A.N. - Sorry it's taken me like four years to update, but I've been busy and life happened and the like buuuuut after all that time I've finally finished the sixteenth chapter of my story! I appreciate everyone who's still reading this, I deeply and humbly apologize to everyone! 3

'Why can't they understand the way we feel?

They just don't trust, what they can't explain.

I know we're different, but deep inside us

We're not that different at all.'

Silence from my father is rarely ever a good thing, it usually means he's too mad for words, so the entire time we're walking, I feel like my heart is going to surge from my chest and land right at my father's feet. Something deep inside me says that were it to do that, my father would stomp on it harshly and angrily. Though I can't say as I blame him, I know that's what I would do when I find out what my son was doing is proved to be nothing more than a farce.

I know I cannot fathom just how angry I would be…though I know it wouldn't be this severe as I have a habit of actually listening to someone when they're trying to explain themselves.

He has an iron grip on my injured arm, which is throbbing painfully so even if I were to try and pry my arm away, the wound wouldn't let me do so for long.

Not that I would fight anyway, my body feels weak since all my energy is drained from completely from it, making my body nothing more than dead weight…though my father still pulls me along with ease all the excitement left me at my fathers' mercy as he practically carries me to the great hall and throws me inside.

It takes me a few moments to regain my footing as I try to catch myself, my strength still not full returning to me. As my chest heaves, I turn to face the seething tower of angry Viking that is my father.

Swallowing, I grasp at my chest to try and still my heart and quell my shaking…even as the slam of the door echo's through the halls and vibrates through me, furthering my trepidation about what needs to be done.

This is worse than any nightmare I can ever dream up, seeing my father so angry and upset with me. I mean I've seen him upset and even exasperated with me but…nothing like this.

"I should have known…I should have seen the signs."

Opening my mouth, I find that words fail me due to the sheer level of disappointment that rings clear in his voice and rattles me deeper than any dragons roar ever could. It shakes me to my core and starts to shatter my resolve.

Swallowing thickly, I try to quickly patch my resolve together in an attempt to try and approach him, to talk to him and try and fix this before it spirals out of control. Finally, after what seems like ages to me, I find my mouth able to form one word, the only word that would even dare pass my lips right now.

"Dad…"

"We had a DEAL."

Pulling back at the sheer anger in his tone, I start to fidget with my hands nervously, something I've always done since I was a child, especially when I am in as much trouble with dad as I am now.

My eyes dart to look anywhere but his pacing form, I can't find it in me to even look at him with the guilty eyes that are sure to anger him even more then is now. Not to mention the tension is now thicker than the fog that forms overnight.

The sheer weight of it is killing me so I swallow heavily and step toward him once more, trying to loosen the thickness of it with words…though a voice deep inside me is saying that it's not a good idea.

"I...I know we did…but that was before…"

Pulling my fingers through my hair, I tug almost painfully at it as I try to pull my focus, trying to calm my fast beating heart and still the fear of what is happening and what I have on the line here.

This whole thing is messed up, and I'm silently cursing myself for not being able to handle this with more confidence then I originally thought I should…but this is my FATHER. I can't just get in his face about this, after YEARS of fighting dragons and believing that they're monsters that have plagued our island ever since before I was born…it's not exactly something that's easily swayed.

"Oh…this is all so messed up…"

I wish I could just…

Oh gods, my stomach is doing flips and my hands are shaking so severely that I thought the ground might start shaking.

"So everything in the ring. A trick? A lie…"

He breaths the last part and turns away from me before I can see the look on his face, but his eyes showed great disappointment and pain, more so then I've ever seen and I shrink back from him.

The guilt swelling up inside of me, but I can't back down now…I have to see this through. I have to SHOW him what I see. So, swallowing anxiously, I force myself to move toward him once more.

"I…screwed up, I should have…told you before now. Just…take this out on me, be mad at me. Just please, don't hurt Toothless!"

Not that he's the only one I care about, but I know the villagers and more importantly what the warriors are capable of. I don't want them to take their misplaced anger out on him, he doesn't deserve that. Though I can see the rage fill his eyes as those brows furrow deeper into his nose, he doesn't understand why I want to protect him…but if he could just listen…then he would.

"The dragon?! That's what you're worried about?! Not the people you ALMOST killed?"

Taking a shuddering breath, I force my face to turn up toward him, finding my resolve again, the reason finding its way back into my brain and filling me up with the courage I had in the ring.

It is because of Toothless, it's for Toothless.

He's protected me, and now it's my turn to return the favor…even if it is from my own father and tribe. The very tribe who shunned me most of my life. Seeing me as nothing more than an irritation that needs to be kept locked away so as not to do any damage.

As opposed to Toothless, who doesn't care about who I am or who I should be. He doesn't tell me who I need to be…no he looks at me, and for once, sees me.

No judgment or resentment to be found.

Toothless is the first to accept me for who I really am and doesn't try to change me.

Somewhere between that first meeting and now, we formed a bond. A bond deep enough that when I was in danger, Toothless came to save me.

Though I still don't know HOW he knew…all that mattered is that he did. He leaped into danger and threw himself in front of me, in order to protect me.

"He was just protecting me! He's not dangerous!"

My stance isn't helping things, I can feel it by how the atmosphere changes, and I can see it in my father's face, and this is not the answer he was looking for.

His anger boiling behind his eyes as he imposes his presence on me, though I don't move an inch. Toothless is counting on me, he needs me to shake my father loose from this mind set…I have too. Not matter what, I need to settle this warring between us and them…they are not the monsters we think they are.

"They've killed hundreds of us!"

"And we've killed thousands of them! They just defend themselves that's all!"

My chest is heaving as I try to quell the growing anger in my chest, it eats at me that he can't see. It's painful to watch as my father tries to wrap his mind around why his only son, who's raised to fight and kill dragons, is now protecting one.

He doesn't understand, and by how he's acting, I don't think he ever will, but I have to keep trying, I can't give up now…I just can't!

"They raid us because they have too! If they don't bring enough food back…they'll be eaten themselves…"

Trying to find the words to say to make him understand is exceedingly hard, and my eyes move away from his form for just a moment.

What words could I say that would make his mind open?

What would make him see what I see?

If only he would just let me show him, he would understand why I feel so strongly about this, if he could just see the kindness Toothless shows, the loyalty and protectiveness that he's displayed toward me…if he would let me show him…then he would understand.

They feel fear, pain, hunger, and need sleep and substance to keep going, exactly like we do, they need breed and have a home like we do. They…don't talk and communicate like we do, they don't build and feel the need to have a house like we do…but…I know they feel emotions like we do…if he would just let me show him…then…maybe…just maybe…

"There's…something else on their island dad…it's a dragon like…"

"Their Island? So you've been to the nest…"

At that moment, I know I've said too much and my heart drops through stomach and lands right at the bottom of my feet. Ice runs through my veins as the gleam in my fathers' eye changes, like something is sparked deep in his mind and an idea has struck him. An idea that I know, for sure, is a bad one.

'Oh gods this bad, this is very bad. I shouldn't have said anything…'

"D-did I say nest?"

I try to back track, my mind racing to try and find an alternate route of thinking so I can distract my father. Though he's suddenly encroaching on me, forcing me to back up as his form towers over me threateningly. Reminding me of the Monstrous Nightmare that had I backed into a corner long ago, keeping me in its line of sight just to let me know that I can't go anywhere and I can't get out.

Strange how my father suddenly resembles the dragons he tries so hard to rid the island of.

"How did you find it?"

I flinch slightly as he imposes on my further, making me want to shrink down to nothing so I don't feel like a rat caught in trap anymore. His intimidation tactics work on me like a charm and words are gone once more, my mouth flops up and down as if I'm a fish out of water, my palms are sweating and my body vibrates with fear and complete intimidation.

"No…I…I didn't…Toothless did…I…only a dragon can find the island…"

I don't know what possessed me to just keep talking; the fear for my father, the fear of losing my best friend, the need to convince my dad that the dragons aren't what they seem?

Whatever the reason, this causes my words to spill out of my mouth without any okay from my brain. Though I instantly regret saying them as his expression changes the instant those words leave my lips, my blood runs cold and my heart starts to beat more rapidly in my chest.

'Please Odin don't tell me he's really thinking about doing what I think he's thinking. Please Odin…'

"Oh no. No…"

He turns away from me, and I really wish he hadn't, to stalk toward the door. His mind already made up for what he's going to do.

My mind racing with images of this giant dragon, and how it swallowed a Gronkle with one snap of its jaw, how a low growl scared and intimidated even the mightiest of dragons that we knew.

"Dad…no!"

Desperation starts to cling to me as if it is a second skin, my body shakes heavily as the images change to what would happen if my dad went up against this thing, if it can swallow an entire dragon that's still bigger than a Viking…what would it do to a Viking?

Swallowing heavily, I realize with a cold and harsh realization that he won't win this battle.

"Dad it's not what you think!"

'Please listen to me!'

"Y-you don't know what you're up against!"

'Please…'

"It's like nothing you've ever seen!"

'Dad…Dad please listen to me!'

"Dad please, I promise you, you won't win this one!"

It falls on deaf ears, and tears burn my eyes and fear clouds my mind and takes over my voice as he now paw desperately at his arm, trying to find some kind of footing to get his attention. My heart racing so face I feel like it might just beat up my throat and fall out of my mouth.

I thought I was afraid of him, that's nothing then fearing for him, the fear of losing him is the worst kind of fear that I've felt…and what's worse is that I risk losing Toothless too.

'I can't…I can't lose both of them…I need them! Both of them…I…I love both of them!'

"No…dad…NO!"

Finally, my body decides to move and I find myself grasping at his forearm, trying to pull him back. My hands barely wrap around it but I don't care, I have to stop him! I NEED to stop him, if I don't…he won't come back…he won't…

Swallowing back the tears that threaten to fall I feel myself be dragged for a moment before finding my footing and trying once more to pull at his arm. Being ten times bigger and stronger than me gives him an edge, so I'm only dragged helplessly along as he refuses to listen.

Fear pushes tears from my eyes and the desperation in my voice rises as I try to fruitlessly pull my father back from his trek.

"For once in your life, would please just LISTEN to me?!"

Just the thought of losing them drives a kind of desperation I have never felt before…not to mention a hopelessness that is starting to work its way in. My father, the most stubborn of any man I've ever known, is now going off to fight some unknown dragon that he has yet to face and he won't even take the time to stop for even two seconds just to listen to my warning.

Why…why doesn't he ever listen to me!?

I don't even know when it happens, one minute I'm standing beside my father, pleading with him to listen…then next I'm on the floor several feet away from him.

When had he?

I barely even felt the floor hit my back as I came into contact with it, all I can see is the image of my father glaring down at me with a look that steals every breath from my body along with anything else that I might say.

For the first time in this whole ordeal, my father meets my eyes and all I can see is the disgust, anger, hurt and betrayal crossing over his features. I know I'm breathing as I can feel my chest rising and falling, but my body itself is numb and can't even feel the air fill my lungs nor leave them.

All I can see is my dad, hear his voice and feel the sting of their words.

"You've thrown in your lot in with them…"

'No dad…please…'

"You're not a Viking…"

'Dad…'

"You're not my son…"

The breath leaves my lungs in one swift motion, I feel like I can't even breathe anymore as pain filters through every nerve in my body. I can't move, I can't hear, see or feel anything else.

Everything ceased to exist but the immense pain those four words alone brought me.

My chest heaves as a wetness falls to the back of my hand, and sound starts to fall to my ears.

It sounded like someone was sobbing, full and completely agonizing sobs.

It takes a second…but then I realize the one who's crying so fully…is me.

'You're not my son…'

I can't cry out, the pain that's shuddering through me has made it so I can't, all I can do is sit there in the stone cold silence of the frozen atmosphere that surrounds me along with the sudden realization that I've lost everything.

Everything.

My village looks at me like a plague once more, my best friend is going to be used to take my father to fight a dragon they have no hope of winning against, and my father…my father's disowned me.

Pain rages through me as such I've never felt before, my chest feels hollow like my hearts been ripped out and crushed right in front of me…and right now I really wish it had been.

This pain is something I'd wish on no one.

It's horrible.

"Dad…dad please…"

I don't know why I still call to him, my mind and mouth must've gone on it's own as even I know that my voice falls on deaf ears. No one is there to hear me, my dad is gone…and he's…going into the jaws of danger.

I…I can't let him get far! I…I can't!

In a last minute surge of strength, I force myself to my feet and run out of the Great Hall. I push my legs to run down toward the village in a speed they haven't done before. The desperation and last minute need to stop this, is probably the only reason my body is moving as it is now.

I'll crash later, I know it, but I have to reach him in time, he has to still be there. Please let him still be there.

Pushing through everyone and everything that seemed to want to stop me. If my father wouldn't listen then maybe…just maybe he will.

He has too.

"Gobber! Gobber!"

'Please, let him still be here.'

I force my way through to his house, my heart beating in my chest and tears falling angrily from my eyes. Though I swipe them away just as angrily so I can search for my guardian and my mentor. The man who could have been close to a second father to me.

"Gobber!"

Panic sets in when I don't see him or hear him. Gods, did I miss him?

"Hiccup. Wha' 're y'doin' here?"

Eyes widening, I turn quickly on my heel to see the blond blacksmith bearded man, and it's everything I can do to keep from running up to him and hugging him. Like I normally would when I was distressed, but this isn't the same kind of situation and I can tell he isn't too pleased with me either. So, taking deep breaths, I try to calm myself enough to talk.

"Gobber….please…you have to listen…this…"

"Stop righ' there Hiccup. I don' wan' t'hear it. I mean, haven' y'done enough damage already?"

"Please Gobber, I know I screwed up…I know I lied but… you have to listen…dad won't…but you have too."

"Do I now? An' how do I know this isn't another trick? Jus' stringin' me alon' like yeh did before."

Frustration boils over, but is quick to subside as I realize the depth of what I've done and just how deep a wound I've cut into both my father and Gobber. Sure my father believed that I was some great dragon slayer champion, but I had out right lied and tricked Gobber into thinking that…after all who woud have even told my father how good I'd become at taming dragons.

To him, I lied to his face…constantly, strung him along and making him think that he was teaching me the trade when all along I'd been getting my tricks from spending time with Toothless…a dragon.

I suddenly realize that Gobber was wounded too, and the sudden realization of this sent me crumbling to my knees, a sight very unbecoming of a Viking, but I couldn't care less right now.

Everyone I've ever loved is in danger of dying, going off to fight a battle they can't win, and all of this is because I wasn't honest…with ANYONE.

The only person who knew is Astrid and she really forced my hand on that one, if she hadn't known…she would have been just as angry and possibly hate him like the rest of the village.

"Please…Gobber…I…I'm so sorry…I…never meant for this to go so far for so long. I…especially never meant to hurt anyone…I just…wanted…"

"Wanted wha' Hiccup? How exactly did ya' see this goin'? You should've kno…"

"I know! I know EXACTLY how everyone would react and that's…that's why I hid him for so long. I…I was just trying to…prevent…all this from happening!"

I gesture around, as if Gobber didn't know already what the other Vikings were doing. Preparing to set sail, preparing for a battle that only I knew was hopeless.

"I…I didn't mean to…to trick anyone, but I just… I…thought that…maybe if I…continued to learn from him…from them…I would…or just might be able to…to…show this method to everyone and hope that…that maybe…everyone would realize…"

"Wha' tha' we're wrong? Hiccup, we've done this for…centruies! Dragons and Vikings have been enemies since th' beginning of time! They attack us, an' we protect ourselves from them. It's jus' how things've been…tha' thinking isn't gonna change overnight…especially since nothin' they've done proves they're capable otherwise."

The hopelessness starts to creep in, thoughts that this is just a fruitless endeavor...that I've just endangered my people for nothing, that I've practically sent my father and guardian to their deaths…and to lose the one of the only friends that I have ever had crashes on me and I feel another sob pull from my lips.

I realize I can't stop this, the ships are leaving regardless of what I have to say…I'm back to being the disgrace of Berk…and at this moment I can't say that I blame them.

I feel his presence get closer, but I don't move.

Not once in his life has Gobber ever lifted his hand to strike me, never once has he ever hurt me so I don't flinch away or shirk from his approach.

"Toothless…saved me."

My voice is soft and barely above a whisper, I can barely hear it and a fear that Gobber couldn't either.

"Toothless put his life at risk to save me from the Monstrous Nightmare. He…protected me when dad and Astrid couldn't…that…that's proof enough isn't it?"

He sighs, before his hobbled steps move away from me, a choked sob passes my lips and in a last ditch effort I reach out and grasp at his shirt tail.

Turning my gaze to look up at him desperately.

"Please…Gobber…this fight…my dad…"

"You're father is strong. It'll take more than a dragon to take him out…he'll come up with a plan. Always does…"

Another strangled sob falls from my lips, and my hand tightens.

"This…this isn't just like any other dragon Gobber…it's…dangerous…and eats other dragons…please…try to convince him…h-he'll listen to you."

"I can' make any promises Hiccup. Y'know yer father, once his mind is made up there's no changing it."

I know…of course not…and the pain of that causes my hand to drop like rocks have been tied to them.

The weight of everything that's happening hits me, and I wish that I could go back and force myself to kill Toothless…force myself to plunge my dagger into his throat and end this…maybe if I had then….my dad wouldn't be going off to his death, Gobber wouldn't be following after him and I would still be seen as his son.

It hadn't mattered what I'd done before, my father always still saw me as his son. Disappointed sure, but I was still his son…and now…now I'm nothing.

I have single handedly destroyed everything I've been trying so hard to protect…

Why…why does everything I try to do end up failing so horribly and miserably?

It seems that no matter what I try to do, it always ends up backfiring and blowing up in my face.

Gods…I wish I knew what to do.

Numbly, I find myself wandering through the village, not really wanting to go home and not having Toothless in the cavern to go talk to, I don't really have anywhere to go. It's not long before I find myself standing on the rafters that overlook the docks. Just standing there, watching as my mistake pushes the men to put Toothless in one of the ships.

My heart breaks as he thrashes about, trying to free himself from the bindings that hold him down, had I enough strength or will, I would have raced down there to free him…but I don't and I can't bring myself to wound my father further by rushing down to save Toothless.

Shifting my gaze, I find my eyes meeting my fathers as his own turn up and somehow found my own.

'Please dad…don't go…'

One last silent plea for my father to just listen to me, to come up here and at least talk it out, but he just narrows his eyes further and turns away from me. Moving to stand beside Toothless, I know he's said something to him, Toothless just looks as defeated and helpless I am, and I hate it.

I hate how helpless and weak I am, for not protesting loud enough, or having enough conviction to stand beside what I believed and fight my father, to keep trying and make him listen.

For folding in on the fears and letting them take hold and preventing me from doing anything other than watch as nearly the entire village sails away to fight something they can't possibly hope to beat.

Why did I…why do I have to be so useless and weak?

Gods…dad is right…I'm not a Viking…I'm not anything.

"It's a mess…"

The bell of a voice stirs me from my thoughts, pulling my attention from my thoughts in only away that she can.

'Astrid…'

In all this mess, I've forgotten about her!

What happened with her? Is she okay? Though I can't imagine who would be in this situation. Despite her being on my side in the beginning, I can't bring myself to look back at her…I know her father is on one of those ships…and it's my fault that he might not come back…and she knows what they're going to face too.

She must hate me.

"You must feel horrible, you've lost everything; your father, your tribe, your best friend…"

Gods she sure switched sides fast, not to mention she didn't waste any time driving home what would hurt him the most. Stabbing him with what he's lost and very nearly shoving it in his face.

Grinding my teeth I force a hurt glare out across the ocean I couldn't let her see just how much those words affected me.

"Thank you for summing that up."

Swallowing heavily…I stare down into the cold waters, watching as they crash against the rocks relentlessly. Harsh and cold, unforgiving and cruel as they continued their merciless beat over the stones. My eyes stay on them for what seems like forever, watching the rhythmic and unforgiving way the water does this, almost slipping me into a trance like state.

'If only I could feel as cold and ruthless…hash and cruel…unforgiving and merciless like the cold waters below…none of this would have happened.'

Taking a shuddering breath, I squeeze my eyes shut and try to force back the pain that never once seemed to ebb. Not once during this whole ordeal did the pain ever stop pounding against my ribcage and vibrating through my entire form. Guilt beating angrily on my heart and crashing through my form like the ocean does to the rocks below.

'It's all my fault. If only I could have just…'

"Why couldn't I have killed that dragon when I found him in the woods? It would have been better for everyone…"

"Yup, the rest of us would've done it."

Her voice clear and confident when she spoke, cutting through my words as if they were the most obvious thing in the world. I hate how she does that, makes it seem like everything I say is stupid and useless…though she really was one to hold back or sugar coat anything and I don't know why I expect her to do so now.

"So why didn't you?"

That question caught me off guard, everything seemed to stop, as if Astrid somehow suddenly had the gift to stop time and silence everything around me.

'Why didn't I…'

"Why didn't you?"

She repeats her question, softer and with a more pointed tone that's directed at me and I find myself running the question through my own head over and over. Not like I haven't been asking myself this very same question.

'Why didn't I?'

Shaking my head, I run my fingers through my hair and look down, studying the wood beneath my feet as if the answer is going to be found in the planks themselves.

'Why didn't I?'

"I…I don't know. I…I couldn't."

"That's not an answer."

Just what the Hel is she expecting from me? I couldn't kill Toothless, I mean…he is a living breathing creature and I've never really ever been good at the whole 'slaying' thing so…why wasn't that answer good enough for her?! Surely she knows that's it, that's all there is too it!

"Wh-why is this so important to you all of the sudden?"

Her conviction becomes more evident in her eyes and she leans toward me, brows furrowed in a way that tells me she's not backing down. Confidence ringing true in her crystal blue gaze and determination set on her face.

"Because I want to remember what you say, right now."

Confusion grasps my mind and I feel my face for a moment, my mind searching and clawing to try and find an answer that satiate her sudden desire to know why I can't kill dragons, why I couldn't kill Toothless.

I shake my head harshly, body vibrating heavily from all the emotions that it's been through in the short span of an evening.

"Oh for the love of…I was a coward! I was weak! I wouldn't kill a dragon!"

"You said 'wouldn't' that time!"

Gods, I want to strangle her! What in Thor's name has gotten into her?! She's not making any kind of sense?! Not to mention that it's not helping the situation or how I'm feeling at the moment.

"Whatever! I wouldn't!"

Hissing through my teeth, I glare angrily though I don't really know who I'm more angry at, myself for not understanding the mean behind her question…if there is one, or the fact that she kept pushing it so relentlessly and driving me from being hopeless and numb to being confused and angry.

Though she doesn't seem to be upset by my actions. She's not angry or even the slightest bit dissuaded from her quest to get me to give her the answer she seeks.

Even when I don't know exactly what the Hel she's driving at.

This is beyond infuriating.

"Three hundred years, and I am the first Viking who WOULDN'T kill a dragon."

Confusion still wraps around my mind like a blanket, and I still don't understand why she's asking this, nor see the point in her reasoning behind this sudden line of questioning.

This doesn't help anything, that's the whole reason we're in this mess is because I wouldn't kill a dragon.

I'm about to walk away when her voice cuts through me once more, making me stop and stare dumbly out at the horizon.

"First to ride one though…"

My shoulders drop and entire being suddenly feels like I've been dunked under cold water and woken up from a sleep I've been in for a long time.

Duh, of course.

In my minds eyes I'm watching everything go in reverse, from when Toothless saved me, to when I went on that flight with Astrid, then to our own first successful flight and the feeling of the unabashed freedom that had taken me over during that flight.

I'd loved that feeling and never truly wanted to let that go. It was amazing, one of the most amazing and freeing things I've felt in awhile.

Though my mind didn't stop there, going back into the past even further to when I first got him to trust me, and stops at when I first found him downed in the forest.

About to stab my dagger through him when my eyes gaze down at his own and notice something that I don't believe anyone has every truly noticed before: the fear.

Toothless had been afraid.

Afraid of me.

Afraid of what I was going to do to him, where as I had been just as equally afraid of what he might do to me. Both of us feel completely powerless toward the other, I looked into his eyes…and noticed something that pulled me from my drive to be like everyone around me and kept me from actually plummeting the dagger into his throat.

"Sooo…"

I wanted to hit myself for not realizing it sooner, my mind had been so wrapped up in the pain and unfairness of it all that I had truly forgotten my real reason for wanting to prove that dragon's aren't mindless beasts that kill and attack for no reason.

I want to hit myself for not realizing it sooner, for not knowing that Astrid isn't doing this for herself or because she hates me and wants to rub it in…she is trying to remind me of the original reason I even began all this.

I'm such an idiot.

'Thanks Astrid.'

"I wouldn't kill him because he looked as frightened as I was…I looked at him…and I saw myself."

A pleased look falls over her features, sure and even more filled with resolve then she had been before, her hands set firmly on her hips as she shifts her gaze from me to the sea.

"I bet he's really frightened now. What are you going to do about it?"

What am I going to do about it, I'd set him free from the bindings so easily before but now he's on a boat that's too far away for any of us to swim too. It's not like we can just fly there. Still, it gets me thinking, my mind scrounging for possible ways to save Toothless and get him out of a situation that I threw him into.

Again.

Lifting my shoulders into a shrug I shift my gaze to look over at her, still trying to find a way to fix all of this and, hopefully, bring everyone back alive.

"Eh, probably something stupid."

I can see a smile pull at her mouth, and my heart swells once more. Her brow raising curiously, if not a little challengingly.

"Good, but you've already done that."

It's at that moment that I feel it hit me, harder than any boulder I can possibly run into.

'If we can't go by sea then…we need to fly there! Of course! That's it! We don't have boats and that would take too long, but we can fly there!'

"Then something crazy."

We're going to need to have the other dragons from the academy help us, and of course I say us like everyone is already on board with this…I just hope they all are because I will need their help in order to get this plan going.

This isn't something I can do by myself, and since everyone already knows anyway…might as well see if they are willing to help me out.

"Hiccup! Would you slow down?!"

Astrid is quick, but it seems with this new found energy, not even she can keep up.

This is probably the only time I'll ever be able to out run her.

"What's going on? Are you going to tell me what you're doing!?"

Stopping near the entrance to town, I turn around to look at her. Her face flushed from running and lips parted trying to catch her breath, I know my expression is the same as my hands go to my knees to try and get it to where I'm able to speak.

"I need you to get the others; Ruff, Tuff, Snotlout and Fishlegs. Get them and meet me back at the academy. Don't worry, I'll explain everything there!"

She gives a quick look before running off to do as I asked, hope starts to creep into me once more as I twist on my heel and head toward the academy.

Determination fresh and hope alive and strong in heart once more.

I will fix this, I will make sure that everyone comes back alive and no one will have to die because of my mistake.

I just really hope that the others will listen, everything banks on whether they will go along with this insane idea or not.

'Hang on dad, Toothless…I'm coming. I'll fix everything…I swear it.'

A.N.- All right, it's getting to the good part. I'm still working through how to write this out and if seventeen and eighteen should be a 'to be continued' or if I should just make seventeen an extra long chapter. You'll have to let me know loves!