And with this chapter, Neverending Chain has reached its end. Thank you all for joining me on this crazy adventure. As before, I shall not post the next few days as I ready at least ten chapters of the next book. Fear not though, Hiccup and his merry nest are not through. They will be wating for us in their spring. Once again, thank you all. You all are awesome.

"Another tale from your home?" Astrid asked.

Hiccup would have kissed her for that if doing do so would not give Skulder more than he needed to know. Learning the dragons could speak and that Gyda was a mage was one thing. The time travel was still something Stoick wanted kept within the tribe until the Thing happened in the spring. Hiccup knew it would be difficult to keep that secret from the visitors living on Berk for the winter but Skulder was not on Berk and likely not going back to Berk for a long time to come.

"Aye," Gyda said. "It's popular and beloved by many."

The hatchling cooed something that sounded questioning. Hiccup heard Haizea respond with a soft warble. The hatchling leapt out of Hiccup and Astrid's lap and tumbled across the furs to Gyda. He reared back, placing his front paws upon her leg but looked towards Shadowfire. He chittered. Shadowfire chortled.

[He's asking if you'll tell the story, Mom.]

[I, too, would like to know it,] Meatlug stated.

Hiccup frowned when Shadowfire gave his version of Toothless' smirk.

[Which version would you like mom to tell?]

"Son."

[It's a valid question, Mom.]

Gyda sighed, her gaze catching Hiccup's. He tilted his head. Her look seemed to ask him to intervene, but he found himself intrigued. Gyda still kept many secrets about her time. Hiccup had always allowed that because the mage had proven her loyalty and that she could be trusted. Hiccup knew her secrets would not endanger his loved ones or those in his charge. Of course, she could also not wish to reveal this tale because she was unsure if it was a truth she knew or one just told to her by her family. He knew it was likely the uncertainty was painful to her.

"Will you give us the tale?" Hiccup asked, also knowing that tale giving was helpful after a battle.

His father once told him of a time, back when the dragon raids were just starting, when the warriors of Berk would sit as they were doing right then. Most would boast about their actions in whatever battle they had just fought. A few would remain quiet. Several would replay the war but took a less loud and wild way of telling their involvement. Stoick told Hiccup that he or Gobber would give a tale from the tribe's past and it would always calm nerves and allow the warriors to ease tensions gained in the battle they had just survived.

Gyda sighed but tipped her head. As she began her tale, Hiccup leaned back against Toothless, smiling when Astrid took advantage of the hatchling's absent to snuggle closer. Hiccup merely tightened his hold.

Soon, Gyda finished her tale, even explaining why her son asked which version they wanted. It baffled Hiccup that people could take a tale given by one and weave other tales using the same characters. It baffled him more that the other tales could be similar to the first at times, and at other times completely different.

[My rider and I used to do this,] Onyxwing said softly in a lull just as Gyda finished.

Hiccup looked over, finding the dragon staring at the stone floor. At least this time Onyx was not crying. He merely looked as if he was watching something from his past play before his eyes.

[Before the others joined us, before the other humans found dragons to bond with, he and I would sit together after a battle and just tell each other tales we had heard.]

[I remember when you and he did that just after the battle where my rider and I bonded,] a new voice said. [Confused me then, but now I understand. What better way to settle from a fight than to gather with flock, exchanging tales known and just being with each other in safety.]

Hiccup grinned as Heatwave stuck his head into the chamber. Given his near exhausted state he had stayed out of the fight and had been in the Elders' cavern under strict orders not to move until he slept and the new Head Elder felt he was able to leave.

The Typhoomerang slipped into the cavern and the circle shifted to make room for him beside in between Spitfire and Gyda. Hiccup hid his smile as his nephew squawked at the bigger dragon, turned as fast as his unstable legs would let him, and rushed back to bound into Astrid's lap. This time he did not place any part of his body in Hiccup's lap. He instead curled up on Astrid's left leg, right up against her belly. Hiccup did smile when she immediately dropped her arm around the hatchling, providing a barrier he could hid behind and one to keep him from falling off her lap.

[I did not mean to spook the hatchling,] Heatwave said.

[He will be fine,] Haizea said. [You are just a new dragon for him to get to know.]

Hiccup saw and heard Onyxwing heave a sigh. He braced himself, realizing just what the dragon would say next. He had been expecting it since he had past the tests and Onyx and Silent had given him the knowledge they were supposed to.

[We must get back,] Onyxwing said softly.

Knowing it was coming did not make hearing the words any less sorrowful. Hiccup had come to see those three as family. Closer than even Toothless' parents and siblings. Even closer than Stoick and Gobber. All three were the dragon half of a bonded pair. They and their humans were Riders, just as much as Hiccup and his friends were. While he had just met Heatwave, Hiccup already knew the dragon would be part of that family as well.

Hiccup's gaze slipped around, noting that his friends were staring at Onyxwing with looks of sorrow but also understanding. Hiccup frowned. The four dragons with mates and hatchlings also held a hint of longing in their gazes. Hiccup sighed, realizing just what he needed to do.

"We will need to leave soon as well," he said softly.

[Not this day or the next,] Toothless' father said. [You all are ordered to remain. The nest wishes to hold a celebration for your bravery in defending us.]

Hiccup smiled. He knew they needed to leave. Berk needed them back. He knew that. The hatchlings waiting needed their father or mother back. He knew that as well. He also did not really want to leave right then.

They had come to visit, to allow Toothless a chance to reconnect with his past and introduce that past to his present and future. Hiccup had expected a less than civil greeting and gained a new family instead. He had not expected more than meeting Toothless' parents and maybe learn from Toothless' father in as much as he still learned from the Changewing king. He gained much more that he did not even know he needed.

In the silence that fell after Toothless' father's declaration, those in the circle began speaking of various things. None left the circle though. Hiccup leaned back against his brother and pulled Astrid closer to him. His gaze caught Gyda holding her father's journal. He tilted his head.

Gothi once scribbled that the past provided the present when she taught the tribe's children about the history of the tribe and the island. Hiccup realized he saw that happening before his eyes these last few days. The past Onyxwing lived provided the present Hiccup found himself in now. Gyda's family molded their past to provide the present she believed was correct. Even Toothless' aunt skewed the past to provide a present she wanted.

Hiccup frowned. He did wonder if they would ever learn the whole truth. He suspected that would come if they ever met Onyx's rider. His gaze swept over those in the circle and his frown faded. Hiccup laid his head back against his brother. He closed his eyes, listening to his family, his flock, talking. He smiled, feeling and hearing his soul begin its three-part purr. Peace flooded him. Peace he did not think he would ever have after learning that his soul had power.

No matter what that truth was, no matter if they learned that truth or not, Hiccup knew his nest and all peaceful nests would survive and thrive in the present won by the acts of the past. Nothing could, nothing would, destroy what had been sacrificed for. He knew he and his Riders would do everything to ensure that. He knew he and his Riders would be ready and now have the skills to be able to act if they were needed.

For now though, they would relax, attend this celebration, and then return home with no shadows covering their flight. Hiccup welcomed, and relished, in that knowledge.

Literally Nobody: Hehe, we shall see. I love writing hatchlings. Thank you so much. Writing an OC and placing them in an already established fandom is a scary proposition. I am happy to know my OCs seem real and are liked.

Kirika: Hehe, I knew that would come up, so I decided to use it as a chance for Shadowfire to return to his usual silly, joking mood.