So, yup, this is my THIRD update today, and I'm sorry about that last chapter. The fic's not over yet though, so...please don't give up! :D Even though it's hopless, and I'm awful to poor Hiccup and the others...never mind. I am going to write that headcanon I mentioned in the previous A/N about Hiccup getting shot and meets Valka with Astrid earlier on in the film. It should be wonderful. So, yeah. I'll probably start that after I finish this one tonight. Oh, yeah...I AM FINISHING THIS STORY TODAY! YAYAYAYAYYAAAAAYY! Enjoy chapter 48!
The Berkians left, sometimes one by one, sometimes two by two, sometimes three by three, four by four, and so on. They left in no apparent order, each going to help prepare Hiccup's funeral.
The only people who didn't leave were Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, and then Toothless. Toothless was wailing into the wind, tossing his head back in utmost sorrow. The others stared, not knowing what to say; what to think; what to do.
Astrid refused to let Hiccup go. He was dead, but she couldn't believe he was. She couldn't...she just wouldn't believe something like that. It was horrible. Far, far, far too horrible.
"Astrid," said Snotlout. "We have to go..."
"No," said Astrid. "We don't."
"Astrid," said Snotlout, almost gently, which was strange for him.
"No!" said Astrid. "Hiccup, you're not dead! I know you're not! Drop the act! Cut it out! Stop being so stubborn! You told me you would never leave me, and you never break your promises...why is this an exception?" Of course, she didn't get a response. Astrid was suddenly mad. She was mad at Hiccup. She was mad at Dagur. She was mad at everyone and everything. "Get...up!" she shouted. "Get up, get up, get up, you crazy weirdo!" She shook Hiccup, and then broke down crying again. He was dead. Why even try?
She was mad at him, actually. She was actually, seriously, genuinely mad at him. Why did he go out and fight Dagur? Why did he get himself killed? Why did he...there were so many whys.
And then, just as she was about to give up, she heard a slight cough. At first, she ignored it. It could have been herself, by the way she was crying. She didn't even know, nor did she care at that point. Why had all this happened? Why? Just why? Hiccup didn't deserve it. No one on Berk deserved it.
And then, she heard a gasp, followed by many others. The people behind her fell silent. Astrid slowly, ever so slowly, opened her eyes, not trusting herself at first. She wasn't going to get her hopes up. She wasn't.
But then, she felt someone lightly touch her cheek. Her eyes shot open, and she gasped. Hiccup's eyes were open, and he was smiling. Did dead people smile? Did dead people brush someone else's tears away? No, they didn't.
Only living people did that.
And that meant that...
"HICCUP!" Astrid, Snotlout, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, and Fishlegs shouted in unison. Toothless roared and fired a plasma blast into the air, followed by many others. He bounded around Astrid and his rider, roaring and roaring in happiness.
"What...did I do?" Hiccup asked.
"You weirdo!" Astrid shouted, hugging him so tightly she was afraid she'd crack his ribs. "You completely utter weirdo!"
"Dude, what happened!?" Tuffnut shouted. "You were dead!"
"I have no idea," said Hiccup. "I just heard a bunch of stuff...what did you say about jumping off the roof with an umbrella?"
"Oh boy," said Tuffnut. "You weren't supposed to hear any of that!"
"So you heard it all?" said Snotlout. "Even what I said?"
"Yep," said Hiccup. "We have a lot to talk about later."
"But you...I still don't...you stopped breathing!" said Fishlegs. "Your heart stopped! How is this-" he gestured to Hiccup, "even possible?"
"You just gestured to all of me," said Hiccup. "And I have no idea. Why? Were you wishing I had died?"
"Of course not!" said Fishlegs. "I was terrified you had! And Snotlout was too! You heard what he said! The entire village did!"
Toothless suddenly barged in, knocking the other riders down in the process. He licked Hiccup, and for the first time in what felt like the entire time Hiccup had known the dragon, Hiccup didn't protest. He was glad Toothless was awake. It meant a lot to him. And apparently, Toothless was glad Hiccup was awake, too.
Astrid helped Hiccup stand up. He had pretty much gotten the full use of his leg back, and didn't see the use bothering with a crutch again.
"Where's everyone else?" said Hiccup.
"Preparing your funeral," said Snotlout. Everyone stared at him. "What? Is that what's not happening?"
"My funeral?" Hiccup frowned. "I'm not dead yet."
"Let's keep it that way," said Astrid.
"Well, come on!" said Tuffnut. "We should stop that ceremony!"
Hiccup and the others ran. And if Hiccup had a goofy smile on his face the entire time he ran to his own funeral, well...no one had to know that.
