A/N: Sorryyy I took a bit long in working on the next chapter! Here it is!

I was a little sad to discover that not many reviewed last chapter. Guys, I really do hope to hear more from you this chapter. Reviews are the essence, the muse to my writing. All who also read "Where No One Goes" (my other ff) will know what I'm talking about. Think about this; all great authors, like Susan Colins, JK Rowling or name whomever you want, had a vocal audience. They would have never written/continued their works if their fans were just quiet, because they wouldn't know they liked it! So all I ask is a moment, a small tiny moment. A second really, of your precious time. I don't want essays, a simple word will do. Show me you are reading this, enjoying this, that you are there and that you want this to continue - don't turn silent! Silence will make me sad! I need music to write (I do, actually, lol). So at the end of this chapter, as a sign of appreciation, as a sign that you are THERE, reading, just leave behind a word or two :) It would be so great! I want to know that you are enjoying this, otherwise I'd see no point in writing. To all of you who have reviewed; you are wonderful, know that!

Thanks! Here we go!

Returning Home

He could barely contain his unbound exhilaration as he jolted over a rock, stumbling across the uneven plane of grassy fields and coming to a stuttering halt before a large cavern. Running was not easy when you had a prosthetic for trade.

Stone slabs jutted in uneven angles and directions towards each other. The inside was dark. "Mother?" He received no response, hence decided to approach the cavern, entering into the darkness, "Hey bud, how about some light?"

Peeking behind him, Hiccup had to realise that his midnight-dyed companion was nowhere to be found.

"Toothless?"

Receiving no response, and frowning at that, Hiccup shrugged, simply entering and wading his way through the impeding obscurity of his home. The torches that decorated the walls were snuffed out, which usually meant his mother was either sleeping or not home.

Despite his reluctance to wake her; for she did not have many good nights, as of late, he was too overjoyed and desperate to tell her his euphoric news. Why it elated him so much was beyond him. It was not like he had not been to Berk before; an experience he viewed with mixed feelings, still. Nonetheless, it was his home-town, and with so many years having passed, he would be able to do a lot more.

His fighting skills had improved, he had trained the untameable Night Fury, had grown up so much and learnt a lot more than one might believe to be true. And who knew? Maybe he would even meet his father, and maybe he could convince the people of Berk; of his origin, that dragons were everything they would never believe them to be.

He just needed a chance. A little shot to prove himself.

Of course, there was also that nagging, butterfly-causing feeling that warned him about a certain blonde haired Valkyrie being present when he returned. She would be about his age; and he could only imagine her immaculate beauty, like he had in all of his daydreams and blissful nightly encounters. So many times had Hiccup recreated scenarios within his conscience wherein he asked her out or confessed his feelings. All of them seemed too cliché to be true. He would sigh miserably, with longing, each time. Thank God his mother never noticed that he had this impeding crush. He kept it well hidden.

"Moth-"

"I'm 'ere." Her soft, delicate voice called from behind him and an orange light burst alive.

The torch a mere metres from him had been lit by Cloudjumper, who stood protectively behind his beloved rider.

Hiccup turned, facing the overly tall female, "Hey! Did you just return?" His smile was undeniable as he grinned at her like she had told him a fantastic joke.

"Yes, indeed. Cloudjumper and I were investigatin' a few things. Well, what's it yuh want ta talk about?" Seeing her son so gleeful caused her own mood to rise, despite the bitterness it had held priorly.

She stepped past him, nodding towards her Stormcutter and thus signalling for the grand dragon to light the rest of their home. She trudged over to her bed, rummaging through a chest for something unknown to the auburn-haired boy. Above her cot hung several drawings of infant dragons as well as grown up ones. One messy picture of Cloudjumper with Valka on the back also stuck there, all artworks created by the younger Hiccup.

She kept each and every piece. The paper itself had been a gift for Hiccup after she saved a trader from a few marauders. She knew his unwavering passion for art, and that his privilege to live the life of a normal young boy had been denied due to their...well...secret.

The female Haddock did everything she could to ensure Hiccup had the best childhood he could ever wish for. And despite her knowledge that his upbringing was anything but easy, and that she did not make out to be a formidable mother, she also knew he was happy. Living with the dragons, learning their ways; it was mesmerizing to him and her, all day, every day.

She had taught him the basics of writing and talking like Vikings; all about their traditions and lifestyle, had granted him to walk amongst them for as much as he liked; Hel, he even picked up smithery with a blacksmith and began to really excel at it.

She had half agreed to that prospect; of living with other Vikings to know what it was like simply because she herself did not see her motherly skill alone as very progressive. She wanted Hiccup to learn from a man, and Skeggi was the next-best thing.

Hiccup's father...well. As much as she imagined a scenario wherein she had not 'saved' Hiccup and Cloudjumper had at least not taken him, just her, so that he could have grown up to become the almighty Viking his father always imagined him to be, she feared such an idea too. The boy would have grown up to hate dragons; to treat them with contempt and anger. He would have murdered, never understanding the true sentiments of these soft-natured reptiles. The thought alone killed her.

All the times she and Hiccup spent awake, late at night, studying the stars, telling each other funny little tales. When she had placed him on the back of a dragon, told him to feel the air and wind around him, to feel the muscles of the dragon's wings bat underneath. The journeys they had undertaken, the things they discovered and documented, tested and learnt.

Hiccup was tender at heart himself, just like most of the dragons that lived with them at the sanctuary. He could discern the cry of an aggravated dragon from that of an injured, or frightened. He knew how to handle them, how to mimic them and cause them to do his bidding. He could gain their trust as easily as he could walk and talk. He knew their language, and understood their innermost desires.

And the ultimate evidence was Toothless.

Imagining a world wherein she would be alone, with the dragons, but without Hiccup, who would be nothing but a traditional, slaughtering Viking man, soon-to-be chief of Berk, was atrocious.

She loved Stoick. She did since the day he had won her heart, and did so every day that she was apart from him, too. But a life on Berk was no longer possible. They would not understand; would never listen to her. And she could not kill something she held so close and dear; something that had become an inevitable part of her. Maybe Hiccup would have been better off as a normal Viking, the way he sometimes seemed to yearn to be. But seeing the delight and admiration on his face when he observed his winged, reptilian family erased any doubt she had had up until then; he was home, with them.

With her.

They would change the world, bringing an end to the ongoing disaster that was war and bloodshed. More specifically, he would.

She knew it. She felt it. There was something within him; something she did not have, despite their similarity. Something grand and prospering, which, unless it was carefully stoked, would explode and backfire. It was destiny that, twenty years ago, she had snatched Hiccup into the bundle of her arms, just to be taken together by Cloudjumper. He knew they were different, when Hiccup did not fear his approach. He knew that, one day, Hiccup would liberate them all. Valka was merely there to guide him, and observe. She fantasized about the day she would be able to walk back into Berk, and see a world of peace; one where dragons and Vikings coexisted in harmony.

A perfect world; but would Stoick ever forgive her?

The question burnt within her chest, and once more, as she had done so many, countless times, she quenched it. Pushing it into the back of her heart and mind, Valka shook her head, redirecting her attention towards her pride and hope; Hiccup.

"The Looting Liars are sending their warriors over to Berk, to train." He slowly explained, large emeralds trying to catch her eyes.

"Is that so?" Having finally found what she had been searching for, Valka shut the chest, "Training ta do what?" She quirked an eyebrow, already knowing the answer.

Hiccup's shoulders slumped, "Kill dragons." Was his solemn reply.

Valka sighed.

"B-But..." frowning, the boy halted with his words, seemingly pondering over something, until new determination flared up on his facial expression, "Skeggi is joining, to help with the smithy back on Berk. He asked for me to come along. To learn how to fight."

Surprised at the indirectly proposed ordeal, Valka turned to face her son. Her verdant orbs bore into his questioningly, wondering what deeper intentions he pursued, "And...?" she slowly queried, fearing the answer already.

"I want to go." He broadened his shoulders, standing straight and with dignity, "I want to see how they train their people in dragon-fighting. What knowledge they pass on. And...I want to change that. I want to show them my way; ours. Reveal to them the truth about the dragons, and end this onslaughter once and for all."

His look was unwavering, and for many moments, Valka did nothing but gaze into his

eyes, contemplating.

She knew this day would come; had barely thought about it a few seconds ago. Immediately, anxiety overcame her; she wanted to deny him the allowance to go, but he was twenty. He was a man now, no longer a boy. She would have to accept that. Yet despite it all...

He looked so much like his father.

"Go ta Berk, an' watch with frightful eyes again as they assassinate dragons? Don't yuh remember yer last time?"

"Mom, I know, but I have to do this! I cannot stay back and watch history simply...repeating itself!" He was fussing around with his hands; a habit he had just like his father. He liked to commune with his hands.

"An' it is not because of some blonde lass yuh want ta go back ta that place called Berk?" her voice was even as she spoke, her face expressionless.

"Mom, this is important to me, to us. I need to do this. Or it will never end."

"Yuh sure yuh are ready?" Finally, after a pregnant pause filled with tension, she responded.

Hiccup was irritated. His mother did not burst out into roaring and told him what an insane idiot he was being? For believing to be capable of changing the Berkians? Had she not claimed so all his life?

"I...yes." He scowled.

Valka nodded, "Good. I always feared this day would come, but I also know it is what yuh must do." His puzzlement only grew, and seeing that, Valka elaborated, "Hiccup, we were born different. Which does not mean we have to live our own lives far away from those who still adhere ta tha old laws; no, it means the Gods see in us more than others do. And that we need to show this world just what. It is our duty ta unify Vikings and dragons peacefully." She sighed after she completed her last sentence, briefly shutting her eyes, "I tried, an' failed." but as she opened them again, Hiccup saw strength and belief flicker within her irises, "Yuh, me boy, are different. Even more so than I. I think yuh have what I lack."

Her son did not speak a word as she continued, "Go ta Berk. And do what yuh must. Face yer destiny, and probably yer father..."

With that, she walked the remaining distance up to him, grasping his face softly with her fingers, smiling as she stroked along his jaw, before she decided to circle around and leave, Cloudjumper following suit.

Hiccup was left behind to wonder.

Hiccup had surrendered into speechlessness when he left the cavern that afternoon, and when Toothless came bounding towards him, all merry and energized.

He had imagined the talk with his mother to go differently. Not that he despised the outcome; on the contrary, he was more than joyous to realise that his plan had worked and that, somehow, he was capable of convincing his overprotective mother to agree to his endeavour.

He need not her approval, for he was grown up, but he wanted her consent, nonetheless.

Hiccup would just never have imagined for it to come so easily. As if she had expected this day to arrive sooner or later, that she had merely prepared him for a journey much grander than he would have ever believed to be true.

Granted, his dream had always been to unite humans and reptiles and bring about peaceful terms, but his mother had often warned him about such childish aspirations.

Yet here he stood, on deck of a twenty foot long vessel packed with Vikings from the tribe of Looting Liars, all headed towards Berk. Toothless, after having made several nerve-wrecking adjustments to his tail-fin mechanism, flew discreetly high above. He had promised his obsidian companion to meet him under the veil of darkness, somewhere beyond the forests. Toothless had snorted in agreement, albeit with much hesitancy and displeasure.

He could not erase his mother's final words out from his head. Curtly after he had packed his belongings and went to head out with Toothless towards the isle of Looting Liars, she kissed his cheek and hugged him tight, without a term being exchanged, and watched him take off.

Suddenly, he felt unnerved. The fact that she seemed to have caught onto his unwavering, years-long crush on a certain blonde Viking did nothing to ease his queasiness, which this time along did not have its origins with the boat-ride. Skeggi must have mentioned something to her...

The journey seemed to take longer than when he had been twelve and it was just Skeggi and him. Everything bustled and budged, the vessel tilting violently despite the calmness of the ocean. Hiccup was just glad no tidal dragons interfered their travel. When they finally reached the docks of Berk, Hiccup held his breath. Just as he had it engraved into his memory from all those years ago, the island shone with glory and pride, with strength and beauty, steadfast and stubborn just like its inhabitants.

The Looting Liars cheered upon arrival, and numerous Vikings greeted them as they anchored the ship. Hiccup would have to lie if he claimed to recognize some of those faces. Either his memory had gotten terribly weak, or the people of Berk had changed. How, he did not want to consider.

He just prayed it was the former.

The auburn-haired man was deemed to aid Skeggi in transporting crates into the workshop further towards the centre of the town. All the while, the old blacksmith mocked his strength and stamina, yet Hiccup ignored it dutifully the way he had done for so many years. He was not even wavered by the fact that so many Vikings bumped into him, causing the man to stumble and stagger on his pathway to and fro. No excuses were spoken, just warnings. Yep, he was amongst Vikings, indeed.

He took a moment to admire the craftsmanship displayed on Berk; it was no poor island, for sure. The Hairy Hooligans had only the finest of resources, and their houses were decorated prettily with all sorts of details, colours, and extras. What a time-consuming task, Hiccup shook his head at that thought. All the dragon raids nearly every week and each Viking would be damned to do the work all over again.

Continuing on his pathway, he bypassed several children running mindlessly around and working, burly men. Everything breathed and boomed life; just like how he recalled from all those years ago. Except that it seemed even livelier.

"Hiccup!" Skeggi's stern, somewhat raspy voice grunted. Rushing with his steps, the lanky Viking reached the forge, planting the crate down as he stood up straight.

"Yes, Skeggi?"

Behind the old Viking stood Gobber; Hiccup still remembered the ranting old man and his imposing character.

"Yer'll be Gobber's assistant, as of now." Skeggi declared sternly, turning to leave the forge.

The boy frowned with confusion; the second time in less than a week that he was caught off-guard with the strange antics of the people closest to him, "And you...?"

"I'm retirin' back ta Looting Liars with tha next vessel full o' resources. I'm not tha man fer fighting dragons; not at this age. Gobber, he is all yers. Don't expect too much, nor too little." With one last hearty laugh, the grey-bearded man left.

"Well then, lad! Welcome ta Gobber's paradise of metal an' hammer-working. Again." The tall, muscular blonde hobbled over towards him, "Look at ya; all grown up and handsome. Quite tha catch with tha ladies, ey? Although yuh still lack muscles." With his hammer-hand, he nudged Hiccup's arm, causing the boy to take a step back.

"I...guess." He innocently threw in, grinning foolishly.

Gobber snorted in response, "It's hard work; there's a lot more ta do over 'ere, lad."

"I'm used to work." he began to push the crates towards the back of the shop, before he turned and took in his surroundings.

Just the same as eight years ago; and the same as on the isle of Looting Liars. Not bothering to question or hesitate, Hiccup grasped a bellow and stoked the sizzling flames, causing the tendrils of hot fire to flicker upwards and lick the air greedily. He then took a dented sword to his right, placing it into the palpable heat until the metal became malleable.

Gobber watched with fascination as the young boy got to work with a hammer, reshaping the weapon with quite a bit of skill and patience. He turned, attending his own work, which was a mace.

"And, joinin' tha training tamorrow?" Gobber queried with a cheery tone.

Hiccup halted, glancing up from his work briefly before he continued, "No."

The blonde Viking raised a quizzical eyebrow at that, "Oh really? Why else did yer join on tha journey, then?"

Obviously, Hiccup was not going to elaborate further, thus he decided to put on a fake act, "Oh, just curious. I wanna watch, and see how you Berkians fight. Maybe learn the one or other thing from a distance. But most prominently, I like the change of scenery."

Laughing warmly, Gobber nodded, "Aye, good reasons. There's a lot ta take with yer from Berk. Shame yuh won't meet tha chief anytime soon."

The chief.

Again, Hiccup had to disrupt his labour. Last time, when he was but a twelve year old boy, he had not really seen the chief, either. They claimed he was on a journey across the oceans, reasoning with various tribes and dealing out treaties.

Was it the same, again?

"He's set off with some Vikings ta find that nest." Gobber explained, his hammer coming down hard on his own piece of metal.

Hiccup quenched the sword in a bucket of water, watching steam accumulate and hiss around the tool, "Nest?"

"Tha nest of dragons, of course! Tha one Vikings have been searchin' fer fer, well, centuries."

"And what does he want to do if he finds it?"

"Why, destroy it of course!" Gobber briefly glanced over at the lanky man, scrutinizing him, "I'd o' gone along, but he wants me ta stay 'ere and take care of tha Berkians, as well as oversee tha training. Yer sure yer don't wanna join 'em tamorrow?"

Hiccup smiled sheepishly, "Yeah, I'll just...watch." He nodded to confirm his decision, and Gobber grunted at that, "I doubt they'd be able to deal with all my Vikingness, anyway." Hiccup chortled, grabbing a shield and testing the bolts.

"Don't say that, lad; even dragons need toothpicks, yer know." He frowned as the loud blacksmith hollered with laughter.

"You have the same sense of humour Skeggi owns." Hiccup stated dryly, polishing the edge of the shield's metal.

"Well, he rubbed off on me all those years as I was his student!" The man wobbled over, chucking the heavy mace in front of Hiccup, "I am surprised yuh haven't caught onto it, yet." Then, Gobber grabbed a whole load of weaponry, letting the amount of it clatter onto the workbench nearest the young rider, "'Ere, work on these when yuh finish on tha shield. I've got something ta do in tha meantime." Bobbing his head briefly, the blacksmith turned and left.

Protesting would be as futile as it always had been, Hiccup mused, seeing as Gobber was a lot like his former teacher.

Thus, listening to the noises of the overly energized Berk, Hiccup set off to work alone in the forge, concealed from prying, curious eyes. He was trying to recall the pathways through Berk as he laboured, attempting to remember the best route which would take him to the forests so that he could meet up with Toothless during nightfall.

Deeply locked away in his wondering, he did not react when a delicate, yet strong hand rasped at the window several times, or when footsteps were taken towards the entrance of the forge. Once more, a first knocked against wood, but Hiccup continued moulding the steel, reforming it, oblivious to the visitor he had.

"Hello?" It was only when the tender, smooth voice of a female echoed throughout the smithy that Hiccup jolted upright, surprised.

He turned around, and felt as if someone had kicked him in the guts unexpectedly.

There stood the girl of his haunting dreams, of his endless fantasies and countless daydreams, in all her twenty-year-old glory.

She was nearly as tall as him, with her braid now swinging over her left shoulder, finely decorated with intricate patterns. Her face was heartily shaped, rounded, with a buttoned nose, and those eyes. Those eyes. He lost himself in the hypnotizing hue of shimmering indigo. She was stunning, mesmerizing, breathtaking.

Hiccup could feel his heart doing incredible somersaults, the heat rising up into his cheeks and the nape of his neck. He hoped she'd blame it on the hearth.

"Where's Gobber?" Her flowing, river-like voice which soothed and eased all his woes vibrated inside his ears. Her tone was stern, unaffectionate, causing the auburn-haired man to yearn for tender words to leave her sparkling lips. It must sound incredible.

Too many embarrassing seconds of simple gawking sped by before Hiccup found his tongue, and courage, and decided to respond to her raised eyebrow and impatiently tapping foot.

"He's out...somewhere."

Astrid sighed evidently, her shoulders slacking, "Great..." she had turned her face to the side, seemingly contemplating something, before she averted them back to him with scrutiny, "Are you...?"

She shrugged her shoulders, giving him a questioning glance once more.

"O-Oh, I-I'm...I'm from the Looting Liars. I came with Skeggi. I work under Gobber now, though..."

"Apprentice." Astrid summed up, and as much as Hiccup desired to correct her, for he was far beyond learning stage, he dared not to.

She was so imposing it nearly frightened him. Heck, actually, it terrified him. In a good way.

"I'll just come back later, then." She turned to leave and his heart began to lurch painfully.

"Wait!" He called out, straining his hand to not reach out melodramatically, "Maybe I can help?"

The blonde Viking spun on her heel, mustering Hiccup with a heavy glare. She did not retort immediately.

"I need my axe sharpened."

"I can do that." He smiled, lifting his hand as a sign for her to hand over the weapon.

Reluctant, the girl caved, grasping her beloved weapon and carefully handing it over. She hoped the wispy boy could hold it; he did not look like much, after all. More like a pathetic excuse for a Viking. She could see why they damned him to the forges rather than onto the battlefields; even though forgery demanded a lot of skill, patience and finesse.

He took the axe, heading towards the grinder and starting the pedal.

"Careful, please, it's my mothers."

Hiccup nodded, still smiling, as he set off to work, meticulously setting the blunt edge of the blade against the spinning stone and observing as sparks flew around his hands and face.

Whilst he sharpened the axe, Astrid wandered around the forge, glancing at the various weaponry and utensils Gobber kept there. She did not often have the chance to do so, as Gobber would mostly take the axe through the window, asking for her to wait until he was done.

"So...I take it you will be at the training tomorrow?" Her inquiry left her lips with a strong lack of enthusiasm. This fragile boy would not stand five minutes in the arena when they released the first Gronckle.

Elated upon the fact that the mysterious blonde decided to speak instead of bask in the silence, Hiccup responded almost too speedily, "Nope, just gonna watch."

Why did he sound so happy as he said those words, turning the blade in his hand, working on the other side?

"Not...?"

He briefly glanced at her, his heart jumping mercilessly, "I'm not the dragon-fighting type."

She did not care for him to elaborate that further, simply shrugging and believing that he acknowledged his physical handicap, and accepted it without much protest. Weak, in Astrid's mind.

"Will...you be there?" The curious question came back to her.

"I'll be teaching." A small flicker of pride echoed within her tone.

"Oh really?" He should have bit his tongue, for the response seemed anything but not mocking.

Surprised at his doubtful voice, and the way he chuckled lightly, she twisted her head towards him, eyes large and furious.

A skinny little heap of bones and flesh, as un-Viking as it could get, and he dared to insult her strength? She could take him out, here and now, one-handedly, if she wanted to. He would not see it coming, much less be capable of defending himself.

"What's so funny?" Her voice was biting, like the venom of a Deadly Nadder quill.

"N-Nothing...just...I thought only men would be at the arena to learn and teach how to fight." At his stereotypical retort, Astrid took a heavy step towards him, mustering her most intimidating glare and stature.

"And why would you believe that?" She had her perfect eyebrow raised challengingly.

Hiccup had to bite back the urge to gulp, "Well, you're a pretty girl. Didn't think they'd let you out there to fight."

Had he really just said that?

He had said that.

Oh dear gods, someone, he had said just that.

'You are beautiful.'

'I cannot stop thinking about you.'

'I love you.'

Any of those would have placed him in less of a predicament than what he was about to face.

'Dear Thor, if you have an ear, and a heart, zap me already.'

Astrid's blood felt like it was boiling. The wispy excuse for a Viking dared criticize her. He really dared.

And despite his increasing fear upon the consequences of his idiotic actions, Hiccup kept a stern expression himself, acting as if none of what he had said fazed him in the slightest; like he contained no remorse.

"Listen up, you wimp, just because I am a girl, and just because I am pretty, does not mean I don't know how to kick your ass into Helheim!" She was seething, teeth grinding menacingly as she took a step closer with every word she spoke, until she was face to face with the other Viking; well, sort of. She had to look up towards him, as he was about half a head taller than her.

"I did not say that." He replied with a cool demeanour. He had stopped the grinding stone, the axe still in his hands, "I'm pretty sure you can whoop my ass and make me incapable of sitting down properly for the next few weeks."

"But?" She hissed.

"But..." instead of responding, Hiccup smiled at her; in all honesty, he had no idea what exactly he should say.

He knew she was strong, and skilled, and athletic. Hel, her toned body spoke volumes for her. Despite it all, the thought of her fighting and waging war, thus putting herself out towards impeding danger filled him with dread.

He barely knew her, but feared for her as if she were a part of him.

Maybe, even, she was.

Astrid could feel her skin crawl. As much as she felt like punching him and knocking him out flat, right now, his smile unnerved her. Everything began to move, and she concentrated on the details of his emerald orbs. His emotions were carefully displayed, and yet concealed. He was somewhat difficult to interpret, even though he seemed so serene and genuine.

"I finished your axe." He whispered, handing her the perilous blade. She took it with a huff, still focusing on his visage, "I guess I'll see you at the training grounds tomorrow." He added.

"I thought you weren't the fighting type?" It was her turn to be teasing now.

"I'm not. But I'll still be eager to watch you." Again, that smile returned to his lips, and she knew with heart-thundering certainty that he did not mean it sarcastically.

A/N: Well that first encounter went anything but well...HAH! So, what will Hiccup do at the training the next day? Will he join? Will he not? How will it go? Anyone wanna guess how Astrid feels right now? Her impressions of Hiccup? And what about Stormfly; will she appear? GUESS WHAT WILL HAPPEN! I'd gladly hear your ideas. So yeah, don't forget to review, it's right now here. RIGHT. DOWN. THERE. Like, typing up a word, then send, it's so easy, it does not take long but it means the WORLD to me.

You get my famous Night Fury and Deadly Nadder cookies if you do ;DDD *bribes bribes*