I just wanna quickly sorta apologize for the hiatus but I'm just really struggling to get my take on the Hidden World right. It's slowly becoming comprehensible, but it will take some extra time as I work out the kinks and whatnot. Anyway, new chapters will come slowly but surely, but again, just taking extra time to write!

Enjoy!


Just as Blueheart expected, Zyrah was up with the sun, and the other riders quickly followed suit, as they wanted to get a head start on planning for counter-attacks should Grimmel surprise them. As the gang was prepping for the day, Elin made her appearance, surprising everyone, especially Hiccup and Toothless.

Toothless understandably questioned his mate as to what she was up to, and Blueheart explained that she and Elin might have a plan for not just Berk's flock, but for the Night Fury colony, a plan to protect everyone.

I don't know Myrai… I don't want to take risks that we can't guarantee will work.

Ryvir, we might not have any other option. Grimmel is a determined one, you heard what Eret said, he lives for the hunt. And if he can't find us, we'll be safer. And before you interrupt me, no, I don't want to be away from Zyrah either. We've all been through so much, and I hate to leave her side. But I know her, and even if it takes the greatest sacrifice, she will do what is right.

Blueheart was right. Zyrah had taken risks; killing her father to protect the last Night Furies… a decision that still left her scarred emotionally.

Neither of us knows how this war will end, but we have to do whatever it takes to protect all of us.

Blueheart ended the discussion there, and encouraged Elin to approach the riders, but did not force her, but Elin kept a respectable distance away.

The presence of the Light Fury sparked a heavy discussion with the riders, and once more, Zyrah remained silent as she listened to what the others were saying. Most of it was discussing on what the Light Fury could provide the Berkians with. Extra protection from Grimmel and whoever his allies might be? It could work, however, Hiccup strived to avoid taking unnecessary risks with a wild dragon, and he didn't want to put her in further danger either.

"Have any of you considered she might be from the Hidden World?" Zyrah finally interrupted. She had been observing the Light Fury's features closely, taking note of the difference between the white dragon and Blueheart. She was more streamlined, and smoother, and her wings and tail fins were rounded; details that which Zyrah had observed in Tidal Class dragons multiple times.

She echoed these thoughts to the gang, and she was surprised to see Hiccup's reaction. He bore the look of someone who had just experienced a breakthrough.

"Zyrah… I think you're right." Fishlegs said.

"So what? What does that mean for us?" Snotlout asked, crossing his arms.

"I know this might sound crazy… but if the Hidden World is in the ocean like Chief Stoick's stories… then what if… that's where the Light Fury came from? It's a crazy theory, but to me, it makes sense. Right?"

Elin glanced over at Blueheart in surprise.

Your human is much smarter than I expected.

She has her moments. Replied Blueheart in a teasing tone.

The gang had their eyes on Zyrah now, who had the gears turning in her head, and her own plan soon came to fruition. She began pacing around the meeting area, the light of the firepit casting a warm glow in the room.

"So what's your idea?" Ana inquired.

"It's a hard decision to make, but it could work. What if… Hiccup, we allow Blueheart and Toothless to go with the Light Fury to the Hidden World? If that's where she's from? That could allow us time to prepare for Grimmel, and once your allies show up, we can take Grimmel by surprise!" Even Hiccup was taken aback, having not been sure what Zyrah was concocting.

"We could do a fakeout!" She continued, "Ana, Dusk has a similar shape to a Night Fury, we could possibly costume him up a bit, and lure Grimmel in? I know it sounds far-fetched… and! And, Eret said that Grimmel loves the thrill of the hunt, and plays games. So, let's try and beat him at his own game! If Toothless, Blueheart, and Nightfire aren't physically here, and Grimmel doesn't know where to look for them, we could potentially defeat him!" Zyrah caught sight of the look on Hiccup's face. The idea of being separated from his best friend didn't sit well with him, and, of course, Zyrah completely understood. But surely Hiccup also understood that if he wanted his bond with Toothless to remain secure, then he knew that sacrifices were necessary.

Feeling emboldened, Zyrah stepped closer to Hiccup, making eye contact with him.

"I will do whatever it takes to ensure that Toothless, Blueheart, Nightfire, the colony, and ALL of our dragons are safe from dragon hunters. You know that as well as everyone else in this room. And you also know that you're not fighting them alone. I'm not fighting alone. But this can only work if we all work together, and I know you all would do whatever it takes to protect your dragons."

Those especially stubborn would never admit Zyrah was right… but she was right. Over the past five years, the dragon riders had their fair share of intense experiences, especially when it came to other hordes of dragon trappers and hunters.

"Say we do let Toothless and Blueheart go with the Light Fury? How can we be sure the Light Fury won't lead them into harm's way?" Astrid argued, purely hypothetical. She didn't think the Light Fury would intentionally lead the two Night Furies astray, but Astrid also knew that they had to go about this crazy plan a bit more methodically.

The thought had crossed Syrah's mind, but she hadn't really ruminated on it until that moment. But she cast her gaze in the Light Fury's direction. She didn't know how to explain it, but something in her heart was saying that the Light Fury had good intentions, even if she couldn't speak to humans. Trusting a wild dragon was a statistically safer bet than trusting the dragon of a hunter or trapper, in her opinion at least.

"If we were to push my idea aside, what would we do instead? Hiccup? I know you're the man with the plan," Zyrah arched an eyebrow toward her friend, half-hoping he might counter her with something better and even wilder. She didn't want to put more pressure on him, as she was aware of how much he was already dealing with, but he was the chief of Berk, and he still had a whole village looking to him.

He didn't have a counter plan, shockingly, but he liked what she had in mind. Lure Grimmel into a trap, and play his own game against him.

"As crazy as this might sound, but I actually think your plan could work!" He announced, a grin spreading across his face.

"We play Grimmel's own game against him and lure him into a trap. And by the time he figures out where we are, we'll have our allies here, ready to take on whatever Grimmel brings to the table. He can't stop all of us, especially not with Berk's best warriors, eh?" Hiccup then turned to the Light Fury, not sure if what he would say she would understand, but he knew Toothless and Blueheart would.

"Hey girl, this seems like a lot to put on you, considering we didn't have the best initial meeting, but I'm trusting you, and on behalf of Zyrah, to take care of Toothless and Blueheart and their baby. Even if by whatever act of the Gods befalls you, I somehow have the feeling you'll show them where it's safe."

Elin did agree that it was a lot of responsibility, and she did agree that it was a lot put on her by a human she barely knew, but considering the tone of how he and the other humans were talking, she realized what was at stake. It wasn't just the lives of Toothless and Blueheart that were at stake, for if Grimmel captured them… with no Alpha's protecting, Berk's flock would be ripe for the picking by trappers and hunters seeking the most valuable dragons, especially with so many of them.

Er, how am I supposed to acknowledge I understand what he said?

Just nod your head. The humans always take a nod as a mutual understanding of communication. Blueheart advised, to which Elon did as told, and Hiccup couldn't quite believe it, the Light Fury knew what he was saying!

But now came the hard part, allowing Toothless to fly by himself, without Hiccup.

Once the meeting was adjourned, Hiccup made his way to the reignited forge where Gobber was already hard at work, with Toothless right behind him.

"Alright bud, time to bring something back…" He sighed, bringing out his tools and parchment, and began working.