Hello readers! Once again I need to say how excited I am for the upcoming film! The final episode in the series genuinely stunned me. I DON'T OWN HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON! Also there is a spoiler in this chapter for the upcoming film, I've marked the just before to prevent those who want to keep it a secret reading it! Anyway enjoy!

* BOLD DIALOGUE MEANS INTERNAL THOUGHTS OF HICCUP*

(Song to listen to when reading: Dragon Battle/Not so Fireproof/New Tail/ Romantic Flight)

Chapter 2: Aftermath

Five days to go...

The sky was scarlet red, a storm was brewing above Berk. The air was filled with screams -human and dragon- and the smell of iron clung to the air...it was the smell of blood.

It all happened so fast.

Hiccups eyes snapped open to the sound of his house's door being slammed open, the teen looked at his dragon to find Toothless reflecting the same fear and confusion as his rider. The boys breathing hitched at the sound of his father becoming locked in a battle.

"Hiccup! Run!" Stoick the Vasts voice boomed, a trace of fear present as the clashing of swords filled the harsh silence upstairs. Being a Viking Hiccup was too stubborn to listen to his fathers command, and the hero inside him told him to help, not to flee.

The boy jumped from his bed -grabbing his shield from his bedside- as Toothless rushed from his own bed to begin their assault on the invaders. Hiccup almost stumbled back in fear at the sight that lay at the bottom of his stairs; there lay his father; the chief of Berk on the ground bleeding freely, Hiccup dropped his shield in utter shock.

"No!" Hiccup whispered as he contemplated what to do as Alvin laughed over his dying father. The boy raised an eyebrow, why was he laughing at Hiccup? The dragon boy was attacked from behind, two bolas were thrown at the boy and his mighty dragon courtesy of Savage -who had entered the home through Hiccups window. The teen struggled against the snake like grip of the bola.

Alvin grabbed the rope that was pressed tightly against the boy before throwing him on his back, separating the boy from his dragon. Toothless's screeches tore at Hiccups heart, fuelling his struggles against Alvin. The boys struggles increased when he realised Savage was hitting his dragon, the boy vigorously tried to get from Alvin's grip, loudly cursing Savage as he heard a crack of a whip...followed by the dragons screams.

"Toothless!" Hiccup screamed in harsh agony as his dragon coiled up in pain, the boy thrashed against Alvin but the large brute was not effected by the ninety pound boys struggles.

"Son..." Stoick coughed as he tried to reach his son, desperation lacing his pained voice but his cry fell on deaf ears as Hiccup was dragged away from his father. With one ounce of desperation Hiccup bit Alvin's hand causing the man to lose grip of his hostage. Hiccup fell to the ground with a heavy thud and without a second to lose he crawled towards his father.

"Dad, I'm sorry!" Hiccup cried burying his head into his fathers chest, his own chest heaving out quiet sobs, his dad raised a bloody hand to touch his sons cheek, leaving a scarlet imprint.

"You have your mothers eyes...never stop fighting..." Stoick chuckled softly, running his hand through his sons hair soothingly, this only caused the boy to sob- no he would stay strong...he had to and with every ounce of bravery Hiccup stopped the tears from flowing.

"Times up, boy." Alvin said grabbing Hiccups hair, the boy hissed in pain as he was harshly dragged from his fathers body by the back of his hair, his father smiled at the boy one last time before muttering an inaudible comment about how proud he was of his only son. Darkness absorbed Stoicks body...

Flames.

They engulfed the village...The screams of villagers attacked Hiccups ears. A group of Outcasts appeared with the riders of Berks Training Academy. Astrid was wounded but resilient; Snotlout was seriously injured and was being dragged by two Outcasts; Fishlegs was ironically the least scathed of all of them; the twins were wounded but were too busy admiring the flames...not the cause...just the flames.

"Their dragons have been slaughtered as you commanded, Alvin." An Outcast said causing the riders to thrash violently, shouting their dragons but there was no sign of them. "What should we do with their riders?" He asked tightening his grip on Astrid who was trying her best to escape knowing that her Stormfly was gone.

"Kill them. They are no use to me." Alvin laughed as the men placed their swords against the riders necks...The teens eyes widened in shock and disgust as the blade met their necks. Gobber had taught them all to be warriors but never to meet their death...

"No!" Hiccup screamed in horror, his struggles becoming desperate as he and Astrid made eye contact once more as she mouthed the words I love you but before Hiccup could respond the worse came. There was so much blood...

"Iccup? This is what you get for betraying me...Iccup...Iccup..."

"...Hiccup! Hiccup! Wake up!" Stoick screamed as he shook his son. The boys was flailing around, screaming in emotional turmoil, Stoick had been trying to wake the boy for a good few minutes and with one mighty shake his eyes snapped open, his breathing rapid and body covered in sweat. Hiccup struggled against his fathers tight grip causing his father to only tighten his grip instinctively.

"Son...you had a bad dream." Stoick said causing his sons shaking to calm his breathing slowed, the boy grabbed his father, giving him a powerful hug that even Stoick was surprised by. Hiccup sobbed in his fathers arms; Stoick tensed at the noise -it was a rare noise that escaped his son.

"It's okay son." Stoick said awkwardly, unsure how to react in this situation, he hugged his son, patting his back soothing him with soft ramblings. "Come on, we're going downstairs." Stoick said scooping his son into his arms causing him to become rigid, also feeling the awkwardness of the situation.

He never let Stoick carry him in years. It was awkward.

This is so awkward...

Stoick watched his son fiddle with his warm yacks milk as he poured a better remedy, the man wasn't the greatest father but when it came to nightmares he was an expert at cures, after his wife died nightmares occurred almost every night. Stoicks stomach clenched when he turned to his still distraught son.

Hiccup rarely had nightmares. It didn't take an idiot to realise something was gravely wrong. Hiccup had only cried once like that, (AN: SPOILER FOR THE UPCOMING FILM AFTER THIS NOTE!) when his mother was declared missing and likely dead after being kidnapped by dragons...Stoick had never seen his four year old son sob so violently...until tonight.

That night terrors were suspicious, whenever something traumatic happened to the boy the nightmares would return with no mercy; when Val died; when Old Wrinkly -Hiccups grandfather- died and when Hiccups cat Fiddlesticks died...so a combination of crying and night terrors would suggest a death but Stoick knew this was not possible, after all the Chief knew about all deaths on Berk. Stoick creased his eyebrows in confusion.

"Here, take this. Trader Johan gave me it as a gift many years ago." Stoick muttered handing his son the small glass of brown liquid. The now sobered up boy looked at the drink as if it was poison, and on sniffing it wrinkled his nose with disgust. "Just drink it." Stoick groaned, rolling his eyes at Hiccup, then again at least he was back to normal. The boy drunk the horrible liquid in one go and before Stoick could stop him the man rolled his eyes once again.

One...two...three

"What was that?! My throat is on fire!" Hiccup screamed as he coughed causing Toothless to tilt his head at his rider reaction. Toothless recognised the smell of the drink, his riders father had drunk many drinks of the liquid after Hiccups accident.

"It comes from this place called Scotland...they love the stuff, it helps with pain, sleeping problems and very good to get drunk!" Stoick replied allowing a chuckle to escape him as his son continued to cough. "Your supposed to take small sips."

"You could have told me that before you gave me it" Hiccup muttered drinking his milk, taking a deep breath, he composed himself once more, getting comfortable on the chair next to the fire, Toothless curled by his side. The heat felt like bliss on his scales.

"My bad...so son what was that nightmare about?" Stoick asked hesitantly, his son tensed at his question. Toothless made a loud sympathetic warble as he felt his rider beginning to panic. Stoick inwardly winced at his sons silence...usually the boy never shut up! Now he was silent, pretending he never heard his fathers question. "Hiccup." Stoick said sternly, masking his concern.

"Everyone died." Hiccup said truthfully his eyes trained on the fire. "Alvin destroyed Berk along with everyone on it." The boy finished not looking at his fathers reaction. Stoick was shocked, his son was scared...without warning, the man walked up to his son before patting him on the back.

"He won't get you son." Stoick said in a determined tone, he would get the monster for what he had done to his son.

"What if he did dad? What if I was captured and you couldn't save me? What if he killed me?" Hiccup muttered his eyes filled with pain as he looked at his stunned father. Stoick raised an eyebrow at his son before hugging him causing the boy to gap his mouth open.

"If Alvin killed you Hiccup...I would be lost, after losing your mother I don't think I could cope without you. I-I'm proud of you son; you saved Berk on numerous occasion; looked Alvin in the eye and defeated him...I don't think any Viking matches up to what you've done." Stoick said a silent tear running down his face as his son began to cry again...that explained it...Hiccup was scared of Alvin killing him and destroying Berk! Stoick promised himself there that would never happen.

"You know, your mother was always better at this whole comforting thing." Stoick chuckled causing a warm laugh to escape Hiccup lips, the man released his son, his smile tugging.

"I thought that...no offence." Hiccup said, raising his hands in a joking manner. Toothless cooed at his companions change of demeanour.

"Yeah, she always had you wrapped in her arms...she even smuggled you out into a dragon raid because she didn't want you to stay in the house alone...come to think of it she was a lot like you!" Stoick said looking at his son who narrowed his eyes playfully.

"Are you calling me a girl?" Hiccup asked, narrowing his eyes at his dad who grinned.

"You do have a women's figure" Stoick winked as Hiccup scoffed as rolled his eyes at his father. "She never slayed a dragon, she hurt them but she never had the heart to kill them...just like you." Stoick said proudly. Hiccup raised an eyebrow...his mother never slayed a dragon?

"Guess my personality was like hers too, I wish those pirates had never taken her...What was she like?" Hiccup asked nervously knowing his father was still damaged by her kidnapping, unaware of the truth behind her kidnapping.

"She was beautiful, her hair was lighter than yours and her eyes were emerald green, identical to yours. She was taller obviously and her heart was made of gold, she was kind and warm." Stoick said enjoying reminiscing about his wife.

Stoick looked at his son to find he had fallen asleep during his speech about his wife and with a soft chuckle he lifted his son back to his bed, Toothless only a few footsteps away.

The sun rose in Berk like every other morning, the terrible terrors sung on the roof tops as the day began. Toothless and Hiccup were already in the air releasing their energy before dragon training. The boy and his dragon usually spent this time creating a performance for their weekly stunt contest but today was about battle practise and purely enjoying the sensation that flying brought, Hiccup did every evasive manoeuvre he could muster and every battle tactic that emerged from his mind. After a good hour of training the Nightfury and his rider entered the training academy.

"Hello guys, today we are doing battle tactics on our dragons and warning preparations." Hiccup announced catching everyone's attention. "We'll start with warning signals and what to do in case of an attack." Hiccup announced as he ignored their groans.

"If there is ever an attack by the Outcasts we destroy the ships; if they're on dragons we get them off the dragons. Once this has been done we open the top of the arena and drop them into here, an allocated villager will stand by that door and insure they don't escape." Hiccup stated as he gestured the dragon academy, his green eyes full of determination.

"The warning signal for an attack is by using your dragon call, followed by a flame blown directly above your location." Hiccup commanded as the others nodded, apart from Snotlout who merely rolled his eyes at his cousin, after all he and Hookfang were warriors, they didn't need back up.

"Sounds easy enough." Astrid said jumping on her dragon, ready to learn battle tactics. The others followed her hint. "Secondly everyone take a horn, in case of an attack blow it and the rest of us will come running, in case all else fails." Hiccup said ignoring the teenagers complaining about going out for a flight.

"So we can blow stuff up?" Tuffnut asked excitedly like a high strung child.

"If it is an Outcast boat? Fire at will." Hiccup said darkly as he jumped on Toothless who gave him an anxious growl of concern.

"Awesome! Who's Will?" Ruffnut asked tilting her head.

"First I'm going to teach you the stall, in battle if your opponent has a larger dragon their weight can be used against them, their angle of attack isn't as sharp as a slimmer, lighter dragon. For example Snotlout fly directly up parallel with Astrid. When you begin to drop Snotlout do a loop to counter to additional speed." Hiccup commanded as the two complied, as both dragons flew Hookfang quickly began to stop before plummeting head first towards the ground, Astrid and Stormfly continued to fly vertically. Hookfang quickly twisted upright before doing a loop causing Snotlout to scream only to receive an eye roll from his dragon. Astrid stopped as soon as Hookfang levelled out.

"Wow, how did you learn that?" Fishlegs asked as he and Meatlug hovered next to the nightfury. Hiccup smiled at his friend.

"My first flight." Hiccup said as he and Toothless demonstrated the following tactics...

The sun began to fall and the teens finished for the day. Hiccup and Toothless smiled at the skills the academy had gained in one day. It gave him hope...if Alvin did try to attack in the future that they would be able to defend Berk.

"Remember guys, tomorrow is reconnaissance!" Hiccup shouted as he landed outside the arena with Astrid...wait Astrid?

"Hiccup we need to talk..."

Thors hammer help me.

"Hiccup, what was that about?" Astrid said softly, her voice filled with concern when she addressed the lesson the flight academy had just taken. The boy sighed as he walked with the girl towards the forest, knowing his talk was going to take a while.

"I had a nightmare last night Astrid." Hiccup admitted as he looked at her soft blue eyes she is so beautiful in the moonlight. "With Alvin near I just think we should be aware that he could attack with or without dragons...we need to be ready." Hiccup finished itching his neck, not noticing Toothless as he ran ahead with Stormfly to chase the wildlife.

"Why? Do you think he has something planned?" Astrid asked placing her hand on her friends shoulder. Toothless and Stormfly spotted a near by dear and decided to chase the terrified buck as their riders spoke.

"I think Alvin is trying...is going to kill me." Hiccup said allowing those words to escape his mouth unwillingly, he didn't want anyone but it was destroying him...after all it would help them cope...right?

"We wouldn't let him." Astrid said determined and stern as he soft blue eyes turned hard with rage by the thought of Alvin killing her boyfr-her friend. This demeanour faltered though when she saw the concern...the pain on Hiccups face. That failed.

"Astrid, if he ever catches me and...kills me I want you to take control of Berks Dragon Training Academy...and I want you to take the role of Toothless rider to keep his skills sharpened" Hiccup said soberly as he finally reached the cove where Toothless and Stormfly were playing with the deer, his dragon glanced around at the sound, dropping the buck who ran off into the dense area of the forest, Toothless then decided play fighting with Stormfly sounded more exciting.

"Hiccup don't be ridiculous!" Astrid snapped lightly punching the boy. She looked at Hiccup, he was watching Toothless again...he could never keep his attention on her when he was upset.

"Also... if Alvin captures me and the situation looks bleak, run and call for help...don't stay with me...don't try to fight, your a warrior Astrid but he'd use you against me, he knows I'm protective over you... Berk comes first. I say this to you because I know the others wouldn't risk their life to protect me if their own lives were endangered." Hiccup said as he looked into the cove. Astrid gasped at his words. "Promise me." Hiccup said turning; grabbing her shoulders; lightly shaking her.

"I Promise." Astrid said with a heavy sigh as she looked sadly at the boy. Hiccup grabbed Astrid into a hug causing the girl to smile softly at the contact. "But you need to promise me if he does capture you, you will escape." Astrid said holding the boy who let out a deep sigh, a heavy pain stabbed him.

"I promise Astrid." Hiccup said as he pulled out from the hug, receiving a warm kiss from the girl, the boy did not pull away, Astrid placed her hands behind his neck as their kiss continued.

Stormfly and Toothless tilted their heads at their humans silly behaviour before returning to their play fight...not realising their riders were thinking thinking the very same about their behaviour...

Hours later...

Hiccup stealthy entered his home, his Night fury lurking within the shadows of his home. I can make it past my dad...I can make it past my dad...Hiccup kept telling himself as he watched out for his father.

"Hiccup, your late. You know with- why is your hair messy and-you didn't!" Stoick said realising what his son had been up to...he had been with the Hofferson girl, his lips were swollen, he looked no more.

"Dad! I-I was flying!" Hiccup lied as Toothless made a low rumble that sounded rather similar to a snicker. Stoick boomed a loud laugh at his sons feeble excuse, he remembered back in the day when he would do the same with Val.

"Son, don't lie to me. When did you and Astrid become a item?" Stoick asked causing his son to blush fiercely as he walked upstairs, refusing to have "the discussion" with his father, the man laughed as the boy stormed upstairs Toothless repeating his own laugh...

WARNING I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THE SPOILER, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW DON'T READ! It was recently released that Hiccups mother was kidnapped by dragons when he was still in his crib. The interview can be found of the How to Train your Dragon grapevine! It makes sense why Hiccup and Stoick never speak too much into her, during the Christmas special they say "when someone you love isn't here you celebrate them." and during Breakneck Bog when Hiccup is like "When mom...well you know." Anyway I hoped you enjoyed the third instalment of Blackmail! In the fiction, Hiccup is not aware of this, he believes his mother was kidnapped by pirates...