I was curled up pathetically on the couch, holding my flute. There was silence, and all I could hear was my own heartbeat and breathing. I had cried all the tears possible, now I felt as drained as a squeezed sponge. I just stared straight ahead, resting my head on an arm. There was a soft knock, and then the door opened. It was Astrid. I had expected Richard or my mother, but instead, Astrid came in, moving towards me as slowly as if she would spook me or shatter me if she moved too fast.

It had been a week since my father's death, and I still hadn't fully accepted that it had happened.

Toothless had not returned.

Many AI were missing.

Things looked bleak. I hadn't even realized I had closed my eyes until I opened them to Astrid's face, creased with worry. I didn't really feel like talking to her. Not because I felt like I would say something stupid, but because I had heard the same things over and over, and if I heard it one more time, I would go insane.

How are you feeling?

It's okay, things will be fine.

We're here for you.

You're not alone.

We're all suffering with you.

I avoided Astrid's gaze, staring instead at my hands that held a wooden flute. A gift. A piece of my father. It sat in my scratched, blistered, white hands, looking calm and peaceful in my grasp. I almost felt like playing one of the tunes my father had taught me.

"Hiccup?" Astrid asked quietly. "You okay?"

I didn't answer, feeling my tongue unwilling to move. I felt embarrassed and stupid and useless. I quivered, closing my eyes, only to see my father's eyes in my head. He stared at me, calm and loving, then shocked and startled, then cold and lifeless. It was too much. I opened my eyes again and stared straight into Astrid's gaze.

I felt trapped.

It was an endless cycle of pain. And whenever I felt anything other than soul crushing grief, I would see something that reminded me of his death, and it would come back in the form of a painful slug in the stomach. But I was incapable of crying again.

I was not okay.

"Hiccup, please answer me." Astrid said, even though she was talking to someone grief-stricken, and there was gentleness in her voice, there was firmness. "You can't hide in here forever. You can't sit here on this couch feeling sorry for yourself forever, you have to get up and move on."

Was she serious?!

I hadn't just stubbed my toe or anything. I had lost my father! A family member I had looked up to since I could talk! I had loved him, respected him, and now he was dead! And she wanted me to just shrug it off?!

I glared at her, unable to speak properly just how much this had hurt me.

"I mean, yes, he was a great man." She continued, apparently unaware of how mad I was at her. "And yes, it must hurt more than anything I can imagine. I'm not saying you forget him, or pretend he never existed. I-" She stopped to collect her thoughts. "Remember what happened after you lost your leg?"

I was taken aback by this a little. I managed to nod.

"It's like that. You feel the pain, the loss. But you don't forget you ever had it. You get up and walk again, you move on. But you still never forget." She stared at me expectantly. "I- I'm sorry Hiccup, I just- I really want to help you, and you won't talk to me. You don't talk at all anymore. I'm trying-"

My anger faded, replaced by an empty feeling. She just wanted to help, like everyone else. She just had different ways of doing it. She was encouraging me in her own way. I tried to do something to tell her that I appreciated it, but my body wouldn't respond. I was weighed down by exhaustion, and I couldn't talk.

"I guess I'll just leave, then. Sorry for hurting you." She said curtly, but I saw pain and sympathy in her eyes as she stood.

Do something, Hiccup!

"I-" My words died in my throat as she turned to me. "I-"

She said nothing, but sat down next to the couch and watched me, her eyes encouraging me to speak. A hidden well of tears sprang up and opened, beginning to flow down my already tear-stained cheeks.

"A-a-Astrid... please don't leave." I choked, surprised at just how worn my voice sounded as it crawled out of my mouth, every word making my throat sting, my heart beginning to pound. "I'm sorry-"

She nodded. "I'm sorry too. I'm sorry if I came across as uncaring, because I do care, I do!" I was startled by tears beginning to flow from her blue eyes.

"I know you care." I whispered, trying to show I really cared about her, too.

"I missed you a lot when you were gone, more than I admitted to anyone. If you tell anyone, I'll punch you." She spluttered the last part.

I was taken aback by this. "You missed me?"

"We all did. You should have seen Rich, he was a mess. Poor guy." She nodded.

I bit my lip. "Oh. I- to be honest, I hadn't even really realized how long I was gone."

"Three years, give or take..." Astrid said softly. "Three long years."

I sighed softly. Then, I put all my strength into moving. It brought more pain than I expected, and I wheezed from the effort, but I managed to sit up. Astrid reached out to help me, but hesitated. She instead sat beside me, and her warmth comforted me. I suddenly realized I was taller than her. How had that happened? She had been taller than me since I was fifteen. Wait... three years after the Red death... three years of being gone... I wasn't almost nineteen like I had thought. I was twenty one! I rubbed a hand over my chin and was aware of some very thin stubble beginning to grow. If I had anything of my dad, I would grow a beard too. I realized my prosthetic was kind of small for my growing legs, and it dawned on me just how much I had grown over three years of imprisonment, no less. I had been a pathetic shell when Richard had found me, but now that I was fed and cleaned.. well, cleaner, anyway, I-

My thoughts were interrupted as I turned to Astrid.

"You haven't seen yourself since you got back, have you?" She asked.

"I have gone three years without a mirror." I joked lightly, feeling surprisingly happy now.

I was growing.

Astrid stood up and walked over to the table, grabbing a mirror. She handed it to me, and I peered into it. I hardly recognized the face that stared back. I almost looked like a shaven version of my father. Minus a few years. It was incredible. I stared up at my hair as well. It had gone from being a little mop on my head to sticking in all directions. It almost looked as though it had been struck by lightning, a auburn mess all over my head. It was long enough that I definitely needed a haircut.

"Well, guess it's time for a haircut." I remarked, brushing a hand through the mess of hair.

"I have a better idea." Astrid smiled and reached out for my hair, and I felt her soft hands brush my neck as she worked. She was so gentle. I had thought her the fearless no nonsense or softness warrior type. But here she was, working with my hair, and I felt oddly relaxed in her presence. I realized just how much she had grown during my time gone from Berk. She was beautiful, as always. But she seemed... nicer?

"There." She said. "Finished."

I pulled the mirror up and looked at myself. She had braided my hair into two little braids under my right ear. I chuckled.

"I think it looks cute on you." She said, gently rubbing a hand on my shoulder. I felt warmth rush into my cheeks.

"Really?"

"Of course, Hiccup... you look pretty handsome now. A few years really grew you up." She said, and was it my imagination, or was she blushing? "Inside and out."

"Well, thank you, milady." I responded, trying to hide my growing embarrassment and feelings from long ago to focus on the now. "And if I might say so, you're lovely. Of course that's my opinion, but-"

She blinked at me, and our eyes met.

"Hiccup..." She drew in closer, and gently kissed me on the cheek. "Thank you." She said softly.

I smiled and my face suddenly felt very heated. I had to be blushing, and I tried to hide it. Astrid giggled and moved even closer. I couldn't move, and my heart was pounding hard. She moved in...

And our lips touched.

I was standing outside, looking at the village. Astrid was beside me, being a source of comfort. Some villagers were walking around, trying to pretend everything was fine. Some of them looked at me sympathetically. I sighed softly. I turned and saw Richard walking toward me. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around me in a tight friendly supportive embrace.

"Good to see you up." He said, backing away. I looked him over. He was two years older than me. And he looked worn but strong, now wearing some better armor that wasn't tattered. I hadn't really realized just how old we really were... six years.

He must have caught my expression.

"You okay? Hey, wait. Your hair."

I shrugged. "Astrid said it looked cute on me."

"Astrid was right." Richard joked gently, punching me in the shoulder. "Real grown up, buddy."

I snorted and rolled my eyes. "I'm gonna keep it this way."

"Hey, whatever you-"

"Wait." I interrupted. "Do you guys hear that?"

It started as a low hum, and grew. Inferno, who had walked up behind Richard, apparently did hear it, and he began growling. The hum turned into a rumble. Which turned into a roar. And with that, a large amount of AI appeared over the trees, with men on their back. I saw Toothless among them, in the front.

FLYING. WITH WINGS.

They flew over the village, making a show. They turned around, and Toothless broke off to land in front of me and Richard. I stared in disbelief. Viggo was riding on Toothless, wearing the very Cyborg armor that I had designed. Viggo must have given Toothless his wings back. And-

He was alive.

Inferno immediately began snarling in Viggo's direction.

Viggo seemed just as surprised that I was alive as I was that he was alive. We stared for a moment, than rage hit me. He killed my father. Without thinking, I dashed forward with an angry roar and tackled him to the ground. We tussled for a moment until I felt a strong force knock me off Viggo. I tumbled in the dust before looking up to see Viggo getting onto Toothless' back. He turned to me and Richard as if nothing had happened.

"This is your final chance to surrender. As you can see, I clearly have the upper hand here. I have my men, your AI, and you are at a severe disadvantage. Where is your Chief that I may speak to him to discuss your terms of surrender?" He said calmly and smugly.

Richard stepped forward. "You're looking at him."

Viggo raised an eyebrow. "Where's Chief Frank Stoick Haddock? I would assume that nothing would keep him? He's a strong man."

"You." I hissed hatefully. "You killed him."

Viggo turned to me. "Ah, so that's why you're here and he isn't." He frowned softly. "I guess your AI missed."

I felt burning rage on the verge of exploding in me. I felt Astrid's hand on my shoulder, and calmed, but only slightly.

"Well, with your previous Chief dead, your village can't be that strong." Viggo grinned. "Well then. Let's discuss terms of surrender now. Please don't make this any more difficult than it has to be."

Richard drew a sword. "We will never surrender or bow to a murderer like you, Viggo. You might as well turn and run right now, because if you think that you'll have an easy victory, think again. We'll fight you to the last, with every bit of strength we have. We're Berkians!"

The crowd around us roused at his speech, drawing weapons and lifting them, beginning to chant "Ne-ver! Ne-ver!"

I joined in the chant, and Viggo just frowned slightly. "Very well then. But you forced me into this."

He guided Toothless into the sky, and I saw my friend's eyes. They were empty and emotionless. Viggo had reprogrammed Toothless or something horrible like that. I had to get to him. The AI turned on the already ruined Berk and began to destroy it even more, and Berkians began to attack back, upset to be hurting their AI, but desperate to survive. I kept my eyes fixed on Toothless, a crazy, stupid, absolutely suicidal plan forming in my mind, much like the one Richard had come up with years and years ago in the kill ring. I got onto Inferno in front of Richard just as he was going to take off.

"Take me to Toothless." I yelled.

"What? Are you crazy?" Richard questioned.

"Yes! Now go!" I replied.

"Okay!" Richard angled Inferno toward Toothless, who instead of attacking, was hovering over Berk with a smug Viggo on his back. He had the look of someone who was about to swat a very irritating fly. Until he saw us coming toward him. He watched, even more smug looking as we approached.

"Another brilliant plan, Hiccup?" He asked. "Well, don't let me stop you, boy! You're out of options anyway!"

I ignored him, having Inferno move closer and closer to Toothless.

"Bud? Are you there?" I asked, terror shaking me as flashbacks of his thin, horrifying eyes and the blast, and- Focus, Hiccup. "I'm here, Toothless. Come back to me."

"He's not yours anymore. He belongs to me now." Viggo spat. "But please, oh brilliant little boy, try to take him. He won't miss a second time."

At this, Toothless' jaws opened, and I heard a faint whistle of his fire building. I winced back a little, terror rushing through me, my vision blurring, my heart beating wildly, every breath was painful. I forced myself to move forward, holding a hand toward Toothless' nose.

"Toothless. It wasn't your fault. You didn't mean to hurt him, Viggo made you do it." My voice was cracking, but I forced myself to focus on Toothless' eyes and nose, not his widening mouth with a faint blue glow...

"You would never hurt him. You would never hurt me." I said, tears blotting out my vision. All I could see now was his eyes. Inferno was flying as close as he could to Toothless, and I was leaning over the side, trying to get to my friend.

"Please, bud. You're my friend."

I touched his nose, and something flickered oh so faintly between us.

"My best friend." I whispered, emotion filling me.

You're all I have left. I'm not going to push you away ever again.

I won't leave you. I won't let you go.

He snorted, shaking his head back and forth. His pupils flickered between thin and wide, fighting a battle between programming and real emotion. I watched as he fought, Viggo losing his smugness with every second Toothless fought.

"H-how are you doing that...?" He asked, sounding stunned. I ignored him.

"That's it, Toothless! It's me!"

"Hiccup!" Toothless said happily, his eyes flickering with recognition. "Hiccup!"

"NO!" Viggo yelled, grabbing a sword and smacking Toothless with the blunt end. Toothless roared and grabbed it, throwing Viggo off his back. Viggo fell with a scream, and I was filled wit excitement. I stood on Inferno's back and leaped to Toothless. He caught me, and it just felt right. And Toothless roared with happiness as we turned toward the battle. The AI were turning on Viggo's men, dumping them onto the ground where our warriors fought them until they ran for it. I saw Richard whooping as he sent Ryker running for his life. And within moments, the battle had turned. From hopeless to hopeful as the last of Viggo's men ran out into the woods, AI at their heels, screeching furiously.

And then it was over. We landed and began to mill about, looking after each other. Richard sent some scouts to find Viggo and bring him back. People were being healed and reuniting. It was happy and beautiful.

"Your father would have been proud." I turned to see my mother. It looked like she had fought too, judging by the fresh wounds. She didn't look worse for wear, though. Her eyes were glinting with strength and pride. "And I am too."

"Thanks, mom." I nodded.

"Hiccup!" A frantic voice called my name. I turned just in time to see Astrid run up to me. She wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly. "You scared me, don't EVER do that again!" She drew back and slugged me in the arm.

"Ow!" I snorted indignantly. "Wha-"

I was caught off guard as she pulled me into a long, passionate kiss. I felt my heart flutter with joy.

"That's for coming back." She stated, staring into my eyes.

"Okay, I can get used to this." I murmured, smiling.

Astrid flashed me a knowing look and kissed me on the cheek.

"Me too." I heard her whisper into my ear.

I was in the forge, working on my latest project. I heard footsteps and turned around to see Astrid.

"Greetings, milady." I said cheerily.

"Whatcha working on, babe?" She asked, walking over to me.

"Uh... promise you won't laugh?" I asked.

"Sure." Astrid agreed.

"Outfits." I stated. Astrid immediately covered her mouth with a hand and suppressed a snort. I rolled my eyes.

"You said you wouldn't laugh."

"Outfits?" She asked. "Really?"

"Yeah, I'm kind of low on clothes that fit me." I gestured to all of me, the only thing I was wearing was an undersized green shirt and some too-small pants with one of my raggedy old fur vests.

She nodded. "Okay, makes sense, but in the forge?"

"I don't really have a place to live right now." It was true, Richard had moved into the Chief's hut, since it was proper to do so. Most of the other houses were pretty beaten up, and were being torn down and rebuilt. So, I was basically living in the temporary forge, which I was adding on to to make it a home for me and Toothless. But I desperately needed clothes, and I was taking the chance to make some cool outfits.

"Okay, what are you making, specifically? This?" She motioned to the heap of black leather on the table.

"Yup. And this one's finished. Want to see me in it?"

"Yes." Astrid nodded eagerly. "Go get into it, already!" She pointed to the back room.

I nodded and grabbed the outfit, eager to get it on. I threw off my small clothes, and put on the new outfit. I strapped everything, and stepped out. Astrid let out a gasp of excitement.

I was wearing a green shirt with dark green pants, a big boot on my one good foot and my new prosthetic on the other. I had large forearm covers that were black and brown, one had a dagger in it. The other carried a compass, paper, and a pencil. I had a chest-plate with a lopsided asymmetrical look, and it had a little button with a red dragon on it. On the shoulder pads, one was shorter with brown underneath, and the right one was longer, and had a red skull on it. Under my left arm, I was holding my new helmet, with a flip up visor.

"You look amazing!" Astrid squealed, uncharacteristically excited.

"Thank you." I grinned. "Oh, and-" I turned and pointed to Toothless' tail-fin. The one Viggo had given him back had fallen off, so I had made him a red one with the same skull symbol as on my right shoulder pad.

Astrid gave me a thumbs up.

Things were finally returning to normal.

And it felt good, finally enjoying some relaxing time with friends, no wars, just enjoying relaxing.

I had earned this.

And I was going to make it last.

The future was finally looking bright again.

A/N: Go to my Tumblr for an image of this scene that I drew! It's under the same username and logo, so you should have no trouble finding me. Search for HTMAF in my search bar, and you should see it pop up.

And don't forget to review!