[Hiccup.]

Hiccup jerked. His gaze snapped to Silent and his jaw dropped. "I..you…I heard that!"

[Here you can hear all beings, young one. My brother needed to give his father peace. I needed to speak to you. This is why we are taking this chance.]

"Okay. I'm listening."

[As smart as my old friend is, Onyx got something wrong.]

Onyx snorted. Hiccup saw Onyx' son smile, the same smile Toothless gave. Apparently, this was a trait Onyx started instead of Hiccup teaching Toothless. Hiccup knew people would believe he should feel cheated because of that. He felt the opposite. He loved knowing that Onyx's bonding with his rider caused an entire flock of dragons to learn human traits. He did wonder if the rider's family learned dragon traits in return. He would have to ask Old Wrinkly when he met him, since presumably Wrinkly and Kaja's children bonded with dragons. Hiccup then wondered if they were still alive as well.

[Hiccup.]

Hiccup blinked and gave Silent an apologetic smile. "Sorry."

[Understandable, but time is limited. Onyxwing said my brother's soul turned your bond with Toothless into something he had never seen before. That was not the whole truth. You hold within you a love that has never been seen before, even from Onyx' rider. My brother's soul did not have to enhance the bond formed between you. It was already at a level none could ever believe possible.]

"So, what did you do?" Hiccup said, looking at the Night Fury.

[I did enhance it, but not in the way my father believes. I am the reason why dragons believe you are a dragon in human skin.]

Hiccup's eyes widen. "The dragon side Sharpshot spoke of."

[Aye. Those moments when you act more dragon than human, that is me offering suggestions that your human soul chooses to follow.]

"Wait, you don't take over?"

[Never, young one. We are here to guide and support you, never to control you.]

"We?"

[You will learn in time,] Silent said. [For now, we must return. Your intends are getting rather anxious. As is the rest of your flock.]

Astrid reached for Hiccup as the white light flashed. A low growl stopped her momentarily. She glared at Sunburn.

"Move."

Sunburn, standing between her and her goal, flinched but did not back down. Astrid felt a stirring within her that she did not fight. Her hands felt chilled and she saw Sunburn glance down and the one eye facing Astrid widen.

"I will move you," Astrid growled.

She heard the other dragons chitter and squawk. Heard Moondust still calling out to Toothless. Heard Stormfly's screech. She felt her sister in scales' presence behind her. A welcoming presence. Still Sunburn did not move.

A muted glow filled the hut. It faded to reveal Hiccup standing behind Sunburn, staring over the dragon's neck at Astrid. She watched him place a hand upon Sunburn's head.

"Stand down."

Hiccup's voice held none of the growl his alpha side usually did but it held the same weight. Sunburn warbled and shifted back. Astrid watched as Hiccup stepped closer. He reached out, gripping her wrists gently.

"Calm, my love," he whispered. "Recall the ice. There is enough of it aboveground."

Astrid blinked. She looked down, only then seeing why her hands felt as if she had stuck both into the sea at the height of Devastating Winter. Shards of ice fell to the stone, shattering in to glittering pieces that twinkled in the little light provided by the same blue glow Astrid saw in the cave at the Changewing's island. That even Fishlegs did not comment on it when they first entered surprised Astrid, though she guessed he was more intrigued by actually learning what Onyx and Sunburn had kept secret all those years.

She felt hands cup her cheeks. She lifted her gaze. Hiccup stared at her with more peace in his eyes than she had seen since he had learned his voice controlled the nest dragons. She knew no one else saw the turmoil he still carried over that. No one except her and the adult dragons closest to him. He kept it from everyone else, though Astrid suspected Stoick and Gyda knew but respected Hiccup enough to not bring it up if he did not. That Hiccup showed her, confided in her when they were able to be just them and their dragon chaperones, was still something Astrid thanked the gods for. To know he sought her support and her care thrilled her.

Seeing the peace now, though she could also see some questions lurking behind those green eyes, calmed Astrid. Her muscles relaxed. The chill in her hands eased. Her chest loosened and she took a deep breath. Hiccup smiled before placing a soft kiss to her lips. It was not long, they had an audience and a mission after all, but it proved to Astrid that he had survived whatever just happened.

Which also served to remind Astrid of what just happened and her eyes narrowed. Hiccup tilted his head. Astrid just stared at him. Hiccup smiled again, caressing her cheek with his thumb before leaning back and dropping his hands. He turned to the others but made a point to reach out and take her hand and gently squeeze it.

"Calm down, everyone. I'm fine. Toothless is fine."

"Anymore crazy magic things gonna happen right now? Cause it would nice to know when I need to shield my eyes!"

Astrid scoffed at Snotlout's annoyed comment. She knew it was a façade he still thought he needed to play, even when it was just the Riders. She also knew it had to do with his grandfather still being the head of the Jorgenson clan. Her father had explained the situation Snot, his father, and mother found themselves in with that old man holding the power to keep them or disown them. It made Astrid realize just how blessed she was that her father was head of her clan and she did not have to act one way to appease him all the while believing he was completely wrong.

It also made Astrid reacted with patience whenever Snot would spout off. No one gainsaid against Hiccup while she was around. No one disrespected him either. Yet, Snot had to appear to do both so that his grandfather did not get furious and throw the entire family out. Astrid understood that, even as she had to fight the urge to throw Snotlout to the ground at times.

"Let's all sit and eat," Hiccup said, pulling her from her thoughts. "And I'll explain."

Astrid hoped the explanation would not made her mad again. It would be unbefitting of the future Chieftess of Berk and the future queen of the dragon nest living there to crack the skull of the ancestor to her future brother-in-law after all.

Literally Nobody: Modern technology. Isn't it a grand thing? I never said the truth about Hiccup's abilities would be pleasant. And I bawled while writing that part. Well, Gyda in this version. Hehe, you'll see what the dragons think of the Dragon Eye, don't worry. Have a good day/night as well.

Kirika: Thank you, my friend.