Hiccup and Toothless flew into the clouds with Astrid holding on tight to Hiccup. She was scared and Hiccup remembered how terrified he was the first time he was in the air. Granted Hiccup was on the tail when Toothless unexpectedly took off, but still, he understood why Astrid would be scared. But as they soared through the clouds, he looked back to see that Astrid was in awe at flight. He focused back on the clouds that rushed past. The sun was starting to set and Hiccup felt Atrids arms let go of him. He turned to see the woman's arms raised touching the clouds. He smiled knowing that the Viking might change her views on Dragons after all. As daylight turned to night, Hiccup felt Astrids arms wrap around him and her head on his shoulder. The young man smiled. "So how do you like this?"

"It is amazing." Astrid answered before petting Toothless. "He is amazing."

"I knew you would." Hiccup remarked and was promptly punched in the arm.

"Jerk." Astrid replied as they looked at the norðrljós. It was amazing. Hiccup couldn't ask for a better day. Then out of nowhere, Toothless growled.

"What is bud?" Hiccup asked as he looked at the sea below them to see a lone Hunter ship sailing toward the Edge.

"What is it?" Astrid asked as Hiccup grabbed his spyglass.

"Oh just some people who hate me." Hiccup answered looking down at the ship. He saw the Hunters forcing a Thunderclaw down to the cages.

"Are they pirates?" Astrid asked seeing only the one ship in her life.

"No. Dragon Hunters. Possible either a hunting ship or a scout ship." Hiccup answered.

"How can that be a scout ship? It's huge." Astrid remarked as Hiccup put the spyglass away.

"I've seen bigger ships." Hiccup added as he checked his gear. "Okay Astrid, they got captured dragons and I need help. Can you help me?"

"You want my help in freeing dragons? Are you serious?" Astrid asked. "Your dragon is a good one, I'll admit that, but those might be wild dragons."

"So was Toothless and now he's my best friend." Hiccup said. "Now either you're with me or I'll take you back to your ship."

"Argh. Fine. Let go rescue your dragons." Astrid replied and Hiccup smiled. The three of them dove down with Astrid holding tight to Hiccup. Toothless fired several plasma blasts at the deck before landing on the Quarter Deck. Hiccup and Astrid got off the dragon as the Hunter tried to form up their defenses.

"Stay with Toothless." Hiccup ordered as he ignited his fire sword and ran towards the cages. When he got there, the Rider saw a group of Hunters with spears raised. Explosions echoed around them as the Hunters charged. Hiccup threw a Zippleback canister between them and took cover. It went off knocking the guards down. The Rider went to the first cage to see it empty. He turned to the others to see only the one Thunderclaw caged. When he heard Toothless yell in pain, Hiccup ran up and saw Astrid fending off Hunters and a Dragon Root arrow in Toothless's wing. As the Rider ran for them an ax stopped him. He turned to see Ryker Grimborn with a bow in hand.

"Surrender Hiccup or you, your friend, and your Night Fury dies." Ryker ordered as Hunters behind him raised their crossbows.

"What's the plan?" Astrid yelled and Hiccup sighed.

"We got no choice." Hiccup said laying the sword down.


"After all this time, I finally got you back in one of these cells." Ryker said to Hiccup as the Hunters push Astrid and the Rider in one cage. Astrid didn't know much as to the history of these two, but she guessed that Ryker disliked Hiccup and the feeling is mutual.

"So how do your guys know each other." Astrid asked.

"Oh me and Hiccup go way back. I remembered when we found his dragon keeping them afloat in the seas. How we replaced his missing leg and how he backed out on our deal." Ryker said.

"You wanted me to force dragon under your control so you can help Drago get his army." Hiccup said and the Hunter was surprised at the name Drago.

"So you know about Drago." Ryker replied with a smirk. "You might know who we used to work for, but when we reach our base, then Viggo is going to make you tell us where the King of Dragons is."

"Never." Hiccup said as Toothless was dragged down below deck. Ryker threw Hiccup's many weapons in a cage which the Hunters were transporting the Night Fury too.

"One way or another, Viggo is going to get that Dragon and then even Drago can't stop us." Ryker said before leaving the Hunters to close the Night Fury cage. Two Hunters stayed below deck to guard them, Astrid checked the lock to see it was a simple slide with a key lock sealing it.

"Well looks like we're stuck here for a bit." Astrid remarked.

"Yep." Hiccup said as he inspected the cell.

"So Ryker saved both you and Toothless." Astrid remarked.

"Not exactly. He just found us after I tried to force the Red Death away from Berk, but I ended up having to fight it." Hiccup answered before explaining the story to her. As he told his story, Astrid couldn't believe that the Dragon's Nest was gone which explained the years of relative peace. He went on his years out in the wilderness explaining his adventures, journeys, battles, and the many battles he had fought in. It was so strange that the scrawny boy who left Berk could do so much. He has done things no Viking has ever tried to do before. Now Astrid wished that Berk didn't underestimate him for all those years.

"You know, everyone on Berk misses you." Astrid said as Hiccup checked the iron bars. "Most think you're dead."

"Even Stoick?" Hiccup asked in a sad tone.

"He's hopeful." Astrid answered as Hiccup messed with the lock.

"Stop that." a Hunter ordered as he aimed his spear at the Rider.

"Sorry." Hiccup replied as he backed up.

"So what's your plan now?" Astrid asked and Hiccup smiled. He kneeled down a grabbed two small metal rods from his boot.

"What you got there?" the Hunter asked as the two guards walked closer for a good look.

"Oh just an escape plan." Hiccup admitted to Astrid's shock.

"Give them here." the second Hunter ordered and Hiccup just smirked.

"Nope. You'll have to get them yourself." Hiccup replied and the Hunter unlocked the cell. They slid it open and walked in. The two Vikings charged and knocked out the two Hunters. The two ran out and locked the cell. As Astrid ran up the stairs but stopped when she noticed Hiccup was picking the lock of his dragon's cage.

"What are you doing?" Astrid asked as she walked back down.

"Rescuing Toothless." he answered.

"Are you serious? We need to get out of here." Astrid whispered knowing that there might be a spare life ship on the massive vessel.

"Not without Toothless." Hiccup said and while Astrid liked the dragon, she didn't want to risk her life for it.

"Hiccup, you can always get another pet, we need to go." Astrid remarked.

"He's not a pet Astrid. He's my best friend." Hiccup said as he got the lock unlocked. He raced in to check on the morning dragon.

"Are you willing to risk your life for him."

"Yes." Hiccup answered with a stern serious voice. Astrid knew he was serious and she respected him a little more.

"Okay what do you want me to do?" Astrid asked as she walked back down.

"Keep watch while I try to get Toothless up." Hiccup ordered and Astrid watched out for incoming Hunters. After minutes of patient waiting, the Dragon stood up. Hiccup and Toothless walked out of the cage as two Hunters walked down. Astrid punched one in the gut before slamming the second into the wooden frame. She slammed the first Hunter down to the ground before running towards the Dragon Rider. "Get the Thunderclaw."

"On it." Astrid replied before rushing to the cage where a dragon was growling at the young woman. She slide the lock opened and moved out of the way as it ran out. The Thunderclaw ran out of the ship as Hiccup got his weapons and Astrid ran towards him and Toothless. The two climbed onto the Night Fury and they rushed out. Hiccup dropped two canisters and as Astrid looked back, she saw Hunters jumping ship from Zippleback gas. The deck turned into an inferno and the two escaped.


After flying for some time, they managed to find Astrid's ship. Safely anchored to the sea. Astrid got off and sat on a barrel. Hiccup got off of Toothless and sat next to Astrid. She saw so much today. She found Hiccup alive and saw how much he has changed. It was hard to see the immature, annoying, scrawny, disaster that was Hiccup Haddock. All she sees now is a warrior with a kind heart and loyal to his beliefs. It was amazing to her. The man next to her was amazing. "So do you still want me to leave?"

"I may have misjudged you and Toothless." Astrid remarked and the two were silent for a moment. She punched Hiccup in the arm and he yelled ow.

"What was that for?" he asked rubbing his arm.

"For leaving Berk without a word." Astrid answered before kissing him on the cheek. "That's for everything else."


"That's for everything else." Astrid said after she kissed Hiccup's cheek where the scar was. He was surprised at the kiss since she never showed any emotion besides anger and determination. But as he showed her a new side of him, she showed him a new side of her. "So what now?"

"I have no idea." Hiccup answered puzzled about everything.

"You need to come to Berk and show everyone this." Astrid said gesturing to all of him. He smiled thinking that is one of the kindest things anyone on Berk has said to him.

"But I got so much left to do out here. Ryker, Viggo, Drago, and anyone else foolish enough to challenge the Dragon Riders." Hiccup remarked but he thought of his father. For years he wanted to prove to him that Hiccup could be an amazing Viking. Now Hiccup went against everything Stoic the Vast believed in.

"The Hunters will find Berk eventually, then you'll have a bigger problem to face." Astrid added and Hiccup nodded at that fact. If Berk becomes Hunters then he'll be forced to become an enemy of Berk.

"Looks like I'm going have to return home." Hiccup remarked thinking of the many scenarios in his head.