=Hiccup's POV=

{February 7, 2010-Sunday}

Well, it took some time, but I was done with my beginner training, and today, I graduated from ITB or Infantry Training Battalion. It was long, and challenging, which was fine by me. Every day was something different, but we did get time to make phone calls home at least. Camicazi and Astrid were happy about that. I was delighted for my friend, Thuggory liked Astrid a lot, so I hoped things worked out. Thuggory and I were best friends, and have been since we were younger. My father, Stoick was good friends with Thuggory's father, Mogadon Hedsen. Thuggory's mother walked out on Mogadon and Thuggory when Thug was only fourteen, and to this day, Thuggory refuses to speak to her and Mogadon took full custody of him. The ex-wife tries to call on his birthday, and holidays, but Thuggory won't forgive her for walking out on them all those years ago. I've known Thuggory since we were nine, and though we attended different schools, we never lost contact. Thuggory helped me deal with my mother's passing two years ago. It hit the family hard, but with time and support, my father and I made it through.

My mother battled breast cancer for years; it would be hard, then go into remission, and come back within a few months or so. After so many years of treatments and surgeries, the doctors confirmed that she had terminal cancer in 2004, and only gave her a couple of years left. My mom survived to 2007, when she passed away on December 20 while surrounded by friends and family. This year was a bit hard for me because I was in the city for training on the two-year anniversary of her death. However, it had been a special allowance by Drill Sergeant Ryker Grimborn that I got to call home using the office phone. I was in my drill sergeant's debt after that.

~Flashback; 12/20/2009~

I woke up at four in the morning and sighed heavily knowing what today was. The two-year anniversary of my mother's passing, and I wasn't home with my father. I laid in bed staring up at the ceiling as I heard shifting above me.

"Hiccup?" Thuggory said.

"Hm?" I replied quietly.

"You awake?" Thuggory wondered. We had to be quiet because our Drill Sergeant was sleeping in the side room at the front of the barrack; he got his own room while the males of the platoon shared a room with bunkbeds. Weren't we lucky? It was like that in Boot Camp too though; teach us to work together to keep our things clean and help one another out.

"Obviously if I answered you," I responded.

"Oh, yeah. Are you okay?" Thuggory questioned.

"I guess," I told him.

"I know what today is for you," Thuggory said as I sighed closing my eyes.

"I'm alright, my friend. I just hope my dad is," I informed.

"Why don't you ask the drill sergeant if you can make a call home because of the occasion?"Thuggory suggested.

"I don't feel like getting my ass chewed out by our DS for asking a question that doesn't have to do with training," Hiccup remarked.

"Hey, it was only an idea," Thuggory reminded as the lights flipped on and the morning routine began with Drill Sergeant Ryker Grimborn came in yelling at us to get up and get ready for PT or Personal Training. By the 6:30 am mark, the troops were eating breakfast.

"Private Haddock," came the voice of our company leader, Viggo Grimborn. I stood quickly from my seat and saluted him.

"Major Grimborn, sir," I said quickly, then saw his brother Ryker next to him. I knew Viggo was the younger brother, but I guessed that Ryker didn't want to advance much in his career, and Viggo did.

"Would you come with us, please?" Ryker asked.

"Sir, yes sir," I replied and then followed them outside of the mess hall. We reached Major Grimborn's office, then stepped inside as Ryker shut the door.

"Have a seat," Viggo invited as I did so in the chair in front of his desk. "Sergeant First Class Grimborn has informed me that you're not performing as well as you typically do today,"

"I apologize, Drill Sergeant. I will do better," I inform firmly.

"Relax, son. You are not in any trouble over it. We're merely trying to understand if there might be a reason behind such," Ryker told him.

"Is something troubling you? Are you having trouble with another trainee? Feeling ill?" Viggo asked.

"No, to all three, sir," I stated. "The day itself just isn't a good one, and I suppose I'm a bit distracted," I admitted afterward.

"May I inquire as to why today is not a good day?" Viggo wondered.

"It's the two-year anniversary of my mother's passing, Major. She died on this day in 2007, and I'm concerned for my father. Last year we went to the cemetery together, and it was hard for him, so I don't know if he went this time since I'm not there," I explained.

"I'm sorry for your loss, lad," Ryker said as I shrugged.

"It's okay, I know she fought for as long as she could, and died peacefully. I just know it's a hard time of year for him because of the holidays; she's no here anymore, and now, neither am I for Christmas and that was always big got us. I'm sure he's kind of miserable since I can't make contact that often. I just want to know if he's alright; I'll be fine if I know that. He's…all I got left, ya know?" I confessed. Ryker and Viggo looked at one another, and then Viggo lifted the phone off the cradle before dialing a three-digit code, then handed it to me.

"Call home, Private," Ryker told me as my eyes widened a bit. I couldn't believe it; they were letting me call my dad? I nodded, and then dialed my dad's number.

~End Flashback~

It had been a better day after I talked to dad. I had been right, he wasn't okay, but felt better after speaking to me. Dad had been at the cemetery in front of mom's stone when I called, and he was glad I could call due to the circumstances of what day it was. I only got about ten minutes in, but it was all dad and I needed. Another amazing thing was that we got a Christmas surprise; to got home for the 24th and 25th of December as long as we all reported back on the 26th by 5 am. I was beyond happy that happened because I got to see dad, Gobber, and Cami for a holiday. Dad and I got to go to the cemetery together, and that made all the difference in how my Christmas went. Of course, those few days off pushed out training back, so now it was the 7th and we had just graduated an hour ago. Surprisingly, I made Corporal and was named my team's leader. The whole battalion broke down into smaller sections. Our force was known as the 2nd Drakonian Infantry Battalion.

However, three companies made up this group; Alpha, Blast, and Cloud. Everything was broken up by three. Companies from three Platoons, then those from three Squads, and that from three Teams. My official location for the Battalion is Alpha Company, Storm Platoon, Lightning Squad, and Strike Team. Pretty cool, right? Right now, we were waiting to learn our permanent duty station. I hoped I'd be in Berkville, but I didn't know because our assigned area was according to platoon, and mine had thirty-six members in it. Which meant that there were three squadrons of twelve with three four-person teams each because twelve multiplied by three was thirty-six. At the moment, the members of Storm Platoon were awaiting orders outside our barracks. There were no females in this entire battalion. Why? Because there were no females in the military job of Infantry. However, I believe that once we moved to our permanent station, there would be females among us serving as combat medics and what not. That was alright with me; I didn't mind.

The door opened as Drill Sergeant Grimborn walked in; we all stood up at the foot of our bunks and saluted him. "Alrighty, my freshly graduated Infantry Marines, here's the deal with your orders. For the time being you're going to be broken up by where you live. Arc City is in the middle of everything, depending on which town you reside in will determine where you report to base. The locations just outside of the city have stations, so there are three. Huntsmount and Murdstead to Visimar. Bashford, Ugbury, Shivhurst to Peacefield. And lastly, towns South, Southwest and Southeast of Arc will report to Berkville. Everyone got that?"

"What of those living in the city?" asked one person with their hand up.

"Report here," Ryker said.

"Understood," the male replied.

"That being established, I do have more information for you," Ryker continued. "This battalion is set for an eighteen-month deployment in August 2010 to Camp Nox, which is in the Helmand Province's Lashkar-Gah, Afghanistan. You will all report to the central base of operations; Fort Archia. You will be receiving a list in June of what you are required to pack, and what you are allowed to bring. Are there any questions?" I put my hand up. "Speak," he said.

"What of our dragons?" I asked.

"A team will guide them in the day we fly; they will leave an hour before we do and arrive to get settled in the stables nearest the owner's barrack," Ryker stated. "Oh, and on an unrelated note; you are NOT permitted to discuss this deployment with anyone other than military personnel for the time being,"

"We can't tell our families to prepare them?" Eret inquired.

"I'm afraid not because there are still details being worked out. As you may have noticed, your platoon leader did not give you a set time or date on when to report to the airfield. We will know more as the time draws close," Major Grimborn's voice informed while walking up to his brother. "We will leave you with ample time to inform loved ones of the deployment, but for now we ask that you don't say anything,"

"Orders understood, Major," the Marines replied together with a nod.

"Very good. At this time, you are dismissed and will report to your duty stations tomorrow at 0600 hours. Your CO there will tell you what your average day will consist of and when you go home," Ryker remarked. "Off with you now," he added. The Marines broke off and began preparing to leave. I gave a whistle to Toothless as he bounded over to my side. I smiled and rubbed his head while getting my bags on, then throwing a leg over the saddle. So we were getting deployed in six months it seemed, and we couldn't tell anyone. I sighed. For now, I just wanted to get home and take a hot shower.

{June 19, 2010-Berkian Dragon Academy-11 am}

Today was a big day on so many levels. For starters, I finally knew more about the deployment that was taking place. Another aspect was that we received permission to tell our family and friends. And lastly, my girlfriend was graduating High School, and I was here to enjoy it. Thuggory was with me too, so he could see Astrid graduate. Those two were doing really well in their relationship; they've been together almost seven months on the 24th of June, it was only the 19th right now. Camicazi and I would be together three years come August, which is when I was deploying. Thank the Gods that it was after the anniversary of us dating, literally one day after we would be celebrating. I was leaving on Monday, August 9th, 2010 at 7 am from Fort Archia's Airfield. I wasn't going to worry about it right now, but I knew I was telling my father, Gobber, and Cami today.

I sat next to Thuggory, who was planning to tell Astrid about the deployment today too as we watched names get called for the students to receive their diplomas. At the moment; we were only in the last names starting with an A. The time continued to pass as I heard Camicazi Boggs get called sometime after Heather had gone. I recorded the entire moment on my phone as she walked across the outdoor stage in her silver cap and gown, the boys were in red, girls silver. Camicazi shook Alvin's hand, then got her diploma. I cheered her on as she returned to her spot. I watched as Astrid, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut, then Tuffnut, and finally, Throk be called up in their respected last name group. The ceremony concluded as I hugged and kissed Camicazi after she was greeted by her parents and grandparents. I congratulated her, and then we soon left. Today was the party for family, tomorrow, I'd be joining Cami for the friends one. That is when I was telling her about the deployment news.