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After their mother-daughter talk last night, the two headed to Astrid's hut not waiting for the two men and one lad to return. Helka told her daughter to rest for she needed strength and the right mind to cope with her current situation.

Certain that her daughter was fast asleep, Helka went back to the Clubhouse to talk to her husband and the Chief. She still couldn't believe that her mother's findings were real.

"Where is Astrid?" Hiccup asked as soon as he saw her walking. Helka smiled. The three of them ~ she, Asmunŕ, and Stoick ~ were proven to be extra right every time they encounter Hiccup and Astrid, that they sure do care a lot about each other.

Stoick was right to tell both Helka and Asmundŕ about the hunters. Astrid wouldn't tell them any minor detail about it. She wanted to keep the worries all to herself. That's how she is and as her mother, Helka was used to that. However, no one can remove her fears and worries as her mother.

She had tried her best to convince little Astrid to become a healer, to experiment with herbs, to discover new plants and cures for illness but Astrid knew what she wanted to be at such a young age.

She was born to be a warrior. A shieldmaiden. A fearless lass. Helka did everything she could to reason with her, sure she herself is a warrior like her husband but that's the reason why she doesn't want her daughter to be one... she knows how hard it is to be one. The danger, the attacks, the possibilities are endless.

But being an offspring of the Hofferson Clan, Astrid is surely stubborn. And sometimes, even though she didn't like to admit it, that quality helps. It took her years to finally accept her daughter's wishes and since then, she supported her wholeheartedly.

Even in venturing beyond the boarders of Berk's archipelago.

Her little Astrid is no longer little and has grown beautifully into a fine lass.

And now, she's facing a rare side effect from the Crimson-Blue Flora. But something seems wierd. The symptoms were somehow different. Freya, her mother's book says that there will be hallucinations about the person you think about the most but what Astrid was experiencing right now wasn't ordinary hallucinations.

It was some kind of an illusion where anyone she looks at turns out to have the same appearance as him. Not the common symptoms that you'll imagine the person either living a dream with them or a horrible nightmare that you'll think off as your reality.

Apparently, Astrid's condition has extras. But maybe her mother's researches weren't exactly complete. Maybe Freya forgot to write someofthe details. She always seems to forget once she hot distracted anyways.

"Darling, Hiccup asked you a question." Asmundŕ's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Oh, that's right. She's fine Hiccup. I'm sure Astrid would appreciate it if you take aome rest as well."

"Okay, thanks Mrs. Hofferson."

"Call me Helka dear."

Hiccup couldn't help but wonder why did Helka took long to answer his question. Could it be that there's something going on with Astrid? What is she hiding from him? She's been acting weird all thay long and he hasn't got a clue what is the reason behind it. He just hopes that she'll be fine.

Following Helka's suggestion, Hiccup headed straight to his to get some rest. Astrid would want him to rest. He couldn't help her if he, himself, is tired. He let the darkness took over him and made sure to himself that he will find out what's bugging Astrid the next morning.

Meanwhile, three adults stood in the Clubhouse.

"Alright, what's going on Helka? I know there is, so please do tell. Astrid is my daughter too."

"Oh, Asmundŕ, I only have more than half a clue of what is happening. I'm more anxious of what might come after."

"Why, what is it?" Stoick asked.

"Astrid wounded herself by the Crimson-Blue Flora. As a result, she has been hallucinating and anyone she sees is turning into Hiccups one by one." Helka explained.

The two mem don't need more explanation for they have fair knowledge of what Helka is talking about. Stoick heard that flower from Gothi and Freya ~ when she was still alive. As the chief of the Hooligan Tribe, he has the privilege to know the new discoveries that happens around.

Hence, him saying, "Nothing happens on this island without me knowing about."

As for Asmundŕ since Freya is his mother-in-law and Helka is his wife who were both healers, they've told him about their discoveries from time to time.

"Looks like Odin has been agreeing with us! She does like Hiccup. This might be a perfect opportunity for them both." Stoick grinned.

"Yeah, after a long time of waiting, they're finally going to happen." Asmundŕ added.

"I'm not so thrilled about this. Those two would have come together on their own but this..." Helka trailed off unsure how to say her thoughts.

"What is it?" Her husband asked.

"The symptoms, Asmundŕ. It's the symptoms. They weren't complete and they have some extra effects. I feared that there maybe something more to it than this." She answered truthfully.

This made the two men change their expressions from a happy one to a grim one. They know about the case of the Crimson-Blue Flora but they were not as close to memorizing each and every facts of it like Helka.

"What do you think will happen?" Asmundŕ couldn't help but worry all of a sudden. He couldn't help it. Astrid is his only child and daughter, his instincts as a father were starting to kick-in.

"We wait. I advised her to sleep for now. We'll see what happenes tomorrow. She'll be under my observation and I'm going to need your help with that."

"Aye, what can we do to help her?" Stoick questioned. She may not be his relative but Stoick cared for Astrid like his daughter that he never have. The same care the Hofferson couple has for Hiccup, the son they never have.

"Fly back to Berk, the two of you. Get Gothi, she'll know what to do. I'll try my best to help Astrid."

"I need to be back at Berk anyway, still got some chiefting to do. Asmundŕ will take Gothi here, keep me updated through terror mail." With that, Stoick mounted on Skullcrusher.

Asmundŕ mounting his Deadly Nadder, Spike. "Take care of yourself and our daughter." He said to his wife. Helka nodded. "You and the chief do the same."

Astrid was lying in her bed. She woke up shortly after she fell asleep when her mother was still with her. She needs rest and she will force herself to have some if she must. She just hopes that by the morning, she'll discover that everything was all a dream and everything will be okay.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

Astrid fluttered her eyes open.

Black.

Darkness.

Nothing but that. That's all she sees everywhere.

She blinked. Nothing change. She rubbed her eyes. It's still the same. Black and Darkness.

Is it midnight? Did her mother forgot to leave the light on and that's why it's so dark? Or is she in somekind of dream.

Whatever it is, she was... frightened. She didn't know what to do. She hopes the sun rises up soon.

"Good Morning, Astrid." She knew that voice. It's her mother's.

"Mom? Is that you? Where are you? Please wake me up. I don't like the dream I'm having." She pleaded. She was getting more and more scared by the minute.

"Oh, Astrid. What are you talking about. You are awake. I'm right here beside you." Helka said. "Wait, is there something wrong?"

"Everything is black. I don't see you anywhere."

Hope you like it :)

Hi guys, so sorry for this very late update. It was supposed to be last week but we have wifi problems so it was delayed.

Anyway I hope you like it.

Thank you for voting, commenting, following, and adding my works to your reading lists. It meant a lot. And even though, I haven't been active for a while, you guys never fail to support. Thanks a million for that. I hope I make it up to you with this and the following chapters.

Thanks again.