Total rebuild time took close to a month to complete from actually rebuilding what was destroyed by catapults, fires, or arrows to cleaning up the messes left by the Outcasts and Berserkers. The entire village was more motivated than ever to keep the peace alive, after all that is who they originally were. The Peace Keeper tribe of Fury Isle, before they were renamed to Dreki Riddari tribe by Thurmond when he adopted Hiccup as his son. Everyone rejoiced at the news of Sylvi being pregnant again, and Hiccup assured them that this was the last one because even he knew his limit and 6 was definitely the limit on Hagebak children. He had his twin girls, Ella and Erik-who were adopted-, Thurmond, and soon another new baby. The Hooligans returned to Berk, Gobber went with them feeling Snotlout might need a little extra guidance with Stoick gone. Valka however, stayed on Fury Isle with Hiccup's permission. Right after the rebuild, Hiccup forgave her and welcomed her to Fury Isle whenever.
[Flashback]
The village rejoiced with cheering and clapping while standing in the village square after a long month of rebuilding the village from the attack by the Outcasts and Berserkers. It had been a long, hard, and stressful month but it was finally done. Fury Isle stood with glory that Thurmond created and Hiccup continued to strive for. Sylvi was now 2 ½ months pregnant, the village knew of it and joked with Hiccup saying that might not have time for the village anymore but he assured them of two things: that one he would always be there for his village and family no matter what. And two that this was the last kid for sure. The Hooligans actually stuck around and helped rebuild as well, Snotlout sent a terror mail to his father to watch the village until he got back and also had his father inform everyone of Stoick's death. But now with the rebuild complete, the Hooligans were returning to Berk.
Snotlout and Hiccup were saying their goodbyes, the former group of friends doing the same and promised to keep in contact. Hiccup congratulated Ruffnut and Snotlout on their marriage, even managed to make a wedding gift for them. A sword with Snotlout's chief seal carved into the handle and the couples initials on the blade calling it the Jorgenson family sword for them to always defend Berk together with. Hiccup even went over something he never did, for their help in the war and showing their flight skills after so little training. He named them all full riders with full flier status. Snotlout, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Astrid, and Fishlegs all received a pin as well, Hiccup named Snotlout a full dragon trainer for Berk. Astrid and Fishlegs were still remaining on Fury Isle. As the Hooligans were about to leave, Hiccup caught sight of his mother preparing to leave on Cloud Jumper.
"Mom." Hiccup said calmly.
"I'm sorry...I came, Hiccup. I know you told me and your father not too but...we just didn't want you to fight that war alone. When we arrived, your father saw you about to be killed and he just couldn't stand it so he rushed towards you to stop the attack..." Valka explained sadly.
"I'm glad you came, both of you. Dad...saved my life. And it showed me how wrong I was, so before I make the same mistake twice...I forgive you as well, mom. And you're welcome here to see me, Sylvi, and the kids any time you like." Hiccup smiled, he saw his mother about to cry as they shared a hug. Pulling from it, both smiled now.
"Thank you son...But with your...father gone, I don't think I can stay on Berk anymore. Would it...be alright if I remained here with you? I want to be close to family, I'm tired of living alone and missing out on important things in life. Like family. I made that mistake once and I won't make it again..." Valka said softly.
"If you'd like to stay here, I have no arguments about it mom. Home is where you're happy." Hiccup shrugged with a smile.
"Then here I'll stay, with my family." Valka nodded firmly. After that was decided on, Valka moved back into her old home and the Hooligans left on their dragons back to Berk.
[End Flashback]
{Hiccup's POV}
It had been 4 months since that day when I forgave mom and she decided she wanted to live on Fury Isle again, it felt good having her there though at times I couldn't hold my strong demeanor and cried over losing not one but two fathers and being powerless to stop it. One father died from an illness that we couldn't cure, and the other gave his life to save my own. I missed them a lot, Thurmond's death didn't bother me as much as Stoick's did though. I thought I hated Stoick, I told him that I did several times from when I exiled myself and again after the Nightstar situation. I even threatened to wage war with Stoick if he showed up to my island but I wasn't capable of such. I was trying to keep peace and not just between humans and dragons, with everyone. War was anything but peaceful. But Stoick came, and he took a sword for me and I learned the truth that both my mother and Thurmond had been trying to tell me.
Stoick never captured Nightstar to hurt her, she fell because she was already wounded and Stoick put her in the ring out of harms way then he planned to get me to help her. He really had been trying to change, and I just took the situation all wrong. I let my anger get the better of me, and I didn't hear him or anyone else out. And all that anger faded away when I saw him protecting me. Something he'd never done before. For years, I thought he didn't give a damn about me and that he'd never protect me if I was in trouble but I was wrong because when I was about to die, my father stood between me and the sword of an enemy to protect me. He gave his life to save mine and that is the ultimate sacrifice, I forgave him that day when he died in my arms. I knew that's what he wanted, to die in peace knowing he had my forgiveness. So I gave it to him and in truth, I really had forgiven him.
"Chief! Berserker ships have been spotted coming in from the North! ½ mile to the shores!" Eret informed landing beside me on his Rumblehorn, Skullcrusher. I instantly worried, Berserkers had been ones attacking us right before Berk reinforcements came and Berserkers pulled out. My eyes narrowed, not again. I wasted no time jumping on Toothless and opening his tail up preparing to take to the skies.
"How many ships!" I asked quickly.
"Only 5 sir. Sailing arrow head formation. Orders." Viggo answered coming down on Sparkburn.
"Get my mother, wife, and kids to my house. Order everyone else except 6 defense teams to their homes. I want 3 air teams, and 3 ground teams assembled on the beach facing the direction that the Berserkers are sailing in from! Immediately. No one fires without my command." I ordered.
"Aye chief!" Eret and Viggo nodded taking off to carry out the orders, I flew right to the beach and landed there waiting. I saw the ships sailing in. My air and ground teams assembled not more than 10 minutes later, 3 behind me and 3 above me awaiting orders. Viggo, Ryker, and Eret at the ready alongside myself. "Your wife, mother, and children are safe in your home sir." Viggo informed.
"And everyone else safely in their homes." Eret confirmed.
"Good..." I said watching the ships. After another 15 minutes, I saw the lead Berserker ship pull towards the beach and my men and I were ready for anything. We wouldn't be caught off guard again but to my surprise, the red haired male jumped down with a white flag up. He was...surrendering.
"Don't attack...We come in peace." Said the dark brown haired woman jumping beside the male now, both of them were bowed.
"You had no problems attacking us 5 months ago, excuse my inability to believe a word you say." I scoffed angrily.
"Understandable, but I assure you we aren't here to attack you or your island. We want peace..." The red head said.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I'm chief of the Berserkers, Dagur the Deranged. And this is my little sister, Heather. We want an alliance with your island...We don't want war." Dagur said.
"Please. Hear us out." Heather asked softly now.
"We can't trust them sir, they attacked us." Eret said. I didn't know what to do, if they were going to attack...They would have by now. They did pull out from the battle 5 months ago, they knew they couldn't win. I sighed.
"You have 10 minutes to explain this sudden change." I stated.
"Alvin killed our father who refused to work with him to conquer the Archipelago. He forced us to work with him, we didn't want war. We never knew of your island, not until those two kids got away. Alvin followed them to kill them and that's how he found this place...Then he began planning the attack for two months." Heather said first.
"When we saw you working with dragons, we understood that you mean no harm to anyone. You'd never hurt us and regardless of Alvin's threats to kill us, we ignored him and pulled out. We knew it wasn't right. And now we've come in hopes of forming an alliance. And to further prove we're not here to deceive you...We brought a peace offering." Dagur claimed, I arched a brow.
"What could you possibly offer me as a peace offering?" I huffed. I watched Dagur snap his fingers as two man forced a larger man off the lead ship, his hands were shackled and head covered. The men forced the larger one to his knees and pulled the cover off revealing Alvin the Treacherous.
"Your father's killer." Dagur said now.
"After he killed your father, we went after him. We ambushed him and took him prisoner, now we're here. We don't want to fight, we want peace. Accept this offer and you will forever have the Berserkers as your allies." Heather stated. My eyes widened, they captured Alvin as a peace offering and wanted an alliance? How did I even handle this, it was completely unexpected.
"So you pulled back your men realizing we weren't dangerous, that war was wrong...Went after him, captured him, and brought him to me as a peace offering between our tribes?" I asked looking at them in disbelief now.
"Yes...And, my sister would like to offer herself for peace as well. She wants to learn how to do what you all do." Dagur added.
"You mean she wants to become a dragon rider?" Gunnar asked now.
"Yes I do...My brother does too but he has to remain chief of the Berserker tribe. But I'm willing to leave to learn the ways of peace. Please?" Heather asked offering a bow.
"This is something I will need to think about, in the mean time. Viggo. Ryker...Take this killer to lock up and guard heavily...I want 4 guards on him until trial." I ordered. "You are...permitted to stay until I make my decision come sunrise tomorrow. Gunnar, escort them to the inn please." I said.
"Yes chief." Gunnar said motioning for Heather and Dagur to follow him. Viggo and Ryker hauled Alvin away as I sighed heavily. Audun put his hand on my shoulder and I glanced his way.
"You're not really going to go through with this, are you chief?" He asked.
"I don't know. I need to talk to Syl...Resume posts, and keep and eye on those two...Just don't make it obvious. You can allow everyone out of their homes too." I stated getting back on Toothless to head home to speak with Sylvi. "And Audun...Summon the council. I'm going to need a second opinion on this one...We'll meet in 30 minutes, great hall."
"Yes sir." Audun nodded, I took off towards the house now and landed not more than 2 minutes later outside it. I dismounted him and walked in seeing her sitting on a chair as the kids were sitting with her and she was singing to them.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine...You make me happy, when skies are gray. You'll never know dear, how much I love you...Please don't take my sunshine away." I couldn't help but smile softly listening to her sing to them, she noticed me now and smiled wider.
"Daddy!" My children exclaimed rushing up to hug me all at once. Sylvi noticed my weak smile and came over to me now.
"Alright, lets give your father time to breathe kids. Head upstairs to the play room okay?" Sylvi said softly, they nodded heading upstairs. I assumed Thurmond was asleep in his room next to mine and Sylvi's. "What's the matter babe?" She asks me.
"You'll never guess who showed up on the beaches today..." I began, she arched a brow. "The chief of the Berserkers, Dagur the Deranged and his sister, Heather. Wanting peace and an alliance." I informed her, she gasped a bit.
"Tell me you locked them up!?" I looked away slightly. "Hiccup...You did order an immediate capture and imprisonment...Didn't you?" I looked at her now and sighed. "Why didn't you lock them up! They waged war on us, with Alvin who can I remind you...Killed your father in front of us!"
"Syl...Calm down. Its not good for the baby and for once I'd like to see you make it to 9 months...You didn't let me explain why I didn't lock them up right away." I said, she huffed crossing her arms over her chest. "Alvin killed their father, and forced them to work with him. Alvin was trying to conquer the Archipelago, island after island. When Ella and Erik sailed from theirs, Alvin followed and that's how he found our island. Then made a plan to attack us two months later...Heather and Dagur...claim they saw the peace and hated Alvin's senseless attacks so they stopped following his orders the day the Hooligans arrived..."
"That doesn't mean anything, they could still be working for him. Use you brain, Hiccup!" Sylvi said.
"Sylvi...They captured Alvin." I saw her eyes soften and widen, "And brought him here...as a peace offering between our tribes. Alvin is locked up in our prison while Dagur and Heather are being secretly guarded until I make my decision." I plopped down not knowing what to do. She sat beside me.
"Can they be trusted, Hiccup?" She asked.
"I don't...know. They seem sincere, and Heather is offering to learn to be a dragon rider...willing to leave the Berserkers to be a member of this tribe." I add. "I summoned the council to the hall, to discuss this and Alvin's trial."
"I'll have your mom watch the kids, lets take care of Alvin first." Sylvi said. Nodding, we called for my mother to watch the kids while we walked to the hall to meet with the council. It was Audun, Colden, Gunnar, Helka, and recently added. Fishlegs and Astrid. I knew those two had what it took to be members of my council. Once all assembled, they took their seats and I explained everything about what happened. Then for the next hour we were discussing what to do, wasn't easy either but we did agree that Alvin needed to be dealt with and immediately. That settled, we moved outside for trial. Alvin was brought out and held firm with guards and in metal handcuffs.
"Alvin the Treacherous. You have hereby been found guilty of treachery, attempted treachery, pillaging, island destruction, attempted murder, and murder all on several occasions. Have you anything to say for yourself?" Asked Gunnar standing beside me reading from the parchment with the charges for Alvin on it. Sylvi was standing back with my mother. No children under 18 were permitted to be present for trials as it most of the time the punishment for the crimes was death. Heather and Dagur were here too, they were standing off to the side watching closely.
"The only thing I hafta say is I wish I'd gotten to kill more..." Alvin grinned.
"The punishment for your crimes against the whole of the Archipelago is death. Execution beheading." Gunnar closed the parchment and stepped back now as I pulled my sword from my back and approached Alvin. I hated doing this, I really did. I hated killing but I knew this had to be done.
"So sorry about yer old man, 'Iccup...Never expected 'im to save his little runt of a son..." Alvin snickered. My hand tightened on my sword as as I raised it up.
"Go to hell..." I sneered out angrily as I brought the sword down over his neck but stopped. I hesitated and couldn't do it. Here I was saying I didn't want anymore death or killing of dragons or humans. I couldn't do it again. No more killing. No matter what Alvin had done...I wasn't a killer. I knew I'd done it in the past but I couldn't preach peace to the world if I wasn't helping bring it. I pulled the sword back and dropped it at my side closing my eyes.
"Sir..." Gunnar asked. I know I was shocking everyone by not killing Alvin.
"No. No more death, or killing...I can't spread peace to the world if I can't follow suit. Killing Alvin makes me no better than him. I know I've killed before and I'm not proud of it but it ends today. I refuse to kill him, lock him up. Life in prison. Guarded at all times in the Gronckle Iron cell. That is an order..." I said firmly before dropping the sword to the ground and getting on Toothless. I needed to clear my head.
(Nightfall)
I returned just as dinner time was beginning, I stopped by the inn to grab Heather and Dagur. While flying, I had made my decision and stopped to speak with the guards about how the two had been since arriving. So far, they just sat quietly not disturbing anyone. I wouldn't make another mistake again, everyone deserved a second chance. I was going to give them a chance. Walking with them towards the hall now, it was silent between the 3 of us. I supposed I should say saying. "This alliance you want. What do you get out of it?" I asked.
"Peace. That's all, we noticed you had an alliance with Berk who also rides dragons...We tend to team up with strong allies. We're not ones for war, we want peace like everyone else. We thought it wasn't possible with dragons raiding...But it seems they've come to a stop and when we found this place we wondered how humans and dragons got along so well. But in short...We like it and we so no reason to disrupt that so we rather join it." Dagur said.
"And be apart of something great." Heather added. Reaching the hall I stopped and faced them holding my hand out to Dagur, he looked shocked but put his hand in mind and we shook as a smiled.
"That's all I needed to hear. Fury Isle will ally themselves with Berserk Isle from this day forward. And Heather, you still desire to be a dragon rider and live here, that is also fine with me." I stated.
"Thank you...I can't wait to get started." Heather smiled wide.
"We'll go over treaty negotiations later. For now, I think we should just go enjoy a peaceful dinner." I said smiling. And that we did.
(2 Years Later)
Since that day, Fury Isle and Berserk Isle were allies and Heather moved to Fury Isle as a member of the dragon rider tribe. Dagur was could visit whenever he wanted too, as well Heather passed her dragon training after bonding with a Razorwhip who she named Windshear. Now a full rider, Heather could visit Dagur whenever she wanted. I was now 24, Syl as well. Our kids in order of age were. Erik; 13, Ella; 10, The twins; 8, Thurmond; 3, and the last addition was Stoick the Second who was now two years old. Stoick the Second was the baby Sylvi was pregnant with when Heather joined the tribe, she gave birth on time for once and the name wasn't hard to pick. Erik, Ella, Selena, and Solana all had Terrible Terrors now. I'd promised them when the twins were 6 they could have them.
Erik's Terror was dark blue and white who he named Skyfire. Ella's was pink and yellow who she named Pinky. The twins had twin Terrors of course. One was purple the other was light purple. Selena had the light purple, naming him Sharptooth while Solana had the dark purple, naming her Snaptooth. I loved the named they came up with. Among my family being great, a lot of other things changed too. Following the next mating season after the alliance with the Berserker tribe, Toothless and Nightstar mated. They now had 4 babies of their own. Starlight, Drako, Toothy-who was named by Thurmond-, and finally Shimmerscale. I heard that Dagur was married to the daughter of the Bog Burgler chieftess, Camicazi and expecting a child in 3 months.
Snotlout and Ruffnut had a little girl a year ago who they named Ragna and they were also expecting another child in 7 months. Tuffnut was dating a village girl but nothing serious yet. On Fury Isle, Fishlegs and Heather were getting closer but not officially dating. And for Astrid, after she got over her warrior-ness she ended up getting with Eret of all people. That had been interesting to watch happen to. Astrid joined the aerial guard, but her and Eret were always on the same shifts. Eret and Astrid were both stubborn but with some pushes from Sylvi and Heather, they got over themselves and eventually admitted they liked one another. They began dating about 6 months ago. Life was perfect, nothing could make me happier. Word got round to other tribes about the peace we had with dragons and now all of them were slowly coming aboard to accepting it. I was living my dream, and my father's dreams. It was a good feeling.
I now stood with Toothless on one of Fury Isle's high points. I couldn't erase the smile on my face as a light breeze came through, I found myself looking over the village at everything. Hearing footsteps, I looked back to see Sylvi coming up with the kids and Nightstar beside her with the younger Night Furies belong to herself and Toothless. I wrapped my arm around Sylvi and kissed her softly just before my mother came up to join us. The group of us just looked out over Fury Isle, everyone was happy and smiling. What could be better that this peace we had? I loved my life. I was truly blessed to have what I did and it was all because of two men having a major impact on my life. If It hadn't been for Stoick controlling my life, I never would of found the courage I needed to break away and find out who I really was. And if it weren't for Thurmond, I might be dead. He gave me a new home and life. And Stoick too...He saved my life and made it so I could keep this dream alive. The fact of the matter is that I didn't do this on my own. In truth, I had people beside me every step of the way and every single one of them shaped me into the man I am today. Chief Hiccup Haddock-Hagebak the Dragonborn to the Dragon Riders tribe of Fury Isle. All I ever had to do was spread my wings and fly to find out who I really was.
There will always be people who walk beside me, near or far. On Earth or in Valhalla, I'm never on my own because I am never alone.