And now the final Chapter! I have to say this may just be my best story yet. Anyway, thank you all for reading, following and reviewing. I've had more fun writing this story that I had with any other that I wrote. So please leave one last review and tell me what you think of this chapter and maybe the overall story. Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoy. (Told ya I saved the sappy words for the last chapter XD)
Stoick still stood in the house, not sure if he could actually go out and perform his daily job. He didn't know if he will ever be able to do it again. He turned away from the door and pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to hold back tears. He took a deep breath before turning back to the door. But when he looked to the door, he froze as more tears filled his wide unbelieving eyes. There in the doorway stood his son. Hiccup. He was alive. He was home.
"Hiccup?" Stoick whispered wanting to make sure it was really him.
"Hi dad. I'm home." Hiccup said in a shaky voice as tears filled his eyes too. Stoick ran to his son and dropped to his knees before pulling him into a tight hug. He tried to hold back the tears but they fell anyway. Hicccup hugged his father tight too. He gripped at the man's fur cape and buried his face in his strong chest.
"I missed you dad." Hiccup said.
"I missed you too, son." Stoick said as his voice cracked. Stoick then pulled him away and looked him in the eyes.
"What happened to you? Where did you go?" He asked.
"I was kidnapped in the middle of the night by slave traders. They took me to a trading sight on another island where I was sold to a man along with another boy. They're all here. The slaves. We freed ourselves." Hiccup said. Stoick looked horrified at what the boy said happened to him.
"A slave? You were sold as a slave?" Stoick whispered. Hiccup nodded. "But how did you escape?" Hiccup smiled up at him.
"Follow me. I'll show you." Hiccup said as he led his father out of the house. Stoick walked beside Hiccup with his hand protectively wrapped around his shoulders. Hiccup lead him to the dock cliff where the village was crowded around a group of very different dragons from what Berk was used to seeing. Hiccup nudged his way through the back of the crowd but once everyone saw the chief, they all made way for the two of them.
In the center of the crowd, the slaves had gotten off their dragons and were talking to the teens and villagers. Once they saw Hiccup return with the man beside him, they all quieted and looked to him.
"Dad? I'd like you to meet the slaves. We all worked together to free ourselves from Maldrigard. The slave owner." Hiccup said. "Guys, this is my dad. Chief Stoick." Hiccup said. Stoick stepped forward.
"Hello sir. I'm Fin. I was sold with Hiccup to Maldrigard." Fin said stepping forward.
"Hello Fin." He said before looking to everyone else. "Hello all of you. I can't thank you enough for helping my son escape." Stoick said.
"Actually sir." Winston said stepping forward. "Hiccup was the one who helped all of us escape. He came up with the plan and gave us the hope we needed to actually go through with the plan." Winston explained. Stoick looked down at his son in shock.
"Yeah. If it weren't for him, we would all still be slaves on that secluded island in the middle of nowhere." Daga said.
"He's brave, that's for sure." Another slave said. Fin then stepped up beside Hiccup and flung his arm over his shoulders.
"And he's a real nut to go up to a mob of wild dragons." He said. Hiccup laughed.
"Well it worked didn't it?" Hiccup asked with a smile making everyone else laugh.
"Well you are all welcome here on Berk." Stoick said.
"Actually dad, we're gonna take them all home. I think they've been away long enough." Hiccup said. All of the slaves became excited at hearing their finally going home.
"Then I'm coming with you. I'm not gonna lose you again, son." Hiccup smiled at his dad. The man called for Thornado and the dragon came instantly. Toothless came up beside Hiccup and nudged him in the side before motioning for the boy to hop on his back. Hiccup smiled and hopped into the saddle and set his prosthetic in place.
"Ready everyone?" He asked as he looked to the slaves. They all cheered. Stoick came up beside Hiccup.
"I'd say that's a yes." He said. They all took off and every all of the kidnapped teens and kids told Hiccup where they were from and one at a time they flew them to their island. The reunions were warming and full of happy tears from both parent and child. Finally there was one last teen to bring home.
"Ready to return home, Fin?" Hiccup asked with a smile. Fin was looking down at the back of the dragon he was riding. The Flamehuffer. "Fin?" Hiccup called softly as his smile fell.
"Do you think they'll remember me? It's been years since I seen them. Nearly eight." He said. Hiccup flew a bit closer to Fin.
"They'll remember. You never forget someone you love." Hiccup said. Fin looked up at him. Hiccup gave him a reassuring smile. Fin smiled back.
"You're right." He said.
"Come on. Let's get you home." Hiccup said as they flew off to the right where Fin's island was just over the horizon.
As they flew over the sea, Fin's heart started pounding in his chest. He was nervous. Anyone who was away from home that long with no way to communicate would be nervous to return. The island came into view and Fin's heart jumped into his throat.
"There it is, Fin." Hiccup said. Fin stared at the familiar island. Slowly a smile pulled at his lips and stretched over his face.
"Home..." He whispered. From where they were they could hear a man shout about a dragon attack.
"Whoa guys stop. We can't go there yet." Hiccup said as he stopped and had Toothless hover in place. The others did the same.
"W-why not?" Fin asked.
"They might think we're going to attack." Hiccup said.
"I'll go first." Stoick said.
"Dad no, they might shoot at you and kill you or your dragon. Or worse both of you." Hiccup said.
"They know me. I've visited this land many times Hiccup. They are Allies of Berk." Stoick said. Hiccup thought for a moment.
"Alright." He said. Stoick ordered Thornado to land them on the island and they flew toward it. Hiccup and Fin stayed hovering out over sea waiting the clear to come land.
Stoick flew closer to the island and saw that they had readied a catapult. "READY!... AIM!..."
"DON'T SHOOT!" Stoick shouted.
"HOL YOUR FIRE!" The chief of the tribe shouted as he barreled his way through the crowd of warriors. Stoick landed Thornado on the edge of the cliff.
"Stoick? Stoick the Vast? What in Thor's name are you doing on the back of a dragon?" The chief asked though he held a wide smile on his face.
"Ah, Angus!" Stoick said hopping off Thornado. "It's been a while. My village has made peace with the dragons thanks to my son. We don't kill them anymore but we ride them instead." He explained.
"Incredible." Angus said but his smile soon fell. "I heard about your son. Has he returned.
"He has. This morning in fact. He's waiting out over sea on his dragon for a signal for safe landing." Stoick said. Angus looked out and saw not one but two dragons.
"Who is the second dragon?" Angus said. Stoick smiled.
"That is why I am here." He said before turning to Thornado. "Do your thing, Thornado." He said. Thornado turned and let out a roar that echoed over the sea for miles.
"That's the signal!" Hiccup said. "Come on, Fin. Let's get you home." He said with a smile. Fin smiled wide before they flew to the island. The crown of people backed up and let the two land. Hiccup hopped off Toothless and stood beside his father.
"Hiccup! It's so nice to see you're safe." Angus said with a smile.
"Thank you. I hear about your missing son, sir. I'm really sorry." Hiccup said. Angus' smile fell.
"I wish I could see him again. Know he's alright. I miss him so much." Angus said. Hiccup smiled.
"You can see him again sir." Hiccup said. Angus looked at him confused. Hiccup looked to the second dragon. "Fin. Come on down." He said. Angus looked to the dragon with hopeful eyes. A leg swung over the side of the dragon before a boy jumped down and looked to the man.
"Hi dad." He said shyly. Angus gasped before running to the boy and lifting him in the air as he cried out joyously.
"MY SON! OH MY SON!" He shouted as he hugged the boy tight. "I've missed you so much, Finny!" He said as he set the boy back on the ground but never let him go.
"I missed you too dad." He said.
"Fin?! Fin?!" Came a woman's voice before she came running through the crowd of people. once she got to the center she gasped as tears filled her eyes. She ran to Angus and Fin. Angus let Fin go and immediately his wife hugged him tight. Fin buried his face into her shoulder as tears leaked from his eyes.
Another happy reunion. Hiccup and Stoick stood to the side and watched the reunion. Stoick held Hiccup close to his side as if letting him go would make him disappear again. After Fin reunited with his family and many thanks was given to Stoick and Hiccup, Hiccup and his father left back for Berk.
Once they were back home, Toothless and Stoick stayed close beside Hiccup as if to guard him. Hiccup smiled at the two. "Don't worry guys. I'm not leaving again." Hiccup said.
"And we're gonna keep it that way. I'm not losing you again for as long as I live. I love you son." Stoick said. Hiccup smiled at him.
"I love you too dad." He said. Stoick smiled and ruffled the boys hair. A grand feast was held at the Great Hall in honor of Hiccups return home. The teens sat with him at a table and asked him millions of questions of what happened while he was gone. Hiccup them everything. He showed them the slave mark and the scars on his back. Ruff and Tuff were ohhing and ahhing over them all. Astrid looked horrified by them all and Fishlegs had to look away. Snotlout didn't seem very effected by them though the widening of his eyes made it clear he was shocked. That day, Hiccup seemed to gain a whole new level of respect from his peers and the village. He was a strong boy. Maybe not strong in physical strength but in mental, and emotional strength, he was as strong as Thor himself.
Later in the night, Hiccup was getting into bed when his father came up the stairs. "Oh, hey dad." Hiccup said. Stoick looked his son over for a moment. "Is something wrong?" Hiccup asked feeling a bit uncomfortable with his father just looking at him.
"Just uh. Just making sure you're alright." Stoick said as he gently clapped his hands together. Hiccup smirked.
"I'm fine dad. Nothing is gonna happen to me." Hiccup said. Stoick nodded.
"Yeah. Right, of... of course." He stuttered. Stoick turned to leave until he heard Hiccup call to him.
"Hey dad?" Stoick looked back to Hiccup.
"Did... I mean... Did you ever try looking for me?" Hiccup asked. Stoick smiled sadly.
"Yes. We would look for hours. Some of the teens would go out after dark and not come back till morning looking for you." Stoick said.
"What about Outcast Island? Did you look there?" He asked.
"Yes, but hardly anyone was there. Why?"
"Because before we escaped slavery, Alvin and his crew invaded the island and tried to kidnap me and take me as his own slave. He was at the Slave auction too and tried to buy me." Hiccup explained. Stoick looked shocked until his eyes burned with fury.
"No Outcast is ever going to enslave my son. No man will ever enslave you again. I'm going to make sure of that." He said in anger.
"Don't worry dad." Hiccup chuckled. "We left Alvin back on Maldrigard island in a... Well I guess you can call it a tightly tangled situation." He finished. Stoick looked at him confused for a moment until he realized who he's trying to think like. His son was smart. One of the smartest on the island. When he thought of something, he thought of something good.
"I don't doubt it son. Well, it's late. Get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night, dad."
"Good night, son." Stoick said having missed saying that the past two weeks. He walked back down stairs and into his bed. Hiccup laid down and just as he closed his eyes, he felt himself being lifted off his bed by the back if his shirt. He jumped and looked back. Toothless and grabbed him with his teeth and was now walking back to his rock slab. He settled down before setting Hiccup down beside him and pulling him into his paws where he held him close to him. Hiccup chuckled.
"Missed me that much, huh?" He teased. That earned him a tail to the face. "GAH! Hey!" He said with a laugh. Toothless laughed before wrapping his wings protectively around the boy and nuzzling his nose in his hair. The two fell asleep quick, Hiccup was more than happy to be back home and with his family and friends. Toothless was sure to never let the boy out of his sight or reach ever again and same with Stoick. Hiccup has formed a strong bond with the village and even some of the former slaves he helped escape. He's a hero and a runt. A runt who holds a strength far greater than any man or beast could ever wish to hold. He has the strength of his family and friends and everyone around him. He's a Hiccup, that's for sure but he's also on hell of a Viking. It's just another reason that being a Hiccup isn't such a bad thing after all. In fact, it might just be the greatest thing anyone can ever be. So be proud of who you are, even if you are just a Hiccup.