I neither own nor claim any rights to "How to Train Your Dragon"

Sunset

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, had fallen ill almost a week ago, and had been getting worse day by day. After keeping a steady eye on him for the last few days, the healers reached the conclusion they didn't want to say, and that nobody wanted to hear. But there was no denying the truth. Hiccup, First Rider and former chief of Berk, was dying. He would soon be joining his beloved Astrid, who had died a little under a year earlier, in Valhala.

Erick Haddock I stood with his wife, Shara Thorston who was holding their second son, Stoick Haddock II, looking down at Hiccup as he lay sleeping, his breathing ragged and labored even in sleep. The healers were sure that Hiccup would not recover. His aged body was simply unable to sustain itself any longer. When Hiccup was last awake, he insisted that he wasn't in pain. Just very tired. He had fallen asleep before the healers gave their prognosis.

Erick I turned to Shara and reached out a gentle hand to her shoulder. "Why don't you take the baby to your parents' house, love. Something tells me that he won't like it if anyone else is around when I tell him."

Shara might have been offended at being dismissed like that, had it been any other circumstance, had it been anyone other than the former Chief. But her husband, the current Chief, was right. Hiccup had always been a private man. He always kept personal strife to himself, in an attempt to shield his people from worry and doubt. She nodded and rested her hand on her husband's shoulder. "It'll be alright," she said, trying to bolster her husband's spirits.

Erick turned to look at her, and forced a smile. He knew that she meant that with time, the pain would be gone, replaced with fond memories, and he knew that she was right. But he had just been told that his father was dying. There was a gaping hole blasted metaphorically into his heart, and it hurt. He was the Chief, and Hiccup's son. He felt that it was his duty to be the one to tell his father, who had been asleep when the healer gave her statement.

Chief Erick waited for about half an hour before his father woke up. The old man looked at him with a smile, his green eyes missing the usual twinkle he had known for so long. "Hey, dad," he said, fighting to keep his voice steady.

"I know that look, son.," Hiccup said. "What's wrong"

Erick's throat tightened. He didn't want to cry. He knew that he could, as it was just him and his father. But he wanted to be strong. "I have spoken with the healer," he said, unable to stop a tear from rolling down his face.

Hiccup closed his eyes. "I'm dying, aren't I?"

Chief or not, he did not have the will to say 'yes', any more than he had the will to keep from collapsing at his father's bedside, head bowed, and body wracked with sobbing. He stiffened when he felt his father's hand rest on his head, and he looked up, face red with grief.

"Son," Hiccup said, with a smile. "It's okay."

Chief Erick shook his head. "It's not okay!" After a moment, he finally raised his head and looked in his father's eyes.

O O O

Hiccup looked into his son's eyes and saw hopelessness and pain, and he knew that the young man was going through the same thing he had gone through when his own father had died. And were it not for the responsibilities of being Chief thrust on his shoulders, with the needs of his people above his own, he would likely have been overcome. He remembered how irritating it was to hear people tell him that it was okay. Why should he expect his son to respond any differently? "No," Hiccup said, softly. "It's not , okay."

He watched his son shake his head in denial.

"Listen to me, son," he said, his voice sounding tired, but confident. "I have lived a long and good life. It may have started off a bit rough, but when push came to shove, I had friends who had my back." His eyes took on a far-away look, and seemed to be on the verge of tearing up, but his lips were turned up in a smile "I... I eventually married one of them, and the other one's probably around here somewhere."

His son smiled, and he continued. "We had five amazing years before I lost my dad the first time we faced Drago. You have more now than I did, then. You are already Chief, You have a wife and two sons. And I couldn't be prouder of how things turned out. If this is my time, then I can die a happy man." he placed his hand on his son's cheek.

"I don't want to lose you, dad," his son said.

Hiccup sighed, "Erick, if it were up to me, I'd stay here forever, annoying you with fatherly advice, and finding every excuse to come over and taste your lovely wife's cooking."

Erick laughed, but sorrow quickly replaced humor. "Dad?"

Hiccup noted the seriousness of his son's voice. "Yes, son?"

Erick swallowed hard, and his lips were trembling. "I don't think I have ever told you how proud I am to be your son. You were always there for me. And I don't feel like I've been there for you enough."

Hiccup smiled. "No father can be more proud of his son than I am of you. You've never been a disappointment to me. As far as I am concerned, you were always there when it mattered, and that is all that matters. You are a fine Chief. You love your people, and they love you. The fact that they voted unanymously for you twice already, proves that. My last request to you is that you pass on what you learned from me to Little Erick, that when it comes time for you to retire, he will be as loved and respected."

Chief Erick nodded solemnly. "I will, dad."

Hiccup sighed peacefully and smiled. "Now where is that grandson of mine?"

the Chief shook his head. "He's around here, somewhere." He grinned at borrowing his dad's statement as to where his other best friend, Toothless, probably was. He knew that the two were probably at the same place. When Toothless wasn't at Hiccup's side, he was with Little Erick. He told his father as much.

Hiccup chuckled. "Just as it should be."

Chief Erick looked confused. "Dad?"

Hiccup smiled. "When I could no longer ride toothless because of my back, I remade his solo-flight tail. He was sad, but understood that riding him hurt too much. He has never left me. I watch him with your son, and it's like watching him and me when we had first bonded. You have Stormfly, and she needs you. When I am gone, I would like it if Toothless and Little Erick had each other."

The Chief nodded, solemnly. "In a couple of years, he'll be ready to ride his first dragon. He's already almost as big as you were when you found Toothless, so he should be fine."

Hiccup laughed. "As big as I was... That wasn't very big."

There was a twinkle in the chief's eye. "Thank you for summing that up, so i wouldn't have to."

They both laughed out loud until Hiccup broke down in a fit of coughing. The healer picked that moment to walk into the room. When Hiccup's coughing fit was over and he was left panting from the exertion, the healer stepped to his side and met the Chief's eyes.

"Forgive me, Chief Erick. But your father needs to rest."

Erick clearly wanted to protest, but he knew that the Healer was right, and he trusted her judgment. He nodded stiffly. "I'll see you later, dad," he said.

Hiccup smiled. "I'll see you later, too."

With that, Chief Erick turned and left the room, with a whispered "Let me know if anything changes," to the Healer, who nodded.

Hiccup turned over and within a few minutes, he was asleep

O O O

A few days passed and Hiccup's health continued to deteriorate. He had called his family to him, knowing that the end was finally near, and there were things he was determined to say. It was early afternoon, on a clear day, and Hiccup insisted on having this meeting in front of the forge, where his journey had truly begun. Without Gobber's guidance, he never would have learned the skills which allowed him to fashion the weapon which brought Toothless down that fateful night so many years ago. And he certainly would not have had a clue as to how to make a prosthetic tail fin to restore the dragon's flight. It was fitting that his life end here, surrounded by family and friends. So many had already passed on, but each were survuved by children to carry their names and honor.

It was hard to speak, he was so tired. But he had to. "People of Berk," he said. "I am about to embark on the greatest journey I have ever taken. I know that many will consider this to be a time of sorrow and loss, but I think of it as merely the fulfillment of my destiny: to leave behind a village and a people that have become far greater than it was when I was born into it. My father, Stoick the Vast, would have been proud if he could have seen you all as you are today. I am proud. Dragons and Viking, together for more than a whole generation now. Berk is safe, its fate in the hands of its people, under the guidance of a Chief of their own choosing. May he lead you all to an even brighter future!"

The crowd cheered. "Leave it to my dad to take the attention off himself at an event that is supposed to be about him," said the Chief, and the crowd laughed softly. He was dreading what was to come, but he was holding up well at the moment. He stood at his father's side as the people came forth to offer the dying man cheerful words. This continued until late afternoon, when Hiccup began to grow too fatigued to remain out of bed. He bid Berk farewell and was led back to his house and to his bed.

Toothless was there, and Hiccup was glad. He called to the dragon and watched as the Night Fury padded over to his bedside and rested his chin next to his human. "Hey bud," he said.

Toothless flashed him a gummy smile and Hiccup tried to raise his hand to his friend's snout, but he couldn't move. He became aware of a numbness spreading through his body and growing stronger, and of darkness seeming to close in at the edge of his vision. It was time.

"Toothless," he managed. "I love you, bud. You have been my best friend for most of my life. But I have to leave now. I wish I didn't but it isn't up to me."

Toothless let out a distressed whine at his human's words. He knew this was going to happen some day, but it was too soon. Hiccup was only eight-five years old. Far too young to die. But then, Toothless was still young by a dragon's reckoning. Humans don't live nearly as long.

"I want you to promise me, Bud," Hiccup continued. "Take care of my grandson as you took care of me. I'm sure he will take care of you, too. Can you do that for me, Bud?"

Toothless crooned and licked Hiccup on the cheek.

"Toothless..." he said, feigning annoyance. "You know... that won't... wash..."

...

...

...

Toothless nudged Hiccup in the side with his nose, but the old man didn't move. He nudged him again, and still there was no response. He licked Hiccup on the cheek again, expecting the usual reaction. Nothing. His human was dead. He tossed back his head and howled, a deep mournful cry that carried with it such grief and sorrow. His best friend was gone.

Chief Erick had been watching the exchange between his father and Toothless, and when it was clear that his father had passed, he closed his eyes. It was strange. There was no grief or sorrw. Just an empty feeling. For himself. Hiccup had made it clear in one of their last conversations that he considered his life to be fulfilled, and was looking forward to seeing his beloved Astrid, his father and mother, and Gobber again. He was so at peace with what was to come that Chief Erick could not help but simply accept what was coming.

O O O

Toothless was distraught. He grieved when the old blacksmith of Berk, Gobber, had died ten years ago. He grieved even deeper when his human's mate, Astrid, had died a year before. But nothing had prepared him for the loss of his beloved Hiccup. He knew he would face this, but not this soon. When he could no longer summon the strength to howl his grief any longer, he lay his head on the bed next to Hiccup's body. He snarled at anyone who tried to drag him away. He knew that it was pointless, that his human was gone. But he was not ready to let go.

It was Little Erick who turned things around. The boy, whom he had come to love almost as much as Hiccup, had come into the room. He had bowed his head and wept for the loss of his Grandfather, but his father had explained that Toothless needed him, and he had to let go. So the boy did his duty, and appealed to the Night Fury to let them take care of Hiccup as per Viking custom.

"Nobody can replace Grandpa Hiccup," Little Erick, said. "I'm not even going to try. "But I love you, Toothless. I'm going to take care of you. It's what he wanted. Please come with me. I need you, too,"

The Night Fury had looked at the boy, then back to Hiccup's body, then back to the boy. He turned one last time to Hiccup, and licked the old man's face, which in death had taken on a serene look. He was at peace. Toothless then stood, and followed Little Erick out of the house.

They had walked side-by-side, in silence. Where they were going didn't matter. That they were together was all that was important. They had ended up in the cove that held so many memories for Toothless. It was here that his life had changed. Everywhere he looked, something reminded him of Hiccup, but it did not trigger grief. For here with him was Hiccup's grandson. In just a couple of years, he would be old enough to become a dragon rider. Toothess could wait. The tail Hiccup had given him allowed him to fly on his own. So he wouldn't be grounded. And just because Little Erick couldn't ride him yet, did not mean that they could not be together. When his duty as Alpha did not interfere, of course. But if the Alpha doesn't want to be bothered, then the Alpha is not bothered.

Of course, he would miss Hiccup for the rest of his long life. But Little Erick in his green and brown clothing and unruly auburn hair and green eyes was almost a spitting image of Hiccup as he had been when Toothless had first met him. And his life was just beginning. In a short span of time, it would be like starting over again, only without the initial hatred from vikings or the ire of the Red Death. As long as the Sentinel remained alive and kept watch over Berk's waters, and as long as he as Alpha drew breath, and as long as there was peace between Vikings and Dragons, life would be amazing.

Little Erick fell asleep in the grass, head propped on the brown fur vest he had taken off shortly after arriving here. The day was warm, compared to most days. So sleep had crept up on the boy and had claimed him. Toothless looked down at the boy and sighed. He wandered around the pond, lost in thought.

O O O

The sun was setting on the western horizon. All of berk was gathered on the beach. A ship was sent adrift, bearing one passenger. His destination, Valhala.

"May the Valkyries Welcome you," entoned Fishlegs, Eldest elder of Berk. "And lead you through Odin's great battlefield. May they sing your name with love and fury, so that we might hear it rise from the depths of Valhala, and know that you've taken your rightful place at the table of kings. For a great man has passed. A Peacemaker. A Chieftain. A father. A friend." He rested his hand on the sholder of Erick, Son of Hiccup, Chief Elect of Berk.

It was time. Hiccup's ship had drifted far enough from the dock, its course set straight and true to sea. The Chief lit his arrow, drew it, and loosed. A single tear trickled down his cheek as the fiery arrow sailed through the air, to strike the deck of the ship, lighting the oil-soaked planks ablaze. A mournful howl was heard from the cliffs, and he turned his gaze upward. There, his own son stood beside his Night Fury. The boy had disappeared earlier that day, and the Chief had though he would have to scold him when he surfaced again. He should have known that his son merely needed some time with his dragon. The lad had been overjoyed and grief-stricken when he was told that his Grandfather had given Toothless to him. The two were already great friends, but the former Chief of Berk made it official. Now, they would be inseperable.

Well, his son was there, as was Toothless. Tradition was satisfied. He would not scold his son, after all. He turned his attention to the burning ship as it drifted furthe our to sea. It was all on him now. He did pretty much everything on his own, but knowing that he will never again have the chance to ask his father for advice made his heart ache. He wished that he would have asked his father for advice more often. He could have. There was no Viking law against it. But he just had to do pretty much everything himself...

See? saind one of the Voices.

You are a horrible son, said another voice.

NO! shouted Chief Erick in his mind. He recognized the voices. Old Gelbrun spoke about the sort of lies they spoke to draw you in and coerce one into surrendering their conctrol. My father TOLD me how proud he was of me. You will not have me, neither shall you cast doubt upon what I already know to be true. BEGONE in the name of the Creator of All!

That was the first time he had openly embraced faith in the Creator of All. Before this day, he was an adherant to the ancient Viking ways and beliefs. But now, because the Voices tried to speak to him, he realized that Old Gelbrun's words were true, and that was enough to keep him rooted on a foundation of faith that transcended anything he had known before...

...And the Voices fell silent.

His father's ship had now begun to sink. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, First Rider of Berk, Last of the Old Chiefs, was truly passing into history and legend. And Erick I was ready to carry his legacy.

Even as the ship sank beneath the waters, the sun sank from the sky. Night fell over Berk. There was much weeping. And while weeping may endure for the night, the morning was coming...

...And with it, a new day...

...And with the new day, joy...