Most of the ship ride back to the island was silent. Valka was sitting on the main deck with Runa, Viggo, and Thora, Hiccup was flying over head keeping a few feet above the ship but close enough if there was a problem. Fishlegs, Stoick, Gobber, Snotlout, Astrid, and the twins were just sitting around. Stoick and Gobber standing near the ship wall. "Strike..." Valka said to him.
"What?" Hiccup asked looking down at her.
"Kids are getting tired but having trouble falling sleep." Valka looked up.
"Hang on, I'll be down in a minute." Hiccup replied as he looked to Alvin who nodded and moved everyone out of the way. Hiccup landed on Toothless and got off walking over to his mother and 3 kids. "I got it..." Hiccup said as Valka got up and moved out of the way as Hiccup sat down on the ship deck as. "Come here kids..." Hiccup said softly beneath the mask. Thora laid in his arms as Viggo and Runa sat on either side of him, leaning against him.
"Daddy..." Runa said lightly.
"What is it baby?" Hiccup asked. Astrid turned her head to watch, this was a different side of this guy. He was a father and it showed fully, they hadn't seen this on Berk.
"Ca–can you sing the song you told us mommy made for us when we couldn't sleep as babies?..." Viggo asked now.
"Of course I can. Get comfortable..." Hiccup said gently. They all snuggled against him as Alvin and Valka smiled and watched. Stoick, Gobber, and the others watched as well now, curious to what they wanted. "Come stop your crying, it will be alright. Just take my hand, hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you. I will be here, don't you cry. For ones so small, you seem so strong. My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm...This bond between us, can't be broken. I will be here...don't you cry..." Hiccup sang softly to them as they just cuddled against him.
The people from Berk on the ship seemed in shock, who knew he could sing and so well too.
"'Cause you'll be in my heart. Yes, you'll be in my heart. From this day on...now and forever more! You'll be in my heart. No matter what they say...You'll be here in my heart, always..." He smiled now beneath the mask.
"Why can't they understand the way we feel? They just don't trust, what they can't explain. I know we're different but deep inside us...We're not that different at all...And you'll be in my heart. Yes, you'll be in my heart. From this day on...now and forever more!" Hiccup's voice was a bit louder now as Runa wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, he smiled wide opening his eyes to see the look of absolute adoration from the others.
Hiccup couldn't help but grin a little, one of many things they never knew about him. Hiccup might of hated them, and this upcoming fight, but there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for his children.
"Don't listen to them, 'cause what do they know...We need each other, to have, to hold. They'll see in time, I know. When destiny calls you...you must be strong. I may not be with you, but you've got to hold on. They'll see in time, I know! We'll show them together!" He sang as the three children began to close their eyes falling asleep.
"'Cause you'll be in my heart! Yes, you'll be in my heart! I'll be there from this day on, now and forever more! Oh, you'll be in my heart. No matter what they say...You'll be here in my heart, always. Always. I'll be with you...I'll be there for you always, always, and always. Just look over your shoulder. Just look over your shoulder. Just look over your shoulder and I'll be there always..." Hiccup sang softer now as he looked down and found them sound asleep. Toothless came over and wrapped himself around the three kids as Hiccup got up patting his head lightly.
"Atta boy bud..." Hiccup smiled at him. Toothless crooned as he laid his head down and rested, Hiccup now stood beside Alvin and his mother.
"So you had a son 22 years ago?..." Gobber asked Alvin now.
"Not that its any of your business but yes I did." Alvin retorted.
"Why was his birth not announced...Its tradition..." Stoick began.
"Because my island has peace with dragons, we keep to ourselves to avoid conflict and war." Hiccup said from his position, he wasn't looking back but his arms were crossed over his chest.
"But...You yourself have children. Its...Viking tradition that when a chief has a child, other chiefs from other tribes are to bring gifts for the new heir." Stoick said now.
"Not us. We aren't exactly Viking material. We don't follow the same traditions the rest of you do. Not since Hiccup came to us 6 years ago and changed everything." Alvin retorted.
"You're an outcast, Alvin. I doubt my son would ever have anything to do with you and your kind." Stoick huffed. Hiccup jumped down now landing before Stoick making him step back.
"Everyone on my island is an outcast or runaway, you cast out your son making him an outcast. So where the hell do you think he went after leaving Berk! You're on my ship and disrespecting my family. I won't tolerate it, understand? The next remark and I will throw you overboard..." Hiccup sneered out. "If you knew anything behind the meaning of family you wouldn't have cast out your only son." Hiccup glared through his mask. "And he wouldn't of killed himself after leaving the island." Hiccup added in a dark tone. Everyone's eyes widened now hearing what he said.
"Hiccup...is...?" Fishlegs began.
"That's why I couldn't tell you how he was doing, because he's dead. We lost him 4 years ago..." Hiccup stated.
"No...You lie! My son wouldn't do that!" Stoick yelled now.
"Wouldn't he? He told me everything. After he came to us, he said he didn't want to risk being found or Toothless being hurt because of his choice so he left Toothless with us and sailed away. I sent one of my men to follow him and when they caught up, they found him dead on the ship. Arms and wrists cut. We brought him back and gave him a funeral...The reason no one knew about our island is because you people who call yourselves Vikings made an innocent, young, 15 year old boy so upset that he wanted to die." Hiccup yelled at Stoick, he watched their faces fade from anger to guilt.
"Strike...settle down..." Valka said softly.
"No. No, they need to hear it. You lost the right to call Hiccup you're son when you cast him out, Stoick. Isn't that what you told him...'You're not a Viking, and you're not my son'. Hiccup is the reason our island is dragon friendly...he was with us for a year before he left...he wanted there to be a place where people who didn't want to hurt dragons, a home for both species to live in peace! So he made one on outcast island. You think Hiccup was a useless, destructive boy? No. He was a smart, inventive, artistic, skilled young man. And none of you ever gave him a chance to be what he was, to let him be himself. You always shut him down and told him all he did was cause trouble. We welcomed him. We did and we'll forever ever be grateful for what he did for us, what he made us." Hiccup growled angrily. "You never listened to Hiccup, not once. Not when he told you he shot down a Night Fury, not when he said there could be peace, not when he asked you to listen. But on my ship, on my island...you will listen to me. I let you come under the terms you would do as I say...And right now. I want you to shut the hell up and sit down until we get to Dragons Edge." Hiccup glared before walking away from him.
It was silent now, even Valka and Alvin weren't sure what to say. They'd never seen him get so mean before, Hiccup had always been kind hearted and gentle but then again these people from Berk had hurt him, cast him out because he trained a dragon, befriended one. They didn't blame him for holding in all that anger for the last 6 years and even before that for how they treated. Stoick closed his eyes as he sat down. Hiccup kept his arms crossed over his chest staring off in to the night sky.
(2 Hours Later)
No one had said a word, other than Hiccup giving orders to the people steering the ship. Stoick hadn't dared talk, he was to deep in thought. Gobber was sitting with the others, something bumped the ship jolting anyone who was asleep awake. "Huh...what's going...on?" Astrid said first waking from her slumber.
"Ssh." Hiccup commanded.
"Are you going to tell us what's going on?" Snotlout snapped.
"I said to shut up so I can listen..." Hiccup snapped back angrily, silence again. "Cloud. Get Cloud Jumper from below deck and get the kids in the air. Now..." Hiccup ordered. Valka nodded as she rushed below and came out on her dragon, Alvin slowly handed her the sleeping children carefully.
"Hey...I'm the next heir of Berk! You can't just dismiss me..." Snotlout argued.
"You got claimed the heir? Hah. Man Berk would of been in better hands, excuse me claws by the dragons." Hiccup chuckled a little." Hiccup stated then it went quiet again, "Dad, get Sharpfire, Stormfly, and Hookfang..." Hiccup said quietly. Alvin made his way below and got the dragons he was told too. There was a massive roar heard.
"What...was that?" Gobber asked.
"No time to explain. You want to live, you do exactly as I tell you to. Stoick, ride with Alvin. Gobber, Snotlout and Fishlegs get on Hookfang. Tuffnut, Ruffnut get on Stormfly. Astrid, you're riding with me." Hiccup ordered. Everyone did as they were told, though the people from Berk were very hesitant on riding dragons. "On my signal...Give the dragon you're riding a light nudge with your foot..." Hiccup warned. They nodded, another loud roar. "Now!" Hiccup yelled. Everyone lifted in to the air as a dragon shot up from the water and destroyed the ship they were on in seconds. The crew members had thankfully gotten picked up by one of the defense teams who had been close by.
"Woah...How did you...know it was coming from under us?" Fishlegs asked.
"Is this really a good time to be asking questions!" Hiccup yelled. "Cloud, get my kids to safety!" Hiccup ordered.
"What about you!" Valka yelled back.
"Don't worry about me! Take Astrid with you, the rest of you follow her. She'll take you to the island...I'll deal with her highness..." Hiccup said as Cloud leveled towards Hiccup and pulled Astrid on to Cloud Jumper with her.
"Right chief! Quickly, all of you follow me." Valka called to them as they took off.
"Wait, he can't fight that thing alone!" Astrid exclaimed.
"Don't you worry about Strike...He knows what he's doing, and he's been waiting a long time for this..." Alvin said flying beside them now.
"What do you mean?..." Fishlegs asked.
"We'll explain later...Right now we need to get clear of here." Valka said, with that they were gone.
(Dragons Edge)
They landed not more than 20 minute later on what the Hooligans believed was Outcast Island but it looked nothing like they were told about. Valka and Alvin dismounted and carried the children to Hiccup's house and let them rest. Sunflower stayed inside to keep and eye on them. Valka and Alvin returned outside as people were gathering wanting to know what was going on.
"Where's the chief!" Someone yelled.
"People of Dragons Edge..." Alvin began with his hands up to settle the worried and distressed crowd. "Our chief is fighting the Red Death, and he gave his word he will return to us..." Alvin announced.
"What do we do?..." Another asked.
"We get back to work because you know he'll have our hides if we don't...So...back to it!" Valka added as they chuckled and nodded getting back to work. Valka and Alvin now faced the Hooligans who were standing in shock looking around at everything.
"This...is outcast island?" Stoick asked.
"It used to be." Alvin shrugged.
"Okay...I am officially beyond confused..." Gobber stated. A loud roar of the Night Fury was heard as everyone looked up and began to cheer for their chief's return.
"It's the chief!" Someone yelled as the village burst in to applause as they turned to see Hiccup coming in on Toothless, then slid in as Valka and Alvin rushed over to him, seeing him slumped over slightly and injured.
"What happened to him!"
"Is the Red Death gone?"
"Son...You need to see the healer...these are bad wounds..." Alvin said quickly as Hiccup got off Toothless slowly.
"N–no...I'm fine..." Hiccup coughed a bit. Truth was he was very injured and the queen wasn't dead, just recovering from the fight and she'd be back madder than ever. "My people!" Hiccup called out. "The queen isn't dead, she will be back when she recovers...Toothless and I gave her a good fight. I want round the clock patrols, change off every three hours and search in pairs. Cover a 15 mile radius. I want to know when she's in our waters. And for the time being...we will be having...guests from the Hooligan tribe of Berk. I expect you all...to treat them as you treat one another. Is that clear?" Hiccup announced.
"Aye chief!" They called back cheering for him. Hiccup fell to one knee holding his side, moving his hand he saw blood.
"Eira!" Valka yelled out, she came running to their sides.
"Oh these are quite serious. Come, we'll get you fixed up chief." Eira said as Alvin helped support him to Eria's healer hut.
"Cloud, show the Hooligan's where they will be staying." Hiccup said.
"Yes sir." Valka replied with a nod.
"I–is he...going to be okay?" Fishlegs asked calmly.
"Our chief has been through worse. You needn't worry. Now, come along. It has been a long day for all, and rest is needed." Valka stated firmly to them as she began walking towards the inn, the followed slowly still taking everything in around them. All remembering what Strike had said that Hiccup created this place for humans and dragons to live in peace. Hiccup had done all this? Creating this village so full of life? None of them could believe it. Reaching the inn, Valka walked down a hall. "The rooms are set up to be two to a room. Being there is an uneven amount of you, one will room alone. Any volunteers?" Valka asked.
"I will..." Astrid said.
"Good then. Before you retire, I will give the rules of the village." Valka began, they nodded showing they were listening. "Dragons and humans live in peace here. They won't hurt you if you don't hurt them. Anyone who doesn't ride is to be inside their homes by dark. Breakfast, lunch, dinner are held in the hall. Untrained villagers are forbidden in the stables or academy. If the chief gives an order, you follow it. And outsiders...are forbidden to roam without the chief, myself, or Alvin. Clear?" Valka stated.
"We understand. Do we pick our roommate?" Snotlout asked.
"It matters not. Two to a room, except for her since she volunteered to bed alone." Valka crossed her arms over her chest.
"So we just wait here until morning and someone will get us?" Fishlegs asked.
"Alvin or I will be here by sunrise. I bid you a goodnight." Valka said as she left the inn silently.
"Well you heard the lady, everyone to bed." Gobber stated entering one of the rooms on the left.
"We're not...going to ask what all this is about? This is...outcast island! It shouldn't be...like this!" Snotlout grumbled.
"There isn't much we can do right now, Snotlout. We agreed to follow the chief's orders if he let us come...maybe tomorrow we can get some answers." Astrid sighed.
"She's right. We aren't on Berk, this is another chief's island and we have to respect his rules. I have many questions myself but it is late, everyone to bed. I'll room with Gobber. Snotlout and Fishlegs take a room, and the twins take a room. Astrid will stay by herself. We will meet in the morning here and wait to be escorted to the hall." Stoick said firmly.
"Aye chief." They said together and headed to their rooms.
(With Hiccup)
"Was it a good idea bringing them here?" Alvin asked as Hiccup was getting his wounds wrapped.
"I wasn't going to. Something Fishlegs said on Berk made me rethink my choice...That they regretted casting me out 6 years ago, as in regretted it right after I left..." Hiccup explained putting his shirt and armor back on.
"So what are you going to do with them here? You already told them you were dead." Alvin sighed.
"For now, I plan to watch. I know why they wanted to come, it wasn't to help fight. Its because they think I know about 'Hiccup', they want answers. And more so now, they want to see what useless little 'Hiccup' created. I've never felt so satisfied seeing their faces when I arrived back after the right." Hiccup chuckled now.
"How much are you going to tell them?" Alvin asked.
"What I feel is necessary to know. Dad, relax...I know what I'm doing. And even if they find out who I really am...its not going to change anything. This is my home. This is where I was accepted without hesitation, this is the place I built, this is my creation...I'll never leave. That's a promise. I wasn't good enough for them before, and it'll just have to be not good enough again because I'm never going back there." Hiccup stated firmly getting to his feet now.
"I trust ya son. Just be careful...Now get on out of here, I'm sure you want to get home to your kids." Alvin chuckled at him, Hiccup nodded as he put his mask back on and walked through the village back to his house. Hiccup made it inside and checked on his children, seeing they were fine he grabbed something to eat, then rubbed Toothless's and Sunflower's heads before going to his room and laying down on his bed, he sighed out heavily closing his eyes and letting sleep take him over in seconds. If today wasn't crazy enough, tomorrow would be for sure.