Chapter 6.

Authors notes:

Hope some people leave a review after reading the edited version, just to show me I didn't edit this monstrosity for nothing lol.


''Ready the ships!'' Stoick calls out as he staggers on the steps off the great hall, breaking inside.

Broken-down catapults and trebuchets are bundled up and lowered from the cliffs. Below on the docks, Vikings load the heavy artillery into the hulls of awaiting ships. Children and the elderly gather too on the walkways to wave apprehensive farewells to the departing warriors.

Lastly, Toothless is loaded aboard Stoick's ship, chained down to a palette, muzzled, and restrained with a weighty neck ring. He looks exhausted and miserable.

Everyone in the theater is still completely silent as an after effect of the confrontation they just witnessed.

Until baby Hiccup opens his big emerald green eyes and points to the screen yelling ''dada'' in delight. This eases the tension in the room greatly. Leave it to Hiccup to save the day once more.

'I will do better if I am just given the chance' Stoick thought sneaking a peek at baby Hiccup.

'If I survive I can make his life so much better, both of their lives' Valka thought discreetly looking at Stoick.

''My hatchling is awake!'' Toothless yells out. Excitedly staring at baby Hiccup with new found fascination.

Valka sets Hiccup on the ground and many dragons approach, fascinated, never having been able to observe such a young human hatchling up close before. This also serves as much amusement for baby Hiccup who is looking at the different dragons with wide eyes all the while babbling incoherently at them.

One of the dragons is swiping its tail before baby Hiccup as he tries to catch it, unfortunately he reaches too far and topples over onto the ground promptly bursting into tears. Luckily he doesn´t seem to be in pain just shocked from the fall .

Though this little incident makes Toothless decide that the other dragons have inspected baby Hiccup enough, this is his human hatchling after all. As quick as lightning he grabs baby Hiccup and curls around him shielding him from the other dragons. Baby Hiccup stops crying as Toothless soothingly purrs at him.

Stoick crosses to the bow as the ship pushes off and joins the amassed armada of ships adrift in the harbor. Stoick's brow is furrowed, all warmth drained away. He turns west and glares at the horizon with cold determination.

''Set sail! We head for Helheim's Gate.'' Stoick yells out to his warriors.

He then notices Hiccup watching from his familiar cliff-side perch beyond the village. Their eyes meet, full of hurt and regret. Hiccup slowly shakes his head in warning. Stoick breaks the stare and turns to Toothless, fuming.

''Lead us home, Devil.''

Watching. Hiccup is powerless to stop what is happening, but won't leave.

Later Hiccup is still standing there on cliff-side perch. The ships have cleared the horizon. Astrid is standing behind him, she approaches cautiously and stands beside him in silence. He is yet to notice her.

''It's a mess.'' She says. Hiccup doesn't respond.

''You must feel horrible. You've lost everything. Your father, your tribe, your best friend.'' Astrid continuous.

''Have you been going to Gobber for pep talks Astrid dear?'' Valka asks grimacing a little.

''No'' she answers simply.

''Thank you for summing that up.'' Hiccup says ''Why couldn't I have killed that dragon when I found him in the woods. It would have been better for everyone.''

''Yep. The rest of us would have done it.''

''Are ya tryin' to make the lad feel worse?'' Gobber questions.

Beat.

''So why didn't you?''

''Yea why didn't he?'' Snotlout asks.

''Maybe he saw the future'' Tuff says with theater dramatics, jazz hands and everything.

Tuff gets hit in the arm by Ruff who interjects, ''course not Ratbrain if he had he wouldn't have-''

''Shut up ruff!'' Astrid yells. Effectively cutting off Ruffs sentence.

''Maybe he was scared.'' Fishlegs says.

''Or because he felt compassion for Toothless.'' Valka guesses, looking between Ruff and Astrid in question.

''Not exactly.'' Astrid says as she turns back to the screen.

Hiccup just shakes his head, he really doesn't know.

Astrid's eyes glimmer, she wants something. ''Why didn't you?'' She asks again.

''I don't know. I couldn't.'' Hiccup says.

''That's not an answer.'' Astrid responds.

''Why is this so important to you all of a sudden?'' Hiccup asks becoming irate.

''Because I want to remember what you say right now.'' She replies.

''Oh for the love of-! I was a coward! I was weak. I wouldn't kill a dragon.'' Hiccup says angry and loud.

''You said 'wouldn't' that time.''

''Whatever! I wouldn't! Three hundred years and I'm the first Viking who wouldn't kill a dragon!'' Hiccup blows up.

Beat.

''First to ride one, though.'' Astrid says calmly. Hiccup blinks. He never looked at it that way before. ''So...'' She drawls.

''...I wouldn't kill him because he looked as frightened as I was.''

Beat.

''I looked at him and I saw myself.''

''They both do have green eyes'' Tuff says completely missing the point making his mother slap her hand over her eyes shaking her head.

Astrid turns to face the open sea. ''I bet he's really frightened now.'' She says trying and succeeding in provoking him. ''What are you going to do about it?''

Beat.

''Probably something stupid.'' He says.

''Good. But you've already done that.'' Astrid responds.

Another beat.

''Then something crazy.'' Hiccup says.

''Crazy indeed lad. Crazy, stupid and reckless but above all brave'' Gobber says.

Astrid smiles. ''That's more like it.''

The armada coasts toward a shroud of heavy fog, hung like drapes from a low-hanging, ominous sky. The ships enter, one by one getting closer and closer to the nest. Visibility drops immediately. Flanking ships becomes ghosts. The armada disappears, drawn into the blinding mist. Complete whiteout. Nothing remains but the eerie creaking of wood on water.

Stoick is at the bow of his ship. He taps his fingers on the gunwale, then looks back at Toothless impatiently. Weighed down with chains, Toothless seems unresponsive.

''Sound your positions. Stay within earshot.'' Stoick orders. Shouts pour in from all directions.

Viking Bearlegs ''Here.''

Viking Hellnut ''one length to your stern.''

Viking Boulder ''on your starboard flank.''

Viking Schrekkle ''three widths to port.''

Viking Nether ''ahead, at your bow.''

Viking Os ''Haven't a clue.''

Everyone turns to Os, who when it happened got away with it but now? Not so much.

''Haven't a clue?'' Stoick asks with a raised eyebrow. Os swallowed turning a bright red spluttering for a response.

''We'll discuss this later'' Stoick says trying to hold his laughter as Os squirms in his chair making everyone bursts out laughing at Os' predicament.

Stoick strains into the fog as the calls continue. Massive, jagged sea stacks begin to emerge, threatening to rip the ships to shreds.

Gobber approaches him, speaking under his breath. ''Listen... Stoick... I was overhearing some of the men just now and, well, some of them are wondering what it is we're up to here- not me of course, I know you're always the man with the plan - but some, not me, are wondering if there is in fact a plan at all, what it might be?''

''Someone else, who is not you is wondering about the plan huh?'' Valka asks smiling mischievously.

''Mhmm, exactly some others not me. Never me.'' Gobber says confidently.

''Find the nest and take it.'' Stoick answers simply.

''Ah. Of course. Send them running. The old Viking fall-back. Nice and simple.'' Gobber responds.

''Really that was the great plan?!'' Astrid yells out incredulous.

''It was a short notice plan'' Stoick says.

''Even without the queen-'' a Zippleback shudders '' we still would have crushed you'' It's other head finishes.

''You don't know that!'' Spitelout yells at the Zippleback.

''Actually he is right Spitelout, they would have more manpower, speed, weapons (fire, claws and jaws)and could easily destroy the boats meaning you would be stuck at the nest and thus starve or be picked off until none remained.'' Fishlegs states but when he receives a glare from Spitelout nervously says ''statistically that is, sir.''

''Shhh.'' Stoick says as he notices that Toothless' ear plates are at the alert, quietly reacting to inaudible sounds. Stoick crosses to the stern of the ship and grabs the tiller, moving the helmsman out of the way. ''Step aside.'' Stoick pulls the ship into a turn, covertly following Toothless' head movements.

The ship barely misses a jagged outcrop that suddenly appears out of the soupy fog.

Viking Stegger ''Bear to port.'' The order is called out from ship to ship. Crunch! The bow barely makes it past another sea stack. Stoick continues to follow Toothless' cues, undeterred.

Hiccup who is at the training grounds raises the bolt on the Monstrous Nightmare's pen.

''If you're planning on getting eaten, I'd definitely go with the Gronckle.'' Fishlegs says.

Hiccup turns to see his fellow recruits, watching him with folded arms. Tuffnut steps forward with a scowl.

''You were wise to seek help from the world's most deadly weapon.'' Tuffnut says.

''He found an Alpha?'' a Gronckle hatchling asks from the back in awe.

Beat.

''It's me.''

''You're not an Alpha.'' The Gronckle hatchling says. ''How are you deadly anyway?'' It asks completely confused. Tuff meanwhile strikes a muscle pose making the Gronckle hatchling even more confused as it tilts his head in confusion looking for the deadly part in Tuffnut.

''Uh...'' Hiccup drawls out.

''I love this plan.'' Snotlout exclaims.

''I didn't...'' Hiccup tries to say.

''You're crazy'' Ruffnut interrupt him and then goes on sultry ''I like that.''

'Thank Odin that we live on an island else I'd fear what kind of man she'd end up bringing home.' Ruffnut's father thinks.

''So? What is the plan?'' Astrid says.

Hiccup smiles, glowing in the support of his friends.

'Hatchling finally has a pod he belongs to within the human nest' Toothless thought happily not really having seen much interaction between them during the battle.

'At least some things seem to change for the better' Valka thinks.

'Who would have guessed hiccup would start fitting in with his age group by befriending a dragon instead of killing one' Stoick thinks.

The ships follow in line through the gauntlet of rocks as orders are whispered from ship to ship as they drift through the foggy sea.

A dragon head looms out of the fog. The men recoil... only to discover that it's a wrecked ship, impaled high on a gnarled sea stack.

''Ah. I was wondering where that went.'' Gobber says.

''Really Gobber?'' Hella, Fishlegs mother asks.

''Yea it was ma favorite ship, now I know where she's at'' He answers.

A clicking buzz becomes audible, growing louder. It fills the sky, converging in one general direction. Stoick sniffs the air. ''Stay low and ready your weapons.'' He orders.

Stoick's ship suddenly jerks to a halt as the keel burrows into shallow black sand. Stoick hops overboard, landing on a sprawling beach. The buzzing suddenly stops. Above him, a craggy volcano towers into the gloom.

''We're here.'' Stoick announces.

''Yup you're there congrats and welcome to Hell.'' A monstrous nightmare says.

Behind him, several dragon-headed bows pierce the fog.

Meanwhile back on Berk.

Hiccup steps back from the door in the training grounds ring, drawing the Monstrous Nightmare out of its cave. It snorts, stepping into the ring, calmed by Hiccup's outstretched hand , focused only on him.

The other teens watch bewildered, and in awe. Snotlout nervously reaches for a spear laying near his foot.

Astrid stops him. ''Uh-uh.'' She says correcting his mistake.

Hiccup slows to a stop in front of the teens, with the Nightmare inches from his outstretched hand. He reaches over and grabs Snotlout's trembling hand.

''Wait! What are you...'' Snotlout says panicked.

''Relax. It's okay... it's okay.'' Hiccup says calmly.

Hiccup replaces his outstretched hand with Snotlout's, putting him in control of the massive beast. The Nightmare snorts, but remains calm. Snotlout, by contrast, chuckles nervously . It's at once terrifying and amazing.

The others watch, spellbound.

Hiccup turns and walks away. ''Where are you going?!'' Snotlout screams out after him.

Hiccup pulls a bundle of rope from a supply box. ''You're going to need something to help you hold on.''

The teens eye each other apprehensively, and look up to reveal... all the dragons standing in the ring, facing the teens expectantly.

''Why where you all looking at them like that?'' Mala asks.

''Picking a human hatchling or being picked by a human yourself used to be sacred a long, long time ago, before the red queen'' Stormfly explains.

At the dragon island tree trunks are being sharpened and planted into the sand at angled rows. Boulders are being loaded into catapult baskets. And a war plan is being scratched into the sand.

Stoick looms over it, looking determined. His generals are at his sides.

''When we crack this mountain open, all hell is going to break loose.'' Stoick says.

''Hell indeed'' Astrid says somberly.

''In my undies. Good thing I brought extras.'' Gobber responds.

''Gobber!'' Valka yells out indignantly.

Stoick turns to face the men. ''No matter how this ends, it ends today.'' Stoick says before walking toward the base of the volcano wall, back by several hundred warriors. He raises his arm and drops it.

A line of catapults unleash their two-ton loads into the cliff wall. It cracks and flakes away. Several more hits tear away at the hollow shell of hardened lava. A final boulder shatters the fractured wall, creating a deep, dark opening to the cavern within.

Silence.

Stock raises his hand, makes a gesture. A flaming bushel is launched into the dark, lighting the wall... choked with dragons.

Stoick pulls his hammer and rushes into the cave, brazen. The warriors let out War cries and slashing efforts.

In a chaotic flurry, the dragons suddenly rush out like bats from a cave. They take to the air, bypassing the axe-wielding Vikings and fleeing the island in a mass exodus.

The battle-ready Vikings lower their weapons, confused.

''Is that it?'' Gobber asks.

''Odin, I wish that was it.'' Mala says.

''Please tell me that monster is still trapped?'' Valka says to the rest of the room. The looks on their faces is answer enough for her and every other Viking who didn't go to the nest.

Above the island, dragons pour from every crevice, fleeing to the sky. The sound of screeching dragons fades.

The Vikings are cheering as one at their perceived victory.

''We've done it!'' Spitelout hollers.

Stoick doesn't celebrate. Something is not right. He hears something. Stoick turns to peer down the dark throat of the cavern.

A deep, rumbling roar echoes from the cavern. The ground underfoot trembles. The ships rock. Their sails fill with a blast of air.

Everyone looks at the screen with dread in their very beings.

The cheering stops. Stoick's expression sinks. ''This isn't over. Form your ranks! Hold together!''

The men scramble to organize themselves.

''Get clear!'' Stoick orders.

The ground cracks. Stone tears away, cascading like an avalanche. And through the settling debris, the silhouette of a gargantuan dragon emerges - The Red Death. Stirred and furious.

''No…'' Valka says shaking her head eyes still locked onto the screen.

Many nervous swallows, faces around the theater go white, children cry out, hatchlings hide behind their parents and dragons instinctively step in front of their riders to protect them if need be.

Some know what is to follow having only just left that horrendous place but seeing battle once more they are just as frozen as everyone who wasn't there, if not worse knowing the result and loss it.

The entire theater is dead silent, no one dares to make a move.

''Beard of Thor...what is that?'' Gobber asks.

''Odin help us.'' Stoick says aghast.

Beat.

''Catapults!'' he orders.

The Vikings score direct hits. The burning stones bounce off the dragon's skin.

''Did… did the ammo just bounce of its skin?!" Lera, Snotlout's mother asks astonished and fearful for her husband and the other Vikings, grabbing Spitelout's hand tight.

The Red Death focuses on the catapults. It crushes the first one smashing it and its crew, rattling the beach underfoot.

Stoick races toward the second catapult. He leaps and pushes a Viking out of the way just before the dragon crushes him under his forepaw.

''Thanks chief'' The Viking in question manages to squeeze out, trying to keep his breathing steady.

The Vikings scramble in all directions.

Viking Boulder ''Get to the ships!''

''No! No!'' Stoick screams out seeing that The Red Death is about to blast them.

The Red Death blasts the ships like a mile-long flamethrower. The sails are torched. Vikings dive overboard and masts come down.

Gobber Joins Stoick.

''Heh. Smart, that one.'' Gobber states.

''Huge, strong, smart, extremely deadly and definitely out to kill you. Great just great'' Valka says sarcastically, throwing her hands in the air starting to lose it a bit.

Stoick looks up and down the beach for an answer. ''I was a fool.'' He says guilt-ridden.

Valka looks from Stoick on the screen to the one in the theater contemplating. She wanted to comfort her husband but he disowned their son.

'He did say they made up at some point, so maybe I can set that aside for a while. Yes he made a big, no scratch that a huge mistake but ones I get back to my time I'll fix it all. He needs comfort right now not my anger over something that he already regrets' Valka thought.

Having made her decision she gets up, leaving baby Hiccup safely with Toothless and walks over to Stoick. She says nothing only grabs his hand tightly, squeezes it and continuous to look at the screen whilst Stoick looks at her with shocked but grateful eyes and gently squeezing her hand back.

The monster raises its head to the sky and bellows. The sound shakes the beach, knocking Vikings off their feet. This island is his.

Stoick stops a Viking General who turns out to be Spitelout. ''Lead the men to the far side of the island.'' He orders Spitelout.

''Right.'' Spitelout answers.

Spitelout then turns to the others ''Everybody to the far side of the island!''

The Vikings scatter into the rocks like ants. Satisfied with the ships destruction, The Red Death turns its attention back to the Vikings. They seem to have vanished. It sniffs the air, searching for their scent.

Gobber drops in beside Stoick, like two soldiers in a trench. Fire blasts over head, causing them to duck.

''Gobber, go with the men.'' Stoick orders him.

''That's not happening'' Gobber says determent.

''I think I'll stay, just in case you're thinking of doing something crazy.'' Gobber answers.

Stoick grabs him. ''I can buy them a few minutes if I give that thing someone to hunt.'' Stoick says emphatically, pleading for his friend practically his second brother to go to safety.

Gobber removes Stoick's hand. Clenches his forearm, determined. ''Then I can double that time.'' Gobber says leaving no room for argument.

Stoick grins. Friends to the bitter end. They break cover and dash into the open, splitting up. Stoick rips a sharpened post from the ground and hurls it into the monster's face.

Stoick ''Here!''

Gobber ''No, Here!''

It spots both of them. He fuels up to fire, glancing back and forth between the two men. He focuses on Stoick.

Gobber ''Come on! Fight me!''

Stoick ''No, me!''

The Red Death remains focused on Stoick, this is it. It rears back and inhales. Gas begins to amass, when...

''Please Odin don't let it be'' Valka begs.

Kablam! A blast explodes against the back of The Red Death's head. It turns distracted, as a Nadder punches through the flames, banking across the sky. Followed by a Monstrous Nightmare, a Zippleback, and a Gronckle.

''O my thank Odin.'' Valka says a little relieved that her husband didn't get blown up. But only a little because she knows that the danger is far from gone, the battle has just began.

They roll in unison, revealing the recruits riding on their backs. Hiccup leads, with Astrid clinging to his waist.

The parents of said children don't even object or scold them they are just to shocked at what is happening.

Gobber and Stoick, watch slack-jawed, in awe.

''Ruff, Tuff, watch your backs! Move Fishlegs!'' Hiccup orders.

'Pod leader at that, could lead an entire herd by the time he's grown.' Toothless thought proudly as he briefly turns back to look at baby Hiccup, who is currently playing with his tail completely unaware of the tension that's smothering the room.

The monster shakes off the blast and snaps in their wake. Hiccup directs his squadron out of harm's way. They climb out of reach and circle each other.

''Look at us, we're on a dragon! We're on dragons, all of us!'' Tuffnut screams excitedly.

''Up, let's move it!'' Hiccup says.

The dragons climb past The Red Death.

On the ground we see that Gobber hobbles over to Stoick. ''Every bit the boar-headed, stubborn Viking you ever were.'' Gobber says about Hiccup. Stoick is left speechless.

The group in the air circles over the dragon's head.

''Fishlegs, break it down.'' Hiccup says.

''Okay. Heavily armored skull and tail made for bashing and crushing.'' Fishlegs says assessing the Red Death before continuing ''Steer clear of both. Small eyes, large nostrils. Relies on hearing and smell.''

''Okay. Lout, Legs, hang in its blind spot. Make some noise, keep it confused. Ruff, Tuff, find out if it has a shot limit. Make it mad.'' Hiccup orders.

'He would have made a great chief' many Vikings thought regretfully, seeing Hiccup in a much different light than before. Others simply thought that he would still make a good chief unaware of what is about to transpire.

''That's my specialty.'' Ruff replies.

''Since when? Everyone knows I'm more irritating. See.'' Tuff says before making irritating sounds.

''Your both equally irritating'' Astrid says seeing that they were about to start that argument again in the theater.

''Just do what I told you. I'll be back as soon as I can.'' Hiccup says exasperated.

''Don't worry, we got it covered!'' Tuffnut says.

''Yeah!'' Fishlegs says sportingly.

Hiccup and Astrid peel away. The teens bank and dive toward the monster, splitting up.

The Twins race alongside the monster's head, taunting it.

Tuffnut yells, ''Troll!''

Ruffnut screams ,''Butt Elf!''

Tuffnut continuous, ''Bride of Grendel!''

The Red Death unloads a spray of fire at the twins. They barely dodge it.

The twins parents tensed up a bit and to their great relieve they managed to dodge it.

Fishlegs and Snotlout hang behind its eyes, banging away at their shields, making a racket.

The Red Death opens all six of its eyes, spotting them.

''Uh, this thing doesn't have a blind spot.'' Fishlegs notes.

Meanwhile Hiccup and Astrid are searching for Toothless. Hiccup spots him among the burning ships. ''There!''He yells out.

He steers the Nadder over the deck and hands Astrid the reins. He lines up his jump... and hops off, guarding his face from the flames. He lands on the burning deck.

''He might not look it but he's just like you, always jumping into danger head first'' Valka says to Stoick.

''Go help the others!'' He tells Astrid. She and the Nadder take off.

As Hiccup fights his way to Toothless. He unbuckles the muzzle. Toothless shrieks. ''Okay, hold on. Hold on.'' Hiccup says as he gets to work on the chains.

Snotlout and Fishlegs clang their weapons against their shields, making the monster wince.

''It's working'' Snotlout says seeing as the huge beast starts to sway its head dizzily.

''Yeah! It's working.'' Fishlegs concurs.

''A little too well.'' Astrid says looking at the screen, pain her eyes as she braces to relive the entire battle again.

But unnoticed by Fishlegs and Snotlout the noise is also confusing the Gronckle and the Monstrous Nightmare. Both dragons lose their bearings.

The Red Death thrashes, knocking Snotlout off of his dragon and onto the monster's gigantic head. Snotlout bounces across the top and comes to a stop just shy of the hundred foot drop.

''Agghh!'' Snotlout cries out.

Spitelout and Lera look at the screen with wide eyes, as do Fishlegs parents.

Fishlegs' Gronckle goes down in a spin of confusion.

''I've lost power on the Gronckle. Snotlout! Do something!'' Fishlegs cries out.

''Does it look like I could help you from where I am?!'' Snotlout asks Fishlegs, who looks a bit embarrassed.

He hurls Snotlout his hammer. The Gronckle crashes and skids to a stop...

''I'm okay!'' Fishlegs says.

Making his parents release the breath they were holding.

... then flips over, crushing Fishlegs.

''Less okay.'' Fishlegs says feebly.

Very weak chuckles sound through the room.

Snotlout eyes The Red Death's gigantic, veiny eyes. He raises the hammer...

''I can't miss!'' He says full of excitement.

... and hammers the monster's eyes, playing whack-a-mole.

''What's wrong buddy, got something in your eye?''

This makes the chuckles a little louder.

Astrid flies by on her Nadder, catching Snotlout in all his heroics. ''Yeah! You're the Viking!''

Snotlout grins, finally vindicated in her eyes. In his distraction, he gets thrown and lands heavily on one of the Red Death's spines, clinging precariously. A close call. ''Whoa!''

The monster's tail sweeps across the burning ships, snapping masts like twigs. We follow one down as it crashes onto a deck, revealing Hiccup who is working at the chains. He can't budge them. Fire licks at his clothes. He looks up to see the Red Death blasting at the teens, enraged.

This effectively cuts off any chuckling and amusement.

The monster's giant foot crashes through frame, smashing the bow under its impressive weight. Hiccup and Toothless are thrown into the water in a maelstrom of burning planks and rigging.

Hiccup swims toward Toothless. They're both caught in a mess of rigging, being dragged down. The heavy palette settles into the rocky bottom like an anchor. Toothless has stopped struggling. Hiccup takes one more hopeless tug at the chains, he's almost out of air.

Everyone holds their breath, no one had seen this happen except for Stoick.

Suddenly, a meaty hand grabs Hiccup. Stoick explodes to the surface, pulling Hiccup to the shoreline through flaming debris. He lays him down, under the shelter of an overhanging rock.

''Dad...'' Hiccup says overwhelmed.

Stoick dives back into the water between flaming flotsam.

Underwater Toothless is drowning. Stoick appears in front of him. Toothless freezes. Stoick tears the chains off of the yoke and lets it float free. Momentary stillness. They eye each other, through the churned up bubbles. Toothless lunges out of the bars grabbing Stoick.

Boom! In an explosion of sea water, Toothless lands on the shore, setting Stoick down and releasing him. Hiccup is awed.

Everyone relaxes somewhat but the relieve is miniscule and short lived.

The ground rumbles underfoot. The monster screeches. Its massive claws stomp around in the smoke.

Stoick gives way as Toothless mounts the rock and raises his wings. He turns to Hiccup and snorts a 'Let's go.'

''You got it, bud.'' Hiccup says before climbing onto Toothless and buckles himself in. Stoick grabs his arm.

''Hiccup. I'm sorry...for everything.'' Stoick says heartfelt.

''Yeah...me too.'' Hiccup replies with the same sentiment.

''You don't have to go up there.'' Stoick tells Hiccup, every fiber of his being wanting his son to flee to safety.

''We're Vikings. It's an occupational hazard.'' Hiccup says in return.

They exchange smiles.

''I'm proud to call you my son.''

Hiccup beams, taken aback. ''Thanks dad.''

Stoick lets go of Hiccup's arm.

''I shouldn't have let go.'' Stoick mutters to himself.

Hiccup spurs Toothless on, charged with his father's belief in him. They rocket into the sky as Stoick watches.

Valka is smiling at the screen and gives Stoick's hand another supportive squeeze, this gesture of support filling the man in question with even more shame.

'What kinda Viking…What kinda father let's his son die in his place?' Stoick questions mournfully.

Astrid sees Toothless streaking through the sky, gaining altitude. ''He's up!'' She calls out to the others.

She turns to Ruffnut and Tuffnut, who are arguing and throwing punches at each other. ''Get Snotlout out of there!'' Astrid orders them.

In mid-punch, the twins look over to see Snotlout stranded on the monster's head. They eye each other.

''I'm on it! I'm on it!'' Both Ruff and Tuff yell.

''I'm on it first! I'm ahead of you'' Tuffnut tells his sister even though they're on the same dragon...

The twins spot Snotlout on the giant dragon and steer their Zippleback in his direction.

''Hey! Let me drive!'' Ruffnut yells at her brother.

The twins peel off, arguing as they race each other to the monster. Snotlout sees the Zippleback diving toward him and dashes down the Red Death's head. He runs up the end of its horn as the twins sweep past, both missing him... but perfectly snatching him where the necks merge. Ruff and Tuff eye each other, surprised and impressed.

''I can't believe that worked.'' Tuffnut exclaims.

''You actually planned that?!'' Astrid calls out turning to Ruff and Tuff.

''Yea, of course. Were awesome like that'' They respond.

The Red Death spots Astrid and inhales, preparing to blast. She and her Nadder get caught in the suction, pulled toward the monster's gaping mouth.

The Vikings on the ground watch with dread. They hear the familiar whir of the... ''Night Fury! Get down!'' Gobber yells out, out of instinct.

A massive blast jolts the Red Death's head sideways. Astrid and Stormfly are thrown clear of its mouth in separate directions. Astrid tumbles through the air the ground races toward her, when she's suddenly caught by the leg. She looks up to see Toothless.

''Did you get her?'' Hiccup asks. Toothless grunts in response.

They fly over the crowd of Vikings and set Astrid down, mid-run. They circle back to reengage.

''Go.'' Astrid says breathlessly.

''Don't go!'' Astrid whispers, eyes full of regret.

Hiccup and Toothless rocket past the Red Death's head and climb, higher and higher.

''That thing has wings! Okay, let's see if it can use them!'' Hiccup says to Toothless.

He pulls Toothless into a turn. They plummet, gaining tremendous speed. The wind buffets them as they target the Red Death as super-sonic speed. Kablam! Toothless unloads a fireball against the Red Death's head. It goes down with a rumble as they climb anew.

The Vikings on the ground shield themselves from the dust of the fallen monster... as its wings unfold and extend.

''It has wings. That means it can travel to any island it wants…'' Hella says full of dread.

''Surely it can't fly?..'' Valka says trying to reassure Hella and herself.

''Oh it can fly'' Ruff says confirming their worst nightmare.

Hiccup looks back as they put distance between them. ''Do you think that did it?''

Suddenly, the enraged behemoth rises into frame... flapping its wings furiously. A daunting sight.

(A/N: these- 'words' -are things that were said about or to Hiccup during the screening, flashing through Valka's mind right know. The underline has been previously used to emphasize words however I needed to differentiate this part somehow thus this solution.)

''Crazy indeed lad. Crazy, stupid and reckless but above all brave'' Gobber

Everyone in the theater is dead silent looking at the screen in fear even those who were there for the actual battle.

''It looks even more terrifying from this angle'' Fishlegs says quietly but everyone hears and silently agrees.

''Well, he can fly.'' Hiccup says strangely calm.

''He's so calm.'' Stoick says confused but also in awe of his son.

Hiccup and Toothless dive into the tangled sea stacks, they weave through the rock like rabbits through a briar. The Red Death snaps at them, but cannot reach them.

Hiccup and Toothless pull ahead.

The Red Death smashes through the canopy of rock and pulls in behind Toothless. He bursts through fifty-foot formations like they were saplings.

Meanwhile on the ground Stoick, Gobber, the teens, and the rest of the warriors watch as Hiccup and Toothless streak past, weaving through sea stacks.

''Woohoo! Yeah!'' The teens whoop and holler at Hiccup and Toothless.

''Well at least we don't have to panic'' Snotlout

''How so he's falling?!'' Valka

''Cause he lives-'' Snotlout

''to save us all'' Astrid

A moment later the Red Death smashes the sea stacks to dust in hot pursuit. The Vikings mood is squelched.

In the air Hiccup and Toothless can't seem to slow the monster down. Hiccup eyes the clouds above. An idea hits him. He locks eyes with Toothless.

''Okay Toothless, time to disappear.'' Toothless pulls into a steep climb, heading toward the clouds. ''Come on bud!''

The Red Death follows, closing in fast.

''Here it comes!'' Hiccup tells Toothless as he hears the gas.

Blast! They narrowly dodge a column of flame and smoke. They reach the low-hanging clouds and pierce them. The monster follows, immediately losing them in the hampered visibility. It roars irritably.

From out of nowhere, Toothless dives at the huge dragon, blasting and puncturing a hole in its wing. Toothless and Hiccup are gone again before the dragon can get a shot at them.

The Vikings on the ground stare up at the sky listening to the resounding booms and watching flashes light up the clouds.

Gobber places a hand on Stoick's shoulder.

In the air Hiccup and Toothless dive in again and again, using the clouds to hide and surprise as they puncture the monster's wings.

Everyone watches with rapt attention.

It bellows in frustration and whirls around, unleashing fire blindly, in all directions. Hiccup sees the glow of fire cutting towards them.

''Watch out!'' Hiccup yells

The random blast clips Toothless' tail. It's heavily damaged.

''Yea why didn't he?'' Snotlout

''Maybe he saw the future'' Tuff

''Course not ratbrain if he had he wouldn't have-'' Ruff

''Shut up ruff'' Astrid

''Okay, time's up. Let's see if this works.'' He pulls Toothless into a turn. They fly directly into the Red Death's face, taunting it.

''Come on! Is that the best you can do!?'' Toothless utters an insult too, and they jackknife into a steep dive. The Red Death pursues.

Toothless pumps his wings, racing faster than he's ever gone before. Hiccup and Toothless stay just ahead of the Red Death, no longer trying to evade it.

Hiccup glances back to check the tail, it's disintegrating. ''Stay with me buddy. We're good. Just a little bit longer.''

The Red Death closes the gap. Hiccup tucks in and holds Toothless steady allowing the monster to set its sights on them. It narrows its eyes.

''Hold, Toothless'' Hiccup tells Toothless.

The Red Death opens his mouth. The familiar gas hiss emanates from his throat, ignition is coming.

''Now!'' Hiccup yells out hitting the pedals hard as Toothless extends one wing. They pivot in place, hurtling directly into the Red Death's mouth.

Toothless fires point blank down the monster's throat. Its amassing gas is ignited, backfiring into the monster, erupting in a chain of blasts throughout its body.

''Not so fireproof on the inside, are you?'' on screen Hiccup

Hiccup and Toothless burst from the clouds, the Red Death hot on their tail, exploding from within. It glances forward and sees the ground rushing up. It throws open its wings, attempting to put on the brakes, but the punctured, damaged wings can't stop its momentum.

As the Red Death chokes on the expanding fireball, he sees Toothless suddenly pull out of the dive, streaking up, past its head.

The Red Death hits the ground, head-first. It explodes like the Hindenburg.

''No ye wer better.'' Gobber

Hiccup and Toothless weave through the monster's massive back plates, wings, and flailing legs a high-speed recall of the free fall slalom run. The expanding fireball races toward them, about to swallow them.

They manage to clear the obstacles. Hiccup glances back. They're outrunning the fireball. He looks forward just in time to see the monster's massive club tail careening toward them.

He tries to shift their direction. The last shreds of Toothless' tail tears away. Hiccup's pedals go dead.

''No. No.'' Hiccup says desperately trying to make the pedals work.

Hiccup and Toothless can't maneuver, they're dead in the air. The giant club tail clips Toothless, tearing Hiccup from the harness and sending him tumbling against the backdrop of the fast approaching fireball.

''Almost everyone survived'' Astrid

''Almost everyone…'' Astrid

Toothless struggles with all his might to reach the unconscious Hiccup. But the fireball swallows them both.

The Vikings on the ground watch in horror as Hiccup and Toothless disappear into the boiling inferno.

The silence is pierced by a agonizing scream from Valka and an equally heartbreaking roar from Toothless.

Eventually the scream gives way for sobs and the roar for soft painful sounds.

Stoick tries his best to console his wife, in tears himself but doesn't know what he could possibly do to make this better. Parents weren't meant to outlive their kids, to see them die young not even an adult.

Gobber has his hand on Stoick's shoulder for support tears running down his face.

Astrid clings to Toothless both for his and her comfort, not being able to leave the dragon alone in his grief.

Every Viking is either in tears, crying, just frozen or hugging family members and friends. The dragon are much the same keening and crooning to Toothless.


Authors notes:

Well this was chapter 6? Honestly the least horrible to edit up until now, probably cuz it's the climax.

Well review, follow, favorite. Thanks for the support, author out.