One Day Later
Hiccup was in shock at the giant mountain of ice Valka brought him to. It reminded him of the caves on Berserker Island where the King of Dragons lived. The two Riders flew into a cave system within the mountain and when they reached the center, Hiccup's jaw dropped. It was unlike anything he has ever seen. Dragons of all kinds were flying around and one dragon, Hiccup noticed well. A King of Dragons. He didn't know if it was the same one from Berserker Island, but he could only assume it was. The two landed and Hiccup got off of Toothless. It was just amazing to him. For nearly twenty years his mother has been here, helping these Dragons.
"This is amazing." Hiccup whispered and Valka laughed still holding the egg. "Is that the Dragon from Berserker Island?"
"No, but they are of the same species. The only difference is that this is the King of all Dragons. The Alpha. A graceful giant that created this safe haven for all Dragons and we live under his care and command." Valka answered as the Dragon moved towards them. The massive dragon's faced Hiccup and it blow a mist of cold on Hiccup making snow in his hair. The Rider brushed it off and Valka giggled as the Alpha left them. "He likes you."
Elsewhere
Alfgeir Geird flew on top of Boneback as they rushed to get Hiccup. He didn't know much about Berk, but he knew that they hate dragons and it's the Dragon Trainer's home. As he flew Alfgeir wondered how far the Riders have come. They now have an official banner for their Alliance with Toothless on it since the Night Fury was the last of his kind and most notable. Geird helped with the colors but Hiccup was the main designer. He made the banner for Toothless's new tail and the Riders transferred the design for their Alliance. Alfgeir rolled up his sleeve to see the wound where a Hunter arrow hit him during the last battle with Viggo's forces. He nearly died. From now on he was going to be more careful with the battles.
The Evening
Astrid slit the back of the tent opened and crawled out. The Dragon Rider was talking to another Rider and the Viking made a run for it. She took cover in the trees as she reached a cliff. From there she snuck by the Dragons and traitors heading to the docks where her ship was tied against. She used a spyglass to see that the docks were unguarded. It was too easy, but she has few options. The Viking ran down the many wooden steps to her ship. Once she got there, the vessel was undamaged except for the claw marks the dragons left behind. Astrid cut the rope and sailed away from the island and headed towards Berk so she can warn them of the new threat.
Elsewhere
Hiccup flew side by side with his mother as the flock flew behind them for dinner. When Valka stopped them, the Alpha burst from the waves flying fish everywhere. Hiccup nodded at the energetic Toothless and the dragon dove down catching fish. Hiccup laughed as they rose back into the air. As they reached Cloudjumper, they both flew down to an icy cliff. Hiccup grabbed his journal and showed her a map of what he has exploded and he looked up to see she was drawing a map in the snow with her staff. She laughed when they noticed Toothless was drawing in the snow with an icicle which got stuck to his tong. Then the mother and son went over to a cliffside where the wind was blowing upwards. The dragons jumped off and they were in the air. The wind was powerful enough to get Hiccup off of the saddle. He looked at his mother as she walked down Cloudjumper's wing and onto a Deadly Nadder. Valka walked across the dragon and climbed onto a Snifflehunch. She used her staff and hook it into Wingnasher's spine spikes. It flew her to Toothless's wing and Valka walked over to Hiccup where she jumped over him before sliding down the Night Fury's wing and landing on Cloudjumper. The two flew above the dragons.
"When I'm up here, I don't feel the cold, I just feel."
"Free." Hiccup finished his mother's sentence and the two looked at each other.
"This is what it is to be a dragon Hiccup." Valka remarked.
"It's all well and good call yourself a dragon." Hiccup said as he got the hooks for his new wings and set the Tail Fin set gliding. "But can you fly?" He added before jumping off the Night Fury. He opened the wings and he could only imagine the surprise on his mother's face. When he rolled around, he saw his mother was gone. He turned his head to see a smiling Valka on her dragon. He rolled back around in time to see a mountain in front of him. Hiccup paniced before Toothless caught him. They hit the snow and rolled down. Moments later, the Viking popped out of the snow.
"Ha! Man almost. We just almost had it." Hiccup said and Toothless swung his tail to knock the Viking into the snow. Valka helped her son up while laughing.
"Incredible." she remarked.
"Well you're not bad yourself." Hiccup replied as Valka placed her hand on his face over his scar from his battle with Johann.
"After all these years, you took after me. I'm so sorry Hiccup. I've been out here for all these years and I never once tried to see if you were okay." Valka said removing her hand. "Can you forgive me?"
"Of course. I was always stronger than how I looked." Hiccup replied and the two hugged.
"Hiccup!" Alfgeir yelled and the two Riders turned to see the Rider flying on Boneback.
"This can't be good." Hiccup remarked and moments later the Viking landed. "What happened?"
"An old friend of yours decided to pay a visit." Alfgeir answered and Hiccup raised an eyebrow.
"Who?" Hiccup asked.
"An Astrid Hofferson of Berk." the Rider replied and Hiccup's eyes widen. After all these years, Berk has finally found him.
"Oh boy." Hiccup said as he got on Toothless.
"Who is this Astrid?" Valka asked as she got on Cloudjumper.
"A girl I knew from Berk and was the top student for Dragon Slaying Class until I used what I learned from Toothless to survive and get to the top by accident." Hiccup answered.
"And let me guess, you got pick to kill your first dragon?" Valka asked and the young Viking nodded as the soared into the sky.
"So she probably hate my guts." Hiccup added.
"Good news is that we captured her." Alfgeir remarked.
"Please tell me you guys built a cell while I was gone." Hiccup pleaded.
"No. Why?" the Rider replied and Hiccup knew that Astrid wasn't going to be at the Edge, so he and Toothless sped faster to base so they can stop the crazy Viking woman.
One Day Later
Heather landed on the Edge after Yri and her Deadly Nadder, Glimmer took over watch of Astrid's ship. Once they noticed that the Viking escaped, Heather ordered a search and watch of the ship. They were already on bad terms with the Riders, there was no need to make it worst. While on the island, Heather guided the Riders in the building of A Team's Huts while Windshear slept. It has been over a week since Berserker Island. Since she had to face her brother. If it weren't for Hiccup, Heather would have killed him. A small part of her wanted to kill the crazy Berserker and a great part of her regret not doing so. When she heard dragons landing, Heather turned to see Hiccup, Alfgeir, and Valka.
"Where's Astrid?" Hiccup asked as Alfgeir and Valka got off of their dragons. Heather rubbed her neck.
"She might have escaped, but we are tailing her." Heather answered before giving him the directions.
"I'll go and convince her not to tell Berk. She might trust me." Hiccup ordered as Toothless turned around.
"Be careful." Valka asked and Hiccup gave her a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry. I'm always careful."Hiccup promised before flying away.
Elsewhere
Astrid watched as the Dragon Rider flew high above. It would be useless to fire an arrow, but she had her bow ready. If the traitors try anything, she'll put an arrow in them. Right now she was being watched by a Deadly Nadder. A dragon Astrid has killed before. It was her specialty. But she just need it to fly close enough for a good shot. As the hours passed by, she went below deck to grab some dried fish. When she got back on the deck, she saw a Black Dragon flying next to the Nadder. In an instant, she remembered it. It was the same dragon from when Hiccup disappeared. The beast that ruined every life on Berk. When the Nadder flew back to their base, the black dragon dove down. Astrid went below deck and drew the bowstring back. As the ship rocked, she took slow deep breaths. She was going to kill the Rider and the Dragon. She heard whispers above before footsteps got closer. She saw a metal peg leg take a step on the stairs. Then a human boot took a step down. Moments later a sword and dagger were thrown down.
"I'm not here to hurt you Astrid. Just want to talk. Please don't shoot." a stranger pleaded as the man took several more steps revealing scrawny legs in leather and cloth. Soon she saw some armor covering his upper chest and arms. When she saw his face, she nearly gasped.
"Is that really you?" Astrid asked seeing an aged Hiccup.
"Yeah. It's me." he answered as he laughed nervously.
"Tell me something only Hiccup would know?" Astrid ordered prepared to let the bow go.
"Well, you're Astrid. The most amazing, skill warrior, and I knew you disliked me because I got better at Dragon Training than you." the man answered and Astrid knew this was obvious, but there was one question left to determine if he was Hiccup.
"What was the Dragon you thought you shot down with you Bolo Launcher?" Astrid asked.
"I shot down a Night Fury and none of your guys believed me." Hiccup answered. Astrid lowered her bow and walked towards him getting a better look. She study his facial features remembering how young Hiccup was. As she study him, she could see that this was indeed Hiccup. She hugged him in surprise with tears rolling down her cheeks. He was alive and she has finally found him. "Okay. I didn't expect this."
"Sorry." Astrid said as she backed up wiping away the tears of joy. "It just, I haven't seen you in years."
"Okay. Now I'm confused. Last I knew you hated me." Hiccup remarked and Astrid laughed.
"I did, but then you disappeared and I thought a dragon got you." she replied before frowning remembering how the ship rocked. "Please tell me you aren't one of those Dragon Riders?"
"Funny story actually." Hiccup said with a nervous laugh and raged fueled the Viking. Astrid picked up a bottle and threw it at Hiccup who dodged it. The bottle shattered on impact.
"How could any Viking side with Dragons?" she yelled before throwing an empty basket. Hiccup took cover behind a crate.
"Remember that Night Fury I shot down? Yeah, turns out I was right and I couldn't kill him So I let him go." Hiccup answered and Astrid kicked the crates. Hiccup ran before getting hit. "Can you please stop trying to kill me?"
"Oh you want me to stop?" Astrid asked before grabbing and spare ax and throwing it next to Hiccup.
"Seriously?" Hiccup asked.
"Berk thought you were taken by a dragon and killed! But I still had hope you were alive and here you are! A traitor!" she yelled throwing a bolo. Hiccup dodged it before taking cover behind barrels.
"I wasn't taken by a dragon. I left Berk with Toothless because I couldn't kill a dragon." Hiccup remarked and Astrid's anger grew.
"You left Berk?" Astrid said before slamming a stack of boxes over. "How could you leave Berk for all this time?"
"I was going to be forced to kill a dragon and I just couldn't. So I left." Hiccup replied and Astrid picked up Hiccup's dagger. She examined it to see the crest of the Hooligan Tribe on the handle of the blade. After all these years she found Hiccup and now she wished she hasn't.
"Why haven't you sent word of you being alive or being alright?" Astrid asked.
"Well, based on your reaction to me being a Dragon Rider, that should answer your question." Hiccup replied as Astrid walked over. She placed the dagger on the barrel.
"Go back to your base. I'll tell Berk that you're dead." Astrid ordered before walking up the deck to see a dragon on her ship. She watched as it eyed her. She wanted to kill it, but her heart wasn't in it.
"Astrid wait." Hiccup said as he grabbed his sword. He walked up to the deck to see her and Toothless staring each other down. He need to stop her from telling his father that he was dead. Even though Stocik never listened to him, Hiccup still cared for the Cheif. "Let me show you why I left."
"No. Hiccup. Just leave and never return to Berk." Astrid ordered but Hiccup was too stubborn.
"Astrid. Please." Hiccup pleaded as he extended his arm. For several minutes she was silent before sighing.
"FIne, but when you are done, then I never want to see you again." Astrid replied and Hiccup smiled. Toothless walked over and Hiccup got don't he saddle. Astrid lowered the anchor before climbing onto the dragon. Toothless launched them into the air.
