Outcast Island could be seen in the distance. A man, a boy and a dragon -an unlikely trio- were allies in the perilous attempt to save Stoick the Vast, and time was running out.

Hiccup knew he had to seize the opportunity to know more about the 20-year-old events his father so strongly refused to discuss about… Although Hiccup had been taught all his life that Alvin was an enemy of Berk, he knew that the man was his best chance to discover the truth.

So, Alvin had disobeyed his father's orders. And there were a few…. Injuries, the bulky man said. This sounded so familiar to Hiccup… his ever-going rivalry with Snoutlout…. History has a strange way to repeat itself.

But Alvin didn't get any further. It was time to go and save Stoick.

Fortunately, their rescue mission, against all the odds, was a success. Better still, Stoick at last, at long last, forgave Alvin.

CHAPTER ONE

A few days after Dagur was defeated, Hiccup's head was still full of questions. He knew more than before, but that was not enough. How could his father be so angry with his former best friend, Alvin, for as long as twenty years? Of course, Stoick was stubborn… and Hiccup did know what anger was, too. Snoutlout made that too easy for him, often enough. But in the end, the teens would always patch things up, somehow.

« Injuries »… what kind of injuries? And, surely this word meant no one got killed… right?

He was so lost in his thoughts, it didn't go unnoticed, especially by Astrid.

Confident since the two men were friends again, Hiccup decided to ask his father once more… The chief of Berk was busy carving a wooden duck, a relaxing time after a rough day.

« Hey, Dad… »

« Yes, son ? What is it ? »

Hiccup tried to sound as casual as he could be. « So… looks like you had your own Snotlout to deal with, when you were young…»

Stoick's smiling face suddenly changed to a stern look. « I should have known you'd be trying to find out… Now, we've been through this, son. This discussion is over »

« Wh..what ? I.. I don't understand, why do you.. »

« ENOUGH ! »

Even when the room went silent, Stoick's last word still echoed in Hiccup's ears.

The teen stood there, silent, frozen. Stoick's suddenly sorrowful eyes looked away, and nothing more could be obtained from the man. For Hiccup, it at once felt as if the old days were back again. No reaching. No communication.

He turned around, rushed to the door, opened it and ran away, without a back glance.

Guilt and sadness gnawing at him, Hiccup turned to the man he had always trusted, the one who had been a second father to him, the one who actually raised him, in the heat and noise and smell of the smithy.

He found Gobber at his usual place, in the middle of sharpening an axe. Peace was just made, but vikings were still… well, vikings!

Hello, everyone ! The finale of Defenders of Berk paved the way for new ideas... so this is my first fanfiction, reviews and constructive comments are welcome ! Also, many thanks to my two readers, Schnuckles and NightShadefromSweden, who help me a lot !

I hope you'll like the journey. Be careful though, it might get sad at some point...

Thanks for reading !