What's this? Another chapter so soon? Yup, I actually managed to finish one in such a short time. Now don't start expecting another chapter next week though.

On another note, who here has seen the last episode of the latest season of Race to the Edge and was like 'What... no... what... but... I did not see this coming... what'? Not spoiling anything but I really want to see the next season now!

J-jungle-cat: but... I had just uploaded that chapter...

Vivi-ntvg: Ya I thought that Hiccup would probably ask Toothless about night furies at some point. So I thought it would be nice to know some more about them.

Carl Solo: The question would more be when I get to explain that, because so far I haven't figured that out just yet.

TheWatchingEye: Hope you like this update and as I told you, I do not wish to drop this story. I got the ending already in my head (and annoyingly enough a possible sequel) so it's only a puzzle matter mostly (as in what is the correct order of the scenes I have in my head)... And well finding time to write.

thedeathwidow: "you've mentioned people from Hiccups travels and stuff and I was wondering if you will they appear more in the story and not just be mentioned", this chapter is part of the answer... I think... sort of...

Also I completely forgot to mention this in the previous chapter. Thanks to Tillerton for pointing out "Won't Stoick like give astrid's family some stuff for hiccup? Since he's still his ''son'' in a way?" a couple of chapters back. It was the inspiration for part of that chapter.

Chapter 24: The merchant

Hiccup wasn't sure what to think when he stepped into the forge. Gobber was rummaging through the place in search of… something, but leaving a clear mess. The man simply tossed things on the floor as he went. No matter where Hiccup looked, it was just like when he stepped in here last time. Why did they clean up if it was going to be like this in a matter of a days?

"So this is how it turns into a mess," he sighed frustrated.

The words caught Gobber's attention and the bulky man turned around.

"I'm looking for mah hammer, you cleaned up too well," the man complained.

Hiccup response was instant as he pointed at the anvil on which the 'missing' object lay.

"Oh, what do ya know, that's where it was," Gobber laughed uncomfortable and looked around, "could ya-"

"No, I'm not helping you clean up this mess again," Hiccup responded before the blacksmith could even finish his sentence.

He promptly sat down on a stool and looked around as Gobber was stumped that Hiccup actually said no to a request.

"Urgh, you have this much space and you still don't have a system. When I was traveling I was forced to always clean up and drag everything along. Making a mess like this was out of the question. People could steal things that way… or I could forget something."

He glared at the scattered material remembering full well how often he had told of Elek when he made a mess. In the beginning that guy didn't even put the things back where they belonged. Making Hiccup searching for what he needed for hours, whilst putting everything back in its correct place.

He softly chuckled at the memory of him shouting at Elek, after which he had promptly emptied the cart and boxes they kept their material in, making the poor guy sort out everything and put it in its rightful place. Hanga had chuckled the first time as she watched her boyfriend, though after the third time she had pleaded Hiccup to stop it and that Elek had learned his lesson. Three days later Hiccup had gone crazy with Elek asking him again and again where things belonged to be sure it was in the correct place that at that very same day everything was labeled.

Sighing he looked over to Gobber who was gathering tools from the floor, placing them on the table. Not much of a correct way of cleaning up since he was just placing them somewhere else, but at least it was less dangerous than on the floor.

"You have to understand I am not your apprentice anymore, Gobber," Hiccup said, making the man look at him, "also, if you don't clean it up yourself you never know where things are. You are messy and that can be a very dangerous thing in a forge. Pretty sure you taught me that."

Gobber let out a sigh and nodded, "It's just been getting busier each and every day that I can't keep up."

"But loitering your tools around is only going to slow your process," Hiccup mumbled as he folded his arms and looked thoughtful, "you need a system, one that is quick. Where tools are within arm reach."

He got up and walked to his back room. Surprised to still see it the state he left it. After grabbing some paper and a pencil he started sketching. After scratching out ideas he was sure of wouldn't work and tossing them aside, he finally came up with something that should be a good prototype. He started going into details and got soaked up in his work.

"Laddie, what are ya doing?" Gobber shocked him out of his concentration.

Still somewhat startled he showed the man his idea, "This way you have all your tools organized and nearby. I can think of something for the material later. As well as the orders you get."

Gobber stared at his work and started to laugh. Hiccup wasn't sure why, since he was serious about this. Then again, his ideas had always been tossed aside at Berk. Even Gobber hadn't been a fan of them, claiming they never worked. But what he had drawn really wasn't dangerous. Just some sort of a giant wheel to which tools could be attached. You just had to scroll till you had the item you needed, pull it out and put it back in later.

"Sorry," Gobber laughed as he saw Hiccup's insulted face, "I just missed your ingenious ideas. Let's see where to put this down and do some measurements."

He watched Gobber leave the small backroom. Ingenious ideas? They were never called that here on Berk… Grinning to himself for reason he dared not to explain to even himself he then followed the man to the main area of the forge. It didn't take long for a spot to be picked out and get the measurements they needed. Hiccup then began to fine tune the blueprint he made, but was taken out of his concentration by noise outside.

"What's going on out there?" he muttered to himself and walked outside.

Vikings from everywhere were going over to the harbor. Who in Thor's name would still be out at sea with this weather, Hiccup wondered and walked a tad further to the edge to see. His eyes grew wide when he saw the ship.

"Toothless!" he called for his friend.

In a matter of seconds Toothless was beside him. Hiccup climbed on the dragon's back and ordered him to glide over to the ship. Toothless did so, albeit with some difficulty. He didn't have his prostatic tailfin on so he had to compensate a lot with the steering. Somehow Toothless managed to land on board of the ship, right in front of the sailor. Or merchant actually. The man stared at the dragon for a short second, jumped and backed away with a pale face. Everyone on board, which was Astrid and the twin, looked at the merchant with confusion. Hiccup too was wondering why Johann would react that way, since… oh…

"Explain to me again why I have to come along?" Hiccup asked as his eyes wandered over the many boats that were harbored. The harbor sure was crowded and many merchant from across the seas seemed to be doing business here.

"To be the intimidating party. You and Toothless just stand there and look intimidating, while I try to get some bargains."

"Elek! I am not intimidating anyone," Hiccup protested glaring at his friend.

Elek simply rolled his eyes, "Fine whatever, just come along."

The two teens with black dragon in tow wandered from merchant to merchant and Hiccup soon found out that he didn't even need to do anything other than lean against Toothless to be intimidating. Annoyed he glared at Elek who was trying to purchase some iron for a good price. Of course this turned into the merchant thinking he was glaring at him, almost giving the iron to Elek for free. Elek came back with a big annoying grin on his face.

"Damn you," Hiccup cursed at him which got him a chuckle in return.

The iron was loaded into the saddle bags and they strolled further. Luckily they didn't find anything interesting, at least that was until Elek spotted some ships further down the harbor.

"No way! Our timing is perfect. Some traders from the northern tribes are here, come on, we can get some cool Viking stuff," Elek practically shouted excited and already ran off.

Hiccup was a little stumped, not sure how to respond to it or if he even should go there at all. Toothless gave him a look.

"Stop it, I'm not telling him I'm a Viking… for I never really was one of them," he hissed at his scaled friend and followed Elek at a much slower pace.

Wary he waited for Elek to come of the boat, glad he didn't look anything like a Viking in the clothes he was wearing. It didn't take long for Elek to come of the first boat with a new small dagger. Hiccup rolled his eyes at it. They could make their own weapons, they were after all traveling blacksmiths slash merchants, but no, waist money on something so pointless.

"Look at the awesome dragon design of the handle," Elek grinned as he showed it.

"Sure, whatever, are we done?" Hiccup asked, really wanting to leave.

"No way, there are some other ships. I'll do the talking, I know some Norse and giving you a crash course would take too long. You and Toothless just stand with me, no need to do anything."

Elek marched on as Hiccup sighed, "what makes you think a dragon would be intimidating. They're Vikings, right?"

"Just do it, so far we've been getting bargains this way."

"I feel like I'm robbing people without even doing something," Hiccup hissed under his breath.

Three boats down they finally arrived at the last ship. They got on board whilst Elek shouting if anyone was there in very terrible Norse that made Hiccup winch. Bored and annoyed he looked around, quickly recognizing the boat he was on. Of all the traders they could run into, it had to be the only one Hiccup had ever talked to back on Berk!

"One moment, I'm coming," came from below deck.

Hiccup let his hand go his sword as Elek stepped forward. Johann finally came into view, but had yet to notice Hiccup or Toothless being there. His focus was on Elek.

"What can I do for you sir. Anything in particular you are looking for?"

"Not really, just looking around. Got anything interesting? Name is Elek and this is my friend-"

Elek stopped talking the moment he saw Hiccup with his hand on his sword. Making an expression he had never seen on his friend's face before.

Hiccup was focused on Johann, wondering if the man would recognize him. He had grown yes, his clothes were different yes, but he still looked the same in his opinion. Sure enough Johann looked surprised at him, but that could as well have been because Toothless was standing right beside him for the man's eyes had drifted to the creature. Said dragon had picked up on Hiccup's state of being and was bearing his teeth as he let out a warning growl.

"M-master Hiccup? You're alive… also there is a d-dragon standing right next to you."

Those words were enough for Hiccup to command Toothless to attack. Not the killing kind, but Johann was soon pressed against the pole on his ship, fearing for his life. Hiccup ignored Elek completely, who in turn was too stunned to actually say or do something, and marched over to Toothless. Laying a hand on the dragon's head he let him know he would take it from there. Sure enough Toothless stepped back, but Hiccup had pulled out his sword which he then held close to Johann's throat.

"It's been a while Johann."

"I-it s-sure has been. Would you mind putting that s-sword down, master Hiccup?"

Hiccup simply glared at the man as an answer.

"Ri-right… it's good to see you're alive. Your father would be overjoyed to h-hear this news."

Hiccup's glare only intensified.

"About that, no need to tell anyone I am alive. Because if you do, I will come haunt you down and turn you into fish food. And believe me, I will find out. Am I clear?"

Johan nodded whilst shaking. In response Hiccup pulled his sword back. Not willing to spend another moment there, he mounted Toothless and flew off, leaving Elek behind confused and Johann in a state of shock.

Right, that happened. Sighing Hiccup got of Toothless and walked over to the man.

"Calm down Johann, not gonna hurt you."

The merchant visibly relaxed as he slid down the hut until he sat on the floor.

"Uhm, why did Johann look so… spooked when he saw you?" Astrid asked looking from the merchant to Hiccup, "considering your reaction I doubt it's because of Toothless."

"I might have threatened him a couple of years ago when he found out I was alive," Hiccup mumbled as he walked over to the man.

He offered the man a hand to get up and after some hesitation, Johann got back to his feet. Still looking pale though.

"I swear I did not tell anyone you were alive, master Hiccup," the man quickly said.

"Ya, ya-"

"You… threatened him?" Astrid wanted to know, interrupting Hiccup who was about to ask Johann something.

"He sure did, miss Astrid, I suddenly had that dragon over there attacking me soon followed by a sword to my throat."

"Wait, that sounds like that story you told. The attack of the dragon conquer of Rome," Tuffnut said as he lowered the mace he was admiring moments ago.

Hiccup glared at Johan, who winched, pressing himself against the wood behind him.

"I never said it was you," the man squeaked.

Frustrated Hiccup took a moment to calm himself so he wouldn't start shouting at the merchant or worse.

"Fine, whatever, let's say you can make it up to me. I just need some information and hopefully you can provide me with it."

Johann nodded, still visibly afraid of Hiccup, which was quite a sight for some of the Vikings that were waiting on shore for their turn to trade. They also seemed surprised about the sudden revelation of information. That is; Hiccup being the dragon conquer. Hiccup didn't even want to know how those stories managed to travel all the way here… then again he could probably blame Johann for that.

"Do you have any idea where Vid, Elek and Hanga are?" the dragon rider asked, "And be straight to the point."

From the corner of his eyes he saw the curiosity in Astrid eyes, but he wasn't going to explain her anything. He silently begged for Johann to know anything at all about his friends, but when he saw the panicked look on the man's face he knew no information that could tell him where to go look for them would come.

"L-last I saw them was a few months after you disappeared. I was told they even went to England to find you, but were told they hadn't seen you either after you left testing your new invention."

Hope of finding his friends quicker, quickly vanished after the words. He let the man be, who clearly was glad that despite the little information he could give, he was not attacked.

Back at the forge, Hiccup stared at the piece of paper on front of him as he rolled the charcoal over the table. Perhaps going back to Bourneby in England would be a better start after leaving Berk. Looking up he suddenly found the face of Astrid. Not having expected that he shove himself away from her, or at least that is what he intended to do, instead the stool he was sitting on hit a floorboard that was somewhat higher and he toppled over, landing flat on the floor. Grunting in pain he stared up at the ceiling.

"Would you not do that, like ever again," he complained as he heard her chuckle, "I'm glad the floor is emptied of hazardous and sharp material."

"Hm, really? Pretty sure I still see something dangerous laying on the floor," Astrid grinned as she came into view.

Hiccup took a moment to realize she meant him, but didn't give her the pleasure of commenting on it and sat up straight.

"What are you doing here?" he asked as he rubbed his back, which still hurt.

"I have been trying to get your attention for minutes, you know," came as reply, not answering his question at all.

"I was just thinking about what the best approach would be to find my friends," he said as he put the stool back on its legs and sat down.

He ignored the glare Toothless gave him as he said them. So what he said he would give people here a chance, that didn't change his plans of finding his friends out on the main land.

"You keep going on about that, yet you never talk about them," Astrid stated folding her arms and giving him a curious look, as if waiting for him to tell her everything.

He glared at her, "You already know more than enough."

Promptly he turned his back to her and went back to the blueprint. Astrid made an sound that told him she felt offended, but he wasn't going to respond.

"Then how about you tell me what part of those stories Johann and Old Wrinkly told us are true."

This caught his attention as he turned to look at her.

"Grandpa? What stories did he tell?"

"He was the first one to tell about the dragon conquer of Rome actually. Things like how a child had outrun and downed dragons like it was easy and eventually even made dragons set the stadium on fire."

Hiccup's eyes grew wide. It was actually rather close to the truth. It hadn't been just the stadium, many other buildings had burned down as well.

"He then rode off on the back of a big black dragon," Astrid continued, "so tell me, is any of that true?"

Hiccup rolled his eyes and nodded. Sure it was true, many details were left out, but it was certainly the truth. Astrid however seemed surprised, to which he chuckled.

"Why so surprised, I burned down buildings before, haven't I. Pretty sure it will happen again in the future," he joked and couldn't help to feel entertained by her facial expressions.

"You were responsible for burning down a stadium… an entire Roman stadium?"

"And about fifty buildings surrounding it. Was quite a fire, must have taken them days to put out. Twins would have loved the sight," he grinned.

"Why are you even proud on it?" Astrid asked as she sounded somewhat freaked out that he even sounded proud.

"I intended it to happen… well just the stadium actually, the rest was a happy accident."

"Happy acci…" Astrid didn't even finish her sentence and sighed.

"Not what you expected me to tell you," said Hiccup.

It wasn't even a question, simply a statement… or perhaps observation. Astrid nodded nonetheless and both were surprised to hear chuckles coming from the back of the forge, where Gobber had been.

"And what exactly is so funny?" Hiccup wanted to know as the man came into view.

"Nuthing, carry on," Gobber replied with a huge grin on his face.

Hiccup watched the man go about his business, still chuckling, and slowly started to understand what was so humorous. He sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"If you find it comical I am not stuttering around her, then say so already," he stated.

Gobber stopped what he was doing, almost dropped the hammer he was holding and stared at him. Probably shocked he was even saying such thing.

"She already invaded my privacy reading my journal front to back."

"I told you why and apologized!" Astrid said in a panicked tone with a flushed face.

Cute, she's embarrassed by it, Hiccup thought. Soon to be followed he shouldn't be thinking about that at such a moment.

Gobber stared at Astrid with some disbelieve, who quickly looked away. To Hiccup it was quite comical.

"It's just," the blacksmith started and brought his attention to Hiccup, "unusual to see you communicating with the opposite gender with such ease."

To this Hiccup rolled his eyes, was he still trying to cover up for the crush thing?

"Gobber, she knows I had a crush on her. I just told you, she read my journal front to back, so please. I had that stupid problem only with her."

He turned his back to the two, seeing Astrid flush and amused by his last words, as he did so. Grabbing the charcoal he started drawing lines, reaching over for a ruler.

"Besides, I already dated someone and ran into quite a few naked women as well."

I stutter when I panic, he added in his thought.

"You… dated someone?" it was Astrid who asked the question though he was sure Gobber wanted to know as well. Though perhaps the few naked women had also gained the blacksmith's interest, mostly as to why Hiccup had seen them.

He dared to look around a bit and found the man jaw dropping at him.

"Hm," he responded as fond memories entered his thoughts only to quickly overshadowed by how it all ended, "she's dead now though."

It remained quiet for a moment, but Astrid broke it with the soft words of 'sorry for your loss'. He simply nodded as he drew the places where nails had to be attached on the rotating tool container device to keep everything together.

"So to go back to my question," Hiccup then said, "why are you here, Astrid?"

He turned around and gave her a questioning look.

"Oh, right."

Astrid grabbed got her axe, handing it over to Hiccup.

"It needs sharpening, I tried with myself with my stone, but as you can see it's still blunt."

Great, apprentice work, while he wasn't even an apprentice anymore. He was tempted to point her over to the sharpening stone and instruct her on how to use it, but quickly noticed this wasn't the axe he used to get from her to sharpen. He had to admit he had noticed it had been different, but he hadn't paid it much attention until now. The more he looked at it, the more confused he got. This was his work, he was sure of it. He could recognize his work anywhere, but he couldn't recall making her an axe or making this specific one at all. He looked up at her.

"How… this is my work?"

"You made it when you still had amnesia, kinda impressive."

Unable to talk out of pure shock he stared at her and then looked back at the axe. Studying every detail he was stumped he could do such a thing even without any memories of making a weapon. And it wasn't bad at all, sure he could spot some rough parts, but it was stable and well balanced. As he looked at the edge he could see how much it was used already, despite Astrid's constant care for her weapon. If it had been made out of gronckle iron or even just a coating, it would be much more durable. Though it was weird to see the damage on it that he saw.

"What have you been doing, throwing it at a rock?" he chuckled.

He saw Astrid looking annoyed yet embarrassed, but couldn't understand why. Cocking an eyebrow and giving her a questioning expression he waited for an explanation.

"It's better balanced…"

"I can feel that, I made it so ya," he grinned, taking pride in one of the few things he knew he was good at.

"I'm too used to correct for the balancing in my old axe, so my aim has been off a lot."

Hiccup started to laugh, which Astrid certainly didn't like and Gobber was surprised about.

"Like you would do any better!" Astrid bit back insulted and hit him on the shoulder.

The words hurt, but only a little as he studied the axe once more. He then suddenly jumped to his feet, lay the axe down and woke up his dragon partner, who had decided to take a nap.

"We have some gathering to do bud," he grinned as he tried to remember where the correct places would to find what he was looking for.

"Wait, what? What about my axe getting sharpened?" Astrid asked confused as she followed him outside.

"Oh I will, but I'll make a final adjustment. Want to help me out? I need to gather some stones."