A/N: Chapter two is finally up.

I couldn't quite figure out how to write this one part, so it took way too long. Also personal things.

Anyway, here it is.

Disclaimer: Haibanashi does not own Rise of the Guardians, How to Train Your Dragon, or any of its characters (though I wish I did). Haibanashi makes no profit off of this story.

Warnings: Some swearing.

Venture on!

Crimson and golden leaves flurried through the air, locked in an intense and unpredictable battle with the wind. They twirled and dipped and flipped and even seemed to glow if the light hit one just right.

A smile formed on Hiccup's face as he watched the children below him, all of them enthralled and awestruck at the spectacle that he was putting on for them. He rather liked children. They were old enough to want to explore everything in the world around them yet young enough to not feel the fear of being criticized if they didn't know; if they were wrong. They were always curious, always wanting to learn. And somewhere in the depths of his ever-absent memories Hiccup was able to relate to the thirst of knowledge.

Well, that and seeing people smile because of him was just a nice little reminder that yes, he did exist and wasn't doing absolutely nothing.

Amber eyes glazed over as they slowly recollected his memories — the ones of this life, not his old one. It had been what now, almost two hundred years? The Man in the Moon hadn't contacted (?) him since their first/last meeting, even though Hiccup saw him every night. Then again, it had taken a century the first time around. Who was to say that it wouldn't take longer than that?

Hiccup sighed. He summoned up another breeze that lead the leaves into a slow, tranquil tempo, the children still staring openly. Controlling the wind and rain was as easy as breathing to him now. That wasn't truly anything new, though. About maybe two decades ago he found out that he could manipulate the leaves in the trees. Nothing major, just turning them from bright green to colors like blazing orange and blood red. That little power was a bit odd, though. During spring and all but the very end of summer, he had to put in tremendous effort to get just one leaf to a dull brown. It seemed to work best in autumn; all he had to do at times was sit in a tree and the leaves would start to turn. He had berated himself for not figuring out sooner but conceded that it wasn't exactly the easiest thing to pick up on.

Evening sunlight gleamed across the world and it was only then that Hiccup realized that it was nearly dusk. Time flew by when you were having fun and looking back on things. Being two centuries old probably helped, two.

Hiccup stopped the wind, the children stirring now that the little show was over. They all scurried back to the safety of their village, not wanting to be caught out in the dark of night all alone. Hiccup no longer felt the pang of jealousy he once did at the thought.

He leaped from his perch, allowing the wind to catch him and carry him alongside the treetops. Sunsets were always beautiful when they could be seen, especially the ones over the ocean.

Ever so slowly, the stars began to peek out from the inky blackness that covered them, covering the sky in twinkling light. Hiccup stared upwards as they made their appearance. He could spend weeks doing nothing but watching the sky change. It was never the same, something was always different. And more often than not, it was also beautiful. Not even the greatest building or the best painting in all of the world could capture the splendor of nature, let alone rival it.

Hello.

Hiccup blinked. That sounded quite a bit like…

Man in the Moon?

Yes.

Hiccup waited for some sort of further response. When he received none, he decided to give his own.

So what have you been doing for the past century?

Watching over the world and its inhabitants. It seems that you are holding your own.

Hiccup rolled his eyes. It's a bit hard not to when you're seemingly immortal.

Yes, I suppose it is.

And I don't suppose you could tell me what's going on now either?

No, quite on the contrary. I wish to inform you of your current existence.

Hiccup didn't even feel his jaw go slack. Um. That was. It seemed. Uh. Well then.

Huh.

You're being entirely serious right now, right? I don't want this to be some sort of joke.

I do not kid with or about the lives of others nor life itself.

Oh gods, he was finally going to get answers. Finally. Okay, I have a lot of questions —

Not yet.

Oh, there's a catch now, is there? Of course there is.

You can view it as such if you wish to. All I ask is that you return to the place of your awakening.

Hiccup's brows furrowed. Why?

The answers that you seek are more easily shown than they are explained.

I was on that island for two weeks and I didn't find anything. You're telling me that there's suddenly going to be… something that suddenly appeared there?

No.

"Gods," Hiccup hissed aloud. Could you please just give a straight response? You left me in the dark for two hundred years; I deserve some compensation.

If you go to the island you will have your questioned answered. If not, then it is your own choice.

Damn.

Fine, have it your way. I'll go. But this had better be the best explanation that I've ever heard. Hiccup realized that the words had virtually no weight (seeing as no one had talked to him, let alone explained something to him) just after they left his mouth. Or mind. Whatever.

I cannot say that it will be the best, but it will not leave you with uncertainties.

Well, that was good enough for Hiccup.

Without even a moment's hesitation, he had the wind rocketing him upwards and flying him to the first place he had ever laid eyes on.

.:*~*:..:*~*:..:*~*:..:*~*:..:*~*:.

Hiccup sucked in a gulp of air as his feet met the expanse of sand of the small beach. Two centuries and he had never come back to where it had all started. But now that he was here, he felt… he felt… Hiccup didn't know how to describe it. It felt as though pure, undiluted energy was flowing and seeping through his veins. The closest thing he could relate it to was feeling… alive.

"Alright, I'm here," Hiccup shouted up to the indigo sky. "Now what?"

Head to the center of the island. I'll direct you once you've reached the clearing.

Hiccup's brows furrowed. Two centuries might have made his memories a bit sketchy, but as far as he could remember there had only been one area devoid of trees on the entire island, not counting the beaches. There had also been a pile of small boulders but they were too heavy and tightly packed to provide for any shelter.

Opting to just enjoy the feeling that was running through him and the scenery of his "birthplace" per se, Hiccup broke into a light jog, prying at the furthest reaches of his mind in order to recall what he could from long ago. Everything was exactly as he remembered it from the cool, gentle breeze to the bright colors covering the trees that not even the night could obscure.

He finally reached the edge of the clearing, the moon at its highest peak. Silver beams cascaded from above, coating everything with light made of mercury. Hiccup allowed himself a moment to simply marvel yet again at the beauty of the natural world before he stepped forwards.

"Okay, now what?" Hiccup craned his head back to the moon.

Go to the center.

Hiccup raised an eyebrow and looked back at the scene in front of him. Nothing but a pile of rocks. Then again, he had been disproved and astounded many times since he had first risen and he heavily doubted that the ever-changing world would cease to amaze and surprise him.

Shrugging, Hiccup treaded towards the tan stones, all but glowing under the moon. He stopped directly on front of them with his arms crossed over his chest.

Place your hand on the rocks and use your powers to open them.

"How?" Hiccup asked, placing his hand on the cool, rough surface regardless.

It's just like summoning the wind or the rain; you'll know what to do.

And then what?

Journey forth into the path. A guide will await you.

"That's it?" Hiccup frowned. "What happened to all of my answers?"

Fear not, you will receive them. Just not from me.

And just like that, the presence was gone.

"Well that's just great," Hiccup huffed. He turned his attention back to the boulders. Open them up, huh?

Hiccup steadied both his hands against the pile and shut his eyes, trying to find whatever it was that would allow him to manipulate the stone. Sure enough, he felt the familiar tug in his gut. But this was different. This felt stronger, more definitive, and more natural than the wind had.

Intrigued, he activated his powers.

Crackthudsmash.

Hiccup jumped backed. The rocks were moving, being rearranged by an unknown and unseen force that was definitely not the wind. And after a few moments they stopped, constructed into a crude arch-like structure that looked ready to fall over at even the slightest touch. It led into seemingly endless darkness.

Hiccup swallowed. Even if he was immortal, walking into a pitch-black area that he knew nothing about wasn't very high on his to do list. He could feel his heart speed up and hands grow the smallest bit clammy.

But…

Hiccup pushed down his nerves. He wanted answers. And he was going to get them, whether or not it killed him.

Taking a shaky but sure step forward, Hiccup began his descent into the earth.

The tall stones and earthy ground soon surrounded him as he walked downwards, breathing in the cold, damp air of the tunnel. Rather obviously, the small amounts of light were quickly swallowed by the darkness. Yet for whatever reason, Hiccup wasn't afraid. He felt somewhat comfortable, actually. Weird.

Then again, this probably wasn't the weirdest thing to happen to him thus far. Like waking up without memories on a random island. And having supernatural powers. Still though.

And what was this even going to achieve? Walking down into the earth didn't seem like a way to get answers. For all he knew, he was going to get blocked in by someone and the Man in the Moon would just be laughing at him—

Was that light?

Hiccup paused. Yes, that was light, faint as it was, radiating off the walls of the tunnel before him. How was there light?

Intrigued, Hiccup rushed forward. It was a warm, orange sort of light, like those made from a contained fire. Before he knew it, Hiccup found himself full out sprinting.

When he rounded the corner his eyes widened.

"Holy shit," the immortal breathed out softly.

There were dragons. Dragons.

They were different sizes and different colors and had different builds but they were all dragons. How was that even possible? Since when had dragons even existed in the first place?

And they all appeared to have excellent hearing, as each of their gazes snapped to him as soon as he uttered the words. Hiccup didn't even wonder if they could see him or not. They were fucking dragons, of course they could.

I really hope they aren't hostile, was Hiccup's last coherent thought before his mind became a roar of awe and apprehension.

There was movement from somewhere slightly to the left. Hiccup shifted his gaze to it. There stood a sleek, black dragon, dark scales gleaming in the light, green eyes fixated on Hiccup. It was truly a majestic creature.

Hiccup's mind cleared up just a bit and he forced out an awkward chuckle.

"Well, seems like a made a wrong turn somewhere," he placed his hands behind his back and took a step backwards. "Sorry to disturb you, but I'm just going to—"

"Wait."

Hiccup stopped. Stared at the black dragon. Which could apparently speak English. Except it hadn't. Hiccup had understood the word perfectly, but that had most definitely not been English.

"Uh," Hiccup faltered, "yeah, okay. That works too."

The dragon's pupils contracted. It opened its mouth. "You can understand what I'm saying?"

"Yes?" Hiccup said, the response coming out as more of a question. "Either that or I've finally cracked."

The dragon regarded him silently for a few moments before turning his head to face the hoard of reptilian onlookers. "He's the one."

"What?"

And then there was chaos.

Loud roars ripped through the silence, fire from the maws of the creatures streaking through the air, and some of the smaller dragons were flying excitedly.

"Um."

The black dragon started walking towards him. "It's been a long time."

"Has it been, now?" Hiccup asked, nerves making his words form oddly.

The dragon's head cocked to the side. "Yes. It has. Are you alright, Hiccup?"

The immortal stiffened. "Maybe this is a rude question, but how exactly do you know my name?"

The dragon's body went rigid before it sagged. "You don't know me." It wasn't a question.

"Uh, sorry?" Hiccup tried, shrugging his shoulders. "Though to be fair I don't exactly remember anything before I woke up on this island."

The dragon shook its head. "It is fine. As of now, it matters not."

"Okay, yeah, that's fair." Hiccup could just tell that he was radiating awkward. "So, uh, I came down here because I was promised some answers for some stuff? Like what exactly is going on with me? The immortality and stuff."

The dragon's chest rumbled and it took Hiccup a moment to realize that it was laughing. "Yes, of course. They truly could not have picked anyone better for this role than you."

Hiccup stared at the dragon. "What?"

Spreading its wings and smiling a sharp-toothed smile, the dragon's mint green eyes bored into amber orbs. "Welcome, Hiccup Leif, Guardian of Knowledge, to the Labyrinth of Life."

"What?" Hiccup parroted.

The dragon laughed again, wings lowering to rest against its back. "I have a feeling that you have questions."

"A lot actually," Hiccup replied warily.

"They shall be answered, fear not," the dragon reassured. Turning its long body to go deeper into the tunnel, it added, "come, let us sit and I shall tell you everything you wish to know."

"Alrighty then," Hiccup gave his head a mental shake, tossing caution to the wind as he made his way through the crowd of dragons. He wanted answers. "Uh, hey."

"Yes?"

"Is there anything that I can call you?"

The dragon threw a smile layered with so many feelings that Hiccup could hardly decipher them. "My name is Toothless."

A/N: And that's all she wrote. For now.

I found it entirely too fitting to make Hiccup the Guardian of Knowledge. Not even sorry about it.

Also I still haven't decided whether or not to make this HiJack or not. Anyone care to vote?

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