Hello again. This chapter covers the many loses of lives, friendships, hopes and memories. Posting this chapter 9-12-2014. Final chapter is posted in four days. I wanted to write more for this chapter, however I've been a bit sick and haven't been at my best, and for that I'm sorry. Anyways, I hope you enjoy. Thank you.

...

Plunging himself into the seas below, Alvin could only see darkness within the waves on the dark moonless night. When he had heard Hiccup's wails from the opposite side of the village and upon hurrying towards her cries, he witnessed as she drifted in midair before tumbling down to the vast deep. He didn't even give it a second thought as he followed after her and frantically whirled about in the darkness for any glimpse of her. His lungs burned as he swam further into the marine, Hiccup becoming a dark blur in the world of waves. Fear gripped at his core at the horror that his young niece would be taken by the unforgiving hands of death till a bright glow shined below him like fireflies in the night. Orbs of light encircled Hiccup's motionless body as if trying to surface her to safety, surely a blessing from the gods. Thanking them for answering to his prayers, Alvin swam towards her as fast as he could, pleading for her life to still be within reach and held her body close before bringing them both up to the land of air. The lights around her slowly dimmed away as they broke surface, her body still unconscious as Alvin raced towards the docks.

Pulling himself up to the pier, his entire being was soaked to the bone as he desperately shook Hiccup's fragile body while pressing his palm onto her chest to urge the saltwater out of her lungs and after several firm jolts was able to witness her cough out the liquid from her body. By the time she was breathing again, Stoick and the other villages gathered around them as Alvin lifted himself up, Hiccup cradled in his arms. Stoick stopped right in front of him as he held his arms out for her, Alvin passing Hiccup onto him as he held her head close.

In an instant, he lost his best friend and wife, and then his only child was nearly taken away by grief and the sea. Shielding her now shivering body with his furred cloak, he said nothing as he turned, making his way through the crowd to Gothi at the end of the pier who motioned to see the child.

Placing her hand over Hiccup's head, she could sense powerful forces trying to battle their way through the young girl's mind as she groaned. The energy within the child was like none she had ever felt before and it neither terrified nor alleviated her nerves. Hiccup was waging a war within herself and her only cure would be to awaken from her far too real nightmares.

…

He wasn't too sure how late it was by the time he awoke and a part of him didn't seem to care one bit. All he knew was his mind was relaxed and from this feeling a smile spread on his face before the sudden chill of solitude crept over his form as he lifted his wings. She was gone. The Night Fury's smile faded as he looked over from side to side, the gentle Mist Runner nowhere to be found. He hadn't even felt her leave and with her absent from his side, his heart somehow felt broken and cold.

Was he too forward with his actions?

Did he somehow manage to frighten her away?

His mind kept going over what had happened before they rested together, the soothing flavor of her tears still lingering on tip of his tongue. She seemed so vulnerable and yet so understanding. The soft sensation from her warm pelt remained over him and a piece of him wanted to feel more of her plush embrace. There was this deep-set impulse within him that said he needed to find her and be by her side, and yet he wasn't too such if that was just Red Death's orders echoing inside.

Red Death… he mused for a moment before realizing what time it was and hearing the growing screams from the Viking village.

"Mist…" was all he managed to allow pass his lips before his body bolted towards the spreading glow of fire over the community. Even with all his speed, he felt he wasn't getting there fast enough and by the time he reached the village, the shadow of the Storm Cutter loomed over to the north, flying off with a motionless body cradled in his talons.

He was too late.

A part of him was relieved she and her brother were able to escape, so why was there a weight of regret over his shoulders? Was he internally hoping she'd get captured? No, he didn't want that. Did he? His attention shifted over to the cluster of dragons leaving back to Dragon Island. Before leaving, he managed nab a young doe, not wanting to go back empty-handed. As the female deer bucked and griped under his paws, he wondered if this would have been the Mist Runner's reaction if he had done his job.

…

The lava bellow seemed to bubble with the same boiling rage seething within the Red Death as he looked upon his disappointing minions. All that time spent planning and waiting, wasted. He had been patient, far too patient for his liking and he had felt it would have been justified once the Mist Runner was between his scaly paws, but now nothing was stopping him from unleashing all his pent-up frustrations.

He took several aggressive breaths before focusing his attention to the Whispering Death who held her head low towards her master.

"Care to explain why this pedestal..." he scraped one of his long sharp claws across the flat stone surface of the pillar creating an ear-piecing nails to a chalkboard sound. "…is absent one Mist Runner?" As his harsh voice vibrated throughout the air, the Whispering Death's body winced before she unruffled herself.

"It seems, my liege, the Cutter was tipped off before the attack. I caught this traitor admit to it aloud during the search," she hissed as her spiked tail tightened over the necks of the Zippleback.

Red Death's six eyes pierced the azure duel-headed dragon. The revelation of being double-crossed didn't sit well with him as he pinched his blade-like index and thumb claws onto the dragon, the Whispering Death releasing her hold on his necks. He brought the Zippleback to his eye level, glaring at the silence insect before him, their eyes forward and as unafraid as they could make them.

"What a disgusting little louse you are. Do I not provide you a home, a haven from the grip of mankind and this is how you choose to honor my generous deeds?"

The brothers looked to each other. This was it, if this was to be their last moments alive, they'd go leaving the truth. Nodding their heads, the head to the left spoke first. "You may warden around here because of your self-proclaimed crown, but you will never be an Alpha."

"At the end of the day," the right added, "you're just an overgrown hatchling trapped in a mountain just like us!"

If Red Death thought he was boiling before, his insides was searing after hearing this insolent vermin's slanders to his person. How dare he criticize his authority by bringing up the Alphas? If he had his Runner like planned, he'd be supreme overlord of his domain, nay the Archipelagos. It would have been perfect, glorious… Now because of this self-righteous garbage between his grasp, his demented dreams would never be reality. Red Death slowly squeezed at the Zippleback's side, piercing his hide and puncturing the vital organs of each half. A cringe of pain spread over the brothers faces as they felt their blood escaping their sides, trickling down the devil's appendage.

"So, you think I'm just like you, Zippleback?" he smoothly smirked demonically as his pressure on the dragon increased till sprays of bright red were exiting the mouths of the germ before him. "How high and mighty of you to even consider comparing your revolting form to my faultless identity." Taking the three remaining spiked digits on his paw, he sluggishly pushed them into the now shivering Zippleback, their throats choking and clogged with their own blood to even voice out screams of torment. Red Death felt amused by the necks of the dragon in his hold as they twined around each other tightly, watching all the delicious blood streaming out between their teeth. He let out a gratified chuckle as he pulled his needles out of the blue traitor one by one before climbing them upward back into him like a pincushion.

By the time the walls of the mountain were spinning rapidly in the Zippleback's mind, they could no longer feel pain. Where Red Death would jab at their body, it felt numb and by that time most of their blood was juiced out of them. They wondered if it was all worth it, telling the Cutter the truth and having him and his sister fly off to an Alpha who'd protect and look over them. A warm smile spread over each of their faces as their breathing began to whizz from having their lungs popped like balloons. It was all worth it as they looked back to the little Runner who leaped from fire to them, insisting to be played with. So much innocence in her eyes as both dragon and child. There was light within them and for what it was worth, they were happy it wouldn't fade here in the dark.

Seeing the Zippleback's gloating smirk fueled Red Death's fury. "You find this cruelty amusing, don't you, you masochistic insignificant maggot?! If that's the case then allow me to further your pleasure to your kin! Because of you, you miserable excuse of a reptile, what was meant to be mine has slipped through my grasps; so in return I'll see to it that your brethren from generation to generation serve as mere treats for me to ingest till they're completely eradicated from my domain forever!"

Taking the left head into his mouth, Red Death slowly pulled it away from its main body, tearing it out and slurping it down his throat. Slowly he nibbled on the remaining pieces of the Zippleback till all that was left was the dead head on the right, a twisted smile still laced on his lifeless face. Munching it back and forth between his fangs till it was a paste-like consistency, he lapped his massive tongue over his teeth, wiping them clean from the small hints of blue lingering from his snack.

He wasn't enraged anymore, only disappointed now that his frustrations were dealt with and gave a content breath as he eyed the shivering Zipplebacks at the far side of the walls. "Don't fret, you'll all be joining your wretched brothers in due time." The hive had been silent the entire time as he gorged upon the Zippleback. It was by far the most horrendous act of cannibalism any of them had ever seen, even the Whispering Death became frightened thinking that could have been her if the traitor had kept his mouths shut.

Entering the hive from an opening in the wall, the Night Fury returned with a live doe in his paws, wailing frantically as he set it down on the pillar that was to be the Mist Runner's new home. The doe wanted to scamper away but had nowhere to run as large red eyes gazed upon her with unbridled hunger.

"And what is this, my prized solider?" Red Death smirked looking to the terrified mammal before him.

Before the Night Fury could respond, the Whispering Death cut in, bitterness in her growl. "Just where were you when the attack was taking place, Fury?"

The Night Fury shot her a dark stare. "If you must know, I was out stationed for a hunting mission and managed to see your racket over on the village side of the island," he commented truthfully with a sly smirk. "It was quite the pathetic performance when you consider they got away."

The Whispering Death snarled at his cheeky attitude. If he wasn't Red Death's favorite, she would have killed him years ago.

Red Death looked down to the doe, still shivering on the far side of the pillar. It gave him delight to see such a powerless animal cower before him and for a moment he pictured the deer as the Runner as he lifted his claw out to it. As he scraped the doe's backside, her flesh tore open as she cried out in agony.

"Well done, Night Fury. At least you bring me a puppet to amuse myself with," he eyed the mammal before him with wicked desires as he toyed with the creature till her final breath when he finished dissecting her into small pieces to enjoy.

He was upset he didn't get what he wanted, but at least he had one rare obedient dragon who'd never turn on him.

Ever.

…

Powerful forces of nature seemed to hinder Valka and Cloudjumper's journey to the north.

Throughout their flight, large unusual formation of dark clouds that blanketed the moonless sky loomed overhead making the world appear darker than it truly was. The air was heavy and the winds howled out of control as it tried to convincingly push the Storm Cutter back to Berk. He however, pressed onward with the slim female mother within his hold.

If Cloudjumper could describe the feeling within himself, it would be brokenhearted. Seeing his little sister's calmly sleeping face, so unaware of the dangers over her made him ache. His duty was not only to his Alpha but to himself. He vowed to protect Hiccup at all costs. He knew he'd only be gone for a short while if he kept at his top speed, he just hoped he wasn't too late to bring her to safety in time with a storm branching over them.

As he flew, Valka watched the world around her spread with countless miles of vast ocean waters. That's all there seemed to be between them, plain ocean water with no sign of land within sight. She wept for a good part of their flight, each droplet of her sorrow only fueling the large puddle of water that covered the world below. She wept for her daughter and how after she returned she would quite possibly never have the chance to see her again. It was a heavy burden for any mother to have to do, to let your child go, even if you or they are not yet ready to separate forever. A part of her told her she'd one day come back to see her, but by that time would Hiccup have moved on or completely abandoned her human lineage for a life as a dragon. She honestly hoped that wasn't to be her daughter's future and wished she had spent more time with her little one before this fateful day. Soon the air became frigid and a bright light from ahead could be seen as they approached their destination.

By the time they entered the ice fortress, the squall outdoors was near unbearable for flight, Cloudjumper nearly missing the entrance due to low visibility. The heavens were monstrous as if the gods were at odds ends with each other and taking it out on the world below and none were prepared for the clash that was soon to come.

When Valka took her first step onto the grassy floor after Cloudjumper released her, her eyes widened to the cornucopia of wild dragons of various colors, sizes and breeds dancing around above her in tight spirals and clusters. Despite the fortresses location to the icy north, the interior was warm, with lush greenery. The frozen dome that covered this section of the world from the rest glowed brightly as the sun's rays entered; making it feel like a warm summer day admits the tundra outdoor. She eyes widened more as she turn to see many dragons beginning to approach her curiously, sniffing her clothing and hair as if trying to figure out what she was and why she was there. To many, she smelt of human with a slight sweetness to her to which they were sure was the odor of the young Runner who was nowhere to be found.

Cloudjumper stood over her as she smiled and reached out for the new and unknown dragons before her, perched high as he looked down to the them who soon got the message and moved away for he and the woman to greet the Bewilderbeast. The ice dragon rose his head to the sight of the Cutter and a slender middle-aged woman who gawked at his presence before lowering her head. She had never seen a dragon so large before and it honestly intimidated her. The Bewilderbeast looked to the young woman, her eyes blue like the waters below. They were kind, gentle and understanding eyes, truly a worthy mother of the Mist Runner. He smiled softly to her as she did the same.

"Forgive me, sir. She wished to…" Cloudjumper started before being interrupted by small chuckles.

"It's quite alright. A mother will always do what is needed for their young. Now, allow her a hasty tour around before you return her home and bring young Hiccup here. We must work swiftly."

Nodding, he gave Valka a quick view of the haven. Showing her all the plantation suitable for her daughter to consume as well as the chamber he had prepared for Hiccup for when she was old enough to venture here. It was made of ice like the rest of the structure but within it were tall piles of pelts of different sizes and colors to keep her warm. A chuckle escaped Valka as she recalled many villagers on Berk complaining that their pelt were being stolen after being hanged to dry and now knowing who the culprit was and why he did it, she couldn't help but be amused. She gave a small sigh knowing Hiccup would truly be safe here rather than on Berk. Here she'd be appreciated, loved and cherished. Valka wondered if she would cry once she had to let go of her daughter's cheek for the last time.

After familiarizing herself with the surroundings, both Cloudjumper and Valka prepared to return back when the skies from the outdoors began to darken, veiling the fortress from the light. The enclose became cold as the sun's warmth disappeared, many dragons retreating to natural steam vents and hot springs to stay comfortable.

Rising from the waterbed, the Bewilderbeast listened carefully as the sounds of brutal gust of hail collided with the surface of the fortress. "Are you sure you can fly through this weather, Cloudjumper?"

"I have to. We don't have much time left," he said as he shielded Valka between his talons.

"Very well, be safe. We will be awaiting your return." With that, Cloudjumper exited out to the blazing winds, the world around him curtained in blinding whiteness. For him, it didn't matter how hard the ice hit him or how strong the winds groaned, he'd keep flying long and hard through a thousand storms just to reach his sister before time ran out.

…

When Hiccup opened her eyes, she could see grey clouds hovering over the world from her skylight. Like the night before, she couldn't feel her mother's energy and not wasting any time she bounced out of bed and changed her clothing before heading downstairs with her toy dragon in hand. As she looked down to the kitchen, she could see her father cradling his head by his palms while he sat by the table. His face was covered but she could sense his mood was that of sorrow and loss. Walking towards him, the house seemed darker than usual and it honestly frightened her as she tugged on his furred cloak.

Returning from his trance of misery, Stoick looked down to his child, her eyes wide as she held onto her toy tightly. His heart feared the words he knew would inevitably escape her trembling lips.

"Where's Mama? She promised she'd be here, didn't she?"

He wanted to take back the events from last night. Just to go back and never having to leave the house. Maybe if he hadn't, Valka would still be there with them, making breakfast for everyone like she usually did with a big smile on her face. How could he possibly break the news to Hiccup? He had thought about it all night long and now that the morning had arrived he was no closer to finding an answer.

"Come, Hiccup, let's go fishing," he said as he lifted himself. When his mother passed when he was young, his father took him fishing to explain life and death. Hopefully he could do the same with his child.

After gathering some poles and a basket, they made their way to the pier. It was surprisingly abandoned and the waters of the deep seemed to share in the melancholy attitude of the day.

As Stoick set off the first cast, Hiccup eyed her toy closely. "Big Brother…"

"Hmm?" Stoick asked as he reeled in the line.

"He and Mama went for a trip together. He'll bring her back right?" she lifted her toy out to her father, hoping for him to understand.

Stoick gazed upon the stuffed dragon, the very dragon who took his wife away from him and Hiccup. Bitterness grew in his heart upon staring at it. "You see, Hiccup," he tried to remember the words his father had told him years ago. "Sometimes the people we love…leave this world."

"But they'll be back right? Big Brother will bring Mama back and then he'll take me with him too."

His eyes widened with fear. Was Hiccup nearly taken the night before? Valka must have stopped the dragon like when she was still a babe. She sacrificed herself so her daughter could live on… "No. Hiccup, listen," he dropped to his knees so to be closer to her. "Your mother was a brave warrior, she did this for you. Please try to understand that she won't…"

"But she will be back, she promised!" She held her dragon high for him to see. "They have to come back! Big Brother can't leave me, he has to take me with him someday! You have to listen to me… Daddy I'm…!" A part of her wanted to desperately tell him, for him to understand that what she was trying to tell him was the truth. "We have to go find them!"

Stoick held in his fears as best he could. He couldn't, wouldn't allow that dragon or any to take his child away from him like they did Valka. Hiccup was still too young, too innocent to understand the horrors of those beasts. It was when she said the Storm Cutter would one day come back for her that set him off. He had to stop this. Taking the toy from her tiny hands, he glared at it one last time before flinging it out to the ocean before him.

"You don't have a brother! Your mother is gone, Hiccup! That thing took her away and she is never coming back! Your mother is dead!" he caught his breath after his outburst and stared wide-eyed to what he had done. He had never yelled at Hiccup before and a shiver of regret filled his heart as her arms extended outward to the sea to try and retrieve her favorite possession, the last piece of her mother she had to hold.

Tears formed over her eyes as she looked back to her father. Why couldn't she just tell him the truth? To just say, 'Daddy, I'm a dragon'. She was afraid he'd yell at her for not being normal, but she never thought he'd shout at her for this or that he'd throw her toy away. Hiccup began to hold the ends of her long shirt tightly, her tears not stopping as she whimpered silently. Before Stoick could apologize for what he had said and done, she ran off back to the village and to her uncle's house.

Alvin was already awake and was sharpening his hatchet, he had to go out and search for his sister, his friend. When the front door to his house opened wide and Hiccup ran straight into his arms crying wildly as she gripped onto his beard for comfort, he dropped his hatchet to the ground and held her as close and tight as he could without hurting her. He was about her age when his parents died and he remembered holding Valka close like this when she learned out the news. Alvin thought back to the words of his grandfather, how he and Valka were to keep Hiccup safe and loved. As long as he'd stand, he'd honor that request. He hushed her softly till her cries drove her to rest.

Laying her on his bed, he draped the covers over her small body. He already lost his little sister, he wasn't about to lose the only family he had left. Stroking her hair down, he narrowed his sights and walked out to the grey world outside to go have a chat with his "brother".

…

"For acts of treachery to the village of Berk and to the chief, I hereby banish you, Alvin the Treacherous, for attempted kidnapping of the heiress of Berk. Any last words?" Stoick ordered as everyone stood by the docks, frowning to the dark-haired man on the lone boat cast to sea. Hours ago, Alvin had stormed to Stoick at the Great Hall, demanding to take custody of his niece as Valka's final wish and when Stoick refused, bitter words were sent back and forth. It was the comment that Stoick never deserved Valka and that he'd be taking Hiccup as his own child to protect whether he liked it or not that set off the chain of events held before them. After Hiccup was located and taken home, a few physical debates were held between the chief and the man he had once called comrade to the point where the ultimate decision was made by him and the elders.

Alvin glared into the eyes of the man he had once called his friend, darkness and wrath in his words. "Ya can banish me off of Berk, take me honor, and separate me from me niece. But mark me words, Stoick, you'll ALL burn to the ground for what you've done to me family. I will have my revenge and I will take what is rightfully mine."

With only the clothing on his back and a few days of food and supplies, Alvin sailed off to parts unknown. There weren't many places for him to go to. Perhaps he'd start his life over on one of the neighboring Viking territories, Outcast maybe, or become a hermit living on a deserted island? He didn't care, none of it mattered to him. His sister was gone, he lost his home, his tribe, best friend but most of all his dearest niece. What would she say once she realized he was gone as well? It was something he dreaded to think about. Hiccup was the spit and image of Valka, the only thing she seemed to inherit from her father were her large jade eyes and, but truly she was every bit like her mother. She had an adventurous spirit and the heart of a brave leader. A smile crossed his face as he looked out to the infinite ocean, the memories of him and Hiccup playing with swords and making shadow puppets on the walls; it was enough to make him want to weep knowing he had just lost any more of those moments with her.

It was his third day at sea when he saw two ships side by side in the distance, one waving the signature dark banner of outlaws and the other producing the sounds of wailing that could be heard for miles. Seeing the all too familiar flag of a pirate ship, Alvin set a course for the two vessels. He may have been a man stripped of his honor to the people he once knew, but he wasn't a heartless beast who would just let bandits raid an unsuspecting ship with innocent lives aboard. By the time he got there, the pirates were helping themselves to the belongings on the ship and armed themselves when Alvin hopped onto the deck, beating the men before tossing many of them overboard till finally all the bandits were either slain or drowned.

Looking over the ship, Alvin could see he had been too late to save the passengers' as one man and woman laid on the wooden floor, died. From the look of the vessel, they were simple farming folk probably on holiday and just happened to be crossing the wrong patch of sea at the wrong time. He was about to head back to his own ship when the sound of a rolling bottle from behind a barrel caught his attention.

"Come on out," he demanded as he held out one of the swords left behind by the pirates.

After several seconds, a small boy with emerald eyes and dark hair tied in a tail to the side of his shoulder emerged from over a barrel. His body was shivering to the horrors he had witnessed as his parents were beaten and murdered for what little they had. He had been lucky he wasn't spotted but now he was alone on his family's ship with a man pointing a sword to him. His options weren't looking good.

Alvin sighed and lowered the sword to the ground as he held a hand out to the little boy. "It's alright, lad, I ain't gonna hurt ya."

The young boy looked to the big man. Slowly, he rose from behind the barrel and made his way over the large Viking.

Taking his hand, Alvin averted the boy's sight from the two bodies on the ground. "Do ya know where yer home is lad?"

The boy shook his head.

This was a predicament, he couldn't leave the child here on his own and he couldn't honestly expect to take him with him to places he wasn't even too sure he was off to. "Any family I can drop ya off with?"

Again, the boy shook his head.

Sighing again, Alvin nudged the small boy on the shoulder. "Look, lad, I'm on me way to find a home, start a new life. Now I can drop ya off on the next island with people or ya can come with me. I don't care which ya choice just as long as yer comfortable."

The five-year old thought hard on the idea, he was good at thinking to himself. He could either be stationed on an island where he'd be an orphan with no home or anyone to turn to, or he could ride it out with the man who saved his life and possibly have someone to be with. He felt he knew the most beneficial answer. Squeezing onto Alvin's palm, the boy nodded his head and pointed to him.

"Alright then," he hopped back onto his ship with the boy in hand and sat him on a wooden box, giving him some bread and an apple to eat. "Ya got a name, lad?"

After taking a bite out of the apple, he swallowed the juicy fruit before answering. "Heath, sir."

"Well, Heath, me name's Alvin. We'll set a course for Outcast Island."

"Yes, sir," Heath nodded before they set sail and gave his parents a proper Viking funeral. He vowed that as long as he was with Alvin, he'd do his best to repay him.

…

"I want you to erase her memories, Gothi," Stoick sat by the side of the bed next to his daughter. "Block her mother's face, Alvin, dragons, this 'big brother' she speaks of… I'm scared I'm going to lose her for good if she keeps them in mind," he tucked away several strands of Hiccup's hair behind her ears as she slept. He didn't want her crying once she realized her uncle was cast off the island, his heart couldn't bear it if she grew to hate him for sending him away. What other choice did he have? The man wanted to take his child away from him.

Gothi gazed at her chief and pointed to him.

"No. There are too many memories, too many moments... I alone will carry this burden of knowing for the both of us. I'll leave you to it…" Stoick slowly lifted himself and processed down the stair, he couldn't let Hiccup relive that horrible night for the rest of her life. It was for the best.

With Stoick gone, Gothi carefully looked over Hiccup, slowly breathing as she slept. She didn't want to have to do this, but it was what the chief wanted. Taking a small dish out of her bag, she placed it by Hiccup's head as she filled it with water hemlock flowers and with the candle adjacent to the bed, slowly allowed the smoke from the herb to encircle the young child. It took some time, but she managed to isolate the images of Hiccup's mother, her uncle Alvin, everything she knew about dragons. So many moments of her life, faded away from her sights like thick layers of fog.

Within the furthest confounds of Hiccup's subconscious, the haze trapped her other form, rendering her to the shape of a human. As Gothi finished casting her silent chant over Hiccup's body, she knew that every memory, while hidden, was not forever lost. If Hiccup were to recall the memories of her past, it would wash away bits of the clouds over her mind. Until she searched for those answers herself, she'd forever be trapped within the walls of mist shrouding her young mind.

Placing her hand over Hiccup's forehead, Gothi could feel an aura inside of Hiccup fade away till there was nothing but shadow. She gave a silent prayer to the gods as they began to cry from the heavens above onto the sweet child's face.

What have I done?

…

Cloudjumper's heart nearly stopped as the line that repeatedly had led him to Hiccup flickered away. The storm and winds had hindered their travel greatly to the point he and Valka had to take shelter from the biting chill. He knew his way to Berk, that wasn't the problem, it was that for the life of him he could no longer feel her spirit. A low whimper escaped his lips, knowing the only way for her light to fade was for it to be extinguished.

He was too late.

His sister…was gone.

He stopped flying and was now hovering in place, Valka tugging at his talon for him to land on a tall pillar off to the right. Obliging her words, he dove down to it and placed her down to the soft moss-covered island. Leaning his head low Valka could do nothing but repeat "no" over and over again. They were so close… How could this have happened? Her greatest fear had come to reality, they found out. Hiccup must have changed before them to prove they'd be back and upon seeing her other form…killed her. Blue eyes began to weep heavily as Valka's knees fell to the ground.

Why didn't I just let him take her?

How could they murder my beloved child?

Was it Stoick who…?

She couldn't finish that thought as she gripped to the moss, tearing it from the soil bit by bit. She let her down, she promised she'd be back. The first lie to her daughter was to be the last. Lifting herself up she held her arms out to Cloudjumper who did his best to hold her. Valka knew he was hurting just as much as she. He loved Hiccup deeply, she was his family and he managed to let her fall into darkness. Over and over he kept telling himself he wasn't fast enough, wasn't strong enough. The last Mist Runner was gone, by the hands of man and from a Storm Cutter's lack of strength. If he could cry his tears would fill up an entire ocean over.

Letting Valka go, Cloudjumper lifted one of his right wings out towards the direction of Berk to which she shook her head slowly.

"I can never go back. I've lost the most precious person in my life by the hands of the very people I trusted. There's nothing left for me there…" She thought to her husband and all the fond memories they shared together. All the laughter and love. She'd never forget them. But as a mother she could never forget her child, the light of her world. Berk would forever be known as a memory to her…

Lowering his back, Cloudjumper nudged his head for her to climb aboard. Grabbing onto one of his back spikes she held on as he turned back towards Dragon Mountain. They vowed that day to do everything in their combined power to prevent a similar fate to all dragons in need. In honor of Hiccup who brought hope to their lives, they too would be the beckon for those in harm's way.

…

Batting her eyes open, Hiccup felt empty. It was as if taking her first breath for the first time and she couldn't put her finger on it, but something felt different. Bracing herself upward, her body nearly collapsed upon itself. All her strength was gone. The world around her felt dark and heavy, just like how she felt on the inside. Slowly she managed to make it to the stair case where she struggled to make her way down to the main floor.

Hearing her come down, Stoick looked to his daughter and his eyes watered. She was still her, but her eyes appeared lost and dull, the smile that once graced her face was gone and replaced with a blankness like one he had never seen before. If it was possible she seemed smaller and she trembled as she made her way slowly towards him. Reaching out for his leg, her breathing was already harsh like she had ran for hours. Opening her mouth, she wanted to speak, to say something, but nothing came out as her lips moved. When the silence hit her ears she lowered her head and let go of her father's leg. Something was missing, she could feel it, but thinking about it only made her head hurt.

Finally, she was able to utter out her words. "Dad…"

Stoick braced himself. He was expecting her to ask about her "brother" or Alvin but most importantly her mother. "Yes, dear."

"I'm hungry."