XXX

Hiccup

"What do you mean doomed?" Astrid yelled.

"What I mean is the village is calling for Hiccup's head a message came in from Outcast Island that the Bersekers are under attack by some foreign power. Most likely Berk is there true target but they want to leave us completely exposed."

"Don't they know Hiccup was the one who stopped the raid two days ago?"

"Most refuse to see that as the truth and Spitelout has nearly half the village on his side. It seems that either Hiccup leaves or is put on trial. Knowing Spitelout he'll demand a trial by combat."

Astrid remained silent but she had a very frustrated look, and Stoick was looking very downcast. I wasn't entirely aware of where the trial any combat came from but I could understand the anger of the village.

I sighed, "If me leaving allows you guys to focus then I will. I thought I could help you guys but apparently nothing has changed."

I got up and went to my room where my small pack was placed and threw my things back into it and looked around the room. I never thought I would actually miss it after calming back to it for such a short time. I heard steps behind me and I thought it was Astrid here to try and stop me.

"I don't want to hear it Astrid I'm going, its for the best."

"Ah if only that were the case son."

My father was in fact the one who stood behind me blocking the doorway it was not the first surprise from him today.

"What do you want? I would've thought you of all people would want me gone."

"Hiccup I know that when you left I wasn't the best of fathers but I realize now that I was wrong. So very wrong. Nothing can change the past though but I can still change the future."

"And how would you do that?" I snapped.

"By you staying here. Of coarse the village may hate me for it but your mind is what we need if we are to survive the coming storm. You must know exactly who were dealing with and fi you know them then you know how to fight them."

I stood there completely speechless. My own father who before wanted nothing to do with me not wanted me to stay? He really wanted to make amends? He knows what's coming but the rest of the village doesn't.

"You know who they are don't you?" I asked.

He hung his head and sighed, "Yes, two years ago a scout from them came across one of our hunting parties and we brought him back to give him supplies and directions to get home. we got a good look at his maps and ship. The design and expertise was like something we had never seen before. A year later I was called to the mainland by this man and found myself face to face with the emperor himself. He was intrigued by us and wanted to know more about dragons so we gave him a look at out book of dragons and all he did was smile. Before I left he told me that we would be in contact and to be wary not to cross him."

"I still don't understand, why like us and then turn around and attack us?"

"Because when they returned and asked for our subjugation we refused and he said that the only thing we would know now is the steel of their blades."

"Its good you refused them, I've seen them burn who cities to the ground to get what they want. If they got their hands on dragons then nothing would stop them. But if I stay you'll have to get the village to listen to me and if they try to kill me I'm leaving you all to die, well those that don't come with me."

"You'll have that," he turned, "and Hiccup its good to have you back son."

He walked down the stairs and I proceeded to take out my journal and began to draw the designs I had in mind. Before I could put it down I wrote down what just happened, and decided that maybe someone else could use my knowledge. After I was done writing I shut the book and took it with me down the stairs. Astrid was gone and so was Reylia but Toothless sat by the door ready to get outside.

My father had also disappeared but outside I could hear the village digging itself out of the snow. I opened the door and felt the crisp winter air. It wasn't as cold as it use to be but I had simply gotten use to being out in the cold. A few looked in my direction and then got very angry looks before returning to their work. I decided to head the mead hall to see if any of my old friends were there.

Little did I know that I would find all of them there vehemently a ruing over something or rather with someone. That someone being Astrid. Most of them hadn't changed much,especially Snotlout who seemed to still be wanting Astrid as he kept trying to get closer to her. Fishlegs was just his usual self but absorbed into a book but the twins were yelling at Astrid now.

"I'm telling you he's back and here to help!" Astrid yelled.

"Yeah right more likely he's going to blow up the place." Ruffnut countered.

"That would be cool to see." Tuffnut added.

"Not helping!" she hit him over the head.

"Why can't you guys just agree with me."

"Because Hiccup hates all of us so why would he come back?"

I stood there a few feet away just listening and then decided to walk up and help Astrid.

"You know I didn't hate everyone."

Astrid turned and smiled at me while the twins looked at me with utter astonishment on their faces. Snotlout got a very irritated look and grabbed his knife off the table. All Fishlegs did was look down form his book and remain silent observing everything.

"What are you doing here?" Snotlout sneered.

"As Astrid told you I'm here to help whether you like it or not."

"We don't need your help."

"Sure I'll believe that when you beat the Roman armada that is currently sailing this way."

They all stayed silent and Snotlout was the first to react.

"Just one armada, I could beat that by myself easily."

"Sure you could if you could get past the crossbows and fully steel armored soldiers."

"How do you know so much about them?" Fishlegs inquired.

"I was captured by them three times, you tend to learn a few things."

"Of coarse you were captured, and I'm betting they laughed at how easy it was."

"The first time maybe but they have nice way of showing it."

I lifted my shirt to reveal the huge scar that ran from the middle of my chest almost down to my waist.

"That was from the first time, the second time they gave me this."

I lifted my leg to show the peg leg that was in place of and actual leg. No one said a thing and Snotlout was utterly speechless.

"But the third time did the most damage, Astrid if you would help me."

Once my shirt was lifted to reveal the mess of scars all over my back everyone was taken back by the brutality. I hadn't shown Astrid these and her breath caught. I rolled my shirt back down and a few memories ran though my head but I pushed them away.

"They don't just do physical damage they love to mess with your mind to get information out of you. So Sotlout care to counter by saying you could survive this. Hours of torture in a dark room wondering if the next breath would be your last, thinking no one was coming to save you?'

He remained silent and Astrid placed her hand on my shoulder and I looked over at her and she was almost in tears. I forgot that I could get pretty terrifying when I started talking about stuff like this. I sighed and pulled her in for hug letting her know I would stop. Once I let her go I kept my arm around her shoulder to make sure I was tied to someone.

"So are you guys like a thing?" Ruffnut asked.

"Yeah I guess you could say that." I said.

She smiled and Snotlout cried out in distress.

"But Astrid what about us, what about me?"

"First off this us was never going to happen and two it isn't all about you Snotlout."

A little heat went to my face but Astrid simply leaned into me and I felt better knowing someone was there to hold me together. Snotlout got up and stormed off mumbling things that I couldn't understand. I proceeded to sit down with Astrid very close.

"So how did you survive five years with dragons?" Fishlegs asked.

"Well its not as hard as you think with a fire breathing, flying, predator on your side."

"What's with the other dragon? The giant one off the shore?"

"Oh he's a friend. He was actually the one who helped me escape the first time from the Romans."

"How powerful is his fire then if he could blast through rock."

"Actually he breathes ice, not fire."

"Even cooler, I bet he can cause some serious destruction." Tuffnut said.

I laughed, "Yeah he can easily tear through a town if he wanted to but his true power comes from his mind."

"What do you mean?" Fishlegs asked.

"Well he is an alpha and those types of dragons can mentally manipulate other dragons into following them. Not total mind control but he can influence them and they respond as long as he protects them."

The doors to the mead hall opened but I didn't bother to look who came in and just kept talking. Before I knew it I was off my feet being carried by someone and surrounded by bunch of angry villagers. I quickly escaped from his grasp using my training and landed in front of the group. No surprise but the man that was holding me was Spitelout with Snotlout right behind him. One of the villagers tried to grab me but i just dodged him with ease and turned to face them again. No one moved but then Spitelout drew a sword and charged me.

I easily dodged his swings as they were wild and undisciplined but that only mad him madder. The doors to the mead hall opened again and huge voice stopped Spitleout cold.

"What is the meaning of this!" my dad yelled.

"I was teaching the traitor what we do to his kind." Spitelout spat.

"My son is no traitor and you will treat him as such. He is hear to help us defend Berk."

"As if, most likely he's leading a swarm of dragons here to kill us all and then leave to go did it to another village. He has to be dealt with."

His sword was now pointed at me and cries of agreement started throughout the hall.

"What do you want Spitelout?" my father asked.

"A trial by combat against my son to prove if he's a traitor or not. But also if my son wins Astrid is his but if Hiccup wins then he can keep her."

Astrid creed out but I held my hand up for her to stop. She looked at me with pleading and worried eyes.

"I fight your son but if I win you'll have to promise to leave me alone."

"Fine and we can use whatever weapons we want, right?"

"What ever the rules state then sure. I wasn't around when the rules were put in place so someone will need to explain it to me but when will we fight."

"Two nights from now, should give you enough time to leave."

I stared him down and he simply smiled wickedly and left, Snotlout stood there a moment longer and had the largest smile on his face. He soon left and Astrid and my father came running over.

"Son how could you do something so foolish?"

"You warned me he would be calling for blood and Snotlout doesn't scare me. If this is the way to prove to the village that I'm here to help then so be it. Even if I lose I'm just going to leave and you guys and figure out how to survive on your own."

I stormed out of the hall and saw Toothless waiting for me. I hopped onto his back and we charged into the sky.

XXX

Astrid

I couldn't believe what had just happened not only that Hiccup agreed to fight for his life but also to keep me safe. Stocik quickly left in fury at what had just occurred but I suddenly got extremely worried for Hiccup as Snotlout was in his prime and way stronger and faster than he looked. Hiccup had no idea what he was getting into and yet it seemed as is he did and that he knew fully well that he could win. Of coarse I have never seen him fight so if he was as good as he sounded then Snotlout was in for a rude awakening.

I ran out of the hall to find Hiccup but knew most likely he had disappeared into the skies. My hope was that he didn't go anywhere and not come back. So I simply went over to the forest to practice my throwing and while aiming at a tree I heard some huge amount of crashing. I followed the noise to find something I couldn't even believe what I was seeing.

It was Toothless laying of the forest floor but next to him was a man in leather but his skin was all midnight black scales. Then I realized that it was Hiccup but he looked nothing like his usual self. He was swinging his arms around and around him green flames were growing and with a swing of his arms a huge wall of fire grew and flew outwards. I dropped down the hill behind Hiccup and Toothless noticed me and brought his head up.

He was still glowing with green flame when he looked over at Toothless.

"What are you looking at?" he snapped.

He turned around and he looked at me with utter shock and then fear. I couldn't believe this was Hiccup and he wackily calmed down and his scales went away quickly. He moved forward tentatively not sure what to do.

"Astrid…" he said.

"Don't touch me."

I turned and ran completely terrified of the Hiccup I just saw and thought that this was not possible. I could feel tears begin to work their way into my eyes and I tried to suppress them down as I didn't want anyone to see me crying. I could hear Hiccup scream behind me and felt a faint heat from the fire he must have created.

XXX

Hiccup

"I'm so stupid!" I screamed.

The fire had gone out but I was still covered in my black scales and the sight of Astrid seeing me this way was not what I wanted to happen. I was resolved now to win her back and prove that I was not some rage monster at the trial.

XXX

Unknown

"Our scouts have come in that the Outcasts are aware of our arrival."

"It makes no difference our reinforcements should arrive within the week and nothing will stop us." the commander said.

"What about the queen?"

"We need a place of operating if we intend to subjugate this area."

The small fleet was anchored about two miles of the island shore and from there you could see the men running around preparing the island's defense. It made no difference in the end as nothing could withstand his men.

"Inform the fleet, we begin landing at dawn."

So I was not expecting to finish this chapter this quickly but hey have fun with it. However track has started up and the recent court case project in my government class ended, if you go to Tipp City you know what I'm talking about. Now these chapters will start to slow but I know where it is going. If you have any ideas of what you might want to see happen let me know and I'll see if I can't work it into the story. Enjoy and review or not. -starwarswiz