"Who are you, exactly?" Hiccup asked in immense confusion.

"Eric Ironside," the man stared back eerily.

"So. Uh, where's your dragon? I bet me and Hookfang scared him off," Snotlout said arrogantly.

Eric laughed boomingly. After a few minutes, he calmed himself down and was able to breathe again.

"Silly boy. I AM the dragon."

Everyone's eyes widened while their jaws dropped.

"Whoa, man," Tuffnut began. "Just because you're ugly like a dragon doesn't mean you are one."

Eric turned around and shot blue fire at Tuffnut, barely missing him by inches, but close enough to ignite his hair.

He then sprouted wings. The same huge, white wings he did as a dragon.

He unsheathed his claws and revealed his horns.

"Okay. He's the dragon. I stand corrected," Tuffnut said.

"Why are you here?" Hiccup asked, trying to hide his awe.

"To deliver you your punishment."

"Punishment for what?"

"Your sins against dragons."

"WAIT, WHAT?!" everyone exclaimed.

"No. No way. Whatever wild and wacky idea you have of us and dragons, I'm sure you're mistaken," Hiccup said.

"Me? Mistaken?!" Eric said in an angry manner. "I see the way you primitive lifeforms abuse and mistreat dragons. You force them to carry you and your belongings, cage them like common livestock and beat them when they disobey your command! You stain and tarnish the power and grace of dragons!"

Eric stomped his foot on a chair and readied to fire his breath. The riders unsheathed their swords and axes, with their dragons charging their own breaths.

"Alright, everyone, calm down," Hiccup said, standing and raising his arms towards both sides. "We can resolve this peacefully or violently." He then turned his head towards Eric.

"The choice is yours."

After a minute, Eric lowered his foot and closed his mouth. The others backed down as well.

"Listen to me, Eric. We are just as caring towards dragons as you are. I saved my Night Fury by fixing his tail, and he has repaid me by saving my butt countless times. When you earn a dragon's trust, there is nothing it won't do for you. We also rescue dragons, probably from the humans that you are after."

"The dragon hunters," Astrid said, putting the pieces together. "They've been scattered across the archipelago ever since Drago failed to conquer Berk, possibly splitting into different factions."

"Even Viggo, Ryker, Dagur or Krogan could not bring them all back together. Even with their forces scattered, it doesn't make them less dangerous," Fishlegs added.

"We need to know where you come from," Hiccup asked.

Again, Eric laughed. "Hiccup, don't you remember? I am your cousin."

"Uhhhhhh… come again," a dumbfounded Hiccup responded.

"My mother, Freydis Ironside, was the sister of your mother, Valka. Ask her yourself."

"I will. Anything else?" Hiccup attempted to act calm, but deep down was full of fear. Enough for Eric to smell it off him.

At that moment, another dragon entered the hut. It looked identical to Eric's dragon form, but its scales were a darker gray, and it was smaller than he was.

"Ah, Liliana, I trust the trip was not too rough on your wings?" Eric asked excitedly, giving the dragon a nice scratch. The dragon gave a gentle roar in response, happily smiling.

Meanwhile, the dragons and riders were on edge, weapons drawn and fangs beared.

"Relax," Eric assured. "This is Liliana, my comrade, best friend, and bride-to-be."

The dragon then produced a bright white light that blinded everyone in the hut. When the light receded, the dragon vanished, and in its place was a beautiful blond woman of fair skin and red eyes, similar to Eric's. She wore horns, but they were smaller than his, and she wore silver plated armor.

"Greetings," she began with a bow. "I am Liliana Rolfe, daughter of the shieldmaiden Hervor.

Eric shared a kiss with Hervor before going back to business.

"Hiccup Haddock, I believe that you and your friends are lovers and supporters of dragonkind. However, those 'dragon hunters' you speak of are no allies of mine. I say we prove to everyone throughout the archipelago and beyond the power that humans and dragons can wield together. What do you say?"

Eric extended his hand towards Hiccup.

With just a smile and a nod, Hiccup responded with a handshake. Cheering and roaring was heard throughout the hut.