Unlike their places in the cave-like prison, Hiccup was placed in the jail in the village. Hiccup was still a little groggy from the sickly green Zippleback smoke, so it was easier to carry him to the jail. Alvin and the others were taken to the prison where Stoick and the men were held. Hiccup was coming to his senses, so they had to make it quick.

Bucket held him with the upmost caution, slowly walking as to not disturb him. But Hiccup was still dangerous even in his dazed state. Even worse, he was unpredictable. He began to moan in pain as they entered the jail.

Astrid ushered Bucket to the cell on the left in the middle of the aisle. She held the door open as Bucket walked in and placed Hiccup on the wooden floor. He would've placed him on the bed, but Hiccup's eyes were already fluttering open.

"Easy Bucket," she says in a calm voice. Scared Hiccup will startle like an animal at sudden noise.

As Bucket slid his fingers out from under Hiccup, he moved with the caution one would use when relocating a sleeping snake. As he backed up, Hiccup was already conscious enough to roll to his side and push himself to his hands and knees. His eyes scanned the room. It was still foggy, and Bucket had just made out out of the cell when his eyes laid on them.

His lips curled into a scowl, but as he reached for a weapon, nothing was there. He looked to Astrid and launched to her, but she slammed the cell door and jumped back in time as Hiccup's murderous hands reached through the squares with the intent to strangle her throat.

He was screaming. His common sense still hadn't activated, only animal impulses. He would scream then cough as a result from the gas. Astrid had to cover her ears and run out of the jail, not even sparing Hiccup a glance. His screams were raw and agonized, filled with rage and loathe.

Astrid only stopped when she slammed into Gobber's muscle packed body. She would've stumbled back, but he caught her in time. When her breathe finally caught to her, she was breathing heavy and heaved over as she tried to fill her lungs with the air that seemed deprived of oxygen.

"I take it he's not happy?" Gobber asks, but the humor was so little it only mad her feel worse.

"He hates me." she says, her voice catching on the end. Her eyes blurred as tears stung her eyes. She's trembling. She stares at Gobber with wounded eyes.

Gobber was surprised. Tears slid down her face, chasing trials of heat between the icy pellets of sweat still materializing on her rose cheeks. He'd never seen Astrid cry before.

Not when she was young girl training with a man's weapons, getting injured more often than not. Not when she became a budding woman, fighting in the arena for the honor of killing a dragon.

Any emotion Gobber felt sinks beneath sudden, sharp ache, and he wishes he knew how to talk with her. But he can't. Bucket comes up later, even more breathless than Astrid. So he only places a hand her shoulder and leads her away from the prison.

As they make their way to the Square, Mulch had just finished loading a wheelbarrow with sacks of flour and grain. The Vikings that were kept imprisoned were released and replaced with any Outcast that inhabited the island.

But even with Berk back under Stoick's rule, it did not feel like a proper victory to anyone.

As long as Hiccup was under Alvin's control, they were still far from victory. They may have won a battle, but the war was not over.

"Ah, Bucket. There ya' are. Help me with theses sacks please?" he asks.

"Sure thing Mulch." Bucket says as he helps finish loading the last ten sacks of grain.

Mulch then walks up to Gobber and Astrid. "How is he?" he asks.

Astrid looks away and doesn't reply. Gobber chimes in. "He's still pretty angry, but he'll come around once we figure out how to train that Changewing." He says.

"Well that might be a bit tricky, Gobber." Mulch says. "Both of them are as stubborn as a bull. If we can't get the true information out of Alvin, then we'll have to work on the Changewing, but he won't listen to anyone else but Alvin."

"And it's all in a vicious circle." Gobber finishes.

"Well we have to try." Astrid interjects, and both men nod their heads.

"Why don't you go to the Great Hall and join the meeting?" Gobber suggests.

"You're not going?" Astrid asks.

"No, I need to restock the weapons. But fill me in later." He says with a hopeful smile.

Astrid returns the smile and heads off to the hall.

Meanwhile, back at the prison, Hiccup had returned to full consciousness and had just taken in his surroundings. Wood walls and floors all around him. No windows in his cell, a simple hay stack lays on its side with a fleecy blanket draped over it for a bed. A small square in the middle of the door with a metal shelf for food to be served.

Hiccup pushes himself to his feet and walks to the front of the cell. He rests his hands on the meal bars as he tries to look at the prison. He turns and angles his head to peer around. There were other cells all bordering the walls, but it seemed like Hiccup was in the entire jail.

They must be in the prison Hiccup concludes, referring to his father and the others.

He can't speak past the anger flooding him as he remembers the reason, or reasons why he was even in here. The image of the Vikings attacking and taking down his father after he had saved them fills his head, and he plows his fist into the wall of his wooden cell.

Hiccup's rewarded with multiple pin-like splinters in his knuckles. A small crater the size of his fist sinks into the wall with small fissures snaking out from the center.

Someone out if his peripherals jumps and gives him a sidelong look. They think they know how he works? The whole time, Hiccup's been holding back. They have no idea the kind of things he's capable of when backed into a corner.

But Hiccup does, and punching a wall is the best and only option available for him unless he plans to do something far more destructive with his anger. Like draw a sword against Stoick.

"Feel better?" a voice asks, and Hiccup punches the wall again just to keep from letting his anger loose on them. Another crater.

He turns to find the husky kid, Fishlegs. His anger somewhat decreases. He's as harmless and as pathetic as it can get. And while he may have chucked stones at Hiccup, he was still a coward, and Hiccup still had power over him.

"What do you want?" Hiccup asks in a bitter tone.

"I, brought you lunch." Fishlegs struggles to get out as Hiccup shuffles his hands to rid them of the little stingers in his knuckles.

Hiccup couldn't help but coldly chuckle. Even when he's weaponless, a little sick from the Zippleback gas, and behind metal bars, he still intimidated Fishlegs with a great grip of fear.

He turns his head to look at the tray of food laden for him. Hiccup approaches the front of the cell to get a better look, but his movements caused Fishlegs to stumble back. Hiccup sighed and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

He takes his hands off of the bars, puts them in the air, and takes steps back until he's at the very back of his cell. Giving Fishlegs permission to approach the cell and lay the food. Hiccup doesn't even bother trying to plan a sudden escape. The distance between them would allow Fishlegs to close the door and lock it before Hiccup could even grab and yank a handful of hair out of Fishlegs head.

But that's what Fishlegs wanted, and that's the only way he would deliver the food. And Hiccup's sudden hunger overpowered his drive to break out. Besides, you can't plan an escape on an empty stomach. For now, however long it took, he would fill up on food and water, rebuild his strength so that he would become a one man army, break his father and men free and reclaim Berk.

But these kids were far too annoying. So the moment they reclaim the village, they'll be executed immediately.

Hiccup rests his hands behind his head as Fishlegs places the tray on the metal shelf in the square and pushes it far enough in so that he wouldn't have to even come close to Hiccup once he steps back. Then he scurries back so his back is pressed against the door of another cell and says, "Okay."

By now, Hiccup was leaning against the wall, arms folded and ankles crossed just wanting to eat. He sighs and approaches the front of the cell. He takes the tray and sits on the floor cross-legged and places the tray on his thighs.

He had to admit it was a, generous meal. A bowl of beef stew, a side of freshly chopped salmon and another plate of a cored apple. Hiccup's eyebrows rise in surprise. But he doesn't question the meal. He finds a spoon next to the stew and begins to eat.

As he's eating, it takes until he's halfway done with the stew to realize Fishlegs hasn't left. He now sits on a stool in front of Hiccup's cell. Casually sitting there, watching him. A nervous smile on his lips.

When Hiccup stares at him, he nervously looks around the room, like he'll find something interesting.

Awkward.

"What?" Hiccup asks as he finishes the final spoonful of stew.

Fishlegs blinks a few times in surprise and just smiles awkwardly, "Nothing."

Hiccup sighs in annoyance as he moves to his salmon. It was tender enough that he could break it with the tip of his spoon.

He scooped up a small serving and fed himself. The grease of the fish waved over his tongue and tingled his taste buds. There was the slightest hint of parsley and lemon. Not sour, but flavorful.

By now he was completely oblivious to Fishlegs' presence. He only enjoyed the meal. As he moved onto the cored apple, there was a small kink in front of him, and Fishlegs has placed water on the metal shelf.

Hiccup doesn't even question it. He simply puts the tray aside and takes the water. He takes a few gulps to wash down the fish and resumes to his meal. The apples seemed fresh, sweet with the right addition of juice.

"Is it good?" Fishlegs suddenly asks. Hiccup looks up to him in surprise and with a look that made Fishlegs regret his question.

"Fine." Hiccup says after swallowing the second to last apple.

"You like it?" Fishlegs asks.

Hiccup looks to him again, eyebrows raised but arced in annoyance and curiosity. "I guess."

"Well you should." Fishlegs says. "It was your favorite meal to eat on Berk."

Hiccup nearly chokes on the last apple core. He coughs a couple times before he swallow. "What?"

"That was your favorite meal to eat. You loved Beef Stew with Salmon." He says.

"It's good, but it's not my favorite." Hiccup protests.

"Yes, it was. A lot of things were your favorite before you became . . . this." Fishlegs says gesturing a finger toward Hiccup.

"Became what? A warrior?" Hiccup argues.

"A killer." Fishlegs declares. "Hiccup, you weren't like this before. You cared, you had a heart!" Fishlegs is shouting now. A desperate plea in his eyes.

Hiccup only shook his head when Fishlegs called him Hiccup.

"Yeah well that wannabee no longer exists. He never did!" Hiccup's argues suddenly infuriated. "I won't be held down by who I used to be. He's nothing to me." Hiccup bites the words to keep from spitting them at Fishlegs. "I won't be held down by who I was." He says, staring straight into Fishlegs' eyes.

Fishlegs' eyes had the bluish gray color of a blade, the same polished shine, and as he peered at Hiccup, Hiccup felt a strange sharpness, almost painful, a cutting sensation, as if Fishlegs' gaze were somehow slicing him open.

"Who you were was fine. People actually prefer that side of you now that they've seen what you've become." Fishlegs says. His tone filled with wisdom beyond his years.

Hiccup was silent. He didn't want to believe what Fishlegs was saying, but at the same time, it felt like a part of him was trying so hard to remember. Digging down into the abandoned wells in his heart for something that could prove what Fishlegs was saying.

It felt like it was there, just unseen. But the deeper he dug, the more unraveled he became.

"I want to ask you something," Hiccup finally said.

Fishlegs was startled by the abruption of that statement. It didn't help that his focus remained forward toward the wooden wall. It gave him a plummeting feeling inside.

"Yeah?" he said. He tried to ignore the flood of internal feelings that assaulted him.

Hiccup closed his eyes and took a deep breath before sighing. "First, you will never ever tell anyone that I told you this. Understood?" He ordered with a strict tone, a rigid finger pointing toward him.

Fishlegs nodded, while at the same time racked his brain to prepare for whatever Hiccup was about to ask. Hiccup lowered his finger.

"But," he swallowed thickly. "a part of me wants to remember everything that you've been telling me. I want to remember that good life that I didn't even know I had. I don't know what it is, but lately, I've been, lost. I don't know what to believe and I don't even know where I belong." Hiccup said.

Fishlegs was suddenly fighting the urge to cry. Hiccup was actually opening up. He was actually talking to Fishlegs. Doing his best to suppress his grin, he bit his bottom lip. He's careful about his next question, making sure he doesn't to anything that could possibly send Hiccup back to the dark, gaping hole that is his own world.

"I thought you said that your loyalties belong to the Outcasts." He carefully says.

"I thought I did, but, something's just not right." Hiccup says. "It's like. . ." he trails off.

"What?" Fishlegs urges on.

Hiccup shakes his head and softly chuckles with a grin that was all but happy. More like, sadness. "Nevermind it's stupid."

"No! No tell me!" Fishlegs says, standing up from his seat and walking closer to the cell.

"No, no . . ."

"Come on, tell me!" Fishlegs begs.

Hiccup turns to him and his eyes have grown warmer. The emerald green of his eyes returning, and spilling out into the cold jaded Fishlegs has gotten used to.

"Fine." Hiccup shifts his seat so he's facing Fishlegs, giving him his full attention.

What am I doing?

"I-it's like there's this other person inside me." he says. "And, sometimes, I hear his voice. It comes out of nowhere, and I don't know what to do."

Fishlegs leans closer, fully intrigued by his story.

"It's like he's my conscious, which is weird since I don't normally have one. But, he tells me to do the opposite of what I've always known to do."

"You're not scared of it are you?" Fishlegs asks, but not in a mocking tone.

"Maybe." Hiccup replies instantly without hesitation.

Fishlegs is surprised. He'd expect Hiccup to hesitate and go silent to confirm his answer, but the fact that he bluntly answered only made Fishlegs flood with joy.

"Well, maybe that's the person who was part of your old life." Fishlegs says, and this catches Hiccup's attention. "Maybe he's trying to break free." Fishlegs emphasized, remembering Astrid's conversation with Stoick.

"How do I stop him?" Hiccup asks.

"Don't." Fishlegs answers. "Let him out. It'll be better for you. And I, we, can help you."

"You'd do that?" Hiccup asks, leaning closer.

"Of course, we're friends. And that's what friends do." Fishlegs says.

"We were friends?" Hiccup asks. A small grin of amusement adorning his lips.

"Of course! We bonded over our passion for dragons!" Fishlegs says while placing one hand over his heart and the other pointing a knowledgeable finger to the sky. Like he was giving a speech, but he was smiling, and Fishlegs could feel him being himself, instead of hiding behind a wall of fear whenever he looked at Hiccup.

And Hiccup laughed. It wasn't cold and mocking like it normally was. It was meaningful and real. Filled with happiness. The same happiness Fishlegs always sees in Hiccup. And even after, a smile stayed on his lips.

This was amazing progress.

Fishlegs could just see Hiccup's impenetrable walls come crumbling down. Hiccup leaned back on his hands in a relaxed position.

He chuckled again before speaking. "This is ridiculous."

"No it's not." Fishlegs says. "Hiccup," he suddenly pauses, worried he'll close up since he kept calling him that, but Hiccup only turned his head up in reply. Not even the slightest anger on his face. "This is the side of you that everyone wants to see again. The real Hiccup. And a newsflash, Alvin's not your father."

Hiccup's eyebrows suddenly narrow in anger. Oops, Fishlegs just took one step too soon. "What?" Hiccup snarls.

Fishlegs suddenly withdrawls. "Nothing, nothing."

And there they were again, right back at the beginning. The way everything started. Awkward and guarded.

"I'm sorry." Fishlegs apologizes. "But, it's the truth."

Hiccup's silent. His shoulders drop and he slightly shakes his head, lips pursed tight into a straight line. And Fishlegs' feeling as if he's just caused Hiccup to close off, but he's relieved when he speaks again. "I don't want to believe that."

Fishlegs was about to reply when suddenly the jail door swings open, startling them both, and Hiccup scurries to the very back of his cell. In walks Stoick with Gobber waiting outside.

"Fishlegs, your needed at the arena." He informs.

"Uh okay, I'll be there in a minute." He says.

"It's immediate, Fishlegs." Stoick orders.

Fishlegs exchanges a quick glance to Hiccup who was only staring at Stoick with those stone cold jaded eyes. A glare so filled with loathe and hatred. If looks could kill, Stoick would be dead three times over.

Hopefully Stoick could catch a hint. "Uh, I'll be there shortly, I was in the middle of something important."

"I know, but this is more important." Stoick says, and without waiting for a reply, he grabs Fishlegs by the back of his shirt and lifts the husky kid effortlessly.

Fishlegs it fighting, trying to explain why he must stay and miss the meeting, but Stoick only dragged him out, not even listening to him. His mind somewhere else.

How could that man possibly by my father? Hiccup asked.

But immediately, another memory flashed its way into his mind.

"Okay but I hit a Night Fury." He said.

Then there was a sharp jerk on his shoulder and Stoick was dragging him away from the crowd of Vikings gathered in the Square. He was explaining to him about how he hit it and where it landed.

"Just off Raven Point."

Fishlegs, still reasoning with Stoick, managed to catch one final look at Hiccup as he held his head and steadied himself in his cell, before he was dragged through the threshold, and the jail door slams shut.