Chapter 22

Note: Ok, I just did a quick edit on this chapter because I realized I left something kind of important out. You will find that edit towards the end.

Enjoy!

That same day, Hiccup and Toothless were taking a stroll through town, seeing if they can spot somewhere they can call home. Along the way, Hiccup asks, "So how's the leg treating you?"

Toothless replies, "I'm starting to get used to it. I can do basic walking and I can do stairs as long as there's a railing but not much else. The initial pain is gone but I still can't help but feel something there."

Hiccup nods. "I've been there. I believe what you're experiencing are called ghost pains, that's pain in an area that was lost due to an injury. I tell ya, there were plenty of days where it hurt so much that I didn't even want to get out of bed."

Toothless nods. "Yeah, I recall having to be your legs on more than one occasion. Hey, what about that place?" He points to a small house in the middle of the marketplace.

Hiccup shakes his head, "I'm pretty sure someone lives there. I guess there aren't as many open houses as I thought. Oh wait, there's my dad, maybe he can help us out. Hey, Dad!"

The red Rumblehorn hears his son calling him and looks over to see him and Toothless approaching. "Ah, morning boys. Sorry I had to leave early today, there's a bunch of work that needs to get done today."

Hiccup nods. "No need to apologize. Say, Dad, do you know if there are any available houses around here?"

Stoick was confused by the question but thinks about it. "I believe there are a few that got built recently. Why do you ask?"

Hiccup and Toothless exchange glances before Hiccup says, "Dad, Toothless and I have decided to get our own place!"

Stoick's eyes widen. "I see. Is there something wrong with living with your old man?"

Hiccup shakes his head saying, "No, that's not it it's just-"

Stoick laughs a little bit. "I'm just yanking yer chain. Son, of course you and Toothless can get your own house together. Hell, I can help ya move yer stuff."

Both Hiccup and Toothless smile wide. "Really?" Hiccup asks. "You'll let us do this?"

Stoick nods. "Of course. I actually had a feeling you two would be wanting your own place sometime soon. It was honestly a matter of when, if you ask me. After all, you're both adults and you're an official couple so it makes total sense. Just make sure you visit your old man now and then will ya?"

Hiccup nods. "Of course, Dad."

Toothless adds, "Thank you, sir."

Stoick shakes his head, "Toothless, you know you can call me Stoick if you'd like. You are my son-in-law after all."

Toothless replies, "I know, it's just easier for me to say it. You don't mind do you?"

Stoick chuckles to that. "Of course not. Well, I still have some work to do but once I'm finished I can help ya look for your place. Speaking of, I need to go now. I'll see you boys later."

"Ok, thanks Dad. See ya." Hiccup replies as Stoick walks off.

Once Stoick was out of ear shot, Toothless comments, "You know it's still amazing to me how supportive your dad has been about you and I. Especially since the first time he met me he-"

"Ok, you don't need to remind me." Hiccup replies. "And you're right, it is great that he's been so supportive of me wanting to be mates with a male human that was once my dragon."

Toothless adds, "Well yeah, haven't you heard of the fairytale classic, the boy that used to be a dragon and his dragon that used to be a boy?"

They both laugh at that unique sense of humor before walking some more. After a few minutes, Toothless points out, "Hey, how about that place?" The place in question is an old looking wooden house just outside the marketplace.

Hiccup comments, "Huh, you know I don't think I've ever seen anyone in that house. Well, could be worth a shot." They walk up to the door where Toothless knocks a few times to find that the door wasn't even locked.

Inside they saw a completely empty two story house that, from the back window, had a perfect view of the ocean. There was no furniture, no wood for fire, no food, no sign that anyone had lived there for at least a year, yet somehow, to both Hiccup and Toothless, it felt…cozy.

Toothless walks upstairs to see that that floor was just as empty as the ground floor. He walks back downstairs before saying to Hiccup, "Well babe, what do you think?"

Hiccup replies, "I have a thought about it but I want to see what you think."

Toothless nods. "How about this, on three we say what we are thinking, ready? One. Two. Three."

They say simultaneously, "It's perfect!"

Hiccup adds, "I mean, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with this place at all."

Toothless nods. "I agree. Now we just need to get our stuff moved in."

With that and a nod, Hiccup eagerly flies himself and Toothless over to Hiccup's house where they rush up to the bedroom and start to pack up every item of clothing that Toothless owned. Stoick happened to spot them flying to the house so he follows them, walks through the door asking, "What are you two doing?"

Hiccup pops his head through the bedroom door and says, "Dad, we found the perfect place. You know that old house outside the marketplace?"

Stoick nods. "Oh right, the house that was built for anyone who ended up being homeless after the fight against Astrid. Well, I agree that it seems like the perfect spot. Well, don't mind me helping." Stoick gets together some food that they can take with them before they all head off.

As soon as the three walk through the door, they start putting the clothes and food away. Stoick even managed to pull some strings as chief and get them a bed big enough for the both of them, because he had the suspicion that they wanted to share a bed at this new house, along with some firewood, a sofa for Toothless and guests, and a table with some chairs.

Once everything was set up the way Hiccup and Toothless wanted it, Stoick stood at the door saying, "Well Hiccup, Toothless, I guess this is goodbye for now. Just remember that if you boys, sorry, if you men need any help and I'll be happy to come down. And make sure you visit me every now and then, I have a feeling the house is going to get lonely."

Hiccup nods. "We will, Dad. Thank you so much, for all of your support."

Stoick nods. "My pleasure, son. You two take care." With that, he heads out the door and Hiccup and Toothless take some time to get settled in. However, that didn't last long as 10 minutes later there was a knock on the door."

Toothless opens the door to see a blue haired girl, a blonde Gronckle, a large, tan haired woman, a black Monstrous Nightmare, a red haired boy, a blonde Zippleback, a green haired girl and a green haired boy standing there. Toothless says, "Oh, hey guys. What you here for?"

Stormfly replies, "We heard you guys just moved over here and we pitched in to get you some housewarming gifts."

Toothless nods, "Oh, great! Come on in then."

The gang had gotten them various decorative items like a red rug with a white border, Toothless's old tail fin which they hung in the living room, and Stormfly specifically got them a very special painting. Hiccup sees it and says with a gasp, "Stormfly, is that…?"

Stormfly nods. "Yep. It's a reminder of the old days." the painting was that of Hiccup and Toothless back when their species were their original ways, with Hiccup wearing his old black dragon scale armor and Toothless wearing his saddle and tail fin.

Hiccup comments, "Huh. Astrid was still with us back then."

Stormfly nods. "Yeah. That's right." They take a moment of silence to remember how Astrid went from one of Hiccup's best human friends to a psychotic nightmare in the two months since the transformation.

Toothless breaks the silence by asking, "Where did you get this?"

Stormfly replies, "I actually made it. I have to say, I've gotten a bit of a knack for painting lately. It's pretty fun and it's a good way to pass the time."

Hiccup comments, "Well, it's really good, thank you. In fact, I think I know the perfect place to put it. Babe?"

Toothless nods. "I think I do too. If you'll excuse me." He takes the painting and grabs a hammer and nail before walking upstairs and hanging it right above their new bed. Toothless then looks out the ocean facing window and spots something approaching. At first he thought it was some sort of large bird, but then he noticed that the bird has three tails as well.

It was then that Toothless noticed that this wasn't a bird, but a red Triple Stryke that he knew as the chief of the Berzerker Tribe, and he was coming in hot. Toothless calls downstairs, "Hey, Hiccup. You might want to look out the window."

Hiccup looks to the window and sees what Toothless was seeing immediately. "Dagur? What's he doing here?"

Hiccup steps outside so that Dagur could see him as he flies in saying, "Hiccup!" He nearly crash lands with how fast he was coming in.

Hiccup asks, "Dagur, what's going on?"

Dagur replies, "Sorry for barging in like this but we've got trouble. Big trouble."

Hiccup asks, "What is it?"

Dagur pauses a moment before saying, "Astrid has escaped from her cell."

Hiccup's eyes widen upon hearing that. "W-what?!"

Dagur nods. "Yes. My prison guards told me that she somehow managed to escape when, apparently, someone gave her a key to her cell."

Hiccup just had to ask, "Gave her a key? Who could've done that?"

Dagur replies, "I have no idea. All I know is that when she escaped her cell she took out all of my Changewing guards and then dashed off the island before anyone had a chance of stopping her. I've already sent out scouts to see if they can find her, but I wanted to check to see if she came back here by any chance."

Hiccup thinks. "No, she's too smart to come back here. Wait, last time I saw her I sliced her wing to being useless, how did she manage to fly off?"

Dagur replies, "That's what I thought. My guess is she had some sort of help off of the island, and whoever helped her most likely gave her that key as well."

Hiccup nods. "I see." By that point, the rest of the gang had gathered to hear the news. Hiccup looks to them to say, "Guys, go get my dad and anyone else you can find. Have them go to the Mead Hall. We gotta find her before it's too late."

They nod before Toothless climbs on Hiccup's back and they run off to do the same thing.