Hey people! Sorry for the wait again, geez I'm bad at updating! There were so many things I needed to do recently, and I was also working out the kinks for an additional chapter, and it actually turned in to two additional chapters, so yea... At least you guys get more now! I hope you enjoy! :D

"Mildred! Land ho!" A strong female voice blared in the early morning hours. Though her voice was strong and powerful, this female figure showed visual signs of a hard life. Her ripped and ragged clothing had seen better days and barely fit her frail yet muscular body. The sun had turned her skin from a dainty pale to a rugged tan. The sun and sea had changed her hair into a stringy mess of dirty blonde locks. Her eyes were a light green color and seemed very distant, as if she had seen too much and then some. Her most defining feature was an eye patch covering her left eye. Both above and below it, a bloodstained scar remained. Though she was not able to see it, it was always a constant reminder of what had happened to her. Her face was bleak and reflected her eyes. Her lips were pale, cracked, and hadn't seen a smile in ages. Her entire aura was one of failure and depression. She was almost like a zombie, walking around with no purpose, goals, or aspirations in life. The life had been sucked out of her yet she was still alive, physically.

"Finally! My God, that was a long trip." Mildred replied. Mildred was an improper, middle-aged Englishwoman who worked as a trader with her husband, John. Mildred was a fairly large, unkempt woman. Her ratty hair was kept under a bonnet, her simple peasant clothes were tattered and dirty, and her face was covered with oil and seawater. But despite her woeful outward appearance, she had a cheery disposition. She had no children of her own, but quickly took a liking to the lifeless maiden, taking her in and acting as a mother to her. The three traders sailed the open seas, normally trading with places close by. But this time, upon request of the young maiden, they made a pit stop on the island of Berk.

"It was pretty long, I agree. It'd be quicker with a dragon, but..." The maiden started to say.
"I know, I know. And I respect your fears. Musta taken a lot of courage for ya to come 'ere though, what Berk being filled with dragons and all." Mildred interrupted
"Sure... Can we talk about something else now?"
"Of course, milady! Like the beast what took your eye out? I want to know the whole story!
"Godsdammit, Mildred. I told you, I don't like talking about it! It was a dragon attack, and that's all I'm going to say!"
"Ahh, c'mon, dearie. We've been sailing together for a solid few months now, and I know everything else about ya! I can't see why ya don't want to talk about..."
"Just stop, please."
"Well fine then. But I'll know one day! You can count on that!" With that, she left the girl to look out at the distant island that was slowly being illuminated by the early morning sun. And if you looked closely, you could almost make out the figures of a boy and a dragon on the beach, staring into the rising sun.

. . .

"Good morning! How was the sunrise, son?" Chief Stoick The Vast asked his son, Hiccup as he came in the door.
"You're up early for a weekend, dad." He replied.
"I know! These little buggers woke me up." He guested to the four little Night Fury's playing a rousing game of "see how long we can nibble on Stoick's legs without him shaking us off" at his feet.
"Awe, that's so precious. Better put that in the baby book!" He turned to Toothless and cracked a sarcastic smile. But instead of smiling back, Toothless let out a big dragon yawn and curled up in the corner of the room.
"The stress of fatherhood must be getting to him. I remember those days like they were yesterday. I still don't believe I've caught up on my sleep! You're in for it next."
"Believe me, I know. The amount of times they've woken us up is insane. So much so I had to build them there own little dragon nest attached to my house."
"You build it too close to my house. They think my house is their house and invite themselves in. Exhibit A. Oh, by the way, speaking of inviting yourself in, what are you doing in my house?"
"Oh, sorry! I'm not used to the whole living in another house thing yet." Hiccup did indeed move out of his father's home and in to one of his own creation. He had recently married Astrid and two lived happily in their perfect oasis, which was only a stones throw from Stoick's house. It had been a few months since the whole beach incident and he had made a remarkably quick recovery. So much so that he even married the woman who had been with him through it all, helping him through the physical and emotional pain. Not marrying Astrid would probably be the worst mistake Hiccup would ever make. But he did marry her, and they were both happy together. Hiccup thanked every God he believed in when she fell asleep in his arms every night. He loved this woman with all his heart.

"That's okay, son. You know you're welcome in my house any time you please. The babies on the other hand..." He had finally had enough of the nibbling and shook them off his legs. They gleefully squealed and proceed to bother their father with the same game. Toothless didn't even flinch because he was sound asleep. Ever since the babies hatched he hadn't gotten a good nights sleep. But he still made sure to watch the sunrise every single morning with Hiccup. That was one tradition he would never, ever break.
"Well, you see, I was watching the sunrise and I spotted a ship. I think it's the English trade ship that so desperately wanted to trade with us. Gods know why."
"That's great news! Let's head on down to the docks now and welcome them. Plus, Gobber's birthday is coming up soon, and I was thinking of getting him a new pair of undies! Oden knows the man needs them!"
"I didn't need to know that... But let's head on out. I've just got to go wake up the old ball and chain first. You know how girls need their beauty sleep."
"Ball and what?" Hiccup turned around to face Astrid crossing her arms and stating at him. Tuna was by her side but she quickly went in to the house to save her poor love from a baby attack.
"Joking! My Gods, you look lovely this morning."
"And every other morning I look bad?"
"No, no! I was just saying you look exceptionally lovely this very morning and..."
"Joking! Geez, Hiccup. Lighten up!" She pecked him quickly and he blushed. Stoick cracked a smile behind them then turned around to speak to the little dragons and their mother.
"I expect to see his place at least somewhat intact when we get back. Understand?" With that, he closed the door and left. Almost immediately after closing the door, he heard a loud crash. All he did was flinch, walk away, and think to himself: "A human child wouldn't do that. Dammit, Hiccup."

. . .

The docks were busier then usual this morning, partly because everyone wanted a change to trade for some English goods. Berk hardly ever traded with the English, but for some odd reason, this specific trade ship asked for permission to do business. No one knows why but no one really cared. As the ship pulled in, many people let out some excited noises such as "oo's" and "ah's". Stoick, Hiccup, and Astrid arrived just in time and welcomed the ship as it pulled in. They were first met with John, a large man who nearly mirrored his wife. He walked down the gangplank and enthusiastically shook hands with the trio. He spoke in an accent so foreign and odd that everyone was really taken aback.
"The names John William Edward Henry Baker the first. But you's can just call me John if ya like! Just don't call me late for suppa!"
"Johnny dearie, don't scare 'em off!" Mildred said from the ship above. John only signed and rolled his eyes.
"Come aboard gents and dames! The whole lot of ya! Plenty to trade! Just talk to me lovely wife or our trusted 'first mate'! Complete with a eye patch and all!" The citizens took him up on his offer and eagerly went aboard the foreign ship. Even Stoick let his excitement get the better of him and he went aboard. Both Hiccup and Astrid lingered behind however.
"So... Just wondering. Why did you want to do business with us in the first place? Not that I'm suspicious or anything, I'm just curious." He asked the foreign man.
"Ah, see you'd have to talk ta our first mate about that. She was the one what made the proposition in the first place."
"I see."
"So, you know nothing about why your here?" Astrid chimed in.
"Can't say I do! But I can assure you two that we come with the best of intentions, we do. Just friendly trade! We hardly ever make trades with you people! We're excited too! Go on in, dearies. Find something you fancy! Half price for who I'm assuming is the chief and his lovely bride?"
"Chief's son. But thank you, I appreciate your kindness." Hiccup and Astrid boarded the ship, both eager and curious about what was on board. A few short weeks ago, Stoick received a letter from England asking if they could trade with Berk. Stoick, not really knowing why but also not feeling threatened, said yes. Hiccup was suspicious however. But after seeing the couple that runs the ship, he had nothing to be worried about. Yet.

The trade ship was filled with a bunch of oddities and knick-knacks from all over the world. Silk from China, Grecian pottery, spices from Asia, jewelry from some of the greatest European lands. Hiccup had never seen such treasures! With every turn of the head was something more. He longed to know where all these items came from. Who made such beautiful pottery? Where did that shiny silver come from? He never knew that there was such a vast land beyond his island. Sure, he's seen traders and oddities before, but none like these. These were new, beautiful, and he wanted to see them all. He was in such a state of shock and beauty he barely heard the voice behind him.
"Excuse me, sir," It asked. "Are you planning on trading anything or are you just going to stand there all day?" Hiccup turned around to face a new woman. Her outward appearance was nightmarish and dirty. She completely countered the cheery couple that Hiccup had originally met. He almost cringed when he looked at her face. She was surround by all this wondrous beauty, yet she looked like that? She was a rough in the diamonds.
"Sorry, excuse me ma'am. It's just, I've never seen such wonderful objects." He replied to her, getting his bearings back after such an intense change of atmosphere.
"And you might not ever again. Now's the change to trade all you can! We might never come back."
"Um... do you guys have any gold?"
"Sure we do! We've only got nuggets though so I hope you don't mind. Here, come with me. We keep the solid gold below deck to keep it safe." She proceeded to lead him below deck, away from all the glitz and glamour. Hiccup couldn't help but think that he's seen the girl before somewhere. But he couldn't have possibly. He'd remember someone with a scar like that. But the way she talked, and walked, and sounded. She reminded him of... No. It wasn't.
"So," he began to say as they finally reached below deck. "Just wondering, out of sheer curiosity, what's up with you eye?"
"It's missing. I don't wear an eye patch because it looks cool, moron."
"Whoa, I was just asking."
"It's a touchy subject."
"Well, gee sorry I asked." The girl proceeded to pull out a barrel full of solid gold nugget and practically stuck it in hiccups face. The way the precious medal shined against her face brought Hiccup back to a time when the sun did the same thing to someone he once we knew. Someone he once loved.
"How's about I asked about your leg, huh?" she asked, putting the gold barrel away.
"It's a long story." He replied, snapping back into reality.
"I've got time."
"Um... Dragon. I kind of saved the town from the Red Death a few years ago. It took my leg out though."
"I see." The girl sounded really unenthused, as if she had heard the story before. Hiccup was about to speak again when it all clicked in his mind. My Gods, it couldn't be. He just had to make sure.
"I... I have a better scar. It's from a few months ago. A stab wound. You see, way back in the..."
"Save your breath," she turned to him and looked him square in the face. Only then did he see who was truly behind the hideous facade. "I know the story. I was the one who stabbed you."
"Erika?"
"Surprise."

Opps sorry cliffhanger ending again ohhhh the humanity! I promise I'll have the next one out as soon as a can! No more slacking, I swear!