A/N- A couple notes really quick as it appears I need to reiterate a few details:

1. NO, I am not putting any review limits on this story, that was a test for reaction because I was curious.

2. I am not writing any more chapters of this story. It is already finished, I am just uploading chapters now.

3. This is a 6-book series, so you can expect new stories and new chapters for a long, LONG time to come.

4. Those of you who may have noticed chapters are not updated during the week, I am a very busy person, and weekends are the only times I have to post things regularly. That said, some chapters may come out at more irregular intervals as we go along because A) I like to build suspense for some of the exciting things, B) the next few books are shorter, with longer chapters (most of the time), and more of a 1-adventure storyline, and C) once I catch up to the point where I am actually typing out the rough drafts, chapters will come out whenever I can manage to type them out, which may mean week + intervals.

That won't be for at least a few more months though, so you will have your new chapters every weekend until then!

Chapter 27

Coal Within the Pearls

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER! SCHOOL'S OUT FOREVER!

Yes, I know, it's corny and overused, but there's really no other way to describe the feeling you get on your last day of school. As I headed out of the crowds on the football field (it was Yearbook signing time), I couldn't help but grin mischievously, as while I was out, my sister still had over half a week of school left. Ah, the life of a senior. The only hold-back was that my sister was on a sort of vacation that week, while I wasn't. Oh well, my high school years were over, and it was summer: a time to reconnect with your friends, have a good time, and prepare to empty your mind of all things education-related for 2 1/2 months of blissful freedom!

On the other hand, there were still jobs and college preparations in store for me, and I couldn't help but frown at that. Oh, well, save that thought for later.

"Leighton!" I yelled as I walked out onto the sidewalk. "Have you seen my friend Josh anywhere?" She shook her head as she walked over. it was my last day for a while seeing her, too, as she was only a Junior and still had a year to go. "Sorry, no I haven't," Leighton replied. "Yearbook signing is a bit hectic, and I'm not a crowd person anyway." I groaned and leaned against a wall. "Eh, never mind, I just remembered he already left," I grumped. "But past that, I was wanting to ask about your availability in the next couple of days. Now that school's out, I'm going to be able to visit..." I trailed off as I looked around, making sure no one would hear us. Too much noise anyway, but one can't be too careful. "I'm going to be able to visit Berk more often," I said quietly. "I know that's going to make Hiccup and the gang very happy, since it means lots of goofing off, races, and whatnot, and I'm betting they're going to want to have a little party to celebrate. You know how Vikings are." Leighton nodded. "I remember the day I visited their winter festival," she said. "way too much drunken singing." I chuckled. "Yes, well at least the teens haven't started that up yet. But I was wondering if you'd like to take part in that."

Leighton frowned. "I don't know. I'm pretty busy for another week, you know that, and I know you have the graduation next Saturday, so that day I'm guessing won't work. Past that, I think I'm free." I nodded. "Well, I'll let you know what they decide and call you tomorrow, and you let me know vice versa." We agreed on that, and after I checked in with a couple of other friends before we went our separate ways (at least for a few days), I took off for the day.

That's another benefit of being a senior. At the Yearbook signing, everyone else is stuck basically doing nothing for a couple more hours, while we got to skip out early. I caught a huge thermal over the parking lot and soared up into the sky, and lazily glided all the way back to my house. It was kind of odd not having Holly along for the ride this time, but that's something I could get used to.

I landed at my house, and went in through the garage door. I headed into the kitchen, put my stuff down, and started to head over to get a snack. My mom was out on errands, and my dad was a work, so for the moment I had the house to myself. Or so I thought.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

I jumped and spun to face the sliding door. Just outside the door on the back patio was Astrid, and from the look on her face, she wasn't here to tell me about new plans for their own version of a graduation party. I ran over to the door and opened it quickly.

"Astrid! What's going on? Come in, quick. Did anybody see you?" She shook her head as she stepped in, and I closed the door. "No, I checked over both the fences, and Thorn's still on the other side of the portal." She sat down on one of the kitchen chairs, and I grabbed my own. "Want something to drink?" I offered. She shook her head. "No, thank you." I nodded and sat down.

"So why are you here?" I asked again. "I mean, from that look you've got it's not just some petty reason you've used my invitation." The "invitation" I had given to the village a few months ago allowed for any of the teens, within reason, to stop by if they had something they needed to ask or a favor they needed, and other Vikings if there was a bigger problem. So far, only the teens had taken advantage of, er, needed to use my invitation.

Astrid gave me a nervous look, and I got a chill. If Astrid's nervous, then something's gone wrong. "It's very bad, we think," she started. "Traders coming back from the more southern lands have been talking about huge changes down there for years, many of those not exactly kind to us and our ways, and those like us." I sucked in a breath. "If this is leading to where I think it is, yeah, it's bad." She nodded. "Anyway, these rumors and stories have been moving closer and closer our way, the most recent changes and conquests being as near as the mainland about 100 or so miles away from Berk. A new culture's begun over the past few generations, beginning near the Mediterranean sea." She gave me a look. "Yes, I know where that is," I replied tiredly. Astrid nodded again. "Well, this culture has been very unwelcoming of others, especially any religions that differ from theirs. Ours is very different, of course, and they want to change us, to force us to adopt their ways. Even worse, some of our recent dragon patrols have spotted ships, a whole fleet of ships, headed our way."

I moaned. "Oh, this can't be happening right now." Astrid sighed and spread her hands in apology and pleading at the same time. "But it is. The Crusaders have come back."