The next day Merida awoke, knowing that something important was going to happen but she couldn’t quite remember what. She decided to feed Angus before going to check up on Hiccup to see if he wanted to spend time with her. She made it to the stables and noticed it was messy so she decided to clean it and Angus up.

    “I didn’t know Princesses cleaned,” Hiccup commented from in front of the stable.

“Goes to show that I’m not your average Princess,” Merida replied.

“I see. I already explained to your parents the situation with our dragons and I was wondering if you would like to come with us to bring them here? Your mom said they could stay here with the horses as long as they aren’t frightened,” Hiccup informed her.

“I’d love to! Has everyone else already left for the docks?” Merida asked after she finished feeding Angus.

“Yeah, we could catch up to them if we run,” Hiccup told her.

“I’ve got a better idea,” Merida replied.

“Umm, are you sure about this? I’ve never ridden a horse before, we don’t even have them back on Berk,” Hiccup asked worried.

“You have ridden a horse before, you’ve just forgotten. Besides, you fly with large, scary dragons, this should be easy for you,” Merida teased him.

“Yeah, but on Toothless I have straps to keep me on, and I’ve gotten used to flying in the air. Keeping myself on the ground however,” Hiccup voiced his worries.

“Don’t worry, just hold on tight,” Merida instructed before making Angus run off towards the docks.

Hiccup found that it did feel almost the same as riding on a dragon. Merida “Woo”-ed happily and Hiccup joined in by laughing. Soon enough they passed everyone else and made it to the docks.

“Looks like we beat them!” Merida cheered.

“I didn’t know it was a competition,” Hiccup retorted.

“Everything’s a competition if you believe,” Merida replied.

“Isn’t it ‘Everything is possible if you believe’?” Hiccup asked and chuckled.

“Eh, same thing. Now can you please show me your dragons?” Merida asked excitedly.

“I don’t see why not,” Hiccup replied.

Hiccup proceeded to show Merida all the dragons everyone had, and even told her about the battle against Drago Bludvist. By the time the rest of the group made it there Hiccup had given Merida a mini lesson on dragons and let her hold the Book of Dragons.

“Please be very careful with it Princess,” Fishlegs pleaded once everyone else made it to the docks.

“I've already told ye, call me Merida, and don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to it,” Merida reassured him.

“Hey Princess, you expecting more people?” Snotlout asked her.

Merida was confused and raised an eyebrow. She then followed his gaz and turned towards to ocean. She saw three distinct ships with the flags she used to dread.

“The Lords! I had completely forgotten!” Merida exclaimed. She paced a bit before quickly thinking of a plan.

“Alright, we need to cover up the Hairy Hooligan Tribe flag and your dragons. If they see them they might think we’re under attack and fight you,” Merida instructed.

“Yeah, what makes you think we’ll listen to you?” Tuffnut asked.

“Because if you don’t you’ll be the first to be skinned alive,” Merida replied sweetly.

Tuffnut gulped and quickly ran towards the flag before bringing it down. Everyone else ran to their dragons and covered them up.

“We’ll wait for them here. Don’t worry, as long as I’m here I won’t let them hurt any of you,” Merida told Hiccup.

Hiccup smiled and nodded. Merida breathed in and out. She walked over as the rest of them followed behind her.

“Princess! Pleasure to see you after so long,” Lord MacIntosh greeted her with a bow.

“A pleasant surprise,” Lord DingWall agreed and got off his own ship.

“Always a pleasure,” Lord MacGuffin joined in.

“It’s a pleasure to see all of you once again. I noticed you brought much larger ships this time,” Merida noted.

“Ah, yes. We had to make sure the majority of our families could fit. The Queen specifically told us to bring our children,” Lord MacIntosh informed her.

“Ah, yes for the festival I presume?” Merida asked.

Hiccup was in awe, she could handle people so well, he always felt awkward while talking to people.

“You are correct your highness,” someone replied from one of the ships.

He had flowing black hair and a rather large nose which immediately told Merida who it was.

“Ah, Young MacIntosh, it has been a while hasn’t it?” Merida greeted him with a curtsy. He bowed back.

“It certainly has, and please, call me Ryan,” he smiled.

“Where are Young DingWall and Young MacGuffin along with the rest of your children?” Merida asked curiously.

“They are all getting ready. My younger ones aren’t used to traveling so they’re a bit sea sick and Callum is just changing,” Lord MacGuffin informed her.

The other Lords agreed, making a mental note to travel with their younger kids via boat more often.

“Who are your friends?” Ryan MacIntosh asked her and smirked at a certain blonde.

“That is something I would like to talk to you about. We have made a truce with… the vikings of Berk,” Merida told them firmly yet hesitant.

“What?!” they all exclaimed.

“Your highness, they’re the very reason we lost so many people,” Lord Dingwall tried to reason.

“That was many years ago, and besides times have changed and traditions were broken, so is it really too hard to believe that Scots and Vikings can be friends?” Merida asked them.

“But your highness-” Lord MacIntosh tried again.

“Our decision is final. If it makes you feel any better I’ll be with them most of the time,” Merida told them.

“I think it’s a grand idea! Why don’t you show me your friends? The blonde one with the skulls on her skirt especially caught my eye,” Ryan told her and whispered the last part.

“Astrid? She’s engaged to the chief of Berk,” Merida whispered back, but did so anyways.

“Lord Dingwall, Lord MacGuffin, Lord MacIntosh, and Ryan, please meet the vikings of Berk. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is the chieftain of Berk, and this is his mother Valka. The rest are friends of his, and mine so no hurting them. They are Astrid, Hiccup’s betrothed and General, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, Heather, and Eret who by the way are a dragon riders,” Merida informed them.

The Lords busted out laughing while Ryan MacIntosh just seemed to be shocked.

“Dragons? My yer father sure has gotten his stories into yer head, huh Princess?” Lord DingWall asked.

“Actually, she’s telling the truth,” Hiccup intervened.

Astrid nodded and did her Deadly Nadder call. They heard a screech and suddenly Stormfly landed beside Astrid. The Lords took a step back and reached for their weapons. Young MacIntosh smiled in amazement and took a step forward.

“I can’t believe they’re real,” he whispered.

“Ryan get away from that! You don’t know what it’s capable of,” his father warned him.

“Don’t worry, they’re completely trained. Stormfly made a growl towards the Lords.

“But you need to put your weapons down,” Hiccup instructed.

“What?! That sounds-!” Lord MacIntosh immediately retorted.

“I’ll do it,” Young MacIntosh agreed and threw his sword away.

“Ryan?!” his father called.

Ryan walked closer and looked at Astrid for approval who in turn looked at Hiccup and he nodded. He told him what to do and Ryan did exactly what he told him to while everyone watched in awe. Stormfly was a bit hesitant at first but quickly got over it.

“Wow, I can’t believe she accepted you that quickly. I had to become her toy before she stopped trying to kill me,” Eret commented.

“It seems Stormfly is more accepting of others than most dragons, or people for that matter,” Hiccup told them.

“Yeah, unlike her rider,” Snotlout laughed.

Astrid elbowed him, effectively making him double over in pain.

“We see that we really have no choice, so very well we will not attack the vikings,” Lord MacGuffin agreed.

“However, if they or their dragons hurt any of our people we’ll show them what Scots are made of,” Lord DingWall warned them.

“Noted,” Hiccup replied.

“Now that that’s settled, why don’t you grab your children and your people and bring them to the castle?” Merida suggested.

“Very well your highness,” the Lords agreed and went back to their ships.

“Hmm, that went better than expected,” Hiccup told Merida. “You sure know how to handle people.”

“Well, practice makes perfect. I remember the first time I tried talking them into changing their minds,” Merida reminisced and chuckled with a snort,” I was so awkward.”

“You should teach me. I’m not the best at dealing with people,” Hiccup admitted.

“Well, from the stories you’ve told me you are quite persuasive. Mum’s much better at it than me but alright Mr. Haddock, I’ll teach you everything I know,” Merida agreed.