I heard music.

Flute music. Surprised, I let go of Richard's hand and moved forward.

My mother was sitting on a rock, playing my flute. She was playing the same tune my father had the night he gave it to me. I narrowed my eyes.

Where was Toothless?

I moved up, seeing him sitting in front of my mother, watching her playing intently. His ears twitched every few notes. He noticed me and immediately moved forward, throwing himself at me. I let out a yelp as he bowled me over.

"Hiccup! I saw you in my sleep!"

I buried myself into him, happy. He was alive. "Toothless..."

My mother moved up and handed the flute back the moment I stood up. "I just had to play it again. You can have it back now."

I put it back in my belt. I was a little confused.

"Okay then. Is this how you recognized me?"

"I recognized the flute, and couldn't understand why you had it. Then I decided to see if you had that birthmark on your hand." She answered.

I lifted my hand and stared at it. It had a noticeable mark on it, one I had never thought of before, just a mark. It was shaped roughly like nothing, partially like a blotch... I guess she recognized it anyway. Not that I'm complaining.

I smiled at her. "So... have you heard of Drago Bludvist?"

Her face went solemn. "Yes. He's a madman who has dreams of conquest. He's caused a lot of destruction and death."

My blood went cold. "Yeah. That's what I heard."

Richard put a hand on my shoulder. "We're out here to stop him."

I nodded.

Valka looked confused. "How? I have barely been holding him back, never mind stopping him. That AI trapper base I destroyed was one of hundreds."

I clenched my fists. Determination crossed my face. "I'm going to talk to him."

Richard's eyes widened. I hadn't told him what I had been planning to do once I found Drago. I knew he would disagree and try to stop me.

Valka shook her head. "No. There is no talking to Drago. If he wouldn't listen to me, he won't listen to you."

Richard nodded. "I agree. Besides. Why talk when we can just destroy some bases?"

"Because that's not what we do! We're the voice of peace, not war, Richard! I built Toothless as a friend, not a war machine!" I yelled. This is exactly the reason I had kept my plan a secret for so long.

Richard's eyes narrowed. "Well, what are we going to do then? Do we have a choice? He wants war!"

Valka watched helplessly.

I began to pace, very frustrated. "I won't fight. There has to be a way to make him stop. We stopped the supercomputer."

Richard had the same state of mind I did. Frustration. "It was a computer! You destroyed it! Drago is different! Hiccup, we have to fight."

I stopped. I stared at the ground for a long time. I had stood for peace for a long time. I wasn't going to let a madman ruin everything I had worked so hard for.

"No. I'm not going to fight! There has to be a way!" I hissed. There had to be.

Richard moved forward, hand extended. Desperation was in his eyes. He wanted to talk me out of it. "No, Hiccup. Listen."

"No, you listen! Remember three years ago! You were going to win training, and you wanted to find a way other than fighting! It may have gone wrong, but we got close! Peace won that day and it's going to win here too! I won't fight!" I finished my sentence with a defiant stomp.

Richard looked shocked and befuddled. He took a step back. I regretted my harshness a little.

I got onto Toothless and led him outside without another thought. We flew for a long time over the landscape, leaving everything behind.

I stared at my hands. I refused to kill, hurt, destroy. Was this war going to force me? Fighting and war never ended well. People died. Destruction. I could almost see the blood that would be spilled. I could almost hear the all too familiar screams of dying people. I could see the explosions raining down on houses. Bodies flying. I was beginning to shake, terror overcoming me.

"Sometimes you have to fight." Toothless said suddenly, startling me. The visions of war died away.

I stared at the top of his head. "I know. But... I don't want to. People die. I could lose you... or dad. If I can end this peacefully, I will."

"And if you can't?" Toothless asked, turning to me. "What will be the cost? You could lose us either way."

I looked back towards where we had come from. I then faced forward again and buried my face in my hands. I thought for a moment, Toothless's steady wing beats and wistling wind the only noises I heard. No screams or explosions.

"Toothless, you surprise me a lot, bud." I finally said.

"I'm good at it."

I smiled and patted his head twice. "I'll think it over. Let's go back."

He turned and flew back towards the sanctuary. "That's more like it, Hiccup."