Hiccup Haddock, the son of the Jarl of Whiterun. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, daughter of the newly crowned High King of Skyrim. Adrien Agreste, a homeschooled model with an internship at the Louvre in Paris. And Astrid Hofferson, a dishonored Viking rejected by her tribe.

What do these four teens have in common? They have all discovered a Miraculous, a gem created to tether the soul of a human to that of a god. Brought together across time and space, they must use their new found talents to end the threats that are emerging in the world; including, but not limited to: a necromancer, genocide, a civil war, undead soldiers, and two hungry dragons.

Will they succeed? Or will their adolescent hormones get in the way?

Hi! I may be a familiar face to many, and new to many more. I had been working on a Skyrim AU idea for both HTTYD and Miraculous for a few years now. I had art and chunks of both versions plotted out, but never could decide which one I wanted to do more, since they were both hefty but had similar plots.

So I decided to combine them.

I rarely do crossovers, and never with three fandoms. I apologize if it's a little jarring, but I hope you still enjoy it. My goal is to create a story that requires no deep knowledge of any one of the three fandoms I'm exploring. I will hold your hand as we go, and hopefully everything will make sense.

Feel free to ask questions, as that will help me develop the story more!

You can see illustrations on my Tumblr, and this story is also available on Ao3.

"Dovahkiin."

Hiccup's eyes shot open, startled awake by an ancient, booming voice for the fourth time this week. Just like every time, it was at the break of dawn.

"Even on my day off?" He lamented.

Well, if there ever was a day to investigate, it was today.

Hiccup dressed and descended from his room in Dragonsreach, the palace of the Jarl of Whiterun. His father, Stoick, was the Jarl of the whole Hold of Whiterun. And so what was the 16-year-old son of the Jarl to do?

Be an apprentice to the Blacksmith, apparently.

Yes, since the day Hiccup could work, he was busy helping his mentor at the Skyforge. It was fulfilling work, if not monotonous, and he relished his days off.

Days like today.

"Son! You're awake early!" Said Stoick with a boom. "I thought you'd sleep until midday!"

"Yeah…uh, I have an errand to run, so I thought I'd get an early start."

"An errand? What would you possibly need? Where to?"

"Uh…Riverwood. And nothing special, just…something that got waylaid there."

"At least come eat breakfast with me, lad."

Hiccup was not one to argue with his father, especially when the man was able to pick him up with one hand and throw him across the Cloud District. He had a feeling there was more to come. His father often preferred to handle news over meals.

Hiccup obediently took his seat as the bread, fruits, and porridge were served.

"I've received news from Solitude."

Hiccup sat up straight. "About the successor to High King Torygg?"

"Yes."

"I thought it was settled on his wife, Elisif? At least until his son is old enough."

"I thought so too. His son Oleg was sent to Cyrodiil for his own safety in the wake of the attack. Apparently, Torygg had another son before he was married. Elisif mentioned him to the Moot, as a precaution, and they voted to elect him to the throne until Oleg is old enough."

Hiccup blinked. "They elected an illegitimate heir over Elisif?"

"That's what I wondered as well. According to Spitelout, it was the Thalmor that preferred the man over Elisif. After all, she's quite distraught over Torygg."

"I'm not surprised. Any idea what this new king is like?"

"Rumor is that he is a baker from Helgen. What's more, he's married to an albino dark elf and has a young daughter."

"Oh. Good for him," Hiccup shrugged as he drank his canis root tea.

"I can't imagine people respecting his authority. So, at the end of this week, we will be going to Solitude to meet him and show our support. I will need you on your utmost behavior, understand?"

"Yes dad."

"Good good. So, what's this errand you have to run?"

Hiccup internally groaned. He had hoped his father wouldn't ask.

Stoick the Vast. He didn't get his name without reason. The man was mountainous, and a good foot or two taller than most Nords. Hiccup, on the other hand, was the runt of the entire Hold. Maybe even all of Tamriel. Stoick wanted a proud warrior son, but instead was gifted with a toothpick. As such, Stoick was wary of his son going out and doing anything reckless. But Hiccup wanted to do whatever he could to make his father proud.

It was a vicious cycle.

"It's…you know how you're always telling me those little tasks you give me will help build character? It's like that."

Stoick frowned. "This better not be a troll hunting errand. I thought we discussed that those beasts are too strong for you!"

"No trolls! No fighting at all…if I can help it. I'm just…looking for something."

"What kind of something?"

How to explain? 'Dad, I've been seeing a Nordic burial mound in my dreams and keep hearing this booming voice calling to me.' That certainly wouldn't go over as well as he'd hope. "I'm looking for information. Does the word 'Dovahkiin' mean anything to you?"

"Dovahkiin." The same voice that always pulled him from his dreams echoed in his mind, clear as day in his waking life. He'd never heard it while awake, though he had never said the word aloud either. No one else seemed to hear it.

Stoick gave a little chuckle. "Now I know you've been spending too much time in the forge. Gobber loves the Tale of the Dragonborn. I don't know all that much about it, though."

"It's a folktale," said Spitelout, the Steward to Stoick. "'Dovahkiin' is the ancient word for Dragonborn. Dating back to the age when Dragons roamed Skyrim. The Dragonborn can speak the language of the dragons, the Thu'um."

"I've heard that word before. Thu'um."

"You've probably heard it in regards to the death of High King Torygg. It's also called a shout. It's how Drago Bludvist killed Torygg. He used his voice, like a dragon would, and killed him."

Hiccup frowned. Killing someone by shouting at them? That made little to no sense. "So if the Dragonborn can do this…is Drago a Dragonborn?"

Stoick chuckled with a shake of his head. "Don't think about it too much, lad. The Dragonborn is a legend."

"But the shout—"

"No one knows how Drago learned to shout. He never explained. And now, since escaping the empire's imprisonment, he stays holed up in Windhelm."

"The best place for him!" Spitelout shouted. "Let he and his lot rot in that frozen wasteland!"

"If you want to hear the legend of the Dragonborn, I'd ask Gobber. He's the best orator in town." Stoick wiped his beard. "What does the Dragonborn have to do with your errand?"

Now he had to lie. He had hoped being vague would be enough, but now he had to lie to his father's face. "Just…taking the initiative to learn more about our history. The word 'Dovahkiin' was mentioned in some text, and I was unfamiliar with it. I was going to see if the trader in Riverwood had any books on it…since I already asked Belathor."

"Dovahkiin!" The ethereal voice echoed in his mind again.

"Ah, good lad. Always wise to learn our traditions. Do you want your cousin to go with you?"

"Oh, no no, I'm fine. I'll take a shield and knife from Gobber's."

"You'll take your horse?"

"Of course! Of course!"

"Very well. I can't say I'm fond of you leaving the city in the wake of current events, but Riverwood isn't far. As long as you stay on the main road and return as soon as possible, I will permit your leave."

"Thank you, dad."

After breakfast, Hiccup went out to the stairs outside of Dragonsreach. From there, he could see all the fields that surrounded the city, out to where the mountains began. Whiterun stood like a beacon in the middle of it all, with nothing but high walls to protect it. It was nothing like the mountainside Windhelm, or Solitude that was built upon a natural arch. But it was home.

He closed his eyes and listened, doing his best to block out the chatter from the people below.

"Dovahkiin," he said softly.

"Dovahkiin!" His summoner responded.

He felt it then. He felt the call from a direction, south. Actually towards Riverwood. The city name had been a ruse to his father, but it might turn out to be where he went after all.

Now with a direction in mind, Hiccup headed over to the Skyforge, the official forge of the Companions.

"Morning lad!"

"Good morning Severio!"

"Morning Hiccup! Is Gobber done with my ax yet?"

"He should finish today, Olfrid!"

"Where are you going so early, boy?"

"Morning Fralia! Just out and about!"

The trip to Jorrvaskr was familiar and could be carved out of the stone by now. When Gobber spotted him, he laughed.

"Did you forget you had the day off, lad?"

"No, I just came to borrow a shield and a dagger."

Gobber gave a little nod and went to his inventory. "Off on some adventure, I bet."

"Something like that. My father said you're a fan of the Tale of the Dragonborn?"

Gobber immediately stopped rooting around and broke into song, swinging the ax that was in his hand.

"Our hero, our hero, claims a warrior's heart!

I tell you, I tell you, the Dragonborn comes!"

Hiccup backed away from the scene in an effort to avoid getting hit.

"With a voice wielding power of the ancient nord arts!

Believe, believe, the Dragonborn comes!

It's an end to the evil of all Skyrim's foes!

Beware, beware, the Dragonborn comes!

For the darkness has passed, and the legend yet grows!

You'll know, you'll know, the Dragonborn's come!"

Several townsfolk and members of the Companions gathered around the Skyforge when they heard the ruckus Gobber was making. He was so loud, even Heimskr stopped his preaching and stared across the district.

Hiccup regretted bringing the topic up.

"Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin!

With a bindle of cheese!

For the wine, for the food,

May the guard's horses be drunk!"

This new verse brought many protests from the townsfolk.

"That's not how it goes!"

"Are you trying to bring the wrath of the divines on the town?!"

He yelled right back at them. "Alright, then you sing it!"

There were some nonsensical mutters before people wandered away.

"Yeah! That's what I thought!"

Hiccup slowly peeled his hand off his face. "What was that?"

"You wanted the Tale of the Dragonborn, so I sang it. Though you should get Luka to perform it next time he's in town. He's got the voice of an angel."

"So…it's a song."

"Aye. Though, based on a true story. Legend tells of a great warrior called the Dragonborn—"

"I got that."

"—who had the gift to speak with the dragons. Anyone can learn how to shout, as you heard about with Drago."

"Right."

"But it's not easy. There's a reason why no one but the Greybeards know how to do it."

"Wait, Greybeards? Who are they?" Hiccup asked. "Are they how Drago learned to shout?"

"That's the theory! Though no one can get confirmation. The Greybeards live up on High Hrothgar, on the Throat of the World. They're completely removed from this world. So no one can talk to them."

"Okay, so…the Greybeards figured out a way to learn how to shout like a dragon?"

"Exactly! Through centuries of study, and long days of practice, they are able to use a shout. But the Dragonborn, he can learn it immediately."

"So…he's just smart?"

"You're missing the point, lad."

"It's all so confusing! What is a shout anyway? How did Drago kill a man with his voice? That's the thing I keep getting caught up on."

"Aye, that would be confusing if you think it's a normal holler. But it's not. The Thu'um, the voice of a dragon, is said to carry absolute authority. So much so, the very nature around the dragon bends to its will. The dragon yells 'fire' and fire comes from his mouth. He yells 'stop' and time itself comes to a standstill around him."

"Oh…that makes more sense then. So Drago yelled 'death' at Torygg?"

"Not according to witnesses. The shout that Drago used threw Torygg across the room and he slammed him into a wall. It's said that every bone in his body was shattered."

"That's…that's scary to think someone alive right now can do that."

Gobber went back to rummaging in the equipment trunk. "My favorite tale of the Dragonborn is when the city of Winterhold, before it fell into the sea, was attacked by a giant frost troll. The Dragonborn said, 'you like ice? I'll show you ice!' and he turned the troll into solid ice. A single iron arrow hit it and it fell to pieces."

"I think you made that up."

"I embellished it, but it's true!"

"So what happened to the Dragonborn? Was it just one guy?"

"I don't know how many there were, but I would guess there was more than one. The stories span thousands of years. As for what happened? The last one died, and so did the dragons. So the divines didn't pick a new one."

Hiccup couldn't ask the question he wanted. 'If the voice in my dreams is calling for the Dragonborn, does that mean the dragons are coming back?'

If he did ask, he might get a few more days off, but strict supervision on top of it.

He held up a banded iron shield and a steel dagger. "Why do you ask, lad?"

Hiccup blanched. "Don't you have a shield that isn't so heavy?"

Gobber rifled again and pulled out a hide shield.

"How about one that doesn't suck?"

Gobber practically frisbeed the steel shield at him and pointed. "Now be on your way!"

"Thanks Gobber! See you later!"

Finally, he was free. He wasn't the kind to leave the city very often. Occasionally, he'd go see the Khajit caravan outside the gates. But outside the walls of Whiterun, Skyrim was a dangerous place.

There was a giant camp not too far from the gate and he'd heard tales from the guards about travelers getting too close and being punted into Sovngarde.

He merrily went to the stables and obtained his horse, a black stallion named Thump.

The joke here is when horses and cows get hiccups, it's called thumps instead.

Now, the courageous adventurer was off to Riverwood to face his destiny…or at least attempt to learn more about it.

The safest route was the stone road. It wasn't perfect, as many of Skyrim's most hostile would wait at the edges for the richest or tastiest. But taking the road kept you from wandering over a Spriggan clearing or Falmer cave.

It was a pleasant summer day. Summer in Whiterun meant it was warm enough to not have to bundle in furs, and farmers could actually get a decent harvest of wheat, leeks, and potatoes. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and the elk frolicked through the tall grass.

The road to Riverwood was sandwiched between two mountains, along the edge of a fast flowing river. Hiccup kept Thump at a steady pace until the village was in sight.

Riverwood had all the essentials in a Skyrim town. A logging mill on the river, a blacksmith, the tavern, and of course the trader.

Hiccup hitched his horse outside of the Sleeping Giant Inn, waved greetings to the quiet townsfolk before going in.

A young woman with black hair swept around the hearth in the middle of the inn. She glanced at him briefly. "Welcome," she said rather tersely. "What can I do for you, Stranger?"

Hiccup tilted his head slightly at the girl. She must have been two or three years younger than him and she was working the tavern? "Uh, not to bother you, Miss. But I was just looking for information."

"I'll tell you what I know. Or direct you to someone who can help."

"Does there happen to be a Nordic Burial mound nearby?"

"You must mean Bleak Falls Barrow? It's a little ways North from here, across the river. There's a path that leads right up to it. But watch out for wolves on the road…and also bandits. The Barrow is mostly a bandit haven these days. Same bandits that robbed the trader I suppose."

"What did they take?"

"Something about a Golden Dragon Claw. A trophy of his that he always had on display. Why do you ask?"

"I…was just…" he cleared his throat. "My business is my own."

"Fine. So if anyone comes looking when you've been missing for a week, I don't know anything."

"I mean…hopefully that won't be a problem? Thank you for the information, Miss…?"

"Kagami."

"Kagami. If it's not too much…do you own this inn?"

She scowled at him. "Does it look like I'm old enough to own an inn?"

"Sorry, right right…I just…there's no one else in here."

"I run the inn for my mother. She's gone blind. But we don't often have visitors, so it isn't very hard work."

"Oh! Well, good for you. Um…" he started rummaging around in his pockets for money.

"Please don't bother. If you wish to buy some food or a room, I will accept your gold. Else, keep it."

Hiccup ended up buying some food for the road and leaving a generous tip before heading in the direction Kagami gave.

The path winded up the mountain, becoming snowier and windier the higher he climbed.

He came around the bend of the mountainside and saw it. The stacking layers of stairs, the towering, crumbling arches, the huge black door. All the things he had seen in his dreams. This was it, for sure.

What he wasn't prepared for, however, were the two bandits standing outside, guarding the place. How was he supposed to get in now?

If there was one thing he knew about bandits, it's that they weren't exactly smart. He led his horse back down around the bend and opted not to tether it.

"If you get in trouble, run back to Riverwood. I'll find you."

Thump, being a horse, merely mosied over to a snowberry bush and began to eat.

"Good enough."

He slowly crept up the path, staying close to the mountain wall to stay out of sight of the bandits. The front of the barrow faced the mountain, and so the bandits weren't looking there, only off to the two sides.

He took up a small rock and waited patiently. When the bandits had their backs to each other, he threw the rock at the smaller of the two.

It hit him in the head, and made him yelp. "Hey! Who threw that?"

Hiccup stayed out of sight behind a pile of rubble, where there was a tiny space through which he could see.

"You threw that, didn't you, you oaf?!"

"I didn't throw nothin! I bet it fell from up there!" He pointed at the ancient arches above.

"Fell my ass! It hit me square on me head, it did! I betcha threw it!"

"You callin' me a liar?"

"I ain't callin' ya for dinner!"

And just like Hiccup had hoped, the two started brawling.

Quickly, he stole from his hiding spot and darted to the nearest column. When he wasn't spotted, he went to the next, and the next, until he reached the door, unnoticed.

Thankfully, the bandits had the door propped open ever so slightly, and Hiccup, in his small frame, was able to squeeze inside.

Inside, a large part of the ceiling had collapsed, making more rubble to hide behind. The room was bigger than the grand hall in Dragonsreach, all carved out of mossy stone and illuminated by candles and filtered sunlight. Besides arches for support, there wasn't much other cover. On the other side of the hall, he saw a campfire, with three more bandits around. And beyond them was the door to the next part of the barrow.

"Great," he thought to himself.

Being quick to hide behind the rubble, he watched and planned his next move.

As he adjusted his stance, he stepped on something squishy. The corpse of a skeever, a rat easily the size of a dog.

"Ew."

Looking around the room, he could see a couple more. Where had they come from?

There. A hole in the wall up on a ledge. If he could find a way there…

He had a gross idea, but there was no other way. He couldn't take these three bandits on. He couldn't even take one!

As quietly as possible, he skinned the skeever and made a grotesque cape from its hide. Luckily, he was the size of a large skeever, or this wouldn't work. He donned the cape and scuttled over the far side of the room. There was a stone pillar he had to clamor up, but if he did it quickly and quietly enough—

"What in the name of Talos is that?!" A female bandit shrieked.

He didn't stop. He kept going. He just had to reach the hole!

"Another damned skeever! They just keep coming!"

An arrow whizzed by, plinking against the wall.

"Don't waste your arrows if it's not attacking!" Someone else shouted.

That gave Hiccup enough time to leap into the hole and out of sight.

So far, so good. He only hoped this place had a back door to leave or he was in trouble when he left.

The hole was formed by tree roots, which gave him extra cover. It led to a hallway alight with huge braziers. Again, there were skeever carcasses, and even a dead bandit. The path was quiet for now, so he climbed down and walked quickly, staying close to the wall. The hall snaked around, descending further and further into the earth.

When he found another guard, there was another partially collapsed arch that he could squeeze through and avoid them.

Then, he found a new type of obstacle.

A lever and a portcullis. A series of podiums on dais. A puzzle.

And three dead bandits covered in little darts, no doubt, poisoned.

Above the portcullis, the same images on the podiums were visible. The middle one had fallen, and laid on the floor, still visible at least.

From left to right, the pictures were of a snake, another snake, and a whale.

The podiums were turned to three eagles.

Hiccup had to stop and contemplate the sheer stupidity of these bandits.

He turned the podiums to match the images on the door, and then, with heightened blood pressure, he pulled the lever.

When the portcullis opened and he was not impaled with darts, he had to let out a relieved chuckle.

On the other side of the door, there was a beautiful table with three vials of healing potions, a lesser soul gem, and an ancient Nordic bow and a dozen arrows on it.

He hadn't come here looking for treasure, but he wasn't about to pass it up! Next to the table was also a chest with a handful of gold coins.

Not bad!

Once his treasure was secured in his bag, he spotted a spiral staircase going down further into the dungeon.

"Dovahkiin," he said quietly.

"Dovahkiin!" The voice was now unbearable, rattling him to the core and nearly knocking him off his feet.

No going back now.

At the bottom of the stairs, the room was dark and dank, with lots of cobwebs in the corners. The webs got worse and more thick as the hall went on.

"Not a frostbite spider, not a frostbite spider…" Hiccup chanted as he carried on.

At the end of the hall, a door led to a large open room. He peered inside and his heart got caught in his throat. The biggest frostbite spider he had ever seen was hanging from the ceiling. It was easily the size of the dining room table in the great hall.

"Shit."

This was going to be harder to solve. He almost wished the bandits were here instead.

But! He had just acquired a new bow!

Taking a vantage point from the doorway, Hiccup took aim and shot the spider in the thorax, making it writhe and spit its poison everywhere.

He didn't stop. He shot arrow after arrow, missing half the time, at the foul creature until it stopped squirming and laid on its back, its legs curled up.

"I am never dungeon delving again. Not if there's more spiders!" He shivered.

Moving into the room, he saw a few human sized egg sacs, one guess at what they held.

By the door, a partially desiccated dark elf laid with an arm outstretched. In it was a golden statue, made to look like the hand of a dragon with three claws, likely the one stolen from the Riverwood trader. Hiccup pried it out of the bandit's hand, with the intention of returning it, and moved on, hoping that his adventure was coming to an end.

It didn't get any more pleasant. The next leg of the journey held the crypt; walls lined with skeletons and mummified remains of his ancestors.

"They're all dead, Hiccup." He whispered as his heart thundered in his chest.

One footstep he took gave way underneath him, and he heard the sound of a hinge creaking. He couldn't even consider what it meant before he was smacked fully with a spiked grate. The spikes tore into his skin and ripped painfully back out, puncturing his arm, side, and leg.

He was thrown several feet backwards, skittering on his ass before he came to a stop, limbs akimbo and stunned. All the air had been knocked out of him, and he struggled to breathe, making sounds like a dying animal. His vision blurred from the impact as he laid on the ground, unable to do anything else.

Then the pain set in. A burning, throbbing pain all down his left side.

He peeled his eye open, watching his clothing rapidly turning red. This was not good. He had to do something, but what? He had gotten some healing potions earlier in the dungeon, right? He fumbled around in his bag as his pulse thundered in his ears. He was growing tired very quickly. He then grabbed a muted red vial, the color for healing he had grown accustomed to seeing at the healer's hut from all the blacksmith accidents over the years. He downed it and felt the liquid trickle down his throat and into his stomach. Within seconds, his vision flashed yellow and his strength returned. His puncture wounds healed for the most part. Now they were simply scratches. He considered taking another potion, but opted against it in case he got hurt again. He'd have to have Gothi look at his wounds when he returned. And he was going to return, damnit!

Getting back up on his feet, Hiccup could now clearly see the round stone on the ground that had triggered the trap.

"Note to self, watch out for pressure plates."

The next trap he encountered was easier. A set of three swinging pendulum blades. This was just a test of timing.

More mummified remains, and more feelings of uneasiness. Some of these remains were standing upright, with swords in hand, almost seemingly ready to spring to life and protect the barrow.

Hiccup elected to stay quiet and move quickly.

As he wandered over a waterfall and even a full cave, he wondered if the barrow filled out the entirety of the mountain. How long had it taken his ancestors to build this place? Why had no one gone in? Certainly if someone like him could make it this far with only a few scratches, then surely some stronger adventurers could clean it out. What a much more defensible fortress than Dragonsreach! There was so much space here too! They could have a whole city!

The hundreds of dead bodies might pose a problem though.

In the inner sanctum, Hiccup found the barrow in better repair, less ruins and more ancient architecture. And more stone coffins. After a while, he stopped appreciating the work that went into building such a mausoleum, and instead wondered where all these corpses came from. It was easily a city's worth, but most were buried in armor and weapons. Were these all warriors killed in battle? Or just buried to look like it?

Maybe he really should read those books he told his father he read.

Finally, he came to a dead end. A wide, arched hallway, with murals carved into the walls. Each mural depicted what looked like a burial. At the end of it all was a circular carving.

It had three ebony rings, each inlaid with an ivory pendant. And like the podium at the beginning of the dungeon, these pendants featured animals.

In the center was another circle, with three holes in it.

Was this what he came for? Surely not. A door perhaps? But how to open it?

The three holes were not aligned. The middle was higher than the others.

"The claw!" He nearly shouted.

Indeed, when he took the dragon claw out and inserted it, the claws inserted perfectly in the holes. But as he tried to turn it, nothing happened.

"Another puzzle," he lamented.

Though he needn't have fretted. Turning the claw over in his hands to study it, he found matching images engraved in the palm.

Moth. Eagle. Dragon.

He turned the rings on the door, excited that he could see the matching images.

Now when he inserted the claw, it turned and clicked into place!

The whole door shuttered, and the circular apparatus slid away and revealed a staircase beyond.

The air was surprisingly fresh compared to where he had been, and he could hear running water.

He was in another cave. A waterfall broke through the rock on the left and carved out a trench along the floor, but a bridge crossed it and led up to a looming feature. It looked like a curved wall, with old words on it. In front of it was another stone coffin, and an ancient chest.

This felt like the place he needed to be. This was where the voice had been leading him.

Cautiously, he approached the wall, and watched as it reacted to his presence. Three words in a language he did not recognize glowed, and beckoned him closer. Though he could not read it, he understood.

Fus.

What did it mean?

The chest, now behind him, flung open, its lid banging loudly on the floor and disturbing the bats above.

Hiccup looked inside, and saw a pile of ancient golden coins, jewels, and on top of it all, a golden circlet with a black stone.

"Dovahkiin," the circlet said, pulsing with each syllable.

Hiccup didn't even think about grabbing it. His body acted on its own, reaching in with both hands to take hold of the crown. It was beautifully crafted, and despite moldering for how many thousands of years, it was polished to a near mirror shine. It buzzed in his hands like a trapped insect, and sent tingles up and down his spine. He was compelled, and obeyed.

Once the circlet was on his head, he felt immense power rush through him, down to the tips of his toes. It was so much, he blacked out.

The place he was conscious of next had to be a dreamscape. It was black, with a rolling fog surrounding him. His body felt impossibly heavy, and he was unable to do anything except sit as a creature emerged from the fog before him.

It was a dragon, but not what he imagined one would look like. It had a soft, friendly face, like a salamander. Instead of twisting horns, it had two earflaps. Its claws didn't look any less deadly, though.

"So, Dovahkiin, you have finally decided to answer my call." It spoke with a deep lulling voice, but didn't move its mouth.

"You were the one that called me?"

"Yes," the dragon circled him. "I have been calling for the Dovahkiin for a long time. Two centuries at least. It seems you finally heard me."

"Well, I only started hearing you call last week. But, you really think I'm this…Dragonborn person?"

"I do not think, I know."

"But…Gobber said they're supposed to be some ultimate authority or proud warrior. Look at me! I'm…I'm nothing."

"This Gobber is correct. As Dragonborn, you will learn the way of the voice as you grow. It matters little what you look like. The voice brings power and authority."

Hiccup let that digest. It would be nice to have people listen to him for once.

"The people of Tamriel will look to you for guidance as an unbiased opinion. You will find yourself in the middle of many upcoming wars, as a voice of reason."

"Wars? What wars?"

"Is there no conflict in your time?"

"No, there's…well, actually…the High King was just killed…but they appointed a new king. It's…it should be all over, right?"

"I have seen glimpses of what is to come. A war between men. A war between men and Dragons. A war between the arcane and nature. A war among families. A war among friends. And a war among life and death itself. They will all need your guidance."

"What if I just don't tell anyone? Surely people can't just assume I'm the Dragonborn…unless I get a giant sign on my back or start glowing…"

"It matters little. There are those who are attuned to the changes in nature I am associated with. They are sensing your awakening now. Doubtless, the world will know tomorrow."

"Great. And I bet a hundred people are going to come at me with swords to try to kill me…or at least to take this circlet. The last thing my father needs is me bringing conflict to his front porch."

"The world will know the Dragonborn has returned, but not who he is. It will be up to you to stand up when the time is right. And you will. I have seen it in you."

"How could you possibly know that? Who are you anyway?"

"I have been called many names. Each Kingdom in Tamriel has a name for me. My original name has been forgotten over the years. I will respond to the name you give me."

Hiccup blanched. "Oh, you don't want me to do that. I'm terrible at naming things."

"You will have time to think on it. What do your people call you?"

"Hiccup. My full name is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, son of Jarl Stoick of Whiterun, but that's a bit of a mouthful."

"The son of a Jarl? How intriguing!" The dragon opened its mouth then, in a mock parody of a human smile, though it had no teeth.

"You're toothless." Hiccup stated in shock. It was more of a question, but not the way he said it.

"My name is now Toothless," the dragon nodded sagely.

"No! No no, it's not! Ohhh let me pick something else!"

The dragon came close, the heat from its nostrils fanning Hiccup's hair. "It is the name my soulmate has given me, why would I not like it?"

"Because it's dumb! I should have–" he stopped. "Wait, soulmate?"

The dragon nodded. "The circlet you wear binds a human soul to that of a god. We are now connected, in this world, and the next." He leaned in and touched his nose to his chest.

"You're a god!?" Hiccup yelled.

"Yes. As the Dragon god, I prefer the one that wears my crown to be Dragonborn, which is why I have been calling to you."

Hiccup grew increasingly more panicked as his actions began to stack up. "Dragon god? You mean the god of Lightning and Death?! You're Akatosh!? But you're–you're the head of the pantheon!"

"I am? How interesting."

"I can't wear this crown. I have to give it to someone more qualified! I've never even fought a person, let alone fought in a war!"

Toothless walked around him, coiling Hiccup with his tail. "You cannot take off the circlet. It is bound to you, as I am. This is your fate. It cannot be passed onto anyone else."

Hiccup felt weak and leaned against Toothless for support. "I…I can't believe this. I…you said some people are learning about me right now? Anyone bad? I don't know if I could defend myself in a fight. And I wouldn't want anyone to take a hit for me! By Talos, I renamed Akatosh Toothless!"

"You are already on your way to becoming untouchable by mortal men. The Word Wall you read before donning the circlet taught you the word Fus, correct?"

"Yeah…it means 'Force' right?"

"Very good! Think about force as it is applied in the natural world. You push against Nirn, and Nirn pushes back. Fus beckons that force without the reciprocate. Now, I will teach you the other two words of the Thu'um."

Toothless roared at the ground and words appeared, in the ancient text just like the Word Wall.

Ro. Da.

"'Ro' in your tongue means balance. Combined with Fus, it gives precision to your Thu'um. 'Dah' means push. A thu'um that combines all three can be powerful and deadly. Be careful. I give you this Thu'um because I heard its echo in your world not too long ago. Someone else knows it."

"That had to be Drago! He killed High King Torygg with a shout. My father said witnesses saw him collide with the wall and all his bones were shattered."

"As I said, the Unrelenting Force is a deadly Thu'um. It is also one of the easiest to comprehend. It does not surprise me that someone would know it. I do wonder where he learned it from, though. The Greybeards perhaps."

"Gobber mentioned them too! They live on a mountain or something?"

"Correct. The Throat of the World. The tallest mountain in Tamriel. The Greybeards are monks that study the way of the voice."

"So I could learn shouts from them?"

"Certainly. You will have to go to them. You can also learn shouts from Word Walls, like you saw not long ago. And I will teach you shouts when I believe you are ready…but I have been removed from Skyrim for so long with no one to talk to, I'm not sure if I remember them all."

"Are you going to be able to see through my eyes and talk to me whenever?"

"For now, we will speak while you are asleep. As our bond grows, the more one we will become."

"I see."

"There is another group who is learning about you now as well. They will have to seek you out, as they are impossible to get to."

"Who?"

"The Psijic monks. The Guardians of the Miraculous."

Hiccup frowned. "What's a Miraculous?"

"The crown on your head is a Miraculous. A jewel that connects the soul of a human, and that of a god. The Psijic monks have sworn to keep track of them, but these jewels often have a mind of their own. One of their order will seek you out, no doubt."

"Do they know any shouts?"

"No. And it's likely they will only take note of you before disappearing again. They are rather hands off."

"So…I should visit the Greybeards, and I'll be visited by these…cystic monks."

"Psijic monks."

"Right. Anything else I need to know?"

"All in due time, my Hiccup. Now, you should probably wake up." He reared back and unleashed a thunderous roar right in Hiccup's face.

Hiccup startled awake for the second time that day, still on the floor of the cave in the burial mound. He glanced around, checking his surroundings. No bandits or skeevers or spiders had found him. He was alone.

He absently went to scratch his head, and touched the circlet. He tried to remove it, but it was just as Toothless had said. He couldn't take it off.

"What am I going to tell dad?" He lamented.

He considered this as he gazed over the pile of gold still in the chest in front of him. He earned it, after all of this. So he shoveled it all into his satchel, and then shouldered it.

"Right. Now to figure out how to get out of here."

He looked back the way he came, lamenting the long walk and all that he had to sneak past. As he studied the room, he found another set of stairs not too far away, leading towards the wall.

He followed them, noticing that there was a lever built into a podium next to the wall.

"Oh please be a back door…"

As he pulled the lever, a doorway in the stone gave way to reveal a tunnel, and daylight glowed at the other end.

"Yes!"

Hiccup ran down the tunnel, elated to see the sky again, and proud to have finished his quest unscathed.

But as he came out of the mouth, he smacked face-first into a bandit.

"Well well. Isn't this interesting?" He cracked his shoulder. "Told the boss it was crazy to patrol this back entrance, but he didn't care. I should tell him he was right."

Hiccup panicked, looking for a way out. The tunnel had ended rather abruptly, and if the bandit hadn't been there, he likely would have run off a cliff.

"So kiddo, whatcha find in there? Let me see that pretty crown."

It happened on instinct. The bandit reached forward, and Hiccup sucked in a lung full of air.

"Fus Ro Dah!"

The blast echoed across the landscape, making nature itself grow silent.

The bandit ragdolled right off the cliff, being flung several feet before falling and rolling down the mountain like a limp sack of potatoes.

Hiccup peered over the edge, only to see the body still and unmoving.

"By the nines, I killed him."

Hiccup glanced around the cliff edge, looking for a way down. There had to be one if the bandit got up there in the first place. He found a steep, narrow path along the wall that he could shimmy down if he was careful.

It led to a rock, which led to another rock, on and on, until he finally reached the road.

Exhausted from the descent, he sat on a stone to catch his breath. The sun was now making its way to dusk, and night would be upon him soon. He had spent more time in that dungeon than he thought!

He whistled for Thump, assuming it was pointless as his horse had either wandered to Riverwood or was still on the other side of the mountain. But fortunately, the blessed sound of horse hooves trotting across the ground graced his ears…shortly followed by another set, and then another.

Thump happily galloped around the corner, followed by two Whiterun guards on horseback. That couldn't be good.

They all came to stop in front of him.

"Young Master Hiccup, the Jarl has been looking for you. We are fortunate to find you alive."

"He's been that worried about me? But I've only been gone a few hours."

"A few hours? No. We are nearing two days of your absence. We found your horse outside Riverwood and have been tracking it, hoping he would lead us to you. Luckily, he did."

Hiccup stood then, on shaky legs, and mounted Thump.

"We will hurry you back to Dragonsreach, Young Master, you look wounded."

"Oh, I'm okay, I just—" he glanced down to his side, where he was punctured earlier. In the light of day, his entire side was bloodied. "It looks worse than it is."

But nevertheless, the guards escorted him quickly back to Whiterun.

When they entered the city gates, townsfolk started cheering.

"It's good to see you alive boy-o!"

"Welcome back from the brink!"

"Had enough adventure for one lifetime, huh?"

Hiccup tried to shrink on his horse, but still saw every eye on him.

When they reached Dragonsreach, he developed a lump in his throat that he couldn't quite swallow. The second Jarl Stoick saw him, he came running with his arms open wide. "Son! Hiccup! You're alive!" He effortlessly lifted Hiccup off the ground and embraced him. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!"

Just as quickly as he had been lifted, he was rushed over to Gothi, the healer and court magician. He was stripped of his bloody clothes and his wounds were examined. Stoick didn't leave his side for a second.

"What happened? Where did you go? Who do I need to put a bounty on?"

"Dad, dad, please calm down." He prepared to tell his father all about his fate as the Dragonborn, but couldn't quite find the words. His father was already overly protective of him, and if he shared the truth about his fate, chances are he'd never be allowed to leave the city walls. Maybe even Dragonsreach.

With the way his father was acting, that might be true no matter what.

Hiccup decided to tell the truth, just not the whole truth. He sighed. "I found some information, and it led me to Bleak Falls Barrow."

At the name, Gothi pulled tight on a bandage, making him wince.

"The old Nordic burial mound by Riverwood? What possessed you to go there!?"

"I thought there would be some information about the Dragonborn there."

"And? Did you find what you were looking for?" Stoick asked with a grimace. He didn't seem too indulgent at the moment.

"Not…not really. I found the treasure in my bag, and then this circlet." He gestured to his head. "It's…we'll it's cursed, dad. I can't take it off."

Stoick looked devastated. "Cursed? What is going to happen to you?"

"Nothing, from what I gleaned. I just can't remove it."

Stoick sighed. "I suppose that is enough punishment. Can you confirm, Gothi?"

The old woman scrutinized the circlet touching the band before breathing in the stone. She tugged on it for good measure. No, for sure this wasn't coming off.

Gothi was a mute, and as such, she had to communicate her findings through writing.

Hiccup and Stoick sat awkwardly as she scribbled out her message.

"She says," Stoick read her note, "'this circlet contains a vast, intense power that sleeps. It does not seem malevolent in nature. I see no reason to try to remove it at this time.'" Stoick frowned. "No need to remove it? It's a curse!"

"Dad, let's just see where this goes. She said it's not malevolent, maybe I'll be blessed with strength or magic or—"

"Common sense?"

"Harsh."

"Look, Hiccup. You are the only family I have. Your mother went out on an adventure and never returned. I don't want the same for you. Please promise me your adventuring days are over, alright?"

"I promise."

No one noticed he had his fingers crossed.