The ship turned right. Anchor thrown over the side stopped it. Hiccup and Toothless hovered high, half turned so Hiccup could look down. His eyes narrowed.

"Alvin," he growled.

His alpha magic rose. His voice carried. Hiccup heard varying dragon snarls from the Berkian dragons surrounding the ship. He knew the guards with him were confused. Hiccup kept his focus on Alvin. The man did not speak. Just lifted a hand. Hiccup's eyes widen.

"Everyone up!"

Dragons scrambled higher. Nine rocks arched. Fell. The sea spit upwards. Hiccup snarled.

"You die today, Alvin."

Purple-blue fire erupted in a line. White dove, disappearing. Hiccup heard startled human cries. Hookfang, aflame save where his rider sat, dove in a line parallel to the ship. Alvin barked orders. Arrows rose. An iridescent barrier bared their way. Hiccup saw white reappear behind the ship. None on it noticed. Hiccup lifted his head. Gave a human version of a Night Fury cry.

Lava seared sails. Harden snow and ice slammed crew. Plasma ripped holes into wood. Nadder and Razorwhips spikes nailed crew not hit by the snow and ice. Alvin remained alive. Hiccup stared down at him.

"Fire."

Five plasma bolts found their target. Hiccup watched the body slip below the water. He closed his eyes. His soul settled.

[You knew that human.]

Onyxwing's words were not a question. Spitfire answered for Hiccup anyways.

[He invaded Brother's nest. Cowardly slipped away when outnumbered.]

[What did the human want?]

"To force me to train dragons for him so he could use them as an army."

[I see.]

Wing flaps announced gathering dragons. Hiccup opened his eyes. All assigned to meet the ship hovered around him. All, even the humans, stared at him. All seemed to be waiting. Hiccup frowned.

[Father put you as Strike Lead.]

Hiccup turned to Shadewing. He lifted an eyebrow. Shadewing chuckled.

[You lead the flock. You gave the orders. They await your word to return home.]

Hiccup blinked. He jerked. "Oh, uh, good…good job everyone. Go on and return to the nest."

The dragons cooed and trilled. Most dove, banked as needed and head for the nest fifteen wing flaps behind Hiccup. The Berkian dragons, Onyxwing, Sunburn, Toothless' siblings, and the Woolly Howl and his patrol flock remained. Hiccup still stared at the water.

"You all return," he heard Astrid say. "I need to speak to Hiccup."

"Come, Berkians," Gyda stated. "Let's leave our Alphas alone. Heir Prince Shadewing, Princess Spitfire, we would be honored to escort you both home."

"Snotlout," Hiccup said looking up and staring at his cousin. "Good call on that move."

"Sure, Hiccup."

Hiccup dropped his gaze back to the water and the expanding debris. No bodies remained above the waves. He was grateful for that, even if he felt numb all over.

He heard wing flaps, announcing leaving dragons. He just stared down.

"You too," he heard Astrid say.

[My alpha personally ordered me to guard Hiccup and Toothless, Lady Astrid,] the Woolly Howl patrol leader said. [I extend that protection to you and Stormfly, but I and my flock will remain until my alpha relieves us of our duty or you four are back in the nest and safe.]

[I, too, need to speak to Hiccup,] Onyxwing stated, [but I shall await him at the nest. A mate's words after a battle such as this are needed more than a flock member's. Sunburn and I'll will return now and check on Heatwave.]

More wing flaps. Hiccup did not lift his gaze this time. He could not fathom why, or even how, Alvin followed him all this way. The man had not even tried to explain. He just immediately attacked when realizing who was hovering in front of him. Hiccup did not understand it.

"Hiccup."

Even numb and confused, his gaze still jerked up when Astrid called his name. He would no more ignore her than he would willingly chop another of his limbs off, himself. She was his queen and always deserved his attention, no matter what was going on around him. No matter what raced through his mind and worried him to the point he could think of little else.

Astrid pointed to a sea stack that had a two-tier top. Hiccup vaguely glanced that way. Toothless took it upon himself to fly there. Hiccup noted the Woolly Howl and his flock followed but remained on the lower part of the tiers. Toothless landed on the upper portion. Stormfly touched down right beside him. Hiccup did not have a chance to remove the tether lines before Astrid unhooked him from Toothless' saddle. She gently pulled. Hiccup dismounted. Toothless and Stormfly moved away but stayed where they could watch.

Before Hiccup could ask Astrid what she need to speak to him about, before his mind could re-ask what Alvin hoped to gain, Astrid's lips were one his. Hiccup's mind froze. Alvin and his motives faded. All that remained was Astrid. Hiccup moaned and returned the kiss.

Many heartbeats later, though Hiccup would swear it was too soon, Astrid pulled away. She placed her forehead against his. Hiccup closed his eyes as her thumbs caressed his cheeks.

"The motives of a madman and an Outcast with no honor is not worth your attention, Hiccup."

Hiccup smiled as his mind cleared. Astrid was right. Alvin chose his path. Hiccup knew he would go mad himself if he dwelled on why. Hiccup captured her lips with his own and pulled her fully against him. Their chaperones would just have to deal.

"You are concerned."

Onyxwing stared back the way they flew as he and Sunburn did not fully return to the nest. They landed on a sea stack a wing flap from the island. A sea stack he often visited when he lived in the nest and while he and his rider led it for a time.

"I fear."

"He passed the tests, Onyx."

"He also just watched a human die. One he gave the order to kill. He did not flinch, Sunburn."

"Spitfire said that human invaded his nest. It's likely Hiccup knew the male could not be reasoned with. The human did order his men to launch those rocks without allowing Hiccup a chance to speak after all."

Onyxwing sighed. "I know. I just…we have been wrong before. Everything hinges on him, Sunburn. Everything."

"You worry he will not withhold the weight?"

"I worry it will crush him."

Sunburn shook her head and poked Onyx with her muzzle. "Hiccup is strong. Stronger than he realizes. Stronger than his father knew. Stronger than you see. He will be fine."

"You sound so certain. The others-"

"The others did not have the flock he has, Onyx. They did not have the love he is showered with. They did not have Lady Astrid holding their wings aloft. Hiccup is strong and he will save us all because he has those dragons and humans around him. They will hold the weight so he can act. Trust them as you trusted us to aid you and your rider. Trust your grandson, Onyxwing. Both of them."

"Ah, Lady Quiet, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

Quiet grinned and tapped her partner's neck. The dragon dropped the human she carried.

"Uh, Lady Quiet, I do not deal in slaves."

Quiet grunted. "He needs to return to Outcast Island. Will you see to that?"

The man sighed. "My lady, I fear my ship is winter ready and I am unable to make the journey."

"Then will you make sure he can find passage by some other means?"

The man bowed. "As you wish, my lady. Let it not be known that I shirked my duty."

Quiet rolled her eyes as her partner warbled in the Old Tongue. Given she and the dragon had grown up together, she did not need the words translated. The meaning carried over. Her partner always disliked the dramatic flair this one exuded. She still tipped her head towards the man. She would not shirk her upbringing even if the merchant annoyed her partner.

"Thank you," she said, tapping her partner's neck.

The dragon's wings flapped. They rose. The man watched them for a moment.

"Give your father my regards!"

"Sure thing, Elder Johann."

With that Quiet and her partner melted into the darken sky and sped for home.

Kirika: Hehe, Astrid will have her own duties and tasks. Snotlout though will be the lead of Hiccup's Generals. I think that position fits him, at least in this version of HTTYD. /me cackles You just remember you said that last part, my friend.