Zephyr sat a little way from the campfire, eating. The night was cold; another snow storm would be blowing through soon—dark clouds had gathered in the sky. Shadow Streak sat beside her. Zephyr held up a fish that Shadow Streak happily snatched out of Zephyr's hand.

Booboo was wrapped in a blanket, huddling down, his cheeks tear stained. A few minutes ago, Zephyr's mom had set his bone. His arm was now secured in a sling. Spearhead sat beside him with Slasher.

Fourlegs still appeared a little woozy from seeing Booboo's bone set, but he was managing to eat. Zephyr wasn't sure if she should be relieved or worried that she didn't feel as awkward when she stared at Fourlegs.

Zephyr heard Nuffink talking to their dad. He seemed pleased, satisfied that he'd made a difference during the rescue. On the other hand, Zephyr had no idea what punishment awaited her for disobeying her dad's orders. But she didn't care. She had her dragon, she had her friends, and she had her home.

"We'll start flying back to New Berk early in the morning," Zephyr's dad announced. "You all flew well today. I don't think we could have made it out of there without you." Zephyr's mother smiled at her father and slid her hand into his.

After everyone had finished eating, Zephyr's friends regaled each other with stories of their adventure—Booboo breaking his arm, rescuing Shadow Streak back, Zephyr running off. Unless Zephyr was mistaken, her friends actually sounded happy. She could enjoy the fact that no one hated her for once.

Zephyr's father walked over to her.

"I know," Zephyr said. "When we get home, I'm grounded."

"No," her father said. "Zephyr, you did well today. I'm proud of you."

"Even though I completely disobeyed you?"

"You did. But you also said to go ahead and leave you behind. You were ready to sacrifice yourself for New Berk, not just to prove you were right."

"Dad, I'm sorry about what I did to Old Berk," Zephyr said after a long silence. She had completely destroyed her parents' childhood home where they had lived half of their lives, the island her dad had been appointed chief to rule.

"You had to. And it's just an island," her father said.

"Yeah, but it was your island," Zephyr pointed out.

"I'd rather give up Old Berk than New Berk," her father said with a sigh, "even though it hurts."

Zephyr couldn't believe her father was truly proud of her after everything she had done. She had run away to The Hidden World, not told him about the fishing ships, let other people into The Hidden World, lost her dragon, and disobeyed orders in a huge battle. Maybe it was because she had changed, done things differently this time. She had thought of her people instead of herself.

…

Zephyr, her dad, her mom, Nuffink, Fourlegs, Spearhead, and Booboo drifted over the ocean, approaching New Berk. They landed on the docks.

"Okay," Zephyr's father said, pointing to a lift dangling from its pulley system. "Go and tell your parents you're home. I'll take the dragons back to The Hidden World."

"We won't get to take our dragons ourselves?" Spearhead asked, glancing sadly up at Slasher who tilted her head in response.

"I thought you wanted to be home," Zephyr's father said.

"We do," Fourlegs said. "But I don't think we'd mind a short trip to say goodbye to our dragons."

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

"We'll say goodbye," Spearhead said with finality.

"Okay then," Zephyr's father agreed. He ushered them onto an empty ship, both Vikings and dragons. The journey would have taken a longer time except the dragons helped by pushing the ship along. Normally, sailing to The Hidden world took at least half a day. With the dragons helping, they were there in a few hours. Zephyr wondered if there was something instinctual in the dragons that pulled them towards The Hidden World. Even Stubs seemed eager as he'd pushed his way to the front of the ship, eagerly staring straight ahead.

They dropped anchor and everyone stood on deck. The sound of the waterfalls almost drowned out their words. And yet, a stinging, almost sad, deafening silence seemed to surround them.

"I'll miss you," Spearhead said to Slasher, hugging her. She sounded sincere. Maybe Spearhead wasn't so heartless.

"Bye," Booboo said to his dragon, petting it on the head. "Don't hurt yourself, okay?"

"Bye, Fishmeat," Fourlegs said to his dragon, briefly placing his hand on its head. "I'm glad I got to know you."

"See you soon," Nuffink promised Claw, who poutede at having to say goodbye for now.

Zephyr strode over to Shadow Streak. She sighed. She had always known this moment would come eventually. "I should never have taken you out of The Hidden World for any reason. I'm sorry. I didn't even tell you what I was doing. I lied to you. I got you captured. I'm sorry, Shadow Streak. Please forgive me. I never meant to hurt you. You know that, right? And I know that doesn't matter because I shouldn't have done it anyway! But please just forgive me."

Shadow Streak licked Zephyr. That was yes. Zephyr hugged Shadow Streak round her neck for a goodbye.

Zephyr's father nodded to Toothless who rawred in return. Then Toothless flew up above the roaring falls followed by the other dragons. They dove down into the misty depths of the waterfalls and into The Hidden World, even Stubbs followed closely by Stormfly who was making sure he'd get to the bottom safely. It was so quiet now. To Zephyr. Until she noticed someone was crying. Zephyr turned around. It was Spearhead of all people.

"It's alright!" Nuffink said to Spearhead.

"Easy for you to say," Spearhead said. "You'll actually see your dragon again."

"I didn't say you would never see your dragons again," Zephyr's father said. "It would be mean if I gave you dragons and never let you see them again."

"Do you mean, we'll come back?" Spearhead said.

"Someday. Someday soon hopefully," Zephyr's father said. "As long as you promise to never tell anyone about the dragons."

"Okay," Spearhead said, wiping her eyes. "Okay."

Everyone boarded the ship after taking one final look at The Hidden World. Zephyr in particular stopped to gaze. She'd never really understood how important this place was before—it protected the dragons and made sure no one would ever hurt them again.

Everyone walked up the hill that led into the Central Town. Almost the whole village ran out to greet them. Parents, friends, people wondering about the dragons, everyone!

Fourlegs's parents ran up to him

"I'm so glad you're alright," his father said, hugging him tightly.

"I told you everything would be fine," his mother said, shoving her husband in the shoulder.

Booboo's parents pushed through the crowd. His little brother was pattering after them. They saw Booboo and immediately rushed over to him.

"I'm sorry," Zephyr's father said, looking at Booboo's broken arm. "We ran into some trouble and he broke his arm. I wish I could—"

"A broken arm?" Booboo's mother asked. "Is that all?"

"Well, it's his biggest injury," Zephyr's father said. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine. With his luck, we're just happy he's mostly in one piece!" Booboo's dad exuded.

A tall boy with black hair approached Spearhead.

"Finally back from exile?" he asked her. "I'm sad you got back so soon. It was so nice without you bothering everyone all the time. If I chose a sister I could get a rid of, it would be you."

Zephyr stared at him. No wonder Spearhead hated her siblings.

"It wasn't 'exiled.' I got to fight in an important battle," Spearhead shot back. "While you stayed here and dreamed about being a war hero, I actually became one. And you'll never be as good as I am. I destroyed fleets."

"Yeah right," Spearhead's brother mocked. "Well, I've got bad news for both of us. We'll have another sibling soon."

"What?" Spearhead asked. "Ugh."

"Now let's go," Spearhead's brother said. He grabbed her arm and started to drag her away. "Mom and dad want to talk to you."

"Hey!" Zephyr called out before she knew what she was doing. "You!" She stomped over to the tall boy with the black hair and grabbed his arm.

"What's your problem?" the boy snapped.

"Hey, Spearhead," Zephyr said, looking at her new friend. "If this guy gives you any trouble, you just tell me. I'll make sure a dragon roasts him in his sleep."

The tall boy gaped. Spearhead smirked.

"Uh…anyway…come on…" the boy said, stumbling away as if a giant monster were after him.

"Thanks," Spearhead said as she followed him.

"No problem," Zephyr replied, nodding at her.

Pretty soon only Zephyr and her family were left. They made their way back to their hut as the sun was setting. Her parents immediately started cooking dinner.

Nuffink settled down in a chair inside to read a book. Zephyr sat down in the chair across from him.

"So," Nuffink casually said as he turned a page. "Why did you pick Fourlegs to go with you on your little blueprint mission?" He was grinning.

"He wanted to. I didn't ask him," Zephyr said. "I'm going to kill you. You know that, right?"

"I was just teasing!" Nuffink said, lowering his book.

"I know that," Zephyr said. "I mean I'm going to kill you for telling Spearhead that Fourlegs and I liked each other!"

"What?" Nuffink asked. "Zephyr, I honestly didn't say anything about you and Fourlegs to Spearhead. She probably just guessed. It's a little obvious that Fourlegs likes you… And do you?"

"Do I what?" Zephyr asked.

"Do you like Fourlegs?" Nuffink asked.

"What!" Zephyr said. "I don—I…I don't think so. Well… I mean…"

Their parents came inside carrying dinner.

"Zephyr, are you okay?" her mother asked.

Her face was bright red, wasn't it? "I'm fine."

Nuffink laughed.

The family headed over to the dining room to eat.

Zephyr blew out the candle in her room. Finally, she could sleep in her bed again. She was home. After everything, she was home. That day she ran off to The Hidden World all by herself seemed centuries ago. The first attack and losing Shadow Streak felt like it had happened years ago. And rescuing her sure didn't feel like it had just happened yesterday. She knew she had messed up, but in the end, she'd also managed to do some things right.

As she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but relive the exhilaration of flying on Shadow Streak, and she wondered when she'd get to go back to The Hidden World.

Epilogue

Zephyr and Nuffink ran downstairs. They ate breakfast together at the table, laughing and talking.

"Your friends will be waiting for you," their mother called from the next room over.

"Almost done!" Zephyr said with a mouth full of breakfast.

"I'm just waiting on you," Nuffink said, swallowing down the last bit of his own.

Zephyr stuffed the rest of her breakfast down as fast as she could. Then she and Nuffink hurried out the door, briefly calling goodbye to their mother.

As they ran to the cliffs, Zephyr noticed the scar on Nuffink's neck; he'd always have it. It was a sign of what he'd been through. The sign of a warrior.

The market area was bustling with activity and happy Vikings. Children ran and shouted. Market owners sold their goods. And regular townspeople were doing just about everything else.

This was New Berk. This was the island Zephyr called home. This was the island she had defended a month ago when she'd destroyed their enemies' base, Old Berk. This is what Zephyr had wanted to protect.

They had visited The Hidden World once since they had rescued Shadow Streak. And at Fourlegs, Spearhead, and Booboo's request, today they were going again.

They moved past the Great Hall. Their father stood at the entrance. Zephyr stopped and looked to him. He nodded and smiled before Zephyr ran to catch up with Nuffink.

At the cliffs, Fourlegs, Spearhead, and Booboo were waiting for them. Spearhead was tossing her dragon ball against a wall instead of a dragon statue. Fourlegs had his nose in a book, but closed it and smiled at Zephyr as soon as he saw her. She uncomfortably shifted back and forth on her feet. Booboo's arm was now in a splint, so he could just barely, very carefully, ride.

At Dragon Springs, the five climbed onto the backs of their new friends. The air smelled fresh and the breeze was wet and cool.

"Ready?" Zephyr called out.

"Ready," four voices answered.

Everyone lifted and bolted into the air. The Hidden World glowed with color and came alive with dragons. As they entered the Moss Columns, their dragons lit up with neon; Shadow Streak, Claw, and Fishmeat's eyes glowed and the entirety of Slasher and the baby dragon's bodies glowed.

They swooped around the columns and skimmed the water, then soared upward with graceful turns through patches of flying dragons, making a marvelous spectacle.

Like lightning they shot into the Alpha Crystal's room and landed on its brilliant, glassy surface. Zephyr stood at the front, Nuffink and Fourlegs behind her, and Spearhead and Booboo in the back.

This was The Hidden World. This was everything you could ever dream of. This was what Zephyr would protect no matter what.

"Where should we explore today?" Zephyr asked. As her friends called out their votes behind her, Zephyr stared out at the vast, underworld expanse. This was where the dragons belonged. Not outside. Not when wars raged and they would be hunted.

They belonged here, hidden from the world.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading! I hope you have enjoyed this fanfic as much as I enjoyed writing it. The total story came out to 105 pages. All favorites and reviews are greatly appreciated and mean so much to me, so please leave some. Once more, thank you for choosing to read this fanfic. Sincerely, Mushroomwarrior26