He was watching Astrid's receding back and all he was able to think about was Now we are really dead. She was going to tell his father. In an hour, this cove would be filled with the angry Vikings, all of them demanding not just Toothless, but also his head.

"Hiccup?" he heard Ruffnut coming behind him and calling his name softly. He didn't respond right away. His thoughts were still on the other girl. How could be someone so single-minded? So fixated on something and refusing to at least reconsider, even if shown otherwise?

He thought he convinced her. When they were flying in the clouds he was sure she's enjoying it. No one could stay untouched by that. And she even admitted it was cool. Hiccup knew instantaneously that using words would be useless, so he showed her. He showed her how amazing dragons could be and yet, even after that, she still demanded the fight. How it was possible?

He noticed Ruffnut came and stood beside him. She didn't urge him to talk, though Hiccup was more than sure she's bursting with desire to ask about everything. She just stood there and was silently letting him know she's there for him. She could be pretty thoughtful when it came to it.

Hiccup remembered how Ruff reacted when she was flying Toothless for the first time. She was absolutely overjoyed. She almost got them all killed, when she demanded on him to let her control the tail fin for a while, but even through that, it was one of the most wonderful moments Hiccup ever had.

Why couldn't Astrid react like Ruffnut? Hiccup mentally slapped himself for asking such a stupid question. No one could ever react like Ruffnut. She was unique, both in the good and bad way.

Hiccup finally tore himself from his thoughts and turned to face the girl, who has been waiting unusually patiently for him to speak.

"We found the dragon's nest," he said. Ruffnut nodded.

"Yeah, I got that much," she said quietly, reminding him she was present to his previous conversation with the other girl. Hiccup sighed deeply and told her what she couldn't hear before.

"There is some kind of... I guess Astrid was right to call it queen. It's colossal," he stopped for a second and then added:

"Terrifying. I've never seen anything like that." He kept looking before him, biting his lip nervously.

"The dragons are serving to it?" asked Ruffnut and Hiccup confirmed.

"Yes. But I really don't think they're doing it voluntarily."

"What gave you that idea?"

"They're afraid of it. If they don't bring back enough food they will be eaten themselves. They raid us because they have to." He saw her eyes gone wide and then watched her comprehending this new information. Dreadful realisation sank to her after a while and she asked him firmly:

"So... what are we going to do?" Hiccup smiled.

"I have to get to my dad before Astrid does," he decided resolutely and with a new determination in his step he went to Toothless, who has been watching them silently until now. Ruffnut was running after him.

"What are you planning?" she questioned him again, not quite sure what to think about his sudden change in attitude. Hiccup reached the dragon and began to check his flying gear while speaking.

"I have to convince him that dragons are not that evil as he thinks they are and that attack the Dragon Nest would be really bad, bad idea."

"Uh... good luck with that," smirked Ruffnut and Hiccup chuckled a little.

"Yeah, I will need it," he sighed and gave Toothless friendly pat on his nose. Dragon licked him in response.

"What if that won't work?" doubted Ruffnut. Hiccup knew she's not meaning to discourage him from trying, just simply want to make sure he's know what he is doing, but it irritated him nonetheless. Especially because he actually didn't plan so far.

"I don't know!" he snapped. He regretted it immediately, but he didn't have to worry. Ruffnut merely rolled her eyes and continued to wait for proper answer. Hiccup sighed once more and admitted:

"I didn't think so far yet." Then he jumped on the dragon's back and urged his friend to join him.

"Came on!"

"Wait a minute; you want to take Toothless into the village?" gasped Ruffnut incredulously and gave him a look, which clearly said she think he's gone mad. Hiccup didn't have a time or mood to argue with her.

"We are running out of time. Astrid is half way there by now." Of course he knew it was dangerous to take Toothless so close to humans, but desperate times asking for desperate measures. Thankfully, Ruff apparently thought the same. Without any other word she accepted Hiccup's hand and jumped on Toothless, sitting closely pressed against her friend. Hiccup patted the dragon on his side and Toothless took off.

They reached the village in hardly five minutes. Hiccup landed at the edge of the forest and jumped on ground. He turned to escort the dragon to near woods, but Ruffnut stopped him.

"I will take care of that. You go, quickly!" she shifted forward on the saddle and urged Toothless to move. Hiccup just nodded his thanks and ran to his house. He wasn't looking forward the conversation he was about to have with his father at all.

He stopped at the back doors for a moment to calm down. He wished he had spoken with his father more often in the past. Maybe now he would actually know what to say. Well, either way, he had to do it. With a deep breath in he opened the door and stepped inside.

The fire was burning in the fireplace; there was even the pot full of hot chicken soup hanging above it, but no traces of his father at all.

"Dad?" called Hiccup to the seemingly empty room.

"Dad, are you here? I need to talk to you!" There was some rumbling coming from the pantry, followed by muffled cursing. Second later, Stoick the Vast got out from the tiny room, holding the big jug of mead in one hand and loaf of bread in the other.

"Hiccup! Finally you home!" called Stoick, quickly put the things he was holding away and went to his son. Before Hiccup got a chance to even say anything, his dad clapped him on back with such a force it made Hiccup's knees bend.

"You made me really very proud today," said Stoick and Hiccup noticed how his eyes were shining with the pride and happiness. His throat tightened at the thought of making him angry and miserable in a while.

"Uh... thanks dad," he murmured and averted his eyes, not really knowing what to say. His dad got obviously stuck with the same problem, because he coughed awkwardly. After the minute of uncomfortable silence, Stoick couldn't take it anymore and commanded:

"Come, I made dinner," he gestured to the pot. Hiccup was grateful for distraction and nodded eagerly. Hopefully, the hot broth will smoother what he's going to do.

"You need get strength for tomorrow," said his dad while pouring the soup on his plate. "Oh great Odin, that will be big day!" he continued, looking positively overjoyed. Hiccup sighed. The more he will postpone it, the worst it will be. He have to act and quickly. Before his dad starts to plan where they will hung the Nightmare's stuffed head.

"Yeah, dad, that's kinda what I wanted talk about with you," he began hesitantly, only to be stopped with his father's jovial voice:

"Do you need any advice, son? Just ask!"

"No, I actually don't need any help with that..."

"Oh, right! You want to do it all by your own. That's my boy!" Stoick shouted happily and Hiccup had to suppress the urge slam his head against the table. He wasn't listening. Again.

"But anyway, tell me, son. I'm curious. What are you planning for tomorrow's kill?" Hiccup clenched his fists and decided that there is no point to sweeten the pill, anyway. He will just say it. And his dad will have to swallow it somehow. He inhaled deeply and then he said, loud and clear:

"Not kill at all." It definitely did a trick. His dad froze; the spoon of soup stopping in the middle of it's the way from his plate to his mouth and was gaping at his son like if he saw him for a first time in his life.

"What? What do you mean?"

"I won't kill that dragon tomorrow," repeated Hiccup slowly. His dad meanwhile recovered from his shock and laughed.

"Why wouldn't you?" He probably thought it was just insecurity talking from his son, but Hiccup's next words told him otherwise.

"Because he doesn't deserve it. He's a victim in all of this, just like we are." He put all sincerity and seriousness he was able to muster in his voice, hoping that it would send the message to his dad's sub consciousness and tell him he's not joking. Unfortunately, his father's subconscious mind apparently turned it off for tonight and left Hiccup only with his dad's stubborn, obstinate, viking Me.

"What are you talking about, Hiccup?" Stoick sighed tiredly.

"About dragons, dad," clarified Hiccup. His father only lifted his eyebrows in asking manner and Hiccup hurried to explain more.

"They are not what we think they are. We don't have to kill them," he said emphatically. His dad was just staring on him for a few moments and then absolutely seriously asked:

"Did you hit your head in the Ring today?"

"No," Hiccup rolled his eyes, but he quickly continued, before he could be interrupted again.

"Dad, just listen to me. I've..." He briefly considered to tell the absolute true, but decided against it in the last second. No need to be that honest, really. This will be big enough piece to chew even as a slightly censored version.

"I have studied them. Observed them. I got really close to them. And I learned a lot."

"Close? How do you mean that?"

"That... really doesn't matter now. What is important is that they are not really dangerous."

"Not dangerous? They've killed hundreds of us!"

"And we killed thousands of them!" shouted Hiccup in response, by now fairly exasperated to the top level. His dad was already opening his mouth for his own reply, but he didn't get to it. Hiccup was saved by sharp opening of front doors and breathless girl voice.

"Chief! Chief, I have to talk to you!" called Astrid. Hiccup closed his eyes for a second. Maybe he would rather let his dad shout at him, at the end.

"Not now, lass, I'm in the middle of something important." Stoick dismissed her, without actually looking at her. His eyes were glued on his son.

"This is important!" Astrid, however, didn't let herself to be just brushed off. She was obviously determined to say her thing. Hiccup stopped watching his father cautiously and turned his attention to the girl. He tried for one last time and begged her to not say anything.

"Astrid, don't." But again, she didn't listen. She stepped into the house and stood before his dad, all proud and unwavering. Stoick watched her disbelievingly, obviously thinking how insolent she was. For a second Hiccup saw a glimmer of hope. Maybe his dad will just expel her now for being disrespectful towards him. Unfortunately, his hopes were crashed down in the same time she said her next words:

"We found the Dragon's Nest!" His dad suddenly forgot everything he wanted to say and just gasped, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open:

"What!"

"Me and Hiccup. We found it," repeated Astrid and was positively beaming with pride. Her enthusiasm quickly contaminated also Hiccup's dad. Hiccup alone was standing there, struck with horror and vainly tried to come with something to stop this.

"Where?" Stoick grabbed Astrid's shoulders and shook her little, full of eagerness of knowing more. Hiccup groaned and by silent gesture tried one more time to tell Astrid to shut up. But she ignored his head peeping out behind his father back and continued.

"It's on their island behind the Helheim Gate."

"Their island?" Hiccup grabbed his dad's arm and tried to attract his attention to himself.

"Oh, no. Dad, please no!" he pleaded, begging his dad to listen.

"It's not what you think! You don't know what you're up against. It's like nothing you've ever seen!" But all his effort went useless. Stoick shook him off and his attention reminded stuck on the girl before him.

"How did you find it?" he asked and Astrid was quickly opening her mouth to answer. Hiccup knew what she is going to do. Tell his dad about Toothless. He couldn't allow that.

"We followed some Terrible Terrors on the boat," he interjected quickly. Astrid went speechless, gazing him all puzzled by his lie. Hiccup prayed to all their gods for her collaboration. If nothing else, even she admitted Toothless was one good dragon. He didn't deserve to die in the hands of angry Vikings, who were to stubborn to let him explain.

His dad was alternately looking from him to Astrid. Hiccup knew he wanted an explanation and he also knew that if he won't give it, Astrid will. He had to choose the lesser bad.

"Only a dragon can find the island," he admitted quietly. His dad beamed on him proudly, obviously forgetting that not even ten minutes ago he was telling him he would never kill a dragon. All Stoick saw now was possibility to take the dragons down for once and for all.

Stoick turned back to Astrid and ordered:

"Go to Gobber, lass, and tell him to take the Terror from the training and set him on the ship. We will head to their home in sunrise." Astrid nodded eagerly and ran out from the house. Stoick started to pace around the fireplace, already planning the next mission.

"Dad, please don't. I promise you, you can't win this one!" Hiccup was stumbling five steps behind him, trying to reverse his father decision. Vainly. His dad didn't listen to him, once again.

"We are finally getting somewhere. After all these years, we will finally end this," Stoick rubbed his hands together. Hiccup lost the last bits of his patience and shouted:

"For once in your life, would you please just listen to me?!" It did its trick. His dad stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face him, albeit looking clearly annoyed.

"What do you want, Hiccup!" he snapped. Hiccup decided to not feel offended by his father's tone and took the opportunity to explain and convince him.

"I want you to listen! Dad, trust me, going there would be a suicide!"

"We are Vikings, we won't retreat before anything!" Hiccup groaned. Not this again.

"Well, you may want to rethink this motto, because if you will go there, you won't even get a chance to back off! There aren't just dragons, dad, there is also something else. It's dragon like... I don't know. But it's huge and dangerous. You will be all killed minute after you set the foot on the ground!" It didn't move with his dad at all.

"Then we will die like true warriors!" Stoick declared proudly. This time, Hiccup actually howled in despair.

"Oh for love it... what is wrong with you guys? If you want to die so badly just go jump off the cliff or something! That would be much easier!"

"You are talking nonsense, son," his dad just dismissed him with wave of his hand. Then he headed to his room to pack things for the voyage.

"Be ready to sail tomorrow morning, we will need you to help navigate."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"You're not?" repeated Stoick slowly, his voice threateningly low. He turned to face his son and was measuring him with an unreadable glare. Hiccup braced together all remains of his courage and firmly stated:

"No. I told you before. I won't kill dragons." His dad shook his head and said mockingly:

"Because they're victims too," he brought out Hiccup's previous words, clearly thinking about them as outgrowth of sick mind. Hiccup realised there is only one other way of how to persuade his dad and that is tell the truth. With the deep breath he revealed his most carefully guarded secret.

"Because one of them is my best friend."

"Your what?!" gasped his dad, looking more stunned than Hiccup ever saw him in his life. Any other time, he would even found his expression funny. But now it just reminded him of how badly in his father's eyes he messed up. However, as much as he feared his dad's reaction, he didn't waver. Toothless was probably the best thing ever happened to him and he wasn't a one bit ashamed about the fact he was his friend. So he straightened himself to his full height and repeated strongly:

"Friend. The best one I ever had, beside one other person," he thought about Ruff and her unwavering support and friendship in these past months. He knew she would admit just as proudly as him that she befriended a dragon, but given the direction all this headed, it would be probably better if she stayed out of this. It was enough that he is going to be in big, big troubles.

"He taught me everything about dragons I know and he showed me what they really are," Hiccup finished and for a small moment, his face was graced with a small smile while thinking about Toothless.

His dad was absolutely speechless. For a while he was just staring at him, opening and closing his mouth like a fish. However, when he finally recovered from the shock he obtained, his word weren't exactly what Hiccup wanted to hear.

"So that's how you did get so good in the arena?" Again, Hiccup felt the uncontrollable urge to slam his head against something.

"Is that all you've got from it?"

"Oh, I should have known. I should have seen the signs," his dad murmured more for himself than to him. Hiccup sighed and tried to approach him.

"Dad..." he put the hand on his arm and then stumbled back, when his dad turned sharply:

"So everything in the Ring? A trick? A lie?!" Stoick asked incredulously. He wasn't shouting, which ironically made Hiccup even more nervous.

"I-I didn't do anything wrong!" he stammered and tried to find the right words to explain.

"I just took... different way."

"That's how you call it? You..." Stoick stopped for a second and Hiccup dreaded of what was going to come next. His dad inhaled deeply and then he said, his voice full of anger, pain and disappointment:

"You've betrayed us! You've betrayed your people." Hiccup gulped, not being able to respond in any way. His dad probably didn't even expect him to.

"If you've thrown your lot in with them, you're not a Viking anymore. You're not my son." With that, Stoick left the house, slamming the doors behind him, going who knew where. Hiccup stood frozen to his spot, his chest filling with cold feeling of horror over realisation of what just happened.