Helloo! Welcome to the next chapter, hope you enjoy!
Shout Outs!:
CHSHiccstrid
They are adorable! I thought so, they've had so little recently. Me too, it feels better now.
SmolAvidReader
Oh the fun Snotlout will have. You welcome, you're going to want to get your fill now... Hehe, yeah. That's coming, soon. RIP Amora, Loki's going to have a field day with her
Journal 2, Entry 12: "End of an Age"
Hiccup stood at the edge of New Berk's branch to Berk, it was the same place that New Berk connected to Britannia. As Loki had explained when connecting the two islands, it was far easier to use a preexisting 'seed' to create a new branch from, so one 'seed' could have dozens of branches sprouting from it.
Loki stood next to Toothless only a few paces behind Hiccup. "And you're certain you have to be close to it for it to work? What if something goes wrong?"
Hiccup twisted the gears until he had the runes he wanted lined up and set it on the grass. "Yes, I need to be near it—I have to touch it to activate it. And if it doesn't work properly then it's not going to work at all. Honestly, out of all my inventions, this is the least likely to do something destructive should it go wrong."
Loki leveled him with a flat look. "The fact that you just spoke those words makes me very nervous. Maybe I should be the one who-"
Hiccup rolled his eyes and pressed the button on the device, it clicked as the metal depressed and aligned two hidden runes. The device thrummed with the magic he had embedded in it and reached out to the branch—the two magics connected and flashed. He gasped as the magic latched on to him and yanked him through.
Hiccup!? Loki screamed mentally.
Toothless screeched and bolted forward, sniffing the ground before whirling around and roaring at Loki, pacing a tight circle.
Loki didn't need the familiar's prompting or even the ability to speak to him in his native tongue to know what he was demanding, already rushing over to the branch.
I'm fine, it worked! Hiccup sent back, having gotten much better at mental communication over the years.
Loki barely registered his response before he was already opening the branch to Berk.
Hiccup stood on the plateau, gripping his newest invention and throwing his hands in the air. He could hear the panic of Loki's voice in his head but it didn't dampen his mood, only reminding him to let Loki know he was fine.
The branch flashed again and he turned happily to greet a scowling Loki and Toothless. "It worked!"
"Wonderful," Loki growled. "You forgot to mention that it would be taking you with it."
Toothless got up in his face and growled, low, long and warningly.
Hiccup licked his lips and slowly pushed the enraged dragon's snout away. "I, just kinda assumed it was implied with what I wanted it to do."
Loki fisted his hands and shut his eyes, reining in his anger.
Hiccup turned around and took in his abandoned island for the first time in…fifteen years…His heart both fell at the sight of its decay and soared at being home again. Lost in memories he wandered down the hill to his barely standing hut and stood at its threshold.
Toothless warbled and nudged his side.
Hiccup patted his head and wandered up to the Great Hall and pulled a scorched and claw gouged door open. He held up a glowing hand then let it lift higher and brighter, lighting the Hall. He walked passed tables; the table he, Fishlegs and the twins had eaten at before defeating the Red Death, the table the Riders took up after they formed…he glanced up at the chieftain's table and looked away with a sigh.
Something on the walls caught his attention and made him laugh. He and Toothless stood at the Wall of Chiefs, all their shields still hanging there as if the Hall had only been abandoned for the night and not over a decade. He drug his hand down the image of his father and smiled sadly—remembering the adventure that accompanied it.
He jumped when Loki grabbed his shoulder, staring at the image with a small smile. "It is hard to imagine you were any skinnier when you were younger without blowing over in a stiff wind."
Hiccup glared at him while Toothless snorted. "I did not!"
Toothless rolled his eyes and walked away.
Loki looked down slightly at Hiccup's far off eyes and said softly, feeling like there was a peace in the Hall that should not be disturbed, yet. "I am sure you're people will come back to their homeland one day. I can imagine a generation will come and want some distance from their elders."
Hiccup laughed and tucked his head into his chest. "Zephyr will lead the way…it wouldn't surprise me if she's the first since the Riders to find the Edge."
Loki laughed quietly with him. "Well, maybe one of them will decide they wish to be chief and take some people and dragons and resettle Berk."
Hiccup looked back up at the shield. "I'd really like that. Berk shouldn't be empty like this…it's so quiet. It sounds dead."
Loki wrapped his arm around his Chosen's shoulder and led him out. "Come along, let's see if your device can get us back."
Hiccup smiled sadly but pulled it out, twisting a cog until the runes shifted opposite to what they were.
Toothless greeted them outside of the Hall and flew them over to the branch.
Hiccup stood with his hand slightly extended from his body, deciding to try and hold it this time. He pressed the button and was gone in another flash.
Loki huffed as the branch closed before either him or Toothless could get through, opening it himself.
Astrid crossed her arms and leveled Hiccup with a none-too-pleased glare. "I'm sorry. You want to leave the Archipelago with nothing and no one but Toothless and Loki for protection or back-up?"
Hiccup winced and looked over at Toothless for help but he was curled up on a rafter, glancing between Astrid and the shut door—he could feel Toothless' disdain for him having closed it and cutting him off from his quick escape.
"Well, Astrid, Zephyr's old enough that if we were a normal family she would be taking over the reins of Berk. The others are old and long past their days of exploring and seeing the world but—I'm not."
She still glared at him and shifted her weight, taking her verbal assault stance with a hand on her hip. "Is that what this is about, you can't stand seeing them getting old?"
"No!" Hiccup almost yelled, jumping to his feet. "I'll admit that it's hard but they're not in danger of just keeling over yet. I just want to explore for a little while. A month, two at the most. We can't be gone for much longer because Asgard will get suspicious of Loki's absence."
She sighed, still not pleased or fully accepting but no longer hostile about the idea. "And was Loki your first choice of traveling companions?"
Hiccup glanced away before looking back to her. "Well, he's still freaked out by Grimmel's comeback…despite it being twenty years. Did you want to come?"
Her shoulders fell. "Hiccup, I'm in the middle of getting New Berk's militia back up to snuff. Have a little peace time and they start falling apart."
Hiccup grabbed her hands. "And you're doing great. Toothless and I just need to stretch our wings a bit. And this will be great practice for Zephyr and Nuffink, they can be acting chiefs while I'm gone."
She rolled her eyes but kissed his cheek. "You never will change, will you dragon boy?"
Hiccup's chest fluttered and smiled brightly. "Thanks M'lady."
She watched him leave and eagerly shouted for Toothless who roared ecstatically in return and shot out of the hut in a black blur.
*O*
He returned a month and a half later, having explored the lands to the east, deciding to check those out first and see what—if anything—was left of the Warlords' fleet or abandoned desires.
Thankfully all he found were similar looking people and whispers of tyrants that had vanished without a trace. He and Loki shared knowing smirks as some of those whispers brushed their ears; that the Warlords had somehow angered the gods of their lands so they wiped them out without memory—not one survivor so not even legends could grow from the horrors they created or were ended by.
When they returned to Berk, Hiccup and Fishlegs were inseparable. Hiccup had half a notebook filled with notes and drawings of the dragons to the east. Well, the legends of their dragons. They had not spotted one nor found a single trace that a dragon might have lived in those lands.
Hiccup resolved to keep looking, legends like that didn't come from nowhere. Maybe it had already migrated to the Archipelago, they did have a few species that could be the supposed dragons—if they'd only gotten very bad glances of it.
Either way, he and Fishlegs were delighted by the new information. Nuffink and Dart were also very interested. Hiccup eagerly extended an invite for his son to join them on their next expedition. He offered it to Zephyr as well but she was happy to stay within the Archipelago for the time being.
He and Fishlegs shared knowing looks, they'd seen the gazes Daglegs and Zephyr had been exchanging.
Hiccup pulled back the bow string, a tear rolling down his cheek, the boat was blurry in his vision but he knew his aim was true as he let go. The arrow flew and set the boat ablaze immediately.
Today the first of the Riders fell to old age. Today he felt, truly for the first time, the curse of his choice. He hadn't felt so, lost and broken when Gobber passed on or his mother…maybe because they were his elders and were supposed to naturally die earlier than him. But with the Riders, his friends, those of his age—it stood as a testament that he could no longer ignore.
He turned to a greyed Ruffnut, the wrinkles that had shown how much she'd smiled and laughed her whole life could not be seen as they twisted in agony and sorrow. He held her tightly as she cried into his shoulder.
Neither of them looked up when Loki laid a hand on both a shoulder each and held them tightly. He stared out to see at the burning ship, a tear slipping past his eye—but he allowed it. Tuffnut deserved to have that small kindness for the years he followed him, offered his friendship and held firmly and loyalty to Hiccup.
The trio stood on the cliff's edge with the family he'd made not far away and all watched the ship burn until there was nothing left.
Ruffnut followed her brother to Fólkvangr not three months later.
It wasn't very unexpected, Hiccup thought as he sat on the same cliff again and watched his sister's ship burn exactly like it had with his brother's.
Astrid sat next to him and tried smiling but it came out as a grimace, saying nothing. Fishlegs and Snotlout joined them soon after.
Hiccup was tempted to laugh hysterically as he finally saw Snotlout, sitting next to Astrid—he looked old and worn while she still looked just barely out of her teen years. He couldn't help the tears that fell and clung to Fishlegs when he draped an arm over his shoulder.
"I-I'm going to miss you guys. You gave me some of the best years of my life."
Fishlegs sniffled while Snotlout stared determinedly at the sea, not acknowledging the tears that flowed.
"You better write awesome legends about me and my angel," Snotlout said with a scratch in his voice.
Loki chuckled from behind them and joined them on the grass. "I believe there will be legends of you that could rival those of us."
Fishlegs chuckled nervously. "I-I don't know about that."
Loki looked knowingly at him but only said smoothly, "We shall see then."
Hiccup wandered down the street of the busy market in some country called Tubo. Loki trailed behind him while Toothless growled and shook uncomfortably in his fur. Both he and Loki had donned the local skins to blend in—though Toothless still got odd looks for his size.
"Hm, maybe we should have tried for something smaller," Loki mused.
Toothless hissed at him and pressed closer to Hiccup, growling at a man who had been watching his other half in a way that made his fur stand on end—which set him off more at the unnatural feeling. He's a dragon, not a dog—dragons don't have fur!
Hiccup pat Toothless' head, rubbing under his chin, though avoiding the sweet spot—he didn't want to test if it still worked in different forms while so public. "Hey, bud, it's alright."
Toothless snorted and shook his head but went back to keeping a wary eye on anyone who looked at his rider wrong.
Hiccup ignored him and resumed looking around in awe, shaking his head a few times at the cacophony of voices. He'd been amazed when they first started traveling to other lands and every single one of them spoke Norse. Loki had a good laugh at Hiccup's expense before explaining All-Speak to him.
He itched his ear as he felt the magic tickle it and then the magic hitched at the sheer magnitude of voices that it was trying to interpret.
Loki laughed as Hiccup glared at the air and itched his ear again. "Relax, Liten Listig, it will pass momentarily."
"It's irritating, like a Terror sticking its tongue down my ear."
He pat his Chosen's shoulder sympathetically.
Toothless growled again, almost managing a hiss.
Loki lost some of his mirth and subtly followed Toothless' line of sight, eyes narrowing as two men now stood together and eyed Hiccup. Hiccup too noted their odd onlookers but pretended to be oblivious.
He stopped and Loki almost collided with him. "Liten Listig?"
He stared at a well-lit alley, brows drawn together. "Do you feel that?"
Loki glanced at the alley and tried not to glare, opening his magic to the alley. "No. No, what is it you are feeling?" He asked quietly.
Hiccup was silent as his magic felt around the alley but came back empty. Only after magically staring at it for almost a minute, in which time Loki guided them to a vendor so they could make a show of looking at jewelry, did he recognize the odd call. "Niflheim," He breathed, almost choking on the word.
Loki's back went rigid and set the pendent he really wasn't looking at down, grabbing Hiccup's arm tightly and weaving away from the alley and back through the crowd, intent on leaving the city.
The men who'd been staring at Hiccup suddenly stepped into their path.
They turned left, there was another alley way just past the stall. Hiccup jerked, spying a man walking with determination before Loki, who was still watching the other two, spotted him. Toothless snarled, hackles high, at something behind them.
Loki swore, all realizing that they were encircled. He summoned a dagger and Hiccup quickly did the same, Toothless' teeth were already bared.
Several vendors and market wanderers shrieked or yelped and ran out of the forming circle.
A woman ran past Hiccup and he slipped out of Loki's grasp, leaving an illusion in his place. Loki said nothing except cast another illusion, this one of Toothless, as he ran beside a fleeing man.
Six men now circled Loki and the illusions, one man steps forward. "What is your business at Kamar-Taj?"
"We have none." Loki spoke calmly, grateful to feel Hiccup's signature gaining distance but he knew he wasn't fleeing—simply gaining better ground. It was too much to hope for his Chosen to run, even in the face of something from Niflheim.
The man's hands raise to a fighting position, though his fingers are splayed and not fisted. "You lie, and not well. I ask once more, why have you come to Kamar-Taj?"
Wonderful, they're Æsir users from Niflheim. Loki was highly offended, though, by the man's bold claim. He was not lying and to claim that he was poor at it! He would teach these mewling quims from Niflheim a lesson Hela would not soon forget once they delivered it.
"Very well. Since you do not answer, we are forced to defend Kamar-Taj." An amber magic wrapped around his hand then flew forwards.
Loki swiped at the tendril and slashed it out of existence and threw two similar ropes at the leader and man next to him then an explosive blast back at the three behind him.
The leader duck and rolled away from the rope while his companion formed an intricate round, amber shield—it did little to stop the rope as it connected then proceeded to wrap around him like a bola. He yelped, then yelled a warning to his companions, only two of which heard—three couldn't hear over the ringing from the blast.
Loki whirled around, dagger raised—almost slicing off the hand of the sixth attacker. The man twisted away and created flan like weapons in his hands and attacked Loki again.
The three men recovering from the ringing struck against the illusions. Toothless' darted easily away from the lash of magic while Hiccup's easily stepped around the other two's attacks, infuriating them.
The leader's eyes bounced between the two groups for a moment before deciding to help against Loki as the man fighting him was rapidly losing ground—inadvertently stepping backwards to the alley housing the entrance to Kamar-Taj.
Loki grinned wickedly as the leader joined—which was good for his friend because with a swift flick of his wrist the man's magic fan twisted away and he promptly threw him into the wall.
Toothless' illusion jumped between bolts of magic. His attacker snarled, growing short of patience once he heard the fading cry of another downed friend, throwing a wide barrage of magic that the mutt dodged…but the boy did not. A lone, wide rope struck his outstretched arm and made the entire image fizzle.
The three men stared in shock as the boy shrugged then disappeared. The man who'd thrown the magic shouted, "It's a trick! The boy and dog have disappeared!"
A few buildings away, Hiccup was scrambling to the top—Toothless just behind him and grumbling about the climb in dog form. Hiccup skidded along the odd tiled roof, his prosthetic digging in to stop his decent, Toothless' nails likewise, now standing next to his rider's kneeling form.
Hiccup pulled his shield from his back, having quickly changed Toothless back to retrieve it, and popped it open to crossbow form. He aimed the bolt for the leader, still attacking Loki, and let his magic wrap around the arrow so it wouldn't miss.
"What, pray tell, are you planning to do with that arrow?"
Toothless snarled and snapped at the bald woman standing at the top of the roof.
Hiccup gasped and whirled around, crossbow now locked onto her. He felt Toothless press closer with a deepening growl as they both felt magic emanating from her and prick curiously at them.
Not expecting the touch, Hiccup's Jötunn magic lashed out—coating the roof in thick frost—and he gasped, accidentally releasing the arrow.
She blocked the bolt with ease and breathed deeply, carefully gathering her magic then forcing it out around the three of them.
Hiccup yelped as the world suddenly tilted, he and Toothless fell back and rolled until their world stopped shifting for a moment. When he looked up, the world was now a dizzying place of solid mirrors at every angle with the woman on a roof perpendicular to them.
She smiled in self-satisfaction and stepped off her roof to theirs.
Hiccup waved his hand at Toothless, shifting him back to his true draconic form. Toothless crouched, mouth aglow with a deadly blue blaze. Hiccup stood, crossbow back to a shield and stood ready next to Toothless. "I don't know who you are or what Kamar-Taj is, but if we trespassed we're sorry and we'll leave, which we tried to explain before we were attacked. We were just exploring."
The woman said nothing for a long time, staring him down hard and feeling his magic again.
Hiccup fought hard to not let his magic lash out. It had been almost two centuries since the Bewilderbeast and Grimmel but with only Loki and Frigga as foreign magic on Midgard, it hadn't gotten past its previous horrors—only allowing the two signatures it knew to touch it and it still wasn't overly fond of Jör, but was getting better.
Finally she relaxed and tilted her head up in surprise and curiosity. "You are from Niflheim, yet you are not a draugr. How interesting."
Hiccup's shoulders fell. "You're…Asgardian?"
A light, almost amused smile split her lips and her stance softened. "No more than you."
Toothless pressed close to Hiccup but stopped growling and eyed her closely.
Hiccup took a step back, the muted feeling of Niflheim's magic emanating from her. Memories of Valhalla and his escape came to mind along with Karnilla's words… "Yo-you're the other person who e-escaped Valhalla?"
She nodded, seeming barely surprised by the question. "Yes. I never imagined another would follow that path." Her eyes grew distant before looking up at one of the confusing mirrored roofs. "I suppose that Asgardian accompanying would be the one who brought you back?"
Hiccup nodded and rubbed Toothless' ears, relaxing him almost entirely now that she no longer posed herself as a threat, and strapped his shield to his back. "Yeah. He, uh, Chose me."
She hummed and took a breath, eyes closing and carefully swiping a hand through the air. The dizzying world around them rippled then fell, collapsing back in itself as it returned to reality.
Hiccup gasped and slid his foot back, attempting to find purchase as it felt as though the roof under him shifted sideways. The woman grabbed his arm and kept him upright, aware of Toothless' hackles and low snarling. The world stopped shifting and he nodded his thanks, waving for Toothless to stand down.
Loki felt Hiccup's magic lash out then become muted. He looked around wildly for his Chosen but could not see him despite his mark signaling from a roof not far from them. He turned with teeth bared at the leader and two other men who still stood.
He flicked a knife around and lashed out. A man who'd started the fight by attacking him from behind formed a shield and created a sword out of his amber magic, only to scream as Loki appeared behind him and withdrew a knife from his side. He crumbled to the ground and Loki was already at the neck of the leader, knife poised at his throat as his other hand kept the leader's occupied.
"I will ask only once, where is my son?!"
The leader's eyes rolled back to look at him while signaling for the last man to stand down—or at least not immediately attack. "The Ancient One is dealing with him. He-"
"Loki, stop, I'm okay!" Hiccup appeared by his side in a green flash and grabbed the arm holding the dagger. "Please, it's just a misunderstanding."
Loki glared at his prisoner but one glance at Hiccup's pleading face and calm magic washing over him finally prompted him into releasing the man.
He scrambled away and growled, summoning one of his amber fans.
"Ngawang, peace. They are not our enemies." A tall woman walked out of an alleyway and knelt next to the man with a knife wound. She held a hand over the free-flowing wound and quietly muttered a spell, sealing and healing the wound. "Take him into Kamar-Taj, he is weak from blood loss and I cannot heal that here."
Ngawang stared distrustfully at Loki, already helping one of his fallen comrades out of his glowing green binds. "I will not leave you alone with him."
Her eyes narrowed and stood at her full and impressive height. "Do you think me incapable of defending myself from two mere children?"
Loki bristled at being called a child but did not show it.
The remaining man checked on his other downed compatriots as, Loki assumed, the Ancient One stepped closer to him. "I apologize for meeting like this. They are not used to outsiders with magic being so near to our hall and I was surprised by the magic of Niflheim having come so close. I thought a draugr had escaped."
Loki's eyes widened and grabbed Hiccup's wrist tightly. "Asgardian?"
"Midgardian, actually."
Hiccup loosened Loki's grip but didn't try slipping away, knowing that would aggravate him far too much. "You remember when I told you about the fight Karnilla started?"
"Her?" Loki asked in shock, looking back at the Ancient One in new wonder. He bowed his head after a moment's thought. "I should thank you. Without the notes of the person who freed you, I would not have been able to bring back Hiccup."
She smiled and waved for them to follow her into the alley. "Come, let us talk over tea."
They entered through a somewhat ornate door and were led through the building to a terrace. She sat and poured them a drink, Hiccup tilted his head at the odd little cup but said nothing. "I have been a little out of touch with Asgardian affairs for some time. Who now oversees Niflheim? Considering you bear Niflheim's touch and not Valhalla's, I presume All-Fathers are still sticklers about letting people leave."
Hiccup choked on his drink as he tried not to laugh, saying with a little rasp, "Yeah, you're right. Dead or alive."
She laughed.
Loki continued to watch her carefully, his magic prickling in the presence of so much foreign magic—especially in a place notorious for having none. "Her name is Hela. Though, I'd be surprised if you've heard of her. Given how old the sorceress made you sound."
The Ancient One nodded. "I am indeed far older than any of your kin."
Loki's eyes narrowed and set down his cup. "Pardon my bluntness but how is it that a Midgardian speaks as though she is ancient among my kin."
She hummed quietly and sat back, eyes closed. "Tell me, what stories circulate about Chosens on Midgard?"
Hiccup looked over at Loki but he remained carefully calm. "Not much. There is a near forgotten tale of a great sorcerer of old who claimed a Midgardian Chosen but nothing else is known."
She nodded and sat straight again. "It has been so long…they were bound to forget."
Loki straightened, gripping his cup almost to the point of shattering it. "That is impossible."
A sad smile graced her face. "Almost but not quite."
She grew quiet and Hiccup shifted uncomfortably at the induced silence. Toothless shifted and plopped his head down on Hiccup's lap. He gratefully scratched his ears and looked around in wonder at the place, a magic thrumming around them but never intruding.
"Your magic is scared and scarred."
His head whipped around to meet her steady gaze, it wasn't hard but—understanding. He looked down, shoulders hunching together. "I haven't had the best experiences with… outsiders' magic."
She nodded and took another sip. "I understand. If you wish, I can help with that."
Hiccup looked over at Loki who eyed her distrustfully.
She raised her hand. "Coming by this magic that I commonly wield now did not come naturally. It cannot to one with Æsir. It is Midgardian magic and even if one is Midgardian, if they have Æsir, Midgard's magic is hard pressed to accept them. I had to pay a price to access it and it left my Æsir greatly scarred."
Loki took a sip out of his cup. "If it had such a high price, why did you pay its toll?"
She closed her eyes, chest shuddering nigh unperceivable. Screams echoed in her ears while fire, darkness and blood dripped across her inner eyes—all encompassed by a sense of utter loss and heartache. She bowed her head and said quietly. "To drive off an enemy…but I fear it may have been in vain as I only managed to stave him off. Defeating him and driving him away from Midgard forever is not my destiny but that of my heir—whoever that poor soul may be."
Loki looked away, sympathy and fear that Hiccup may have to experience whatever enemy that may be. "I… am sorry. I judged harshly, and wrong."
She set her cup down and looked at him with softened eyes. "It was long ago. My love was as protective of me as you are of him. It is only natural. I hold it not against you."
Loki bowed his head in silent thanks.
Echoes from lower courtyards disrupted their silence, a shout followed by others in training along with a few for miscellaneous reasons.
They all took another sip of tea before delving into far lighter conversation.
Loki sat at a long table on Alfheim with Thor sitting next to him, looking bored enough to try eating the table. Internally he rolled his eyes but focused on what the king's speaker of Nidavellir had to say.
Representatives from Asgard, Nidavellir, Vanaheim and Alfheim were all gathered to discuss arisen matters, old treaties—renewals or subsequent changes to them, and other trivial matters to the Realms.
Odin sent him to be the primary representative for Asgard and Thor with him, to learn more about the delicate affairs of court that he sorely lacked but he also suspected it was to keep him out of trouble for a few months.
He listened as the Nidavellir speaker sat and Alfheim's stood. He paid attention but also turned half his mind to his and Hiccup's bond, remorse that he couldn't speak telepathically from such a distance but emotions carried easily over it.
His half intrigue, half boredom was met with an excitement that he'd come to connect with his Chosen's thrill of exploring over the last three-and-a-half hundred years. He sent a small bit of worry, knowing it would be translated as 'be careful' and returned most of his attention to the discussions. He wasn't thrilled when Hiccup left the Archipelago without him, but over the last fifty years it had started becoming unfortunately frequent.
He glanced over at Thor who was doing his absolute best to appear enthralled by the talks but the glazed eyes spoke everything. He hid a smile behind a hand and nodded when the current speaker asked a question of the group.
*O*
Hiccup cinched Toothless' saddlebags and turned to Nuffink who stuffed a med kit into Dart's saddle bag and shot his father an eager smile. Like both his parents, Nuffink didn't appear to be much older than early twenties at most. A far cry from Daglegs, now deceased, and Zephyr's son Ragnor who was pushing three-hundred and appeared to be in his early thirties.
Dart wiggled and jumped around Toothless, trilling and warbling incessantly.
Mánia chuffed and shook her head at Dart and Toothless, rubbing against both of them, before sitting on her white haunches and glaring at Hiccup and her mate.
Toothless cooed and rubbed her snout.
Hiccup laughed and kissed Astrid. "You sure you don't want to come, Zephyr?"
She shook her head. "I'm good for now. Besides, the Academy needs me."
Nuffink shrugged. "More fun for me!"
They waved goodbye as their familiars leapt into the air and flew across the ocean for the barrier. Deciding to fly across the ocean expanse and see what lands lie close to them and to see what had become of the lands that once belonged to their kin.
On his last expedition, he and Zephyr had come across rumors of the Norseman, nothing but children's tales now but he was curious to see what had survived.
Toothless and Dart played in the high atmosphere, Hiccup and Nuffink let their human skin fall and be replaced by their Jötunn—the once bitterly cold wind now like a comfortably warm blanket.
Hiccup laughed as Toothless shot Nuffink off Dart's saddle and sprinted ahead.
Dart roared and a near identical one followed hers, Nuffink soaring back up in his Night Light form.
Hiccup shot him a grin and slipped off the saddle before either younger child could shoot him off and slid into his Night Fury form.
They chased each other all day until they were well outside of the New Archipelago's borders and decided to glide along the high winds to conserve energy. They reached the mainland sometime after nightfall, the Æsir wielders shifted to their human forms again and curled up with their respective dragons.
They explored the coast line for several days, coming across several villages where the dragons would shift into the forms of wolves and they would investigate the town and the tales they held.
Two weeks had passed in that fashion and they already had quite the stories to tell their people, ranging from funny and farfetched to gruesome reminders of their vicious cousins who'd ravaged the lands while they'd been fighting the dragon 'menace'.
They entered the next town along the coast line, a little farther inland and along a wide river, but it was shockingly familiar. Many of its buildings held designs familiar to the Vikings, even the stone building at the middle of the town looked similar to a Great Hall of old when they had yet to build them into mountain sides so the dragons couldn't destroy the place of sanctuary so easily.
They landed well outside the village and the dragons shifted again. Toothless with far more ease than Dart who was still scratching at her fur much like Toothless had a century ago.
Toothless padded up to her and nibbled behind her ear and barked before running ahead. They stopped and looked back expectantly at their riders.
Hiccup laughed and Nuffink grinned, pulling a piece of dried salmon from his pocket and tossing some to both 'wolves'.
They walked into town and received the usual curious glances but nothing overt. They eventually wandered to the structure resembling a Great Hall. As they drew closer, Hiccup suspected it was a Great Hall. But how it survived when so much of his people's past had been savagely ripped down and destroyed was a curiosity to him.
As he ascended the steps, a wash of magic brushed over him. He looked over to Nuffink, who curiously looked at his father, feeling the old magic as well. They continued up the steps, carefully looking around for any hidden surprises. His magic churned uncertainly, the lingering feel of the magic leaving a bad taste of something familiar.
Nuffink noted his father's tensed shoulders and remained alert.
Toothless propped Hiccup's hand on his head and growled comfortingly, feeling the same about the magic they passed through.
They reached the doors and tugged one open, slipping inside the darkened room. They looked around in a little awe, taking in a piece of their past. As they took in the old building, a relief of Yggdrasil caught Hiccup's attention. He stared at it and noted that it was beautifully intricate, as the Norse were prone to do when they had the time to honor something.
He subconsciously started walking towards the tree, eyes drawn to a snake curled around one of its roots…his magic numbed his mind as something called him. He felt but didn't register the Yggdrasil Portation Device warm and tremble in his pocket. He reached out to touch the snake, a warm feeling guiding his hand—eager to be of use again…
"What are you doing?"
Hiccup snapped out of his state and whirled around, eyes wide like his dad had caught him after he directly disobeyed orders. "Uh, nothing! I-I don't know—I'm sorry."
Nuffink rolled his eyes. "Smooth dad."
Hiccup glared at him. "You didn't hear it?"
"Hear what?" Nuffink asked, looking over Hiccup's shoulder to the relief that had enraptured his father.
The owner, or more likely caretaker of the building, narrowed his eyes at the two of them. "What did it say?"
Hiccup shook his hand and rubbed it, staring momentarily at the snake before quickly looking away—feeling the pull on his magic again. "Didn't really say anything…it was more like a feeling. Sorry, it's hard to explain."
"No, no." The middle aged man hurried down the steps, suddenly intrigued. "My family has taken care of this hall and her treasures for generations. But never has any of them called to someone before, caretaker or visitor…you must truly be someone special. However I must ask that not seek it out, it was entrusted to us by Odin himself to guard."
Hiccup and Nuffink exchanged wide-eyed looks before nodding, the latter saying, "No worries. We're used to guarding a few secrets ourselves, this one's all yours."
The man laughed and looked them over, eyes lingering on symbol etched into the dagger Hiccup carried. "Not many are willing to bear that symbol. Are you followers of the old ways?"
Hiccup nodded. "Yes. And, I know. I'm a bit, rebellious."
Nuffink snorted along with both wolves.
The man laughed and gestured for them to follow him, eager to talk with people who still knew of the old ways.
He gave them a tour of the Hall, its history and why it was still standing—apparently the Ffreinc defeated one of the last strongholds of the Norse in this Hall before a group Britannians, or now called English by some, defeated them. They held the land for a little time before the native peoples decided to rule themselves once again…Which is where it stood now, for the moment. Either way, it was a historical place for many reasons now so no one was overly keen on tearing it down.
They stayed with him through supper, trading some of the more minor and non-draconic tales of the far northern isles that had lost contact with her people centuries ago. They laughed over mugs of mead at some of the more 'farfetched' stories, Hiccup even sharing one of Gobber's hammerhead-yak saves—though, he altered it from a dragon to a troll.
The air shifted around them and Hiccup's magic shuddered, the same uneasy feeling of passing through the barrier arising.
Nuffink stopped smiling and looked at Hiccup, grasping the hilt to his sword—a Dragon Blade design—as Hiccup tensed for battle.
The man caught their mood change immediately. "Is something wrong?"
Hiccup looked around the darkened halls, the flicker of lamplight making it harder to see through the dancing shadows. "Just a feeling…something… familiar."
Toothless suddenly started growling at something behind his rider.
Hiccup started to draw his blade, only to grunt and stiffen before collapsing as the familiar magic wrapped around his mind and dragged him away into darkness.
"Dad!" Nuffink screamed as a ball of purple magic hit his father on the back of his head.
Toothless snarled and lept for the apparition that appeared out of the shadows and reaching to catch Hiccup before he hit the ground. He missed as it twisted away and used the now unconscious Hiccup as a shield.
The caretaker of the Hall yelped as their attacker stepped into the wavering torch light. "Th-that-that's a draugr."
The half decayed form grinned at the man, making him whimper and pull back—eyeing the now decorative swords that hung on the walls.
The draugr turned back to Nuffink, making sure to keep the 'wolves' well accounted for. "So the little mortal's boy has grown up…it has been some time."
Nuffink bore his teeth and saffron magic erupted in his palm in a burst of fear and anger—barely recognizing the face his father once reluctantly drew as he told them the reason they had to leave Berk for New Berk then later, Loki told them the cautionary about the draugr had kidnapped their father. He hurled the small but precise ball of magic at the dead head.
Grimmel and Hiccup disappeared in a purple flash, the former's laugh echoing throughout the near empty Hall even after they were gone. "Tell the Órikr Dǫglingr that his sister wishes for a visit if he wants his son back."
Toothless howled in fury and Dart was quick to follow.
Nuffink cursed and ripped his sleeve up his arm, revealing a bracelet with a small metal dial. He twisted it until the runes read Astrid then tapped the center three times. The runes flashed green with every touch then he waited. As he did that he started running for the entrance of the Hall, both wolves hot on his tail.
He paused at the door and turned to the caretaker. "Thank you so much but—I have to go."
He nodded, his scared countenance replaced by confusion and awe. "No, no, go. Thank you for your kindness. The gods still smile upon us."
:Nu-Nuffink?:
Nuffink ran out, not bothering to correct him or say anything else, not having the time to do so. He ran through the village to the forest, scaring a few people as he ran at impossible speeds—some believing he was running from the wolves at his heels.
:Odin's beard, does this thing actually work?:
Nuffink huffed as he raised his wrist and spoke into his father's newest invention. "Yeah, it works. We got a problem. Grimmel just took dad."
Hahahe...I cried a little. Hopefully the time skips weren't too terrible and I will see you soon, R&R!