpha,] Wisdom continued.

[We know,] Knowledge said.

[This was important.]

[And you are right.]

[It is time to heal.]

Hiccup smiled. He looked over, finding Astrid on Stormfly's back. Hiccup tapped Toothless neck and Toothless rose. The two other dragons did as well. They flew to the village and Hiccup frowned.

The tree still looked as it had when he sent Fish, Snot, and Torgeir home. Vikings milled around the plaza but none grabbed any of the Snoggletogg decorations still sitting in their crates.

"Dad?" Hiccup asked as Toothless landed beside Stoick and Gobber near to the tree. "What's going on?"

"We be waitin fer ye, son."

"Uh, but why?"

Stoick placed a hand up on Hiccup's shoulder and Hiccup had to fight the urge to flinch.

"Five years ago, we wronged ye. I wronged ye."

"Dad-"

"Hush, son. It's true. I'd forgotten I sent ye to the forge fer more nails. When the tree's supports caught fire and Dogbreath and Baneson said ye did it… I should never believed'm over me own son." Stoick gently squeezed Hiccup's shoulder. "Never again, son. We will never celebrate any festival or holiday if ye can't be with us."

Hiccup glanced around, finding all but Old Man Jorgenson, two of his grandfather's oldest friends, and Baneson smiling and nodding. Hiccup looked back up at his father. He smiled.

"Thanks, Dad."

Kirika: Aww, shucks. Thank you. I hope you love the surprises still in store for the rest of the book.