Chapter 21

Fathers and Sons

The events of the previous day must have really taken a toll unknowingly on Stoick, because he did not wake up at sunrise as was his custom. He woke up long after that when the scent of fried fish reached. Looking about him he could see Hiccup sitting beside a fire cooking fish, the Night Fury beside him, and everybody else, human and dragon alike, stirring out of their sleep.

"Good morning," Hiccup said, "breakfast will be ready in a few minutes."

"What's that stuff in the bowl?" Fishlegs asked.

"Rice. It's one of the most common foods in Asia, and I've found it to be very filling and nutritious. I've been growing it at the Sanctuary for years."

"How are you feeling today?" Astrid asked as she sat down next to him.

"Better, thank you." He seemed a bit withdrawn today. His movements were much slower and stiffer than normal. The other dragons leapt off the island to fish while the humans gathered around the fire to eat.

"I didn't know you could cook," Stoick commented, hoping to start a conversation. "But I suppose you had to learn while living in the wild, right?"

"Actually I learned on Berk."

"Oh…" What had begun as a way to talk with Hiccup had turned into a reminder of just how little Stoick actually knew about him.

"So anyway, what's the plan for today?" Fishlegs asked, hoping to change the subject. All eyes turned to Hiccup for the answer.

"Evictus and Grimm flew by about an hour ago. Told me the Twins did a really good job last night. It'll take weeks to clean up all the wrecked ships in the Berserker Harbor and even longer to repair and replace them. So for the moment, we're safe."

"Alvin and Drago will have other vessels." Stoick pointed out.

"Some, but it'll take a bit of time for them to be summoned and arrive—unless they use a dragon as a messenger."

"And do they 'ave any of them dragons as messengers?" Spitelout asked coldly. Sleep had not improved his disposition or his opinion of Hiccup.

"Only one that I know of," Hiccup replied darkly, "that dragon belongs to Adoncia, and I have no idea where she is right now. Not with Dogsbreath, I'm guessing."

"Dogsbreath?" Stoick repeated frowning.

"Oh yes, I almost forgot. Dogsbreath and Adoncia were lovers for about a week or two. She got him to slip a little Nadder venom into your drinks, to put you to sleep."

"Why that no good—!"

Spitelout jeered. "So ya don't know where she is right now? I thought you were aware of everything that goes on 'round here! What's the matter? Losin' your touch?"

"It's a bit easier to keep track of slow moving ships than to keep track of a single dragon that can move in any direction, you know. I'd like to see you try it sometime." Hiccup said irritably. "As it is, Adoncia and her dragon weren't seen at Berserk, so they might not know about what has happened yet, and even if they did, they can't do much to speed up ship building, so we've still got some time to plan the next move."

"Which is?" Astrid asked.

Toothless looked at his rider attentively. "I'd like to hear this one myself, too,"

"I said we've got time to plan it, didn't I? If I already had a plan, I wouldn't need more time to plan it." He stood up slowly.

"Well I'd say our next move is to go back to Berk." Stoick announced. "I imagine they're worried sick about us. And you need Gothi to look over your back."

"It's in that direction; roughly a three hour flight," Hiccup pointed, "the weather looks fine, so there shouldn't be any problems."

"And what will you do with the dragons once we get back?" Fishlegs asked. Astrid and the Twins nodded.

"Yeah, where will we put them?"

"What should we feed them?"

"Are you going to have Gobber make us saddles?"

"Where can they stay, Chief?"

"Hang on a minute! Who said anythin' 'bout them dragons staying on Berk?" demanded Spitelout.

"Why not?" Fishlegs shot back.

"They're monsters, boy!"

"They just rescued us, Dad," Snotlout pointed out, "and they're the only hope we've got of getting home!"

"Not you too!" Spitelout growled. He glared at his son and then looked at his brother imploringly. "Stoick, surely ya realize that them dragons can't stay on Berk! They'll burn the place down! They'll take all our food! They'll terrify our livestock, to say nothing of the risk they pose to us!"

To their astonishment, Hiccup came to his Uncle's defense. "Those are all valid points that I've considered many times. But they can be overcome with a little time and effort when the Hairy Hooligans are ready to live with dragons…if that time ever comes."

"They'll have to get ready really quickly then, because we're bringing them home today!" Fishlegs said excitedly, "Er—we are, right Chief?"

Stoick sighed and smiled. "You're moving a bit too fast for me, Fishlegs. I need to see where everyone else stands on this."

"We've been discussing it ever since Astrid came back from the Sanctuary!" Fishlegs said in exasperation, "I'm tired of talking about it! The time has come where we've got to choose, and after all that has happened, I say let the dragons live with us! Hiccup's been making plans; he'll help us get it sorted out when we get home!" The Twins nodded vigorously.

"Right," Hiccup said as he put his helmet on, "shall we saddle up?" He pointed to the dragons that had just returned. "You know what to do."

Fishlegs looked at him curiously as he got on the Gronkle. "Can you teach me how to speak dragonese sometime?"

Hiccup smiled slightly, and was glad nobody could see his expression. "We'll see."

"I hate dragons." Spitelout groaned as he got onto the Treejumper, who made a loud noise.

"That's rather strong for you, Shamrock."

"You try having this guy on your back poking you in every spot and shouting all kinds of horrible things in your ears."

"What's he doin'?" Spitelout asked nervously.

"He says the feeling's mutual." Hiccup smirked. He went around making certain the others were secure in their saddles.

"Ruff, Tuff, you got the straps on wrong."

"No we don't!"

"Yes you do, if you have them like this they might come loose and…" he sighed and rolled his eyes, "Maybe to your eyes it's correct, but to the eyes of anyone who wants a safe flight…"

"And that would just be boring!"

"Safe flight! Says the guy who found a way to fly by himself!"

"Oh you have no idea!" Toothless groaned.

"You're gonna teach us how to do that too, right?"

"We'll see." He moved on to Astrid. She looked uneasy.

"Everything looks fine." He assured her, not realizing that her uneasiness did not stem from the way she was mounted. Or perhaps he did but was pretending not to.

"Hiccup, what's the plan now? What's going to happen?"

"I don't know."

"You said once you were going to tell me everything one day. Are you?"

"I kinda already have, Astrid. All of the important stuff anyway." He said ruefully. To avoid further conversation he moved on to Stoick and gave him the thumbs up. He then climbed gingerly onto Toothless. "Ok, let's go." Without hesitation the other dragons took off into the sky. Toothless and Hiccup sat where they were and watched them leave.

"They'll be returning to the Sanctuary by late afternoon." Hiccup said vacantly, and gestured in the direction opposite of where the other dragons had gone. "Shall we?"

"Are you sure about this?"

"For the last time, it's the best—" His voice trailed off as he suddenly realized they were not alone. Stoick had gotten off of his Thunderdrum before take-off, and was approaching them, arms folded.

"What do you want?" Hiccup asked impatiently.

"To talk to you."

"That's a first."

"Are you afraid to hear me out?"

Hiccup shrugged and slid off of Toothless. The Night Fury went to join the Thunderdrum and they backed away from the humans. For a moment the two Haddocks just looked at each other, sizing each other up like a wrestler examines his opponent.

"You sent those dragons ahead without you. Why?"

"They're going to drop off everyone and then head back home. To the Sanctuary." He clarified, in case Stoick misunderstood where home was.

"And you?"

"I'm not going to Berk, if that's what you're wondering." His voice was calm and firm but inside he was frustrated. He had developed his departure scheme specifically to avoid a conversation like this, but it had been all for nothing. "I only came for the rescue, nothing more."

There was another long pause as Stoick digested the information.

Finally Stoick spoke. "Take off the helmet."

"Why?"

"Why do you think? I want to see my son's face again."

"You've said several times you had no son."

"And you think I meant it?" Stoick cried.

"You sounded very sincere. That fact that you tried to kill me minutes later reinforced the conviction."

Stoick sighed. "Hiccup, I'm…"

"No, no, let's not get all sentimental. You made your decision, just like I made mine, and we're both just going to have to live with it. And in fact, I should be thanking you. Thanks to you Toothless and I are more like brothers than ever."

"Got that right." Toothless said proudly.

Stoick sighed again. "Son, look, just hear me out, all right? Take off the helmet and hear me out."

"I can hear you just fine with it on."

"Are you two really going to get into a fight over something so trivial?" Toothless asked impatiently. "Hiccup, just take the stupid thing off." He finally did so with a growl.

"Why aren't you coming back to Berk?"

"Why should I?"

"You do have a duty to it, son. You're still my heir."

"Astrid is your heir."

"Actually, according to Berkian law, the heir is the eldest child of the Chief, unless that child is dead, disowned, or renounces it. Since you're still alive, your claim is stronger than Astrid's."

"You already disowned me."

"Only with words that I wish I could take back. But the law requires more than a few words spoken in anger."

"Then I renounce it."

"Hiccup, you can't do that! As the rightful Heir of Berk You have a responsibility! You can't just toss it aside because you feel like it!"

"I have a responsibility? What about their responsibility to a fellow human being? What about your responsibility as a parent? You've never had any trouble tossing that one aside!"

"And what about your responsibility as a son? You never listened to me, never obeyed the simplest orders, and were always causing me trouble! Then you tossed it aside for a dragon!" The tempers of both men were rising in proportion to the other.

"So the child has to care about what the parent says even if the parent never cares about what the child says?"

"You never listened to me!" They said at the same time. They then looked at each other dumfounded.

"You two really are alike, you know that?" Toothless laughed. "You're both stubborn and hard of hearing!"

"You stay out of this!" The King snapped, but he was beginning to laugh too because he knew the dragon had a point. Stoick backed away a moment. This was not how he had envisioned their talk going. He realized the problem was that once again he was making the focus be on the Chiefdom instead of on Hiccup himself. He needed to change tactics.

"Hiccup, look, I know I haven't been a good father—and I know I'm understating the fact," he added to forestall Hiccup's reaction, "But, after all that's happened…can't you give me one last chance to make it up to you? Can't we try again, Son?" Hiccup shifted his feet but did not answer. "Son, whatever you may think of me, I never meant to neglect you. I never intended for any of this to happen! I—" he looked at Hiccup for a response but got nothing. "I just—I'm trying to say I'm sorry, all right?" He took a step closer. "Once you disappeared and I thought you were dead—"

"You thought it was more important to seek revenge." Hiccup said coldly.

"What else could I do?" Stoick cried. "My wife was gone, my son was gone, and both because of dragons! What did you want me to do?" He steadied himself. "Son, do you know what love feels like?"

"Thanks to Toothless I believe I do."

"Then imagine hate in its place. It can be just as consuming and changing as love can. It can consume a man and control his every thought and act. It makes you do things you would never dream of doing normally. I hope you've never known what that feels like—but I know. Every time I think about what those dragons have done to me and the years of agony they've caused…"

Hiccup stared at the ground. "Revenge never makes things right."

"And what is it you're doing to me now, if it's not getting revenge?" Tears were coming into Stoick's eyes. "Hiccup, the truth is I'm sorry. All these long years I've had to live thinking about what went wrong, and then when I found out you were alive…I was angry, all right? I wasn't thinking! You know how I can be if I get too angry!"

Hiccup touched the spot where the spear had hit him. "Yes I do. Are you sure Astrid isn't somehow related to you?"

Stoick smiled slightly. "Ha. That's actually a pretty good joke, son—you were joking, right?"

"Yes." Hiccup smiled awkwardly.

"Well…um, where was I?"

"Anger management and wanting to apologize for a few recent things?"

"Oh right." Stoick swallowed. "My point is I didn't mean to…you know, throw a spear into you. I was angry, and grabbed the first weapon I saw and threw it at you."

"With very good aim."

"Well, I am a warrior." He chuckled nervously.

"And in the cells?"

"Son, you know I had to deny you when they brought you in! I couldn't give them any satisfaction, and I was hoping if I pretended not to care they might go easier on you! And when I saw what they were doing and saw you resisting…I couldn't watch a lot of it, it tore me to pieces. And yet I felt very proud of you for not talking, and then to see you cave in like that—I didn't know you were bluffing, son! How could I?"

"I wondered even after that wink if you meant what you said."

"I did not! I just wanted them to think I did—just like how you were telling lies to try and fool the enemy!"

Hiccup cocked his head again. "And if I had actually caved in, would you have spoken to me like that?"

"I—that's a moot point because you did not! It was all part of your plan and I must say I was very impressed by what I saw." He smiled again and took a step closer. "The way you fought and gave commands even in your condition…if I had known what you were going to become after going abroad I would have sent you off myself!"

"So now that I'm powerful and strong, you want to get to know me better." Hiccup said in frustration. "Every time you try to compliment me, I get the feeling if I was still the way I was 10 years ago you'd still be ignoring me. Remember that question I asked you earlier? Did you get upset because your son was dead, or because the person you thought you had for a son was dead? Which was it?"

Stoick hesitated. "I've thought about this every day since you asked it…to be honest, I don't know, son. If I say the later, you'll leave in disgust. If I say the former, you'll think I'm just saying what you want me to say. But son…can't we try one last time and find out together? Can't you come home with me? Let me make things up to you?" He took another step closer. They were within arm's length now.

"What about Toothless? I'm not leaving him."

Stoick sighed. "And I suppose your friends will be demanding dragons too."

"I can't answer for them, but I will never leave Toothless."

"And I'll never leave you," Toothless whispered.

"Well, we'll…see what can be done. I suppose a few dragons on Berk wouldn't be too difficult, especially if you were there to look after them…"

"And why should I go back to a place where they hate me?"

"Give them a little time and they'll see what fools they were."

"I gave them fifteen years already and look where that got me."

"Yes, but now you've got the guts and skills to make them respect you. Son, much as I hate to say it, Drago has a point. The weak ones in the world get trampled all the time, and not just on Berk. In a place where strength is essential to survival, it's unavoidable. You've got to be strong in order to get respect from people."

"You and Drago both have the same failing: you think physical strength is the only kind of strength that matters. Strength of the mind, or the heart, determination, the strength of the voice, everybody has some kind of strength in them. The problem is you guys place all the values on one and ignore the rest. But physical strength alone did not build the pyramids or make the first pulley system. Cicero and Socrates aren't revered because they could lift a tree. Physical strength is useless without intelligence, and kindness and love can make the difference between life and death. Yet you only look at muscles."

"Then come with me and show me how to see the rest." Stoick urged, "Show all of us how to see. You've already gotten a handful to change their views and like you. What do you say? Will you come back?"

Hiccup stood in silence for a few minutes. When he spoke his voice sounded raw and he was fighting to hold back tears.

"All I wanted was your love. I'd have crawled over nails and broken glass for it. I almost did. A pat on the back, a compliment, a sign of appreciation…it never happened until it was too late and came from lies and deception. I had no friends, except Gobber, and he could only do so much. Aside from him, I had nobody to say 'it's all right, tomorrow will be better,' or 'you're worth something, kid'. Instead I had people mocking me every day, beating me up, laughing at me, ignoring everything I was proud of…do you have any idea what that does to a kid?"

"I believe I do now. Now that I know you tried to kill yourself once…"

"Twice, actually."

Stoick was horrified. "Twice?"

Hiccup shrugged laconically. "Yeah. The same day my drowning plan failed, I went to my room and…well, figured I might as well use a tried and true method since the creative one hadn't worked. But I couldn't bring myself to climb onto the chair and put the rope around my neck…"

"Oh Gods, Hiccup…"

"I'm tired, Stoick. I'm tired of always being different. I'm sick of having a place I hate but want to love—even though I'm having trouble finding a real reason to. I'm sick of having a place I love but is still missing something. I just want a place where I fit in!" He began to cry for real now. "The Sanctuary is wonderful and I love every dragon there, but I'm always made to remember I'm still a human and they aren't. And I can't just go back to Berk and become a Viking, because I know I'm not a Viking and I don't want to pretend to be one."

"Then don't try to be." Stoick said gently, "Just come back with me and be the man you are. Show us who you really are."

"And then be driven away because the true Vikings don't like it?" Hiccup sniffed.

"They'll have to get through me first." Stoick growled. He reached out to put a hand on Hiccup's shoulder but Hiccup, unaware of it, stepped away and stared at the sea. "Son, please. I know now that things have been difficult and I've messed up a lot—to say the least, but I want to make amends."

Hiccup swallowed and checked his crying. "The thing is I've got other duties, Stoick. I've got an island full of dragons who all look up to me. I can't just abandon them. You'd never do it to your own tribe, and I can't do it to mine."

"Yes, but it's hard to hunt two hares at the same time, son. And from what Astrid's told me about your island, I think Berk needs guidance and help more than your dragons do." He said this hoping to lighten the mood. It didn't work, and he sensed there was little more he could say. "Son, I've got to get back to Berk. I am the Chief and they'll be worried about me—and Odin knows what has happened there in my absence. Will you come with me?" He held out his hand. Hiccup hesitated for what seemed like an eternity but then pulled away.

"I can't come with you now."

Stoick felt his heart split. Hiccup seemed to realize this because he added quickly "It's not what you think. It's just that I've got responsibilities and affairs to sort out first. I can't just move away because of a spur of the moment idea."

"Oh…I see…and h-how long will it take to sort these things out?"

"I don't know, exactly."

Stoick decided that was the best he could hope for, so he went to finally mount the Thunderdrum.

"I'll see you soon, right?"

"We'll see,"

"And about those terms of yours…"

Hiccup groaned. "Forget them. I already know I offered them too soon."

"We'll accept them."

Hiccup did a double take. "Seriously or is this another lie?"

"I've earned that," Stoick said heavily, "but I'll prove my sincerity this time."

"And the rest of Berk will be fine with this?"

"I don't know, but they'll get used to it in time. Actually, when I told Fishlegs I wanted to see where everyone stood on this matter, I was buying time so I could sort out my own feelings about it. But he's right. I am the Chief, and if I say we are going to stop killing dragons and start living with them, we are going to. Our people will just have to deal with it. And son, if I don't ever see you again, remember this: I'm…I'm sorry for everything." With those words he kicked the Thunderdrum and they took off. Hiccup watched them go with fresh tears in his eyes.

"I'm sorry too, Dad."

Astrid's joy at being able to fly again and enjoy it was more than matched by the rest of the party, except for Spitelout. This was the first time Snotlout had had a real flight, and he now could see exactly why the others liked it so much.

"This is amazing!" He shouted.

"Isn't it just?" Fishlegs grinned. "I could do this all day!"

"What have we been missing out on?" Snotlout yelled to nobody in particular. "So Dad, where should we put Hookfang?"

"You've already named that thing?"

"Hiccup told me earlier."

"We're not putting him anywhere! Except maybe on my wall!"

Shamrock suddenly shook himself violently. Spitelout grabbed it for dear life. "See, they're unpredictable!"

"I think they're very predictable," Astrid said dryly.

"Yeah, I wouldn't go talking about killing dragons while you're riding one, Mr. Jorgenson. The ocean is a long way down." Fishlegs said. Spitelout got the point and did not speak again the rest of the trip. Everyone else did, however.

"I'm going to touch the sun!" Snotlout boasted.

"I'm going to learn to speak to dragons!" Fishlegs announced.

"I'm going to go back to Berserk and burn the rest of the fleet!" Ruffnut shouted.

"I'm going to burn every fleet in existence!" Tuffnut shouted back.

"Please don't," Astrid rolled her eyes.

"Well, maybe I'll spare a few ships…"

"And what will you do, Astrid?" Fishlegs yelled over Tuffnut.

"I'm going to fly to the top of the highest mountain!" Astrid yelled, "But first I'm going to see Mom and Dad and let them know we're safe."

"I bet I'll get there first!" Snotlout called.

"I'll get there first!" Ruff yelled back.

"I'll get there before either of you!"

"You can't get there before me, dummy, we're riding the same dragon!"

"Wanna bet? I'll just turn him this way so I—"

While they were arguing Snotlout and Hookfang slipped past them.

"So long, losers!"

"Hey!"

Astrid grinned to herself. "How about it, Stormfly? Up for a little racing?" Stormfly squawked. "I'll take it that means 'yes'. Let's go get 'em, girl!" They shot ahead and passed Snotlout.

"Hey!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, am I going too fast for you?" She teased. Snotlout urged Hookfang on and the race began in earnest. Faster and faster they sped, leaving the others far behind them.

"You cannot hope to beat me!" Snotlout yelled at Astrid's back, "I'm riding a Monstrous Nightmare!"

"I like this guy's attitude!" Hookfang shouted.

"Then why are you still behind me?" Astrid yelled back.

"No Nightmare's can beat a Nadder!" Stormfly added.

"I'm just letting you feel good about yourself!" Snotlout than muttered to his dragon, "Come on, pal, pick up the pace a little!"

"Maybe if you lost a little weight," grunted Hookfang. He was giving it all he had but he was no match for the speed of the Nadder.

"Come on, Hookfang, we can beat them!"

"Too bad pal, because there's Berk up ahead!" Astrid shouted and pointed.

"No, no, no! Come on Hookfang, hurry up!" It was no good. Stormfly was far ahead of the Nightmare and landed in the woods with time to spare.

"I let you win." Snotlout said when Hookfang landed.

"Right," Astrid grinned. Fun as it was, though, she would have preferred to race with Hiccup.

"I did! You're a girl, and girls need more encouragement than guys do!"

Astrid's grin vanished. "Oh really? And now you think I need encouraging to punch you in the stomach?"

"It's always violence with you!"

"I call it communication…and some people need to have the message hammered in a bit harder when they don't listen!" She smiled icily and took a threatening step towards Snotlout, who promptly retreated behind Hookfang.

Over on Berserk Drago watched a dragon trapper ship manage to find a place on the charred dock to be tied to. He hoped very much for some good news this time, but as he boarded the ship he saw the crew members were trembling.

"Well? How many dragons have you caught?" He demanded. The Captain nervously stepped forward.

"Sir—please sir, we were ambushed by—"

"How many?" Drago interrupted.

"We h-had ten, but now w-we have—none."

Drago instantly plunged his pike into the man's chest. With a roar he swung it and flung the luckless captain's corpse into the ocean. Still roaring, Drago charged at the rest of the crew. The ocean lapping the ship was going to be dark red this morning.

"Let this be a warning to you all!" Drago bellowed when he was finished. "I have no room for the weak and incompetent in my world! Anyone who fails me now will go the same way!"

"Like you did any better!" Dagur shouted at him. Drago stormed over and grabbed Dagur by the throat.

"And you, my deranged sir, were playing with toys and singing songs while they escaped! If it ever happens again, dragons will be playing with your bones! Got that?" He turned to Alvin. "As for you…next time you want to suggest we let them escape and follow them, keep your mouth shut if you know what's good for you!"

"But you said ta let 'em x-cape!"

Drago would have seized him by the throat too, but Alvin's throat was too big for that. "If you people had listened to me and done what I'd wanted, none of this would have happened! If you had any sense of strength and the will to act, we could have the entire world in our hands!" He stormed away, "I'm surrounded by weak and incompetent fools! The only smart man in all of these miserable islands is my worst enemy!"

Astrid and Snotlout waited another ten minutes before the dragons behind them caught up.

"So Fish," Astrid called as the large man clumsily dismounted, "was riding a dragon your idea or Hiccup's?"

"A bit of both, actually."

"It was so cool!" Ruffnut shouted even thought Astrid was only a few feet away. "He brought a dragon over to us and had us put our hands against its head. Have you ever felt a dragon before, Astrid? What am I saying, of course you have! It's so cool! Next thing we know he was helping us get onto them and showing how to ride them!" She gestured proudly to the Zippleback. Both heads nuzzled her. "Next thing we knew we were flying to Berserker, the wind in our faces, a bunch of exploding jars in our hands, and an awesome and rather cute guy leading us! Ah, Valhalla!"

"Where's the Chief?" Astrid asked.

"I imagine he and Hiccup had some things to talk about." Fishlegs replied.

Spitelout looked relieved to be on the ground again. "I hate flying," he moaned as he clutched his stomach. "I hate it, hate it, hate it!"

"Can we go now?" Asked the Treejumper, "I really don't want to be around that guy any longer,"

"I don't blame you, dear," Meatlug said gently.

"I kinda wanna stay here, actually," Hookfang admitted, "that kid seems like a lotta fun to mess with."

"But the Hatchling gave us instructions!" Stormfly pointed out, a little reluctantly, "he said 'take them back to Berk and then return home!'"

"Look at them," Fishlegs said awestruck, "they're communicating with each other!"

"I wonder what they're talking about." Snotlout said. The dragons, minus the Treejumper, looked at them morosely and then flew off.

"Stormfly!"

"Augh! Meatlug!"

"Hookfang come back!"

"Barf n' Belch, you guys get back here!"

Ruffnut turned to Snotlout. "Now you know what they were talking about. Are you happy?"

Snotlout turned to Ruffnut. "Barf n' Belch? Hiccup said his name was Zippet."

"That's boring, man. We gave him a better name."

"Oh good grief," Spitelout moaned, "namin' dragons. What has the world come too? What's that demon lover doin' to us?"

Astrid ignored him. She just watched Stormfly vanish in the sky.

"What's going on?" Fishlegs cried, "we agreed to let dragons live on Berk! They can't live on Berk if they leave!"

Spitelout turned sharply at this. "You offered ta let dragons live on Berk?"

"Yes."

"What were ya thinking, you fat presumptuous—"

"I was thinking of how to bring you all back safely, so I offered Hiccup what I thought he wanted!" Fishlegs retorted. "Forgive me for helping to rescue you! If I had known you were going to be like this, I might have let Drago keep you! I'm sure Hiccup wouldn't have objected!"

"Considering all the abuse you shouted at him!" Astrid added angrily. "Hiccup might not have minded so much, but I for one didn't like it!"

Spitelout looked about ready to hit her or Fishlegs or both, if he could have made up his mind about it.

"Dad, let's calm down a little," Snotlout urged.

Spitelout took some deep breaths. "All right, ah admit, I was a bit—unpleasant in them cells and afterwards. Ah was nervous, Ah was—concerned, an' I get rude like that ta hide it, ah'm sorry, but I don't want them dragons living on Berk, all right!"

"You still could have shown Hiccup a little gratitude later," Snotlout mumbled.

"Like you were any better! Ah saw how scared ya were! Ya can't be a Chief if ya show yer fear that plainly!"

"Chief, Chief, Chief," Snotlout said flippantly, ignoring the advice he had given a minute ago.

"That boy 'Iccup showed more guts than ya—'Iccup the Useless!"

"Mind telling me what you've got against Hiccup?" Astrid said sharply.

"I'll tell you what he's got against him!" Snotlout suddenly shouted "He's always wanted me to be the next chief and Hiccup was the only thing standing in the way. He was always hoping Hiccup would get killed in a raid. Now that Hiccup's come back, he still thinks he's the one thing in my way! And he probably hates the idea of being in Hiccup's debt!"

"You shut up! I won't be spoken 'bout like that! That boy sided with creatures that I was raised ta fight an' kill! D'ya think I wanna be in their debt or give up my own home ta those things?"

"You're worse than Stoick is, you know that?" Snotlout yelled. "After all that's happened, you still cling to your ideas about traditions so tightly if they were human you'd suffocate them! And for what?" He kicked a rock. "A stupid title, a position of power, and some honor to the family? I've had lots of time to think while in those cells! Did you notice that nobody came there to rescue us? It was all about saving the Chief and Astrid; you and I were the afterthoughts! You know what that tells me? It tells me nobody wants us to run Berk, and with the way you're behaving, I don't blame them! Hiccup is a braver man that you ever have been and he has twice the honor you'll ever have; he saved our lives and you still insult him! But I'd rather have him or Astrid for my chief than take it for myself or be your figurehead!"

Everybody was so taken back by the outburst that no one could reply. Snotlout looked defiantly at his father; everyone else looked astounded at him. Spitelout's face had turned a deep red.

"You kin find somewhere else ta live." He snarled at last. "I don't want ya setting foot in my house again."

"Fine by me." Snotlout retorted. Further talk was interrupted by the arrival of Stoick and subsequent departure of the Thunderdrum. Spitelout gave them an icy glare before walking away.

"What's going on?" Stoick asked. "You lot look like you're on opposite sides of a barroom brawl."

"Nothing, sir. Where's Hiccup?" Snotlout asked.

"He's isn't coming, is he?" Astrid said in an unusually small voice. Stoick sadly shook his head.

"No, he's not—not yet, anyway. But we'll talk about that later. For now, I want to see my village again!"