Hiccup's and Kernel's worldview shattering starts. And things change.

xXXx

It was only two weeks since they'd met the dragon's and started dragon training.

Since then their lives had been practically thrown upside down. They'd learned more about dragons then they ever thought possible and made regular flying trips with them. Kernel had even gotten used to Springer's windy movements and could sometimes anticipate them. Hiccup could now control the tail somewhat better and they had a tailfin controlling system worked up with only a few more days until it was ready for use. It had been problematic to think up but would be so worth it when they finally got to trying it.

But they'd learned a lot more. Dragons hated, even feared, eels. They liked being scratched and if you did it in a certain pattern it built up a fainting reflex. Almost all dragons they'd had contact with dropped attempts to harm oneself if they showed no intent of harming it. There was a dragon equivalent for catnip. Many dragons were very smart and could feel emotion, think and act on them. They were loyal friends and loved the games the twins cooked up. Dragons liked chasing small and moving things. Like a reflection of light. They loved flying and held almost no reservations for having a rider, if they showed they could be trusted.

Dragons were at war with vikings because they had to, not because they wanted to.

That was what the twins got from their friends when they asked. Kernel's link with Springer was a big help in understanding at least something. But not really why so many dragons had to attack and other ones didn't. The Fury and Chaser tried to help out only so the others didn't die. Die of what and why was impossible to understand as of yet, but they were getting there.

Anyway, they knew a lot more than two weeks ago.

And that was becoming a problem. Scratch that, it was a problem the moment they decided to befriend dragons. It was only now they started to realize it though. And they had to find a solution.

If their village found out about their friends, the dragons would be either chased off or killed. And they would find out someday, no ifs or buts about it.

So it would have to be on their terms. Which was why they were at Hideout and brainstorming, Spring and Tooth lazing around on a perch they'd set up just for them. It was their favorite place on the island other than the cove it seemed.

Kernel munched on a mint leaf and thought hard for ideas. It was a 'brushing your teeth' tactic when brushes weren't available.

"We… could try to tell someone? Someone who could understand?", she offered, though it sounded weak even to her own ears.

Hiccup vehemently shook his head, "Who do we know that is like that? True, Fishlegs probably but… A secret like this is hard to keep. He'd probably blab"

Kernel groaned in frustration. All of that was true. It applied to lots of vikings. They just didn't know how to keep quiet or were terrible liars. Why was having dragons as friends so freakishly hard?

"We can't just not tell anyone either", Hiccup continued with the same amount of frustrating helplessness.

They were quiet for a long moment, both lost in thought. Springer snorted and gave chirp while nudging Toothless so he would play with her. Rina or not, Wind Chasers were active creatures and required lots of stimulation. She didn't get a reaction out of her brother though and decided to flop on the other who groaned and tried to shove her off, only to roll around once more and ending up in a playful power struggle. It was cute.

"How can no one else see this?", muttered Hiccup as he watched the two. Kernel couldn't help but agree. And she might have found a solution.

"You know… it'll take time but we could try putting seeds of doubt in everyone's minds… I mean, we could start at the ring. Tell comments and tidbits about dragons to get them thinking about this war, start doubting it and stuff vikings 'know' and then it won't be as risky to be found out", she started, trailing off at the end.

Hiccup's eyes widened as he too started thinking.

"We could do more than that! Like, stage instances where dragons are seen in non-threatening positions. Maybe try coaxing Terrible Terrors someplace and have them be seen playing. Maybe start with kids. They're open-minded. The best would be if some dragons could help vikings with stuff…", he sighed, "This is going to take a while"

Kernel laid her head on his shoulder and hummed in agreement, "Shifting worldviews isn't that easy"

They watched as Toothless won the play fight, knocking over a box they'd set there to reach a higher up indent they used as a shelf. Nowadays they didn't need the boost. They were taller than twelve-year-olds. It was lucky their cave didn't have a lot of furniture, though. Otherwise dragon fights, playful or not, wouldn't be advisable.

"I know it isn't…", Hiccup said, throwing an arm around her shoulders, both for supporting and getting support, "But… this is a start, right? You always did say we should start small"

Kernel snorted, "Only you would say coaxing dragons to help vikings that want to kill them is starting small", she sneaked an arm behind him so they were sitting comfortably wrapped around each other, "But yeah. It's a start. Just please stick to baby steps first"

A snicker, "No promises"

xXXx

Their newfound mission was helped along a bit by the fame they'd been gathering at the ring. Most of the time it was just annoying (to Kernel at least), but here it worked for their purpose. They could spark conversations about dragons in general and not be laughed at for an instance. Like…

"What are dragons, really?", Kernel mused one afternoon at the Great Hall.

"What are you on about? They're pests, the lot of 'em! Cause nothing but trouble", said a viking across from them.

She frowned in thought, "I mean, what do they do when they're not attacking us? Do they have children they care for? Families? Do they feel emotions like we do?"

"Of course not!", a man said like he wholeheartedly believed that.

"Maybe", said another at the same time, thinking about it, "I saw one helping a wounded Nadder the other day. Seemed frantic to me"

"Really? Do you think they could be intelligent?", Hiccup asked curiously, already knowing the answer.

This raised a large debate between two sides that, in some circumstances would have escalated into an all out brawl. Hiccup and Kernel watched all the chaos from the sidelines, thinking the same. They had to be more careful next time. But at least half of the vikings present were thinking. About the true nature of dragons. And had opinions on it.

It was working. Somewhat. They grinned at each other.

xXXx

Kernel and Hiccup were exhausted.

They'd been doing something every single day. Befriending other dragons in the wild, flying and having fun with Spring and Tooth, doing dragon training while trying not to let the dragons or people get hurt, getting away from admirers they felt they didn't deserve, spreading seeds of doubt, inventing flying gear, planning for the future, talking with their dragon training class and Gobber to try and make them see things a bit more 'their' way… Point was, they did much. And deserved some rest. Otherwise they'd collapse. Kernel knew this. Hiccup… was being stubborn.

"Brother, I'm the healer. I should know", she said to the boy who glared at the pen and paper she held hostage.

"I'm fine! I just have to get that ready and then I'll sleep. Promise!", he insisted.

Kernel stayed stern, "Hiccup, you need to sleep. I know for a fact that this'll take you at least two hours and we have to wake up early! Now sleep you idiot! You need it! We need it"

He finally agreed. Though grudgingly. Kernel was too relieved to think about what she knew of his brother. She fell asleep quickly enough and Hiccup got up to get back to planning. An hour turned two, then three, until he realized he'd have maybe two hours of sleep if he went to bed right then.

He really should've listened to Kernel.

The teen fell asleep the second his head hit the pillow. It felt like two seconds later Kernel was waking him up and eyeing the bags under his eyes. She frowned, structinizing the paper she'd left on her night table last night, and sighing tiredly when she noticed it had been tweaked to perfection.

"Hiccup…", she started.

"I know. I'm sorry", he yawned, "Will listen next time"

All he really wanted was to curl up and go back to sleep. But they had dragon training and he couldn't skip it. Kernel had this worried look in her eyes again.

"Okay… But we're moving the tailfin control testing to tomorrow", she told him, "I'm not having you flying around with a new system half-asleep"

Taking one look at her, Hiccup knew arguing was moot. He sighed and pouted petulantly. He'd been looking forward to that. Though he also acknowledged he'd more than likely fall off today. It was a struggle to stay awake enough on his feet!

"C'mon. We need to get going", Kernel told him, hefting his axe too.

Hiccup muttered something and trudged along.

This was going to be a long day.

xXXx

Kernel looked worriedly at Hiccup who was staring into nothingness as Gobber gave instructions. She would have to keep a closer eye on him today. Especially if they were going to be dodging five Terrible Terrors. Last time they'd just used 'follow the light' trick but then it had been only one. And today was cloudy. Today they'd need to resort to something else. Like fast reflexes. Which both had by now, if Springer's surprise pounces were of any help. They'd had to learn how to dodge in time. That, or get pulled into a game of tag in order to get a piece of equipment or cloth back.

But today Hiccup wouldn't be able to. He had basically pulled an all nighter with a few hours to spare for sleep. He'd be moving in slow motion.

"Okay! Start!", and Gobber pulled the lever. Five little dragons were released and started jumping at them in precise attacks after seeing their ready-to-strike stances and weapons.

Hiccup was jostled out of his half-awake state by a yellow scaled Terror bouncing towards him. On a reflex, he dropped his weapon and knelt down, making the dragon stop and look at him curiously. Kernel noticed and her eyes widened because what was he doing in the middle of the ring!? Then she realized he probably wasn't thinking. She was about to go and cover for him when Astrid saw it too.

"Hiccup!", she shouted in alarm as the boy reached for the Terror in a placating gesture like the twins had done in other places countless times.

He jerked back but not before the Terrible Terror launched into his arms, frightened by the sudden yell and rushing into what it deemed safe. His skinny arms immediately wrapped around it and left him looking wide eyed at Astrid, who was running towards him and ready to rip off the dragon she thought might hurt him badly. Hiccup yelped and dodged her, the Terror letting out a small squawk as it flared its small wings in alarm and climbed to the teen's shoulder. By this time, Gobber had gathered up the other Terrors in a net, about to stop the lesson because of Hiccup having an injury, and looking wide eyed at the little dragon on his shoulder like everyone else.

"Hiccup, whatever you do. Don't. Move", said Astrid in a low tone before hissing, "It's on your shoulder"

The teen was stock still. Not because of what Astrid said, but because what now? What was he supposed to do? He glanced at Kernel for help and they had a silent conversation before deciding on an action. The viking girl was about to cautiously raise her axe in order to throw it and save him from 'danger'. Hiccup raised a hand in a warning gesture, making her halt.

"Don't!", he ordered, the authority in his voice not something anyone else but Kernel had heard, "Just. Wait a second. I got this"

Everyone held their breath as he reached for the Terror who cocked its head, trying to understand what was wanted of it. Then it just climbed down and settled in the crook of his arm comfortably. It let out a happy sound and closed its eyes. Hiccup envied it, getting to sleep and not worry about this situation they were having here. He was almost shaking with nerves.

"Um… Let's get it back to the… cage?", he asked more than anything from the very shocked looking people all around him.

Astrid had lowered her weapon and was now looking at him with complete befuddlement. Snotlout openly gaped. The Thorston twins' faces had awe written all over them. Fishlegs seemed to be torn between bursting with questions and keeping quiet in order to not wake the dragon that could rip his eyes out. The dragon comfortably resting in Hiccup's arms. Gobber had a look like 'okay, this is new'.

"Huh. Never thought I'd see somethin' like this", the blacksmith commented, "Bring it 'ere, Hiccup. Careful. Don't wake it or it'll bite your fingers off"

Their teacher seemed doubtful even as he said it. Kernel thought it most progress they'd had with this group.

With the little Terror settled safely under the net, all the teens (except Astrid) burst into action, swarming the boy and asking questions with awestruck eyes. Gobber left to put the dragons away, pronouncing the lesson ended. Hiccup just stood there with a funny feeling of relief in his chest and glanced at Kernel who smiled reassuringly.

"Did you guys see that? The dragon didn't look like it even wanted to attack! I wonder why…?", Fishlegs said after the whirl of questions had started to die down a little bit.

The Haddock twins shared a look. This was progress! Maybe they could tell this group soon… After them, everyone else would (probably) follow with all the debates about dragons they had had lately. And the rumors of someone seeing a small swarm of Terrible Terrors playing with each other on a rock near the shore. Or the little kids who told their parents they'd played with a Terror or a Gronckle (Hiccup and Kernel had had a bit of trouble doing that one without being seen… but it worked. Many people had started doubting their view of dragons being only harmful pests).

Snotlout pointed out a flaw, "Nah, of course it wanted to 'cause dragons always go for the kill. Hiccup's just too scrawny for it to consider him a good one"

Ruffnut and Tuffnut let out a 'oooh' of realization. Fishlegs frowned like he disagreed. Astrid took part in the conversation for the first time.

"No. Dragons don't care about that. It just didn't try to kill him because he did something that made it not to", she glared at him as if daring him to object, "Something he or his sister don't want to share"

The last word was spat out like poison and she marched off, leaving Hiccup and Kernel looking after her with troubled expressions.

"She looks ticked off", Tuffnut observed, "What did you do to get on her bad side? I wanna try!"

"Yeah. Tell us", his sister echoed.

Their questioning glances found thin air. The Haddock twins were gone.

xXXx

Hiccup and Kernel found the blonde girl practicing with her axe in the forest. She hit the trees dead on again and again, looking increasingly frustrated. They watched her for a moment before sharing concerned glances. Astrid really didn't like that she didn't know. Or then she was… jealous. But she hadn't really seemed the type. Not before now at least. Maybe it was just because Hooligan village's little-healer and screw-up were besting her in something she had done since she was a child. All without using normal tactics.

Kernel approached her cautiously, "Um, Astrid?", she asked.

The girl whirled around and was about to throw her axe when she registered who it was. Hiccup was suddenly in front of Kernel and ready to take the blow. Astrid frowned at them and lowered her weapon.

"What do you want?", she asked a bit crossily.

The twins shared a glance.

"We didn't know it bothered you so much, so… we were wondering if you wanted to know?", Hiccup ended as a question.

Astrid's eyebrows shot up before her glare was back with suspicion, "Want to know what, exactly", it was a demand to tell. Not a question.

They winced at her tone. Kernel answered.

"How we've 'gotten so good' in the ring. You didn't think it just happened, did you?"

Astrid's expression said everything. The viking girl flipped her axe over her shoulder and drummed her fingers on its handle once, warningly.

"Show me", she ordered.

Hiccup and Kernel nodded. They both knew it was sink or swim with all of this. Either Astrid accepted, or she rejected. The latter was what they dreaded. But trusted Astrid to hear them out first. She had to. She just had to.

Hiccup took the lead.

"This way"

xXXx

Yup! Astrid's gonna find out! They're going to tell her first. Sorry not sorry for the cliffhanger.