Hey everyone! And here is a VERY late chapter of A Phantom On The Edge! I am so sorry that it took so long, but it's here now, and ready for you all to read!

I hope you all like it, and that it's not too cruddy.

Onto the story!

Return Back To The Edge

Somehow, the flight back to Dragon's Edge was longer than the flight to Berk, but Hiccup didn't mind. He loved the feel of flying, even though he technically wasn't flying. Being up high among the clouds, feeling the slightly cold, crisp wind ruffle his hair, and feeling a sort of weightlessness while at the same time feeling absolutely grounded… it was amazing. And knowing that he could trust Toothless to not drop him made it better.

When Hiccup looked behind him at his passenger, he could see Dani was also feeling the same. Her cheeks were red from the wind and her hair was whipping about behind her, but a giddy grin was on face and there was a look of pure delight in her eyes. Using a hand, she trailed it through the clouds, laughing at the wool-like softness of them.

Unbidden, Hiccup's eyes were drawn to Dani's new sword, Equinox. It was sheathed, and was resting on her right hip and leg, but Hiccup couldn't pretend that he felt power from it. It felt ancient, and deadly, thrumming through the air around Dani. It made him feel uncomfortable and afraid, and one look at Toothless told Hiccup he was feeling exactly the same.

Dani, noticing Hiccup was still staring at Equinox, asked, "What?"

Tilting her head, Dani smiled. "Looking at my new sword, huh?"

"I've never seen anything like it before. Can you blame me for looking at it?" Hiccup said back.

"No," Dani replied. She looked at her new sword and asked, "Do you think that what Gothi said… it's all true?"

"Honestly, I didn't even know Equinox existed until today. But based on both Gobber and Gothi's reactions to it, I'm willing to believe it could actually be true."

"If it is true, then it's impossible that Equinox is a weapon between life and death and can only be wielded by someone in the same situation," Dani pointed out, her tone slightly nervous. "Like you said, it's a paradox."

"Maybe it's also like what you said. It got tired of waiting and chose the first person who gave attention to it," Hiccup mused, and Dani laughed.

"Maybe."

The conversion lapsed into silence, and Hiccup returned his attention forwards, questioning himself why he didn't tell Dani about the power he felt from the sword…

… And when he and Dani were talking, why did it feel like Dani was lying?

…

That was close, Dani thought, eyes fixed on the expanse of blue ocean underneath, trying to keep her panic at how the conversation could have lead to him discovering her secret at bay, or at least be suspicious that she was keeping something paranormal a secret.

Snotlout was already suspicious on the day that I arrived… I don't need anyone else becoming suspicious too. Especially Hiccup.

Sighing, Dani tore her eyes away from the glittering sapphire sea and to the pillowy clouds surrounding her and enjoying the thrill of flying. True, she wasn't using her powers to fly, but just being up so high, with clouds surrounding her as far as she could see, feeling the crisply cool wind against her face and through her hair, the adrenaline that hummed throughout her veins, feeling completely weightless, yet also somehow grounded… it was a wonderful feeling.

Smiling, Dani relaxed into the feeling while also tamping down the urge to fly herself, since she refused to expose her secret, even though Gothi told her that it would be wiser for her to tell them her secret instead of them finding out.

But until I feel that I can trust them, and that it won't affect the time stream negatively, I won't tell them my secret. Not yet.

Dani looked at her sword and added mentally, That is, if my new sword doesn't expose me first.

...

The flight back to Dragon's Edge took longer, somehow. But Dani didn't mind.

The sun warming her face as she listened to the wind and flap of wingbeats, Dani enjoyed this, revelling in the fact that she could enjoy flying without worrying about fighting a ghost. True, she could always go out and fly to relax herself at home, but those were rare moments, and she treasured them dearly. This was one of those moments, even though she wasn't at her home, or even in her correct time period.

All too soon, Dani could see the hazy outline of the Edge on the horizon, and a ball of disappointment at the fact they would have to land filled her stomach, her core not thrilled with the prospect of not flying for an indefinite amount of time soon approaching.

But looking around, Dani noticed that the other dragon riders were happy to see Dragon's Edge, so she just plastered a smile on her face and pretended she was just as excited as them.

Think of it this way, Dani; soon, once you've mastered the basics of sword-fighting, you can go back to Berk so that Gothi can teach you more about Equinox, and-

A chill entered Dani's blood as she realised something.

Berk was an ocean away; she couldn't just drive a car or the Fenton Ghost Assault Vehicle there…

… She would have to fly to get there.

Sure, it wouldn't be a problem because she could fly, but Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs, the twins and Snotlout would get suspicious, and Dani didn't want that pressure on her. She also knew she couldn't ask any of the others to take her there, not only because it could be seen as rude, but because they would ask questions, questions Dani wouldn't answer lest they put her secret in danger. And she couldn't just swim the way there; who knew what lurked in these waters?

No, none of those options would work. The only one left was…

I have to ride my own dragon to Berk, Dani realised.

Short I know, and probably horrible. But I had some writer's block for this chapter. Sorry!

So Dani is considering having to ride her own dragon so that she can go back to Berk for training with Gothi. What will happen? Will she get her own dragon, or will all of the dragons try to kill her? You'll have to see all that happen in the next few chapters.

Please read and review!

GhostWriterGirl out!