Darkness. Cold, dark, and weak. That's how I felt, and what I saw. The last thing I can remember was a giant lightning bolt striking an evil man before I passed out. All of the power seemed to suddenly drain out of me like a gust of wind.

The visions stopped, good and bad. The warmth I got from Striker and the lightning stopped. I felt powerless and weak, and I saw darkness. But, I could hear voices. My parents, my dragon, my uncle and other friends. I even heard another voice, my grandmother. How I knew that… I don't know. But I recognized her singing voice from my father. It was the lullaby and it soothed me, and kept me from slipping completely into death. She sang it slowly, and oh so sweetly.

Only when the song ended did I see the light.

"Ughh." I groaned as my whole body ached. I didn't dare move. I blinked a few more times, making odd fuzzy shapes clearer. A ringing in my ears slowed and I could barely make out Striker talking. She was running around the room in a frenzy, and suddenly disappeared. "Wha-w…" I shivered despite having many layers of blankets on me and a fireplace burning dragon fire.

I layed there like a zombie, unable to move, unable to talk, and unable to see or hear things clearly. The only thing I could do was hope that the evil man would be unable to make my life worse.

After the battle, before Pache's awakening…

All of the Outcasts had been slayed, the dragons were now carrying off the dead bodies into the ocean where the aquatic dragons would bury their bodies deep in sediment, never to be seen again. Any other dragons available blasted a ball of fire into the air, creating what Hiccup called fireworks, to celebrate their victory. Some began to fly back to the nest, but the rest staying on Berk, wanting direct orders from their alphas.

Said alphas landed along with Astrid and Stormfly by the docks.

"Well, the reinforcements worked out well." Astrid smiled, and Hiccup laughed a little.

Then she saw Alvin dead, and Striker nudging Pache's bleeding side, wanting her to wake up. She gasped, and hopped off Stormfly, running to her daughter. Hiccup followed after her. She picked her up and cuddled her, blood getting on her clothes. The two parents were dumbfounded and worried.

"We need to get Pache to the nest where we can heal her." Hiccup said and Astrid nodded. They were about to walk toward their dragons when they were stopped by someone.

"Her injuries will be too severe by the time you get to your home. It'd be better if she was treated here where we have better medical supplies and more experienced people to treat her." Stoick said to the two exasperated dragon riders. "It's the least Berk could do for your generosity in saving us from the Outcasts."

What else could they do. It's one of two choices, go to the nest where they'd be safe from Vikings and have the possibility of Pache dying, or stay on Berk where they could be either attacked, killed, or save Pache for certain. So, of course they chose the latter.

"Very well, where should we bring her?" Hiccup asked.

"She can stay in my house. There's more room there." He paused before saying in a whisper so only they could here, "And I'd like to talk with my son." If Hiccup's eyes got any wider they'd pop out of their sockets. But, it was a sign that Stoick wouldn't hurt them, not yet anyway.

Husband and wife met eyes and nodded. Gothi came forward after getting a signal from her chief and the elder, Pache, Astrid, Stormfly and Striker all left to go to the hut. Hiccup stayed behind due to the fact he and Toothless had a duty to take care of. Some dragons began to nuzzle people to see if they were unharmed, and the people would hesitantly pet them back right before scratching them like an overgrown puppy dog. Future dragon riders, hiccup thought, before another thought chased it away. It can't be that simple.

Toothless was feeling left out and nudged his brother forward to which he responded with a laugh and ferociously rubbed his the underside of his head. Vikings and dragons formed a crowd around the two leaders wanting to know what to do next. Whispers echoed throughout the mass and odd, kind, and hateful looks were directed to both parties. Stoick decided to speak first.

"People of Berk, I know that many of us have died, our homes, buildings, and supplies have been destroyed. However, we have won against Alvin again for the last time, because he and his treacherous ways are done for!" Everyone cheered, even the dragons roared. "And we owe it all to the dragon riders." He turned to the two alphas. "Thank you for helping us, despite our hostile ways. If there's any way we can repay you…"

"I want my daughter to be taken care of." The death rider looked into the distance. "And for Astrid to be accepted back into the village."

"Of course, we..."

"But," Stoick was interrupted again, "if Pache dies, and if any of my dragons are harmed then I will burn this whole place to the ground. Understood." It wasn't a question.

"Yes." Stoick answered, shocked that Hiccup was ready to do that. He could see it in his eyes he meant business. And that he didn't lie. "No dragon is to be harmed while they're here. The dragon riders will stay at my place until they feel the need to depart." He shouted to the village. "We will have a meeting later once we get settled. In the meantime, start repairing homes, and fishing. Winter's nearly here and we need to store up."

At this, Hiccup smiled, and so did Toothless, but not a gummy smile. This was of knowledge that something good was going to happen. Something the two brothers were proud of. What is was, Stoick didn't know.

The people of Berk began to scatter to do their jobs, and Stoick walked with his son and the night fury to his hut. He hoped the dragons wouldn't get in the way, but what he didn't notice however that the dragons had scattered too.

"Hiccup, she's showing mild signs of consciousness! She's going to be alright!" Astrid exclaimed as soon as he came in with Stoick

"Thank Thor." He sighed. Gothi came down the stairs, and whacked him on the head.

"Gah! What was that for?!" He exclaimed and sent the elder an annoyed glare. Immediately she began to scribble in the dirt with her staff ferociously, an angered look on her face. She motioned Astrid over to translate.

"She says next time you decide to run away, get married, and have a kid that you should try not to endanger their lives by raising them to speak dragonese." Astrid continued, "She couldn't understand a single thing in the conversation Striker and Pache were having."

"That's not my fault, I didn't teach her that!" He defended himself.

"Sorry to say it, but she's right. You're lucky I didn't have my axe, otherwise you'd lose your other leg." Astrid threatened.

"Why?"

"Because Pache nearly gave us all a heart attack, and that wouldn't've happened if you didn't teach her to ride Striker until she was… oh, I don't know maybe, SEVEN AND NOT A FREAKIN CHILD!" Astrid punched his arm hard.

"Okay, point taken."

"Can you please explain to us about what you two are going on about? I'd like to know what's been happening all these years you've been gone. Then, I can tell the village in a way they wouldn't attack you after hearing." Stoick said, and motioned to the table and chairs. Hiccup sighed and raked a hand through his hair.

"Fine, I guess now's a better time than ever to come out of retirement."

"Retirement of what?" Astrid asked.

"Being a legendary figure. The Death Rider? Sheesh, what am I, Loki?" He said and sat down. "I mean, in all honesty what the heck type of a name is that. It's not like I've wiped out entire islands or anything. Yet." He whispered the last part to himself.

Astrid, Gothi, and Stoick sat down, Toothless curling by the fireplace like a housecat. "Let's see, where do we start?" Hiccup asked himself.

"How about why you left. Why did you mysteriously disappear without anyone knowing? How could you just leave your family, your friends, and your home?" Stoick asked, a saddened tone in his voice.

"Because this was never my home. Not wholly anyway. I didn't have any friends. Nobody liked me, not just because I was a Hiccup, but because of my scale."

"You knew about that and didn't tell me?"

"I didn't think I had to. I thought you were going to be a father and trust me enough to tell me. Even when I turned 13, a teenager, you didn't tell me. All I wanted was someone who at least cared when I got bullied. When I came home bloodied and bruised. But all I ever got from you was a cold glare, like I was a thorn in your side. I finally realized I wasn't going to get what I always wanted from you. A real father who cared." Hiccup finished.

"I cared. When you became better in training..." Stoick tried to defend himself.

"TRAINING! Oh, don't even get me STARTED on that. Was that the only thing you cared about? A son who could fight dragons and who was famous around the village. If I had gotten last in training what would you do? You would continue giving me the cold glare. That wasn't real parenting. That was just…" He paused thinking of the right words. "...that was just a chief being happy to rid himself of another nuisance. I even remember when you got back from another nest search how you told me, "Odin, it was rough, I almost gave up on you." You almost gave up on me. What does that mean? What would've happened to me? Would Snotlout have become heir then? Would I have been outlawed. I remember the Berk motto, only the strong can belong. It taunted me every day, making me wonder, 'when's the day they're finally going to realize I don't belong?'"

"Hiccup…"

"I'M NOT DONE YET! Remember that night I said I shot down a night fury? Well, guess what? I did. But nobody believed me. After all how could Hiccup the Useless have done anything close to that? I almost didn't believe it myself, but it was my last hope to earn respect and honor. So, I searched in the woods and… well, I already told you this story in the arena, didn't I?"

There was silence. Nobody knew what to say. But, the father of the year decided to make another memorable statement and break the ice. "You're just like your mother. Stubborn, and strong in opinion. It's what got her killed. You're daughter has that same sense."

This time, it was momma bear's turn to snap. She slammed both hands on the table, startling the chief. "And what's THAT supposed to mean?"

"I don't mean it in any offense, it's just that she seems to be a little, well… she has that occupational hazard of getting herself injured."

"And just HOW would YOU know THAT? I don't care if you're my chief, a king, or even a FREAKING GOD. YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT MY DAUGHTER LIKE THAT! SHE SAVED YOUR FREAKING LIFE AND DON'T YOU FORGET THAT!" Astrid did not have a filter when it came to defending her family.

"DON'T YOU FORGET YOUNG LADY THAT I AM YOUR FATHER IN LAW. YOU WILL RESPECT ME AND MY AUTHORITY!"

"WHY? BECAUSE YOU RESPECT OURS JUST AS MUCH?" Astrid and Stoick were at each other's throats, and from there the fight would get physical if someone didn't do something.

"Sniff." It was soft, and very quiet, but it got everyone's attention nonetheless. Pache was at the base of the staircase, her hair messy and face tear stained. Just like she was back at the nest, before it all started. Except, this time she was on top of Striker, and Fiendish was back at the nest.

"Wh...y are y-y-ou all fight...sniff...ing?" Pache asked in a whispery, stammering voice. Astrid walked over, picked her off her dragon's back, and cradled her like a baby. "I… tho-ught we we-re d-done with fi...ghting." She looked at everyone in the room.

Hiccup and Stoick met eyes, knowing they couldn't hurt Pache any more.

"Alright baby, we won't fight anymore." The little girl smiled at her father's words. "There won't be any more fighting now, because of you." Hiccup kissed his daughter's forehead. Pache smiled very bright. Alvin was gone along with the Outcasts, and Berk and the Dragon nest were going to be allies.

Stoick later found out that Hiccup and Toothless were smiling earlier because the dragons were helping the people collect supplies. In about four hours they recovered most of what they lost. Yes, all was well.

Alvin's dead body was never seen by anyone except Stoick, Pache, and Striker. Everyone could only assume that his body was taken like the rest of the Outcasts.

That was their mistake, because at the very far end of the island, a grumpy old man who owned a cabbage farm wasn't happy about how the battle went. And neither was the treacherous Outcast being treated in Mildew's basement.