Sweden could not set sail without the requisite skills for a sailor, as Norway said.

First of all, he learnt to fight.

As a precaution against unwanted injuries, Norway prepared two wooden swords for Denmark and Sweden.

"Alright Sverige. Today I'll teach you to fight like a real mighty Viking, watch me carefully. Bring it on, Norge, attack me as you please!"

"I won't be gentle, bror." Norway pounced on him with a hammer.

A fierce axe-against-hammer fight broke out, seeming to end up with a stalemate considering the two's overwhelming power. Talking about Sweden, he remained unmoved, leisurely watching his friends while pecking at some candies.

"Gyah...agh...agh... that hurts! Ok, ok, you won, let me go!" Denmark was lying prone on the ground, with his two arms grabbed and bent backwards by Norway, now sitting on his body.

"Such a nuisance, bror." said Norway, "See it all Sverige, from now on you just have to follow Danmark."

"I yielded to him, on purpose!" Denmark tried to justify himself, "Hold your sword Sverige, today you'll be taught how to defend."

It surprised the elder two that Sweden caught on with an incredible pace, as if he'd been taught the things in advance. Only a little more progress would raise him to the level of elite among swordsmen.

"Sverige, you should try fighting Danmark, I can see your notable talent." Norway suggested.

"I don't th'nk I'm c'pable of..."

"It doesn't matter, right, Danmark?" Norway cut off.

"Of course, fire proves gold, adversity proves men ! Also, not many have the great honor of combating me." Denmark couldn't hold back his exhilaration.

"Well ya said th't... Let's f'ght then."

As soon as their mock combat kicked off, Denmark rushed towards his opponent with excitement. In spite of his startling speed, nonetheless, Sweden never failed to dodge the other's blade, waiting for the ruffled-haired to show some weaknesses.

"Not that kind of bare defense against me, at least try to counter-attack!" Having said that, Denmark couldn't deny that Sweden's defense was, without a shadow of doubt, flawless. He would sooner or later exhaust, unless he attempted to make a final move right away.

"Sverige, you lost..." Denmark jumped up before aiming his sword's point downwards, ready to strike.

Clack!

"Wh... Where is he?" Denmark's sword hit only the ground beneath, surprising the boy, until...

"Gyah, MY BOTTOM!"

The attacker let out an ear-piercing shriek, as Sverige's sword pricked his lower part.

Let's return to several seconds before then. As soon as Denmark plunged in, Sweden immediately slid over the opponent's two opening legs, at the same time "tenderly" pricked him in the butt while lying on the ground.

"My goodness! How could you be that cruel?" Denmark tried to conceal the pain.

"Hn." Sweden muttered.

Norway could not help bursting into laughter at the sight. Never before had he expected that day to come, when he saw Denmark being that embarrassed.

"What are you laughing at?! It... it's just a crying shame!" Denmark's face turned bright red, as he gazed at Sweden resentfully.

"Alright, no more making fun of you... hmmpphh... Sverige, isn't it that you have practiced fighting with a sword before?"

"I w'tched the swordsmen p'ssing by my home, and imit'ted them."

"You're truly endowed with it. Your current skills are enough to challenge any gangs on board. Danmark, build a ship along with Sweden, as we need one to continue our journey."

"What about you?" asked Denmark.

"You two just carry out, I've got another thing to deal with first."

***

"Building a ship is something that a real Viking must know all the ins and outs. Traveling without an acceptable vessel is no more than a discomfiture. You understand?" asked Denmark.

"Hm."

"Know what to do with timber?"

"Ja."

"Then you have to follow all my instructions, get it?"

And so, a Viking ship started to get its shape.

"Remember, an ideal ship is one with sufficient strength as to persevere through vigorous waves. In addition, its keel needs to be firm and flexible to move smoothly between icebergs as well as frozen waters. That's the distinguishable features of a Viking ship, interesting right?", said Denmark.

"Ja, but... wh't are ya doing with th't log?" Sweden questioned, seeing Denmark carving something on the wooden surface.

"I'm making a dragon head for our ship, it will cast out evil spirits. Beautiful right?"

"Cute" Sweden commented.

"No way! At least you should say it's frightening, or else how would the demons go away?"

"But it's r'lly cute." Sweden wouldn't change his answer.

"OK, go make one if you're that skillful! Saying that heartbreaking statement, after all my efforts putting on it... I'd take a rest now." Denmark sulked.

"Hn."

Let's see what you are going to create! If that dude sucks, Norge will expel him of his own accord... Haha, it serves you right, daring to put me to shame in front of Norge! , Denmark thought.

Half a day later...

"Get up, lazybones! Why are you lying here?" Norway shook Denmark to wake his friend up.

"Uwoah... Nor? Eh? It's twilight already?" The boy hadn't completely been dragged out of his dream.

"You lazy ass, leaving Sverige working alone!"

"Sverige? Oh, he said he could do the work on his own and told me to rest..."

In fact Denmark had successfully got Sweden out of his mind, as now he was expecting to see a tattered, lousy vessel. Let's see how he's going to react as Norge's up in arms.

.

.

"WHAT THE HECK..." Denmark uttered in disbelief.

The shocked boy slapped his own face to ensure he wasn't trapped in a dream. That was the most magnificent ship he'd ever seen, and the dragon head carved by Sweden looked utterly imposing, doubtlessly much better than his pathetic work.

"Heaven! You've struck me for sure, I've never expected you to be such a sculptor." Norway praised with tremendous admiration, as it would possibly take him another hundred years to do the same thing.

"Outer appearance tells nothing, if it isn't able to sail." Denmark intervened.

"About th't matter, I've m'de a few ch'nges in c'nstruction to m'ke sailing more conv'nient..." Sweden started to elaborate, "I rebuilt the hull for c'rrying a hundred men without c'psizing or g'tting burdened; it c'n also travel upstream. It might look th't huge but actually fairly l'ght, so we c'n move it onto 'nd across land qu'te easily..."

"So we can travel further inland now, right?" asked Norway.

"Ex'ctly, it'll be p'ssible to conquer more territories."

"Sverige, you're cut out to be a first-class Viking."

.

.

This Swede is truly an innate Viking... Then I must go to great lengths to catch up with him, no, to surpass his level! And Norge will admire me more than that dude, yes, certainly. Denmark thought.

"Sverige, I've got a present for you. Open it." Norway gave Sweden a long pack covered in leather.

"Th's is..."

Sweden gazed at the sword Norway gave him in shock. "Ya've made it for all day?"

"Yes, cause I think you need a weapon. I've got a hammer, Danmark has his axe, and you are a real expert in combating with swords."

"B't... Why do ya h've to do so?"

"You're our friend, and it's nothing unusual to support your brothers. Our Viking trio is not different from a family, for sure." Norway smiled.

Sweden could not control his flooding emotions at those moving words. He finally got a real home, a shelter filled with affections and compassion he'd had a yen for. What else in this world could make him absorb a greater happiness?

"Norge, th'nk you..." Sweden tried to hold back the tears welling up in his eyes.

"Don't be too touched."

Norge spent a whole day just to make that sword for him? He's never given anything to me, and that smile too... He's never smiled at me the same way. What's special about that Sverige guy? Why does Norge have to be so gentle? Why...? An array of questions echoed in the ruffled-haired boy's mind. An uncontrollable feeling of envy and resentment cast over him whenever seeing the new companion. What's your real intention, Sverige? I'll keep my eyes peeled on how longer you could fake it.

That night, the three boys stayed up watching the splendor of Northern lights. Norway tell ancient mythologies for his two closest mates, one of whom was not really pleased, however.

"Tomorrow before heading to the south, I'd like to take you to see a person."

"Who is that?"

"A friend of mine. She's adorable and you'll soon get along with her."

"I really h'pe for tom'rrow."

"Me... too..." said Denmark. Just this irritating dude isn't enough yet, and now I'm greeting another trouble maker. Urg. Well, it seemed that he couldn't sleep a wink that night.

.

"Danmark, I've g't a thing...", Sweden couldn't finish as Denmark cut him off.

"I need nothing from you. Good night." The displeased boy cuddled into his blanket.

"W'll, then... G'd night, too." Sweden replied. Maybe he doesn't like it, so I will play with this cute thing. Sweden smiled, holding the small toy made from the failed dragon head of Danmark.

Another journey had raised its curtain for the young voyagers...

Author's note: Denmark's little dragon head. Lovely, isn't it? :D