Elsewhere on Berk, Hiccup, Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, and the twins were at the Great Hall, reminiscing on their days back at the Edge, where they had spent a year away from home in the pursuit of new dragons and on a mission to protect themselves, their homes, and their human and dragon allies alike from Johann's forces.
Naturally, there are many changes in the group. Hiccup and Astrid now have time for each other and their relationship, Hiccup built a new Dragon Blade after his old one shattered in the Bewilderbeast's cave, with improvements based on Viggo's designs. Astrid got a new red tunic and wears her betrothal necklace underneath it, and Hiccup made her a new axe to replace her one destroyed in battle. The twins are, well, still utterly and hopelessly destructive, regaining all the free time in the world to dedicate themselves to Loki. Meanwhile, Snotlout and Fishlegs are both fighting for Ruffnut since she is the last girl left in their generation after Astrid was betrothed. Their attempts have been fruitless so far.
"Remember when we first met Mala? Totally terrifying! But we were amazing lawyers, weren't we dear sister?"
"Of course dearest brother! Hiccup would've had his head chopped off were it not for us!"
"Ooh some nice head choppin' action. Love it! I wish I could have - ", Tuffnut was interrupted by an axe to the side of the head from Astrid.
"OK! It's good Astrid - Tuff, Ruff - enough," Interrupted Hiccup with a twinge of amusement in his voice. "One, you were terrible lawyers, two, my head is not getting chopped off anytime soon."
Astride smirked at her doing and sat back down. Meanwhile, Fishlegs was remembering Heather and the short-lived relationship they shared during the time she lived at the Edge, but he wasn't going to share that with the group. Snotlout on the other hand was bragging about his deserving the kinghood of Caldera Cay and the Defenders of the Wing, only to be brought out of his trance by an incoming terror mail.
"Hiccup, we've got a T-mail in the sky, there, look!"
He pointed towards the flying green lizard heading their way through the Hall's doors.
"I wonder who it's from. Come here little guy let's see."
Hiccup unrolled the sheet of parchment tied to the Terror's legs and let him go, then read it aloud to the group.
"Dear Hiccup Haddock III,
My warmest greetings to you and your Riders. I have been intending to re-establish contact with your group since our last meeting at Johann's base before the end of the war. If you are yet to realise who this is, then I will spell it out for you - This is Viggo Grimborn, ex-Hunter and a changed man, an enemy to you and the dragons no longer, but a friend and an ally, if you accept me of course.
You may probably be thinking: "How?", "Why?", "Where?", amongst other questions, but worry not, I shall elucidate and explain if and when you decide to accept my request to visit you at Berk. I know I will not be a pleasant sight to many, even if we did fight together against Johann, which is why I ask your permission to come beforehand.
Best wishes, Viggo."
The group was left thunderstruck at the revelation.
After minutes of silence, Astrid spoke up, "So… Do we accept his request? Can we trust him? Do you trust him, Hiccup?"
Snotlout added, "Exactly, he spent the better part of a YEAR hunting our butts down! Can we really believe him?"
Begrudgingly, Fishlegs agreed, "As much as I waver to neutrality, Hiccup, Astrid and Snotlout have a point. Can we throw away all our past and just accept his request like that?"
"Please let him come he is so poetic and formal- "
"And so destructive!" added Tuff and Ruff
Finally, Hiccup responded to the bombardment of question and doubts and comments.
"Alright, enough, I get the point. See - this man saved my life and befriended dragons, trained a Nightmare and a Skrill with friendship and bonding rather than violence and dominance like the Flyers, and this is the first-hand proof I saw of the change he claims in the letter. Last time I saw him, he was gravely injured, but I wouldn't put it past him to have gotten help from the outside. He did have a Skrill after all, and it obviously helped him escape if he is writing us a letter - And this is undoubtedly his handwriting. I say we accept his request and host him here, if just for a day. Astrid?"
"I guess, all that considered, he may be genuine. After all, we doubted Dagur in the beginning but look at him now. He changed drastically."
Hiccup nodded then glance at everyone else, gauging their reactions? "Everyone else? What do you think?"
He received a chorus of "OK" and "If you trust him then we do" from the rest.
"It is settled then. I will write to him and tell him to come over tomorrow."
Next morning, Viggo and Haddock landed in the cove at the far side of the island where Hiccup and the gang were waiting to receive him. They had not informed Stoick or anyone of the developments and were planning on introducing the new Viggo to their Chief after they met him first.
"Good morning, Hiccup! Oh, I have waited 2 months to see you again, and I am glad I finally am able to"
Viggo shook Hiccup's hand tenderly and waved to the other teens.
Astrid was the first to speak. "So, this is the dragon Hiccup told us you trained. I must say, I never thought I would live to see the day Viggo Grimborn rides a dragon peacefully. What did you name it?"
"Indeed Miss. Hofferson, neither did I ever imagine such thing, but it happened and it is to stay like that. Oh, and I call him Haddock - yes, based on your name, Hiccup, but also because he likes to feast on Haddock whenever given the chance."
"He's so cool looking!", said Ruff and Tuff together in the dreamiest voice possible.
Snotlout, however, was still glaring at Viggo, as if trying to read his mind and discover his intentions. Unbeknownst to him, they were truly genuine and friendly, but he wasn't convinced.
"So, tell us again, Viggo, why you decided to appear 2 entire months after you were supposedly killed? We were promised answers in that sappy letter of yours!"
"Relax, Snotlout, I was just hiding until I was entirely certain that Krogan and Johann were dealt with. The rest of the time, though, was just spent rethinking my ideals, my future, and what I want to stand for and fight for. I have reached the conclusion that leaving my old ways was good for me, and I have come to appreciate dragons for what they are, friends, allies, and brothers, not mere goods to be sold for profit. I am also willing to join in the fight against whatever threats may rear their heads in the future. We know there are still people out there hunting dragons and amassing them for unknown causes, namely, Krogan's employer. I assure you with every ounce of my being that I have truly changed, and intend no more harm to you, Berk, your allies, or your dragons. Or any dragons for that matter."
Snotlout's heart was warmed by the honest words, but he still held some scepticism until he can learn more.
"OK guys, why don't we move to my hut and we can continue talking and catching up there. I also have to show you to my Father. He still doesn't know you're alive."
A/N: OK guys this wraps up the two-shot for now. I have decided I will continue this story arch, and this will serve as a prologue to the start of the actual book, which will begin with Stoick meeting Viggo as hinted at the end here. The rest of the book will start rolling out within a couple of weeks.