Chapter 16-

Berk is quiet today as the ships were spotted on a morning flight. Their size is notably smaller than before. The flight team had done very, very well.

"Son?" Stoick calls out slowly approaching his only child. Hiccup hasn't spoken much to his father since he arrived. In fact the only thing he has said to his father is about the war plans other than that it's just harsh glares or stone cold faces and this time is no different.

"I heard that you've been communicating with the other teens. You've forgiven them even allowed your cousin to stay with you when he and Spitlot had their fight." Stoick says he hopes that he can start a conversation and see if his son is willing to forgive him or even talk to him for more than a few seconds.

"Yes so?" Hiccup asks, pushing a weapon into his boot and then walks away. "Son?" Stoick calls out again and Hiccup turns his head so he can faintly see his old man from a sliver of his eye. "I-I love you." Stoick chokes out to his boy not knowing what else to say.

Hiccup stayed still for quite some time. It leaves this silence, this heavy tension hanging in the air. Hiccup always wanted to hear those words from his old man when he was a little boy, after he had fucked up or done something wrong. He always pictured his dad saying it after he got home from a long day of leading their village or a tough meeting or even after his father saw what those kids did to him or heard him crying late at night when he was a little boy but he's not a little boy anymore he's a grown ass man. He found someone to fill the hole his father left in him. He rebuilt the confidence his father had shattered. He found people that love his inventions that didn't call him stupid or naive or immature. He found the love he was looking for from Stoick in other people and while it will never quite be the same or completely fill the void, he doesn't need it from his father anymore.

Stoick didn't give a damn about him when he was a child, when he was weak, or beat down he shouldn't give a damn about him now. Does he only care that he's strong? Does he only care that he's powerful now? That he's the son he always wanted now? Does he even care at all?

Hiccup eyes his father unsure, "Good to know." is all he can say before walking away. He feels Stoick eyes on his back the whole walk out Hiccup steals another look at his father, his body frozen once more, "When this is all over we should talk." he somewhat suggest to his old man. Stoick's eyes grew wide, a smile spreading on his tired face. "Al-Alright." Stoick agrees and Hiccup leaves the room.

Truth be told it was easier for Hiccup to forgive the twins, Snotlot, Astrid, Fishlegs but his father is a different story. After his mother was taken his father was all he had and Stoick rejected him. Stoick rejected their bond, his existence, his heart, who he was as a person, he rejected him and it left young Hiccup truly alone. How do you forgive the person that was supposed to protect you? How do you forgive the man you thought so highly of that did nothing but let you down? How do you forgive your father who was also your abuser? The reason you were so depressed? The reason there was a bloody blade and scars littering your arms?

Hiccup doesn't know and Åse is not here to tell him or comfort him so he truly doesn't know. "Toothless!" Hiccup yells out and the dragon comes happily to his friend's side. Toothless coos against his friend's side before lowering himself to the ground so his rider can get on much easier. It's time to fight.

Toothless rocketed into the air a hundred riders followed; they flew in the daylight above the clouds to the ships. They heard them below the sound of whipping and loud shouts of fighters. "Release!" Hiccup shouted followed by the sound of the wind breaking as boulders dropped through the air. They didn't stay to see how many ships were hit or if any were hit at all. It was drop and run no dragons could get hurt today.

They flew back to Berk and he sees the others are there as well which is odd. They're not supposed to be here until tomorrow morning. He and Toothless are the last to land when his feet touch the ground he notices something is off. The air is somber and the faces he sees are not ones of warriors but ones of loss and of grief.

All eyes are on him but no one comes forward. "What's-" Hiccup begins to question but as he searches the crowd he sees all but one face he notices the smell is off there's no fruit among the sweat and flowers. "Where's my wife?" he asked, his voice hardy above a whisper. His fist clenched in anger and confusions.

Everyone remains silent unsure of how to answer. In all honesty no one truly knows they woke up and she was gone along with Storm. No trace left that even suggested the red headed leader or cloudy grey dragon were there at all.

A young woman with blonde hair steps forward, "This is all we found where her tent was a few hours ago." the lady shows him her hand a dart with an empty vile. Hiccup's heart starts to ache and his world begins to crumble.

Hiccup runs faster than he ever has before. His stomach turns painfully as a sick taste comes to his mouth. The young Viking trips on his journey to no real place he drops to his knees as the heart crunching throats surround him. He dropped boulders on the ships of the man that has his family. He could have killed his wife and Storm. Sunk the ship they were captured on and now they could be freezing at the bottom of the ocean. He could have flattened them into a pancake.

The world begins to spin. He feels dizzy and hot. What have I done? What have I done? Hiccup mumbles over and over again.

An idea forms in his mind, "Toothless!" he shouts for his pal getting up from his knees. He wipes the dirt from his suit and calls for his dragon again.

Toothless doesn't take long. He sits before his rider with red eyes and a sore heart. He still feels his mate deep within him. He knows she's not dead but for how long is what he doesn't know.

"Come on we're going to go find them." Hiccup tells his dragon wiping away his own tears.