Enjoy the next installment! Three more chapters, including this one, left!

Chapter 14

It was warm and inviting and calling to Hiccup. It would take away all his pain and suffering and leave him in pure paradise. All he had to do was reach out and grab it. Just a stretch of the arm and he'd have it all. One final exhale and the deed will be done. Just a little more... no. He couldn't do it. He would feel too guilty. He made a promise to Astrid that he wouldn't die on her. Even though death was the greatest thing at the moment, and it was all Hiccup wanted, he had to stay for Astrid. He had to stay for Toothless, for his father, and Gobber, and for everyone else that he would rule over one day. Had circumstances been different, he would have given in to the sweetness of death. But he had too many reasons to stay, too many reasons to keep fighting this silent, motionless battle. As he fought, Hiccup was left wondering: "How could anyone fear something so beautiful and so relieving?" He wanted to die so badly. He wanted to leave the world and all its problems behind. How could he publicly face the world and tell them what happened? The embarrassment and shame would be too much for him. He didn't want to face it. He just wanted to die. Even if there was no afterlife, he just wanted it all to be over.

Stoick came bursting though the door so suddenly that Hiccup almost jumped out of bed. This sudden change in atmosphere did cause him to lurch a bit though, which led to a pain shooting though his body, which led to a soft whimper. Quickly recovering from the incident, Hiccup turned his head to face his father. A million thoughts ran through his mind faster than a Night Fury. He had so many things he wanted to say, but all he could manage was:
"Dad..." He softly whispered.
"Hiccup. Oh, son." Stoick whispered back as he grabbed a chair that was in the corner and sat by his son. Stoick really hated to see Hiccup in this condition. He was so weak, so vulnerable. After the Red Death fight, Stoick sat almost exactly like he was sitting now. He stared at his son and longed to take action. He wished he could do something to make the pain go away, to make sure his son was happy again. If it were up to Stoick, he would have given Hiccup his own leg that day. But the wasn't possible. He couldn't do anything except sit there and fail as a father just like he was doing now. But this time, Hiccup was awake and responsive. He stared at Stoick, silently apologizing with his eyes. He extended a hand and Stoick took it. Death loomed over Hiccup once more as he fought it back. He cringed and tightened his grip on his father. He was the man who gave him life and, seventeen years later, was still doing it.

"Dad, I... I'm sorry. I.." Hiccup managed after the spell had ended.
"No, now is not the time for apologies. No one needs to be sorry. Neither one of us knew. It's no ones fault but hers." The word "her" hung in the air and became the elephant in the room. No one really wanted to talk about her. Not now and not ever again.
"Where is she?"
"I blasted her out of the sky. I'm not sure if I killed her, but she definitely won't be coming back. Borg is signing a peace treaty with us soon as well."
"That's nice."
"Oden knows where she's gone to, but she's out of our lives forever."
"Hum... If my life lasts much longer." Stoick leaned forward and did something he's never done before. He kissed the top of his son's head and shed a tear. A real, visible tear.
"Don't talk like that son. You're a Viking! You're strong! I know you can fight it."
"I'm trying so hard, dad. I really am." It was painful for Stoick to watch Hiccup like this. The thought that he could possibly outlive his son crept its way from the back of his mind to the front. Stoick cringed at the thought of losing another loved one and being alone. Hiccup was all Stoick had left in the world. If he lost him, life as he knew it would be over. It was painful when Valka left, and she didn't even die. In fact, Valka's last words to Stoick before she left were "take care of Hiccup, will you?" If he died, he'd break one of the most important promises he's ever made. Stoick's own offspring, and the only link he had to his beloved wife, was dying. Just thinking about it made Stoick's eyes water. Hiccup seemed to take notice as he placed a weak hand on his wet cheek. He shot him a reassuring smile, and, for a moment, everything was almost all right.

Slowly, the door crept open and two large reptiles walked in followed by a few young adults. Normally, they'd be talking up a storm, making bets with one another, or throwing around insults. But this time, they were all deathly quiet. Gobber invited them in but told them to be careful. Toothless seemed to ignore that command as he practically jumped on Hiccup, licking his face and burying his head under his chin.
"Hey, bud." Hiccup said as he embraced him in a weak hug. Toothless proceeded to curl up with Hiccup and rested his head on his chest. Hiccup leaned his head on Toothless as well, listening to the steady heartbeat of his best friend. Hiccup seemed to take notice of the smaller reptile in the room and looked at her with a quizzical expression. The pink bow in the ear was gone but he recognized it as Tuna immediately.
"She's with us now" Fishlegs explained. "I had a feeling she always was anyway. Her and Toothless, they're in love! When we were in your blacksmith shop looking for weapons earlier, we actually discovered a Night Fury nest. She must have laid her eggs here, and that must have been one of the reasons she decided to stay!"
"Awe, Toothless. You're going to be a dad. Before me. There's a shock." Hiccup said, scratching Toothless behind the ears. Toothless made a cooing sound and Tuna seemed to almost wink at Hiccup. She stood next to the rest of the group, and, for once, finally felt like she was a part of a true family.
"A few of us were out there waiting for you to wake up. You know, we were worried sick when we heard the news. I couldn't believe it." Fishlegs said.
"Couldn't believe how stupid I was? Yea, me neither."
"No, Gods, no! I couldn't believe she turned on you. I was duped to. We all were. Those Borgians are really good at manipulating people." Hiccup nodded in agreement and slowly blinked his eyes. He could feel another battle with death brewing inside of him.

Slowly, death started to seal his breaths. He found it harder and harder to simply inhale and exhale. He felt death snatch all the color from his skin and the energy from his body. Slowly, he could feel it work its way up from his false leg to his chest. Death rendered him speechless and all he could do was gasp for breath. He felt himself being dragged toward the glowing light on the ceiling, floating up and up higher and higher. His senses started to go one by one. He couldn't hear his father shouting at him to stay alive or Gobber trying to get everyone out. He couldn't feel Toothless's comforting, scaly skin or his nudges of encouragement to stay. He couldn't taste the iron in his mouth anymore or the remnants of sand. But surprisingly, he could still see. He saw the light get closer and closer to him. He saw its warm comforting glow drawing him in. He went closer and closer until he could start to see the fine details. A shape started to appear, but it was not the much-desired Viking afterlife. It was something, someone, better than that ever would be.

Standing before him, he saw Astrid. Tears were streaming down her face and Stoick tried to hold her back. Her mouth was moving but Hiccup heard no words. Instead, he mustered up all the strength he could and raised his hand to grab at Astrid. Once his hand was in hers, it all stopped. Death drained from his body as quickly as it entered and he was finally free. Catching his breath, he pulled Astrid closer to him, dropping her hand in the process. With his now free hand, Hiccup grabbed her face and stared at her. He wiped a tear that had fallen from her enchanting eyes and sighed. He pulled her in closer, but instead of bringing his lips to hers, he let her face go and flicked her forehead.
"Ow! What was that for?" She asked, surprised at the sudden change of action.
"That was for scaring me." He said, faster and clearer than ever. He looked in to her eyes and she looked back, now crying tears of pure happiness. Both lovers knew exactly what was going to happen next. Hiccup pulled her close to him and kissed her. It was the sweetest kiss he had ever had. After he let go, he let a tear drop out of his eye, but not before saying:
"And that was for everything else." He looked back at the ceiling and the light was no longer there. It was now standing next to him in the form of a woman. Hiccup had finally reached paradise. With that, he closed his eyes, signed heavily, and drifted off into a much-needed sleep.

This was kind of a fluffier chapter, but I'm not that great at fluff. Anyway, I hoped you liked it! Two more chapters left! I might actually be thinking about writing another one, so there is a possibility that there could be three more chapters left. I'm still working the kinks out. But this will end soon, and after it's over, I'll probably take a little break, but I'll be back! Like I said, I'll be writing a series of HTTYD comedy one shots and finishing up the Newsies fanfic I've abandoned. TY all for the reads/reviews/follows/favorites! You guys rock harder than boulder class dragons. :)