Berk

Hiccup never wanted to return to Berk, but here he is. He returned home to save Merida. When Stoick asked to talk to Hiccup, the Dragon Rider was nervous. He didn't want to leave Merida, but he can't risk the dragon's lives even more. It was a risky bet to come here. He knew the Vikings would try to kill any dragon, but seeing a Rider threw them off. Then the Rider asked for help sealing the confusion. When the two men left the hut, Toothless nudged Hiccup's arm. The Rider pet the Night Fury's head.

"Now tell me why you are here on my island." Stoick asked sharply and Hiccup turned to his father hidden by his armor.

"We were fighting a dangerous man when Merida was poisoned. I couldn't take her to the healers back where we were since the man made sure we would be killed if we try. So here I am on Berk." Hiccup answered as Gobber walked to Stoick's side.

"And how do you know of Berk to begin with?" Gobber asked and Hiccup could only lie to protect himself.

"I once came to Berk when I was younger. I took a risk and it paid off." Hiccup answered as more Vikings drew closer.

"I'll have guards watch you and your beast's every move while the Berk Council discusses what to do with you." Stoick said sharply and Hiccup nodded.

"I understand. I'll stay here until Merida is well enough for travel." Hiccup replied and the Chief stormed off. Hiccup looked at his old home to see homes showing age. Not rebuilt from dragon attacks. It reminded Hiccup that he could bring peace.

Later - Berk

"This boy rides on the damn beasts. I say we ship him off to Hel." Spitelout suggested loudly.

"He also came here with a wounded woman and his dragons haven't attacked us. There is more to the lad than what meets the eye." Gobber remarked earning a glare from Spitelout.

"The point is that he sided with dragons. He's a traitor to humanity." Spitelout said and Stoick wondered more about this stranger. There was something about him that bothered the Chief.

"Perhaps we should know more before we make a rash decision." Fishlegs suggested earning a glare from several members. Fishlegs was new to the Council and replaced Silent Sven. "We have never seen anyone control dragons as he can. From Eret's stories, not even Drago has control like this Rider."

"Aye, but we don't even know the lad's name. All we know is that he been to Berk as a young lad and that he flies dragons." Gobber added.

"Not to mention that they were in a battle." Bucket remarked and Stoick rubbed his chin.

"Tonight we'll question the lad more. He'll keep his beasts outside." Stoick ordered and the Council nodded in agreement.

Kingdom of Dunbroch

Grimmel watched as the Scots held a funeral for the Princess. It has been a few days and the trail for Hiccup and the Night Fury has gone cold. He was worried Hiccup left Dunbroch to find a healer. The poison wasn't a fast acting one. Just enough to keep Hiccup distracted. But any hour now, Merida will truly be dead and Hiccup would either strike in fury or run away with what little he could carry. Grimmel only remained at this funeral as a show of good faith to the royal couple. The Hunter had the armies of Dunbroch at his command. For vengeance. Fergus wanted to kill Hiccup himself for the murder of his daughter. Grimmel hid his smile knowing that he had all of Dunbroch wrapped around his fingers.

Later - Berk

Hiccup sat next to Merida for hours now. Gothi saved Merida's life just in time. According to the mute healer, she was on death's door. But she'll need her rest. Hiccup was willing to stay on Berk as long as Merida lives. Tonight the Berk Council wanted to question Hiccup more. He would answer his father's questions in lies. But once Merida wakes up, he'll go after Grimmel and end this fight. Hiccup wasn't going to risk Merida's life again. As he waited, a woman entered the hut. Hiccup looked up and his heart stopped after seeing Astrid.

"Uh hi." Hiccup greeted waving his hand.

"Don't act all good. I'm here to watch you and I won't do that from outside." Astrid remarked putting the hut walls between her and the dragons.

"Okay then." Hiccup replied in awkward silence. Hiccup held Merida's hand praying silently for her to live.

"Where are you two from?" Astrid asked breaking the silence.

"A kingdom called Dunbroch. Two week trip by boat, two days by dragon." Hiccup answered.

"Out of all the places on Midgard to find a healer, why Berk?" Astrid asked and Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck.

"That's a long story. Too long." Hiccup answered as he saw a hateful expression on Astrid's face. "Let me guess, you think I'm a traitor."

"Guess there are some brains in that head of yours after all." Astrid remarked sharply and Hiccup chuckled.

"I'm no traitor. I just discovered that dragons aren't monsters. They're friends." Hiccup replied and Astrid scoffed.

"Friends watch each other's back. Dragons are mindless monsters." Astrid said and Hiccup shook his head.

"Toothless saved my life more than I can count." Hiccup replied.

"Then explain the peg leg." Astrid pointed out.

"Just a battle wound from the Red Death. It would have been all of me if it weren't for Toothless. I would have died then." Hiccup replied before hearing mumbles from Merida. Hiccup turned to the Princess. "Merida everything is alright. I'm here."

"What happened?" Merida asked groggily.

"Don't worry about it. I got us somewhere safe. For now at least." Hiccup reassured her.

"Where's Noor?" Merida asked and the Razorwhip poked her head through the window. The Princess touched the metallic scales gently. "What about Grimmel?"

"Still in Dunbroch. Don't worry, I'll stop him." Hiccup answered and despite the tiredness, Merida gave him a glare.

"Not without me you're not." Merida remarked as she tried to get back up. Hiccup gently lay the woman back down.

"Relax, you need to rest." Hiccup said as Merida looked at her surroundings.

"Where are we?" Merida asked.

"Berk. Home of Dragon Killers. You're lucky yours aren't dead yet." Astrid answered sharply.

"Yeah. Don't worry, I'll make sure no one hurts Noor or you." Hiccup promised as he stared at Merida. Merida pulled Hiccup closer.

"Is this your home?" she whispered. Hiccup couldn't hide anything from the Scottish woman.

"Yeah." Hiccup answered and Merida gave him a kiss.

"Maybe they can help." Merida said louder as Hiccup leaned back. Astrid laughed at the idea.

"Trust me, Berk is too stubborn to help. The best we can do is for you to rest." Hiccup replied. Merida grabbed her closed bow and handed it to Hiccup.

"Family is the most important thing in Dunbroch. I'm sure yours is the same." Merida remarked and Hiccup smiled.

That Evening - Berk

Hiccup helped Merida to the Great Hall despite her protests of doing it herself. He smiled when she protested. He almost lost her and he could still tell her spirit was stronger than ever. When the two reached the table where the Berk Council sat, Hiccup could see the daggers being glared at him and all he could do is wait. Some Vikings put bowls of Meat Soup in front of the two, but Hiccup still had his helmet on earning more glares from the Council.

"What is your name boy?" Spitelout asked sharply.

"It's a long story and none of you will believe me." Hiccup answered and Merida elbowed the Rider.

"What's your lass? I believe the Rider said it was Merida." Gobber asked.

"Aye. Merida Dunbroch." Merida answered before eating the soup.

"So what brings two Dragon Riders all the way to Berk?" Fishlegs asked.

"A man named Grimmel was hunting me and my friend Toothless, the Night Fury. Merida got pulled in and he nearly killed her." Hiccup answered and Merida aggressively took another bite. He could tell that she was angry that Grimmel was a good shot.

"Grimmel. I know the man. Known as the Night Fury Killer. No wonder he wanted you." Stoick remarked and Hiccup's eyes widen.

"You know Grimmel? Is there anything you can tell me about him?" Hiccup asked.

"He is intelligent, ruthless, and will not stop until he gets what he wants. Your only chance of surviving is to run." Stoick answered as he glared at Hiccup. The Rider sighed and Merida held his hand.

"Ask him." she said and earning puzzled looks from the Council.

"Chief Stoick of Berk. I am asking for your help." Hiccup asked and the Council and Great Hall burst into laughter. Hiccup turned to Merida. "Told you they were too stubborn."

"It's not a matter of stubbornness, but you ride beasts. Those beast have laid siege on our home for centuries." Stoick replied and Hiccup stood up causing the rest of the Council to stand up.

"Until four years ago when the raids mysteriously stopped." Hiccup remarked and the Chief stared at the Rider.

"You're not saying that you stopped the raids." Spitelout replied and Hiccup nodded.

"Four years me and Toothless faced the Red Death on Dragon Island. He saved my life, but the battle cost me a leg." Hiccup added and the Great Hall was quiet. "You've been taught that dragons are mindless monsters. I once thought the same thing. Until I shot down Toothless. He taught me what dragons are really like. They only fight when threatened or forced to. No Viking could ever stop the Raids. But it took a Viking and a dragon to stop the raids. Which I was able to do."

"But what of the destruction they have done? I lost my family to the beasts. My wife died nearly twenty years ago. My son is lost and is most likely killed by the beasts." Stoick replied and Merida stood up holding Hiccup's hand. She looked into his eyes and nodded.

"No I can't." Hiccup whispered to her.

"But we can't face Grimmel ourselves." Merida replied and Hiccup sighed.

"What is it boy?" Stoick asked sharply not liking the secrets. Hiccup turned to the Chief and took off the Night Fury scale helmet. Hiccup saw the shocked expressions of the Council "Hiccup?"

"Now you know what happened to me." Hiccup replied expecting yelling but the Hall was dead silent. It was clear no one expect Hiccup to return, much less on a dragon.

"Well that went better than I thought." Merida remarked as the two exited the Great Hall. Chief Stoick wanted them out while he and Berk process what just happened. Hiccup had happily agreed. But Merida was happy that the Chief knew his only son was alive.

"Yeah. I expect axes and swords would be thrown at us." Hiccup replied as Toothless and Noor jumped around the two humans before getting pets.

"You really think that family isn't important to your father?" Merida asked as the two sat down on nearby rocks

"Well, he did ignore me for a better part of my life." Hiccup answered as Toothless sat his head on Toothless's lap.

"And you've been gone for four years. He may have learned from his mistake." Merida remarked remembering how her mum was. Merida felt ignored by Elinor for years and thanks to the Bear Incident, they learned how to understand each other. Hiccup left before they could have understood each other.

"Who knows. But they aren't going to take too kindly to me befriending the enemy." Hiccup added and Merida kissed his cheek.

"You have the ability to befriend your enemies." Merida remarked and Hiccup chuckled.

"For the record, the Vikings who attacked Dunbroch are from the East. I'm from the far North." Hiccup replied and a tall man exited the Great Hall. Noor growled, but Merida pat the Razorwhip's head calming her down.

"Hello Mister Hiccup. We haven't met, but I am Eret. Son of Eret." the man greeted as he walked closer. Merida could tell the man didn't fear dragons, but he still kept his distance.

"Well good to meet you Eret. What brought you to Berk?" Hiccup asked.

"A Trapping trip for my old boss. We docked in Berk after my ship received damage. Never left since then and started to form an Alliance against my old boss." Eret answered as he walked to a rock away from them. "Anyways, I made a home here with my crew and found a soon to be wife."

"Congratulations." Merida remarked and Eret nodded.

"Thanks. But I was lucky. She hated my guts when I first arrived." Eret added with a smile.

Meanwhile

Stoick was still shocked at the revelation. As soon as Hiccup and Merida left, the Chief fell into his chair. Hiccup was alive and riding dragons. The mere thought of Hiccup being a dragon rider infuriated him. But at the same time, Stoick was glad that his son was home. For the last four years, Hiccup has been flying on dragons and ended the Dragon Raids. The Chief was relieved that Hiccup was alive and proud of the victory he son made. Stoick just wished he could have seen the glory.

"Well, I did not see that coming." Gobber remarked breaking the silence.

"Well Hiccup is a traitor." Spitelout replied.

"Hiccup stopped the Dragon Raids. That's more than what you've done Spitelout." Fishlegs responded. "For four years Hiccup has been hiding the victory because he did it with a dragon."

"Aye, Hiccup isn't the strongest Vikings, but he always used his mind. No wonder he used a dragon to do something no other Viking has done." Gobber agreed.

"Yet dragons still attack our fishermen. Becket and Mulch have to deal with Squadrons and Thunderdrums daily." Spitelout remarked.

"True, but we never knew that we could tame the beasts either. Hiccup could have helped with that." Mulch replied and Spitelout glared at the short Viking.

"But what this Grimmel?" Fishlegs asked as Stoick spotted Eret exiting the Hall.

"Aye, if this Grimmel is hunting the Night Fury, then he might come here. I say we capture the Night Fury and give it to Grimmel." Spitelout replied.

"That Night Fury saved Hiccup's life. I've seen this tribe treat him like dirt for years. Aye, I'll admit I could have been better, but as far as I'm concerned that Night Fury is one of us. So if Grimmel comes here, he'll meet one Viking with a hooked hand with a fighting spirit." Gobber remarked and whispered filled the Hall.

"Not to mention that the Night Fury hasn't once threatened Hiccup despite Hiccup shooting it down. The two are like friends. We've captured dragons who tried to kill us without hesitation. Maybe Hiccup's way is a new way of doing things." Fishlegs added and Stoick stood up silencing the Council.

"Hiccup abandoned Berk with a dragon. He broke ancient Viking laws." Stoick remarked seeing shocked expressions from many and smiling ones from others. "But he found the Dragon's Nest, defeated the Queen, ended the Raids, ended the centuries long war. All of which we and our ancestors have failed to do. But he did it with a dragon. I may not like it, but my son has proven himself to be a better Viking than us. Whatever comes to Berk, we will stand with him and his Night Fury."

Later - Berk

Hiccup followed his father as they walked to his old home. Berk would allow the dragons to stay as long as they stay out of trouble. Hiccup promised that there will be none. When the young man stepped on the porch of his home. So many memories. Some good, some bad. But it looked the same as it did when Hiccup left all those years ago. He took a moment to look at it before going in to see that nothing has changed minus some dust. Toothless tried to walk in, but he couldn't because Stoick still wasn't comfortable with a dragon in his home. Hiccup understood it, but Toothless was upset but slept outside anyways. Hiccup hoped that the Night Fury would be allowed in.

"Take a seat." Stoick said as he gestured to a chair in front of him. Hiccup walked over and sat down.

"I'm guessing you want to know where I've been." Hiccup replied and Stoick nodded. "Well, it all started that last Raid we had. When I said I shot down a Night Fury."

"Yest none of us believed you, but I see we were wrong." Stoick said and Hiccup nodded before telling his story. The study of Toothless, gaining his trust, then flying in the clouds with his best friend, the battles, and finding a new home. Stoick took great interest in the story and Hiccup was happy his father was listening to him. When Hiccup concluded with the battle against Grimmel, the Chief rubbed his chin.

"And that is everything. Once Merida was poisoned, I rushed here. Her father would have killed the moment I landed." Hiccup remarked.

"Of all the enemies you could have made, Grimmel is always a move ahead. But he made an error by going to war against you and Berk." Stoick replied and Hiccup smiled.

"Thanks. But we need a plan. Grimmel has control of Dunbroch. Not to mention that Merida's parents are mourning the loss of a daughter because of his lies." Hiccup remarked spotting a look on his father's face. "What?"

"You like her don't you?" Stoick asked and Hiccup rubbed his arm.

"Yeah, but I'm worried." Hiccup admitted.

"A man who rides dragons worried about a girl. Proof that love is a mystery to all." Stoick replied with a chuckled.

"Last time I liked someone, they hated me and I couldn't be with them because I can't kill dragons." Hiccup replied. "I just don't want to mess this up."

"Hiccup I know little of Merida, but from what I've seen, she is a proud free spirit. Your mother was like that. When I see you, you remind me every bit of her." Stoick remarked and Hiccup smiled. "Anyways we better get some sleep. Big day tomorrow."

"Yeah." Hiccup replied as the two Haddocks stood up. Tomorrow, Hiccup would catch up on what has been going on in Berk and plan an attack on Grimmel. Hiccup promised himself that he would win. The Hunter made a mistake and that mistake will cost him everything.