Hi everyone,

Well, today is my birthday. and my gift to you guys is a new chapter. I hope you guys like it.

Heather is going to be a little different than the normal Heather we see in the series. I took the inspiration from the game of school of dragons where she is an alchemist and made her quiet the unique character.

Just a Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the world they come from. Just the idea of the story

(Hiccup pov)

Heather walked me up this steep hill through the forest. I would admit that I was a little nervous going with her, especially with her dragon snarling behind me. I wouldn't ever expect to see anyone living here, let alone another dragon rider. But as far as things go for me this is pretty nice.

All I have to think now is to make sure I make a good impression on this woman. I don't know if she works for this Drago, or knows that my friends are at camp. I need to stay as calm as possible.

But, where is she leading me to? Surely a trap. Maybe a pit full of dragons. But then again, she saw me speak to her dragon. So, where is she leading me to?

"Keep moving!" Windshear orders as she pushes me with her head.

Man it's sharp. While I'm fascinated about the new dragon, I'm also terrified.

"Easy Windshear," Heather said as she pushed away a couple of branches away.

That's the other thing that I find interesting, she could also talk to dragons. Is she...like me? Could she be half dragon too? I doubt it. I'm a product of a curse, and she seems to open to be that kind of person.

So, what is she?

Heather kept leading me through the thick woods until we got to the cliff side. Just perched on the edge was a small hut with a couple of patio decks all around. One pushed off the cliff, most likely a docking area for her dragon, while the others were circling around some garden life. From herbs to flowers, they spread all along the grass area. The hut seemed very rustic and worn, but it had a sense of home. It seemed big enough for people to walk around and for the dragon to poke her head through the window.

"Come on," Heather insisted as she begins to walk to the house. At first I was hesitant to follow, until her dragon snort at me.

Ok, ok, I get the picture dragon. I quickly follow Heather up the hill to the front door.

She opened it and went inside. I took a moment to look inside before entering myself. It was a giant room with a stairway leading upstairs. I'm guessing the bedroom because there is no room for a bed here. The space is full with little trinkets hanging down off the walls. There was a big table near the stove and kitchen. But the big thing I noticed was a large cauldron on one side of the room, smoking a bit at the top. There were also a number of cabinets containing some weird and bizarre items next to some old books.

I bravely took my first step as I couldn't shut my wide eyes.

"Please, come on in," I hear Heather as she rushes to the kitchen. "Forgive the mess; it's rare I get visitors."

As grateful as I am that she let me in, there has to be a reason. No one is that nice, well except for Astrid.

The razorwhip stuck its head through the kitchen window, and Heather treats it to a big piece of meat. I took the opportunity to solve my curiosity of that cauldron. I have to know what's in there. So I carefully lift the lid. At first the smoke went into my eyes. When I can open them again, I saw this big thing of mud boiling up.

"Careful!" Heather cried out, making me shut the cauldron again. "That's not food."

I turn to see her carrying two steaming drinks inside big mugs in her hands. One of them she passes on to me.

"It's a potion I've been working on," she continues. "It's supposed to help you if you have athletes foot, or it causes it."

Eesh, good thing I didn't touch it. But that brought a thought in my mind, something I should've guessed when I walked into this place.

"Are you a...a..."

"A witch?" She finished as she sat on an available seat. "I guess you can say that."

I sat on a nearby chair, intrigued.

"I've been able to read strange writing ever since I was little, and I can understand dragons. So I guess that does qualify me as a witch. But I rather not think that way. I'm just a person that can see things no one can."

She sat on a chair near me and drank her drink. Not wanting to be rude I did the same. Yuck, this tastes like leaves crushed in water. Looking down I do see tiny pieces of leaves floating around in my drink. I hope I didn't swallow any.

"What about you? Are you a witch?" Heather asks.

Like I'm gonna tell her the truth. She would just set her dragon on me. I guess I could tell some of it, enough for her to believe I'm a normal person at least.

"Well, I've been raised by dragons most of my life," I said. "After a long time, you can understand them."

"I see," Heather said as she took another sip. How could she drink this stuff? Again, I don't want to be rude so I took another small sip.

"But what are you doing all the way out here?" Heather asks.

"I could ask you the same thing," I said.

She sighs before setting the drink on her lap. "It's kinda a long story, one I'm sure you wouldn't like."

"And whys that?" I ask just out of curiosity.

"It's pretty dark and doesn't end well." She admits.

Ok, that got me more curious. I lean in a bit. Letting her know that I want to know.

"I grew up on an island pretty far from here. Maybe you've heard of it, Berserker island."

"Yeah, I've heard of it." I said, remembering my father showing that location. Apparently there's a chief there that is even more deranged than the red death.

"Let her tell the story!" Her dragon yelled at me.

"Easy Windshear," Heather said with ease. The dragon grumbles a bit before becoming quiet. Heather cleared her throat before speaking again. "Anyway, I've lived there with my father and my brother. We had a lot of fun together. I remember my father holding my hands every time we'd walk on the shores, and my brother would always try to take my stuff away, especially my shield. But as I grew, I suddenly could see some things I could never explain. Read old texts and languages that are dead. As I examined more and more, people started to back away from me. They were starting to be afraid of me, even my family."

I look down at my cup; remember the time when my mother was being afraid of me. It certainly tough for a child to feel like the world is turning against you and there's no one to talk to.

"At around 7, maybe 8, I made a horrible mistake. I was reading an old passage from a book, and my brother completely freaked out. He was calling me delusional, and a freak. I became so angry that I yelled at him. That caused a wardrobe to burst into flames. It fell between us, and started to set the whole room on fire. When I saw my brother, he was angry at me. His face twisted into a devil as he looked at me. He called me a witch, and a monster."

Wow, I would never thought that there was someone that could go through the same thing I have been through.

"I quickly ran out of there, as fast as I could. I ran out of my home and onto the shore. I look back to see my whole house engulfed in fire. With no other choice, I stole a boat and sailed away. I knew if I stayed, I would've been killed."

"So you came here?" I asked.

"Not quite yet," she replied. "My boat became wrecked when entering one of Thor's storms. When I came too, I was on a different beach, and a nice couple came to me. They took me to a small village where the people lived peaceful lives. They took me in and raised me as if I was one of their own. I was happy there. Even with my powers growing. Eventually my adoptive parents figured out about them, but instead we used them in a good way. We found some old herbal recipes and use them to help the sick and the injured. I even helped Windshear when she was injured, and we became secret friends ever since."

The dragon cooed a bit, remembering back to that time.

Still, what this woman did was a great way to help people. Wish I could do the same with my powers.

"But, as you can imagine, the good times didn't last long."

Figures.

"My brother managed to find me and burned down the whole village. Killing my parents and the people. I barely escape with my life. It's actually thanks to Windshear that I survived. After that, we both came here and remained in hiding, living a peaceful life."

"But it sounds like you had to go through some rough times to get it," I comment.

Heather nods, "yes. There hasn't been a day that goes by without thinking about the lives that I cost, or my brother's angry face. But we both push through, and we continue to live."

Her dragon leans her head in more and purrs. These two have a really strong connection to be there for each other. Just like me and Toothless. It's like I always say; once you earn a dragon's loyalty, there is nothing it won't do for you.

"What about you?"

I jumped a bit when Heather asked me that. "What about me?"

"What's your story? How did you get here?"

Great, questions I was hoping to avoid. Guess I could stretch the truth, seems like that's what I do best.

"Well," I start out. "I was mostly raised by my mother with a bunch of dragons around us. A dragon kinda took her away and she had me in her arms. For five years we lived in a place that dragons go to hatch their eggs and raise their young. I even met my blood brother, Toothless."

"What kind of dragon is Toothless?" Heather asked.

"A night fury," I answer.

I could see her eyes light up when I told her that. I guess she never thought a night fury could still exist.

"Where is he?" She asks.

"In dream land," I quickly said as natural as I can. The last thing I want is for Heather and her dragon to find our camp, and Astrid. Who knows what she would do to Heather.

"But then we had to leave," I continued, "Otherwise we would violate the sanctuary. So then we moved to a different island. But that was a not so good place. It was Baden with some grumpy dragons. Soon enough, my mom died, and I was alone with Toothless. Eventually, I traveled to the place of my birth and stayed there. But I longed to have an adventure. To go and explore the world. So now I am. I'm traveling to my hearts contempt. And I found my way to your island."

"I see," Heather said as she eyes me while taking a sip of her cup.

Hopefully she buys what I've said. But at the corner of my eye, I see the familiar shadow of Helhiem near the cauldron, shaking his head. Great, did I do something wrong?

"Just out of curiosity, are you a terrible liar?"

Great, she could spot me a mile away.

"Because, I've seen you before, and you were never like this."

Wait, what? She's seen me before? So, does she know who I really am?

"So, you..."

"Yes," she said serious. "I've seen your wings before."

Crap! So she does know who I am. "Look, I'm sorry, I just didn't..."

"No, I'm the one who should apologize."

Ok? Why?

"If I didn't call you out earlier, the people of my village wouldn't have tried to hunt you down."

What is she talking about? Wait, now that I think about it, Heather does seem sortof familiar. I've seen those eyes before...on a little girl. The first one I've seen when I was young...and went to that village, where I saw humans for the first time.

"That's was you?" I asked out of shocked.

Heather nods. "I saw you, all covered with scales and having huge dragon like wings."

"Yeah!" I said.

"I knew it!" Heather said almost victorious. "I knew the moment I saw you."

My excitement died down upon realizing that she saw me when I was at my worst. "So then, you know exactly who I am."

"I wouldn't say exactly," Heather said as she reached for my cup. I didn't finish it all, but I hope she doesn't mind.

"That's what your tea leaves are for."

"My what?" I asked totally confused.

She ignored me as begin to circle my cup around, making the liquid swish. I can only guess that it's a witch thing.

After a while, she looked into the cup and studied it. "I see," she said softly. "You've had a pretty hard time growing up. I see...suffering. And...fear. There's a lot of fear in here. You wear two different skins. One of a man, and another...it seems like a devil."

Ok, she can tell all that by looking at soaked leaves? I gotta stop questioning my life.

"Oh," Heather said in surprise. "But right here, I see a uplift. Meaning your life is going up...with love. Yes, love, there's a love in your life."

"That would be my girlfriend," I answer.

"Mm-him" Heather said. "And it seems that the two of you are happy together. But that little hook, it saying that you are unsure. Something dark is pulling you away, back to that devil."

"Seriously, how are you seeing all that?" I asked.

She shrugs as she places my cup down. "Lots of study. But more to the point, something is troubling you, isn't it. It's the curse on you, isn't it?"

Wait? How did she figure that out? "How did you...?"

"I'm a witch remember?" She said. "Actually, the first time I saw you got me curious. So I read some ancient texts and it told me about the curse that was mostly placed on you. That you would live as a person between worlds. The world of Vikings and the world of dragons."

"Yeah," I admit. "And I suppose you know what I've done."

"You mean that you cursed that island with an invisible barrier. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that, news travels fast here. I've even heard that that barrier also burned down my brother's fleet of ships."

Great, that just makes me feel worst. I knew my barrier kept everyone from escaping Berk, but I completely forgot that it burns all ships that try to come to the island. How many lives were lost because of that?

"But, I know that's not who you are now," Heather said.

"How do you know that?" I ask.

"I can see it in your eyes," she said. "They are full of regret and sadness. But I also see longing in them. You can't let go with what you've done, can you?"

"If you've done what I did, would you?"

"I try not to think about that," Heather said. "I try to move on. Otherwise, the past will only eat you up."

Again. Even a total stranger is giving me the same message.

"You sound like my friend," I comment maybe in a bad tone. "All I want to do is forget it. I've done a lot of horrible things, things I'm not proud of. But everytime I've tried to move on, there's always a reminder of what I've been. Sometimes... I just wish I could...you know..."

"Be like a normal person," Heather finished.

I silently nod. But then, I had a crazy thought. If she's a witch, and she knows about my curse, maybe she can undo it.

"I have to ask..."

She sighs as she shakes her head. "I can guess what you want, but unfortunately I can't undo it. There's a reason while the ones that cast the curse usually die. They are condemning a life."

"But, this is torture," I admit.

"Hey!" Helhiem said.

I try to ignore him to focus on my problem. "I mean, I thought my curse was over with true love. But now it's totally out of control again. I nearly kill my friend and burned my girlfriend. Why are they way now? I've had these powers all my life, and now they are totally out of control again. Why?"

"Slow down!" Heather said as she got up and held my hand. I try to calm down again so I don't burn her hand by accident. I still don't get how relax she is about this. I would figure that someone with fire powers would make her nervous at least. Then again, she's a witch.

"Let me see," she said as she turns my palm over. Great, she's a palm reader now.

No, wait. She's murmuring something in a weird language. I lean closer to try to understand, but that was a waste of time. With her other hand, she wave over my arm. I quickly remove the arm armour and sleeve to see what she's doing.

What I saw truly shocked me. As she waves her hand over my skin, shiny black scales start to show only for a few seconds.

But how, how could they come back?

"Just as I thought," Heather said letting go.

"What?" I ask almost in fright.

She sat back down, prepared to deliver some horrible news.

"It seems that the two sides of you are in a fight for dominance."

"What?" I ask again, more out of shock as I look at my hand and arm. Thank Thor that the scales are gone, but that's still frightening to think they might come back.

"According to your curse, you are part human and part dragon right?" She said. "Well, both sides can either be in harmony, or in a consent rift. So in other words, one side of you is trying to over take the other."

"Well that's just great," I yell flailing my arms up in the air. This is exactly what I wanted to hear. I can guess that this projection of Helhiem next to me is the dragon side of me, the one that wants me to give in. "So how do I stop it?"

"Hmmm," she said leaning back into her chair, thinking. Ok, she's a witch, she's gotta have something up her sleeve. "I don't know."

"You don't know?!" I yell.

"I may understand ancient texts, but I know dilly on half humans, half dragon."

"Looks like you're stuck with me Hiccup," Helhiem smirks as he leans on the wall with his arms cross his chest.

"So, you can't do anything to help?" I ask Heather.

"I didn't say that," she said straightening up. "You could try to make peace with both sides."

"Peace?" I shout. "My dragon side has brought harm to everyone I've care about. I don't want these powers anymore."

"Do you think I wanted my powers too?" She yells back. "They cost me the families I've had. Don't think you're the only one who suffers in the world. We all have things we've regret, but we've all have to move on. It's the only way we can go forward."

Great, first Toothless, then Astrid, and now this girl.

"Why am I having the feeling of Deja vu with the company you keep?" the ghost behind me comments to my annoyance.

"That's it," I yell as I make my way to the door.

"Hey, wait!" Heather said as she follows me to the door. I managed to get outside as she yells from her door. "Hiccup!"

I stopped, just to listen a bit.

"I don't know exactly what you've been through. But I do know one thing. You can't keep blaming yourself for things that might've been. You have to live in the now."

I hear her race behind to reach me, with her dragon close by.

"I would suggest trying some calming exercises. Maybe mediation. Anything to help calm the storm in you."

"Thanks," I said with almost no emotion as I run away from this place.

I just couldn't take it anymore. I thought there was a chance that woman could help me. Instead, she's spent that time telling me the same thing Astrid said. Maybe I was a little too hard. After all she was trying to help. Maybe...maybe I should try that. After I figure out a way to help Toothless and deal wth this Drago person.

Wait? Could she know about Drago? Maybe I should go back and ask.

Oh crap! The sun is coming up already! I didn't realize how long I stayed up.

I better get back to camp. If Toothless wasn't going to scold me, Astrid will.

(Heather Pov)

I watch Hiccup go down the hill. I trust him enough to know that he won't share our location.

Still, I never thought that boy I see the boy I saw all those years ago. It was thanks to him that I was able to befriend Windshear, and that helped saved my life.

So…in a way…I owe him. I certainly didn't mean for a first impression to be like this. I kinda feel awful about it.

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be seeing him again.

"Heather!"

I turn to Windshear to see her looking up. She does high sensory abilities. It's helped us out a lot when detecting incoming boats and dragons. That's how we're able to hide from the likes of my brother, or Drago. But from the look of things, something big is coming.

(Astrid pov)

As the sun started to enter my eyes,

I flutter them a bit before having the motion to get up. I see Stormfly's tail curled up beside me, and Toothless still asleep on the other side of the fire pit.

Wait? Where's Hiccup?!

I jump to my feet to look around, waking up Stormfly. But as I look around, I realize that Hiccup is nowhere to be found.

I groan in frustration. Hiccup is gone! Again! I swear when I get my hands on him, he'd wish he could use his fire powers again.

I could hear the moans from Toothless and Sharp-shot, but I don't care. I need to find Hiccup before he does something stupid.

"HICCUP!" I yell out.

But I'm getting no response.

I look around to see a bit of bush being moved. He must've gone that way. I storm my way that way too, with the dragons following me. Normally, I would argue for them to stay, but I'm just so mad. I can't believe he would go off on his own again.

"HICCUP!" I yell again, not letting my anger shy away. He should know how pissed i am.

Thank Thor though that he didn't use his wings. Otherwise this would be more trouble to find him.

I walk pretty far, almost to the island's edge. I look around to hopefully see him.

Hang on, I see...yeah, wings. A being with wings heading this way. But then... It's followed by a lot of creatures with wings.

Oh Thor! A horde of dragons are heading for us!

"Get back into the woods!" I yell as Stormfly, Sharp-shot and I ran back into the trees. Toothless was having a bit of trouble though, and I can't blame him with his injuries. So I race out to try to help move him. But he weighs a tone.

Realizing her can't run, he has no choice but to stand his ground. Well, I'll stand my ground to with him. We watch as the dragons started to circle around us up there. Wow, I've never seen so many dragons together since Berk.

"Astrid!"

I turn my head to see Hiccup popping out of a bush, looking at the scene with a shocking face.

"About time you showed up!" I yell as he raced to meet up with us. But as he did, a dragon came and swoop him up.

"Hey!" He yells as the dragon's talons wrap around him, lifting him up to the rest of the dragons.

"Hiccup!" I scream in fright, my anger quickly replaced with fright. Suddenly, I get talons around me. I look to see a big dragon's belly close to my face. Whatever this dragon is, he began to lift me up to where the other dragons.

You would think that being in the air so much I wouldn't be scared. But then again, I wasn't lifted by the talons at that time. I scream as I was lifted to where Hiccup is.

"Astrid!"

I hear, Hiccup near me. I look over to see him staying as still as possible.

I can't understand how he can stay so relax at this time. Oh right, he can understand dragons. "What do they want?"

"They want us to meet someone!" He shouts back to me. "Their alpha!"

"You mean the king that the wind striker talked about?"

"Most likely!" He shouts back.

I look back down to see Stormfly and Sharp-shot flew towards us, leaving Toothless roaring at the dragons on the ground. But then, a number of big ones picked him up and flew him to us. That's gotta be uncomfortable.

We suddenly felt a shift in force. All the dragons flew in one direction. Looks like we are going to meet the king, with having no say in the matter.

Typical day for us.

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