Every stroke was like being caressed by a wave. The chill of the morning tide slipping gently against her toes while Hiccup's rough but comforting fingers glide through her hair was enough to put her in bliss. ChiChi was not too far away, grooming herself while relaxing on the beach. After such eventful weeks, ChiChi prefers to stay right near them. Merida hums softly to herself as Hiccup dips his hand in the sea and continues to weave her hair into a perfect braid. Merida isn't even bothered by the slight pinched she was getting as Hiccup used his fingertips to comb through her hair.

When he reaches the end, he pulls out a hair tie and seals the end. Merida rises and gives a twirl, letting her braid swing.

"I love it!" Merida muses, running her palms gently over the braid, "I didn't even realize ma hair was so long!"

"It's truly stunning," Hiccup says a new glow in his eyes. Merida catches it for a split second but she chooses not focus on it. She was starting to feel something towards him but she is refusing to investigate whether it's a positive or a negative. Part of her wishes it was negative so she could impale him with her arrow and move on with her life, but deep down she knows that's not it.

"Wha' are we gonna do about our dragon?" Merida says crossing her arms and gazing over at the magnificent creature.

"Our dragon?" Hiccup mumbles under his breathe.

"Speak up Hiccup, I can't hear ye!" Merida turns to him.

"Oh, uh!" Hiccup stammers, "I was just thinking we might have to take ChiChi with us."

"And what if we start a riot?" Merida raises an eyebrow.

"Well we can't leave her here. We don't know for sure where Ardus and my crazy ex went. We only took our best guess. We need backup just in case. Plus ChiChi doesn't know this place. She'll need a guide or she'll destroy everything."

"Why would she destroy it?" Merida questions.

"It's an unmarked territory. She might fear it or want to take the island for herself. Very animalistic behavior after all." Hiccup explains. Merida nods and looks towards the forest.

"I still think we should remain inconspicuous. Can she maneuver through the forest?" Merida asks.

"She might level out everything in her path but i guess we can. She's one of our bigger dragon breeds for sure," Hiccup rubs the back of his neck with his hand, "Are you sure we can't just fly? It will be much faster."

Merida bites her lip and looks over at ChiChi, "I dunno-"

"We can make it a show!" Hiccup says his eyes beaming, "Not to brag but I do have a knack in the drama department. It's kind of my specialty."

"Wha do ya mean?" A small smile appears on Merida's face. Hiccup clears his throat and backs up.

"Picture this! An entire kingdom in their own world. Oblivious to the war threatening their shores," Hiccup walks casually pretending to be clueless, "Then all of a sudden-ROAAAARR!"

ChiChi's head rises and she cocks her head to the side as Hiccup leans back and lets out the oddest roar she had ever heard.

"A blast of fire in the shape of a ring and ChiChi-with us on her back of course- goes flying right through it! The crowd gasps, some clap, some run in fear! Then we make our landing... THUD! ChiChi narrows her eyes and lowers her neck and then like a guardian angel you swoop gracefully off of ChiChi landing in a super heroine pose. Then I follow right behind you."

Hiccup mimics what would be Merida flipping her hair and then he puts his hands on his hips in a proud pose for himself. Merida's jaw is dropped watching as if he was putting on a play for her.

"Then you stand and check your nails out. You turn to the clan leader and say 'We've got some business to take care of' and I'll be like your bodyguard in the back! I'll just huff and go 'Yeah' in a really deep voice. That'll intimidate them and know that we mean business!" Hiccup flashes a sly smile, clearly pleased with his idea, "So what do ya think?"

Merida looks at ChiChi and it was like they share the same brain. At the same time they burst into laughter and that causes Hiccup to frown.

"What, you don't think it's a good idea?" Hiccup puts his hands on his hips, "I thought that was a pretty well thought through plan."

"Maybe if we were putting on a stage play, ye, it would be a good idea!" Merida cackles, "It was a valiant effort though."

"Okay, then smarty pants, what do you suggest we do?" Hiccup smiles at her.

Merida walks over to him and for a split second Hiccup thought she was going to grab his hand. Instead, Merida hesitates and puts her hand on his shoulder instead. Hiccup's heart sinks but he realizes he was getting in over his head. He was falling for Merida and he knew it. What was even worse was that he has only known her for a few days. It had taken Hiccup growing up with Astrid to fall for her. Merida was so much like Astrid it was scary. But there was something about Merida that stood out to him. Something that Astrid doesn't have. However, right now he couldn't think about that. He had to worry about helping Merida build an army.

"We just gotta go for it and we'll figure out the rest. As long as we're together, we can do this." Merida gives him a reassuring glance.

Hiccup nods to her and waves at ChiChi, "Alright ChiChi, let's go!"

ChiChi stretches out her back and gives her scales a shake. She fans out her magnificent wings and bows down to allow Hiccup and Merida on. They rush to grab all of their things, beginning to pack everything on the saddle as best they could. They were going to need to make a better saddle once they got to the MacGuffin clan. Merida stayed back to allow Hiccup to hop on first but instead he shakes his head and offers his hand.

"Yer still a better rider than me, what if they start shootin'?" Merida's eyes widen.

"They are going to need to see a leader. Someone familiar that they love and adore. That's you. This is your show, I'm just an extra." Hiccup says, "They need someone they can trust, and that's going to be you not me. You can do this."

Merida thinks for a second, wondering if she was really going to be able to do what needs to be done. She's always led under her father. Without her dad around, she was the one that needed to call the shots. She was going to have to step up, something she always wanted but was afraid when the day would come. She missed her parents. She missed their guidance and their caution. In this moment she felt alone. Hiccup could see the sweep of doubt and loneliness that crossed her face, and he frowns.

"You're not alone. Whatever you need, I'm right here." Hiccup states

She nods and grabs his hand, letting him hoist her onto the saddle. Without looking back, she offers him her hand and pulls him up, letting him wrap his arms around her waist. His grip was much stronger than the last time they rode together. The hesitancy wasn't there. His grip was much more confident. With a new determination Merida takes a deep breath and they're off. The wind is working with them instead of against them and ChiChi can feel it.

Together, ChiChi and Merida ride over the treetops with a new speed. It wasn't long before they were able to see the outskirts of the kingdom. Merida's breathe catches in her throat, but Hiccup gives her a comforting pat on the shoulder. "Alright ChiChi, let's go ahead and give em' a show!" Merida says looking over her shoulder and giving Hiccup a wink. ChiChi let's out a screech loud enough to send vibrations through the both of them. Merida pulls up and Hiccup has to hold on tighter. Together, ChiChi and Merida dip down, swooping over the first set of houses they see.

Ryan grimaces, a pain pulsating through his brain. He looks over his bloodied hands, but not able to see much more. He squints trying to look around but he was dizzy and nauseated. His lack of vision suggested he probably has a concussion but there isn't much he can do about it at the moment. He tries to stand but the throbbing was forcing him down. Ryan has to clench his stomach to keep from becoming ill, but he knew where he was, he shouldn't stay. If only he could see well enough to know where he was.

Almost as if reading his mind, a ripple of gold light surrounds the area. Ryan covers his eyes, the light blinding him. Unfortunately, the light was enough for his body to give way to his queasiness. The light doesn't stop, another wave comes. Ryan keeps his eyes shut, still able to sense where the light is brightest. He follows it, careful not to cut his skin any more on the rocks he was crawling across. He was moving at a snail's pace, waiting to feel some kind of dirt or any signs of life. It would appear he was surrounded by only rock.

There was a hum coming from the ripples. It was familiar yet foreign to him. The sounds of a giggle fill his ears. His head was pounding so hard he was beginning to hallucinate. It sounded like Merida's giggle. One that he had grown to love the more they got to know each other. Of course, she was more like a sister to him and that made the laugh even more comforting. He feels something like an invisible force blocking him from moving any further.

"Just... a little... further..." Ryan struggles, every breathe excruciating, "Please! Somebody help me. Give me strength!"

The light brightens and the force is broken. He gasps for air, those few words taking the wind out of him. He is practically dragging himself by his one unscathed arm towards the light, hoping this light wasn't about to be a pool of hot lava. After some time of struggle, he can hear an echo as if he's wandered into some kind of cave. The light was at its brightest and he dares sneak a peek.

He gasps at that cavern he is in and out of the corner of his eye he spots a golden egg perfectly nested. His vision fades in and out, but the egg is radiating heat and light, two things he needed right now. He crawls over to the egg, his headache beginning to ease slightly. He slowly reaches out a hand to touch it and his mind is flooded with memories. Memories of so many different people, people he doesn't even recognize. They cycle through so quickly he can't make sense of them. They're making him dizzy and he isn't even moving. He lets go, fear ravaging through him, yet he was still drawn to it like he was in a trance. It was mesmerizing and he wonders... if he could just touch it again...

Merida, riding ChiChi and with Hiccup around her waist, glides across the roof of the houses towards the castle that stood at the edge of the villages. It was considerably shorter than her own but it extended into long labyrinths that made the architecture endearing and maneuvering the castle an adventure.

Merida can see out of the corner of her eye, onlookers pointing up in fear. She ignores the gazes and stops at the bridge leading to the castle gates. Guards appear out of every corner, shields up ready to aim and fire. Chichi shrieks, bracing herself and fanning out her wings.

A few raise their weapons but through the chaos a commanding voice arises from the back of the dragon.

"Shoot off one arrow and I'll hang ya by yer undergarments from the nearest flagpole!" Merida calls. ChiChi lowers her head and allows Merida and Hiccup to slide off. Having some of his confidence back, Hiccup stands as tall as he can, humbly by her side. The guards' eyes widen and one steps forward, bending down on knee.

"Princess Merida of Dunbroch," The man's gruff voice calls.

"Chief Tusan." Merida says, "Take me to MacGuffin