Two Days Later

Hiccup and Defender Team watched as three Berserker ships landed on the small island. Hiccup had his helmet on with Alfgeir leading the new D Team. Hiccup had Heather and A Team stay on the Edge because with Dagur, she can be unpredictable. The plan was simple. Hiccup would land, meet with Dagur while D Team provides cover. If goes to plan, the inexperienced team won't have to fight. The Dragon Rider turned to his friends, old and new to see the new Riders nervous. "Everyone knows the plan?"

"Yes sir." Sigfast Sod remarked as he kept a tight hold to his saddle on top of his Armorwing, Scrap.

"Just Hiccup." the Viking said to the new Rider.

"You sure this is a good idea?" Alfgeir asked and Hiccup nodded. It is now or never. Hiccup dove down and the whistling sound could be heard. At the last moment, Toothless opened his wings and the drag stopped them as they landed on the island. Dagur left his Berserkers on the ship leaving a masked Rider and the deranged Viking.

"So you want to meet." Dagur remarked as Hiccup got off the Night Fury.

"We got off on the wrong feet back on Berserker Island." Hiccup said with his voice muffled beneath the helmet.

"Oh ya. You and Heather attack Berserker Island with your dragons. How could I forget that?" Dagur replied sarcastically.

"To be fair, we weren't there for your tribe. But for a dragon that held the fate of our world." Hiccup remarked and Dagur raised an eyebrow. "We didn't want to fight your people. Just to stop a man named Drago from getting the key to conquering the world."

"Okay, but still. Couldn't you have taken a more neat approach?" Dagur asked as he tried to circle Hiccup, but Toothless growled.

"Well you did kill Heather's father and set her adrift as a child." Hiccup replied and Dagur was going to say something but closed his mouth. "I'm offering you a truce because of my past and because even for a Berserker, you have to care for Heather on some level."

"I do care for her!" Dagur yelled pointing at Hiccup. "But your dragons! We've been fighting them for hundreds of years! Yet here you are flying them as if nothing happened!"

"Many of the Riders lost someone to the Dragon Raids. But we learned that they aren't monsters. They're just trying to survive like us." Hiccup said and Dagur looked over the Night Fury.

"How did you train the Night Fury?" Dagur asked and Hiccup explained how they met. How he shot down and injured Toothless. How Hiccup earned the Night Fury's trust and how he helped his friend. Dagur listened carefully pondering about this revelation. "You are on odd on Dragon Rider."

"Thanks." Hiccup replied.

"I'll consider your truce. But I want my men back and to see Heather." Dagur remarked and Hiccup nodded. The two left each other on their own path and Hiccup wondered how he'll get Heather to agree on the last demand.


Later

"You what?" Heather yelled before throwing a cup at Hiccup in the Great Hall. Hiccup just told Heather the terms of a truce with Dagur. The woman wasn't happy. "He killed my father!" Heather added before throwing a chair which he dodged. "Set me adrift!" she added before throwing a plate nearly hitting Hiccup. "And now you want me to see him!" Heather yelled slamming her ax on the table nearly cutting through. Heather understood the Berserker sailors and ship but seeing Heather was out of the question. "There is no way in Hel I will see my brother!"

"Heather we need Allies in this war. Drago has a fleet of massive warships and an army of enslaved dragons. Dagur while he is crazy, he also has an army of skilled warriors and if Berk falls to Viggo, we'll have a base near Berk to stop Viggo's plans." Hiccup remarked and Heather walked out of the hall to see the outpost defenses almost complete and the calm sea beyond them. Windshear crawled toward her friend and Heather pet her dragon.

"What am I going to do girl?" Heather whispered as Hiccup walked next to her.

"I got to return back to Berk. I modified Toothless's tail so he can operate on his own. Once we get a day out, he'll fly to the island and hide until I get back." Hiccup said and heather knew that he was bringing Toothless so he can show Berk how great the most feared dragon is. "Make sure everything stays in one piece."

"Of course." Heather said as Hiccup started to walk off.

"And consider seeing Dagur." Hiccup added before disappearing.


Six Days Later

Hiccup watched as Toothless slept. They have been on the sea and thanks to the medications of Toothless's tail fin, the Night Fury was able to fly behind the ship and Hiccup liked it. It was still morning when a pod of Seashockers passed by. Hiccup admired the creatures. He trained some of them in the past so they could stop attacking fishing ships. When Toothless woke up, the Night Fury took to the skies to catch some fish. When he returned, Toothless dropped a pile of fish on the deck and preceded to eat them. As the Night Fury ate the fish, Hiccup wondered what would have happened if he stayed on Berk. How he would have tried to teach them to live dragons or be killed by axes. As the day continued, Hiccup repeated the plan in his head. When the darkness sets, Toothless will fly to the Cove and hideout until Hiccup returns. At night the Rider will take his friend out for a flight then return before anyone notices he was gone. All the while Hiccup will teach Berk that dragons aren't the monsters they once thought they were. How? He has a few ideas.


One Day Later

Stoick was stroking the fire in his hut when the door opened. The Chief turned to see it was Hiccup returning from his long journey. In joy, the Chief got up and rush to his son. The large Viking hugged his child remembering all those quiet nights without Hiccup causing some disaster or another. At one time Stoick wished Hiccup would change, but when the boy vanished, he wish Hiccup would cause his usual chaos. Now the Chief has his son back and if he was right, he would him again. When Stoick let go the two enjoyed a meal. "How was your trip?"

"Good. I met with a possible Allie." Hiccup replied and Stoick nodded.

"What of Drago's forces?" Stoick asked.

"We raided a few Dragon Trapper camps, but his fleet is still massing in the North." Hiccup reported as Stoick a bite of yak. "What has been going on here?"

"Dragon Rider raid." Stoick answered and Hiccup raised his eyebrows.

"This far West?" Hiccup remarked.

"Yeah. I managed to see them free our dragons. But one of them seemed hesitant at first." Stoick replied looking at the fire. "I fought dragons all my life and they tamed one of those monsters in moments."

"And you're wondering how?" Hiccup remarked and the Chief nodded.

"It just makes no sense." Stoick added testing his son.

"During my adventures, I have seen dragons just trying to survive. I learned much about them in the last several years. Many of them are just friendly and just want to live." Hiccup said and Stoick knew that his son may be aligned with the Riders.

"Even so. They are animals with no minds or feelings. They just want to end us." Stoick replied before they ate in silence.


Later

Astrid was practicing her ax throwing in the woods as she did when she was younger. The Viking never stopped practicing even when Hiccup vanished. Back then she wished the boy would vanish, but after he did she regretted being cold to him. Now she was conflicted. For her whole life, she trained to kill dragons. Now she helped rescue them and even rode of few of them. So much has changed for her. The once feared dragon killer was doubting everything she once believed in. When she heard the snap of a twig, Astrid turned with a raised ax but lowered it when she saw Hiccup. "How long have you been back?"

"Not long. How long have you been riding Deadly Nadders?" Hiccup asked smugly and the woman punched his arm.

"Shut up." Astrid ordered and the Rider nodded.

"Thanks for helping Thrain. He's a good rider. One of my original riders." Hiccup remarked and Astrid just shook her head.

"So what's the plan?" Astrid asked remarking about Viggo and Berk.

"Fishlegs said that Viggo took a ship and left for his Hunters. I fear that Viggo is searching for a replacement dragon for the arena." Hiccup answered and Astrid threw her ax into a tree.

"So I just risked everything to help you when Viggo is just getting a new dragon!" Astrid yelled as she grabbed her ax.

"I knew it was going to buy time. But Viggo knows I can train most dragons. The only dragons I can't are either difficult to capture or too large for the arena." Hiccup remarked as Astrid pulled her ax out of the tree.

"This is crazy Hiccup. If Viggo is as dangerous as you say it is, then you need more help on Berk." Astrid said as she stood in front of the Rider. "Berk may be stubborn as Hel, but we're no fools. Well except for the Jorgensons, but the rest of Berk will see that our best chance against Drago are dragons."

"I hope you're right for all of our sake." Hiccup remarked before smiling. "Want to see Toothless?"

"Is he here?" Astrid asked and Hiccup nodded before walking to the Cove and Astrid followed.


Elsewhere

"Gobber?" Chief Stoick asked as he entered the forge. Gustav was sharpening swords with Gobber when Stoick entered, but the blacksmith stopped and stood up.

"Yes Chief." Gobber replied and Stoick looked at the young Gustav.

"Go." Stoick ordered and Gustav put the sword on the table and walked out of the Forge. Curious the young Viking listened from outside.

"What is it Stoick?" Gobber asked with concern in his voice.

"Remember what Viggo said before he left?" the Chief asked.

"Yes, but the very idea is impossible. Who on Berk would betray us to those Dragon Riders and how would they even communicate with them?" Gobber asked.

"There is one person on Berk who may be able to." Stoick remarked and Gustav wondered who would do such a thing.

"No." Gobber replied startled. "It's impossible. Hiccup is a Dragon killing machine."

"But he left before he could show it. Now there are Dragon Riders, Hiccup postponed the killing, and now the dragons are gone. There isn't any other explanation." Stoick said and Gustav couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"But why would Hiccup do such a thing?" Gobber asked and Gustav ran off to the woods to find Hiccup.


Later

Hiccup checked on Toothless's tail while updating Astrid on what is happening in the war between Riders, Hunters, and Drago. How he was able to start the process of a truce with Heather's brother Dagur, but he has no idea if Heather will agree to the last term. A new Rider team was formed and the Edge is nearly complete. Astrid was amazed and scared of the events unfolding. Her home was on the edge of a war unlike anything they have ever seen and if they want to survive, they'll have to go against three hundred years of stubbornness to survive.

"And yeah that is about everything." Hiccup said finishing both the story and Toothless's tail.

"Do you think your dad suspects anything?" Astrid asked remarking on the Raid being a week after Hiccup left.

"Maybe. Back home he was questioning and I think he was testing me." Hiccup answered and Toothless raised his head before turning to the Cove entrance, growling. Hiccup and Astrid turned to see Gustav surprised at the two Vikings with the Night Fury. The kid ran and Hiccup jumped on Toothless. They launched into the air while Astrid chased him down on foot.


"Let me down!" Gustav yelled as Hiccup and the Night Fury dropped soared in the sky. They dropped him on a tree branch and Gustav held on tight. "I meant on the ground! Softly!"

"Gustav. We need to talk." Hiccup said softly as he and the dragon landed on the tree bending it some.

"You're riding a dragon! You're a Dragon Rider! Why would I listen to you?" Gustav yelled and Hiccup pointed down. "Fine, I'll get down on my own!"

"Gustav will you listen?" Hiccup remarked as the kid try to climb down. As he stepped on one branch, he started to fall and before he hit the ground, the Dragon Rider caught the Viking. For a moment, Gustav was confused. Then he looked at Hiccup commanding the dragon to drop the boy on the ground softly. Gustav bolted up as Hiccup got off the dragon. "Did you actually think I'll you fall?"

"A little." Gustav admitted as he looked at the Night Fury. it was sitting up straight and trying to smile. He noticed the Night Fury had no teeth. He turned back to Hiccup. The man who Gustav tried to follow when he disappeared. "Why are you riding a dragon?"

"Because he trusts me and I see him as a friend." Hiccup answered as Astrid caught up with them.

"So is this what you've been doing all these years? Dragon Riding?" Gustav asked and Hiccup nodded.

"I found my place with them. If I hadn't met Toothless, I would still be Hiccup the Useless. Not Hiccup the Dragon Trainer." Hiccup answered as the Dragon stood on all four legs. "Raise your hand. Palm facing Toothless."

"What?" Gustav asked shocked.

"Raise your hand. Palm facing Toothless." Hiccup repeated and Gustav hesitantly did so. The Night Fury walked closer and placed its head in the Viking's hand. It was unlike anything Gustav ever felt. The scales were hard yet smooth. The Night Fury was calm and wasn't aggressive like many other dragons. "Want to ride on him?"

"Really?" Gustav asked nervously as the Dragon Rider jumped onto the Night Fury.

"Come on." Hiccup replied and Gustav got on with Astrid's help. Moments later, they were launched into the air. Gustav was amazed at how high they were. Then he noticed the clouds. He raised his right hand and touched the soft clouds. It was amazing. "Amazing isn't it?"

"Yeah." Gustav remarked as they glided down to the Cove.

"Astrid thought so too." Hiccup said as they landed. Gustav got off and looked at the Night Fury in amazement.

"How could you tame the unholy offspring of lightning and death?" Gustav asked as Hiccup got off the dragon.

"Remember the story of when I shot down a Night Fury? Back before I left." Hiccup asked.

"To be fair I heard you did every year." Gustav remarked and Hiccup laughed.

"True, but the last raid before I left, I really did shoot down a Night Fury. It's how me and Toothless met." Hiccup said as he pet his purring dragon. Gustav was amazed the mighty dragon would let the man who shot him down this close. "I eventually found him in the woods and before I try to kill him, I couldn't. I let him go."

"So you built him that tail?" Gustav asked and Hiccup nodded as Astrid entered the cove. Gustav spent the next hour asking Hiccup and Astrid questions. They gave him the truth. Not the lies they used to keep themselves safe from Berk's blades. Hiccup told Gustav the truth about his battles. Viggo wasn't the hero Berk thought he was. Just a murderer. "Wow."

"Yeah I know." Hiccup replied as Gustav took a seat on a rock.

"So you have been gone fighting Hunters and training dragons trying to build a world where we can live in peace with them." Gustav remarked still shocked at the revelation.

"Trust me. I know the feeling." Astrid added and Gustav wondered how she reacted.

"Hiccup. The reason I was out here was because Stoick was talking to Gobber about a Dragon Rider spy in Berk." Gustav reported and the Rider sighed.

"And he thinks it's me." Hiccup remarked and the boy nodded.

"This is bad Hiccup." Astrid added as Hiccup walked to the pond.

"What do we do?" Gustav asked and Hiccup turned to the two Berkians.

"We do something unpredictable." Hiccup answered with a plan in his mind, but it could cost him.