{Hiccup's POV}
After speaking to dad and him telling me to talk to Stoick again, I heard voices around me becoming clearer and I only assumed it was because I was waking up finally. Of course I saw Sylvi, then our daughters and Thurmond in Sylvi's arms. Looked over I saw Toothless, then Snotlout and my in laws there. They were supposed to be back on Fury Isle, I had no idea what happened after the fight with the Red Death. I only remembered falling off Toothless after we hit her tail and I fell unconscious falling into the explosion. I couldn't of...been out too long, could I of? After all the welcome backs, and glad I was okays I became more confused. Why did it seem like they thought I was going to die? Snotlout informed me that I was out for two weeks, and my in laws told me they just arrived an hour before I woke up. Then Sylvi told me that wasn't all that had changed. I honestly felt a little afraid.
She moved the blanket off me and I saw my left leg was gone, from the knee down. My eyes widened as I tried to process when that even happened. I was barely injured when I fell off Toothless! They continued to explain that when they found me, I was wrapped in Toothless's wings. That's when it made more sensed, right before I blacked out Toothless was diving after me. I only assumed he bit my leg off by accident catching me then wrapped me in his wings so I wouldn't burn to death in the explosion. I saw the invention Gobber made for my leg, a metal leg that worked on a spring system so I could walk normal. Well now that I was awake, I couldn't just stay in bed. I put my leg down then the new one and stood up slowly. I took one step okay then with nothing to hold on too trying again, I fell. Toothless caught me.
Snotlout had run ahead to open the door for us, Viggo and Ryker ended up taking Toothless's place and helping me walk until I got the hang of the leg which was steadily coming easier for me. Snotlout went ahead and announced I was awake and everyone...To my surprise at least, began clapping and cheering for me. Snotlout went on to explain that he might have been chief of the island but I was the hero who saved them all. Not just from the Red Death, but raids and more. I was the hero because I ended the war between dragons and humans. I couldn't believe what I was just told. They all believed I was a hero? I wasn't...I did what anyone would do, didn't I? "Snotlout...I'm not...a hero." I tell him.
"Yes you are." Astrid said now rushing up with Fishlegs and both smiling wide.
"No. I'm not. Okay, I did what anyone would." I stated firmer as I let go of Viggo and Ryker now able to keep my balance on my own.
"How can you even say you aren't, Hiccup? None of us risked our hides against that thing...You did." Tuffnut stated. I rolled my eyes. I didn't want to be named a hero for what I did, it had...to be done.
"That doesn't make me a hero. I put everyone in danger...I should of gone alone." I sighed.
"Hiccup...I think what they are saying is that you made a plan B behind everyone's backs because you knew somewhere inside you that your first plan might not work. We all thought we were dead when the plan began failing, but you jumped in and got us to safety. You were willing to give your life to keep us safe. And we're grateful you're alive but you still single-handedly took on Red Death alone, just you and Toothless. None of us knew what to do when people started getting hurt...but you did. None of us knew to make her blast burn her from the inside out, or crash her face full of fire first into the ground to set off an explosion. You saved all those dragons from her control, and us...You were will to die for us and that makes you a hero." Sylvi put her hand on my shoulder.
"You saved not just your people, but mine too Hiccup...And I thank you for that." Snotlout smiled.
"My plan B was a hunch. I had no idea either would work. Plan B came from something I saw before I even left Berk...When Toothless and I first started testing out his tail together, the day we nailed it...We landed on an island not far from and ate some fish. Some Terrible Terrors tried to take Toothless's fish pile and when it tried to shoot at Toothless, he shot back and weakened the Terror...I made a remark about dragons being not so fire proof on the inside." I informed.
"Doesn't matter, you still came up with something when we had nothing. You saved Berk, and Thor knows how many other places from raids led by her Hiccup! You ended the war and you're a hero in our eyes." Snotlout said. I sighed again as Toothless crooned beside me.
"I still don't see it but if you do then whatever. I need to fix Toothless's tail..." I stated.
"But you...just woke up daddy..." Selena frowned.
"I know princess but we have to get back our island." I tell her softly.
"We're leaving so soon? Babe, I agree with the kids...You just woke up, you need time to heal." Sylvi said now.
"As far as I'm concerned...If I'm awake, breathing, moving, and can walk then I'm healed enough to get us home. We've been here almost a month now when it was only supposed to be a week trip at most. I'm still the chief, Syl...I can't be away from home long amounts of time. We leave at dawn tomorrow." Hiccup said as he and Toothless walked in the direction of the forge.
"Why does daddy have be so stubborn." Solana huffed.
Sylvi sighed, "He's just like his father kids."
(The Forge)
I was just getting it lit slowly, I remembered Gobber's first lesson to me was you had to build it up gradually. I found all the materials I would need to rebuild the tail and now I needed something to work with my new leg. I had a general idea already but it would take some time to do. Thankfully it was lunch time now so I had the rest of the day. I still couldn't believe they all thought I was a hero because of what I did. It was just ridiculous. In truth, I was saving the dragons from her control. I knew the Vikings were safe. I sighed as I got to work on Toothless's tail, it would take a good few hours to complete but it'd be worth it when I could take my family back to Fury Isle. And I was taking Astrid and Fishlegs too. They'd be riding with Viggo and Ryker. I told them already to pack only what they absolutely needed.
Astrid's house was being built next to Fishlegs's since since I'd sent a letter after she agreed to join the Dragon Rider tribe. And it had been 3 weeks since then so the house would most likely already be done or very close too. Stormfly, Astrid's bonded dragon would be flying along with us since Astrid was qualified to ride yet. My training had flying be almost last before the graduation. I had two different types of classes, there was one that took a year at a steady pace. Then there was a 6 month class for advanced students were showed me they were ready for the next step and ahead of others. The advanced class was led by myself, the average was led by Sylvi. Fishlegs was a fast learner so was Astrid so right now I considered bumping them to the advanced class.
My mother would be training Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut at the regular class pace. I'd get letters from her on how they were doing and when it came time for them to graduate, I'd be making an appearance to over see their final test and name them full riders. I focused on my work now, my mind still reeling over what my father and I talked about right before I woke up. He said for me to talk to Stoick again because not everything was as it seemed. I almost lived by that saying, I'm the one who told my father that when I explained how I learned dragons weren't bad. I didn't know what to do. Talk to Stoick or just ignore him. He didn't deny locking Nightstar up, how was that not what it seemed? I was getting a headache already.
While working on Toothless's tail, I decided to do something a little different than the first one. I made it black. I made the tail, the cables, and even the metal black so it would blend in better, the only thing that looked different was the saddle. That was still brown and resting on his back. It was close to night time now, Sylvi had brought me some chicken and bread on a place for lunch. Now that the tail was done, I needed a way to work the pedal that controlled the tail. I could use what I had before, it wouldn't work with my leg. I sat down now trying to think of something. "Lad?" I looked over to see Gobber there.
"Hey Gobber, what's up?" I asked.
"Well I was hoping you could tell me why this fella keeps following me...?" Gobber motioned to the dragon behind him. I looked and chuckled a bit.
"That's a Hotburple. Boulder class and like a...cousin to the Gronckles. Eats rocks and iron ore. One of the only types that can bite through dragon proof cages. He's following you because he likes you." I smile.
"Oh is that so then. Well, if ya like me that much I'm gonna call ya...Grump." Gobber said as the dragon pressed its nose to Gobber's hand pretty quickly.
"Learn to ride him, mom is teaching the chief and the twins here on Berk. His lava will do ya wonders here in the forge." I said.
{Regular POV}
"I'll think about it." Gobber said nodding as Grump plopped down happily. The two were silent now, "Looks like all that forge training paid off." Gobber chuckled watching Hiccup work with Toothless's tail more.
"Learned everything I know from you Gobber. I just wish I could figure out how to do the pedal for the tail." Hiccup said, Gobber looked over the leg then moseyed around the workshop moving metal around and checking barrels. He eventually returned with a metal piece that looked flat on the bottom, curved top with a hook and a piece bent over the flat piece.
"Sit down a sec lad..." Gobber said, Hiccup blinked but sat down on a stool as Gobber knelt down and slid the piece over Hiccup's metal leg and the other park hooked on. Gobber moved it a bit and looked up at Hiccup now, "This could work if you tie the rope that controls Toothless's tail to the back of this 'ere flat piece and made it so it moved forward and back like you did with the pedal." Gobber offered.
"Yeah...This could...work! You're a genius Gobber!" Hiccup said getting right back to work now after unhooking his leg from the piece. Not long after, he had it attached to Toothless's saddle rig so it would move the way he needed it too with his foot control. He tied the rope and welded it in place then got on Toothless and positioned his foot to test it out. Everything worked fine on it. "Yes! Tooth, we're able to fly again!" Hiccup said excitedly. Toothless crooned happily, "Lets take a night flight!"
"I'll tell everyone you'll be there for dinner." Gobber chuckled when Hiccup looked back at him. Hiccup smiled and them him and Toothless walked outside, the night air was cool and relaxing to him. Hiccup got on Toothless and opened his tail with the pedal as Toothless darted into the sky with a loud roar.
"He got the tail to work I take it?" Sylvi asked gently.
"We both did. He'll be back for dinner." Gobber chuckled.
"How's Stoick?" Sylvi asked now, Gobber glanced her way.
"Well he's...pretty upset that Hiccup found the nest so easily, and wants to talk to him about the night Nightstar was found but Hiccup won't budge on it at all." Gobber shrugged.
"Valka said that it wasn't what it seemed." Sylvi sighed.
"I have no idea. I'm still trying to process that the lad and Valka are alive...I always knew Hiccup was but for Valka...We thought she was dead when she was taken all those years ago. It hurt Stoick to lose his wife, then his son." Gobber cleaned things up a bit.
"Stoick really hurt him back then. Hiccup felt trapped and wanted to have his own life..." Sylvi smiled a bit.
"I knew that, always did. When Hiccup was born, though early...The elder said he'd do unspeakable things for not just Berk but the whole of the Archipelago. Stoick was an amazin father, said himself that Hiccup would be the strongest of them all. When Valka was taken, he lost all that. Like he stopped carin and 'Iccup had to suffer that pain." Gobber said sitting down down as Sylvi took the seat near him.
"Do you think...Hiccup will forgive Stoick?" Sylvi asked curiously.
"I don't know. Stoick and Hiccup are both pretty headed on their own much less when faced off against each other. It would take something big to get Hiccup to forgive Stoick for locking up a dragon, a Night Fury of all dragons after he promised he wouldn't." Gobber looked down a bit.
"True..." Sylvi replied, the two sat there until Snotlout came through to tell them it was time for dinner so they got their things and headed to the hall. It didn't take long for everyone to arrive there and of course Hiccup was last, he felt much better after flying with Toothless. There was almost nothing better than flying with his best friend except holding his kids and wife. Speaking of, he wanted to see them right away. Tomorrow they would finally be going back home and hopefully not have to return to Berk for a good long while. Hiccup dismounted from Toothless and let him go with Nightstar until later.
Hiccup made his way inside the hall and towards the table where his tribe members, Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut were sitting all together. Sylvi, the twins, and their son was there too of course. "Hiccup! You're back." Sylvi said happily as Hiccup kissed her cheek and greeted his kids with a smile.
"Of course, I was only going for a fly." Hiccup replied sitting beside them.
"So we're leaving tomorrow morning chief?" Astrid asked curiously.
"Yes. You will ride with Viggo, Fishlegs with Ryker. Stormfly will follow on her own. Syl and Eydis will switch off holding Thurmond while the girls ride with Gunnar and Audun." Hiccup said firmly.
"Understood sir." Fishlegs nodded to him.
"So babe, I was wondering...Just before you woke up...You said 'dad'...Why?" Sylvi asked. Hiccup closed his eyes now and sighed.
"Right before I woke up...I talked to him..." Hiccup replied.
"What do you mean?" Snotlout asked.
"When I was unconscious...I was surrounded by darkness. I couldn't find my way out...I always heard voices but couldn't find a speck of light anywhere...I remember just sitting there and asking if this was death, alone in the darkness forever. I heard dad call me and tell me to follow the sound of his voice so I did and...When I passed the light I was standing in the guest room looking at all of you looking at my unconscious form. I thought I was dead and I thought I was being allowed to see my family one more time. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked to see dad, I asked if he was there to take me with him. He told me I was only in between, in a deep sleep. He told me he saw I needed help so he did and then he said he wanted to take the chance to tell me how proud he was of me for all I'd done since becoming chief of Fury Isle." Hiccup smiled a bit.
"I've heard of that happening before. It think..its called and out of body thing, where the soul leaves and sees things from a different view." Fishleg said quickly.
"I told dad that all credit went to him. We talked for a bit, him explaining why he was proud of me. I told him I missed him and he hugged me. He told me his job was guiding me, told me I was his son and he loved me. I told him often times I felt alone but he let me know that even if it looks that way physically, he's always with me. That I never walk alone. He passed words to me that his father told him, "My son, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of suffering, when you only see one set of footprints...It was then that I carried you." I told him I'd never forget as we hugged again. He said it was time to wake up. Then right before he left...He told me to talk to Stoick about the night Nightstar was captured...Because not everything was it seemed. Then...I woke up." Hiccup explained.
"Wow...That's pretty cool...Are you actually going to talk to Stoick?" Ruffnut asked.
Hiccup shrugged, "I don't know...Mom said the same thing, to talk to him but I just...I don't know."
"It amazes me you listen to a man who isn't even your father, isn't even alive but you never listened to me." Came Stoick's huffy like tone. "Honestly Hiccup, you need to get over this whole thing where you think that man is your father. " The table fell silent as Hiccup slowly stood up, head lowered at first then he raised it with a dark glare while the others inched away slowly.
"I would highly advise you to stop talking about my father." Hiccup warned.
"I am your father." Stoick said firmly. "You're not a Hagebak, you're a Haddock. You should be chief of this island, not that other one. Lose the illusion that that man was your father. He never was or will be."
"Stoick!" Valka hissed angrily and with a little worry. Everyone saw what Hiccup did to Mildew for speaking out of line about his wife, they didn't want to see what Hiccup would do to Stoick for talking about the man who took him in 7 years ago.
"Last warning, Stoick. Shut. Up. About. My. Father." Hiccup clenched his hands to fists making then crack at the force.
"No Hiccup. I'm not going to. I'm your father, get that through your head boy. All of it was fake, he couldn't adopt you because I'm still alive whether you exiled your self or not! Getting married at 16, kids at 17...That wedding probably wasn't even legal, and those kids were out of wedlock." Stoick went to continue but before he could say another word, Hiccup's fist slammed right into the side of Stoick's jaw sending him back back a bit on his back. The whole room was silent now.
"I warned you to shut up. I don't care what you say about but you leave my family, and my island out of it. Understand? You have never listened to a word I've said. Not growing up, not when I chose to leave, not when you found out where I'd been for 7 years after I left Berk. This time, you're gonna shut that hole in your face and listen to what I have to say. And if you refuse...I won't hold back. Because I really have no problem ending you for talking about the man who took me in and raised me as his own when you failed to raise me and I was your own. Thurmond Hagebak was and still is a better chief, and father than you could ever hope to be." Hiccup growled almost.
Stoick was about to say something, "As chief of Berk, I'm ordering you to shut your mouth and listen to him." Snotlout said. Stoick closed his mouth now. Hiccup un-clenched his fists and took a breath.
"I know that Thurmond isn't my real father, Stoick. But Gods do I wish I was born as his son instead of yours. That wonderful man suffered more than you did and he didn't just give up, he kept going because he knew he needed too. Thurmond Hagebak lost his son before the boy turned a year old, and then his wife unable to bare the pain of losing their child ended her life a few months later. He lost both people who he cared for but it didn't stop him. He still ran Fury Isle with kindness and understanding. You on the other hand...No. You lost mom, and you just shut down. I no longer existed to you when she was taken." Hiccup said.
"That's not true. I was there for you all the time." Stoick said.
"Sure, if leaving me in Gobber's care since the time I was old enough to walk, then yeah you were there for me. But that's not what I'm talking about. No. You were there when it was convenient for you, as in when you needed to yell at me in front of everyone because I wasn't the Viking son you wanted me to be! I wasn't YOU and that's why you hated me." Hiccup gared.
"I don't hate you son." Stoick sighed.
"You lost the right to call me that when you tried to make me be you when you damn well knew I'd never be you. No one in their right mind would ever want to be you! You're heartless, careless, shell of who you used to be before mom was taken. I don't know who you are but you aren't my father. You weren't there for me, you didn't raise me, you didn't teach me, you didn't care and you didn't love me. All you did was control me. Being a chief and father is not all about preparing them to become the next chief, Stoick. Its about preparing them for the world when you aren't there to protect them anymore. And you couldn't do that as the chief...or my father so you don't get the right to sit there and tell me that you're my father." Hiccup retorted coldly.
"He didn't make you. I did." Stoick folded his arms over this chest.
"And you think that gives you the right to control my life?" Hiccup asked.
"Yes. You're my son, Hiccup." Stoick said.
"Oh my Gods, now I really can see why mom refused to come back to you. Because you're a stubborn fool, I don't know what she sees in you. I don't know what even my father sees in you. They both have asked me to talk to you about the night Nightstar was captured but honestly. I just can't. That's just how you are. Its Stoick's way or no way, right? And that's why I left Berk 7 years ago. Because I knew no matter what I did...I would never be the Viking you wanted me to be. I am not you, Stoick. I will never be you, why can't you grasp that. Why can't you just accept it!?" Hiccup yelled.
"Because I refuse to believe my son ran away, got married, and had kids all before he turned 20 years old! That is not how I raised you, you know its against Viking law!" Stoick said quickly.
Hiccup face-palmed now. "You're ridiculous you know that. Completely unbelievable. I don't care how much you don't want top believe it, Stoick. It happened and the proof is right there. My wife and my children. As well my tribe members. And who the hell do you think you are tell me that you raised me?! Are you kidding me right now? You raised me. No. You didn't. Gobber did, Gobber and Thurmond raised me. Not you. You didn't train me to be a blacksmith. You didn't listen to me when I had a problem. That was all Gobber. You didn't teach me how to be chief, you didn't show me how to take on the world. You didn't protect me. You didn't let me be me! That was all Thurmond! How can you even say I should be chief of Berk when you thought that I couldn't even be the chief here!" Hiccup snapped.
"Its against Viking law, you should be put to death. You're no Viking." Stoick said.
"How many times do I have to tell you before it penetrates that thick skull of yours! My tribe doesn't follow all Viking laws! Do you think I give even half a care in the world that I became chief at 15, my father believed that I could so I did. Do you think I care that I broke the laws and got married at 16, then had kids 17, and again at 21? No! I don't care if it doesn't make me a Viking, I'm not trying to be one. I never want to be one!" Hiccup made Stoick step back now. "No...I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to stand here and yell at you like you used to do to me. I won't let my kids see their father angry and can't control himself. I stand by what I said, you will never change. Everyone insists your different but you're still the same old Stoick. Thurmond was an amazing man, chief, and father. He is my father because he did everything you didn't for me so I will call the man who was there for me the way a father should be my father. And that man is not you. Thurmond did the one thing for me that you never did...He believed in me. He supported me, taught me, he cared, protected...and loved me. Blood or not, Thurmond Hagebak is my father, he is my dad." Hiccup said stepped back with his eyes closed.
"Hiccup I'm..." Stoick began but Hiccup shook his head.
"No...I'm done. I came here for Snotlout's ceremony of becoming chief, and I ended the raids for good...And now it is time I return to my home. The home that was there for me. Riders...Saddle up. We're going home tonight." Hiccup walked away from Stoick and towards the hall doors.
"Chief Hiccup...It's late...Wait until morning, please?" Snotlout asked.
"No. Thank you for the offer, chief Snotlout...But its time I go home with my family and tribe. I thank you for your hospitality and we'll be in touch. Dreki Riddaris...Wings up in an hour. This is not negotiable, its an order." Hiccup said before disappearing past the double hall doors. Everyone sighed as Sylvi stood holding Thurmond in her arms and the twins on either side of her.
"You heard the chief dragon rider tribe..." Sylvi stated.
"Yes chieftess Sylvi." Ryker and Viggo nodded, then her parents and brother did the same.
"Good going, Stoick..." Snotlout huffed now. Astrid and Fishlegs left with the rest of their new tribe. Sure enough an hour later they were all lined up preparing to take to the night sky. Astrid was on Sparkburn with Viggo, Fishlegs on Blazewing with Ryker. Selena was riding with Gunnar on Sunfire, Solana with Audun on Flameburst while Eydis was on Emerald. Sylvi held Thurmond on Nightstar and Hiccup on Toothless leading group.
"We'll fly as far as Isle of Rose and stop for the night, then start again at daybreak...Wings up." Hiccup ordered.
"Yes chief." They all replied, Toothless took off first, then Sylvi, Gunnar, and Eydis. Finally Ryker and Viggo right behind with Stormfly following. They were finally going home, and Hiccup couldn't wait for things to just return to normal with him back on his island with the people he knew cared. He'd had enough of Berk and Stoick to last a life time. Hiccup of course still honored the treaty he and Snotlout made but Hiccup refused to allow Stoick on Fury Isle for any reason and if he did come then Snotlout said Hiccup could do whatever he felt he had too. No one said anything while flying, they knew Hiccup was upset and just wanted to give him time to cool down. They knew that Stoick pissed him off and hurt him pretty bad saying what he said. So all they could do was give him his space to clear his head, thankfully flying did just that. A long flight home to calm down before returning home.