To elexiacharlie - Thank you for the criticism and I agree that I was a bit fast, but I will try to slow down.
Berk
Astrid followed the Dragon Master and Gobber with her axe ready to strike. His Night Fury was jumping from roof to roof drawing a crowd of armed Vikings. The Gobber ordered the Dragon Master to keep his beast at the arena, but like the man said, his dragon followed him no matter what. The beast glared at the gathering crowd as they walked to the Great Hall. Snotlout was sitting next to the doors eating yak when he finally noticed the black armored warrior. He bolted up, holding an axe in hand. The Dragon Master brushed past Snotlout and his Night Fury jumped to its master's side. The young Chief heir followed behind Astrid. "What is he doing here babe?" Snotlout asked and the Shieldmaiden punched his gut. An often reminder that Astrid wasn't his, but the Viking always forgets that. She walked inside the Hall to see Spitelout rushing to the Dragon Master, axe in hand.
"What are you doing back here Dragon Master? You said that once you have Krogan, you'll leave Berk." Chief Spitelout asked aggressively. The Night Fury growled in response and the cowardly Chief backed up raising his axe.
"When I told you that, I was hoping that Krogan would have talked by now. Unfortunately, he hasn't. Which means that when he doesn't return to Drago, a large fleet may come here, to Berk." the Dragon Master replied and Gobber was ready to stab the man with his hook hand.
"So you want Berk to side with you." Spitelout remarked as the Night Fury continued to growl.
"Can you lower that axe? Toothless doesn't like it." the Dragon Master asked politely and Gobber glared at the Chief. The Viking reluctantly lowered his axe and the Night Fury cooed as the Rider scratched its head. "Thank you and yes. I believe together we can break Drago's forces."
"With your beasts? Destroy our values?" the Chief replied and the Dragon Master chuckled.
"It looked like Astrid and Gobber were trying to train a Monstrous Nightmare poorly. So Dragon training is an idea Berk had." the Dragon Master answered and Astrid studied the man's movements. She knew he was left handed, a skilled fighter, tactical, and tricky.
"Gobber and Astrid are the only ones who support the idiotic idea. Dragons destroyed our homes and killed our own in countless raids. Yet you want us to ignore the devastation they brought?" Spitelout asked and the armored warrior stood tall.
"Not ignore. Remember. But look beyond the scales and fire. I once hated dragons as much as you. Drago used his dragons to kill my father. A dragon took my mother not long after. I was left alone. I wanted to kill dragons. But then I shot down Toothless. I looked beyond the freighting Night Fury and saw a kind, gentle creature. All the dragons did was survive." the Dragon Master replied and Astrid remembered the man said that dragons killed his mother, but not that he once hated dragons. It only added more mystery to the man. "At least consider the siding with me. Talk to your people. See what they think." he added before climbing onto the saddle. They launched into the air and flew out of the Hall. As they flew, Astrid started to feel something similar about the man.
Hiccup and Toothless landed in the familiar Cove where their friendship was built. Hiccup walked to the edge of the water looking at the cliff where a young Viking who won't kill a dragon watched a wounded Night Fury. The Rider turned to see Toothless already laying down and smiled. He took off the helmet and breathed in the fresh air. After a moment of remembering the good memories, Hiccup went off to Toothless and grabbed the tent. He went over to a clear spot and began to set up the small tent. It wasn't much but it was better than nothing. He couldn't risk someone accidentally stumbling upon his camp and seeing Hiccup's face. After the tent was set, he grabbed a small journal filled with blank pieces of paper. The Rider began to draw Astrid. She has still the beautiful Valkaryie that he remembered. Free spirit. Proud of who she is. And perfect in every way. As the sun grew darker, Hiccup stopped drawing and went out of his tent to make some supper wondering how Berk would react to his offer.
"You can't be serious?" a Viking yelled after hearing what Gobber suggested. With the Dragon Master's return, everyone was on edge and the blacksmith agreeing with the dark armored warrior wasn't easing the situation. But Astrid agreed with both of them. Krogan brought eight ships while Drago has who knows how many. They'll need all the help they can get, especially with the attempts of their Dragon Training going poorly.
"Yes I am! The Dragon Master made promises to Astrid and she confirmed that he kept them. While I dislike the idea of siding with this Dragon Master, we have to pick one evil over a greater evil. Might as well be with the man who wants vengeance against Drago as we do." Gobber replied and the Hall mumbled in agreement. It was clear that the Dragon master was interested in one goal. Revenge.
"But what about after the war? What will this Dragon Master want with us?" Spitelout asked.
"He told Astrid what he will do after Drago is gone. Return to his home as a hero if they accept him. His Alliance will fall apart from there." Gobber answered and Snotlout decide to open his mouth.
"And what if he doesn't? Then we'll be at his mercy. I say we kill him and hope Drago stays away." Snotlout remarked and some of the Vikings agreed with the brat.
"If if Drago comes to conquer Berk? What will you do then Snotlout? Fight dragons the likes of which we have never seen?" Gobber asked and Astrid smiled seeing the idiot heir shut up.
"But how can we trust him when he wears a mask?" Fishlegs asked.
"Yeah. For all, we know he could be a Lycanwing." Tuffnut remarked earning groans from the villagers. Ever since Gobber told the story of the mythical dragon, Tuff has been fascinated, imagining the untold mischievousness he could cause. Astrid stood up with an idea.
"How about we invite the Dragon Master here and get the truth. Including his identity." Astrid suggested the Vikings mumbled in agreement.
"Fine then. Anyone wanting to go with my son's idea, raise your hand." Spitelout asked and to only Snotlout's surprise, no one did. "All for Astrids?" he asked and much of Berk did. The Chief sighed knowing he's been defeated. "Fine then. Tomorrow we'll get to the truth."
Hiccup's woke up to Toothless smashing the tent down. The Night Fury quickly got off and the Rider got the remains of the tent off of him to see his best friend impatiently waiting for a morning flight. Hiccup smiled as he stood up. The Rider climbed onto the saddle and they launched into the air. They flew past the forest and dove down to the sea. They flew around the nearby sea stacks at top speeds. Their movements are in unison. They flew to the clouds and the moisture from the soft clouds slide across his armor. The bitter cold relaxed Hiccup's nerves. The two dove down and glided towards Berk. The Rider examined his old home once more seeing the buildings turn as old as his friendship with the Night Fury. He remembered the countless raids burning down the village. Before Hiccup Haddock, son of Stoick the Vast found the nest and beat the Red Death ending the raids. But Berk doesn't know what the fishbone Viking Heir did. When he landed next to the Great Hall, several Vikings who were walking to breakfast drew their weapons. Toothless snarled until Hiccup pat the dragon's side calming him down. The Vikings lowered their weapons before rushing inside. The Rider jumped off the Night Fury and walked inside the Hall. He caught many glares at him as he walked to Chief Spitelout who had a larger glare. Gobber rubbed his chin pondering something.
"So did you consider my offer?" Hiccup asked as he and Toothless stood in front of the Chief and the Berk Council. Spitelout stood up folding his arms.
"Yes and we still have questions for you Dragon Master." Spitelout answered.
"Like who you are under that mask." Gobber interrupted and the Rider shook his head expecting this.
"I wear this helmet to protect my home village. If Drago ever finds out who I am, I fear for my people. They may think of me as a traitor, but I don't want to see harm done to them." Hiccup replied and the crowd mumbled.
"So I doubt you'll tell us anything about your past." Spitelout said sharply.
"Only what I can keep hidden. Anything else is open." Hiccup replied and the Berk Council whispered among themselves. After several long minutes, Spitelout turned back to the Rider.
"Okay then. Let's start with your folks. What can you tell us about them?" Spitelout asked and Hiccup sighed wishing he knew more about them.
"My father was a great warrior. He killed hundreds of dragons and even faced the Monstrous Nightmares without fear. I know he would be disappointed with me now." Hiccup answered doing his best to hide the truth.
"And your mother?" Gobber asked.
"From what I've been told, she was a great warrior too. It's how they met. Fighting together. She believed that there could one day be peace with dragons. Then she was taken by a dragon. I don't know how she'll feel about me and Toothless." Hiccup answered hoping she would be proud.
"Then why in Valhalla would you side with those beasts?" Snotlout asked earning nods from the crowd.
"When I was younger, I wanted to kill dragons, but I was known for accidentally causing trouble. No one believed I could kill a dragon. Then one day I shot down a Night Fury and he landed in the woods. I told everyone, but no one believed me. I went out looking for him and found him tangled up in a bola. I could have killed him, but I looked into his eyes and saw that he was scared. Like me." Hiccup admitted telling no secrets now. "I looked at him and saw myself." He added as Toothless nudged his arm and the Rider pet the Night Fury. "Over the next few days, we've became friends. We both respect and trust each other."
"Yet you and Drago have dragons. Why side with you, a man who refuses to reveal his name and can't be trusted?" Spitelout asked and Hiccup stood tall.
"Drago's dragons don't have the loyalty of his dragons. I've freed hundreds of the dragons under his command and they all fly off. The dragons I have are free to fly away. They only let us fly on them if we've earned their trust." Hiccup answered on Drago dragons. "As far as trust goes, only a few know who I am under this mask. I have little trust in you, but if your trust me, I will trust you more. Maybe reveal who I am to you one day." he added and the Berk council whispered to each other once more. Snotlout looked more agitated as he listened. When he did talk, Gobber and Spitelout shut him up. But the heir stood up drawing his axe.
"I Snotlout Jorgenson challenge you Dragon master to a Holmgang!" Snotlout yelled and Spitelout palmed his face.
"I accept the challenge." Hiccup replied and Snotlout grinned. The Rider knew that the Chief Heir was still an idiot.