It had been and taken a few months before Berk was back to standing on it's metaphorical feet again.
But at last, the homes were fixed, that giant tusk was gone, the ice was dealt with and that giant statue of Stoick was finished.
Checking off that last thing off the list, Hiccup sighed in relief.
"Finally, now we can focus on that surprise for everyone right bud?" he asked looking over to Toothless who had stolen the bed a while earlier.
'Do we have to Hiccup?' he asked timidly 'It's just I don't think it will be a good idea...'
"Don't you want everyone to see you're Alpha Colors and our friends?" Hiccup asked smiling coming over.
'I do... It's just, they'll want to know the story of how I got them,' Toothless said pulling in Hiccup into a hug 'What if... What if they won't accept me anymore?'
"Bud... Remember who they are," Hiccup said yawning slightly, he always got more tired when wrapped up in Toothless' wings "I doubt they'll stop accepting you. Besides... It... Wasn't... Your... Fault..." he said poking the dragon with each word smiling.
'Night Bro-Bro...' Toothless said snuggling up to Hiccup a bit.
"Night Bud..." Hiccup said returning it.
(*)(*)(*)
The next morning, just like the last few month's mornings, Fishlegs came up to his new Chief at breakfast and before he could ask the question Hiccup replied.
"Yes Fishlegs. We can go today, but not too many, just the Riders and my mum ok?" he asked getting a very unmanly squee from Fishlegs as he ran back out the hall to find everyone.
(*)(*)(*)
It had been a few hours in the air, both sides of the coin, the dragons and the riders getting just that bit tired of nothing happening.
"You sure Toothless is going in the right direction Hiccup?" Snotlout called out from Hookfang getting all the dragons and Hiccup to roll their eyes.
"Yes I'm sure Snotlout," Hiccup said sure he had explained this before. "All dragon have a sort of Homing-Beacon that brings them back to the island or place they grew up, when ever they want to find it, no matter how far away from it they are. So quit complaining..."
'You know if it wasn't for these slow-pokes we'd be there by now...' Toothless warrbled looking back to Hiccup who looked over his shoulder to see Meatlug at the back, and the Twins on Barf and Belch getting into another argument, meaning that slowed them down too.
'Yeah I know... but I kinda made a promise to bring them next time we came.' Hiccup explained speaking back in hushed Dragonese to keep it as private as he could.
Rolling his eyes the dragon narrowed his them when he saw a few small black dragons in the sky heading right for them asking Hiccup if they could go faster.
"Ok guys just stop and wait in the sky until we tell you you can come closer or down ok?" Hiccup asked, Toothless telling the dragons to make sure that order stays put, before they rushed to meet the dragons.
[][][][]
'Hey guys,' Hiccup called out as they came to a halt in the air.
'Hey Hiccup, hey Noche,' cried all the younger ones the older Night Fury's looking behind them to the other Riders and Dragons one of them recognizing Astrid and Stormfly.
'You finally told your people of who you are Hiccup?' she asked smiling proud of the Halfa.
'Well it wasn't really my plan to do so... but yes now they all know,' Hiccup said nodding and looking over his shoulder introducing them 'From right to left, that's Snotlout and his Flame Skin, Hookfang, Fishlegs and his Rock Eater, Meatlug, the Twins Tuffnut and Ruffnut, and their Two Head, Belch and Barf, my human mum Valka, and her Four Wing, Cloudjumper, and finally in case some of you don't remember, Astrid and her Spiketail, Stormfly.'
'Well are you just going to make them hover there Hiccup,' the voice of Artemis came as he came over to his sons having come out to see what all the fuss was about. 'Tell them they can come and land, we'll all be waiting for you.'
Nodding, Hiccup and Noche flew back to their friends telling them it was ok.
[][][][]
"It's all clear you guys. But first..." he said as if remembering something "When we leave to go home... the only Night Fury to come with us will only be Toothless got it?"
"Why does he always stare directly at us when he says that?" Tuffnut asked his sister who couldn't give an answer.
After getting nods of understanding, they all came in for a landing, in the center of a ring of the whole island's population who wanted to see the Princes' friends.
'HICCY! NOCHE!' Twilight's voice cried out as she came running up to them, pushing her way through the crowd and into Hiccup's arms, going at such a high speed, she knocked him over.
"Hey Twilight, so still being good are you?" he asked tickling her tummy laughing as she tried to swat the hand away.
'Uh huh, in one moon it will be a whole snow since last time I got into any trouble,' Twilight explained happily wiggling out of Hiccup's arms and scrambling up to his head.
"I take it that's your sister them Hiccup?" Astrid asked smiling at how good he was at playing with her.
"Yep, Twilight, everyone meet my Berk Friends," he said looking looking to his sister on top his head and around to the others introducing them to each other "Berk Friends, meet everyone and Twilight."
"Why didn't she fly to get to you?" Fishlegs asked confused as he introduced himself to some other hatchlings and their parents with help from Meatlug.
"She's only three and a half years old," Hiccup explained rolling his eyes slightly "Night Fury wings aren't strong enough to hold them in the air until they're five, and even then it take a while for them to learn how to fly."
"Well I think she's cute no matter if she can fly or not," Astrid said flinching slightly when Twilight jumped from Hiccup's head to hers and began clawing her hair and curled up to sleep "Um..."
"It's ok dear," Valka said laughing gently "We probably just woke her up while she was taking a nap, and she seems to like you're hair more than Hiccup's."
"Well that's nice of her isn't it," Hiccup mumbled and turned away smiling when he spotted his parents. "Hey mum did you ever meet those Night Fury's who dropped me off?"
Smiling Valka followed her son to meet the Alpha's of the pack bowing a bit in respect smiling.
"Mama, Papa, this is my Human mother," Hiccup explained smiling.
"It's wonderful to finally meet you," Valka said looking from one to another.
'And you too Queen,' Artemis said bowing his head in return of greeting 'Though I'm curious son... Where is you're human father?' he asked looking to Hiccup cocking his head.
"Um..." Hiccup said looking over to Toothless and the others who was having so much fun "How... How about we go up to the cave and I'll explain."
Confused by their son's odd behavior but agreeing with it all four of them silently left the crowd and went to the Alpha's cave where Hiccup retold the story of what happened a few months ago.
(*)(*)(*)
Back on the ground Astrid and Fighlegs had finally, carefully got Twilight off of her head and into her fur hood so she only needed to be slightly careful on how quickly she moved rather than having to keep standing straight so she doesn't fall off.
"Thanks Fishlegs," she said happily looking around "I never knew there were so many Night Fury's in the Northern Archipelago. *Can you imagine what Drago would of done if he knew about this place?*" she asked in a hushed voice.
"Probably what he did to the Frozen Nest and to Berk," Fishlegs said scratching Meatlug under the chin thanking her for the comfort she gave him.
"Hey anyone notice where Hiccup and Valka went?" Tuffnut asked looking around not seeing the two in question anywhere.
Picking up his ears and turning to the question, Toothless looked around and saw that his parents weren't there either.
Getting worried he looked up to the Alpha Cave and turned his ears to it. Quickly he shot off trying to get there before the part where he kills Stoick is told.
Confused by the way he Toothless was acting the Riders set off after him, Astrid choosing to ride Stormfly so not to wake up Twilight.
(*)[][][][](*)
"After I tried to get Bludvist to see to reason," Hiccup said using the man's second name instead of the first because the first is so much like Draco "He set his King on me and Noche...
It didn't to a lot to me, only messed up my sight and hearing," he explained after having to wait for Artemis and Nyx to calm down before he could continue. "But it got to Noche, and Bludvist... made him turn on me. Just as he was about to fire..."
'DON'T TELL THEM!' Noche cried out coming into the cave eyes wide panting.
'Don't tell us what honey?' Nyx asked slowly coming up a nuzzling her baby purrs coming from her.
"Bud they need to know don't they?" hiccup asked getting up and going over to comfort his brother.
'No. They don't, No one has to know anything about it.' Noche said backing away and shaking his head.
"What's the matter son?" Valka asked from where she was staying put confused slightly but having a good idea on what was wrong.
"He doesn't want me to tell Mama and Papa what happened because he thinks they wont except him anymore," Hiccup explained staying by Noche, noticing his friends come in and motioning them to wait there...
'Noche Oscura,' Nyx said softly a small smile on her face as she came over again 'You're our son, nothing you could of done will ever, make you father and me stop accepting you,' she said nodding to Artemis then looking back to Noche.
'That's right,' Artemis said coming over too standing next to Nyx 'So tell us please... What happened.'
[][][][]
While that was going on, Hiccup had gone over to his friends to explain what was going on.
"A bit like you five years ago then," Astrid said grinning slightly.
"No... because I always knew that one day you lot will stop accepting me," Hiccup said looking down the line awkward looks on their faces "And Dad didn't stop accepting me, he disown me. So even though I was never his son anyway, I was no longer his son. And I doubt you're speech would do anything to make him bounce back Astrid."
"So... So those are the Alpha's of the herd Hiccup?" Fishlegs asked bouncing slightly eyes wide.
"Yep," Hiccup answered grinning.
"Would of thought they'd be a bit bigger if you ask me," Snotlout said trying to tell them apart "And why aren't they blue like Toothless was when he was fighting that Bewilderbeast?"
"Alpha Colors only come out on the Alpha's who get them when they need to show that they're Alpha's" Hiccup said explaining "Besides Papa doesn't turn blue, he turns red, and Mama turns purple."
"So wait there are two Alpha's here?" Fishlegs asked partway through recording all Hiccup was saying "I thought there was only one to each flock."
"There are..." Hiccup said nodding "Unless two flocks join up together because the Alpha Heirs love each other."
"Still too small to me..." Snotlout said this getting the attention of the three Night Fury's who then and there each shot a blat at the boy and screamed together a reply.
"Um... I'm not sure I'm comfortable of translating that guys..." Hiccup said slowly checking to see if Twilight was still asleep so she didn't hear any of the bad words that were just said.
"Wow then they must of said something really bad," Tuffnut said looking to his sister and getting nods as everyone switched from Snotlout, the dragons and Hiccup wanting to know what was said.
"Well ok but I'm putting it in my words ok?" Hiccup asked looking to his family before turning to Snotlout "They said... along the lines... 'That not everything needs to be big and strong and powerful to be great leaders.' I mean look at me..." he said grinning "Oh and they want apology's before we leave, so better do them now."
"I'm sorry?" Snotlout said confusion in his voice but that was enough for the Night Fury's as they turned back to Toothless and the story.
"Hey Hiccup," Ruffnut asked getting the boys attention "How does everyone tell each other apart?"
"Yeah they all just look alike to me, all black scales, two big ears, those fins around their heads?" Tuffnut asked extending on his sister's question.
"They and all dragons have different patterns that only other dragons can see, since they see the world slightly differently to us, on their faces," Hiccup explained, leading them out and back down to the other Night Fury's.
"Midnight, here has a shape like a crescent moon with a star next to it," he began "Sombra over there," he pointed to a male who was playing with some of the Hatchlings "Has a diamond going from nose to forehead. Starlight," a female lying on top of the rocks soaking up the sun, half asleep "Has an six pointed star under her left eye..."
"So what does Toothless have?" Fishlegs asked noting all this down too for it to be put in the Book of Dragons later.
"What I draw on him when I compete in the Dragon Races," Hiccup said smirking.
At the sound of their favorite game being said, the Berk Dragons looked up and over to Hiccup and called over to see if they can play it.
'Not really guys, there aren't that many sheep here to play it with,' Hiccup said then seeing their and the Night Fury's sad faces said 'But... we can have a game of Touch-And-Run.'
This getting happy cries and and all the Night Fury's to bounce around excited that they'll get to play it with some other dragons for a change.
"Whoa what did you say to them Hiccup?" Astrid said feeling Twilight wake up and reaching backwards into her hood to get her out, gently holding the hatchling in her arms.
"That we're going to play Tag," Hiccup said gently snatching Twilight and climbing onto Sombra since Toothless was still busy. "You guys playing or not? For my friend's everyone" he called out to the Night Fury's "The one who has me and Twilight are It ok?" getting roars of agreement. "Ok five seconds head start."
With that there was a frenzy of everyone taking off and splitting up trying to get as far away from here as possible.
(*)[][][][](*)
Back in the cave Noche had just finishing telling the story prodding the ground and avoiding his parents eyes.
'Noche,' Nyx said quietly 'I know you will feel bad about what happened, and there may never be a cure or a time limit... But take heed on what your brother said to you. It was not your fault. And if he knows that, and knows that for a fact that you would never of harmed Stoick, then you should be fine with it.'
'But if I was just that bit stronger,' Noche said sinking down a bit 'Then the Dark king wouldn't of taken me in the first place.'
'You know what son it is your fault,' Artemis said sitting tall and looking to his son.
'Artemis...' Nyx said shocked.
'No dear, he needs to hear this...' Artemis said turning back to their son.
'It was your fault that Stoick was killed.
It was your fault that Hiccup now has a missing leg.
It was you fault that you don't have your full tail. But...' he paused looking to his son.
'It was also you who saved him and all the other Dragons and the Vikings from this man and Dark King.
It was you who freed Berk's Dragons from the Seadragonus five snows ago, and then save the rest of Hiccup as you were both falling into the flames of her burning up.
And it was you that helped Hiccup find his place in the world, and help him bring our kinds together.
You see son, things happen for a reason, sometimes they're bad things, sometimes they're good things. But almost everything that's played out is done for a reason.
You may not know what the reason is when the time it happens happens, but if you always hang on to bad things like this and stay in the past, you'll never get to see what lies ahead and have a good future. Keep moving forward, and be happy that you have a brother and friends that forgive you so quickly and will welcome you back with open arms.'
All though the speech, Noche was quiet, listening to his fathers words. Smiling he looked up and nodded grinning 'Ok Papa, I won't be held down by this anymore. And thanks.' he said rubbing up against his parents in thanks and affection, before he ran out the cave to see where Hiccup and everyone else was.
'See knew I could do it,' Artemis said smugly having to duck Nyx's tail before running out after Noche.
(*)[][][][](*)
The rest of the afternoon, was set on playing games and having fun.
When the sun was begining to set Hiccup decided it was about time to pack up and start heading back.
"Aww..." both the Dragons and the Vikings said neither side wanting to leave the other.
"Oh come on guys we can come back," Hiccup said looking to both sides then to the Night Fury's said "And next time we might have even more new friends for you to meet. But for now we really need to go."
With that and screams of joy and excitement, Hiccup went over to Fishlegs who was packing up all the notes he had made on Night Fury's and this Island.
"Hey Fishlegs mind if I ask you something?" he asked looking to his friend.
"Sure what is it Hiccup?" Fislegs asked happily.
"Can you NOT put that information into the Book of Dragons when we get home?"
"What why?" Fishlegs asked turning to his friend.
"Look around you Fishlegs..." Hiccup said turning to the Night Fury's "This is the only place in the whole Northern Archipelago, that they feel safe. These Dragons, are the most powerful, most feared, most misunderstood species in all the known world, meaning everyone wants them dead. Here... They feel safe. What if someone like Daggur or Drago, or someone worse then them, finds this place because of what you noted here today?
I am happy that you've made so many new discoveries and taken so many notes on this day... But I will not be happy if you put my family in danger because you have copied it into the Book." He finished holding out his hand a kind but firm smile on his face.
After a bit of thinking, Fishlegs took another look around at all the Night Fury's and how safe, free and happy they looked. Sighing he dug into the saddle bag on Meatlug and gave everything he had recorded today to Hiccup smiling too.
"Thanks Fishlegs," Hiccup said giving him a Bro-Hug in gratitude before he called over to Toothless and throwing the stack of paper into the air, for him to shoot at it burning everything.
o0o
After that, and some final goodbyes, and checking that no one was trying to steal away any Night Fury's (Ruff, Tuff, and Snotlout) the Berkian Dragons kicked off and started heading home.
'You're really getting good at those speeches Hiccup,' Toothless said saying he heard everything that was said. 'Not sure if it would of worked on anyone else...' he said looking to the Twins and Snotlout, 'But thankfully they weren't the ones you were talking to.'
'Guess I got that off Papa's side then...' Hiccup said slyly smirking making the dragon blink a bit. "And just so you know bud... I will always forgive you for what you do..." he said unclipping himself from the saddle and setting the tail "As long as you do me," With that he jumped off spraying his flight suit laughing at the bad and negative words his big brother was saying as he zoomed after him and the laughter coming from the others as they made their way back to Berk.
The end.
An : Ok first so sorry, this chapter was not meant to go on that far... but hopped you liked it anyway.
Second, Thanks for all those who have followed/faved/reviewed this story
Love Ugly-Duckling123 ;)