Okay, guys. So I've been thinking about something for the last couple days.

I've been on the fence about making a sequel to this, or rewriting the story to make it grittier, darker.

I like how this story went generally but I'm not happy how I've made it follow the second film. Not that I don't like the second film anymore, I still enjoy it, I just want it to be more... different, if you know what I mean. Like.. a soft reboot of sorts. I would have the basic element that Hiccup and Astrid are Souls of Dragons but I'd start kind of at the beginning as to why Astrid was taken away and why Valka was spared without the whole prophecy thing (although the prophecy could be better explained and played a bit better). This would be as original as possible, with characters from books, movies, tv shows and games, but not really following any events that not everyone can follow. There may or may not be a villain, at least that is explored until later.

If I do a sequel, it would most likely sort of follow The Hidden World, but not so much as this follows HTTYD2. It would incorporate elements from the books, like characters and things about Grimbeard (book-readers, you'll know what I mean). Also I would expand characters like Heather (since I focused on her a lot earlier in this story) and more on what exactly makes Hiccup and Astrid Souls of Dragons (and also expanding their relationship). I will also explain more about the prophecy and how it all fits, especially on Hiccup and Astrid's telepathic ability and feeling each other's pain and emotions.

What do you guys think? I would like your honest opinion.

Here's the next chapter! Almost there!


And don't forget to review! :)

Souls of Dragons

Chapter 29: The Alpha Protects Them All

Finna's reaction was too slow.

The Bewilderbeast opened its mouth and a huge blast of ice came out-

-aimed at Hiccup.


But Astrid - she jumped-


POW!


Finna screamed as the two were covered in ice.

Her thoughts didn't concern the madman not too far away from her. Her thoughts were to Hiccup. Her brother. She ran across the ship and banged the large glacier, covering her brother and the Valkyrie. She saw both Toothless and Stormfly desperately trying to shoot at the ice, melt it or whatever they could do. But it wasn't melting, or budging for that matter.

"Stupid brother!" Finna shouted.

She grabbed the closest weapon near her and banged it through the ice. She ignored the rest of the world, not knowing if her brother and the Valkyrie were going to make it out alive or not. She ignored the tears that ran down her face. No. Her brother wasn't dead. Not again. She couldn't handle losing him. He was her blood. Her kin. And she was his.

"You better get out of this!"

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

"Come on! Get out!"

BANG!

BANG!

"Get out, Fishbone!"

BANG!


Snotlout, Fishlegs, Heather and the twins all grouped up to the one ship. Everyone had stopped fighting, even the soldiers belonging to Drago. Heather tried to see where the rest of the Hooligans were, especially Hiccup. She hadn't seen him since he and Astrid left the ship, holding hands in unison. After that, she saw him in the air with Toothless. But where did he go?

"Hey, where's Hiccup?" Tuffnut asked, speaking Heather's thoughts.

Heather frowned as she held little Hildegard, and hid the girl's face. She finally found Hiccup... or, at least the rest of him. "He... he's over there."

She pointed to the ice glacier.

Finna pounded on the ice. Her fists starting to bleed. But she didn't move from her spot. Toothless frantically dug at it. The Deadly Nadder fiercely fired upon it. Yet... nothing did anything.

The Riders didn't know how to respond.


"Come on!" Finna shouted, as she felt herself getting weaker.

She wouldnt let her brother die like this.

He had to survive!

But her fists were hurting. The blood burned her nose and she had to stop. Her sword wasn't doing much good either and she could only rest her head against the place where her brother fell.

This couldn't have been it.

He can't be dead!

But what else could she do?

The ice was too much.


"Hiccup!" Valka shouted.

Stoick tried to walk with her but he could barely walk himself. Valka could only hold her husband up as they watched their daughter try to retrieve Hiccup.

Hiccup...


I'm sorry, Fishbone.

"Oh, how the mighty have fallen," Drago said behind her.

Finna stopped fighting through the ice, feeling her blood boil. She was sick and tired of this bastard. She immediately got up and swung at Drago with the weapon, causing him to go down to his knees. He only had a second to respond, but Finna took this opportunity to punch Drago in the face. And again. And again. And again. She stopped when he finally fell over, his face blue of bruises and red with blood.

"For once," Finna said, rubbing her mouth and feeling the dried up blood under he nose and finally feeling her sore fists, "I agree with you."

She heard Fishlegs and Snotlout, along with the twins and Heather, come running in. The five of them held Drago down as well, keeping him from moving again. Even Gustav's sister Hildegard started to kick his leg.

"What should we do with the bastard?" Snotlout asked.

"Let's skin him," Tuffnut declared.

"I want to bash his head," Ruffnut said, determined.

Finna held her hands up. "You'll get your chance, you two. First, tie him up to the pole over there," she ordered, pointing a bloody hand to the pole northwest of them. The five Riders nodded at her and dragged the unconscious Drago away. "He's going to pay for killing my brother."

She looked over at Toothless, who was acting strange. He had glanced up at the Bewilderbeast and released a howl-like sound, not sad, but pure anger. Toothless then jumped up on top of the ship... and something strange was beginning to happen.

The Nighty Fury was beginning to glow... blue.

"Toothless?" she asked.

But the dragon didn't respond.


"Finna?" Valka asked.

Finna looked back to see her mother carrying her father up by one of her shoulders. Stoick looked to be in a rougher shape than Finna... but at least he was alive. Valka held him protectively but also held her side. Finna wanted to run over to them, but her attention was at Toothless.

The dragon still kept his position and his scales down his back were now a piercing blue that glowed not only there, but through his mouth and nostrils. His teeth were out and he hissed a warning at the Bewilderbeast, who was also in a state of bewilderment, ironically.

Then Toothless faced the icy glacier.

Finna pointed to Toothless. "Mom, look!" she shouted.

Both Valka and Stoick looked to where she was pointing:

Toothless aimed his plasma blast at the ice -

- and the ice exploded.

Finna shielded her eyes from the blast and could hear everyone scream as they tried to shield their eyes as well. She could smell the scent of the plasma blast hitting ice and it burned her nose. She waited a few seconds before trusting her eyes and she opened them and gasped.

It was Hiccup and Astrid!

The Bewilderbeast looked shocked for a moment, then recovered as he shot another thing of ice at them. However, the ice never got to them... For a strange sight happened: a transparent image, a shield of some sort, surrounded the two! But the strangest thing was that it took the form of a dragon! It wasn't like any dragon that Finna (or any Hooligan, for that matter) had ever seen -

-it looked like a Night Fury, but its wings were definitely Deadly Nadder!

The Bewilderbeast even looked to have been taken aback, even for a split moment. It roared in frustration and tried to fire again, but the dragon shield appeared each time, melting the ice around it. Every time the ice melted around the mysterious dragon, the Bewilderbeast got angrier and angrier. Finna wished that Drago could see how this was going on, and his Bewilderbeast helpless to eradicate them.

Finna could only watch in awe as this all happened, but she could see that Hiccup and Astrid were starting to tire. Luckily, Stormfly flew in and immediately went to go get them as Toothless looked back to the Bewilderbeast, ready to fire.


Hati hollered at the Night Fury.

"YOU CAN'T DEFEAT ME!"

Toothless growled. He wasn't going to let Hati take over his mind again.

Not ever again.

He fired a plasma blast at Hati's face.

Then another.

Then another.

"TAKE THAT!"


"What's Toothless doing?" Stoick asked.

"He's challenging the Alpha!" Heather shouted. "Just like wolves!"

Finna couldn't believe her eyes. With almost every hit, the Bewilderbeast appeared to be more focused on Toothless and not paying attention to the hundreds of dragons swarming around it. Suddenly, one of the dragons stopped in midair and flew down to near Toothless. The dragon, Finna finally realized, was Blizzard!

"Blizzard got out of the control!" Finna shouted.

She watched as, one by one, each of the dragons followed Blizzard and flew around Toothless. Stormfly caught on right beside him and stood with him proudly. The other dragons roared in unison, standing and hovering around their new Alpha.


Astrid blinked, as she saw what had happened. All of the dragons... have chosen a new Alpha.

She smiled. Icespitter was right.

"Hiccup, look!"

Hiccup, too, looked up as Toothless roared:

"FIRE!"

Then, each of the dragons, even those that belonged to Drago, fired all their shots at the Bewilderbeast. The two Souls could only watch as the might Hati lost his title as Alpha, barely able to take a shot himself. Toothless growled, stopping the dragons from firing.

"The alpha protects them all," Hiccup said.


Toothless prepared his last shot.

"YOU CAN'T STOP ME!"

Toothless didn't respond.

He opened his mouth and fired.

Hitting.

Hati.


Drago blinked as he felt himself come back.

Looking up from what he assumed was a pole holding him down, he saw his Bewilderbeast.

But the stupide dragon...

Lost?!

Drago was angry, far more angry than he had been in the past day. He wanted to scream, but the words weren't there. So he tugged. Tugged at the ropes. But, strangely, the ropes weren't tied to well. He easily slipped out, thankful that the Hooligans were occupied, and grabbed a knife.

Time to pay, useless Souls.


Hiccup got up as Hati's tusk fell off.

It was a strange sight, to see that all of the firepower of hundreds of dragons blasted off something so strong. He had to admit, he was very impressed at what a flock of dragons could do. Hiccup smiled as the Bewilderbeast roared in pain as his tusk landed in the ocean floor. The impact caused the ships to rock but luckily everyone held on for dear life.

He looked over to Toothless as the Night Fury roared in victory.

"Leave, Hati," Toothless snarled. "Leave, and never return."

The once mighty Bewilderbeast bowed his head in defeat. The dragon could only release a submissive roar, something that even Hiccup was sure couldn't be understood in Dragonese, as he returned to the ocean floor. The wave shook the ship for a close minute and nearly everyone held on for dear life, bigger than what the tusk had done.

Everyone cheered.

But that wasn't the strangest part.

All of the dragons descended to the ships as Toothless jumped off the glacier. Each one of them looked up at Toothless with large eyes and looked up at him with hope. Skullcrusher and Cloudjumper walked up to him and bowed their heads. Hiccup couldn't believe it. No... are they...? Toothless looked mildly confused at the sight of the bowing, but raised his head up in satisfaction. With this, all of the dragons, including Stormfly, bowed their heads in unison.

Bowed to their new Alpha.

Hiccup could only smile in amazement, and he felt Astrid grab his hand beside him. He squeezed her hand back in return.

"Now that's a King," Astrid said.

Toothless roared to the skies as the rest of the dragons followed in unison.


Astrid cheered with the rest of the hooligans as the dragons roared. Fire and explosions shot from the dragons' mouths in unison and a firework show presented over the Hooligans. She hadn't felt this much joy since before her own raids began.

She finally felt at home here-

"Don't move or you're dead."

Astrid felt a knife at her throat, and she gulped.

"Drago."


Hiccup!

On instinct, Hiccup felt his hand go cold. He looked to see why Astrid let go of his hand -

-and Drago stood there.

A knife drawn to Astrid's throat.

Hiccup 's fist went into a ball. The slimy man was definitely getting on his nerves. "Drago, let her go. There's no point in fighting anymore." He didn't have a plan yet, but he knew that he had to get Astrid out of there. "Just drop the knife."

"That was a pretty cheap move," Astrid could only mutter. "You're crazy to try and kill me, when you just lost all your dragons."

To confirm, all of the Hooligans held their weapons up, ready to attack. The dragons mimicked their riders and all bared their teeth. Hiccup wasn't sure if they were standing up for Astrid or if they just wanted a taste of Drago's blood. Either way, he felt confident that every one of the Hooligans wanted to see Drago dead. He was sure that the dragons, at least, wanted to protect Astrid. And, to be perfectly honest, Hiccup was looking forward to seeing Drago dead.

Drago sneered. "I'm not letting two hiccups defeat me! You both are going to pay!"

Hiccup's eye went to Astrid quickly. What should I do? I can't let him kill you.

Distract him, she told him in his mind.

How?

I don't know, just distract him.

"What's the point of all of it, Drago?" Hiccup asked. Drago stared at him in a state of confusion. "Your army is defeated, you lost your weapon." He felt Toothless come up beside him. "Now do you see what it means to gain a dragon's loyalty? Dragons, like I said, are kind and loyal creatures. The alpha protects them all, not just to use at your expense! Now, you can surrender or you can face my Night Fury, the new alpha."

As though to confirm it, Toothless prepared his plasma blast.

"And what about your little Valkyrie here?" Drago asked, tightening his grip on Astrid's throat, the knife pinning in her kneck. Hiccup could feel a pinching in his own. "Are you willing to let her die?"

Hiccup's eyes kept on his black, souless ones. "No, but like you said, I'm a clever boy. We'll imprison you and you will answer for your war crimes," he said. "I know that many chiefs in the archipelago will want you dead when they see you, since you killed their fathers and predecessors."

Drago's hand lowered. "You don't know what's coming. You have no idea who's out there." He looked at the rest of the Hooligans, his eyes burning with power. "They'll help me. They'll gain back my dragons, and when I get them- AHHH!"

Astrid had bitten down on Drago's hand, causing him to released Astrid. She took the opportunity to kick him in the chest, which Drago quickly recovered from. He swung his knife at her but she dodged by leaning back and knocking it out of his hand. It went soaring in the air and Hiccup ran to catch it. Hiccup tossed the knife at Astrid as he took his sword from his pocket and held it out at Drago.

"What were you saying, again?" Hiccup asked, smugly. He kept his eyes on Drago's dark eyes, which were even darker than usual.

Astrid was closing in, holding the knife out. "You'll pay for the Hooligans and dragons you killed." She glanced to Finna. "Do you got anything stronger than rope?"

Finna glanced and saw chains hanging from the port. She grabbed them and was about to wrap them around Drago's arms but Drago grabbed the chains and swung it at her and Astrid. Finna went flying as Astrid jumped out of the way and Hiccup smacked his prosthetic arm away. Drago screeched and swung his flesh arm at Hiccup, smacking him down.

Hiccup tried to get up but he saw Heather run in from behind him and charged at Drago. The war monger smacked her away just as easily but Fishlegs charged as well, followed by the twins and Snotlout. Their weapons were raised but Drago easily smashed through them as though they were mere toys.

More Vikings charged.

Drago kept smashing through.


Astrid got back up, as she saw Drago smash through the rest of the Hooligans. She had to think quick, but. what could she do? She saw the knife on the ground that Drago previously had? Wait. I just had it... Drago must have knocked it out of my hand. Astrid looked over at Hiccup, who was having a hard time getting up.

Hiccup, get up.

There was a pause. There's no use. He's too strong.

Just cover me.

Hiccup looked up at her and glanced at the knife near her. Astrid quickly grabbed it.

What are you doing? Hiccup could only think.

Astrid ran to him and got him up to his feet.

Both looked at each other.

It's the only way, Hiccup.

... I know.


Finna prepared to hit Drago.

She ran up to him as Drago spotted her. Drago eyed her in his rage, his dark eyes fixated on her. He balled a fist as Finna charged at him. She dodged a fist as she smacked him. He anticipaed it as he caught her hand in mid-swing, twisting her arm in the process. She groaned as she took a knee and raised a fist -


Hiccup and Astid ran with the knife in their hand as they charged at the unsuspecting Drago-

-and plunged it in his skull.


Suddenly, Drago fell to the ground.

Finna blinked, as Astrid and Hiccup stood behind where Drago had, her brother with a guilty look on his face. Astrid, however, looked less conflicted. She looked down at Drago and saw the knife lodged in his skull. Drago's eyes glared back at Finna with empty black eyes.

Drago was dead.


It took everyone a moment for Hiccup realize what he had done. The body of the man that attacked their village was staring at them in the face with empty eyes... the same that controlled the now lost Bewilderbeast. No one was sure what to do. They could only stand there with shocked faces, unable to process what just happened.

Including Hiccup himself.

What... what have I done?

He killed a man.

He killed a man.

He killed a man.

The limp body didn't face him and he was grateful. If he would have seen Drago's eyes, it would have only confirmed what he just did. He was a murderer. He murdered out of cold blood. And he couldn't take that back...

Is this what it means to be a Soul? Senseless killing?

You know it was the only way.

Hiccup glanced at Astrid and could only smile back, even though it was sad. I know... but it's still shocking.

It gets easier.

Hiccup frowned. Does it? He didn't think it could. He wasn't sure if it could ever.

Not fully easy, but each one hurts less than the first.

Oh, that's reassuring.

"Are you two alright? You look like you're in another world," Finna said.

Hiccup could only chuckle with Astrid, glad that Finna didn't fully understand what they were thinking... or feeling. Hiccup smiled at his sister's confusion. "We'll explain it soon enough, Finn."

"You better. Because I'm still trying to wrap my head around what the fuck just happened here too," Finna said. She pointed to the body. "Wanna tell me how you two resorted to killing him?"

Astrid wiped her hands. "Well, we weren't faced with much options. He was about to kill all of us. Especially you." She looked down at Drago, then back at the surprised Vikings. "So... Now what?"

"That's all there is to it," Hiccup could only say. He looked down at Drago as well and tightened his fists slightly. He didn't want to resort to killing, and it still hurt that he killed a human. He admitted that... there was no stopping Drago. He wouldn't reason... he could not have been reasoned with. He was a madman... with no conscious.

Well, that's what he told himself.

It made it easier.

"I... Well, we usually don't kill prisoners," Hiccup said.

Astrid's eyebrow raised. "He had a fucking knife to my throat!"

"Hey, I taught her that!" Finna shouted, looking over to the crowd.

"Finnawena!" Valka's voice shouted.

Hiccup and Astrid laughed, along with the rest of the Vikings.


The next moment was pure joy.

It was then and there that the dragons all around descended to their riders, and family members met up with one another. There was cheering and hugs and kisses given to family and dragons alike. From Heather rubbing Windshear's head, to the twins' affectionate nuzzles with the two-headed Barf and Belch. Fishlegs and Snoutlout embraced Meatlug and Hookfang with tears as both dragons wagged their tails uncontrollably. Gobber called out to his Grump, who landed tiredly on his rider.

Hiccup released a laugh as Gothi's Terrible Terrors surrounded her, covering her up. He looked over to his parents who were consoling Cloudjumper and Skullcrusher (he was pretty surprised that Stoick gave affection to Skullcrusher). Finna left Eret's side as Blizzard licked her owner's face.

"You know, that was some pretty good dragon wrangling back there," Eret said, walking over to Astrid and Hiccup. "You'd be good trappers if you ever decide to join my crew."

"Not bad yourself, Trapper, although I may have to pass up the crew joining," Astrid said with a smirk. She frowned, "Look, I'm, er, sorry about the whole fort thing. If you want me to repay it back, I can somehow."

Eret waved it off. "Well, you did kind of kill my boss, so I don't really have a job anyway." Astrid and Eret both chuckled.

Hiccup rubbed his chin. "You know, we may need another Rider on our team. You seem pretty knowledgeable with traps, maybe you can use those skills to get dragons out of traps." He shrugged. "That is, if you want."

Eret did consider the idea for a moment. "Won't I need a dragon?" he asked.

"I know the perfect dragon who would love to have a rider," Astrid said. She gestured to the distance. "She's back at our island and I know she loves riders."

Eret smiled. "Well, thank you. The both of you." Suddenly, someone came to punch him in the arm. "Ow! Hey!"

"Looks like you'll need a ride back," Finna said, as she rubbed her sore fist. "Blizzard would be happy to take you back to Berk." To confirm it, Blizzard gave Eret a slobbery kiss. "She seems to have grown close to you."

Eret blushed. "Well... since I am out the job, perhaps I will stay on Berk for a while."

Finna found herself blushing too.


"Son!"

Hiccup looked back to see, at the last second, that Stoick had picked him up in a huge hug. "You did it, son! You stopped the bastard!" Stoick wasn't one to give hugs, but each one left an impression on Hiccup. Well, some type of bruise at least.

"Y-yea, uh Dad - Dad! I can't breathe!" Hiccup tried to shout but the crushing of his lungs made it difficult to speak. "Okay, this is why people think I have issue..."

Stoick dropped Hiccup, " Sorry, son." He walked up to Astrid. "Well, it looks like owe you a thanks for killing Drago. I know a few Chiefs who'd be happy to hear that he's dead."

Astrid smiled. "I... well, I hope that doesn't stop me from becoming a proper Hooligan."

"So you are considering joining us?" Stoick asked.

Astrid squeezed Hiccup's hand. "I think I will." She frowned. "I can still go in, even though I killed a guy?"

"Really, laddie? Do you know how many people I've killed in my life?" Stoick asked with a laugh. Hiccup swore he heard other Hooligans laugh and confirm either his claim or that they also have killed people. He even heard Gobber say "It's true! I even killed seven Outcasts!" from the crowd.

"Hiccup!" Valka shouted, as she ran to her son. She gave him an affectionate hug and Hiccup returned it, happy to be back in his mother's arms. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you too much?"

"Nothing that your remedies can't heal, Mom," Hiccup said, rubbing his face. He smiled at his mother. "

Finna frowned. "Hello? I'm the one with the bloody nose, fist and dislocated shoulder!" She held up one of her fists to prove her point, while here other arm she could barely lift. "Don't I get any sympathy?"

"Now, Finna. You should have stayed put when I told you," Valka said.

"But then no one would have captured Drago!" Finna insisted as Valka inspected her arm.

Hiccup and Astrid laughed.

"Are they always going at each other like this?" Astrid asked Hiccup.

"Ever since Finn could talk," Hiccup said.

Astrid laughed again. "Well, then I have something to look forward to when I move in with the village," she said confidently.

"You're coming with us?" Hiccup asked. "I mean... I know we talked about it.. but you really want to?" He heard his own pleading and he hoped that she wouldn't take it too hard. He did want her to live on Berk, but that would mean she would have to try and live with Vikings. And possibly meet her family. Was she up for that?

Astrid looked down at the floor briefly. "Well, now that Icespitter's flock will most likely follow Toothless... and that would mean Stormfly would as well." She rubbed her arm. "I... I don't see where else I can go."

"You'll love Berk," Hiccup promised. "Sure, I was pretty much a loser when I was a kid but now that dragons live here, there are so many things for dragons. Did you know we have Dragon Racing?"

"Dragon Racing?" Astrid asked.

"It's so much fun. We race dragons and toss sheep in baskets and we have this one sheep, the black sheep, that's worth ten points and it's tossed at the last lap and whoever has the most points at the end wins." He eyed Stormfly. "And I know Nadders are very fast."

Astrid considered it, for a moment.

"Yes. I would like to come back with you."

This made Hiccup so happy that he couldn't help but kiss her. And this one lasted much longer than the brief one Astrid had given him. He hadn't really kissed anyone, anyone that he deemed worthy of kissing at least, and he was happy that Astrid was his first. It was gentle and full of hope and joy.

"Well, son!"

The kiss broke with Hiccup receiving a smack across his back. Ah... the affectionate Stoick's work, he was sure. Astrid giggled beside him. "It looks like everyone's dragon is accounted for." Hiccup rubbed his back as Stoick looked over to Goober. "Make sure that the soldiers are caught so we can show to the council."

"Already done, Stoick," Gobber said. He gestured to the remaining men that were all tied together. "I had Hoark, Phlegma and Spitelout tie these ones up so we didn't have another Drago fiasco." Everyone laughed with their dragons.

Hiccup smiled. He took a moment to watch the scene around him. Everyone was happy to have their dragons back. Astrid left his side to give Stormfly another affectionate hug. He could only smile as Toothless walked up to him and purred against Hiccup. The young Viking smiled as Toothless gave him a toothless grin.

"You never cease to amaze me, bud." Hiccup rested his head against Toothless' forehead. "Thank you."

"I'm so happy he didn't hurt you," Toothless purred. For a split moment he looked sad. "I couldn't forgive myself if someone hurt you."

"No one could ever hurt me, Toothless," Hiccup promised. He looked in Toothless's eyes, the same green eyes that mirrored his own. The Night Fury's black pupils were full and warm, as they always should be. "You and I... we'll always be brothers. You're the brother I've never had."

"You're my brother, too, Hiccup." Toothless seemed to have confirmed this by licking Hiccup's face.

"Toothless! You know that doesn't wash out!" Hiccup shouted. He tried to escape but Toothless ended up jumping on top of him and licking him affectionately. "Toothless!"

He heard Astrid laugh beside him.

And that was a pretty good thing to hear.