The Underworld was quiet, an unnatural stillness, broken only by the slow drift of a boat across black water.
Hades stood at the edge of his domain, arms folded behind his back, blue fire flickering low in his eyes as he watched the mortal within the vision. A skeletal figure sat upon a throne of stone.
Tall, draped in a dark, tattered robe. Antlered crown casting long shadows across a skull that never moved.
Hades' blue flame burned low as he watched.
The air warped.
Reality rippled like glass struck by a stone, and from the distortion stepped a woman draped in green, chaos clinging to her like perfume with a lazy smile and a goblet already in her hand.
Hades did not turn.
"What is it with you and unannounced visits, Eris?"
"Oh, relax," she said lightly, already helping herself to a goblet. "I was curious. Thought I'd check on your little investment."
Her eyes drifted to the vision. "My, my. He still hasn't found the cauldron, has he?"
"If you're here to irritate me," Hades replied flatly, "You already done it by just appearing in front of me. Now leave."
Eris waved a hand dismissively and settled herself into a seat that hadn't existed a moment ago. "I'm just curious. He hasn't reclaimed the Black Cauldron yet. And you know how prophecies get… inconvenient."
"Prophecies are meant to be broken" Hades' flame dimmed, just slightly.
"I'm just saying, you know the old wizard is meddling again. Choosing pieces, nudging fate."
"The men he picks up can't make so much as a ripple in the ocean," he said. "And even if they could stir up a wave, it still wouldn't matter to me."
Eris leaned back, amused.
"Maybe. But if the prophecy tightens and Hercules steps in while a variable lingers…" she shrugged. "Wouldn't it be convenient if someone tripped the wizard's piece before it reaches the board?"
Hades finally turned, expression sharp.
"There will be no mistakes this time," he said coldly. "Not like your last endeavor undone by a pirate."
He smirked. "Though I suppose chaos ruining its own plans does suit you."
Eris straightened, finishing her drink.
"Well," she said lightly, "let's hope your silent king lives up to his reputation. Chaos hates disappointment."
______
By noon, the sea had lost its early-morning calm.
Sunlight glittered across rolling waves as Berk's familiar cliffs began to rise on the horizon, dark shapes cutting into the blue. The royal vessel cut steadily through the water, sails full, decks alive once more with quiet movement instead of chaos.
The gang had gathered on the main deck.
Food had been brought out for a simple fare. Bread, dried meat, cheese, water skins passed from hand to hand. No one was particularly hungry, but eating felt like proof that they had survived.
Snotlout chewed loudly, sitting on a coil of rope. Fishlegs talked half-heartedly about harbor damage estimates. The twins argued about whether exploding ships counted as "technically awesome." Eric spoke quietly with a few of his guards.
Lucian sat nearby, Simba curled comfortably against his side, the cub half-asleep in the warmth of the sun.
Astrid ate in silence.
Her eyes moved without thinking, scanning the deck.
Counting.
One by one.
Her brow furrowed.
She looked again.
"…Where's Hiccup?" Astrid asked.
Lucian glanced up from Simba, unfazed. "In his room. He said to wake him when we got close to Berk."
Astrid's frown deepened.
That didn't sound right.
She stood abruptly.
"I'll check on him."
Lucian didn't stop her, but his eyes followed as she crossed the deck and headed below.
The interior of the ship was quieter, the hum of the sea pressing in through wooden walls. Lantern light swayed gently with the ship's motion as Astrid moved down the corridor toward the guest cabins.
She stopped in front of Hiccup's door.
It was closed.
She knocked once.
"Hiccup?"
No answer.
She knocked again, sharper this time.
"Hiccup."
Silence.
Her hand settled on the handle.
It turned easily.
The door creaked open slowly.
Astrid stepped inside—
And stopped.
The room was empty.
The bed was untouched. No blanket thrown aside, no boots on the floor, no bag.
Nothing.
Astrid's jaw tightened.
Her eyes swept the room again, searching for anything, some sign that Hiccup had been there recently.
There was none.
"What are you hiding, Hiccup?" she said, her voice laced with suspicion.
________
High above the sea, the clouds tore apart like drifting curtains.
A shadow streaked through them.
Toothless flew low and fast, wings cutting clean arcs through the thinning mist as Berk's distant cliffs loomed ahead. Below, far beneath the cloud cover, a single ship cut steadily across the water, the one carrying Lucian and the others home.
Hiccup leaned forward in the saddle, fingers resting lightly against the smooth scales at Toothless's neck.
"We're almost home, buddy," he said softly, scratching the familiar spot just behind Toothless's jaw.
The Night Fury let out a pleased rumble, banking slightly as they kept pace with the ship below, careful to remain hidden among the clouds.
For a moment, everything felt… right.
Then Hiccup stiffened.
Something moved at the edge of his vision.
He turned his head, squinting into the haze.
Another shadow slid through the clouds beside them, sleek, black, and moving at the exact same speed.
Hiccup's breath caught.
"No way…"
The shape drew closer, briefly breaking through the mist.
A Night Fury.
Its wings were broader, its frame heavier, scars faintly visible along its sides. Its eyes, sharp and knowing locked onto Hiccup's.
For a heartbeat, rider and dragon stared at one another.
Then, without a sound, the other Night Fury dipped its wings, rolled smoothly, and vanished back into the clouds below, swallowed by mist as if it had never been there at all.
Hiccup swallowed hard.
"…Why is he here?" he murmured.
______
[A/N: I've uploaded a map of part of this story's world at the auxiliary chaps, though the text on it is a bit blurry.]