Hiccup grunted. His breathing was light and steady. Opening his eyes, he noticed his room was different. 'This isn't what I remember my room looking like.' Then it hit him. 'It's not my room. I removed myself from the Haddock family. I freed myself from the chief. And this, this is the Hoffersons home isn't it?' Hiccup glanced around. Stools, table chair, quickly made bed and many other things caught his eyes.

"Morning Hiccup." Hiccup blinked quickly as he heard a voice come from the stairs. Astrid slowly stepped down. "Asssstrid. Why am I here?" Astrid chuckled. "The chief told us to take you here." Hiccup nodded. "And?" Astrid stared blankly at Hiccup. "And what?" Hiccup dropped his shoulders. "He told you all didn't he." Astrid then realised what he was going on about. "Yes, he did. And I can't blame you for doing what you did either. If I was in your situation, I would've done the same thing."

Hiccup nodded. Getting up, he sighed. "Last night, that dragon, he didn't kill me, yet it knew me from eleven years ago. Why?" Astrid shook her head. "I don't know. But after you fainted. Everyone was concerned. They had seen the injured Night Fury and guess who was crazy enough to fight a dragon like that." Hiccup glanced down at his feet.

"Why do the gods hate me?" Astrid shrugged. "I don't know. But everyone but us two are at the great hall. With my parents and I already knowing what happened, we don't have to go." Hiccup nodded. "Let's go the forest, I need to blow off some steam."

Stoick stood before the village. "People of Berk. I know many of you are willing to know what happened last night. And this meeting shall reveal that." Stoick stood tall, taking a deep breath, he began. "Last night, a dragon last seen eleven years ago, returned." The hall was silent. Stoick took it as a good sign. "That dragon, was the dragon that killed Elina Freya Haddock."

Everyone glanced up, some bitting their lower lips as they waited. "And that dragon, is a Shadowflame Terror." Stoick paused as everyone start to whisper things. "But many of you are wanting to know why it may've returned. There are two theories going round at the moment. One is, that it hunts down and eats Night Furies."

The village was quick to explode into talk.

"Impossible, what devil would hunt down one of it's own?"

"It's a devil, don't forget that it also put fear into many of the other dragons."

"Perhaps its the one that controls them?"

"Don't be crazy, the devils act on their own, fighting what they wish and when they wish. They must know that we're too good for them to attack us alone."

"What if it's come back to finish the job it started eleven years ago?"

Stoick shook his head. "The other theory, is that it has returned to torment Hiccup." Everyone was silent, Glancing up. Everyone thought that he would've called him son by now. "Chief, what not just call him son." Stoick bit his lower lips. "I can't, even if I wanted to. Not anymore. Last night, before the raid. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third. Cast away his family ties. He revoked his claim as heir and right as a member of the Haddock household."

Everyone was silent. No one dared to speak. "As of now. Snoutlout Jorgensen is now heir to the tribe." Everyone was still silent. Behind them all, Dagmar and Birger left.

In the forest. Dagmar and Birger walked along. They soon came across Hiccup and Astrid looking down over the injured Night Fury. As they neared, they heard the two talking. "How can I not kill it. Look at it. It's afraid, it's attempting to hid itself." Astrid was quick reply. "But it could kill us at any point in time."

"But it hasn't. It could've done it now, but it hasn't. Doesn't this make you think back on what we know about dragons?" Dagmar and Birger soon walked out. "Astrid, Hiccup does have a point. If other dragons are willing to eat others. And if it isn't attack us. Then perhaps what we do know it wrong." Astrid sighed as she glanced back at the Night Fury. "Maybe we are wrong. Look at it. He's scared as hell."

Hiccup was about to speak when the Nighty Fury quickly got up and started to move back. Fear was clear in its eyes. Blinking, Hiccup turned and yelled. "The Shadowflame Terror, it's returned." Dagmar and Birger quickly ran to Hiccup's side. Astrid stood next to Hiccup, her axe drawn. "We can't let this dragon harm us at all."

The dragon roared before charging forward. Hiccup braced himself for a fight. "Alright devil, you're going to learn what real pain is." As Hiccup raised his axe. An Terrible Terror quickly flew past. A piece of paper dropping to the ground before Hiccup. The Shadowflame Terror was quick to follow the Terror with it's eyes.

Soon, a new roar was heard. A roar that the Shadowflame Terror recognised easily. Backing up, a burst molten metal sprung up along the ground before it. Hiccup and the Hoffersons widen theirs as a new dragon hovered in the sky.

It's wings were a bright yellowish orange. It's four legs were covered in metal along with it's body. The metal was bright silver in colour and reflected the light from the sun. It's tail was spiked and ended in a four spiked tip. It's head had four horns extending from the back. It's eyes were a deep green. Two horns extended out from either side of it's lower jaw forward. Lines of razor sharp teeth ready to strike with two large fang like teeth in the centre. Atop the dragon, sat a warrior.

Hiccup and the Hoffersons watched as the Shadowflame Terror took to the skies and fled before the dragon. The Night Fury roared up. With the new dragon roaring back and landing on the ground. The rider was quick to dismount and walk forward. He was male in build, his face was covered by a mask. On his back was a sword. His armour appeared to evoke the appearance of the dragon.

As he came to a stop. He spoke. "I'd read that if I were you. It'll explain a lot about what's going on." Hiccup picked up the note and glanced down.

Dear Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third

If you have received this, then know full well

that you are the key in achieve peace between

dragons and Vikings. I have sent a rider to

pick you and the injured Night Fury up.

Also, I've made sure that you receive a warm

welcome upon your arrival here

at Dragon's Volcano Sanctuary.

Love

Valka Haddock

Hiccup froze. And then, he fainted.

Hints dropped here and there.

Foreshadowing a future showdown.