Only a few chapters left! (Praise the Lord!)

—

Astrid deeply treasured the few days it took for Hiccup to heal. She was glued to his side. Kissing his hair and cheeks. She was sure he'd get sick of her, but he smiled on and kissed her back.

"I don't want you to leave." She remembered saying.

"I'll come back." He assured. "I want to keep you safe."

She nodded in understanding. "I want you to be safe too."

"Nothing is going to happen to me. I promise." Though, if he was honest with himself, he would say that he didn't know. The ocean was a mysterious and dark place, filled with secrets humankind never wanted to know.

"Maybe I could come with you? I can breathe underwater now."

"No darling," he cupped her face. "I need you here, protecting the others while I'm gone."

"I suppose you're right. Berk would be helpless without me." She smirked.

"That it would."

—

The day came where he had to leave. The longer he stayed, the more of a head start he allowed to Dagur. And that wasn't fair. So, with his tail fixed and fashioned, Stoick carried him down to the dock.

He eased himself into the water, holding onto the edge. Astrid knelt by him, and cupped his face. "I know you want to protect me, but you stay safe too, okay?"

He flicked his fins and rose up, just enough to peck her on the lips. "I will." He smiled.

The dock shook as the Night Fury came bounding down it. He halted right in front and whined loud and low.

"I know, bud. But they need you. The village and the dragons. You need to stay."

Toothless whimpered and nudged him, trying to sway his mind. Hiccup just hugged him around the head and nuzzled him. Then he kissed his snout. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon."

Though, everyone was doubtful, and they worried terribly.

Hiccup gazed at the gathered crowd. Some praying, some watching with anticipation. Either way, they were there for him.

"No matter where I go," he started, "I will let your words guide me. I will always remember my tribe. My home. My family."

Stoick nodded at him once. Then, like so many times before, a flick of his fin, and he was gone.

—

That night, Fishlegs sought out Astrid in the Great Hall. She sat forlorn, her head on her arm. The twins and Snotlout kept her company, though, there wasn't much conversation going on.

"I'm going to miss him." Said Tuffnut. "Me and Ruff get along better since training Barf and Belch together."

"Not a lot better though." Added Ruff with a sordid grin.

He elbowed her, but it lacked gusto. "You're a lot happier with him here, Astrid. And I think you're a lot more tolerable when you're happy."

Snotlout chuckled. "You're less violent. I still need to thank Hiccup for allowing my bruises time to heal."

Astrid stopped stirring her drink. "Guys, he's not going to be gone forever. He's just-..." She couldn't finish her sentence. She just wasn't sure.

"Uh, Astrid?" Fishlegs finally spoke. "Can I...talk to you?"

She glanced up. "About what?"

"Ummm...mermaids?"

She sighed. "I don't really want to talk about that right now."

"I figured." He sighed. "I wouldn't either, if I were you."

"Was there a reason?" She asked.

"Uh-I...um-er...heh." He pulled his collar.

"Oh just spit it out!" Ruff shouted.

"I met one!" He blubbered.

"Oh?" Said Astrid, a coy smile on her face. "Who? Does she have a name?"

"Her name is Rosethorn...I met her when I was cleaning the beach, she was trapped under a mast."

"Well, well." Said the blonde in question, folding her arms under her chin. "Fishlegs has a love interest. This I don't mind talking about."

"Oooo~!" Sang Ruffnut.

Fishlegs flushed red. "It's not a love interest!" He countered. "It's just an…I don't know—…"

"Did she kiss you?" Astrid asked, already knowing the answer.

"Y-yeah?"

"Whoa-ho! Look out Berk! There's a new mer-romance in the works!" Tuff called. "Sorry Astrid, you and Hiccup are old news."

Fishlegs hunched up his shoulders. "I was asking Astrid a question! I would appreciate it if you would leave us alone."

"Oh, they don't mean any harm." Astrid chuckled. "Now then, what was it you wanted to say?"

Fishlegs glanced to the other teens, who pretended to be ignoring them. Then he answered, "I just wanted to know…how this works. I mean—I get that their kiss allows you to talk to them without hearing the singing, but—…"

"Not just that," interrupted Astrid. "It also allows you to breathe underwater."

Fishleg's eyes widened. "Really? You can do that?"

Astrid nodded. "That's how he saved me from the Outcast's and how I saved him from Dagur. It's pretty useful."

"Dude, you can breathe underwater?!" Tuffnut practically shouted. "Man, I have got to get me one of these mermaid love interests!"

"She's not a love interest!" Fishlegs argued, his face turning more and more purple by the minute.

"Look Legs," Said Snotlout. "Girl's are crazy. We can see this just by looking and Ruff and Astrid."

"Hey!" Called the girls in unison.

"No offense." Corrected Snotlout. "So, to deal with them, you can use any of this 'feelings' crap on them. They'll just turn it right around and trap you. You have to hit them with logic. Watch." Then he turned to Ruffnut. "So babe, since Astrid's out of the picture for me, and Fishleg's out of the picture for you, about you and I give this thing a shot? Hm? I'll even let you punch me whenever you like." He flexed his muscles.

Ruffnut grinned like a fat cat surveying it's food. "Yeah, sure. Why not?"

"Sweet!" He buttered to himself, "I can't believe that worked." Then he cleared his throat, "See Fishlegs, logic and reasoning."

Astrid scoffed. "Don't listen to him. Just be yourself. If she likes you, then she likes you. Be kind, compliment her. They're like humans, I've noticed. Just treat her like one, but better."

"I see." He nodded.

"Was there something else?"

"Well, There are some things I was wondering…but I don't want to ask her, you know?"

"Okay."

"Like, how did Hiccup become human? Was that just something he could do?"

"No, that was…because of a bond. I don't honestly know what goes on with that, but Hiccup said something along the lines of, one person pledges their life to the other, and then there's a blood oath. It's all pretty complexed."

"Oh, okay." He nodded. "I just wanted to make sure it was like that, so I didn't say something and then 'BAM' I have a young woman to explain to my parents, you know?"

Astrid crooked her eyebrow and smirk.

"I'm just not ready for that yet…" He nervously laughed.

—

When Hiccup returned to his school that day, his sisters welcomed him with open arms. The sirens danced around, marry and full of joy that he had never seen before. He skirted through the reef, but was stopped multiple times by different girls.

"Oh that was the most fun I've had in years!" Cried one.

"I can't wait to have pups of my own!" Cried another.

Camicazi even got in on it. She spotted him and snagged his arm as quickly as possible. "Look look look!" She cooed, pulling him to a break in the reef. She swept the fan coral aside, and there, in the sand, laid about a dozen or so clear purple orbs, each could fit in his palm. "Aren't they beautiful?" She whispered.

Hiccup looked wistfully to the eggs. "They are. Congratulations, Cami." He kissed her cheek.

He moved on, looking for Bertha. His distress was written all over his face, but it went unnoticed by the elated soon to be mothers.

"Hiccup?"

The merman turned to see Heather. She was not blind to his concern. "Are you alright?"

He shook his head. "I'm afraid not."

She cupped his cheeks. "Whatever is the matter?"

"Dagur isn't done yet." He proclaimed.

Her brows furrowed. "Let us go tell Bertha."

She pulled him to the gathering reef, where the mermaid in question was talking to some elders of the tribe. Bertha was alerted as soon as he entered.

"Oh goodness!" she yelped. "What happened to you?"

He shrugged. "I was caught in the crossfire during the fight. Dagur had a few unmentionable things to say to me."

She sighed. "Well, now it's all in the past."

"Not quite."

The elders came to attention as Bertha furrowed her brows.

"We succeeded in taking out Dagur's armada, and then some. But Dagur's ship got away." He grit his teeth. "I overhead him talking, and they're going to someone called…Drago Bludvist."

Instantly, there was chaos. The mermaids swam back into safety, shrieking in panic. Bertha grabbed Hiccup's arm. "Are you sure?"

"Yes! I heard him with my own ears!"

Bertha shook her head. "This…this is bad."

"Mother?" Heather asked. "Who is Drago Bludvist?"

"Don't say his name!" The older mermaid scolded. "He's a hunter. A hunter…of mermaids. He harvests us for horrible goods. He hangs girls upside down, and raises them just for their hair. Others for their scales, and others for blood. He's a madman!"

"He has to be stopped!" Hiccup shouted.

"Yes, he does." Bertha agreed. "But I will not endanger my pups. I'm sorry Hiccup, but you will find no help here in your quest."

Hiccup sighed in defeat. He understood. Stoick would probably do something similar.

"In the morning, we'll gather everyone and move to the north until this whole thing blows over. The eggs won't hatch for many months still."

"You want the girls to leave behind their eggs?" An elder spoke.

"No. But if hiding them in the sand is the safest place for them now, then maybe."

Hiccup scratched his head. "I'll go with you tomorrow. If there's a chance I'll get a hint of where Drago is, then it's worth a shot."

"You won't stop Drago alone." A wrinkly mermaid whispered. "His tall iron ship cannot be boarded by us."

"Still, I've got to try something."

A hand laid upon his shoulder, and he looked to Heather. "Brother, it is getting late. You should get some rest."

He broke away from them and nodded solemnly.

Once upon a time, he had a home here among them. The cavern he used went untouched between visits. It was at the base of a dark trench, shallow, but covered in a soft algae. It was no treasure trove, but it held some trinkets from days gone by.

At least it was a place to sleep.

—

At the first flicker of light, Hiccup was up. He emerged from his trench to find the mermaids busy at work. Each diligently hid and cared for the eggs they would leave behind. It would be too difficult and dangerous to take them along. Camicazi was curled around hers and crying. Hiccup couldn't blame her. But still, it was important to get them all out before Drago came.

And so, as a school of fish travels by the currents, so did the disheartened mermaids. They traveled North, to stay with the sister tribe that lived protected by the ice. It was a good thing too, no man would ever tread into that territory.

They arrived at the outskirts, huge ice pillars acting as gates. Carefully, the girls made their way in. The Northern tribe was as ruthless as it got when it came to mermaids. Their hearts were cold as the water. When asked if they would help with the invasion, the elder stuck up her nose and refused. They only hoped that they wouldn't be refused this time.

The arctic mermaids swam with precision and grace, all in rhythm and synchronized. It was something truly spectacular to behold. Their environment was made entirely of ice, and was hauntingly beautiful.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" A snobbish voice spoke. It was the elder, the so-called ruler of the tribe, Nethella.

"Hello, your grace." Bertha bowed with respect. "I hope you don't mind our intrusion."

"Not at all." Nethella waved her hand. "Please come in." She swam back and beckoned Bertha and the elders to a cavern cut into an iceberg. Hiccup followed along.

The queen sat upon a ledge and crossed her arms. "What is this about? I told you before we will have nothing to do with humans."

"Yes, we know." Bertha confirmed. "Those barbarians were almost all wiped out. But the remaining ship is enlisting the help of…" she paused and gulped. "Drago Bludvist."

The northern elder sat up. "Not him…"

"We have come to seek shelter for the time being."

"And you shall have it, sisters." She assured, looking out upon the assembled group. Her eyes landed on Hiccup. "And who are you?"

Bertha jumped in. "This is Hiccup, he's my pup."

"He? You don't really expect me to believe that do you?"

Bertha gulped again.

"You're a human, aren't you child?"

"Yes," answered Hiccup. "I once was."

"But you found yourself drowning. And at the last second…you made a bargain."

His eyes shot to her. "How did you know that?" He asked with awe.

"Because one of your own is among my people. Come, I will show you."

He followed her, his heart beating hard in his chest. Another human turned mermaid? Could it be someone he knew? No, they would have come looking for him. He was just so nervous!

The queen swam up to a group swimming in rank, and invited one of the women to come with her, and she did. The closer she came, the more Hiccup felt himself sinking. Before the queen could even introduce her, the name fell out of his mouth in a near whisper. His lips trembled as his eyes swelled with tears.

"...Mom?"