Hey guys! How's everyone's summer going? Is everyone having fun in the sun?;)

Chapter 7- Myth

Hiccup's POV:

I wake up in a sweat. The sheets tangled round my legs, my heart pounding in my chest; Dagur's cold green eyes watching me in the shadows. I gulped. Dagur's dead, I tell myself, he's not destroying Berk. He's gone. I take a few calming breaths and tried to settle down again, not wanting to cause a fuss and end up waking Astrid. But after a few minutes it becomes clear that I'm not going back to sleep tonight. I sigh and slip silently out of bed, attaching my prosthetic smoothly. I tiptoe across the hall to Lucy and check she's okay, half expecting her bed to be empty and Savage holding a knife to her throat but when I crack open the door she's breathing soundly, safe. Her red hair falling across her pillow like spilled juice.

My eyes fall upon her book shelf and narrow in particular on the book 'Berk's dragon'. I shuffle quietly across the room and pick the book from the shelf; a crease appearing in my forehead.

Glancing across at Lucy I make up my mind and slip down the stairs. It's then that I see the emerald eyes appearing from the darkness. I yelp and stumble backwards but then Toothless' form reveals itself in the moonlight slipping through the window. I sigh in relief and scratch his head. Toothless nuzzles his head into my chest in response and coos happily.

"Yeah, yeah- attention seeker." I mumble, sitting down in the armchair and opening the book. Toothless huffs and flops down on the floor. I grasp a lantern off the wall and hold it out for Toothless to light. In response he blows smoke out his nostrils and turns his head away. "Sorry for calling you an attention seeker," I sigh.

I could have sworn that dragon smirked as he lit the lantern. I open the well-read book and start to read…

Once upon a time there was an Island. But this wasn't just an ordinary Island. It had a secret. One that lived deep under the ocean. One that connected this Island to all the other Islands across the North Sea. But this Island in particular was very close to the eyes. Or should I say this hump is very close to the eyes. For this Island was part of a Giant. But not just any old Giant: This was a Giant Dragon! And every 1000 years this Giant Dragon would awaken and travel around the world. Then another 1000 years later it would fall back to sleep. For 1000 years for the Giant dragon is just a day for us. And 1000 years for the Giant dragon is just a night for us. Perhaps this Giant Dragon has been alive since the beginning of time.

Anyway, many, many years ago a tribe moved to the Island. They lived in the caves deep within the forests of Berk and created a happy and comforting village. They lived for many generations until one day the ground started to shudder. But the people did not know what had caused it. They searched for the answer but it was only met by more shudders- shudders that became more violent every time one struck.

I bite my lower lip. This is exactly what keeps happening. I close my eyes- this can't be real…but can I rule it out as an answer? Gobber's words echo in my head; it's like that ol' story: You know that one about Berk being a massive dragon and destroying everything. I'm sure huge and frequent Earthquakes were how it started. I sigh and Toothless licks my hand comfortingly. "We'll figure this out bud… We always do. The village is trusting in us and we can't let them down." I turn back to the book…

It was only a matter of time before the Island was being tossed around in the ocean. Hurriedly, the people climbed into their boats and started to row away. But they did not get every far before Berk started following after them. The Giant beast tossed itself out of the water- the boat flew into the air and crumbled to splinters on the Beast's back. There was only one survivor that day.

Berk continued its journey around the world; ripping any civilisation that dared to go near it, or get in its way, apart. 1000 years later the beast fell into a deep sleep. And the people forgot about the Beast. Many had never fallen across its path as the Giant Dragon liked to keep himself well hidden beneath the blue so flipping it off as an old myth was easy. But I know the truth. As did the ancestors before me. Berk will return.

I flip to the author's information page, seeking more information. Wrinkly Baggy has written many stories in his life time. Many claimed to be old myths. He was 88 years old when he wrote Berk's dragon and lived his life with his daughter on the Island of Berk. He said this story is true and urged people to believe him. His family moved to The Peaceable Country a few years after his death. His Granddaughter still lives there and fully supports his tales of monsters.

I gasp. He lived on Berk! I sigh, it's a shame he died. He must have been a pretty amazing guy. I lean back against the soft sofa- my mind whirring. I have to find out more information. What if this is the answer to the Earthquakes. It's not impossible. I look down at the book in my hands. His Granddaughter still lives there. Maybe she'll know something. The Peaceable Country isn't far, only half a day's flight and they're… well… peaceful. I'm sure they'd welcome me.

"Something tells me this book isn't fiction bud." I say turning to Toothless. "Maybe out ancestors did pass it as a myth. I thought training a dragon was impossible but I was wrong. So maybe this story will prove me wrong as well."

xxxxxxxxxxx

It doesn't feel like long after before I hear Astrid marching down the stairs in her light morning mood.

"There you are!" She exclaims as her eyes fall upon my form, staring into the fire. "I thought I'd find you here." She perches on the side of the armchair. "What's up?"

"I need to find the author's Granddaughter and speak to her. She lives in the Peaceful Country; I was thinking I could go there today and find out more about this myth. There has to be more! I think this may be the answer we're looking for," I say in a rush, stumbling over the words in my hurry to tell someone.

"Whoa! Slow down there. You want to go where? Who's Granddaughter? Actually just start at the beginning." She says, staring intently at me.

So I explain my theory and that I need to see this woman.

"She'll be old and worn by now Hiccup. She might not even make any sense. We need you here and besides the story isn't even real." She half begs.

"Yeah but what if it is? It's the only theory that makes total sense. Fishlegs and I scoured the Book of Dragons- there is nothing that could cause this."

"A Green death perhaps?" She tries.

"We'd have seen it and the dragons would have sensed it."

"Maybe it's just Earthquakes!"

"And what if it isn't?" I repeat, "I just need to know what she knows. Maybe then I can figure it out. It's just the only thing that makes sense."

"She'll only tell you it's true."

"Maybe she'll give more of a convincing statement than the story." Astrid sighs and looks half pityingly at me. "What?"

"So after she's told you it's true- what then?"

"I find it."

She frowns, "You what?"

"I make some sort of breathing device, go under the ocean and find it." I say, ideas popping into my head ten a second.

"That's impossible."

"Really? I believe training a dragon was impossible until I proved otherwise."

She gives a tight smile and I know I've beaten her- but only just. "Fine, I'll watch the village for the day- you better get going if you want to speak to her and get home before night fall."

I grin and kiss her chastely. "I love you, you're the best person in the world, I…"

"Yeah, yeah, stop you're flattering and get on with it." She says with a wink.

I dash upstairs and yank on travelling clothes, grab my satchel, fill it with a bottle of water and go to rush out the door.

"Ahem," I pause at the sound of Astrid's voice and turn round, my hand hovering over the door handle. "Are you forgetting something?" She asks holding up a bag of sandwiches. I smile sheepishly and place them gently in my satchel.

"I love you. And stay safe with that baby." I place my hand on the warm bump, feeling the tiny tug inside. She pulls my head down gently and presses her lips to mine. My body goes slack and I kiss her back- relishing the softness of her lips. We pull back a fraction and stare at one another for a moment.

"You be safe too."

"I promise," I whisper. Then I slip out the door, stumble down the steps and climb onto Toothless. "I'll see you at dusk."

"You better not be late!"

"I'll try," I bite my lip and we shoot into the air. The pale colours of dawn washing our tiredness away.

We were going to find Wrinkly's Granddaughter. We were going to find out about the myth.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Katlin, the chief of the Peaceable Country welcomed me warmly when I arrived. I was surprised by all the smiles and bright happy faces. There wasn't a fight in sight. No running, crazy Vikings trying to kill one another with bludgeons or screaming voices. I scratched the back of my neck nervously, Gods I am a really bad peace keeper when it comes to Viking squabbles.

"So… I'm guessing you're here to see Miya Baggy, Wrinkly's Granddaughter?"

I stare at her- eyes wide. "Yeah, yeah I am. How did you know?"

"I guessed. We've had loads of people wanting to see her. I'm guessing you've also had the crazy Earthquakes with no explanation?" She asks as we walk across the lush grass toward Miya's house.

"Yup!" I say, pursing my lips. "So how many Islands have these…tremors, hit?"

"A lot from what we've heard."

"Sounds like the myth." I say, "There's really no other explanation."

She nods as we approach a smile cottage aside from the town centre. Flowers litter the garden and a bird bath stands next to the porch. I take a deep breath of the sweet smelling flowers and smile.

"I'll leave you to it," Katlin says with a wink as she turns round and heads back up the garden path. I bite my lip then nock three times on the door.

Within seconds an elderly woman appears, her hair the colour of snow, her eyes a deep violet. She smiles kindly, wrinkles appearing in her old and weathered skin. "Good morning Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third. Please, come in."

I hesitate, shocked at how she knew my name, before stepping into the low ceiling house.

"How… How do you know who-"

"Dragon conquer, Great Peacekeeper, Dragon Whisperer, I could recognize your face anywhere Hiccup, I was rather good friends with your mother, Valka, as well. I'm so glad you two found one another." Her voice was soft and calming, sort of mystical. It soothed me as she led me into the living room. A cosy room with a flickering fire, two windows stood as each end of the room. The walls were painted with an array of flowers. The intricate design was rather startling. "Please sit," She said pointing to one of three armchairs that made a circle around a little coffee table. I was struck dumb by how unlike a Viking house this was. A bundle of knitting, dust clamped around each entwined thread sat untouched in the corner on a small wooden stool.

"Thank you," I said sitting down.

"So I guess you're here to ask about my old poppy huh?"

"Erm yes, Wrinkly. His book about Berk and the dragon…?"

"It's true. The story was passed down generation from generation to my old Poppy who decided to write the book to place a mark of this dragon on the world. All the natural evidence disappeared a few centuries ago. That's why no one thinks it's true. But it is and we have the evidence right now. He's waking up and Berk is in most danger."

"Why is Berk in most danger?" I ask with a frown. "And how do we know the dragon is real?"

"Because the beasts head is Berk. Our Island, the Peaceable Country, is a mere hump on his back but Berk is the actual head. If you take a look at a map of the archipelago you can see the shape and size of the beast. It has seven humps- seven Islands, a head and a tale. The head is Berk and the Tale is an uninhabited Island to the western archipelago.

"Wow, you've really done your research." I say, processing the information.

She smiles again, "Thank you. And isn't the earthquakes enough evidence to show you the beast is real?"

"It is for me but not for everyone." I explain.

She nods.

"So… how do we stop it?" I ask.

"We can't," Her face goes grim and she turns to look out her window, "It's impossible. The beast is too strong and can't be put back to sleep."

"But if a day is one thousand years and a night is one thousand years couldn't we just find a way to send it back to sleep for a while or… knock it on the head. I know when I hit my head and fell unconscious after my battle with the Green Death I was out for a few weeks. That would be like… twenty one thousand years. Humans might not even be alive then!" I say, clinging onto hope.

"And how do you suppose we knock unconscious a beast with a head the size of an Island?" She says, her voice growing hard for once.

"I…I don't know." I knew the situation was near hopeless but I couldn't just give up, could I? I wouldn't let my village suffer. "Firstly we'd have to somehow get under water…" I bite my lip, my brow furrowing as I thought, "We'd need to train a Scauldron and swim deep and make some sort of gear that will allow us to breathe under- water… Like a tube that leads to air... Then maybe we can give it some sort of potion or… Like dragon nip but not dragon nip…"

A small light suddenly enters the old woman's eyes, "Blue oleander? I know they can be pretty powerful to sea creatures."

"Yes but that's poison not…" I trail off. "Maybe they'll be something in the book of dragons but firstly I have to know if this is all true. Like you said the earthquakes should be enough evidence but it just isn't. We humans are always in denial. I need to swim down there and see for myself with a team. Then if we find the beast we can let everyone know it's true and figure out how to send it back to sleep." I nod my head and stand up. "Thank you for your help Miya."

She looks slightly startled at my quick arrival and leaving times. "You're very welcome and good luck." She smiles and leads me to the door. "Your plan of sending it back to sleep might just work- as long as you figure out how to send it back to sleep."

"I know," I say my hand twisting the door handle, "That's the one problem." I swing open the door and feast my eyes on my lazy night fury. Toothless is lying on his back, the sun bathing his skin in her little garden.

I sigh and roll my eyes at Toothless' floppy form as the door shuts behind me, "Come on buddy, let's go home." He snorts in resent at having to leave his little rest. Puffing out clouds of smoke he allows me to climb onto his saddle. "Let's go and find out if this beast is real after all."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Almost home buddy," I say as we near Berk. My eyes wander round the hills and forest until they reach the docks. I gasp in shock, fear squeezing my heart. A band of ships swarm the docks. But not just any old ships. Ships with a certain flag…

A flag with the symbol of a Skrill painted in their centre.

My first thought is Dagur but then I remind myself that he's dead. He can't hurt anyone I love anymore. Which means that Dagur's sister, Amelia, is on my shore with her fleet of ships. But why?

"Come on buddy," We swoop down toward Berk.

The streets are empty but it's impossible to miss the babble of screaming voices echoing from the great hall. We blast the doors and they open with a bang.

Silence.

My eyes quickly take in everyone. Astrid and Amelia, neck to neck, standing on the raised platform. Snotlout, the twins and Fishlegs, stand behind Astrid. A group of Amelia's bulky berserkers back up their chief. The village stands in the middle, their fists midway through punching the air. Everyone's eyes are on me.

"Exactly what do you think you're doing on my Island?" I ask Amelia, striding toward the front, villagers and Berserkers shuffling back and giving me a straight path to the front.

"I came to speak with you but upon arriving was harassed by your pathetic wife." Amelia spits, her head held high.

Astrid's fists clench, "You're one to talk."

Amelia's head whips back to Astrid, "Oh really? And how do you explain tha-"

"What did you want to speak with me about?" I interrupt before the hall erupts in chaos again.

Amelia's cold green eyes narrow, "What do you think?"

"Earthquakes."

"Precisely. I'm guessing from the total destruction of your village you to have been caught up in the same type of ground tremors we've all been in."

"Yes, I've just been to speak with the Granddaughter of Wrinkly Baggy- the author of that book about Berk and all the other Island's in the archipelago being a massive dragon- and I think it's true."

She lets out a vicious, sneering, cackle. "You really believe that do you? That Berk is the head of some menacing beast? Of course." She rolls her eyes. "But that's not what I came here to talk about. I want to make a deal with you; it seems we'll need each other's help if these quakes continue. I want to become allies."

"We already have a peace treaty."

"A peace treaty isn't the same as becoming full blown allies Hiccup. I would have thought you of all people would know that."

"Oh I do know that. I'm just not interested. We're at peace but I'm not interested in trading with you or anything else for that matter."

"I saved your life! I defeated Dagur and this is how you repay me!?" She screeches.

I keep my face blank of expression. "You did that for yourself. You had no interest in helping me. And I have no interest in helping you so the answer to your question is no. I do not want to be your ally. We have a civil peace treaty and that's as far as it will stretch."

She snarls, "So be it."

She flicks her black hair from her face and stalks past me and Toothless, who bares his teeth, and out the hall. I turn to Gobber, "Make sure they leave the Island."

He nods in response and follows the berserkers from the hall. The doors shut with a clang and I stride up toward the raised platform. "Well that was interesting."

Low chuckle rises from my Vikings. "Are you okay?" I ask Astrid.

"I'm fine," She replies stiffly, still glaring at the doors.

"Okay, Right well now that Amelia is out of the way I can speak to you about the real problem. The only conclusion I can come to about the Earthquake problem is that the myth is true."

Protests instantly rise from the village.

"It's a story!"

"It's not real!"

"That's insane! There's no such thing as a dragon that size!"

People nod in agreement to these comments.

"I know it sounds crazy but it's the only answer that fits the criteria. And we can check if it's true too. I've decided to pick a few people to come with me down under the ocean and check. If Berk is the head in the legend then we'll be able to see if it's true. We'll be able to see whether it has eyes or a nose or mouth. We'll know then and once we know we can try to figure out how to stop it."

"And how are you going to breathe down there?" A gruff man shouts up.

"I think I'll be able to make some sort of breathing device that'll give us time to get under and check. Even if it's not true at least we can rule that answer off the list. But we can't just sit here and say the legend isn't possible when we've no other answer."

The crowd start to nod their heads at one another, I sigh in relief as Gobber comes through the doors, "They've left."

"Thanks Gobber," I turn back to the crowd, "I want to call a council meeting tomorrow at dawn." The council members nod respectfully. "That's all, you're dismissed."

A loud shuffle starts as everyone moves toward the door. "Where's Lucy?" I ask Astrid.

"With our mums at home."

I relax and take her hand, "We'll talk about everything tomorrow but right now all I want to do is sleep."

"I second that," She smiles and kisses me softly. "Let's go home to our baby."

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

The next day I'm up early and in the hall waiting just as the sun is peaking over the horizon. I have to wait at least five minutes before Snotlout strides in, an axe over his shoulder.

"I've been cutting down fire wood for my dad," He explains, "he keeps complaining that his joints are getting old," Snotlout rolls his eyes and I grimace sympathetically.

"Well, all you have to do is find a girl and complain that you're too busy looking after her to deal with your dad."

"If only I had a girlfriend." He slumps in the chair to my left.

"You'll find someone."

"I just wish Heather was here. She always felt so right. Ruff was good but it never really worked and now she has Fish anyway. Which is fine," He adds hurriedly, "I'm happy for them. It's just…"

"I know; I felt the same when I was fifteen."

He deadpans, "Yeah but that's like fifteen. We're like twenty five."

"Some things take time."

He mimics Toothless' huff in response. Then the doors creak open:

"Hey guys!" Fishlegs squeaks as he rushes in. "I have news!"

"And what's that?" I ask smiling at his excitement.

"I'm going to do it I'm finally going to ask her!"

"Ask who what?" Snotlout says, raising his eyebrows.

"Ask Ruffy to marry me!" His face breaks out in a wide grin and a warm feeling fills my stomach- momentarily washing away my worry about Berk.

"Whoop whoop! Way to go Fishlegs!" I say giving him a hug.

Snotlout pats him on the back, "I'm happy for you Fishy."

"Thanks guys," His bites his fingers as he sits down next to Snotlout. "I'm so nervous but so excited at the same time! What if she says no? What if she says yes?"

I laugh, "Don't worry; I felt exactly the same with Astrid. It's scary because it's new and different. But I'm sure she'll say yes and then…" I trail off winking at him.

"Babies!" Fishlegs squeals.

"Oh Thor…" Snotlout face palms. "Why would you guys even want kids? They're smelly and disgusting and whinny and-"

"Hey! Are you calling my daughter smelly and whinny?" I ask narrowing my eyes at him.

Snotlout gulps, "Of course not! I'm just saying that some children are slightly unclean and..."

"You're one to talk." I retort.

"Hey! Are you implying something there?"

"I think babies are beautiful!" Fishlegs butts in staring dreamily at the table. "They're so cute and fuzzy and-"

"Fuzzy?" Snotlout asks, his look of utter confusion making me snort with laughter.

"You know their hair is all soft and kind of-" Fish starts trying to explain.

"Aw save it!" Snotlout replies.

I laugh and shake my head: There's nothing better than friendship.

It's not long before the room fills up with council members. Astrid slips in just before I start the meeting, "Lucy's with Valka." She says, pecking me on the lips and sitting at my right hand.

I start to once again explain my plan of going under water and then I get onto how we're going to breathe. "I was thinking we could make large metal tanks- big enough to hold a large enough air supply to keep us going but not enough to weigh us down so much that we sink." I explain seriously. "We then create a small tube that we can put in our mouths in order to breathe. In this tube we'll make a sort of barrier so when we pull down a lever the air is released and when we push it back up the air becomes trapped again inside the tank, make sense?"

Everyone nods and I smile in relief. "Now we won't be able to swim down there- it'll drain too much of our energy so we'll need to train a Scauldron to get us down there quickly. Then all we need is a team of about five to go down there and see if this myth is a real threat or just a story. I'll need some volunteers."

"I'll go," Astrid says.

"No." I reply sharply turning to look at her.

"Why not?"

"You're two months pregnant!" I explain.

"And you've only got one leg."

"It's different! Plus who will look after Lucy?" I ask.

"Our parents."

"It's still a no." I turn back to the council, who are watching us with cautious facial expressions.

"Hiccup I'll be fine!" Astrid urges.

I turn back to face her, "I'm not putting you or that baby in danger."

"It's my baby too! And my life! I think I can decide what to do or not."

I clench my teeth, "Astrid I said no."

"You can't stop me."

"Try me."

"I will."

We glare at each other for a minute and I swear you could have heard a pin drop.

"Why do stubborn people always end up together?" I hear Gobber murmur.

"I am not sitting idly by when you risk your life under the sea." Astrid says, ignoring Gobber's statement.

"And I'm not risking the baby's life. Plus Lucy needs you."

"Lucy needs you too! I'm not the only parent she has! Furthermore Lucy has our parents and the baby will be fine. I need to make sure you're okay."

"No one's going to win this argument are they?" I say.

"Nope!" She agrees.

"I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree."

"I'm still going."

"No you're not." I turn back to the table of amused smiles with a huff, "I need five volunteers."

Fishlegs, Snotlout and the twins all put their hands up.

"Looks like you need a fifth Mr Haddock." Astrid says with a sly grin.

"I am the fifth," I reply.

The table stiffens and everyone looks at one another- sending eyes contact messages about the chief and his wife.

"Aw let 'er go Hiccup. If there's one thing we all know about Astrid is that she can take care of herself." Gobber's says.

I purse my lips, "Herself and the baby though?" No one speaks, "Fine. Just this once."

Astrid grins and wraps her arms around my waste. "I love you Hiccup."

I huff again, "I love you too."

The council chuckles as the doors open and Lucy bounces in, Valka behind her. "I heard you all laughing and figured you'd finished up." Valka explains.

The table smiles as Lucy runs up to us, "Mummy! Daddy!"

"Hey my little princess!" I say twirling her around in my arms.

She suddenly giggles and looks at the twins, Snotlout and Fishlegs, "I have a question!"

"Oooo! Yay! I Loooove questions!" Tuff says excitedly.

Ruff punches his shoulder.

"What's the first rule of dragon flight club?" Lucy asks.

My friend's faces fall.

"Oh Gods! HICCUP YOU IDIOT!" Snotlout yells his eyes wide.

"No! HICCUP WHY WOULD YOU TELL HER THAT?!" Ruffnut screams over Snotlout.

"There is not dragon flight club." Fishlegs answers calmly.

"AHHH THE PAIN!" Tuffnut spirals to the floor and collapses.

"Well done Uncle Fishlegs you got the question right." Lucy smiles up at my friends and I smother a laugh with my hand.

I'll try and get ze next chapter up by September!;) Don't forget to review!:D