Thanks to Guest, DANIELA123, CHSHiccstrid, Silvolde, Romantica 123 and Wildfire's Flame for the feedback!

Widlfire's Flame: My personal Headcanon is that Astrid was in love with Hiccup before the first movie, because no one goes from wanting to take someone's head off with their axe to wrapping their arms around them during a flight and kissing their cheek.

Silvolde: We have seen Hiccup angry in canon, but this story is going to go so far beyond that. Rageful Hiccup. Which I'm excited for. :)

CHSHiccstrid: I never begin a plot that has a real-world illness or disability without doing the due research. If you're going to write a story about a character being blind, take time to figure out how a blind person lives. It's a pride thing with me. :)

So, I know once upon a time this story was updated fortnightly, but we seem to be past those days. I'm terribly sorry these updates are so spontanious, but that's my life right now. I write when I can.

Enjoy!


I can't imagine a world without you in it.

I kept it from everyone, Hiccup.

Including me!

Yes.

I can't imagine-

Hiccup shook his head, clearing his thoughts. Astrid had made her choice. Now he had made his.

Returning his dagger to his sheath, Hiccup narrowed his eyes at the compound before him. "This is going to be tough, Bud." He smiled softly at the returning warble. "But we can do it together."

'There should always be a Hiccup and Astrid.'

Hiccup frowned. That wasn't a memory. He spun and groaned. "How-How did you find me?!"

"Simple." Astrid dismounted Stormfly. "I know you, Hiccup." She sighed. "We…need to talk."

Hiccup balled his fist. "There's nothing left to talk about." He returned his gaze to the compound. "I'm taking down Johann."

"Alone?" Astrid knelt beside him. "He'll kill you."

Hiccup shrugged. "Maybe. But I have to put an end to this war." He glanced at Astrid, and his resolve faltered. Over the past four months, he and Toothless had been taking out Hunter outposts. That was likely how Astrid found him. But something Hiccup had learned was that everything was different without Astrid. It was like half of himself was missing.

Shaking his head, Hiccup fully looked at Astrid. "Do you want to help?"

He's never where he should be.

Astrid smiled. "Sure."


"Place looks abandoned." Hiccup knelt and lightly touched the fire pit. "No embers." He stood and looked at Astrid. "There's no-one here."

Astrid nodded absentmindedly, distracted by Hiccup. He had changed in the past few months. They all had.

Following Hiccup's departure, Astrid left too, searching all over the Archipelago for her Dragon Boy. In the end, it was Alvin who had pointed her in the direction of a recently destroyed Hunter Base, the telltale burn marks of a Night Fury confirming who was attacking Johann. After that, finding Hiccup was simple.

She just had to think like him.

Returning to the Edge, Astrid had left instructions with Heather about remaining on the Edge to defend it. With two Riders down, and most of the others muttonheads, defence was key. Following that, Astrid headed straight for Johann's base, a place Snotlout-of all people-had found on a recon mission.

She needed Hiccup back. Over the past four months, Astrid had discovered that she wasn't as effective a leader as she thought she was. Or, rather, she wasn't as effective a leader when Hiccup wasn't beside her helping. It was like half of herself was missing. She missed his sarcasm, his razor sharp wit, the way he could make her laugh without trying.

Finding Hiccup was one thing. Now, she just had to get him home.

Even though now was not a good time, Astrid felt it was the only time. "Hiccup, what happened before-"

"Save it." Hiccup glanced at her as they continued down the hall. "You lied to me. You and Dad. Now you come find me after four months, and you really think all is forgiven?"

Astrid closed her eyes and sighed. "I just want you home."

There was a long pause, which gave Astrid hope he was thinking about it, before; "That isn't going to happen."

Astrid grabbed his arm. "Hiccup-"

"Well, isn't this a surprise."

Both Hiccup and Astrid-neither consciously thinking about it-moved back to back, weapons at the ready. Astrid narrowed her eyes. "Johann."

The Traitor slowly clapped his hands, mocking them. "I must admit, I was not expecting this. For the two greatest Dragon Riders to simply hand themselves over to me." He snapped his fingers and armed guards suddenly appeared, crossbows at the ready.

"Stop." Hiccup lowered Inferno and stepped forward. "I'm the one you want. Let Astrid go, and I'll stay."

She grabbed his arm. "Hiccup-"

Hiccup spared her a small smile. "It's time for you to go home." He looked over to Johann. "Do we have a deal?"

After a moment's consideration, the Traitor nodded. "We do."


Astrid found herself thrown out of the Outpost, right next to Stormfly. Her attempt to get back in was met with the slam of a door, and Astrid closed her eyes, thinking hard.

Why would Hiccup do that? Ordinarily, that type of sacrifice would make sense; that was who he was. But now? After Astrid had lied to him for over a year-something he was clearly still bitter about. Why would he allow her to live at the cost of his own?

Astrid climbed on Stormfly, intent on burning the door down, when Hiccup's voice rang out. "Leave, Stormfly! Now!"

Completely taken by surprise as Stormfly took off without warning, Astrid tugged hard on her saddle. "No, girl! We have to save Hiccup!"

The pulls doing nothing to stop her dragon, Astrid could only watch helplessly as the compound slowly faded in the distance-sealing Hiccup's fate.


Hiccup gave a small smile as the guards led Astrid away. "And how do I know you'll keep your word?"

Johann had a look of feigned shock. "Master Hiccup, I am a man of my word."

Hiccup snorted. "Believe it when I see it." He narrowed his eyes. "Leave, Stormfly! Now!"

The sound of a Nadder squawking and wings flapping caused him to smile, and he rushed Johann, raising Inferno. But the Traitor was quicker than he looked, for Johann simply sidestepped the attack and kicked Hiccup's legs out from under him.

In an instant, Inferno was hurled across the room, and Johann's knee was at his throat. "I have spent years fooling every Viking in the Archipelago, including you and your idiot father! Do your really think I'm going to let everything I've built come crashing down because some impudent teen takes offence with my actions!"

Hiccup could feel his face turning blue as he struggled for air, but suddenly the pressure was lifted. "Wha-"

Johann snapped his fingers. "Beat him, and throw him in the sea." He smiled sadistically. "I'm going to enjoy watching you scream, Master Hiccup."


Astrid let out a yell of anger as Stormfly flew back to Dragon's Edge. Stupid Noble Hiccup. Sacrificing himself for her.

She closed her eyes and thought back to the beginning. Hiccup Haddock had always caught her eye, even when he was unofficially 'Useless'. That nickname had always angered her. Born out of Snotlout's jealousy, it was something that was whispered whenever Hiccup accidentally destroyed something.

But Hiccup was far from useless. Astrid had discovered that on her tenth birthday, when a blushing and stammering Hiccup had gifted her a dagger, citing something her father had drilled into her head, a warrior should always have a backup weapon.

Astrid removed the dagger from its hidden holster, twirling it around her fingers. She would never admit this aloud, but she was better with the dagger than the axe. She was amazing with both weapons, but the simple fact that Hiccup had given her the dagger inspired her to train ferociously with it.

Astrid returned the dagger to her sheath and sighed. Hiccup had always been interesting to her, because no matter how many times he was beaten down-sometimes literally-he got back up. It was a strength she envied. And slowly, without her realizing it, she had developed a crush on the fishbone.

A crush she found out she had around the time Dragon Training began, and one she buried under the need to win. The need to please her parents, to avenge her uncle. To regain the honour that the Flightmare had stolen all those years ago.

But then Hiccup, skinny sarcastic Hiccup, suddenly began to win. After showing zero skill the first two sessions, he began to dominate, beating everyone. And while Astrid was secretly proud of what the boy had accomplished, a larger part of her-to her shame-was furious when Hiccup actually beat her, winning the honour of killing the Nightmare.

So Astrid followed him, intent on gaining answers. Intent on discovering the truth of how the little hiccup, her secret crush, had become so talented so fast.

She had found out. On the back of a Night Fury.

After a charming flight that caused Astrid to fully realize her feeling for the auburn fishbone, she had kissed his cheek, opening the door for something new. Something different.

Even if it would take four years.

They had withstood test after test. Alvin, Dagur, Viggo. Ryker, Savage and now Johann. Tests that they had come out stronger for.

This new test was different. Astrid had nearly destroyed their friendship the last time she had lied to Hiccup, why had she thought this would be any different? She had brought this rift upon herself.

And she had no idea how to fix it.

She had no idea if Hiccup was still alive.


Johann watched as his guards dumped Haddock's body in the ocean. "He still alive?"

Crele nodded. "For now." He grinned. "He won't make it far."

Johann didn't share his optimism. "Did you find the Night Fury? If that dragon catches Haddock's scent, all this is for naught."

Crele lifted his crossbow. "Do you want me to kill Haddock?"

The Traitor considered this for a moment, then shook his head. "No. As much as I'd like to, our employer was adamant that Haddock was not to die by our hand." He smiled. "Let the water do it for us."


Astrid landed on the Edge, ignoring the calls of her friends. She just wanted to be alone. To mourn Hiccup. And to curse out Stormfly some more. She slammed her fist against the wall, letting out another scream of rage.

The idiot had died alone, forcing her dragon to take her away. Leaving himself alone to face Johann.

Now he was gone.


Chapter Notes!

I). I have a basic outline that has ten points. Chapter 1 was point 1. Chapters 2-6 was point two. Chapter seven was all of point three. Now it get's exciting!

II). Let's be honest, even if Hiccup was filled with anger and fury towards Astrid, he would still sacrifice himself for her in a heartbeat.

III). I stand by my belief that Astrid loved Hiccup before HTTYD. It makes so much sense. That first cheek kiss seems out of place-especially when she was just threatening him with her axe-until you factor in maybe Astrid always loved Hiccup. What are your guys's thoughts?

I will update this story...eventually. Hopefully.

I'll be back. Probably.

Thanks for reading!