Stoic POV

The eerie, phantasmal mist of Helheim's fluttered around him like the spirits of the damned. Stoic watched as a stone beach seemed to fade into existence in front of the fleet. As he felt the ship stop, he leaped past the bow and took the first step on Dragon Island. He eyes dart across the stone cliffs of the mountain, just catching a colorful wing darting into one of the many crevices.

"We're here," he whispered to himself. The cursed demon his traitorous son befriended of had led them into the nest.

"Land on the beach and begin assembling the catapults!" Stoic shouted to his men. The order was repeated as the message was called down the line. The final battle was finally upon them.

Stoic might have been brave but he wasn't foolish. He planned on not only defeating the demons who had robbed him of his family, but returning home with as few casualties as possible.

'And deal with my son…' he thought to himself. No not now! Think about the pain of betrayal later, focus on the battle now.

The Berkians had set up battlements and catapults. They were almost ready. Stoic had selected a small group of Vikings, including Gobber, to take half of the 20 ship fleet to the other side of the island. That way even if the other ships were destroyed by dragon fire they could still sail home. About 30 men accompanied Gobber to guard the vulnerable ship from any dragons that stray too far from the battle.

One of the ships held the night fury that had led them here. They would return home with it to learn what weaknesses it had. Maybe he could convince Hiccup to take the dragons head, reclaim some measure of honor. Yes. Hiccup would do it and then they could forget he ever try to go against them. Stoic could finally train his son to be a true Viking.

His forces behind him have been readied. They watched as held his hand out, waiting for the signal. And as his hand fell forward, the catapults launched their payload. Bombarding the mountain with enough force to cave the wall in. Another projectile was launched, this one alight with flames. It sailed through tunnel revealing the hundreds of dragon clinging to the walls. With a roar he rushed forward swinging at the clouds of wings and scales that blurred past him. However, his hammer met only air and the heat of dragon fire was strangely absent. The wave of dragons ended, flying past without a fight and as they left his men cheered in their apparent victory.

'This is wrong. It could never be so easy. They didn't even fight.' Stoic thought to himself as dread gathered and grew within his mind. 'Why? Why did they simply run away?'

Suddenly the earth shuddered and his son's words echoed through his mind.

There's something else on their island…No dad you don't understand…It's like nothing you've ever seen…I promise you can't win this one… Dad please…For once in your life would you please just listen to me…

It was in that instance that the first seed of doubt planted itself in Stoics mind, but it came far too late.

"This isn't over! Form your ranks and hold together!" he shouted and seconds later the side of the mountain exploded outward. Stoic had managed to get back with all of his men as a creature emerged from the hail of ruble.

It was like something out of a nightmare. A massive behemoth of a dragon with armored skin and topped with a crown of blood red spikes. Its eye was like the eye of Níðhöggr itself. And in that moment, a horrible realization became clear to Stoic.

Hiccup hadn't been trying to protect the dragons from Berk. He was trying to protect Berk from this monstrosity. Stoic suddenly felt something he had only felt once before, on the night Valka was taken from him. For the second time in his life, Stoic the Vast felt true terror.