Authors note: Welcome to another How To Train Your Dragon fanfic from yours truly. I have written a few from a Ruffstrid to a shocking turn with a tale of betrayal with the pairing of Snotstrid. One that dealt with slaying and another that was a hiccstrid. In this tale set in the new series, well, more like into the great beyond past the thirteen episodes…I will see Hiccup and Astrid together as was with the previous entries in the series television wise Hiccstrid was never was given much air to breathe as Hiccup was always focused on other projects. This first chapter will be quite…well…sad as any parting is but I shall let you read for yourself as I will stop talking…now-

Dragons: Race to the edge

Flight of love

CH.1: End of the dream

Hiccup Haddock stood near the cliff's edge of the home of the Dragon Riders. The breeze stirred up his long brown hair and his green eyes took in the never ending sea. Together he and his friends had mapped out uncharted worlds and discovered new dragons…a feat most would tag impossible. They had handled being on their own pretty well…but…like all dreams an end would eventually be met. In this case a part of ways that Hiccup had dreaded…but…for some reason was ok with.

"Hiccup you wanted to see us?" Hiccup took a breath and turned around seeing Astrid along with Fishlegs, Snotlout, the twins Ruff and Tuff, all of them were here. He felt his throat go tight but he knew that this had to be done.

"Thank you all for coming…I won't keep you long. Look…we have achieved great things together, all of us, we have beat the odds and relocated dragons giving them new homes. We have made a difference out here…and…I'd just like to say thank you."

"That was it…man what a waste…" Snotlout shook his head and Hiccup shot him a stare that quieted him from continuing.

"Right now looking at all of you…I can tell what is on your mind-."

"Bet you can't tell what is on my mind, go ahead, I dare you," Tuffnut said, his fingers were pressed into the side of his head and his eyes closed.

"Uh Tuffnut…it was just a figure of speech, of course I can't tell what is on your mind." Hiccup sighed as after all this time he still fell into their nonsense.

"Ha…see you can't read minds…oh I was thinking Ruffnut needs a bath, she hasn't bathed in a week because everytime she bathes she gets dirty. How is that working for you sis?"

Ruffnut shrugged and sniffed her own armpit. "It doesn't smell that bad…and besides…have you seen me get dirty at all…yeah that is cause it is working."

"Look you two…what I meant was…I know you know where this is going. We have been out here now for a bit and …it is time to part ways." Hiccup looked at each face and could see the sadness and even Snotlout appeared uncomfortable.

"Hiccup you can't mean…no this can't be…after all this why now?" Astrid's voice was choked and Hiccup wanted to hug her…but he held back as he tried to remain focused.

"We have accomplished what we set out to do…there is nothing more we can do. It is time to go back to Berk…to our families. This outpost has been our home away from home but now…it is time to resume our normal lives again. Some of us will be moving on to new and exciting positions while others…well…back to what they do best I suppose."

"Was he talking about us?" Tuffnut noted.

"I think he was talking about one of us," Ruffnut shrugged and pointed to Tuffnut.

"Hey were you just pointing at me…I'll have you know I have something in mind once we get back…so…don't expect any pranking…at least for a while."

Hiccup shook his head as he felt this was getting out of hand once again. "Look…I don't want us to part ways like this. I want us to remember the good times we had out here…the difference we made and how that all those dragons are safe. Dagur has been stopped and maybe we can finally take a break from being pulled in too many places at once."

"Yeah…well…I'm not going to miss any of you, Hookfang and I are perfectly content being on our own, right Hookfang?" Snotlout looked over and saw his dragon ignoring him.

"Take all the time you need to get your things and then head out when you are ready. We will still see each other though…so…this isn't goodbye. I'm not sure when we will all be riding together again but we should definitely try and stay in touch." Hiccup walked over to them and together they gave each other a long hug. Inside he knew this was the right thing to do…that it was time they all went their separate ways instead of staying out here and continuing what was meant for only one person.

"Meatlug and I will probably be at the Dragon Academy continuing to educate the younger generation about dragons…you are more than welcome to sit in on one of my lectures…I'll always have some seats available." Fishlegs sniffed and slowly walked away.

"I'll probably see if Gobber still needs help in the armory…I'm always good with sharp things, um, no one show up though if they need their weapon sharpened…I won't be available…I mean I'll be there but probably too busy to talk to any of you…so…yeah…" Snotlout huffed as he walked off and sniffed once out of sight.

"I think I might actually try and clean up my image some…been thinking about maybe getting a boy as a friend, been too busy out here to really do that…lest you are interested Hiccup." Ruffnut walked over and Hiccup tried his best not to inhale a week without bathing from her.

"I'm flattered Ruffnut…but…boy am I going to be busy, no girls in my future." Hiccup saw her shrug and walked off.

"Yeah well…girls can be a pain and from the ones on berk they all appear to have too much hair for my taste. I like my girls with an attitude…so I will focus on changing my image up some, turn over a new rock. Guess it is…hey wait…Ruffnut I need a ride back!"

Hiccup smiled watching as Tuffnut hurried after his sister. That only left…Astrid. She was holding herself as she joined him by the cliff's edge and together they looked out imagining life back on Berk.

"You're not leaving…are you?" Astrid's words cut through him pretty hard…but…not because it was mean or tough but on account of the truth to it.

"Astrid…all of you have something to do in Berk, all of you have your specialties…but me…I wouldn't know what to do with myself. Out here I am making a difference…out here I am mapping out the world of dragons expanding our knowledge and learning of new islands we've barely touched. There are still dragons out here needing our help…to be gained as allies. My father will understand…he'd want me out here where I can do the most good."

Hiccup turned to face Astrid and then he felt her strong arms thrown around him. He closed his arms around her as well…his body close to hers and his eyes closed. It pained him to part ways with the most important person to him…and yet…it had to be done. Hiccup was set…if he went back to Berk he'd likely end up working for Gobber again or doing odds and end jobs for his dad…never really allowed too far from the island.

"What about me Hiccup…what about us?" Astrid pulled back at arms-length as she gave him a stare with those deep blue eyes of hers.

"Well…you have the Berk Guard…remember? And us…I mean…is there an us? Oh sure you have kissed me a few times and punched me…but…I've never been clear about us. I mean…where do we even begin there?"

Hiccup saw a flood of emotions on Astrid's face and he realized he said the wrong thing. However as Astrid leaned in he expected one of her kisses but instead she just pressed her head against his. There was sadness…a resignation there. "Hiccup…you were always special to me…you were my everything. I am sorry I didn't make that clearer…a girl can do only so much to get a guy's attention. I hope you find what you are looking for out here…cause you won't find it back at Berk."

"Astrid what you are saying?" Hiccup watched as she slowly backed away and he reached out to her, it felt like this was really goodbye…it shouldn't be…

"Hiccup…you always placed the dragons before anyone else…you were set on bridging the gap…to bring peace between Vikings and Dragons. You then went about tackling those who would harm dragons…others who did not understand the new way of the Viking. Once all that was done with you weren't content…you were set on exploring the islands…expanding and now even after that…you still aren't satisfied. When is enough Hiccup huh…when is it time to just stop? I can't do this anymore…if this is where your heart is…good…I'm glad for you. I'm leaving now Hiccup…I can't wait forever for you."

"Astrid…no…" Hiccup took another step but Astrid was already running off. In that instant he was alone, in the next hour everyone was gone making the place feel as it was when they first arrived. Toothless sat beside him and he broke down crying. He had sure made a mess of things hadn't he?

Authors note: I realize it is a long chapter but I wanted to set up the dilemma…also I wished to touch upon Hiccup's fault as a character, something I find truly annoying throughout the incarnations of the series, however is this really the end for Hiccup and Astrid? Next chapter we go back to Berk and so on and so forth.