Ending's getting closer... Now if I'd just get in my head how to write it!

xXXx

"You know… I'm worried", Kernel confided in her brother the next day.

It was a testament to their closeness that Hiccup immediately understood what she meant. And where this would go. And what would happen if she did what he thought she'd do. Dread dropped in the pit of his stomach. The pencil Hiccup held fell and he whirled around with fear in his eyes.

"Kernel, no!"

Her sister only stared at him with those green eyes that conveyed exactly how worried she was and what she was going to do about it. It was a worry he shared but this was just- No! Hiccup ran a hand through his hair and wondered what he could do so that she'd stop thinking about this- this ridiculously reckless thing she was about to do. He came to the frustrating conclusion of nothing. He looked into her eyes again, desperate.

"Please", he begged, not wanting her to go.

It would endanger her, Springer and maybe every dragon in Berk at the moment. There was also the fact that he'd go with her and that got Toothless there too.

Kernel smiled sadly, "I have to" and you don't.

A withering glare, "No" don't you dare leave me out.

They were locked in a staring contest before Kernel chuckled lightly, "What a pair we are"

Hiccup couldn't do anything else but agree even though he dreaded what they were about to do. Astrid would probably want in on it. He… didn't want her in danger either. But she wouldn't have it any other way. Kernel rose to prepare. Hiccup rose to tell Astrid. He swallowed, looking at the sky.

This mission would be sink or swim. No in-betweens.

xXXx

Apparently, they absolutely could not go without the whole of dragon training class.

Snotlout was immediately of the mind that no one in the group would survive without him. Fishlegs was nervous but determined. The twins were never going to turn down something that let them be destructive and had explosions in it. Even if it was only a possibility. Astrid wasn't going to hear of getting left behind on something as important as this. Gobber didn't have a dragon. But he was determined to give them everything they would ever need for this. He was a bit worried too, he admitted.

Kernel and Hiccup were overwhelmed by the support and welcomed everyone to the team as long as they knew the risks.

"This might get us killed, banished, declared as traitors or worse and you still want to go?", the boy of the twins asked.

Kernel quirked a brow at him, "Pessimistic, much? He's our Dad!"

Hiccup gave her a slight glare and she could tell he doubted his father loved him as much as Kernel. It sent a pang through her heart.

"We're his children. But they're not", he pointed out logically.

She didn't waste time in poking his logic full of holes, "They're the village's newest warriors and blacksmith, also known as Stoick's best friend. You think he would turn that down without hearing us out? Besides our Dad is a fair leader, if sometimes stubborn like us and rash with some decisions"

Hiccup's glare faltered as he conceded the point but muttered something about how Kernel was being rash too. What would stop Stoick being rash? She stared at him with a look that said she had faith that all would be fine.

With that they were ready to go, all within two hours.

They were clear out of the village. Gobber had got out the dragons by telling the vikings it was for further training. A test of sorts. In reality it was a search-and-rescue-if-in-trouble mission. Stoick would be getting help in the form of dragons and had to make with that what he would. No way were the twins going to let their father onto dragon island without knowing exactly what he'd be facing. Maybe not even then unless he accepted some more firepower…

They all hoped, for the village's and the dragons' sake, that he would.

xXXx

Stoick released a battle cry as he charged a Monstrous Nightmare trying to fry their ship. It screeched and breathed flames at him while its burning skin turned arrows to ashes. He hit the dragon with his hammer and got it to retreat a little, which gave the vikings time to turn the ship around. Stoick watched with determination as the dragon surged forward and got ready to meet the beast head on. He lifted his hammer again before his eyes widened as he realized the dragon was going for the sail.

"Pull the sail, pull the sail!", he shouted over the sounds of battle as his people held off a Gronckle that was almost out of shots and a Zippleback that had just recently joined the fight.

It had been a little over three weeks now, in this fog. Fighting for their lives and worrying for food supplies that were dwindling. They'd have to turn back soon. They hadn't gotten anywhere with this trip. One ship had sunk and had taken a fifth of their warriors with it. One of the best fighters amongst them. It was a honorable death but they would be mourned. He was sure their names and story would be whispered with respect to future generations.

The flames missed the sail by a margin as one of the vikings pulled it out of the way. It made them go slightly off course, but they wouldn't be crippled by a damaged sail. The thing was ragged enough as is.

Unfortunately the Nightmare wasn't done. It drew in a breath as if to fire again… and Stoick whipped his head around at a Night Fury's screech.

"Night Fury!"

"Get down!"

What was it doing here? In all the other times they'd ventured to destroy the nest it had stayed far away. They hadn't seen hide or tail of it, ever! The creature only attacked on some nights and always at night.

And purple shot flew. But it…

…didn't hit.

Stoick's eyebrows shot up as he realized it had hit but not them. It had hit the Monstrous Nightmare! Impossible! Had it missed? But Night Furies never missed. That left a possibility that it had meant to hit its kin. As if… protecting them. But it was a dragon. Dragons didn't protect, they attacked and raided.

As if to prove him wrong another blast of purple fire hit the Gronckle to make it back off.

He stood there, dazed for a moment, before barking orders of 'get away from here' and 'look out for the Night Fury' and as an afterthought 'focus on the ones attacking us first'. The Zippleback was shooting gas again. A Nadder's flame shot out from the fog and lit it. The explosion didn't damage their ships. In fact, it saved them.

Why were there dragons helping them? Did they have an ulterior motive? Or was he just reading too much into it?

Stoick decided to adopt the policy of act first, think later. For now he would assume the dragons were aiding them for their own gain and would attack after disposing of the others. He was a bit glad for the (maybe) unintended help or they would've lost another ship. They had three when they came, it would be hard to return with only one.

"Turn port! We're heading home!", he shouted to the vikings and got relieved shouts and agreements back. It had been an exhausting month.

Now they'd have to get out of here.

For some reason they were aided by five different kinds of dragon fire and gusts of powerful wind. Stoick was grateful. And baffled. And determined to think about it later.

Maybe Loge and Kári, sibling gods of fire and wind, were helping them?

xXXx

Hiccup and company watched from their hiding places on dragons and behind the giant boulders surrounding the nest as their father, their leader, led the ships towards home. He sighed in relief. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. Kernel nudged him from her perch on Springer's back encouragingly. He smiled. They'd done it. They'd come to the nest and helped their clan get out of dangerous waters. All the while staying hidden. The fog was clearing where the ships were going and no more dragons tried to attack.

The twins were snickering about something. It didn't take long to find out as Tuffnut cackled.

"Did you see their faces?", he laughed.

Yes, Hiccup had seen them. Wide eyed disbelief all the way. A sort of 'did I just see what I think I saw'. Open mouths and raised eyebrows. They'd been doing double takes. He couldn't keep the small huff of laughter in. He could kind of see why the twins found this amusing. Kernel was suppressing an amused grin right beside him so he guessed she saw it too.

Astrid petted her Nadder (she had a dragon!) in thanks, "Good girl", she told her, "You did great Stormfly"

Now she just hoped she could keep her. If Stoick decided not… She forced the thoughts back and looked to the Haddock twins that had showed this to her. They wouldn't let anything get between them and their dragons. She would believe in them getting this right too. Just then Snotlout leaned towards her, arrogance oozing off him (quite like his Nightmare), and gave her a smirk.

"Did you see that, Astrid?", he asked, kissing his biceps, "I was awesome! Think we could go out?"

The blonde gave the black haired teen an unimpressed stare before looking to the guy's dragon. She grabbed something from her pouch and lifted it up. The Nightmare's eyes followed.

"Hookfang?", she said to the red scaled dragon, "Fetch!", and she threw the fish.

Snotlout screamed as his dragon bolted after it, tongue lolling from his mouth like a dog's, "Hookfang, noooo!"

Astrid watched in satisfaction before turning to see four twins and Fishlegs looking at her with wide eyes. She frowned slightly, "What?"

Fishlegs just shook his head mutely, "Remind me not to get on your bad side"

The Thorston twins shared a conspiratory look. Only to get their helmets bonked by Springer's and Toothless' wings. The other twins were giving the two blonds warning stares.

"No!", they said at the same time.

Astrid looked from one teen to another before deciding to just ignore it all and get back home.

"Stormfly, let's blow this joint", she told her dragon and they flew off, staying clear of the viking ships.

Thorston twins weren't far behind, determined to annoy the other blonde.

"Barf, after her!", yelled Ruffnut.

"No! Belch, get there first!", Tuffnut ordered the dragon head under him while ignoring, or forgetting, the fact they rode a Zippleback.

Fishlegs looked to the Haddocks, "Uhh, I better go after them. Meatlug, get us up girl!"

And he flew off on his Gronckle. The twins shared a look and marveled at how comfortable the others had grown with their dragons. Hiccup looked where Hookfang had flown their cousin.

"Snotlout? We're going home now! Can you find a way back?"

A muffled agreement was their answer, along with a shout for Hookfang to get back there and fly them home. Kernel wondered if he would really be alright. Hiccup just shook his head and sighed.

"I'll get him. You go home. Dad'll be back there by evening…"

Kernel smiled at him, "Don't worry. It'll be alright", and took off.

Hiccup watched after her and hoped for everyone's sake that she was right.

xXXx

And everyone's got themselves a dragon. No idea when the next chapter comes out but bear with me.