Chapter 2: Itchy Armpit

In the middle of the ocean came two familiar dragons who were whistling through perk speed as they flew over the ocean. Tuck into position over the ocean are Hiccup and Hicca with their dragons Toothless and Midnight, with a new version of Toothless' tail and saddle while Midnight is having a new saddle. They dip, roll and dive, over a sea teeming with Thunderdrums, pulling off daring maneuvers with honed refinement, making them seem effortless.

"Yeah!" Hiccup called out as he was wearing some kind of suit and helmet he flew with Toothless.

"Let's show the boys what we got, girl!" Hicca cheered as she was wearing the same suit Hiccup had but with more feminine details and a purple skull symbol on her shoulder as she rode with Midnight who is staying close to her mate.

They jackknife, heading skyward, rolling and tumbling through the ethereal cloud-scapes and joining high-flying Timberjacks as they soar in formation.

"Timberjacks! Nice, Haven't seen them in months." Hicca said with a smile over her mask as Hiccup is lowering his steering handles from the saddle as he is ready to do something.

"What do you think guys? Wanna give these things another shot?" Hiccup asks the group.

Toothless immediately realized what he was talking about. 'Oh not this again.'He grumbled.

'Why does he always have to try these things?' Midnight warble in agreement with her mate.

"Hiccup, I don't think that's a good idea. Especially since Toothless has a lock up tail that only allows him to glide." Hicca told her brother.

"Come on guys! We'll be fine. Plus, you also know we need to practice these things, sis." Hiccup assured them as his sister sighs in defeat.

"Okay, we'll try again. But after that, we're done with that trick for the day." Hicca pointed out as Hiccup laughed in happiness.

"Great! Let's do this!" Hiccup said as he and his sister unhook themselves from the saddles and Hiccup locked the pedals as Toothless' tail flared open.

"Ready?" Hiccup asked the group.

'Ready.' Midnight and Toothless snorted unenthusiastically.

"Ready as I'll ever be bro." Hicca said as she and her brother slid off Toothless and Midnight, free falling from the sky.

Toothless and Midnight dives after them. They spiral through the air, face-to-face. Toothless and Midnight are having fun, Toothless sticks out his tongue which is flopping from the speed as Midnight gives them a gummy smile. As they fall, they get a good view of the ocean in sight. Once they see it, Hiccup and Hicca slip their forearms through a pair of tucked leather flaps... and yanks, unfurling sheets of leathers as they extend their arms. They catch the wind, snapping open like wings and sending them gliding, out of control at first before stabilizing, through the air. The turbulence buffets their flight suits heavily but not by much.

Toothless and Midnight unfolds their wings, too, catching up with the Haddock twins.

Hiccup, Hicca, Midnight and Toothless are, for the moment, the same. Feeling the same rush of adrenaline. Independently together.

Impressive as it is, Hiccup and Hicca are gliding at a steep angle. Toothless and Midnight launches fireballs ahead of Haddock Twins, boosting them higher with the expanding heat bursts.

"This is amazing! What did I tell ya." Hiccup said to his sister as they had the experience.

"Yeah, I see what you mean!" Hicca called out before she and Hiccup looked forward and saw the cloud layer washes past, exposing a towering rock formation, dead ahead. "But I couldn't get my hopes up! Because we got something straight ahead." Hicca quickly added.

"Okay, no longer amazing!" Hiccup said in fear as he and his sister can't steer the flight suit "Toothless!" he called out for his dragon.

"Midnight! Need some help!" Hicca called to hers as well as both dragons pulled up quickly to save their riders.

Midnight had no problem as she flew up a bit but for Toothless, he's trying to catch Hiccup as his locked tail made maneuvering difficult and was unable to pull up at a steep enough angle.

"Oh no!" Hiccup cried out in fear.

"Guys, anytime now!" Hicca yelled.

At the last second, Toothless and Midnight blast the jagged rocks just ahead of the Haddock Twins, then wrap around twins in their wings as they fly through it. The obliterated peak rains down around them. Toothless and Midnight emerges through the cloud of debris and hurdles into the trees of a neighboring peak. They tumble down the uneven terrain, coming to rest on a small plateau.

Hiccup emerges from the cocoon of Toothless' wings. He switches his prosthetic riding foot to his walking foot and stows his leather wings, having been upgrading his leg overtime. "That really came out of nowhere." Hiccup said in denying that it's his fault.

Hicca emerged from Midnight cocoon as she shook her head. "Hiccup, that thing did not come out of nowhere, we were lucky that our dragons saved us from the impact." Hicca said with a frown under her masks.

"Okay, okay I see your point." Hiccup said quickly.

"No more of that for a while okay?" Hicca told her brother.

"Duly noted." Hiccup agreed with her as they and their dragons looked back and saw the sea stack collapse from the blasts the two Night Furies did.

"We gotta work on your solo gliding there, you two." Hiccup said to Toothless and Midnight as he and his sister reeling in their dorsal plates back into place, "That locked-up tail makes for some pretty sloppy rescue maneuvers, eh Toothless?" He said.

"Yeah, it's been a little hard for Midnight lately when she tries to get there at top speed, but she's getting there." Hicca said as she petted Midnight as her dragon purred from the touch.

"Yeah, she's been getting better lately, wish I could say the same for Toothless." Hiccup stated as he and his sister removed their helmets, Hiccup revealed a 20 year old Hiccup framed by wild hair, complete with a Viking braid.

Hicca removed her helmet and revealed a 20 year old Hicca frame with her hair bangs grew out and are now pulled back with her hair tied in one braid tail reaching the mid of her back..

They both walked up to the edge of the cliff, taking in the new land stretching off into the horizon, its tall cliffs and sea-stacks adorned with swaying gold birch trees basking in the dappled afternoon sunlight.

"Looks like we found another one, guys." Hiccup said with a smile.

"Yeah, we did." Hicca agreed.

Toothless and Midnight fusses and snorts, not amused, shaking off dust and pebbles like a wet dog. They looked at each other as their riders were not thanking them for saving their lives again. Irritated, Hiccup and Hicca got by a pebble in the back of their heads, they looked back and saw Midnight and Toothless, who looked away from them grumpily.

"Oops, we didn't say sorry to them." Hicca said with a little guilt, but Hiccup found this silly.

"Oh, what? Do you want an apology?" Hiccup asked playfully as Toothless growled a 'Yes', "Is that why you two are pouting, big baby boos?" He teases them as they grumble with rolled eyes at Hiccup, thinking they mocked him. "We'll try this on, Toothless!" He called out as he tackled Toothless, trying to put him in a headlock, but so far not a mudge. "Ya feeling it yet? Huh? Picking up on all my heartfelt remorse?" He asked, playful trying to move Toothless.

Toothless looked at his mate and Hicca, who were snickering at them at this playfulness they are having. Having enough, Toothless simply stands on his hind legs, lifting Hiccup off of his flailing feet and starts waddling over to cliffs, while Midnight rolled her eyes and Hicca laughed at him.

"Oh, come on. You wouldn't hurt a one-legged-" Hiccup looked down and saw the big drop below him. He lets out a yelp of fright as he clutches Toothless' neck as the male Night Fury laughs at this scenario as he hears his sister laugh as well with her Night Fury.

"Better apologize now, Hiccup, or you're in for a drop." Hicca advises as she laughs at her brother.

"Okay! You're right! You're right! You win! You both win!" Hiccup said to both Night Fury as Toothless flips him over, pinning him to the ground. Hiccup squirms, throwing mock punches. Toothless playfully retaliates with feline taps to Hiccup's head.

"Haha! That never gets old." Hicca said with a laugh, she turned to her female Night Fury who had a mischievous grin on her face. Hicca got the point, "Oh no. Don't you dare-Ahhh!" She then screamed as she was pinned down by Midnight as they played what Hiccup and Toothless are doing as they tap each other. "There around us! And we are fighting to the death for survival!" Hicca playfully said as they played with their dragons.

"They're down! And it's ugly! Dragons and Vikings, enemies again, locked in combat to the bitter…" Hiccup was cut off when Toothless and Midnight rested their heads on Hicca and Hiccup chests, squeezing the air out of them.

"- URFF!" The Haddock twins called out as they got pinned on the chest.

Toothless and Midnight then suddenly start grooming the Haddock twins, lapping at their faces and covering them in slobber.

"Graaaaaagh!" The Haddock twins said in disgust from their dragon slobber all over them. They fight to get free, finally springing to their feet and shaking off the viscous saliva.

"Midnight, really, you and Toothless know how thick this stuff is." Hicca said as she wiped herself with her hair to get some off of her.

"And you KNOW those don't wash out." Hiccup added as he tried to shake them off.

Toothless and Midnight laughs, please with themselves to get some payback from their riders as they nudge each other briefly before the two twins then flicked some spit at them. Much to the two Night Furies annoyance as they groom themselves to get the spit out.

Shifting their attention back to the new land strengthened out before them, Hiccup reaches beneath his chest plate and produces a leather-bound book.

He unfurls it to reveal an EXPLORERS MAP, modified with added strips in every direction to accommodate their ever-expanding world. Drawings indicate new lands, new tribes, and many new dragons.

Hiccup peels a fresh strip of paper from a hidden fold in his flight suit and holds it out for Toothless to lick. Hiccup affixes the moistened strip to the map's outer edge, then whittles a pencil and Hicca consults a compass affixed to her forearm.

"So what should we name it?" Hiccup asked the group as he turned his attention to Toothless who gurgles as he gnaws under his wing, preoccupied. "'Itchy Armpit' it is." Hiccup said and carefully drew the new island's outline.

"We need to come up with better names for every island we find bro. But this will do anyway." Hicca stated as she sat down next to her brother.

"Yeah, well, we deal with what we got sis. Besides, you named the last island we found some time ago." Hiccup replied.

"Fair enough." Hicca said seeing her brother's point. "But for the record, 'Grand Wing Island' is way better than itchy armpit."

"Also… good point." Hiccup said in agreement. "What do you say guys? Think we might find a few Timberjacks in those woods? The odd Whispering Death or two in the rocks?" Hiccup asked them as he drew on the map. "Who knows… maybe we'll finally track down some more Night Furies. Or better yet, your kids if we are lucky." He said to Toothless and Midnight as they cooed in agreement, for over the last five years, they and the Haddock Twins have been searching for their five Night Fury childrens ever since they left after the first Snoggletug with the dragons. But so far no luck as they search high and low. "We'll find them someday you two. We promise."

"But still, wouldn't it be something to find other Night Furies out there?" Hicca asked.

"Yes it would." Hiccup agreed. "So what do you guys say, Just keep searching?" he asked the group in a burdened voice.

"I suppose we could." Hicca slightly agrees.

Toothless warbles slightly in agreement as Midnight did the same as well. They'll do anything to find their kids again.

Just then roars of a few familiar dragon roars came flying towards them as it shows Astrid, Henry and Raeda coming to land with Wildstar, Sparkfire and Stormfly landing on the ground.

"Hey Henry, hey Astrid, hey Raeda." Hicca greeted them.

"Hi Hicca." Henry said as he sat next to his girlfriend as they held hands.

"Afternoon m'lady and friends." Hiccup greeted his girlfriend and two friends as Toothless and Midnight rushed up to greet them. "Where have you guys been?" He asked them as Astrid petted Toothless while Raeda petted Midnight.

"Oh, winning races. What else?" Astrid answered as she and Raeda walked up to the Haddock twins and Henry while their dragons played with each other. "The real question is... 'where have YOU two been?'" Astrid asked them.

"Yeah, you guys have been gone all morning." Raeda said as she and Astrid sat beside the twins, Astrid next to Hiccup while Raeda sat next to Hicca and Henry.

"You two missed an exciting Dragon Race game. And Snotlout just nailed Fishlegs to the face." Henry added with a chuckle.

"We've been avoiding our dad." Hiccup answered.

"Oh, boy." Raeda rolled her eyes.

"Should've seen that coming." Henry sighs.

"Oh, no. What happened now?" Astrid asked with a knowing voice as this had happened before with them, more times as ever.

"I'll let Hiccup explain since I was out on a morning flight around the village with Midnight." Hicca stated.

"Oh, you guys are gonna love this." Hiccup started while smiling in amusement. "I woke up. The sun's shining. Terrible Terrors are singing on the rooftop. Hicca taking Midnight on a morning flight as she said. I saunter down to breakfast, thinking all's right with the word and planning to give Toothless a morning flight as well while about to join my sister, and I get…" He stands and puffs his chest in a voice impression of their father. "... Son, we need to talk." he acted out.

Astrid smiles and adopts Hiccup's sloppy slouch. "Not now, Dad. I've got a whole day of goofing off to get started. And not to mention a morning flight with my sister." Astrid said while acting in Hiccup's voice as Raeda, Henry and Hicca snickers.

Hiccup then laughed as he turned to her. "Okay, first of all, I don't sound like that. What is this character? And second... what is that thing you're doing with my shoulders?" he asked her as he did the same to see what her point was.

Astrid laughs, jostling her shoulders in an awkward way. Leaving Raeda, Henry and Hicca snickers again.

Hiccup shrugged it off. "A truly flattering impersonation. Anyway, he goes…" He puffs his chest again as he steps foot to foot proudly. "You and your sister are the pride of Berk, son, and I couldn't be prouder…" He said in his father's voice again.

"Aw, thanks, Dad. We're pretty impressed with ourselves, too." Astrid said in Hiccup's voice again while waving her hands silliest.

Henry, Hicca and Raeda snickers again. Hiccup then turns to her again in slight joking.

"WHEN have I ever done that with my hands?" Hiccup asked but didn't notice he did it anyways.

"You just did." Hicca, Henry, Astrid and Raeda all said as they laughed playfully as Hiccup rolled his eyes in amusement.

"Sorry bro, but you do that everyday anyways. HAHA!" Hicca pointed out as she continued to laugh it out.

"Okay... just…" Hiccup said to Astrid as he held her arms and mocks Stoick's voice again. In a stern-voice. "Hold still. It's very serious." He said to her as she and the others calmed down as Hiccup started to resume his father's voice again. "You and your sister are all grown up, and since you are the first to be born before your sister came and no chief could ask for a better successor, I've decided-" He was cut off when Astrid, Henry and Raeda's faces became shocked and amazed.

"TO MAKE YOU CHIEF!" Astrid, Henry and Raeda said at the same time in amazement.

"Wow!" Raeda gasped.

"Congrats!" Henry complimented.

"Yeah, that's how he said it." Hicca stated as she is proud that her brother is about to be chief.

They jumped to their feet as Astrid came close to Hiccup. "Hiccup, that's amazing!" Astrid congratulates him as she socks Hiccup in congratulations, possibly deliberately, hitting the dorsal fin release button and triggering it to pop up. The four of them laugh as Hiccup reels it back in, self-consciously.

"You're gonna wear out the spring coil, Astrid. The calibration is very sensitive!" Hiccup told her as their dragons blew over them while chasing each other, knocking them to the ground. Raeda stands up on her own as Astrid helps Hiccup up while Henry helps Hicca up.

"Yeah, so... this is what I'm dealing with." Hiccup stated.

"What did you tell him?" Astrid asked excitedly.

"I didn't." Hiccup replied. "By the time he turned around, I was gone and went out to find Hicca to tell her the news." He added.

"He told me what happened and I decided to keep him company while mapping out the new islands we find along the way." Hicca added.

Astrid picks up the map, folding it as she paces around him, processing it all. "Well, it's a lot of responsibility. The map will have to wait for sure, and I'll need to fly Toothless, since you'll be too busy…" she stated as Henry joined in.

"And I'll have to keep Hicca company if she's alone." Henry added as Raeda spoke next.

"And we'll help her along with Toothless and Midnight find their kids since you'll be too busy to…" Raeda added but the three of them stopped as they realized what they said as they turned to the twins in sympathy. Hiccup and Hicca nod knowingly, taking the map from her.

"It's not me you guys. All those speeches, and planning, and running the village... that's his thing." Hiccup pointed out.

"And we made a promise to Toothless and Midnight that we will find their kids again. We are a package deal after all." Hicca added.

"I think you're both missing the point. I mean, I get you need to help these two find their kids, but chief, Hiccup. What an honor. I'd be excited." Astrid pointed out with a smile.

"Astrid, you're missing the point since Hiccup and I are the same blood." Hicca pointed out.

"She's right Astrid. We're not like you, Henry or Raeda. You three know exactly who you are. You always have. But…" Hiccup stated as he and his sister shuffled to the cliff's edge, gazing out at the new land.

"We're still looking at who we are. Long before we even befriended the dragons" Hicca continued.

"Yeah." Hiccup agreed. "I know that we're not our father... and we never met our mother… so, what does that make us? He asked as he and his sister sat at the edge, looking burdened, restless.

Henry came to Hicca and put a hand on her shoulder for comfort, Hicca smiled for her friend's support. "We get that, having a family with a reputation like that, not knowing what it means for you. It's enough to mess anyone up." Henry said as he pulled Hicca in closer.

Raeda then spoke next. "We may not know your mother since we were too young, but we did hear stories from Chief Stoick that she sounds like you two." She said with a small smile.

Astrid approaches and settles beside him, joining him in looking out at the distant horizon. She weaves another braid into Hiccup's hair as she speaks. "What you and your sister searching for... isn't out there, Hiccup." She places a hand on his chest. "It's in here. Maybe you two just haven't seen it yet." She kisses his cheek, but gets a mouthful of Toothless' slobber. She grimaces, wiping it off.

Hicca laughed at this. "Yeah, I wouldn't kiss Hiccup for some time, Astrid. Or me, to warn you Henry. Hiccup and I had a slobber attack from two know it all Night Furies earlier." She snickers at her friends while flicking some spit off her face.

"Noted." Henry nodded, glad he didn't kiss Hicca when they first showed up as Astrid nodded, getting the memo.

Raeda gave a chuckle. "You two forgot to apologize to Toothless and Midnight again from something reckless or they were just doing that for fun?" She asked with slight humor.

"Yup." The Haddock Twins both said as Raeda chuckled, seeing this before.

Hiccup was too focused on something in the distance as the words from Astrid sinks in but also seeing something in the heroizing. "Maybe. But, y'know... there is out there." He said as his sister, Henry and Raeda looked in shock.

"Yeah." Hicca agreed.

"There is something out there." Raeda said in surprise.

"Something surprising indeed." Henry said in shock.

"Raeda, Henry, shouldn't you two be on my side?" Astrid asked exasperatedly while wiping the slobber of her tongue to pay attention to what they were looking at.

"No, look over there, Astrid." Raeda pointed out.

"Yeah, there is something smoking in the distance." Henry added while nudging Astrid's shoulder.

Hiccup turns Astrid's face to the horizon. A distant smoke plume rises from a misty valley. The group looked at each other worried and curious at the same time.

"We need to check that out." Hicca stated.

"Yeah." Hiccup agreed. "Let's go guys." he said to them as they mounted their dragons and flew off where the smoke was to take a closer look at what was going on.