Oswald walked away from the prisoner, ignoring the other pleas. He had never heard the redhead sound so desperate, but that was not his fault. He had been desperate too once. For the man, he felt that way when he learned about Heather being sent adrift. So, he knew the meaning of suffering and fear. He still did not know if his child was alive, dead, or wishing that she was. It was only fair that the one who caused her and his torment would pay. Unhappily, Oswald returned to the ship and sailed back to Berserker Island. Nothing sounded like a worse idea than this, but Hiccup had found him and would tell Stoick. He could not lose the respect of the last chief who had any for him.

When Oswald pulled into the harbor, some of the Vikings thought they had seen a ghost. After a moment, they let out joyous cheers. They surrounded the man, clapping him on the back and embracing him. Oswald almost felt bad for how their affection meant so little to him. Almost.

"Where were you, Chief?" Herald asked. "We thought…"

"That Dagur killed me?" the man inquired.

"Yeah, to be honest."

"I was traveling."

"You didn't tell anyone."

"I didn't realize that I had to receive permission to leave my own island."

Herald noticed the sharp tone in his voice and hesitated. Had that always been there?

"No, Sir, you don't. We were just worried. If you'd told us, we wouldn't have followed Dagur into the war."

Oswald's eyes narrowed at him before a smile crossed his face. Some of the others appeared a bit frustrated and he thought he saw a scowl on one Viking's face.

"I can see how I might have complicated things. For that, you all have my apologies."

The Berserkers were quickly placated and went about their business, letting the man return home. When he got to his room, he sadly looked at the maps. There were still places he had not visited. Hiccup was not meant to find him. No one ever was.

"Since when did he care about Dagur anyway?" he thought bitterly. "I thought he hated him."

Upset, Oswald knew things would go back to the way they were. He would be bored again. To prevent that from happening or at least prevent the reality of the situation from completely sinking in, he stayed in his hut for several more hours. That evening, he heard a horn be blown. It was what they used to alert people of visitors. Oswald left his hut and went to the coast, eyes widening when he saw a ship. It was from Berk and had Stoick at the helm. The two chiefs clasped hands, greeting one another.

"Oswald," Stoick said, still a little surprised, "I'm glad you're alive. We didn't think that you were."

"So I've heard." Oswald put a hand over his face. "I was going to head to Berk tomorrow to apologize for what happened. I can promise you that Berserker Island will never have another war with Berk as long as I'm chief. If you have the treaty with you, I'd love to sign it like we usually do."

Stoick nodded and reached behind himself, unraveling a scroll. "I thought that you might say that, so I brought it."

Oswald led him to his hut so that they could sit and sign their names. Inside, Stoick noticed a quietness in the home, but he did not say anything until they had both finished the signing.

"Is Dagur in his room?"

The Berserker lifted an eyebrow at him. "No."

"Ah, so he's out in the tribe?" Receiving the same expression, he tried another question. "Is he in your prison?"

"Stoick, he's not on the island."

The redhead's eyes widened and he could not help leaning back in the seat some away from the other man. "He's not? Did you exile him?"

"He's as good as exiled. He's never returning. He's still on Outcast Island."

Stoick was unable to stop a frown from forming on his face. "You left him?"

Oswald began frowning as well, but he tried to mask it with a chuckle. "You don't have to sound so surprised. I respect our peace. He opposed that, so he deserves to be held accountable."

"And few Vikings believe that more than I do, but…do you really want to entrust his fate to the Outcasts?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"They might be our allies, but I know Alvin has always had a cruel streak in him. I don't know the rest of his men or what they're capable of." He paused. "I went to speak with Dagur and he looked injured."

"He's extremely injured," Oswald answered plainly. "I saw him for myself."

Stoick found himself unsure on how to proceed. "So, you're fine with Alvin and his Outcasts beating him?"

"They're doing far more than just that if we're being honest."

The Berkian looked at Oswald in shock. "Are you sure?"

"I've heard stories of them in my travels and during my research. He also practically told me as much while I was there. Begged me to bring him back here."

"Then…why didn't you?"

"Because he's supposed to serve out his sentence. It's the one you gave him, isn't it? I wouldn't disrespect you by going against that."

"Oswald, I wouldn't consider it disrespectful. If Hiccup had attacked Berserker Island with the dragons and lost, no amount of sentencing from you or anyone else would've gotten me to leave him there."

"We're two very different Vikings."

"Very different fathers as well clearly."

The Berserker's gaze became harsh. "Don't do that, Stoick," he warned. "I'm a fine father. The problem is Dagur."

"No fine father would do what you did. Hiccup told me that when he found you, you weren't planning on returning. You left Dagur with an armada of an enormous size and all the other Vikings. Now, you leave him to the Outcasts."

"He would have been chief anyway. I left him nothing he couldn't handle."

"He obviously couldn't handle it. If he could, he wouldn't be Alvin's prisoner right now. You yourself have told me that you didn't think he'd ever be ready."

"Maybe I changed my mind."

"Maybe you gave up on your tribe. You've already lost one child, Oswald. Don't lose another."

"I lost my only child because of him," the Berserker seethed, just barely containing his rage.

"You have another. He's still your son."

Oswald's fingers tapped angrily on the table. "Don't call him that."

"That's what he is."

"You've got a lot of gaul," the dark-haired man snarled. "I remember many times when I had to convince you that Hiccup was still going to be a promising heir for you. Do you recall that? You'd write to me about how disappointed you were with the Viking he was becoming. He was a fishbone according to you. 'Far too scrawny for anyone to believe he's my heir,' you wrote. Well, lucky you. He's a dragon trainer now. My…son as you call him…is a war criminal. I don't want to be associated with that or his insanity. I won't, so he'll stay where he finally won't be a problem for me. Alvin and his Vikings can do whatever they deem fair punishment. He never should have worked with them. This isn't my fault. He decided to have a war, to make enemies of vile people, and not even win. This is what he deserves for a lifetime of making everyone around him miserable."

Stoick felt speechless. Oswald was glad because he wanted to hear nothing more from him. He pushed the treaty back over to the man.

"If that's all you came here for, feel free to return to Berk."

After a moment, the Berkian got up from his seat and rolled the scroll again. He was about to leave when he stopped.

"You aren't as agreeable as I thought you were."

Furiously, Oswald rose to his feet and slammed his hands on the table loudly.

"I am more agreeable than you thought I was. No other chief would leave their son or daughter with Alvin the Treacherous no matter what they did. You just admitted that you'd disregard Hiccup's crimes if he was in need of your help. I don't know another chief in this archipelago who wouldn't do the same. I am the only one who values peace so much that I'd do anything to maintain it and if that includes keeping my heir somewhere that he won't be a danger to anyone anymore, I will gladly do that."

Stoick regarded him, disappointed. "You can convince yourself you're doing this to be honorable, but we both know you've always wanted revenge against Dagur. Now, you can get it. I've never liked the lad, but he really needs you and deserves better from you than more abandonment."

The Berkian boarded his ship and set sail for home, being glared at nearly until he was out of sight. He had no right to come there and make such claims. Oswald felt no differently about Dagur then than he had before, so it was a wasted trip. The man was just glad that the peace treaty had been brought because he was not going to go down the same path as his war-mongering heir.

That morning on Outcast Island, Alvin went to the cell to look at the prisoner. The boy was laying on his back, not responding to the Viking's presence.

"Dagur," Alvin called.

The Berserker did not do anything. Annoyed, Alvin opened the bars and entered. This did not cause the prisoner to do anything either. The Outcast stepped closer, but still there was nothing.

"I hope you don't think you can train to get out of here. Even with Oswald back, it won't make a difference. We might not win against your armada, but I can assure you that we'd kill a lot of people after poisoning their water and sending in traders with toxic foods. So, Oswald being chief again doesn't mean they're safe or that you can fight back. It just means that no one's ever coming to get you out of here."

He waited for a response that did not come. Alvin was not sure if he felt annoyed or not.

"You know the plan. Get up and we're going."

Absent-mindedly, Dagur got to his feet. Alvin's eyes widened a little when he looked at him, then he smirked.

"Never mind. You stay here. I'll find work for you myself and be back."

He exited the cell and Dagur went back to where he was. The Berserker set his head down.

"Dad left me here," he thought, biting his lip to make it stop quivering. "I knew he didn't like me, but I didn't know it was this bad."

His cursed throat was burning up worse than a Fireworm. Still, he had no more tears to cry. He had spent all those awful days and nights with some type of pride even if a very minute amount existed. This time, he felt something inside of him snap. It sounded loud and drowned out what Alvin was saying as Oswald kept walking away from him. Away from them. He really left him there with Alvin and his barbarians. Dagur would have done anything to get Oswald to just bring him back home–to take him away from the torment. He would have tried to be normal, not have a bad temper, and not talk so much. He would have done whatever made Oswald happy if it meant he could leave, but it seemed like the only thing that made the man happy was knowing that the boy would be there indefinitely.

Hours passed of nothing. Dagur did not want to work out anymore. It would make no difference. There was nothing he could do which would allow him to win or for his Vikings to not pay for his actions. Maybe Oswald was right. He had to suffer for what he had done. It would make everything right in the world. As time passed, Alvin returned with a grin.

"I got you a buyer. Gunnel's tribe wants you for tomorrow morning. She seemed to like you, so make sure to be on your best behavior."

Dagur just nodded his head and did nothing else. Bored, Alvin left to deal with matters on his island. Later that day, Stoick returned to Berk and was greeted by his son. Hiccup saw the frown on his face and felt worried.

"What happened?"

"Oswald signed the treaty, but…"

"He's not going to help, is he?"

Stoick's frown deepened. "He's not. I didn't expect that. I didn't even expect him to be alive."

Hiccup paused, expression becoming hopeful. "But since he is, that means Dagur didn't kill him and I can keep working on getting him moved somewhere else."

The chief let out a sigh. "I still think he's a menace, but I'll admit that I didn't know it was as bad as it is. I already gave my sentence, so I can't go back on it, but I won't stop you if you find a loophole."

"I'll work on that then."

Before the boy could leave, Stoick called his name. There was a regretful look on his face which Hiccup had not often seen.

"I've always cared about you, Son," the chief stated sincerely. "Have since the day your mother and I knew you were with us. Even if you'd never trained dragons or killed them, that wouldn't have changed. I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear before."

Hiccup paused for a moment. "You didn't always, but I know now. I'm glad our relationship was able to change the way it did. I care about you too, Dad."

Stoick smiled as the younger Berkian got back on Toothless's saddle and flew off for the prison. This time, he tried to not even look at the guards at the front. When he had just stepped through the entrance of the prison, Alvin saw and smirked at him.

"Well done, Hiccup."

"What are you talking about?"

"I've been trying to break the brat for weeks and you did it perfectly. You could be a ruthless jailer if you wanted to be."

"I wouldn't and what are you talking about?"

"I saw him weep for the first time last night," Alvin bragged. "After all the things we've done, he should've been in tears a long time ago, but all it took was seeing his old man come here and leave without him. Interesting."

Hiccup's eyes narrowed at the Outcast and he walked past him.

"He won't be much fun today," Alvin called after the boy. "But feel free to see for yourself if you'd like."

Hiccup ignored the man and kept walking with Toothless until they got to the last cell. Dagur was sitting and leaning against the back wall.

"Hey," the dragon rider greeted, offering a smile that he hoped was encouraging.

"Hey," Dagur returned.

The Berkian frowned slightly. Such a dead look was in his eyes. He had never seen it there before and did not like to see it then. It seemed so unnatural in the Berserker's usually deranged gaze. Even that twinkle was mostly gone. He just looked empty inside.

"I…heard about Oswald," Hiccup said. "I really thought he'd be able to help."

"You weren't wrong. He could have if he wanted to. It's my fault for thinking he would."

Toothless let out a sad roar and Hiccup's expression matched his emotion.

"Is there anything else we could do?" he asked. "I can bring some more food."

Dagur shook his head. "No. I think the time's come for us to say goodbye."

Hiccup gave a small nod of his head. "You're still not supposed to be around me."

"I'm not, but that's not why I'm saying it."

"Then, what's the reason?"

"I'm going to the Vandals tomorrow."

"Who are they?"

A hardly noticeable smile crossed the redhead's face. "It's too bad we won't get to talk about more of the tribes I've read up on. Let's say that they know how to throw a party. That's why I want to say thanks one more time."

Hiccup hesitated, then got closer to the bars as he lowered his voice. "This is sounding like a pretty permanent goodbye."

"That's because it is. Don't let the Outcasts know."

"Dagur, if you know something about the Vandals…"

"I'm not telling Alvin. The Vandals don't realize it, but they're going to help me."

"That can't be helping," Hiccup said in a harsh whisper.

"It's a way out."

"There has to be one that involves living."

"Yeah, breaking out," Dagur said. "I can't do that yet. I get injured before I can build up enough strength. I won't be able to take out Alvin and the others until too long from now. It'll take years. I don't want years of this. Even if I break out, what's out there for me? My tribe has Dad back. He's who they wanted anyway. I was just who they settled for because they were too scared of getting killed. I couldn't return home even with Alvin dead. They all hate me. It would be worse than when I was little. So, the Vandals sound like a pretty hospitable group to me."

Hiccup sadly regarded the Berserker. "I don't know what to say."

"How about 'see you in Valhalla…hopefully?'" Dagur let out a weak laugh.

The Berkian did not laugh. Instead, he had a thoughtful look on his face.

"No."

"No? I'd rather go there than the alternative."

"No, you're not going anywhere outside of this lifetime. Not yet anyway."

Hiccup and Toothless began heading out of the prison when the boy stopped.

"I made up my mind. What I'll say is, 'see you tomorrow.'"