{Normal POV}

[Drago's Fortress]

An entire year passed that Hiccup had been taken from Berk and brought to Drago's base camp. Six months ago, Hiccup accepted that nobody was coming for him for whatever reason it was. Either his friends and father gave up the searches because they couldn't find him, or they assumed he was dead, or maybe it was that they really didn't care about him as much as he thought. After all, why did they need him anymore? Hiccup ended the war, taught them how to train and ride dragons, and now with him gone, they had Toothless. What use was he to them? Hiccup wasn't anything now but a prisoner to Drago, and refusing to train dragons for an army to conquer people. Hiccup pondered many times why Viggo and Ryker were there, working for Drago, and after hearing what little he did; he assumed that Viggo and Ryker must have done something to ruin Drago's first plan to take over the world. All Hiccup knew was that the Dragon Eye had been part of things, and Hiccup destroyed Viggo's in the volcano. So, wouldn't that mean Hiccup ruined Krogan's chances of delivering the object Drago needed? Hiccup didn't understand it, and he probably never would without talking to Viggo and Ryker again. However, those two weren't allowed near Hiccup for any reason according to Krogan. Also, Viggo and Ryker seemed to have been genuinely surprised to see Hiccup there all chained up, and didn't have a clue as to why Drago would want him, but they knew Johann had to be behind it because he stepped in after the Dragon Eye was destroyed.

Since that day when Krogan informed Hiccup that nobody was recusing him, the torture got worse and did push Hiccup close to his limits, but he never broke. Everything went right back to daily beatings, little to no meals, whippings, and then some. Hiccup would get chained up and hung by his arms, cut, stabbed, choked, burned with hot metal, he was forced to stay awake, go up against very aggressive dragons and get clawed and burnt. Hell, there were even moments where they revoked him using the bathroom until he couldn't hold it and let go, held under water, the list went on and on. Hiccup still refused to train Drago's dragons. At the moment, Hiccup just a days worth of torture minus the times he went unconscious, and had been chained back up in his cell. Hiccup coughed and tried to force himself off the floor. Viggo and Ryker weren't far, and decided to watch from around the corner. Drago stood before the cell door, glaring down at the teenager. With it being a year later, Hiccup wasn't that far off from turning twenty-years-old.

"This is going to keep happening until you break, boy," Drago informed.

"I-I don't…care," Hiccup forced out.

"Hiccup, don't be a fool," Krogan huffed. "You'll end up dying,"

"And whose fault will that be? I'm not doing this to myself," Hiccup remarked.

"Just train the dragons!" Drago ordered.

"I told you…once. I risked my life to end one war; I will not help or let you start another," Hiccup coughed again.

"How can you possibly still want to protect those people?" Johann stepped forward now. "I sailed to Berk right before harsh Winter hit, and I was informed they stopped searching for you because they believe you're dead. The whole village was going on an average day. Even your old man. No one is torn up over losing you, except maybe that Night Fury of yours," he added. Hiccup closed his eyes turning his head.

"Toothless is my best friend; he'll never forget about me even if the rest have," Hiccup stated. "That's just the bond we have,"

"Come on, lad. I've known you all your life, and I recall a time when you meant nothing to that Tribe before that dragon was in your life," Johann said.

"Shut up," Hiccup said.

"Hiccup Haddock; Heir to the throne of Berk who got picked on, teased, bullied, publically scolded by his own father for destroying things in the village with his inventions. That was your life, wasn't it? Before Toothless?" Johann continued.

"Shut. Up." Hiccup warned. Krogan and Drago smirked a bit, letting Johann keep going.

"Told that you weren't a dragon killer?" Johann grinned a little. "That you weren't a Viking?"

"Enough!" Hiccup yelled.

"Didn't your father even tell you that you weren't his son after you betrayed everything a Viking stands for by befriending a dragon? Then he took your best friend to the Dragon's Nest with an armada of ships? You lost every-," Johann was cut short by Hiccup whirling his fist into Johann's face, then kicking him back with the leg that wasn't chained. Krogan and Drago's eyes widened a bit as Johann looked at him.

"Yeah! It all happened, but I don't care! I still went after them, and defeated Red Death to keep them safe! Toothless and I both risked our lives to stop that thing! Whatever you're trying to do; it's not going to work!" Hiccup glared.

"Oh, but it already has," Johann got up with a smirk. "Your reaction was all I needed. You hated how you were treated by the people who were supposed to be your Tribe, and it only changed because you decided to spare a dragon instead of killing it. You befriended a dragon, and trained it. You're right, you almost died for them, and you gave them a new way of life. So where are they now that you need them?" Hiccup's eyes softened a bit as he looked away. "After everything you did for that Tribe even after what they did to you, and they have given up, and now forgotten about." Hiccup closed his eyes. "And now that you're gone and they have Toothless; what do they need you for? You mean nothing to them, lad," Hiccup's fists unclenched and his stance fell.

"The only one who is still worried about you is your dragon. Not the people, not the humans you risked your life and Toothless's for, but your dragon. Get mad. Get angry. Get upset," Drago tried as Hiccup lowered his head. "Get revenge and conquer them, Hiccup. All you need to do is train the dragons, and we'll sweeten the deal; we'll get Toothless for you. You can lead the army with me as a second in command. Come on, what do you say?"

"They abandoned me once. I was betrayed, hurt, had lost everything, and I could have left them to get themselves killed as revenge for it, but then it would have gone against everything I got abandoned for them to see. Dragons aren't dangerous and the only way to prove that was to get back up and fight; defeat Red Death and free the dragons from her control. You're right; I should get revenge," the three men grinned as Viggo and Ryker were a little shocked. "But I won't," he added.

"What?!" Drago roared.

"I didn't get revenge then, and I won't do it now for one simple reason; the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. If I seek vengeance, then I go against everything that makes me who I am. No matter what happens to me, or what they've done, or if they've abandoned me again; I won't go back on what I risked my life to prove was possible. Peace," Hiccup stared at them with cold eyes.

"You've lost everything! Why do you continue to fight?!" Krogan yelled.

"You just said why. You've spent a year trying to break me, and I won't. I knew months ago after Krogan's attempt to get me to see that I'm taking all this for them, but they wouldn't go out of their way for me, and I accepted that if what you say is true. I know my friends, and my father; they're looking, but either way boys, there's nothing to break. You can't threaten me with them; I know you won't go there and reveal I'm still alive because you can't beat all the dragons I have trained. And you won't kill me because you need me to teach yours," Drago glared angrily. "As you said; I've lost everything. I'm not holding on to hope to be rescued, and I'm not fighting for anything. When you've got nothing, then you still have nothing to lose. I'm just here because you refuse to let me go," Hiccup shrugged. "So do whatever to me, but I'm still not helping you. The answer remains no," he sat back down against the wall and closed his eyes. Viggo and Ryker scampered off before they were spotted.

Viggo and Ryker reached their room and Ryker sat down while Viggo paced deep in thought. "The boy is the only chance we have of being free," Viggo informed once he and Ryker were in their quarters.

"We'll never get close enough, and he'll never agree to work with us, Viggo," Ryker rolled his eyes.

"It seemed like we had his attention before Krogan showed up," Viggo informed. "All we need is another chance to speak to him,"

"It's swarming with guards," Ryker reminded. "This is never going to work. You saw how things ended for both of us. I nearly drowned, and you ended up incinerated. And that was when we both had convinced Hiccup the other was the bad one. The boy won't trust our word again,"

"Never say never, brother. Don't forget that we know the truth, and can use that to our advantage to get Hiccup on our side. Unfortunately, Hiccup is a smart kid, and if anyone could defeat Drago; it's him," Viggo stated.

"And I don't disagree with you, Viggo, but if this fails; you know Drago will kill us," Ryker sighed. "What's your plan?"

"We need to talk to Hiccup," Viggo affirmed. Ryker nodded and then they left once more to return to the cells.

Upon arriving, things looked grim. Hiccup wasn't in the prison cell he'd been assigned since day one a year ago. Krogan walked by to ask why they were there, and Viggo stated they were wandering aimlessly looking for work. Viggo inquired if they would be killing Hiccup since he would continue to refuse training the dragons. Krogan gave a smirk and told the brothers that Hiccup would be broke by the time he returned after Drago was done with him. Viggo and Ryker could only assume what that meant, but they knew it would be bad. Drago typically lets his men do the dirty work, but if the guy was handling this personally; Hiccup wouldn't be in great shape. Ryker and Viggo decided to make themselves useful in the area to watch for when Hiccup would be brought back.

Hours passed before Ryker got Viggo's attention when a limp looking Hiccup was dragged by his arms into his cell and chained to the wall once more. The door slammed shut as Hiccup didn't even move; his eyes were open, cold and distant, but he remained still.

"You should have just trained the dragons, Hiccup," Johann sighed. 'If you've got nothing left to lose, then why keep refusing Drago? Things didn't have to end up this way," Hiccup didn't reply to him. Johann walked away, forgetting to put guards at their posts before the cell.

"This is our chance," Viggo informed as he and Ryker hurried over to get a better look. "Hiccup?"

"What do you want?" Hiccup replied in a dead tone.

"Can you move?" Ryker asked. Hiccup tried to push himself up, but couldn't. Hiccup ended curling into a ball, fighting the pain.

"Don't believe what they are telling you, Hiccup. Your friends haven't given up on you, neither has your father. Drago has decoy fisherman around the base and if any riders get too close, they send them off with false information about where to possibly find you," Viggo informed.

"You think…I don't know that already? I'm not stupid, I know a trick when I see one," Hiccup forced out.

"What did Drago do to you?" Viggo asked.

"Why do you care?" Hiccup glared as he managed to get himself to sit up, hissing in pain. "Why are you even here? Didn't Krogan tell you to stay away?"

"Because he knows we'll tell you the truth," Ryker remarked.

"Truth? About what? You two messed something up and I'm the fallback," Hiccup scoffed.

"About the Dragon Eye," Viggo said as Hiccup stared at them. Suddenly, there were footsteps nearing them. "We can get you out of here, Hiccup, but if we do then you have to do something for us too,"

"Excuse me?" Hiccup arched a brow. "And how the hell am I supposed to trust you not to turn on me. You did it once," he stated.

"Viggo, we gotta go! Now," Ryker warned.

"Because we have a common goal between us. We'll be back for you, Hiccup. I swear it, just trust us," Viggo told him before the brothers left before they were seen by Drago. Hiccup narrowed his eyes at the man who smirked down.

"Last chance, boy," Drago stated. "Are you going to train my dragons or not?"

"I'll die before I help you," Hiccup glared.

"You are a tough one; I thought for sure you'd break after the last session. I guess it's time to make it endless now," Drago grinned. "Johann, give the order to the men. It doesn't stop until he goes unconscious or agrees. Once he awakes, you start again and anything goes," Drago walked away as Johann nodded.

"Come and get it boys! The boy is free game!" Johann announced. Moments later, Hiccup watched people line up to get a chance with him. Hiccup knew precisely what they'd do too, and truthfully, he didn't know if he could take it.

Hiccup laid there after three hours of everything those men dished out. Hiccup never lost consciousness, but he made them think that he did just so it would stop. Hiccup was battered with cuts and bruises, weak, sore, naked even while curled up and unable to move from his spot. Currently, it was the dead of night and no guards had been posted near his cell. Hiccup was sure he heard Johann say that it wasn't needed because Hiccup wouldn't be going anywhere. Hiccup shifted a little, then upon hearing movement coming near his cell; he stiffened and pretended to act knocked out. The cell unclocked and the door opened while footsteps neared him.

"Hiccup?" that was Viggo's voice. A hand touched his shoulder. "Hiccup, you must wake up,"

"It's no good, Viggo. You know what they did to him, and you heard Drago's order. We need to get him out now, this is our only chance," Ryker informed.

"Find his clothes, or something we can put over him," Viggo ordered. Maybe they really were trying to help him? Ryker ended up locating a blanket and some rope. "It'll do," he said when Ryker brought it over. The two worked together to get Hiccup draped somehow with what they had, then Ryker went to pick him up carefully.

"W-Why are you…doing this for me?" Hiccup asked.

"We have a common goal in wanting Drago gone, and we know that if you have access to your Night Fury; we stand a chance. We'll get you out, and take you back to Berk, but in exchange; will you keep us safe from Drago?" Ryker inquired.

"You want my protection?" Hiccup questioned.

"Look at all you've done to protect your family and friends. We're prisoners here, Hiccup. The same as you, and Drago will kill us when he finds out we're doing this. I'll explain later, but for now, can we agree or not?" Viggo looked at him.

"Get me out here and you are safe," Hiccup told them.

Twenty minutes later on a male Titan Wing Monstrous Nightmare; Hiccup, Viggo, and Ryker were darting into the night sky. Thankfully, Hiccup got the dragon to keep the flame down, and nobody saw them escape. Hiccup was beginning to nod out, though, thoroughly exhausted from it all and in ungodly amounts of pain.

"H-Hiccup; I don't know how to fly this dragon," Viggo informed nervously.

"L-Lock your legs around his neck, but d-don't…squeeze. To steer him; j-just give tilt the horns the way you want to go. We're…heading Northwest," Hiccup enlightened.

"And what about your dad? You know he'll kill us when we arrive with you," Ryker said as Hiccup was closing his eyes.

"It is so decreed that no harm or imprisonment is to come to Viggo and Ryker Grimborn as they are henceforth permitted to reside on the island of Berk under the full protection of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third; Heir to the Hairy Hooligan Tribe. That's all you…have to say, and my father will know what it means. I'm sure he'll question it and be furious, but above all, he and the Tribe will honor it," Hiccup stated as he began to slip into unconsciousness.

"Hold him, Ryker; if he falls off, he likely won't survive with the condition he's in," Viggo said. Ryker nodded as he locked an arm around Hiccup's waist and held him securely, but Hiccup did pass out when overcome with the pain from what he endured. "By morning or before the lunch hour, we should arrive," he added while continuing the journey Northeast towards Berk.

[Berk; The Next Morning]

Though Stoick had said there would be no more searches; the teenagers and himself went on them at different times regardless of the time of year. Stoick would fly Toothless, and Skullcrusher would fly alongside. It did seem that all hope was lost. Hiccup had been gone an entire year and there was nothing to point to where he might be, or if he were still alive. Stoick knew that, but still refused to accept such a fate unless there was proof to back it up. The dragon riders felt the same too, and that is why they all teamed up after Stoick left the Mead Hall six months ago to tell him that they didn't care about the weather; they would continue to search for their leader because Hiccup would have never given up on any of them. Toothless was miserable, but he knew Hiccup was alive; it was their bond, and they shared a powerful one. Toothless would understand if Hiccup had perished, because he would feel complete emptiness, and he did not. Toothless felt sad, and alone, but not empty, so Hiccup was alive.

Currently, the Hairy Hooligans were gathered up together in the Mead Hall for breakfast. There was small chatter, but the Chief was quiet while pushing his food around on the plate. Toothless was laying on the floor, head on his front paws with his eyes partially open to keep an eye on things. However, right at that moment, Toothless caught Hiccup's scent and lifted his head quickly to look around.

Hiccup? Toothless asked, but it came off as a worried warbled. Little did any of them know that Viggo and Ryker had arrived with an unconscious Hiccup. To ensure nothing went too sporadic; Viggo set the Titan Wing down in the forest while they dismounted and began their walk to the Mead Hall, which is where they assumed everyone would be since the village appeared to abandoned. Hiccup was wrapped draped in the blanket from before; he managed to fight through the pain to make it work better for him, and snagged a pair of loose black pants and one boot for his right foot. Ryker was carrying him bridal-style and Hiccup's head was on Ryker's chest, but he was definitely knocked out and had been since last night when leaving Drago's Fortress.

"Are we just walking right in?" Ryker inquired.

"No reason not to. Stay behind me," Viggo stated as he put his hands on the doors and pushed it open. All eyes fell on the entrance seeing two men there and with an unconscious male in the taller one's arms. Stoick rose to his feet quickly with a glare.

"How dare you two come here and barge in-," Stoick stopped when Toothless darted towards Viggo and Ryker, sniffing the male in their arms. It was Hiccup! Toothless screeched and started nudging his friend, licking his cheek. Everyone knew that Toothless wouldn't react like that unless Hiccup were around, and sure enough the male in Ryker's arms had shaggy auburn hair, with a freckled face. "Hiccup?" Stoick whispered out in shock as he hurried over to see his son there. Nothing made sense, but Hiccup was right there

Hiccup! Toothless roared. The Night Fury didn't care about anything else, not even that these two had Hiccup and his rider was unconscious. Hiccup was there; he was home!