Chapter 5

Hiccup Returns

It has been an odd month since Stoick returned, his people for the most part were accepting of Striker's plan and just wanted things to be safe so that the children could grow up in relative safety. However Stoick noticed that some of the people were speaking with Snotlout in whispers and feared that Snotlout was planing something that would ruin everything. "Spitelout what is your bone headed son planing?" Stoick asked him. "I'm afraid I'm in the dark as much as you are chief, the only thing I can guess is that pig headed son of mine is planing is he plans on getting rid of that Striker man" answered Spitelout. Stoick did not like the answer he got and made plans to counter what ever Snotlout was plotting.

It was a cloudy day when Striker and his dragon riders and some dragons arrived from the air and sea. "Hail Striker, welcome to Berk" greeted Stoick as he stepped forward from the gathered crowd. "Thank you sir" thanked Striker "As you can see Berk is on its last legs" said Stoick as he waved his arms showing that many of the buildings were in bad shape and needed major repairs. "Indeed, and hopefully we can help rebuild after the queen is dead" agreed Striker. Snotlout watches everything from the shadows. A night furry lands from the large flock right behind Striker startling the villagers "That's not the furry I saw at your house" said Stoick "Oh, she's my mate, she was in the forest when you came by" replied Striker "Your mate!?" exclaimed Stoick in shock "Of course, I've known her for years and she even helped me learn how to control and master my powers" answered Striker.

The people of Berk were very surprised that the leader of the dragon riders was able to become a dragon, a night furry to be exact and that he was mated to another one. Striker gave a speech about how the dragons that have been attacking were under the control of the Red Death that forced them to bring it food or become food, and how him and his riders were going to kill it. The villagers were horrified at the information that they were given and for the most part wanted to do anything they could do the help. The people that Snotlout had rallied under him were glad to know why they were being attacked, but still wanted to get rid of all the dragons. Stoick called for a feast for Striker and his people for saving Berk from being destroyed

"That Striker is going to go down" said Snotlout to himself "and I have a good way to do it too" "Good cuz if you fail I'll take things into my own hands" said a voice from the shadows "I'm sure you and your men will still get to fight Dagur" assured Snotlout "Striker's men will be in disarray from his death, so they'll be easy pickings"

A large feast was prepared at the great hall with food that Striker had brought with and happily shared. Stoick took the time to alert Striker and his men that Snotlout was planning something against them. Striker told Stoick that he figured he was going to try something, but didn't know what it was yet. "So you're still going to help?" asked Stoick "Of course, just because someone can't handle someone else taking charge doesn't mean I'm not going to help people who are asking for it and really need it" replied Striker.

Stoick was relieved that Berk was still going to get the help they needed. Snotlout tried to poison the food with Dragon's Bane, but was stopped by Berk's cook and one of the cooks from Dragon's Reach that had come with. "Darn, looks like I'm going to have to do this the old fashioned way" Snotlout said to himself.

After everyone was done eating Striker and Stoick started making plans on how to beat the Red Death and how to improve Berk afterwords. Suddenly Snotlout came charging in with his sword raised a slashed Striker on his back leaving a massive gash, luckily Striker had retracted his appendages beforehand so they weren't damaged. "AGG!" cried Striker in pain. Everyone could see that the wound was already heavily poisoned, but Striker seemed to not be overly fazed by it yet. "Snotlout! What in Thor's name do you think you are doing!" demanded an outraged Stoick "Getting rid of a threat" replied Snotlout "Striker's going to take away everything from us and leave us with nothing" "Are you mad! He'd never do such a thing! I read the treaty and understood what signing it would mean" yelled Stoick "Stoick, you know what the penitently for attacking me in such away means right?" asked Striker knowingly "Death, the sentence for attacking a chief or his family is death" answered Stoick "and I should have enforced that years ago, but I only saw a monster and not my son" "At least you realized your mistake, but I am going to have to take your only heir's life" replied Striker who had pulled out his twin blades (they were very different from his old ones and looked more oriental)

"I'm going to enjoy killing you!" declared Snotlout "I prefer to avoid killing others, but you leave me no choice you egotistical pig" replied Striker calmly despite being poisoned. Snotlout gave a war cry and charged. Striker sidestepped and slashed at Snotlout who managed to block the blow. "Ha! I'm the best warrior on Berk, you can not beat me!" taunted Snotlout "And I'm one of the best fighters in the known world so there" replied Stiker smugly. The two fighters exchanged blows and left some various cuts and gashes on each other, Hiccup had slightly underestimated Snotlout skills and figured he had used more powerful poisons this time that slowed him down pretty badly. Hiccup's allies were slightly worried about him, but they did have the proper medicine to treat him afterwords.

The fight lasted for about half an hour before Snotlout landed a powerful blow to Striker's head knocking off his helmet and knocking him to the ground. As Striker stood up all of Berk could see that it was actually Hiccup the whole time, and he looked livid. "Looks like my secrete's out thanks to you" snarled Hiccup "So the brat lived, but not for long!" yelled Snotlout as he charged as to stab Hiccup. Hiccup gave Snotlout a dark look and easily moved out of the way and then stabbed Snotlout in the gut and growled "I told you not to test me again, and now you die for your actions"

Hiccup then pulled out his twin blades as Snotlout slumped to the ground, dead. "Hiccup, it was you the entire time?" asked Stoick who couldn't believe his son had become so powerful and benevolent "Indeed, I couldn't have you try to run me threw or bring me back now could I?" replied Hiccup who sat up against a wall to steady himself. One of Hiccup's healers came over and began to treat his wounds and remove the poisoning, his mate also came over to comfort him as well. "By the way Dagur was nearby, but we captured him and his is now bound and gaged, headed back to Dragon's Edge for his trial" informed Fishlegs as he came over "Dagur was on Berk?!" asked Stoick in alarm "Yes he was, Snotlout had asked for his help, but it gave us the perfect chance to catch him" answered Astrid

"Hiccup, will you be alright?" asked Stoick with concern "Oh, I'll be fine, but don't think everything between us is fixed" answered Hiccup with his normal sarcasm "I know, but can you at least give me a chance to fix the way I treated you?" asked Stoick in a soft voice "In time, but I'm not the only one you need to make it up to" answered Hiccup "Who else do I need to make amends with, the others who left to follow you?" asked Stoick "Them and someone else" replied Hiccup "Who?" "Remember that woman who was with us when you came?" asked Hiccup "Aye, why?" "That woman happens to be my mother and your wife" answered Hiccup. Stoick took a step back in shock "Are you sure it was her?"

"Indeed it was me Stoick" answered Valka as she landed on Cloudjumper, the very dragon that carried her off. Stoick was lost for words upon seeing his long lost wife and felt very guilty for how he acted from the way she looked at him with anger and disappointment "Are ya goin to say somethin or not?" asked Valka "I'm...sorry for treating our son the way I did Val, can you ever forgive me?" replied Stoick in a uncharacteristicly sad and low voice "Like Hiccup said, in time I might, but I have a nest to help manage" answered Valka

After Hiccup was bandaged he stood up and informed Berk that he would be staying on his boat if they needed anything, but don't all come to apologize at once he already forgave them for the most part. So the plans continued to be made, with way more awkwardness now that Stoick knew that Hiccup was the Dragon Chief. Soon everything was ready for Hiccup to lead the attack on the Red Death's nest with help from the entire alliance. During the preparations Stoick asked if he could learn how to ride a dragon, Hiccup felt it was for the best for Berk, so that the changes could be made easier. So Stoick learned how to ride dragons and even befriended a Rumblehorn that he named Skullcrusher.