Hey guy! I know it has been a few days but I have finished making a rough outline for the remainder of the story. So look out for the next update it is going to be filled with more than one surprise. Hope you enjoy this chapter...
The sky was covered with a dense array of clouds, pierced by brilliant rays of light filtering through. Stoick stood, gazing across the expansive ocean. The view looked like it was from a mythical storybook. From where he stood, he could hear the rhythmic crashing of the waves against the towering cliffs, he could see the expanse of the ocean below and the sun's radiant beams. It felt as though the gods themselves were watching over the magnificent island.
In the past month, Stoick had changed his perception of dragons. He no longer viewed them as mere formidable, fire-breathing creatures that descended from the skies like demons, but as beings that cherished their kin and bonded humans. Their loyalty was unwavering, and their assistance to humans was of great help.
Dragons brought efficiency and speed to various tasks, that speed coupled with Hiccup's inventions, would take the Draconians mere minutes to do tasks that would take the Berkians hours or even days.
For example: During Grimmel's assault, the village sustained only minor damage…
Dragon patrols. These aerial patrols provided early warnings of the impending attack, giving Hiccup a precious hour to organize and evacuate the villagers to the safety of the castle.
Thanks to the large sails on the warships and armed with cannons, ballistas and arrow launchers already fitted onto the ship, the fleet was able to set sail much quicker.
Under Viggo's leadership, the warships engaged the Trappers away from the island, preventing them from reaching the island shores. Despite their valiant efforts, unfortunately, the Trappers managed to break through the blockade and launch an attack on the island. The Dragon Riders swiftly dealt with the invaders attempting to infiltrate the caves, while automated catapults efficiently sank the few ships that came close to the island in a matter of minutes.
During this chaos, boulders from the Trappers caused damage to six houses. Fortunately, three of these structures, constructed from stone and equipped with Hiccup's fire prevention system, remained mostly undamaged. The other two had holes in the roof while one had a wall broken down. However, the natural surroundings of the island, the cliffside, expansive grasslands, ponds, waterfalls, and the forest, remained untouched, as did the Dragon Nest.
The village with the help of dragons, swiftly repaired the damaged houses. What would have taken at least a day for the Vikings to fix was accomplished in just half an hour, with an additional hour dedicated to letting the paint on the walls dry.
Stoick and the rest of the Berkians had been shocked at how fast the Draconians had counter-attacked, evacuated, defended their island and rebuilt. The attack had first started around midnight and was all but over a few hours before sunrise, the damages were fixed by the time the first rays of light lit the horizon.
The incident showcased not only the strength of the Draconians and the use of Dragons but also the effectiveness of Hiccup's innovations in ensuring the island's defence. Since then, Stoick and most of the Berkians started to respect Hiccup and began listening to his orders.
They could see he had transformed into an intelligent, fair, kind and powerful leader. For Thor's sake, Alvin the Treacherous and Dagur the Deranged respected and followed Hiccup's orders without a second thought.
Stoick had seen the brotherly bond the Dagur and his son shared, it didn't surprise him that the Chief of the Berserkers was Hiccup's closest ally. But the fact that his arch-enemy, Alvin, was one of Hiccup's most trusted advisers surprised him.
The Berkians had found out many things about the council members from the villagers' stories. The stories encased the many adventures each of the council members had been on, their display of bravery and power was told to the Berkians. They also saw how amazing and helpful Hiccup's inventions were. It was clear that the Draconians treated their young Emperor with the utmost trust and respect.
Hiccup had proven himself as one of the most powerful and brilliant Vikings in history.
But every person has both their friends and enemies. Most of the Berkians now looked up to Hiccup, the younger generations were even learning how to train and ride dragons with the help of Dragon Trainers, but there were a few of them like the Jorgensons' who hated Hiccup and the Draconians, as it meant they wouldn't have any power and had to submit to the very man they thought would once amount to nothing.
Stoick knew this and was keeping an eye on them in case they would try anything stupid and ruin his chance of redeeming his mistakes with Hiccup or make Hiccup banish them from his Empire.
"Hello, Stoick!" The cheerful voice of Ingrid Hofferson pulled him from his trance.
Ingrid Hofferson was trailed by her husband, Havlor. Since they had talked privately with the 'runaways', Ingrid had been ashamed of how she had treated her daughter, like a trophy, pushing her to her limits and not letting her live a real life.
She and her husband had been concerned that their decision would ruin her life but when the results of the training were so good they had decided to continue trying to make her the best warrior on Berk, and in turn had lost their once happy and caring daughter to become one of the fiercest and a cold-hearted Vikings.
Ingrid had always known that her daughter had always harboured feelings towards the young and kind-hearted Hiccup. Astrid used to be best friends with him until they forced their daughter to start training in hopes that she would bring back the honour the Hoffersons' had lost when her uncle died in the dragon hunt.
Hiccup always cared for Astrrid and did the smallest thing which might seem insignificant to others but made Astrid's heart leap, Ingrid noticed this and was overjoyed that her daughter had found a caring and very talented boy who wasn't a self-centred egotistical maniac.
Sure Hiccup wasn't the strongest Viking but he always tried his best and was a very skilled blacksmith, he had made Astrid's favourite axe, which was the most beautiful weapon on Berk. Ingrid had also been best friends with Hiccup's mother and had been overjoyed when she learnt of her daughter's love towards Valka's son that one night when Astrid had confessed her feelings towards the boy.
"Ah! Ingrid, Havlor how are you two doing on this fine day?" Stoick asked while smiling. He hadn't smiled this much in eight years and nor had the Hoffersons.
"I was just enjoying this magnificent view, it is surely worthy of Odin's eyes," Stoick stated.
"Yes, it sure is Stoick, it is an amazing place your son has found. He truly turned out to become a great leader… following in your footsteps by the likes of it." Havlor said.
"That he is... I have become proud of the person he's grown into. My only regret is not supporting him when I had the chance, and instead suffering the pain of his death," Stoick confessed, his gaze turning towards the blonde couple.
"Astrid, too, has become a remarkable warrior. I've heard from the guards that even little children look up to her and respect her. She has undoubtedly been the reason behind Hiccup's transformation into the confident and just leader he is today." A wistful smile appeared on Stoick's face.
The Hoffersons shared a sense of regret, echoing Stoick's thoughts and regrets. Havlor, his eyes reflecting both pride and remorse, added with a chuckle, "Yes, we share the same regrets. We're proud of both of them and the individuals they've become. Ingrid and I always held the hope that, someday, the two would be together."
"And now, our granddaughter, Zephyr, has the best qualities of both her parents," Havlor's loud laughter filled the air.
"Aye, that little princess is one of a kind," Stoick exclaimed with a broad smile, causing his beard to extend even more. Zephyr, his granddaughter, was nothing short of perfect. The joy of being a grandfather had melted away the years of solitude.
Stoick took the initiative to share his regrets and vowed to be a better father. Mirroring his sentiments, the Hoffersons made similar promises. Astrid and Hiccup, appreciating the genuine effort from their parents, accepted the promises wholeheartedly.
Eager to rebuild their relationships, they went so far as to allow the grandparents to meet and take care of Zephyr. The immediate connection between Zephyr and Anna, Ingrid's daughter, was heart-warming. Anna entranced Zephyr with tales of her adventures, sharing her experiences and the lessons she had learned over the years.
However, Astrid was taken aback when she discovered that Anna was dating Gustav, the same Gustav who had been a miniature version of Snotlout…
The three Vikings were brought out of their small conversation when a large four-winged dragon flew over them, landing on the palace grounds a few meters away from them. Stoick immediately recognized the dragon to be the same kind as the ones who had taken his wife away from him. The other council member, Eret, had the same kind of dragon which was called a 'Stormcutter' but this dragon had a different rider on its back…
A lithe figure slid down the back of the gigantic beast and briskly walked towards the gates of the castle. The castle guards slightly bowed their heads in respect as she walked past them. Stoick and his two interlocutors were immediately filled with curiosity at the identity of this mysterious figure, without a word, the three of them made their way quietly towards the Throne Room where they had seen the strange person enter.
The doors were pulled open as the lithe figure walked in, "Mom!" Hiccup said looking from the map of the known Archipelago, which had outposts, ships and bases marked, on the table.
"Son, I got your letter… are they really here?" Valka asked. Hiccup knew instantly who his mother was talking about.
Viggo and Alvin bid their farewells to not intrude on the personal matter. Astrid hadn't attended the war council meeting as she wasn't feeling well and had gone to visit Grilda. While Heather, Dagur and Mala had gone back to Berserker Island with Camicazi where they were training and taking care of Drago's ex-Bewilderbeast.
While Eret went over to Valka and held her in a wordless embrace but didn't go any further in showing his affection. Both Valka and Eret didn't like showing too much affection in public, especially in front of Hiccup, whom Eret considered a great friend and leader.
Eret loosened his arms from around Valka as Hiccup responded, "Yes, Mom... they are here. I explained everything to them, why Astrid and I ran away, what the two of us accomplished over the years, and I even introduced them to Zephyr. Most of them apologized, however, I think the Jorgensons and their allies still harbour hatred towards me."
"On the positive side, the younger kids and teens are getting involved, learning how to train and fly dragons. Convincing their parents that these 'devils' won't harm their children has been a challenge, but witnessing the peace and harmony that follows makes it all worthwhile." Eret continued.
"I see... so what about your father, how is he... he knows about me, right? And how is he taking this dragon and Viking utopia idea? And what about Astrid's parents? How are they taking the news that their oldest daughter eloped and now is a Dragon Rider, Empress, and has a daughter?" Valka asked, her tone tinged with nervousness, especially concerning Stoick's reaction.
"I didn't tell Dad about you, that and your relationship with Eret was the only thing I didn't include in the story. He took the utopia thing pretty well, surprisingly. He apologized over and over again for his behaviour, and both Astrid and I decided it was best to forgive them. Both of Astrid's parents, Dad, and even Gobber come over every day to talk to us and take care of Zephyr, while Astrid's sister, Anna, basically stays with the little princess," Hiccup shared, a chuckle escaping him, as he remembered Gobber wobbling around, trying to catch the 'troublesome' Zephyr.
"I have to say, from what I have seen, most of the Berkians have changed from what I used to know and have heard. Maybe becoming refugees and losing their homes have made them open to new ideas," Eret began to share, but his words were cut short by the sudden swing of the throne room doors. Stoick the Vast stood at the entrance, flanked by Ingrid and Havlor. Shock washed over Stoick at the unexpected sight of his slim and slightly older ex-wife, Valka, standing before him.
"V-Valka?" Stoick stammered his expression one of disbelief. Ingrid began to speak, then hesitated, on the verge of tears at the sight of her old friend. Valka, maintaining her composure, approached Stoick with a clenched jaw and tightened fists. Without a word, she delivered a powerful punch to his jaw, causing the towering chief to stagger backwards.
"How could you treat our son like that for fifteen years? I left not wanting to ruin his life, trusting that you loved him and would take care of him. But if you loved him, you wouldn't have allowed him to be treated the way he did. Hiccup may have forgiven you, but don't expect me to forgive you anytime soon, Stoick," Valka seethed before turning away, marching out of the room and in search of her daughter-in-law to learn the details of the past month.
Eret gave a quick nod to Hiccup before jogging after Valka, Stormcutters in tow. The tension in the room lingered as Stoick stood still, now laid bare by Valka's unspoken fury.
"Yeah, I know bud, this is a real mess isn't it?" Hiccup asked Toothless while scratching the overgrown puppy.
Hiccup settled into the throne, motioning for the three Berkians to take a seat at the table positioned in front of the twin thrones belonging to him and his wife.
The throne room was filled with grandeur, a long expanse divided by columns into three sections. Adorning the walls were paintings, artefacts, weapons, armour, and banners representing the various tribes. The floor, made of concrete with intricate gold inlays, added to the royal feeling emitted in the room.
The thrones themselves were imposing, crafted to be both comfortable and symbolic of the power they represented. Constructed from gold, ivory, and obsidian, they stood tall and commanding at the centre of the room. Positioned behind them was a spacious balcony, with a view of the palace courtyards, an ideal spot for Hiccup's speeches and announcements.
Hiccup swiftly revealed the entire story to the three Vikings, recounting how he reunited with his mother and invited her to join the Draconian Empire. Stoick appeared visibly shocked and began to argue when Hiccup told them about Valka's relationship with Eret.
"I didn't tell any of you any of this because it was her secret, and I wanted her to tell you herself… I am truly sorry it turned out this way… I didn't like Eret being with Mom at first, either, but she was happy, and he was one of my most trusted allies, so I agreed. Sooner or later, I got used to it…"
"A piece of advice, Dad, move on, make amends, and then we can be a family, maybe not directly, but we will be one," Hiccup conveyed, a genuine sense of regret evident in his voice. Witnessing his father's defeated expression, Hiccup couldn't help but feel a pang of empathy. He understood that even he wouldn't have been able to find happiness if Astrid were to leave for twenty-two years only to return with someone else.
His father nodded sadly, as he exited the throne room toward the accommodation block of the castle where the Berkians were to stay while on Draconia. Astrid's parents also bid quick farewells and followed suit, leaving Hiccup alone in the throne room. As the echoes of departure faded, he sighed, sliding halfway down the throne.
His gaze met with his concerned Night Fury, who was curled up against the throne. "What am I going to do, bud?" Hiccup asked his best friend. The Night Fury cooed in response, to which Hiccup replied, "Thanks, bud," appreciating his bond with the loyal dragon.
Tuffnut and Ruffnut, being 'sleuth extraordinaires', stealthily sneaked towards Hiccup and Astrid's quarters. After the Berkians had learned of Valka's arrival and her relationship with Chief Eret the day before, the sympathetic twins had refrained from pranking Stoick.
But that was beside the point, their mission was to locate Hiccup and Astrid, not to aid Snotlout's plan but to warn them of an impending attack.
Over the month, Hiccup's unwavering kindness, despite the fifteen years of torment they had subjected him to, deeply affected the twins. While others believed the 'chaotic' twins lacked emotions and solely devoted themselves to Loki, the truth was different. They were loyal Vikings but they did things as they felt right.
Ruffnut and her boyfriend, Fishlegs, had initially supported Snotlout due to fear of being abused. The twins were smart individuals with the weirdest talents, thus to the normal man they might seem stupid. They knew that betraying Snotlout would invite trouble from, Helga, Dogsbreath, Mildew, and Spitelout. But it didn't matter to them, in the end, they would be doing the right thing. And besides Hiccup would be a better leader for them.
Gustav had overheard a conversation between Spitelout and Mildew and reported it to the twins and Fishlegs, who had been the one to come up with the idea to inform the Emperor, about the coup.
Gustav loved Anna deeply, eager to prove himself to her and willing to betray Snotlout for her happiness, he had willingly betrayed the Jorgensons to help the Draconians. Meanwhile, Fishlegs and the twins were motivated by the desire to repay Hiccup for the torment they inflicted on him and the guilt they harboured from their past.
Approaching a fork in the corridors, Gustav confused asked, "Which way do we go now?"
"This way… and do us a favour and keep your dragon quiet," Ruffnut whispered back from behind Tuffnut while he ambled down the corridor.
Fanghook, his Monstrous Nightmare, struggled to move quietly due to its large body. Gustav, Anna, Fishlegs, and Gobber were the first group of Berkians to train and ride dragons. Anna bonded with a Deadly Nadder named Queenstail, Fishlegs with a Gronkle named Meatlug, and Gobber had his Hotburple, named Grump, for forge work in the castle. While Stoick, Ingrid, Havlor, and others continued dragon training, some teenagers and adults also joined, in hopes of learning to train dragons.
Fishlegs quietly followed Ruffnut holding her hand as she led him down the corridor.
"All right, do you know the plan?" Tuffnut asked Fishlegs and Gustav as they hid against the corner of the corridor, where the Emperor's room was. Fishlegs silently nodded and signalled Meatlug and Fanghook to act as distractions to the guards who were stationed in front of Hiccup's room…
"I'm exhausted Astrid… and I don't know what to do about the Berkians or Mom or Grimmel." Hiccup confied in Astrid, while she playfully engaged with Zephyr in his arms. Zephyr giggled as her father blew raspberries in her stomach.
"Look Hiccup, you are an amazing leader and have a brain to rival the gods I'm pretty sure you will come up with a really good solution to all the problems. It would be best to deal with each problem one by one… I will be with you helping you solve those problems any way you think of. Besides to be honest I'm proud that you forgave the Berkians and have been so kind to them… I know I have already said this but I really am proud of you and I know for a fact if I was in your place Snotlout wouldn't have a face right now." Astrid said chuckling.
Smiling warmly at Astrid, Hiccup playfully asked, "What would happen to me without you?" Without missing a beat, Astrid playfully retorted, "You would be dead."
Their affectionate exchange culminated in a kiss just before the interruption of commotion outside their door. Hiccup groaned at the interruption, and Astrid swiftly armed herself with her axe, positioning protectively in front of Zephyr. Toothless and Stormfly guarded Dart, their offspring, as Hiccup brandished his sword, standing ready to defend his family from the unforeseen disturbance.
"Uhh… Hey H! Just the man we were looking for." Tuffnut said while Fishlegs and Ruffnut walked hand in hand along with Gustav.
"Ugh… Tuffnut what in Odin's name are you doing here?" Hiccup asked while the couple lowered their weapons and relaxed.
Fishlegs divulged Snotlout's plan to Hiccup, while the twins helped themselves to the snacks and fruits from the table. Gustav shared his eavesdropped intel about Spitelout receiving a letter from Grimmel. Hiccup had his fist clenched in anger while Astrid had to use all her willpower to stop herself from killing the egotistical, stupid, half-yakked muttonhead. Zephyr had gone with Anna and Gustav on a walk in the castle gardens.
Expressing his outrage, Hiccup declared, "Attacking and threatening me was expected, but to plan the murder of my innocent daughter! I'll attack the entire Berk if it means ending this stupid idea." Determined, he paced the room, fists clenched. "All of you could be our eyes and ears among the Berkians, tell us when they will attack, we will be waiting for him." Hiccup told the twins.
Astrid, grateful told Fishlegs, "Thank you for this information Fishlegs, but keep this secret for your safety and ours. We appreciate your support." After a heartfelt embrace, the twins and Fishlegs departed, heading back to the accommodation hall. They knew Snotlout's plan was doomed to fail and they enjoyed the fact that their mission had been a success…