This is defiantly one of my longer chapters, but I like it! neobendium, Thank you for telling me. I don't have a smaller screen so I was not aware. I will try to fix that so it is easier to read! Thank you for the review as well, it made my day! Thank you as well for reviewing The Era Thief, HappyPup1, guests, Amy, and of course ladipretender. Your continued support is greatly received! Welcome to the story Kaylapicard, SingStar234, jellegrunt, 629kat, awkward2122, Kazarina, DarkieForFun, imjustanotherPJOandHoOfangirl, EMERALD EMPIRES, Christinme, .9279, Kaylapicard, .9279, Pendraco, Sgt. McMaf, and Eragonfan33. I hope you continue to enjoy it! This chapter was incredibly difficult for me, but I hope I captured it well enough. I rewrote it about eight times and I thought this was the best version.

Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut sat in the great hall eating breakfast. No one was really talking, too amazed at what they learned the night before. "I can't believe he got away!" Snotlout hissed, annoyed that his moment for glory was snatched away. There had been another reason for him wanting to gain fame recently.

Everyone knew Stoick was near the end of his days as Chief, and would soon be looking for an heir. Despite that he would rather Hiccup to have still been around, he did have to acknowledge that being Chief was up for grabs. If he could kill the Night Fury, then the chances of him being selected would be the best. Stoick never had the heart to select another heir after all.

"There's a reason no one has killed them before." Fishlegs said as a peace offering.

"Uhm...I'm pretty sure that had nothing to do with people riding them." Ruffnut replied.

"Yeah, like how is that even possible?" Tuffnut asked. Fishlegs looked down, the Book of Dragons in his hands. He had read and reread the book all through the night, but he couldn't find anything helpful to their situation.

"I don't know, but I really want to find out." he decided. The others laughed.

"Oh yeah? Good luck with that!" yelled Snotlout.

Fishlegs clenched a fist. Something had been bothering him. After Hiccup vanished, Astrid put one of the strange dragon scales in the Book, hoping that one day they would find the dragon they belonged to. Fishlegs had spent all night looking through the book when the scale fell to the ground. It blended into the dark perfectly, and he couldn't find it until morning. The only dragon that he could think of like that, was a Night Fury. The Night Fury disappeared around the same time as Hiccup, and now the Night Fury was back, and someone was riding it!

Thinking back about the unlikely teen, Hiccup had a strange way with dragons. They never hurt him, and he never tried to hurt them. He was able to defeat them with just his hands! He even claimed that he hit a Night Fury a month before he vanished, and on the last occasion they saw one for years. He wondered, there was almost no chance that it was, but if the dragon rider was Hiccup...if Hiccup had found out something that they didn't know...just maybe this dragon rider was an ally. After all, it did appear that he didn't want to hurt them.

Fishlegs knew his imagination was stretching it quite a bit, so he choose not to tell anyone what he was thinking.

The twins watched the two before getting board and smashing their heads together in a challenge. Ruffnut was actually worried, but she didn't like to show it. That rider could spell doom for the village. After all, he was riding a Night Fury! The unholy offspring of lightning and death itself!

She never even thought it was possible to get near a dragon, yet this strange man was being saved and protected by them. Tuffnut was actually worried as well. While the twins liked destruction, they likedreasonable destruction, not the complete annihilation of their village. They knew the others would figure out something.

xxx

Hiccup sat in the cove, petting Toothless as the other dragons rested. He was so close, but still had no plan. He couldn't just ride up on a dragon, and he sure as Hel couldn't just walk into the village from the cove. Not to mention, someone may recognize him without his helmet but Berk wouldn't take to him wearing his helmet well either.

He debated again on giving up and going home, but he knew Drago was merciless and relentless. He had to make sure they would be fine until Drago was eliminated. Hiccup sighed.

"Yeah, I'm open to ideas!" he said, throwing the decision to the dragons. None of them seemed to be helpful though.

Barf and Belch were sleeping, Hookfang was scratching an itch, Meatlug was eating, and Stormfly was looking at birds flying overhead. Hiccup sighed looking at Toothless.

"I guess there's no good way to end this, huh, bud?" he asked. Toothless nuzzled him. Looking back, Hiccup wished that he stayed and confronted this five years ago. But Valka had said there were no 'what if's' in life, and he decided right then that she was right. He couldn't keep looking back at things from the past, but had to look forward.

Both of his parents thought dragons and Vikings could never live together in peace, and Hiccup wanted to show them that they were wrong. It was possible! Maybe not probable, but possible! They could do it. He stood back up and petted Toothless.

"Alright bud, this is going to be stupid and crazy, but I want you to stay here. There's something I gotta do alone. If I need you, I'll call, alright? Look after the others for me." he said. Toothless gave him a worried look, but nodded nonetheless. Hiccup smiled a thank you.

xxx

Stoick looked around the village. The catapult was once again ruined, the village had quite a few burns, but it fared quite better than the last attack. Now that he thought about it, that attack fared better than the ones before it. He then saw Gobber, working in his shop, having a strange contraption next to him. "Is this what Astrid used last night?" Stoick asked, approaching. Gobber nodded.

"Yeah, I fixed the trigger, Hiccup's design was far too sensitive. A slight touch and it would go off, but now..." he said, adding a few taps to show his point. However, the contraption flew open and launched a bola, hitting a Viking and knocking him down. "Ah...still working on it." Gobber said quickly.

Stoick gave him a small sad smile. Hiccup would be glad to know that he was helping the village. He just wished Hiccup could have been there to see it.

"Well done Gobber." he decided to say. Gobber seemed surprised that Stoick approved. He had figured that he would want as little reminders around so that for at least a few hours everyday, he could bury the sadness in his work. Gobber smiled at his friend.

"Listen Stoick...about last night..." Gobber started.

"I'm already on it. I have patrols looking for the Night Fury. I want the rider alive so he can tell us what he knows about the dragon raids." Stoick said. Gobber waved his hook at him, to show that wasn't what he was talking about.

"I meant your thoughts that the mastermind behind it all is Drago! You honestly believe it's him?" Gobber asked. Stoick nodded.

"There is no other it could be. If he has an army of dragons obeying his command...then we don't stand a chance Gobber. We're Vikings, we can only do so much." he said softly.

Gobber winced. This was a far cry from the man who used to believe Vikings could do anything. Gobber looked back towards Hiccup's work room. It was strange. That drawing of a dragon that Hiccup made looked an awful lot like the Night Fury. Except this one had strange fins all down it's back. He assumed it was a different Night Fury than the one Hiccup saw, but Hiccup still saw one! That in itself was confusing.

xxx

Eret was in a panic. He had sent one of his men to go tell Drago that there was a dragon rider, and that they were working with the Alpha dragon. Drago had been looking for the dragons nest to take all the dragons there. It was the biggest sanctuary for the dragons. None of them expected for it to hold a dragon rider, however!

Drago would most likely move up his plans to capture the nest, and that meant he would want a large number in his new shipment, that was due soon. If he didn't deliver, he was dead, and Drago did not take excuses. Eret began yelling orders to his men. They would spend the next few days searching for new dragons, then return to Drago. If he didn't go willingly, after all, then Drago would send a dragon to kill them. At least this way they had a sporting shot.

xxx

Astrid threw her axe into the forest, planting it deep into a tree. Running over, she ripped it out and threw it again, destroying a sapling. They escaped! She caught a Night Fury, and it escaped! She hadn't gotten a chance to see it, and it really made her angry. Apparently it also had a person riding it! How was that even possible? Deciding that she didn't care, the launched her axe again, this time missing her target due to her anger and slamming in against a large stone.

She would capture that dragon rider and demand that he tell her what was going on. She wondered, though. Dragons were strong and powerful creatures, and clearly they can stand up to each other. If dragons were able to be trained, could it be possible for Berk to train some as well and use them to defend the village? That in itself seemed impossible, too many people hated dragons and had animosity built up for generations, but it was an interesting thought.

xxx

Hiccup hesitated, not really sure how to handle this. Returning to the village would require diplomacy and delicacy. After all, he knew they would not be happy to see him after he ran away, and then waltzed into the village half a decade later. He pulled his helmet over his head and tried to think of a way to do this. He knew approaching his father first was out of the question. He would have to have Gobber with him to do that. After all, he listened to Gobber...most of the time. He frowned. Why couldn't this be like facing a wild dragon? That was so much easier!

Taking a few hesitant steps forward, Hiccup decided he would first go see his old trade master. That would involve going through the entire village and arriving at the smith's shop without anyone noticing that he had the same appearance as the dragon rider from the night before. He figured he should probably wait until nightfall. He knew Gobber would be the easiest to talk to...on second thought he decided that would be just as hard. He was afraid of the disappointment both men would give him. So that leaves the question of who he could approach first again.

As Hiccup stood debating, he didn't see Astrid come out of the trees. She saw him though. Realizing he wasn't one of the village, she snuck behind a rock, and began to stealthily approach him. The man was almost in her grasp when she stepped on a twig. The man leaped into action, turning around and drawing Inferno, lighting the blade on fire and forcing the startled girl to jump back. When he saw her he smothered the blade and hooked it back on his leg. She looked him over and he looked her over. "Who are you? The dragon rider?" she asked.

"Is that what they're calling me? That actually sounds pretty cool." he said, moving his arms as he spoke. Astrid was not amused however. She removed her axe from her back and held it where he could see it.

"The Chief wants you brought in alive, for now." she said. The man shrugged.

"I guess that's to be expected." he said, a little hesitant. She narrowed her eyes. Was he not taking her seriously?

"Where are your dragons? And what are you doing here? Are you planning an attack on Berk?" she asked. He recoiled a bit, as if he couldn't believe what she was asking.

"What? Okay, first off they're not here, and secondly, I'm not planning an attack on Berk, I'm trying to save Berk!" he said, throwing out his arms for emphasis. Astrid slightly lowered her axe. Something about him was putting her at ease, and she didn't know how to take it. He also just claimed he was trying to protect Berk! But he was allied with the dragons.

"Why?" she asked. His head went down, as if he was looking at the ground, possibly thinking. Then the small amount of trust Astrid had built up vanished. He was probably going to lie. She raised her axe again and the man sighed.

"Fine Astrid." he said, and this time she dropped her axe. He knew her name!

Hiccup sighed as he looked her over. He assumed now was as good of a time as any. He no longer had to worry about finding someone, since she found him. He reached up and pulled off his helmet. She stood stunned, as if she knew who he was but also couldn't place it.

"It's me Astrid, Hiccup." he said. She didn't move or say anything for a minute, then suddenly she yelled. Rolling, she grabbed her axe and attacked. Hiccup yelped in surprise, pulling out Inferno. It wasn't meant for combat, only to help tame dragons, but he could use it when he had to. He blocked one of her attacks, then sidestepped. "Astrid, what are you doing?" He asked, shocked.

"You're not Hiccup! Hiccup died five years ago after he was carried away by a dragon!" she yelled, swinging at him with all her strength. Hiccup dodged the attack.

"What?! No, I'm not dead! Toothless would never harm me!" he protested, then a cold feeling crept over him as he grabbed the handle on Astrid's axe, trying to force her to hold still for a second. "Does everyone think I'm dead?" he asked. Astrid glared at him.

"Hiccup is dead. I don't know who you are or what game your playing, but I know he was carried off by a dragon, I saw it." she said firmly. Hiccup nodded. That was true enough.

"Yeah I left with Toothless, but he didn't kill me! He's my best friend." he said. As if on cue, maybe because they heard him yelling, Toothless came charging over. Hookfang, Stormfly, Meatlug, and Barf and Belch with him. "Uhm guys what are you doing here?" he asked in a worried voice.

Astrid was still armed and angry. She pushed Hiccup off her axe and aimed it Toothless. "No!" Hiccup yelled, leaping onto her arm and dragging her to the ground. He pulled her axe away and threw it into a tree. "Settle down!" he tried to tell the very riled and upset dragons. They all glared at Astrid, not amused by her attempts to attack Hiccup.

Hiccup placed himself between the Viking and the dragons, and they all settled down, but didn't move or stop glared at each other. "Please, just listen to me." Hiccup said, holding out a hand to Astrid.

Looking up at him, she could see it. This was Stoick's son! Accepting the hand, she let him pull her to her feet, just before she hit him, hard. "OWW! Why would you do that!?" yelled Hiccup. Toothless charged forward again, but Hiccup put out an arm in front of him. "It's okay bud." he said.

"That is for letting us all believe that you were dead!" she yelled at him. Hiccup looked away.

"Well I never thought you guys would think I was dead. I figured no one would see me come to the arena and just assume I ran away. I didn't know you'd follow me to the cove!" he snapped. Astrid looked at him, then past him at the dragons. Hiccup could tell she was debating on what to do. "Listen to me Astrid, I just want to help." he said. She took a step back.

"I am not listening to anything you have to say." she said. Hiccup held up his hands.

"Then I won't speak, but let me show you, but please, just trust me." he said, holding out a hand.

Astrid debated. She could trust this boy and see what he wanted, risking her life if he turned out to be lying; or she could go tell the Chief what was going on. However as long as she remembered Hiccup, he had never lied. Yet, this wasn't the Hiccup she knew. He had been with dragons for five years. She held her hand close to her chest, but something kept her there. Maybe it was the thought that Hiccup may just be right.

Seeing him standing there with those dragons was starting to confuse her. Were they really the enemy? Before she knew what she was doing, she reached a hand out to him. Hiccup looked relieved as he took her hand, and gently led her over to Toothless. Toothless growled, making her pull back a bit, and Hiccup let her. "It's okay bud, she's a friend." he pleaded. Then the dragon stopped and Hiccup led her forward again.

Astrid took careful steps, ready to bolt when things went wrong. Hiccup then held her hand in place, just in front of the dragons face. She felt a sudden panic, but then the dragon moved forward and put his head on her hand. It was only for a second, then he backed up.

Astrid stood in shock. This was the most deadly dragon in their world, and it just let her pet it like it was nothing. Hiccup smiled at her, then led her forward again. This time it was to the dragon's back. He leaped into a saddle and held out a hand for her. The dragon gave a small growl, but she decided that Hiccup hadn't led her wrong yet. She took his hand and climbed into the saddle behind him.

"The rest of you go back to the cove. Toothless, let's go...gently..." he said, as if he knew something that the dragon was up to that she wasn't aware of. Before she could decide to change her mind though, the dragon leaped into the air and over the trees. The speed was so fast, that Astrid felt she was going to fall. In fear, she clung to Hiccup in front of her. "Toothless, what are you doing? We need her to like us!" Hiccup yelled as they shot over to the other side of the island.

Toothless plummeted into the water, then shot into the sky. "Toothless!" screamed Hiccup in protest. Astrid was terrified for the first time in her life. She cracked her eyes open to see the dragon was staring at her. She realized what he wanted.

"I'm sorry! For everything!" she yelled, slamming her eyes closed again. The dragon suddenly slowed down, and smoothed out the flight. Astrid shook slightly, the experience having terrified her. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around. This world was so different, so beautiful.

They were in between large clouds, all circling around her. It was so different, and a feeling of being free filled her heart. Smiling, she unwrapped one hand from around Hiccup to touch the clouds, then reach down and pet the dragon below. He looked back at her and smiled, a full gummed smile. She gave a small laugh. "So this is where you've been for the last five years, flying dragons." she gasped.

"Well, not completely." Hiccup admitted. She heard a clicking sound and glanced back to see the dragon had a prosthetic tail fin! There was a metal pole that led down the left side, and following it she saw a metal leg where Hiccup's left foot should be.

"Hiccup...your leg..." she started. He glanced down.

"Oh yeah, that happened a few years ago. Turns out, Red Death, not an easy dragon to beat." he said with a laugh. Toothless glanced up at him, as if saying 'you're understating that'. She blinked in confusion.

"What's the Red Death?" she asked. He glanced back at her, as if he was deciding weather or not to tell her.

"It was the Queen of the dragon nest." he said. He didn't say any more, but he didn't have to. She understood. He had went to the dragons nest and took care of the Queen, so that Berk wouldn't have to live in fear any longer. She felt her heart tug. This poor boy had been living alone for five years and felt the need to leave his only home because he was different, yet he still protected that home. After everything that happened, he still found Berk worth his protection. She leaded forward and hugged him.

"I see. You're amazing...he's amazing. You both are amazing." she told him as they soared in the sky.