The Gift of the Princess (HTTYD)

A New Chapter

A/N: Welcome back! This chapter will start my version of the Hidden World about halfway through after a time skip. However, you will quickly realize my version looks almost nothing like the movie. As a started before, the movie is a train wreck in terms of plot, characters, and theme. In order to create something workable, I had to veer from the movie significantly. Part of the problem is that the movie tries to do so much at once that it sends up doing not much at all. And what it does do is often illogical or out of character.

These are the main elements I took from the movie: the character of the Light Fury, the character Grimmel, the place of the Hidden World, and the idea that the question of whether dragons and Vikings can live in peace needs to finally be answered. In coming up with something logical and coherent, I devised two sections that will each be the length of my version of HTTY 2. In the end, this story should be about the length of Strength of a Princess, and I like that symmetry. I have the first section fully plotted out and am currently working on the second section.

That being said, there really are no spoilers from this point on, so you're free to continue if you haven't seen the Hidden World. And if you have, do not make any assumptions based on the movie. Anything brought up exclusively in the third movie (like, say, the extinction of Night Furies) may not make it into my rendition. Also, new characters introduced in the film like Grimmel and the Light Fury may have significant changes. I will occasionally clarify any differences if I find it necessary. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this introductory chapter.

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Chapter 21: A New Chapter

The week flew by in a flurry of activity. Berkians and Berserkers helped to clean up the mess left by Drago and his Bewilderbeast. In the rebuilding, it was easy to also construct huts for the former dragon trappers, who decided to stay as sailors. Krogan moved to Berserker Island later in the weeks once Dagur had a place ready for him.

Through it all, Eira and Dagur did their best to prepare for their upcoming wedding. Everyone was to be set to take off for Torvald at week's end. Considering recent events, Viggo reluctantly agreed to stay behind to watch over Berserker Island. Hiccup almost stayed as well, but Gobber convinced him he could handle things. The rest of the dragon riders eagerly accepted the invitation to attend.

The night before departure, Eira found herself down at the beach, gazing at the water. She was so lost in thought she almost did not hear someone approach her until he said her name. She looked at Snotlout and gave him a gentle smile. "Hello," she said softly. "Nice night."

"Yeah," said Snotlout. "It is." He looked up at the sky. "What are you doing out here?"

"Just... thinking..." Eira followed his gaze to the stars. "It's amazing what we were able to accomplish recently, isn't it? We may not have changed Drago's mind, but we did get through to Krogan, Valka, Eret, and all those dragon trappers."

"It is amazing, but that's just what we do, isn't it?"

Eira smiled. "Yes, and we'll keep on doing it even as everything changes again."

"Right, the wedding." Snotlout paused. "Are you going to miss it? Berk, I mean, and I guess all of us."

"Of course I am." Eira turned to him, and he glanced at her. "Berk has been my home, and leaving it will be as hard as it was to leave the Edge. Actually, it's worse because there are a lot of people that I'm leaving behind. I will miss spending so much time with all of you, but... I'm excited about what the future holds. I see so much potential in Berserker Island, and I can't wait to get started. And, of course, it will be great to be with Dagur more often."