Edited.

Notes: ok first of all, I want to thank the AJ guest to say your comments are giving me life and I'm really sad over the fact I can't reply your long ass reviews with a random 'I love you' because I do

Everyone else's comments do make me sparkle joy, though, but you're the only one leaving these long comments that just gaaaah SIEJDFKEIDFKJM

Anyway... MAYBE I'll do about the next movie, I've been thinking of portraying a male Light Fury, all things considered, but they wouldn't be in this work

Those of you who have an account in ao3, I'm also posting the same story there, although I'm just now editing some gaps so the chapters are exactly the same and

Landing on the blue Nadder's back was a new challenge. The whole time felt so much longer than when they left Berk, when Artichoke was also holding onto the same dragon and the same girl, yet felt as days ago, rather than hours. How many hours?

His hands and face were numb with the cold, all of him soaked with the rain inside the cloud he just crossed, inside the storm the Nadder just flew them through. Hiccup was still breathing, though barely. Her wound had its blood stanched since before they took flight, her usually light pink lips were blue and she seemed to be recovering conscience, through moans and groans of pain, as if she were in a nightmare, he couldn't wake her up from.

Yet, he still had a lot of explaining as the elders, the sick and the children all hided, eyes wide towards the couple and the dragon, from inside their huts. Gothi walked up to them immediately, the old, short woman took every step with such power and goal it didn't match her age and curved back. A disapproving look filled her face. Maybe she thought he was also a traitor, since that's what Hiccup had been accused of for befriending Toothless before they left. But Artichoke had no time to explain, had no time to waste while Hiccup's life was fading from her body at every second.

Gothi said no word, only pointing to the healer's hut.

The woman held the title of Elder, having much respect and recognition from all Villagers. She wasn't the only healer in the island, of course, but by being the oldest, she also carried the title of best healer from Berk, being the one other healers learned from.

Hiccup was starting into shock and Gothi began her work. Artichoke knew they should pray for Freya first, but they also had no time to waste, yet that tiny woman's glare was enough to shut him up about it and let her complete the ritual. Children of all ages gathered from outside, gathering in the great hall, confused, and scared about the standing blue dragon. Unbothered by the rain. The female Nadder couldn't fit the healer's hut, so it rested her head by the doorstep.

As Gothi started the work of analyzing Hiccup's situation and pulling out her sleeves to cure her battle wounds, more specifically the one in her leg. The elder picked up a box of tools. Medical tools. He didn't know most of them, but there was only one reason a handsaw was brought up in times like these, though he never presented one himself. No. Dread filled his features when the woman looked up at him, a lightning in the distance. Gothi would need his health, and others for this.

The children…

So he ran to the Great Hall, who could help? Who would help? How many time did he got? There would be so much blood… Opening the door to the large room, Artichoke was hit nonstop with thousands of question, no time between one another. His mouth was dry despite the rest of him being wet. His brothers and sisters were the ones closer asking more questions, but the elders also weren't putting up with any shit, so he cut them all up, taking in the opportunity to speak it to himself.

"Gothi needs help to amputate Hiccup's leg in the hut", he knew he was still a mess from the whole battle, maybe the rain had washed away part from the mix of sweat and smoke, but he still held his tears from blending with them, knowing he'd need to wait longer to let it out. "I'll be trying to hold her still but Gothi will need helpers", he looked at them. All of them. All the judged unsafe for battle, all the ones who hadn't witnessed their doings today, what would become a legend tomorrow.

"Humpf, why should anyone help that traitor?", an old man, one Artichoke was almost sure was nearly blind and somehow younger than Gothi herself, spoke up.

"I heard she's a witch", a small child shot into them.

"She always seemed odd, that one", a pregnant woman agreed.

"She saved all of you!", they had no time and he needed to hurry "She saved all of us! In-in the nest- I swear! I was there she's the reason the fight against dragons is over you have to trust me she- I-".

"If that's true then where are the others?", the first old man spoke again. Artichoke noticed he was lacking one or two teeth.

He didn't know if the elderly could see his head drop, but the silence was heard. They had all stood back there, and Artichoke had no idea how they'd leave. He hadn't allowed himself to think of anything else other than making his way to Berk.

"That's what I thought".

Fine, if he had to do it all alone, he would, but just standing by was never an option.

"Did Gothi decide to heal her?" a girl with brown-ish hair, not older than 13 asked up. Artichoke nodded and it was all it took for her to decide she'd help. A raven-haired boy and girl followed, both younger than the first girl, but over than 10.

They crossed the village to get in the hut. Hiccup was already wide awake, from what the screaming told them. The children flinched, not with the screams or the thunder, but with the dragon protecting the hut's entrance. Artichoke shielded them, trying to imitate his wife's voice when she had set the Monstrous Nightmare free, just so few hours ago "it's okay, it's okay", the children were still frozen, behind him and each other, though the Nadder did as much as eye them once and acknowledge their presence.

In all honesty, Artichoke wanted to make them touch the Nadder's horn in that thrill bond feeling Hiccup had shown them all in the arena, he wanted to make the bridge for these kids, like she had, but it wasn't the time or place, so he contented with just saying "she won't hurt us, she helped Hiccup and I get home safely".

Artichoke had recognized the oldest girl, with brown hair, from a few training lessons in the arena, but the other two were too young. Her nose wrinkled in disbelief or half of it then she ran up to the hut in silence, followed by the other two and, for last, Artichoke.

Arguments could happen later.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hundreds of Vikings were left with nothing but waiting at the shore, once more with their lives at the stakes of mere teenagers. Although, Stoick supposed now they had done more than prove their adulthood to the village. To the whole Archipelago, even

As it had been since that dreadful moment watching young Artichoke's test on the arena, Berk's Chief was boiling, overflowing with thoughts, yes, but, for the first time in a long, long time, the large man encountered himself with no substantial idea or notion of what would happen next. On the long run, of course.

Dragons weren't finished, that much was pretty clear. And he suspected the tribes would spend the next months rebuilding their fleets or trying to get close to the number of ruined ships, but that was as much as his certainties would go. Would dragons stop attacking? Would Hiccup survive? What would he do with this- with the Night Fury? How would they go on this winter? How many wounded were there?

"Hey, looks like the kids did it", Gobber took him from his deep thoughts. Indeed, they were presented with another sight of those four kids on the back of three dragons, yes. But as they got closer, they saw not only their crazy ideas to bring on fishing boats, but they were accompanied by several, several other dragons. Not nearly as much as a third of all those who flew away when they first attacked this place, but, still, a considerable number to get old habits showing, the human crowd became apprehensive, holding into their weapons. Much like himself, Stoick knew most, if not all of them were not ready to get on their backs. Truth is, they were too old, too unconvincing, and even maybe too coward to ride them as those kids had done today.

Though as they landed, most dragons seemed to share the same feeling. Pupils thin, sneering, some were even hissing. It just built up their tension, but none of the reptiles showed claws, no fire was shoot, it was just a pressure from ancient enemies staring each other.

"Chief!", his nephew, Snotlout, yelled out, hopping off the neck of the Monstrous Nightmare Stoick himself had imprisoned just a few months ago. It kept a scar on its muzzle, from his own personal axe, but he couldn't recognize most of these faces. Dragons were just animals, he could differ breeds at most, but not individualize them, although he could guess a lot of those could remember him, and his attacks. He felt an odd, urgent wish to apologize when the kid continued. "These were all boats we found on Berk, but we brought help".

"They sort of offered, actually", the larger kid, Fishlegs, added. "We know these boats are small, but we'll take turns". Indeed. Lots and lots of ropes were attached to different dragons' hips and back to the boats.

Stoick held a hand so at least his Berkians would low their weapons. This was a new, unique situation, alright. But, once again, they depended on these dragons' generosity. Odin give me strength, he thought. Injured ones were the first to fill out the transportation facilities, which actually include the Night Fury, who ended up needing other dragons' aid to be taken to the boats. It occupied nearly a full boat, but it- she was much a reason they were still breathing as his daughter had been and nobody objected, though nobody shared that boat with her, either.

The tall man with an oversized name (I mean 'the vast'?) swallow up his fear and worry, opting to trust their oldest healer's abilities and taking a leap of faith with those dragons. Now was Chief time, not dad time. Though he very much had neglected the second part in his life for far too long. And so he organized, he comforted those too untrusting of their unexpected helpers, he set how many fit in each boat. He stayed in that lifeless island, aiding them all on optimizing their safe return. He remained there, trusting Gobber to go first and aid the ones who would soon overflow Berk before heading to their home islands. And to explain those who stayed home what happened.

Gobber wasn't the best with words and charisma, was not a man of politics as much as he was a good warrior, a good blacksmith. But it was known he's the second in command and that his word goes when Stoick's absent, so they'd deal with it.

And so Stoick stayed. Stayed the whole day, only embarking at the last round, when no Viking, Berkian or not, was left in that dreadful place.