Eight Days Later
Hiccup was finishing packing his gear onto Astrid's ship while Astrid was saying goodbye to a Night Terror name Glider. She bonded with a small dragon, but it was a start. Hiccup only regrets not giving her more training. Today they were going to go back to Berk to face his past. For the past eight days, Hiccup spent his time training Astrid, forging a new sword, making a new tail for Toothless, and spending time with his mom. He has learned so much from her. Toothless had a set of extended spikes on his back now thanks to his mom and the two were able to make tighter turns, a useful ability they could have used when they faced the Red Death. But Hiccup was just glad he was with his mom. He wanted his mother for his whole life and now he has here. Now he was going to leave her. As he loaded the last crate of Monstrous Nightmare Gel Canisters for his sword, he reviewed the defenses of the Edge.
"Don't worry Hiccup. We'll be fine until you get back." Heather reported as Valka walked down the dock.
"I'm heading back to the sanctuary. Please visit when you're done on Berk." Valka asked and Hiccup could only smile. She didn't believe that Stoick or Berk could change, but a small part of Hiccup believe they can.
"I will." He replied before hugging her.
"Ready to go?" Astrid asked as she passed them. The mother and son split up and Hiccup walked onto the ship while Astrid raised the anchor.
"Be safe." Valka pleaded and Hiccup turned to his mother.
"I will." Hiccup promised and Toothless jumped onto the mast of the ship. Astrid laughed at the sight and Hiccup just sighed. "Bud we went over this. You need to stay here." Hiccup said as the Night Fury jumped down. Hiccup pet the dragon to calm it down. "Don't worry I'll be back. Don't you worry."
One Week Later
When Hiccup first saw the Island of Berk, he knew it was going to be tough. He has been running from this for years and now he's back home. As the two Vikings sailed closer to the dock, Hiccup tinkered with his prosthetic leg. Making sure it was in top shape. Astrid sat next to him and he put the leg back on. He was nervous but Astrid helped him. As the dock got closer Astrid raised the sails and Hiccup pulled out his spyglass to see who was on the dock. To his surprise, he saw an older version of Ruffnut and Tuffnut knocking over a stack of barrels. Then he saw Fishlegs walking over yelling at them. Just like old times. Hiccup lowered the spyglass and helped out Astrid with steering. He took deep slow breaths as they arrived at the dock. Hiccup dropped the anchor while Astrid tied the ship to the sock. Ruffnut was the first to greet Astrid. "Welcome back Astrid."
"Thanks Ruffnut." Astrid said as she got off the boat. Hiccup took a breath before walking onto the dock.
"Who's that?" Ruffnut asked getting the attention of Tuffnut and Fishlegs. Fishlegs was the first to inspect Hiccup.
"It can't be." Fishlegs whispered.
"Hey Fishlegs. No time no see." Hiccup remarked.
"How do you know Fishlegs?" Tuffnut asked as Fishlegs walked closer.
"Hiccup?" Fishlegs asked to the surprise of the Twins. Astrid in front of the three with a smirk.
"I present you, the Heir of Berk, Hiccup Haddock the Third." Astrid remarked and Fishlegs went in for a hug, lifting Hiccup off his feet.
"Good to see you too Fishlegs." Hiccup said and the happy Viking let Hiccup down.
"We thought you were dead." Ruffnut remarked.
"And here you are with a peg leg and a nice scar. Though I would have a few broken teeth." Tuffnut added and Hiccup laughed.
"Good to you both again." Hiccup replied.
"Come on. Let's tell Stoick." Astrid interrupted the reunion.
"Oh he left to find the Nest." Fishlegs reported and Hiccup facepalmed knowing that the Nest is gone. "Something wrong?"
"Oh no. Just that I know for a fact the Nest has been abandoned." Hiccup remarked.
"How?" Ruffnut asked.
"It's not like you seen the Nest." Tuffnut added and Hiccup shrugged. The Twins gasped.
"Have you been to the Nest?" Ruffnut asked.
"Did you kill the dragons?" Tuffnut asked shoving his sister out of the way.
"Yes and no." Hiccup answered to more questions. Astrid stopped them.
"Let's find Gobber then." Astrid ordered.
"Oh this is going to be good." Fishlegs remarked as they walked up the docks.
Astrid listened as the Twins bombard Hiccup with questions but the Rider answered with the same answer. Wait. But as they walked through the village, the Vikings caught eye of Hiccup. Whispers went among the Vikings knowing that Astrid was determined to find Hiccup. Now that she has returned with a stranger to them. As they walked through the village, she spotted Snoutlout talking to some of the other women, but they threatened to hang him if he keeps on his habits. The annoyance saw Astrid and rushed over. "Hey babe, I see you're back."
"Shut up Snoutlout." Astrid replied before shoving him away.
"I see Snoutlout is still Snoutlout." Hiccup remarked.
"Whos that guy?" Snoutlout asked as they reached the Forge. Astrid walked inside to greet Gobber.
"No, no, no! You keep the fire alive for the whole time to make the sword stronger! You just made a short weaker than parchment!" Gobber yelled bending a sword Gustov made. He turned to see Astrid. "Ah Astrid. Good to see you again. I was worried you were lost at sea."
"No, but I do have a surprise." Astrid said moving out of the way for Hiccup. Gobber dropped his tongs and walked closer to Hiccup inspecting the young man.
"Hey Gobber. I see the Forge is still in tip top shape." Hiccup remarked breaking the silence. Moments later, Gobber hugged Hiccup and lifted him off the ground.
"Been so worried about you." Gobber said with tears in his eye.
"Yep. Missed you too Gobber." Hiccup said trying to breathe. Astrid giggled and tapped Gobber.
"I think he may need to breathe Gobber." Astrid remarked and after a few moments, Gobber let Hiccup down.
"Where have you been lad?" Gobber asked as the group exited the Forge.
"Perhaps we should discuss this at the Great Hall." Fishlegs remarked and Gobber nodded.
"Maybe we should wait until Dad returns. So I can tell him everything at once." Hiccup remarked and Goober rubbed his chin.
"Good point." Gobber replied before clapping his hand on his hook hand. "We'll wait until Stoick get back, but you need a place to stay."
"How about the Forge. I can get a bed ready?" Gustov remarked and all eyes went onto the young man.
"That would work." Hiccup replied folding his arms. "I've had worse places to sleep and it won't be the first time I slept in a Forge."
"Okay then. Gustov get Hiccup a bunk and I'll make sure the villagers stay away." Gobber ordered before walking out of the Forge.
"I'll make sure that the Twins keep their mouths shut." Astrid remarked sending the Twins away leaving Hiccup and Gustov alone.
"Last time I saw you Gustov you were much smaller." Hiccup remarked as he helped get his bunk ready with Gobber's new apprentice.
"Yeah. I certainly grew a lot since your disappeared as have you." Gustov replied as he finished the bed. "So how did you escape the dragon?"
"I didn't. I wasn't taken by a dragon." Hiccup answered as he sat on the bed.
"So what happened?" the kid asked and Hiccup sighed.
"I was afraid I wasn't good enough for my Dad and I left to find out who I was." Hiccup answered as took off his new sword. It was a retractable blade with several new features and designs, so it appeared to be a small handle.
"So have you found out who you are?" Gustov asked and Hiccup smiled.
"Yeah." Hiccup answered before turning towards the kid. "If I remember correctly, you were a fan of Snoutlout. Why did you take an apprenticeship at the Forge?"
"Oh well after you vanished, I remembered how everyone treated you and how sad we are were. I thought you were dead and I wanted to help. Unfortunately, I wasn't the best at things and so I become Gobber apprentice." Gustov replied and Hiccup smiled. "Truth be told, I don't know how you could do all of it."
"Don't worry Gustov. You'll get the hang of it." Hiccup comforted and Gustov smiled.
Elsewhere
Stoick sail pass ruined ships and pillars of rock until they reached a beach. He walked on the rocks and saw the skeleton remains of a massive dragon in the distance. The Cheif of Berk ordered Spitelout to stay with the ships while Stoick take a few men to investigate the remains. He walked through the woods and stumbled upon an old campsite long abandoned. What intrigued Stoick the most was a circle of burnt ground. But the Vikings continued on to the remains and saw a beast, unlike anything they have ever seen. If Stoick had tried to fight it with everything Berk had, then they would have been slaughtered and be drinking in the halls of Valhalla. Stoick headed back to the beach so they can set up camp and investigate the island at dawn.
Elsewhere
Viggo Grimborn studied the map of the world with careful detail. It was marked with the flight paths of the Riders since their assault on his island so long ago. Hiccup was good in losing the Hunters but that did gave him an idea of the general direction. When the Dragon Eye disappeared with the King of Dragons, Hiccup went West. So anything west of Dramillion Island was potential for the dragon. With the Hunters at war with Drago, they'll need every advantage. When Ryker entered Viggo's quarters, Viggo noticed tension on his older brother's face. "I'm guessing the plan didn't go as planned."
"No. Hiccup had another Viking with him. A woman." Ryker replied and Viggo was intrigued.
"A Rider?" Viggo asked as Ryker took a seat.
"No. Maybe a Viking who needed to be convinced to ride Dragons." Ryker answered and Viggo pondered. This was a new training move on Hiccup's part. Only a few Vikings have ever ridden the Night Fury, so what made this woman so special. Then a smirk came upon his face.
"I think we may have found a new weakness in Hiccup." Viggo said standing up. "Find her. Once we know where she came from, then we may learn much about Hiccup's past."
"How can she be part of his past?" Ryker asked as the two brothers walked through the ship.
"I believe our Hiccup has feelings for this woman and if she needed to be convinced to ride dragons, then she must not have known about the Riders until recently." Viggo answered. "But feelings don;t arise within days or hours. I believe this woman could be key to getting Hiccup to give us the King of Dragons."
"And if it doesn't?" Ryker asked.
"Then we continue our search."
