Here is chapter 2. Thanks to Fireloom A.K.A 'the same beta new name' for the great editing! And also thanks to everyone who reviewed or those who favorited and/or followed the last chapter.

The first time he woke up was unpleasant and noisy.

"-ey! Can you hear me? Hey!" Hiccup wasn't sure who was speaking but he seriously wanted them to stop, his ears rang and his head hurt and the last thing he wanted was to be shouted at... He wasn't too disoriented though, and the feel of the sand under his body, and the waves licking at his feet confirmed he had survived at least. He closed his hand, crunching a fistful of sand in his fingers, then let it go again.

"Oh thank goodness. Okay, don't worry I'm going to get help." It was a female voice that spoke and Hiccup was relieved that she lowered the volume of her voice. He didn't open his eyes to see what she looked like, even though he wanted to. She sounded young, his age maybe. He could hear her footsteps fading away from him, the waves still lapping at his feet and making him shiver.

'She could have at least pulled me out a bit...'

The second time he woke up was painful and quiet. He opened his eyes and found that bright light was streaming through a casement window. It shone down on his face, forcing him to close his eyes again while they adjusted to the harsh light. After a second he opened them again, finally able to handle the shine.

He was in a simple room and lying on a soft bed. There was a small bedside table and a chair on the left side of him, the other side was pretty bare except for the wooden door. He was completely alone; the only sound came from outside the open window.

He struggled to sit up, his side resisted the movement and he winced at the pain breaking out in the area. He wondered momentarily how long he had been asleep,it couldn't have been long...

Now sitting up and with the pain dissipating, he took note of what he was wearing; basically nothing... All his armor had been removed, along with his shirt, so he was only wearing his black pants. His waist was wrapped in a white bandage, which he had expected of course.

He glanced around the room, but didn't see his clothing anywhere. He shrugged the covers off himself and turned, carefully lifting his leg off the bed. It was tender around the prosthetic. He tested it out to make sure it could take his weight. When he was satisfied that it could, he put his other leg down and stood up.

"Should you be doing that?" A voice called out from behind him. He looked back, seeing a bright-eyed girl looking in from the window. She had blonde hair parted to the side, with two longer strands in front of her ears. He couldn't see from this angle but he suspected that it was braided in the back. She was leaning on the window sill and smiled at him, a kind and sweet grin. He returned the smile.

"I'm sure I'm allowed to walk." he countered with a sarcastic grin. As soon as the words had left his mouth though, the door to his room burst open and an older woman tromped in. She took one look at him and her motherly instincts seemingly kicked in.

"Oh you shouldn't be up yet, sweetheart. Go back to bed you've had a hard night," she said with a thick accent, Hiccup gaped. Behind him the blonde girl laughed.

"You don't have to baby him Melvat, he's a soldier after all." The girl came to his defense. He nodded in agreement quickly.

"I'm looking for my clothes actually," He gestured at himself, "I was wearing a lot more than this when I got here. Wait, I was wearing more than this when I got here right?" Melvat gave him a look before nodding.

"I can go get them now if you like." She said and left soon after to retrieve his clothes. Once she disappeared Hiccup turned back to the girl.

"I'm Hiccup." he said, going to offer his hand but remembering she was outside the window stopped himself and awkwardly waved.

"I'm Astrid, Nice to meet you Major Hiccup." She said waving back at him. She stressed the major part, Hiccup frowned at that, how did she know...?

"Nice to meet you, Astrid."

"Do you know where you are, Major?"

"I think it's Berk." He walked over to her; each step sent a slight painful tremor up his left leg. He would have to check that out soon...

Berk had only joined the Vitikean a few weeks ago. He didn't care much for politics but he knew that the king had promised them something to get them to join the alliance.

"It is. Would you like me to show you around?" Astrid asked at the same time Melvat walked back in with some clothes slung over her arm. It wasn't his though...

"Your clothes are still being repaired and dried, but this should fit you." She looked him up and down, taking in his thin appearance. Hiccup ignored the look and grabbed his shirt. It was a plain light green tunic.

"Thank you." he uttered to the woman they called Melvet. He turned back to Astrid in the window."Yeah sure, show me around."

After Hiccup had dressed himself in the unfamiliar clothes, he left the house and met Astrid outside. They exchanged yet more pleasantries before she started to lead him around.

The town of Berk was built on a craggy cliff. The houses were sturdy but most of them were new. Berk had been the target of many attacks from both sides before they allied with the Vitikeans.

There were long docks with large boats, merchants and fishers milled around on the work day. Hiccup had enjoyed getting out into the fresh air even if it was slightly tainted with the scent of drying fish.

The people were all busy, brawny and benevolent, stopping to greet him, and more often Astrid as they trailed up and down the winding paths of Berk. It was a beautiful day and Hiccup wanted to enjoy it to the fullest. So it was a true disappointment when halfway through his wound became agitated and they had to stop and rest.

"Are you okay?" Astrid asked him.

"Yeah," he grunted clutching his side. He hadn't opened his wound but even his left leg was starting to hurt again. He seriously needed to get that fixed. Something must have happened when he was in the ocean.

Hiccup looked up to give Astrid a reassuring smile. It was then he really took in the area they were resting at. Before him was a small dip that lead to an arena like area. Its top was covered with chains and there were several barred cages inside of the arena. It was like the gladiator arena in the capital.

"It's the dragon training arena." Astrid spoke up, drawing his attention back to her. "It had been used for teaching kids how to fight dragon way back when... But now it's going to be used to teach the kids of Berk to ride dragons."

Huh? Hiccup didn't like politics but even he knew where all the training academies were. Berk didn't have one.

"Why do you look so confused?" Astrid asked him, furrowing her own brow, "You're the one who is going to be teaching here."

"What!?"

Hiccup was standing in front of the lord of Berk, Lord Stoick. The man was imposing, with his huge build and throaty voice. His hair was bright red and his beard had become quite overgrown, it was a length only someone outside of the capital could wear.

The man had just rooted through a week's worth of letters to find the one that said specifically that Major Haddock would be teaching at the new Berk Cadet Academy. The letter said just that. Though his arrival wasn't supposed to be until three days from now.

"It's an amazing coincidence that you would end up here Major. We sent a letter to the nearest base as soon as we realised who you were. Word of your strange arrival should have reached the capital by now. Though I am under the impression that you traveled with several other soldiers, were you separated somehow in the fight?" Stoick asked.

"No Lord. We were outnumbered, I hardly managed to escape with my life. They rest of my team were lost."

"Oh," the large man said, sombre at the news, "You have my condolences. You should send word of that to the capital along with a notice of your position."

"Yes Lord." Hiccup said. He was upset, tired, and completely shocked about having to teach. He wasn't a teacher! He had more important things to do. He couldn't be a good sp-. He stopped mid thought, even thinking it made him nervous. He didn't want to have to deal with anything about that with the last incident still so sickeningly fresh in his mind.

"I'll go write that letter then." Hiccup huffed angrily. Stoick only gave him a quick nod, brushing off the small Major's attitude along with his ability's. The man couldn't care less about how smart Hiccup was. And it showed through his disregard to how the news upset the boy.

Hiccup didn't go write the letter. Instead he went out into the forest. He didn't understand why he hadn't been made aware of his transfer earlier. He wasn't aware of why he had been transferred at all! He hadn't done anything to let them know about himself, had he?

He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he didn't notice the figure that lurked behind him. He had come a long way out, the trees had completely blocked his view of the town and of the sea. He finally noticed the figure but it was too late.

Toothless leapt out of the tree, landing in front of Hiccup and letting out a low growl.

"Oh," Hiccup said, feigning offence, "so this is how it is?" His hand went to his belt and he brandished an imaginary sword. Toothless glanced at it, then back at him, and with juvenile innocence jumped onto Hiccup like a puppy. A flash of pain sent him into a fit of 'ow ow ow wowowowowowow oooowwww!' Toothless just gave him big raspy licks.

"Yeah yeah, good to see you too. Now could you get off me?" The dragons snorted and with one more, happy, playful lick bound off the boy as gleefully as he had bounded on. Toothless was still wearing his brown leather saddle, which was odd since Hiccup had made it easy for the dragon to slip it off. He noticed the red ribbon tied on one of the saddle's bags.

A letter! Toothless gave him a curious look as he eyed the ribbon. He must have been given the letter by one of the council members back home. Hiccup grabbed it, ripped it open and started to read aloud, Toothless listened intently. Hiccup had no idea how much the dragon understood.

"Hiccup, we have been made aware of your transfer just recently. Spies in court have heard that a complaint has come in about a mission where you previously lost several dragons during transport. People were asking questions. It seems the higher up's wanted you out of town while they dealt with this. With the loss of your squadron you've practically sealed your fate. Acting out against the transfer now would be unfavourable and may bring about unwanted backlash. Stay low and serve your 'country' well.
Also, Hiccup, you are missed by both the clan members and the dragons. We wish quick intel so we may finally end this war. The council is taking good care of the tribe in your absence. We are hoping the day we reunite openly will soon be upon us, Prince of Dragons.

-The council of the Bewilderbeast clan."

He read aloud to the patiently waiting Toothless.

"They just have to throw the title in there huh, bud." Hiccup mumbled dismissively, he would have to dispose of the letter later.

"You stay here in the forest tonight okay, I'll come get you in the morning. They should have accommodations for us by tomorrow night." The dragon hummed and Hiccup rub his snout. He walked back through the forest waving to Toothless as he went. "You keep a low profile too, I have to go and write a letter thanking people for this transfer. It's so-o great, and I'm so-o willing to serve and all that suck up speech stuff..."