The hidden cove rested beneath the gentle hush of the late afternoon, sunlight spilling over its rocky walls and pooling across the sand in warm, golden hues. The sea whispered softly against the shore, each wave folding into the next like a quiet breath. It should have felt peaceful.
Instead, there was a strange stillness to it.
Lucian's gaze swept across the cove, noting the absence immediately. Toothless was nowhere sprawled lazily by the water, and Nyx's larger, darker presence was missing as well. Neither of them had revealed themselves, which meant only one thing.
They were nearby.
Beside him, Hiccup walked with none of his usual restless energy. His steps dragged, shoulders slumped forward as if the weight of the world had decided to settle squarely on him. His eyes stayed glued to the ground, like if he avoided everything else long enough, it might somehow fix itself.
"…I'm definitely leaving," Hiccup said after a long stretch of silence, his voice carrying a tired kind of finality. "We're taking a little vacation."
He paused, then added, "Forever."
Lucian glanced at him, faint amusement touching his expression. "Sounds permanent."
Hiccup let out a weak breath that might have been a laugh. He turned his head slightly. "You wanna come?"
"I might think about it," Lucian replied. Then, more seriously, "But why leave? It's not like this is life-threatening."
Hiccup's smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Yeah. I know," he said, though it didn't sound like he believed it.
"But what choice do I have anymore?" he continued quietly. "I can't keep doing this. I can't keep lying to everyone. Especially not to—"
A sharp rustle from the treeline made both of them freeze.
Hiccup spun around, eyes wide. "Ah, man… What the— Astrid?!"
She stepped out from behind the rocks like a storm that had decided to take shape. Her braid swung with the motion, axe already in her grip, her stance steady and unyielding. There was no hesitation in her eyes, only sharp suspicion and something simmering just beneath it.
"I want to know what's going on," Astrid said, her voice low but carrying enough force to cut clean through the quiet cove. "No one just gets as good as you've gotten. Especially not you, Hiccup."
Her gaze flicked briefly toward Lucian before returning to Hiccup.
"Start talking. Are you training with him?"
Hiccup swallowed hard, instinctively taking a step back until his heel bumped onto a rock. His hands lifted slightly, as if that alone might somehow stop everything from collapsing.
"Uh… training?" he echoed weakly, glancing at Lucian for help.
Lucian only smiled.
Astrid's eyes narrowed. "It better not involve this," she added, gesturing sharply at the gear strapped to Hiccup.
For a moment, Hiccup looked like he might actually tell the truth. The words hovered there, fragile and dangerous.
Then panic won.
"I know this looks really bad," he began, laughing nervously, "but you see, this is—uh…"
His voice faltered.
Because behind Astrid, two shapes had begun to emerge.
Toothless shifted slightly into clearer view and behind him was Nyx.
Hiccup's brain short-circuited.
"You're right!" he blurted suddenly, far too loudly. "You're right. You're completely right. I'm through with the lies."
Astrid's grip tightened.
Hiccup drew in a dramatic breath, committing fully to the worst possible decision.
"I've been making… outfits."
Silence dropped over the cove.
"So you got me," Hiccup continued, forcing a strained grin. "It's time everyone knew. Drag me back. Go ahead. Here we go."
Astrid stared at him for half a second, utterly dumbfounded.
Then her expression darkened.
In one fluid motion, she grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back with brutal efficiency, and forced him down to his knees. A sharp crack echoed through the cove as his shoulder protested.
"OW! Why would you DO that?!" Hiccup yelped, face contorted in pain.
"That's for the lies," Astrid said coldly.
Before he could recover, the handle of her axe drove straight into his stomach.
Hiccup folded instantly, collapsing onto the ground with a strangled groan. "And that's for everything else."
"Oh… man…" he wheezed, curling in on himself.
Lucian took a step forward but Astrid's glare snapped to him like a blade.
"Don't you dare."
Lucian raised both hands, expression neutral, and stayed exactly where he was.
Astrid turned back to Hiccup, breathing steady but controlled.
"Get up," she said quietly. "And this time… tell me the truth."
But suddenly a low growl rolled through the cove.
Toothless stepped fully into view.
Astrid reacted instantly, grabbing Hiccup by the arm and hauling him up.
"Run! Run!" she snapped, raising her axe as she stepped in front of him.
Then Nyx emerged behind Toothless.
The difference on size was immediate.
Astrid faltered. Just for a fraction of a second.
"NO! No—it's okay!" Hiccup rushed out, stepping forward despite everything. "It's okay… she's a friend."
He reached out, calming Toothless with a gentle touch. "You just scared him."
Astrid blinked. "I scared him?!"
Toothless gave a low, indignant sound.
She pointed slightly, confused. "Who is 'him'?"
Hiccup gestured quickly. "Astrid... Toothless. Toothless... Astrid."
Astrid barely registered it.
Because Lucian had already moved.
He approached Nyx without hesitation, placing his forehead lightly against the larger Night Fury's. The dragon responded immediately, letting out a low rumble before nudging him, then licking the side of his face in a gesture that was far too casual for something that size.
Lucian leaned back slightly. "Alright, that's enough."
Astrid stared, but then reality hit hard. She took one step back, then another, before turning around and running away.
"I'm telling everyone!" she shouted over her shoulder.
Hiccup froze then grabbed his head. "Da—da-da! We're dead!"
He spun toward Lucian, eyes wide with pure panic.
"A little help here?!"