After another council meeting, the Riders exited the Great Hall, tired and ready to go back to their respective homes. The elder members were still mad that they didn't bring Hiccup back to Berk and had been discussing forms of punishment. Thankfully nothing could be decided without the chief present, so the meeting was adjourned for the night.

As they were walking through the village, Fishlegs noticed Stoick carrying Hiccup. He tapped Snotlout on the shoulder to get his attention. "Snotlout, I think we should head over to the Chief's house and bring Hiccup's bed down from his room."

Snotlout looked over at his uncle and cousin. "Yeah, we should."

Together, they rushed over to the Haddock house to make sure everything was in place before Stoick brought Hiccup home.

Just as Fishlegs was lighting the home's hearth, Stoick walked in. He said nothing to the two younger men as he carefully laid Hiccup down on the bed. Following close behind was Astrid and Gothi.

"Gothi still needs to check you over, Chief," Astrid called out from the doorway.

"I'll be fine," Stoick said despite his body screaming from over-exaggeration of bringing his son home.

"Sir, you'll be of no use to Hiccup if you don't care for yourself as well," Astrid insisted.

Stoick sighed in resignation. The girl was as stubborn as her son. Gods help their children, he thought before turning to look at Astrid. "Fine. A quick look over, after that, no more caring for me."

Hiccup stood on top of the Edge's volcano, looking down at the lava. He had come to the conclusion that his mother was not on the island. He needed to find a way off the island but could find none. No boats and no dragons to aid him in his journey. His ancestors were of no help. All they wanted to do was congratulate him on winning the war against the Dragon Hunters.

It didn't matter that he'd figured out how to talk to them; his words fell on deaf ears. He knew he had to find her, or he'd never be able to go home. Home, it seemed so far away, even though he was there. Well, his body was anyways. His mind and soul were stuck in Valhalla. He thought back to the conversation he had with his grandfather once he broke down the language barrier. The only conversation he had that made some semblance of sense

"You're a brave warrior, Hiccup," his grandfather boasted for the umpteenth time. "Your father must be very proud. We were all so worried about you. Didn't think you'd make it many times. Now here you are before us, a strong man. A tamer of the beasts. A warrior like no other. However, it's not your time yet. But you already know that."

"I have to find my mother," Hiccup stated.

"You must find your mother," his grandfather repeated. "She's a fiery one, but she seems to have gotten lost finding her way here. You need to get a move on if you want to find her. Your body will only live for so long before it begins to wither into nothingness."

"Why can't you do it?" Hiccup wondered, annoyed at the thought of being stuck longer than need be.

"Only a descendent can find a lost soul," his grandfather answered. "We can't freely wander as you can. Once we find a place within Valhalla, we cannot leave."

"I've already searched the island," Hiccup argued. "And I have no way to travel. Where else am I to look?"

His grandfather pointed to the volcano behind them. "That's how you will find her. Jump in, and it will take you where you need to go."

Hiccup shook the memory away. His grandfather had always been crazy. He had vague memories of his grandfather from before he passed. Every night he had a different tall tale to share. Whether it was about his latest battle with the trolls in the woods or the gnomes living in his shoes, Hiccup had always enjoyed his stories. He remembered his dad often telling the eldest Haddock to knock it off with stories because it was going to cause nightmares.

He stared at the lava; it had risen another foot in the few minutes he'd been standing there. He had to be crazy to go along with this idea. His grandfather claimed it wouldn't hurt him as long he kept a clear mind and only thought of Valka. It was hard to think about a woman he had no memories of. Just stories and a few toys she had made when he was a baby. He had only been about 6 months old when the dragons came and took her for food.

He wanted to hate dragons for eating his mother. However, he couldn't, not really. They were forced to grab what they could to feed to the Red Death. His mother had just been collateral damage. At least, that's how he'd come to see it.

Maybe that's where she was. Maybe her soul got stuck on Dragon Island. A shiver went down his spine at the realization that if that had been true, she would've witnessed him battling the beast that ate her, along with many other things, such as late-night sneak-aways with Astrid.

"Oh gods, Mom," Hiccup muttered to himself. "I sure hope you didn't see anything."

The lava was inches away from overflowing. It was now or never. Hiccup took a deep breath, clearing his mind of all thoughts except that of his mother. He focused on the stories his father shared with him. He focused on the toy dragon she'd sewn for him. He focused on every part of himself that was her.

With his mind now clear, he jumped into the lava.

Astrid sat in a chair, holding a cool, damp cloth over Hiccup's forehead. Shortly after coming home, a fever had set in. According to Gothi, it was a good thing. His body was fighting to mend itself. They would just have to keep a closer eye on him for the time being. It was hoped that once the fever broke, he would wake up.

"I know you're in there, Hiccup," Astrid said as she used her free hand to hold his. "You wouldn't have fought this long and hard to just give up. You're still needed here. I don't think any of us have it in us to say goodbye to forever. Besides, do you really want Snotlout flying Toothless"

Toothless looked over at her from the other side of the bed, glaring at her as he playfully growled.

"Don't worry," Astrid promised. "No one but Hiccup will ever ride you."

Toothless ceased growling and offered her one of his signatures smile.

Hiccup opened his eyes and found himself staring at a ceiling made of ice. For a moment, he thought he was back on Berserker Island, but it feel right. Where he was felt different, more foreign, and powerful. He sat up, rubbing the back of his head. Despite being just a soul, everything still hurt.

He looked around and saw nothing of familiarity. As he was getting to his feet, he started calling out, "Mom? Are you here? Mom?"

That's when he heard a lullaby. Someone close by was humming the lullaby his dad had sung to him countless times over the years. The song brought him great comfort and could ease his darkest of nightmares. A song he hadn't heard since Garff was a baby. He followed the humming. Soon the humming turned into words, and he couldn't help but sing along.

"The sky is dark, and the hills are white,

As the Storm King speeds from the north tonight

And this is the song The Storm King sings,

As over the world his cloak he flings.

Sleep, sleep, little one, sleep

He rustles his wings and gruffly sings,

Sleep, little one, sleep"

As the song came to an end, Hiccup found himself standing in the middle of a vast and beautiful cavern filled with hundreds of thousands of dragons. Many of which he didn't recognize.

"Dragons have their own Valhalla," Hiccup whispered in amazement. At the edge of a nearby cliff, he saw what appeared to be a woman kneeling over a dragon. He began walking toward the woman, knowing in his heart who it was. "Mom?"

The woman didn't look up or acknowledge him. She continued tending to the dragon.

"Mom?" Hiccup called out again as he got up right next to her. Again he got no response, so opted to just watch as she cared for the dragon, who appeared to be injured. If this was Valhalla, why would there be injured dragons?

A thought came to mind, even though it seemed impossible. He had a theory to test. Hiccup knelt down right next to his mother and screamed. "MOM!"

No reaction. Hiccup stood back up. "You can't hear me. If you can't hear me, then that must mean you're still alive." The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. He had to get home and tell everyone the good news. His dad would be so happy to have his wife back. But then another realization set in. If she was still alive, why hadn't she come home?

Shock and joy were replaced by anger and hate. He needed answers, and he was going to get them