3 years later
Hadrian dives towards the arena at speeds that leave his eyes brimming with tears. He flips to his back and arcs his head back. The wind is so intense it forces tears into his eyes as he hurdles toward the ground.
He feels like he is without substance, without weight. Ahead of him, the sky look huge, its patches of cumulous clouds spreading farther than he can see, even up this high. The air is so cold and so fast that it hurts his face. He picks up speed and for a shout of exhilaration rises within him, stopped only by the wind that fills his mouth the second he opens his lips.
Suddenly a thick mass zips under him and Hadrian backflips in the air landing on Lightning's saddle. He secures his feet into the stirrups and Lightning sharply turns up. They break a patch of clouds and find Hiccup and Toothless ahead. Hadrian places his fingers between his lips and wolf whistles. Hiccup turns his head and laughs.
Held secure by the stirrups, Hadrian throws his arms out to the side. Lightning and Toothless dip and the boys plunge towards the rocks shore. Hadrian's heart beats so hard it hurts, and he can't scream and he can't breathe, but he also feels everything, every vein, and every fiber, every bone and every nerve, al awake and buzzing in his body as if charged with lightning. He is adrenaline.
How is it he's gone so far in life without experiencing this? Hadrian never understood how Hiccup could do so many areal stunts and how flying on Toothless could be a sort of, sanctuary. But now it's all clear. It would seem there's a certain place for everyone out there. A place where they can be optimistic about the future, a place that helps them to be who they really want to be, where they can feel that this life makes sense, a place where they can feel, what he feels when riding Lightning.
Hadrian leans forward and pats Lightning's neck. The Skrill purrs and leans his head back, closing his eyes as Hadrian rubs near his snout.
Because when they're riding, all he feels, is free.
They perch on the dome of the arena as twilight overtakes the island. Hiccup sits with his arms hugging his knees, Hadrian with one leg stretched out, the other bent with an arm dangling on the knee.
"It's amazing." Hiccup says.
"Are you, surprised that I never grew out of the habit?" Hadrian smiles.
"I can see why you didn't."
Hiccup looks to Hadrian as he gazes at the mixing of purple and red. The memories of him, long back to when evil Doppelganger, to the imprisoned minion of Lilith; some of the most powerful memories Hiccup has of him have dulled with time, as memories do, and they no longer haunt as they used to. Sometimes Hiccup actually enjoys going over them in his mind, as a timeline of his own to draw out the progress of how they've come throughout the years. And now he's Hiccup's friend; though it's fair to say they're as close as brothers.
The humidity of the summer day begins to collide with the chill of the ocean as the sun settles on the horizon.
Alvin has reclaimed Outcast Island and has since kept his allegiance to the Berkians. The Berserker Tribe has now proclaimed Dagur's sister as the new chief, as she has come of age. She as well as the other tribes of the Acapelego have signed a Treaty of Valknut, unifying the tribes and thanks to a trial, earning the Berserkers a chance of recompense for Dagur's misuse of jurisdiction. It won't be an easy spot to fill, but already she has more respect of the soldiers than Dagur ever did. All the tribes have agreed to settle most arrangements and arguments without violence.
Hadrian has seen enough violence to last him a lifetime; Hiccup three. And they bear it still, not just in scars on their skin but in their memories that rise up in their minds.
Heather's family and her Grandmamma have decided to move back to her home tribe; something about a sense of belonging. Though before she left, she made sure to give Hadrian a special kiss that would make him remember her until her next visit. She was tempting with her words to get Hadrian to leave, but he stuck true to himself and stayed on Berk. Thanks to Hiccup's invention of air-mail they keep in touch most weeks.
It astounded Hiccup how much he knew he'd miss Hadrian should he ever move off of Berk. He's now just as much part of the island as Hiccup was. If he were to leave, the gaping hole of emptiness would be too great to bear. It may seem strange saying that about him, but it's only the truth. He's woven into the land.
Hadrian has though, moved out into his own home. A two-floor house with a stable in the back. The first floor has a kitchen, a table, two chairs and a fireplace. Upstairs a simple bed and wardrobe and dresser. Hadrian doesn't spend much time there, but allows Hiccup stay there however much he wants. Whether it's to spend the night, or just to get away from Stoick.
Hiccup pushes to his feet and stretches out his arms. "I think I'm going to take another lap around the island before dinner. You bringing anything?"
"Just a new fish stew recopy I learned from Heather." Hadrian says.
"Mmm, I can smell the lemon and rosemary already." Hiccup smiles rubbing his stomach. "You coming?"
"In a minute."
Toothless nuzzles against Hadrian's cheek and Hadrian pas his snout as he and Hiccup descend the dome. Lightning comes up and takes Hiccup's spot, licking the talon on his wing, then rubbing his head. They sit side by side, staring at the sunset, in silence.
"There is a force in this world that lives beneath the surface. Something primitive and wild that awakens when you need an extra push just to survive; like wildflowers that bloom after a fire turns the forest black.
Most people are afraid of it and keep it buried deep inside themselves.
But there will always be a few people who have the courage to love what is untamed inside us.
One of those men, is a Hiccup."