Hi everyone, wow a lot have happened since the last post. virus, riots but most of all. on the 6th of June, Isla and Thea were born. hope you enjoy the long a waited chaper.

Chapter 2-Fates Collide

It's rare to see the sun shining on the Isle of Berk but it was out warming the air and making the sea glistened with its reflection. Hiccup and Toothless headed out to join his friends for some fine weather flying.

"There they are!" Astrid hailed as they appeared. Toothless and Hiccup landed next their friends and their dragons.

"It's about time you two showed up!" Snotlout said, as he astride his dragon Hoodfang.

"Yeah sorry, Gobber needed help getting some Terrible Terrors out of the workshop. Is turned out, someone had left fishes in the workshop" he explained, hearing sniggering from the twins.

"Well, you're here now. Let's go" Astrid then said as with that they all took off.

The dragon riders flew all over Berk before they headed to the open sea. Hiccup and the others were practising their flying tricks, Fishlegs and Meatlug did those best by performing a fire rock attack but the rock didn't go far. The twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut showed off a move they called the twister on Barf and Belch. It was impressive...for two seconds. Ruff and Tuff ending up fightening on their dragon, causing them to fall off, their Zippleback caught them before they hit the water. Snotlout was obviously scared as tried to do his trick and then afterwards he tried to act cool after as if he meant to do everything that had happend. Astrid did some impressive moves like a daring dive tactic but Hiccup was the best he and Toothless did a free fall that they'd been practising for weeks.

After two hours, it was nearly lunch time. They were going to head back to the island when the Twins spotted something.

"Hey, look at that huge black cloud" Ruffnut shouted.

They turned and there was indeed large storm clouds rolling across the sky.

"What's so great about that? It's just a storm cloud" said Snotlout.

"Well at least it's not headed our way" Hiccup commented "We should head back..."

"We should go and explore it" Tuffnut, shouted and immediately the twins and their dragon shot towards the cloud. Hiccup sighed, even if he tried to stop them they would probably still have gone anyway.

"We'd better go after them. Just in case lighting hits them" Hiccup suggested. So the rest followed and soon the teens and their dragons were inside the cloud. The young Vikings had to admit being inside the cloud was amazing, they could hear thunder and see small flashes of lightning. Even Toothless was impressed, after all he was the dragon of the unholy offspring of lightning and death.

"Yeah bud, it's really incredible" Hiccup agreed. Petting the side of his dragon, watching his friends enjoying flying in the cloud.

"It would be interesting if dragons would use storm clouds to hide from enemies" Fishlegs commented.

"Yeah maybe a game of hide and seek" Astrid suggested. Her friends liked her idea but Hiccup was unsure.

"I don't know maybe we should head back"

"Come on Hiccup we have time" Astrid replied showing a reassure smile. Hiccup thought for a moment before saying...

"Ok but just one game" the others cheered and they began their game. Astrid was it and the others flew to hide.

"Let's not make it easy for her, right bud" Hiccup whispered to Toothless, the duo soared at full speed as Astrid counted. When she'd finished, Astrid and Stormfly found Fishlegs and Meatlug first . They didn't fly far so they were easy to find. Next were the twins who were arguing very loudly and kicking and biting each other when Astrid found them. At first, Astrid couldn't see Snoutlout and his dragon until she heard a yell and then saw Snoutlout was up in the air, while his pants were on fire. It seemed that Hoodfang had lit himself on fire again. Snoutlout was very annoyed to be found as he joined the others. The golden haired girl was having trouble finding Hiccup and his Night Fury. She knew that looking for them will take longer, but after an hour, she returned to the others and they all flew out of the cloud.

"Where are they?" Astrid thought out aloud, glancing back that the cloud.

"Maybe they got lost. It's a huge cloud, anyone could get lost in that" Fishlegs explained.

"Yeah right, if those two can take down the Red Death. I don't think a cloud would be a challenge" Snortlout voice his thoughts.

"Ur guys, the cloud is moving" Ruffnut suddenly said as she pointed.

She was right, the dark cloud was moving across the sky away from them.

"We have to find them" Astrid quickly said, quickly flying off.

"Astrid, it might be dangerous. We don't want to you to lose you too" Fishlegs called to her. Stopping Stormfly in her tracks.

"But..."

"Astrid, they'll be right. Hiccup and Toothless will find their way out" Fishlegs reassured his friend.

"Yeah they'll come back before dark" Ruffnut added.

Astrid sighed and reluctantly said "Ok but if they're not back before dark, we'll go and search for them.

The others groaned at the thought of a night search. As they started to fly back Berk, Astrid looked back, seeing the cloud now miles away. She should have gone back but she had feeling both boys will come home soon, after a minute, she and Stormfly flew to catch up with the others.

In DunBroch, it was a usual day? Merida had finished her breakfast and now found her bow and arrows. She still miss her old bow, it was a birthday gift from her dad and she treasure it but her mum had burned it during their fight, regretting her actions Elinor had saved it, but sadly the bow was beyond repair. Merida had tried a few new bows since then but they weren't as special as her first.

Merida then went to the kitchens and put three apples, two buns and a bottle of water in a small bag for her trip, then she headed to the door that led outside...

"Merida"

The princess stopped in her tracks hearing her mother's voice.

"You've forgotten something" the Queen continued. Merida turned and saw her mum holding her cloak up.

"Oh mum, it's not that cold" Merida exclaimed.

"Merida, it's still February, I don't want you to get a fever" Elinor said coming closer. She placed the cloak around her daughter shoulders and fastened the brooch.

Merida rolled her eyes; she couldn't stand her mum sometimes. She would nitpick and fuss about anything Merida did but then again it's not as bad as it had once been.

"There, don't stay out too long"

"I won't late I will be back before dark" Merida reassured her mum. "Bye mum" she kissed her on her cheek and went out the door.

The princess ran to the stables, where she greeted her horse, Angus.

"Morning Angus, fancy an adventure?" Merida asked him cheerfully. The horse gave a whinny in reply, very soon his saddle was on him and Merida was riding through the grounds of the castle and out towards the woods at full speed.

"Are you getting tired bud?" Hiccup asked Toothless, trying to keep their eyes open. He lost what time is was. They were waiting for Astrid to find them, they'd hid behind a big piece of cloud. Hiccup heard Toothless let out a groan. "What do you say we head back" Hiccup suggested.

Toothless agreed and the two set off. The problem was that everything looked the same. No matter where they turned, there was nothing but cloud.

"Toothless, can you find a way out?" Hiccup asked and the dragon shot out a sonar blast. They watched as a purple ribbon of the blast travelled toward the cloud before following it, they continued for what feel like ages and it seemed as though the clouds were endless. Hiccup thought about going up or down to get out but suddenly Toothless screeched to a halt.

"Oh. You're ok Bud" he asked and petted his dragon. Hiccup heard a small faint voice called his name, he looked up and saw one of the strangest things he'd ever seen. It looked like a little blue flame with arms and a face. Hiccup gazed in amazement but Toothless was more weary, just as the dragon though to attack, it disappeared. Before the Viking could wonder where it gone, he saw more of the flames appear.

To Hiccup, there was something mysterious and unworldly about them, his curiosity was starting to grow.

"Maybe we should follow them" Hiccup said but Toothless shook his head. "Well do you have any better ideas?" Hiccup could tell the dragon was thinking about it. Finally Toothless purred and the two friends followed the blue flames; hopefully they'll lead them to a way out.

Merida was in her element. She loved the rush when she rode through the woods, the smell of flowers and the trees and to feel the fresh air on her face.

"No matter how many times I see it, it never gets old" Merida remarked. The princess smiled with her hands on her hips, looking out over the beauty of the highlands from high upon a hill side. "Right Angus?" Her horse answered with a whinny. Merida smiled more brightly at him. She suddenly heard thunder from behind her, she could see a huge black cloud headed her way.

"We'd better go home now, unless you fancy an early bath" She joked and climbed on her horse's back and rode on the path.

Above them, Hiccup and Toothless had just reached the last blue flame when a clash of thunder rang in their ears. Soon more sounds of thunder and glimpses of lightning.

"This is not good. Toothless take..."

Out of nowhere lighting appeared two feet away from them.

"Toothless, GO!"

The dragon didn't need any encouragement. They tried to dodge the lighting but every time they turned another bolt of lightning flashed next to them. As if things couldn't get worst, a lightning bolt struck Toothless's metal tail fin. Hiccup turned and to his horror saw the fin was on fire.

"NO, NO!" Hiccup cried then he felt the force of the air as they spiralled out of control. Hiccup and Toothless couldn't do anything as they headed out of the clouds, the earth closing in on them. The Viking held on tight and he and Toothless shut their eyes, waiting for the impact.

The rain started to fall; Merida wished the rain wasn't so heavy. She sighed as she her horse trotted along. Just as she was thinking what she fancied for dinner she heard the thunder above. She whirled around to see the lights from the lighting flickering in the huge clouds, then noticed a red glow moving. Merida's mouth dropped when something long and black fell from the cloud and it was on fire. It spun down out of control, down until it vanished among the trees. A giant bang rung out, frightening Angus and few people in DunBroch heard too it but only faintly.

"Holy bear cubs. What was that" Merida though to herself. She managed to calm her horse and stroked his neck. Wasting no time, Merida rode Angus toward where the crash had happened. Curiosity and excitement filled the Scottish princess; she always had a taste for adventures and this felt like one. She and Angus came to a halt when they reached a crossroad, Merida groaned and looked down two paths.

"Which way? Which way?" Merida murmured, as she thought about going back home and get help, she heard a faint voice call her name. There, in front of her was a wisp. The princess had cross paths with the blue fire-like sprites before; they either helped her or led her into trouble. Merida was right to be weary.

The wisp disappeared and then trails of them leading down the left path. Immediately Merida and Angus followed the wisps, she had a feeling that they were showing her where the crash site was.

When they reached the last wisp, Merida looked down the hill she was on, was a small clearing surrounded by trees? There, lying still next to broken trees was a dragon. The princess stared in shock and disbelief; she had heard some men talking about encountering dragons but no one she knew had ever come across one. Merida hadn't seen one but she knew one when she saw it, this thing she was looking at had wings and a tail which she could see the only solution she could come to was this was a definitely a dragon.

Merida calmed a frightened Angus down before she jumped off his back. The black dragon was unconscious but Merida drew her bow and arrow and cautiously approached the creature. As she got close, Merida noticed something odd. One of its fins was gone and there were metal pieces and leather around the tail. Her eyes trailed along the dragon when Merida noticed a human hand.

"What the..." Merida murmured.

She carefully stepped around the still breathing black dragon and found a boy, around her age, lying on his back. Merida instantly dropped her weapons to check if he was breathing. Seeing his chest moving, she sighed in relief. Looking closer at the boy, he just had a couple of small cuts and bruises, she wrapped both arms around him and dragged him over into the cover of the trees.

It was then, Toothless slowly woke up. The dragon opened his eyes as he tried to remember what had happened. He and Hiccup were flying in a cloud, they followed blue light things, and then they were hit by lightning.

He softly called for his friend but heard nothing. Toothless managed to lift his head and found Hiccup, unconscious against the tree with another human. Toothless didn't know what this stranger knew but he was soon reassured when the hooded person pulled out a bottle of water and using a cloth, dabbed at Hiccup's forehead.

While Merida was busy wiping; she didn't notice the dragon had moved until she heard a groan beside her. Merida turned slightly and saw the dragon was now sitting next to her. This was the last thing she expected to happen, she thought that when she met a dragon that it would possibly be attacking but the princess could see the dragon looked concerned about the boy. Looking at this situation Merida knew she would be fine.

She turned her attention back to the boy. His mop of brown hair was slightly damp from the rain. She noticed that his green shirt and dark brown pants weren't damage, she then glance at his face. To Merida, he looked ordinary, like most boys she'd seen but...she felt something different when looking at him. Merida was pondering what to do when the boy began to stir.

Hiccup slowly opened his eyes. At first, everything was blurry but then things became clearer and found the girl watching him. Hiccup knew he must have died for he'd never seen a girl so beautiful before. He could see she had freckles on her cheeks and fair skin but it was her blue eyes that fascinated him.

"Am I in Valhalla?" Hiccup asked, clearly still dazed.

"Sorry?"

"Oh. Oh" realising he wasn't dead and this girl wasn't here to welcome him to the other side. He heard a familiar purring and smiled when he saw his friend.

"Hey bud" he said weakly, Toothless give Hiccup a few licks on his face. "Toothless, I'm ok. I see you're alive" he laughed and the head of his dragon.

Merida couldn't believe her eyes. Here is a boy hugging a dragon. She thought dragons would kill anyone on the spot.

"Are you two friends?" Merida asked.

Hiccup and Toothless nearly forgot about her till she spoke.

"Oh, sorry" Hiccup apologised "We just thought...I mean...thank you".

"You're welcome. I didn't do much, I just pulled you out and placed you against a tree." Merida admitted. Before Hiccup could say anything, a clap of the thunder rang in their ears and the sound startled Angus. Merida ran to him and calmed him down.

Suddenly the rain became heavy and forks of lighting danced across the sky.

"We'd better find shelter" Hiccup said getting up with the help from Toothless. Merida nodded and the group quickly found a dry spot underneath some huge trees.

It felt like hours as the rain continued to fall. Merida had given Hiccup half of her food which he thanked her for. He hadn't eaten since he'd left home so he was happy. After eating, Hiccup checked on Toothless, he was glad to see his friend unharmed but his saddle was completely destroyed. The leather was badly burned and ripped and the metal was twisted and broken.

"Looks like we're stuck here till we fix it" Hiccup sighed and looked at his tail.

"What happened to his tail?" Merida asked, she'd been watching the two for a while.

"Well, it's a long story" he replied then added "I'm sorry. I should have asked before but what's your name?" Sitting down next to the redheaded girl.

"Oh, it's Merida. My name is Merida" She answered softly.

"Merida" Hiccup repeated. He thought it was a wonderful name.

"And you?" He heard her asked him.

"Ur...well, I'm name is Hiccup" he said feeling embarrassed by his own name.

"Sorry but did you said Hiccup" she asked quizzically.

"Yeah. I know, it's an awful name"

"Well I know someone named Sir Bottomed, imagine living with Bottomed as your name" Merida heard Hiccup smothering his laughter. She laughed with him, even Toothless found it funny.

"Yeah, that's really bad" Hiccup said after he stopped laughing, then asked. "Do you know where we are? I know we're far from home"

"Oh, you're in the Scottish Highlands" Merida answered simply.

Hiccup's face dropped. He was in enemy territory and this girl was a Scott. "Oh gods, what do I do? If she knows who I am I'm in real trouble" Hiccup though panicking.

"Are you all right?" Merida asked seeing him clearly nervous.

"What? yes I'm fine. It's just we're a long way from home" Hiccup said laughing weakly. At that moment, Toothless purred and gaze up. The teens looked up and saw that the rain had stopped.

"Oh, good it's finally stopped" Merida said pulled her hood down. She noticed Hiccup and Toothless staring at her. At first, she didn't know why but realised they were looking at her curly red hair.

"Had you never seen red hair before?" Merida asked crossing her arms.

"No. It's...urn...sorry" Hiccup apologised and scrunched his eyes shut.

"It's ok. When people first met me, they using look at my hair and one time someone asked if it was real. He got a bloody nose from my dad" Merida reassured.

Hearing this would worry a lot of people but Hiccup was used to stuff like that at home.

"Well in my opinion, I really like it" Hiccup said rubbing his neck.

The princess's cheeks turned pink. No one had ever said anything like that to her before and why did she suddenly feel funny.

She shucked her face before saying

"Well, we'd better head home. Are you coming?"

"What? What do you mean? you mean...?" Hiccup questioned looking over to Merida who was climbing up to sit on Angus.

"Aye. You had been through an awful lot today. The least I can do is let you stay at my home until his tail is fixed" she insisted. She didn't want to leave him out in the woods even with a dragon by his side.

"Thank you. We promise we won't be a bother" Hiccup said as he got on Toothless's back.

"Not at all. You'll like DunBroch and my family are really welcoming" Merida told him.

The Viking didn't have a choice. He was lost, miles away from home and in the land of the Scottish. The only thing he could do was to go to DunBroch, fix Toothless's tail and fly back home. He also wanted to know more about Merida, he found her very interesting.

"When you're ready, lead the way" Hiccup said. Merida smiled at them and they started their journey. Toothless softly groaned to Hiccup, wondering why they were doing this. Hiccup placed his hand on his friend's head, reassuringly telling him it will be ok. As long as they are careful.