Everything had gone so awry. It all happened so quickly, it was almost like a big blur. Screams, shouts, nearly being killed by a Monstrous Nightmare, and now he was being held back by the girl he'd had a crush on since he could tell the difference between genders.

But he took no notice of this. All he could see was his dragon, his best friend, being tackled and subdued by the villagers, his supposed " family ". That was simply not acceptable. By any means.

" Let me go, Astrid." Hiccup murmured. And she knew that even if she refused, it wouldn't matter. She knew that tone. It was as strong and firm as any steel. If he inherited one thing from his people, it was stubbornness. Astrid saw his eyes. They matched his voice. The normal, bright, glittering emerald was hard, cold, like when he told her that he wouldn't divulge the Nest's location so he could protect Toothless. He'd made up his mind, and although Astrid had no idea what he was going to do, she had to trust that it was the right decision. Even though the last time she did that led to this.

So she let him go.

And he'd smiled at her, and charged toward the struggle between his best friend and his family.

But he knew which side he was on. And in that moment, he realizes he's known all along.