{Normal POV}

[Berk]

The Mead Hall remained in a stunned silence about what just transpired as soon as Hiccup walked through the large double doors with Viggo and Ryker Grimborn behind him. Stoick and Dagur both failed to inform the visiting Chieftains that the Grimborn brothers were under Hiccup's protection, as such; there was an outrage about them being there after believing for a year that Hiccup had been taken captive by Viggo. In an odd turn of events, Hiccup defended the siblings from an attack by Chief Madguts the Murderous. Nobody knew Hiccup was capable of fighting the way he did, much more, with a few simple moves; he had a fully grown man on his back, weaponless, and with Hiccup's blade at his throat in less than two minutes. Pretty impressive because Hiccup was not the kind of guy who enjoyed the thrill of battle, so that was shocking to see him react so defensively to protect Viggo and Ryker. Yet, even after all that; the meeting to discuss how to deal with one Drago Bludvist did not begin. Everything seemed to escalate to a high level that ended with Hiccup taking Toothless, Viggo, and Ryker, and a Titan Wing Monstrous Nightmare named Cinder to the cove below Raven Point. Hiccup reasoned that he couldn't deal with knowing that he meant nothing to the Hairy Hooligans, and also, it hurt to see that they didn't even believe in him. Hiccup said he couldn't cope with that on top of everything else he was trying to recover from, so Hiccup decided to leave the village and ask that no one come; to respect that he needed space.

"I'm sorry; what in the name of Thor just happened?" Mogadon Meatsen, Chief of the Meathead Tribe inquired to break the silence in the room.

"Hi-Hiccup left the village to get away from us," Astrid forced out slowly while trying to settle with the information.

Gobber sighed as he stood up from his place and prepared to leave the Mead Hall. "I'll go talk to him,"

"Hiccup said to stay away," Fishlegs reminded.

"Ya know; I feel like I understand why he's so upset. Hiccup just stated that Gobber, as in me, could visit wheneva, but the rest of yew had ta leave 'im alone," Gobber reiterated.

"And why do you get special treatment?" Snotlout huffed.

"I neva hurt the lad," Gobber informed as they all brought their eyes to the Berk blacksmith.

"Excuse me? You're a member of this Tribe too," Stoick responded.

"But where did 'Iccup spend all his time, Stoick?" Gobber asked as the Hooligan Chief flinched a bit. "With me," Gobber answered for him. "Hiccup's been working in that shop under me since the boy was five-years-old. The forge was the lad's escape from the village. Hiccup came there to learn, work, invent, draw, everything. I gave up my back store room just for 'im to use because he loved bein' there. Hiccup doesn't feel the hurt around me cause I was the one who used to cheer him up, and tell him not to worry 'bout it. Yeah, I said to Hiccup countless times that he wasn't one of us, and mentioned that he needed to stop trying so hard to be something he wasn't,"

"Then you should be just as guilty as us," Spitelout huffed.

"The difference between us is that I didn't tease, pick on, or scold Hiccup. The boy has always been different, Stoick; you've said it yourself, but is that any reason for you to treat him like he doesn't belong? I know his inventions caused damages, but he was just a kid, and unfortunately, none of us are perfect. We all make mistakes growing up, and even in adult years too. I was many things to Hiccup, Chief; including a father-figure to him in your absence. I gave him a safe haven where he could be himself. I was a teacher, a mentor, and someone he could talk to. I gave Hiccup what none of you did until he risked his and his Night Fury's life against Red Death to save us all; acceptance," Gobber mentioned calmly. "I will speak with him while you all stand here and continue pondering how awful you were to one of your own who happens to be the next Chief of Berk,"

Gobber left quietly afterward; probably to find his dragon and follow Hiccup and the Grimborn brothers to the cove. "I-Is Gobber right?" Astrid asked.

"Sadly, and I'm ashamed to admit it, but yes; I believe he is, and Hiccup too," Stoick sighed as he closed his eyes.

[The Cove]

Toothless set down in the cove with a slight thud, then Cinder almost immediately afterward. Hiccup climbed off his Night Fury, and looked around. This place was always special to him; it's where he bonded with Toothless, where everything started, and his life changed entirely. Toothless nudged his head under Hiccup's hand, warbling softly.

Are you okay, Hiccup? Toothless asked, knowing his rider couldn't hear him; not unless Toothless initiated the connection. However, such a thing could bring forward a lot of confusion, and Toothless didn't think Hiccup needed that right now.

"Yeah, I'm okay, bud," Hiccup said. And it was in this sense that Toothless often felt that he and Hiccup didn't need the link because Hiccup seemed to understand what Toothless was speaking just by actions, noises, or facial reactions. Hiccup rubbed Toothless's head before turning to the Grimborn brothers as they were dismounting from Cinder. "Welcome to The Cove," he invited with his hands.

"Any particular reason you chose a location this far out?" Viggo inquired.

"That's exactly why I selected it; it's one of the farthest points away from the village," Hiccup shrugged.

"Fair enough," Ryker replied.

"I suppose I also decided to come here because I'm comfortable and it's kind'a special to Toothless and me. We bonded right over there," Hiccup pointed.

"And with everything going on; you wanted to be in a place that brings a happier feeling?" Viggo questioned.

"Guess you could put it that way," Hiccup nodded. "Alright, uh, there's a passage that leads down to the beach, but the tunnel should more than enough to hold us and Toothless as far as sleeping goes. We've got the ocean for fishing, and the woods for hunting. Bread, fruit, and vegetables can come from the village; I'll go once or twice a week for it," he stated to them, but maybe it was more like to himself to assure how they would survive in the cove.

"Seems to be plenty of trees for firewood, and rocks to make a pit," Ryker added.

"And there's an outhouse behind that tall rock," Hiccup motioned. "We've used the cove as a hideout during attacks before; so I've tried to keep it up to date with essentials for having to stay for a bit,"

"A wise decision," Viggo admired. "Shows that you do know what you're doing when it comes to thinking ahead and preparing for any situation,"

"Thanks; just wish they could see that," Hiccup sighed.

"My apologies, Hiccup; I did not mean to upset you," Viggo said.

"It's okay. It's going to take some time to stop feeling the way I do right now," Hiccup informed. "Well, let's start getting situated then," he cleared his throat. "I grabbed sleep pads, a pillow, and blankets for you guys from my dad's house. I figured you didn't have any among your things since we bailed from Drago's Fortress as quickly as possible,"

"Most appreciative," Ryker said gratefully to Hiccup.

"As long as you're with me; you're taken care of," Hiccup assured.

"We can't thank you enough, Hiccup. Truly," Viggo admitted.

"Hey, it's what friends do. Come on; let's get camp set up, then we can get ready for lunch," Hiccup told them. Viggo and Ryker nodded as the three of them began to unload their belonging from the dragons, moving them into the cave passage.

With the few tools that Hiccup had nabbed from his father's home; Hiccup, Viggo, and Ryker managed to build a wooden awning over the outside of the cave passage, and hang up a large, thick sheet to act as a door. The wooden structure was constructed to cover the outside of the cave, and a few other things; makeshift table, log chairs, and Hiccup got the fire hot enough to forge a metal grate to cook over. The awning kept the fire ring dry, but allowed the smoke to exit, and on the posts of the structure were thinner, leather sheets to block wind, rain, or snow. Within the cave tunnel was a slab for Toothless to heat up and lay on; Hiccup's sleep area was next to him, of course. Viggo and Ryker arranged their spot on the opposite side. A bit further down was a curtained area to change behind and wash up. Honestly, it was pretty livable for being made in one afternoon. The males only stopped for a break around noon to eat lunch, which was just fish and some bread Hiccup grabbed before they left the village.

"Not perfect, but not everyone needs that to be happy," Hiccup put his hands on his hips, nodding in approval to the stay area Viggo, Ryker, and himself built.

"Well put, Hiccup," Viggo agreed as Ryker just nodded. The sound of quick wing beats as Hiccup turned to see Gobber hover over, then land on Grump; his Hotburple.

"I remember that dragon," Ryker pointed.

"Uh huh," Gobber gave an unamused look to the elder of the two brothers, then turned his attention to Hiccup.

"They send you to bring me back?" Hiccup wondered.

"No, I came because I wanted to make sure you're alright. I gave the Tribe an earful, don't you worry," Gobber got off Grump.

"Doesn't mean they'll listen, Gobber; they never have. Why should now be any different?" Hiccup shrugged with his arms folded over one another.

"Because you didn't just take it, then walk away defeated, lad," Gobber sighed as Hiccup glanced at the man he could fully consider a father-figure, or crazy uncle at best.

"I left because I am beaten, Gobber. No matter what I do; it's always me who takes the brunt of everything, and for what? To realize that I'm basically nothing without Toothless?" Hiccup turned his head.

"'Iccup," Gobber tried. "That's not true,"

"How isn't it?" Hiccup closed his eyes.

"I never treated you like they did," Gobber stated. "You were never invisible to me, laddie, and I could see when you were hurting. I practically raised you as if you were my own flesh and blood,"

"Yeah, because my dad was too busy with the village to be a father to me; he just pawned me off on you so he wouldn't have to deal with me," Hiccup closed his eyes.

"I never minded, Hiccup, and do you want to know why?" Gobber put his hand on Hiccup's shoulder as Hiccup glanced slightly. "Because I enjoyed having you around. Someone who didn't do what everyone else did, and always gave me something to smile about. You were the most active kid I'd ever seen, lad. All these colossal ideas to make something that could help, dreams that seem so far out of reach. And you know what you did any time an invention failed, or you got yelled at? You got right back up and kept working at it; nothing has ever stopped you,"

"And look where it's got me now. Beaten, tortured, raped…" Hiccup trailed off.

Gobber glared and smacked Hiccup upside the head. "That's enough of that, son," he informed as Hiccup rubbed his head. "I want you to think about the words you just said. Look where it has me now. Do that, Hiccup. You remember the night you shot Toothless down? You went on and on about not needing to throw a bola because the contraption of yours-," he started.

"The Mangler?" Hiccup arched a brow.

"Yes, that! It was something you worked all the time, trying to perfect it. And sure, it never succeeded; until the one time where it caused you to meet your best friend," Gobber reminded. "You built that Night Fury over there a working dragon tail, and learned how to ride him. You discovered the source of the raids; Red Death. You tried to show everyone with Hookfang that we didn't have to kill them. Your dragon got himself captured, to save you,"

"And then everyone abandoned me as I was told I wasn't a Viking and my father disowned me," Hiccup retorted coldly.

"But did it stop you?" Gobber asked as Hiccup looked at him.

"What?" Hiccup inquired.

"You heard me. Did all that stop you from training another dragon and racing to the Dragon's Nest to get Toothless back and take that thing on to save us with no regard for your own life?" Gobber questioned.

"Well, no. I-I didn't want everyone to die just because my father was obsessed," Hiccup responded.

"When Mildew framed the dragons, and you had to leave them on Dragon Island, then Alvin raided Berk, who stood up as the Dragon Conqueror, and got taken to get Toothless, and save us?" Gobber pushed.

"I did," Hiccup replied.

"That's right. And now Alvin is an ally to Berk. When Dagur waged war on us over dragon riding, who stopped it and saved his father?" Gobber continued.

"Me," Hiccup dropped his arms now.

"You revealed that Heather was Dagur's little sister eventually got him to see that family was more important than vengeance, and now Dagur is also an ally of the Hooligan Tribe. And I know you're gonna hate this, but, who stayed Drago's prisoner for a year; refusing to train his dragons to protect not just us, but everyone?"

"That would be me as well," Hiccup sighed.

"Exactly. And now you have Viggo and Ryker on our side too. Don't you see it, Hiccup? Vikings have always done things a certain way; we settle it by fighting. Not you, though. You do everything to avoid a battle; so no one has to get hurt on either side, human or dragon. You find another way, and it's because you are different. No matter how many obstacles have come your way, or what you've had to endure; you never give up when the peace you created is on the line. I don't care what any of them believe, lad, I will gladly support any decision you make once you become Chief because I know you have our best interests at heart. As you always have since you were little, and I'll knock anyone out who gives ya a hard time," Gobber informed firmly.

Hiccup gave a small smile. "I, uh, I don't doubt that," Hiccup nodded, knowing full well that Gobber would absolutely do it.

"The point is that everything that happens, happens for a reason. Yeah, you're hurting and down now, but you'll get back up again and keep going. It's what you do," Gobber messed with his hair. "Think of it this way; right now, you're at the base of a mountain. Can't move it. Can't turn back, and no way around. The only way out to climb up; You might slip a few times, but there's no rush, and it doesn't matter what's on the other side. What matters is that you don't give up, kiddo. From the day you were born; you've been fighting for your place in this world,"

"I have?" Hiccup questioned.

"You were born two months early, son. Nobody thought you would survive, but here you are, almost twenty years later and still fighting. You're so much stronger than you think, Hiccup," Gobber patted his back.

"Look at me? I represent nothing regarding being strong," Hiccup mumbled referring to his skinny figure.

"You don't need to have the burly Viking figure, Hiccup. You're stronger than anyone I know, and it's not because of muscles. Your strength comes from here," Gobber poked his chest where Hiccup's heart was. "True strength comes from the heart, and you got a big one. Sparing a dragon because he looked as scared as you did? Facing a mountain-sized dragon to protect the Tribe that abandoned you? Giving yourself up to Alvin? Stopping Dagur's war? Refusing to train Drago's dragons to keep everyone safe? You've survived everything thrown at you because you're meant to be here as the voice of peace,"

Hiccup's eyes widened a little. "Yo-You really think that?"

"I don't think it, son; I know it," Gobber winked. "You'll be the best Chief this Tribe ever has, and I'll be right there with ya," he added. "Your life didn't change because of Toothless; it changed because of you never giving up, so don't you stop now. Understand me?"

"Got it," Hiccup nodded. "But I'm still not coming back right now,"

"I wasn't gonna make ya; I just wanted to make sure you remembered who you are," Gobber smiled. "and know that no matter what, you're loved and accepted by me just as you are. Don't worry about any of them or what they believe," Gobber motioned to the village. "They're just jealous that you ended being the strongest of them all and it's because you dared to be different,"

Hiccup hugged Gobber tightly as the blacksmith returned it. "Thanks, Gobber. I kind'a needed that,"

"I knew ya did," Gobber broke the hug. "You come back when you're ready, and in the meantime; I'm happy to visit ya here," Hiccup smiled. "You need anything, you let me know?"

"I will," Hiccup said.

"I should be getting back and let ya have yer time. See you soon, laddie," Gobber hobbled over to Grump, then climbed on as the dragon lifted slowly. Not long after, they were gone over the trees. Hiccup took a breath as Toothless licked his cheek.

"What? You wanna go flying I take it?" Hiccup asked Toothless.

Gods, yes! Toothless replied excitedly. Hiccup laughed a bit.

"Alright. You two coming?" Hiccup invited to the brothers.

"Don't see why not," Ryker responded. Hiccup gave a whistle as Cinder moseyed over to allow Viggo and Ryker on his back. Hiccup threw his leg over Toothless's saddle, then the two dragons took to the air.

[Flying Over Berk]

Hiccup relaxed while sitting on Toothless's back; letting the breeze hit his face. Honestly, there was nothing better to Hiccup than this. Flying with his best friend that is. Hiccup caught a glimpse of the village as he flew over, and saw everyone roaming around. Hiccup watched Stoick, and his friends look up at him. Continued the search with his eyes, Hiccup caught sight of Gobber landing at the forge.

"Get him, Toothless," Hiccup grinned. Toothless shot a small blast down at Gobber's feet, making the man jump back. Hiccup laughed at Gobber, Toothless did too with a throaty chuckle.

"Damn it, boy! Don't make me come up there!" Gobber waved his hook threateningly.

"Gotta catch me first," Hiccup yelled at him.

"You're lucky I love you!" Gobber rolled his eyes.

"Love you too, old man!" Hiccup replied before zooming off with Cinder following right behind. Yeah, what Gobber said to Hiccup really helped, but Hiccup knew he had a long way to go to recover, and there was still the looming threat with Drago to deal with. However, Hiccup was going to keep Gobber's words close, and Hiccup wouldn't give up until he reached the top, which is what he assumed is where his happiness would be. For now, all he could do was keep climbing.