Thanks to ReptileGirl497, Smoe05, phieillydinyia and harrypanther for the feedback in the last chapter! It was very much appreciated!
Ok, this first part is somewhat of a rehash of this entire story. We also get a small return of crazy Hiccup. Soon, not quite yet, but soon, things will settle back down to normal. Hopefully.
Enjoy!
Gobber looked around. The number of ships and dragons together made his head spin. He had never thought he would live to see the day where dragons and Vikings were allies. And to think that it had come from a friendship between the Archipelago's deadliest dragon, and the boy they had almost cast aside.
Gobber remembered how Hiccup had been treated by the entire village. How the lad had planned numerous times to run away, only to be stopped by visiting tribes, and his sense of duty to help his tribe out. Because, if he left, the other option was Snotlout. Even Spitelout had forbidden Stoick from passing the mantle of leadership to him.
Then, Hiccup had started to claim that he had shot down a Night Fury. Again. He had patiently, then not so patiently, explained how he had used his new device, the Mangler, to bring down one of the fiercest dragons ever. It was a joke.
Hiccup, even though no one believed him, had managed to shoot down the Night Fury. Which, in Hiccupy fashion, he had freed and named Toothless. Which, after some difficulty, he had managed to train, and eventually ride.
Stoick had put the boy in Dragon Training, hoping it would help him learn how to fight dragons. But Hiccup used the tricks he had learned from Toothless to fool everyone into thinking he could actually fight dragons.
Eventually, the tribe found out, and Stoick, having no choice, removed Hiccup from the tribe, and deserted him, removing his claim as the son as Stoick the Vast. But Hiccup, in a selfless move, rescued the tribe from the Dragon Queen, losing his leg in the process.
Since then, Hiccup had taken great strides as a leader, earning the loyalty and respect of the entire tribe. Unfortunately, he was also slowly losing himself. First Alvin, then Ryker and Viggo had taken their chunks of sanity from him. The old Hiccup would of never of allowed himself to be controlled by rage and vengeance.
Astrid was worried. More worried than she allowed herself to show. She could see Hiccup cracking. He had cracked before, but he had always bounced back. It had taken time and effort, but he had always come back to them. Come back to her.
Now, she wasn't too sure there was a way back. She knew Hiccup was bent on revenge for the Outcasts, and more specifically, Savage. Astrid didn't know what the new Chief had done to him, but clearly, the mere mention of him was driving Hiccup crazy.
Hiccup sighed. Was it really worth it? He had just taken control of Berk's fleet of ships and dragons. All because he had heard of Savage's name. He could feel it. The pressure of trying to get even was tearing him apart. It was also tearing his relationships apart.
Hiccup looked back at the fleet of ships behind him and shook his head. He reached up and felt the place where Astrid had tied new braids into his hair. He had almost lost her the last time he had gone for revenge. There was no way he was going to suffer the same feeling of loneliness again.
Hiccup sighed and looked at Gobber and Astrid. "Turn the ships around. We're going home."
"Hiccup?"
"Yeah. In here Astrid."
She walked in, smiling brightly for Hiccup. "You did it! I am so proud of you!"
He frowned. "What did I do?"
"You beat yourself! You decided to not seek revenge!" She threw her arms around him. "I am so happy for you."
Hiccup slowly wrapped his arms around Astrid. He was a fool. To think that he had almost thrown away this relationship to do something his Dad might be doing at this very moment? It had been an insane thought.
And yet, Astrid had stood by him. She had objected, and when he had ignored her warnings, she came along anyway. Almost as if she knew that her mere presence could be the key to stopping his insane plan.
Hiccup hugged her tight. "Thank you, Astrid. For being here. With me. I don't really know why you still talk to me."
She pulled away and looked at him. "I talk to you because I like you, you mutton-head."
Hiccup sighed. "But I did so much bad. Eventually, it's going to out-way the good I do."
Astrid looked at him sternly. "Hiccup Haddock, if there is one thing that I will never do, it's abandon you. You may lose everyone else, but you will still have me. You will always have me. Understood?"
He smiled. "Yes, ma'am." He held her tight. "And thank you, Astrid. I mean it. Who knows where I would be without you."
"What are you working on?"
Hiccup smiled at his girlfriend. "Like it?"
Astrid stared at the jumble of pieces. She trusted Hiccup's vision, but she had no clue what she was looking at. "What even is this?"
Hiccup grinned. "I'm making a bed."
Astrid just stared. "A bed? So why in the world are there wool pieces lying around?"
Hiccup got visibly excited. "I came up with this awesome new idea for a bed! You know how the bed we currently sleep on is made of hard wood?" At her nod, he continued. "Well, I had the idea to make it softer. So, I'm using wool to cushion our bodies as we sleep." Hiccup chuckled at her blank stare. "Well, I thought it was a good idea."
Astrid shook her head. "No. No. It's a good idea, and sounds comfortable. I'm just having a hard time envisioning it."
Hiccup smiled. "I can guarantee that you will love it, Milady."
And would you look at that. There's no cliffhanger! How many chapters has it been since there wasn't a cliffhanger? I bet it's been a while! Love me for that!
As long as Astrid is with Hiccup, things will turn out ok. Maybe not in the short run, but in the long one, they'll be just fine.
We are ever so slowly working our way into HTTYD 2. It's taking a while, because as soon as I bring Eret into the picture, there's no turning back...
Which means if you guys have any ideas that you want inserted into this story, now is your chance!
Thanks for reading!
