Hiccup was training in his arena. It has been a few days since his conversation with Gobber. On that very same day, his friends had talked with him and convinced him to give the Berkians more time. And after a long discussion Hiccup had agreed to that and his friends carried the news to the Berkians.
Right now, Hiccup was in his training arena, punching a wooden dummy, letting out all his frustration on it. The memories of the conflicts he had faced a few days ago, of the hardships he faced, of the betrayals and anguishes rushed into his mind. With one strong punch, Hiccup dropped the dummy on the ground.
But it wasn't enough for him. Hiccup moved past the dummy, continuing his assault on the stone brick wall of his training arena.
Hiccup kept on punching, ignoring the pain in his hands as more and more memories flooded his mind. His childhood, the harsh treatment he had received from his so-called tribe, his struggles,... Memories of her…
"Hiccup!"
Hiccup looked back at the source of the voice and found Toothless coming towards him. The Nightfury rushed beside his 'brother', his big acid green eyes staring at Hiccup's hands in worry.
Hiccup looked down and finally saw the condition of his hands himself. His fingers and knuckles were badly bruised and bleeding. Before Hiccup could say anything, Toothless began to lick his wounds.
Hiccup didn't show any resistance to this and let Toothless do what he was doing. He knew about the healing properties of Nightfury saliva, and even kept some stored away for emergency uses.
Toothless stopped once there was no more blood on Hiccup's hands and they were properly coated in his saliva. He took a step back and stared at Hiccup.
"Sorry,...uh, I got out of control." Hiccup apologised.
"Hiccup, you almost broke your fingers." Toothless all but yelled.
"I'm fine Toothless." Hiccup said.
"No you're not!" Toothless yelled at Hiccup,"Hiccup, I've known you long enough to know when you're not okay. And I know you're suffering right now."
Hiccup looked away after hearing Toothless's words. No matter how much he tries to deny it, he knows his friend is telling the truth.
"I can see the conflict within you Hiccup." Toothless said, his tone filled with concern,"I can see how it's affecting you. I've never seen you this distraught since,... Since her. And I'm afraid that, that you will be lost again. For forever this time."
"I'll be fine Toothless." Hiccup said, his voice sounding almost like a whisper.
The statement was more to convince himself than his draconic friend and brother in arms. Toothless concernedly stared at Hiccup for some time before sighing.
"I hope you are." Toothless said and left the place.
Hiccup sighed and also left the arena. He attended to some of his daily duties.
Somewhere else on the island, the gang, and Hiccup's friends were gathered together.
"You sure this will work?" Astrid asked.
"Well, yeah. Mostly." Ruffnut replied.
"Wait, what do you mean by mostly?" Thuggory asked, sounding slightly panicked.
"We don't have time for all this right now guys. Let's just hope that this plan Ruffnut has suggested works out finely." Camicazi intervened.
And with that, they all set to work.
Hiccup had finished some of his work and had gone out for a walk. That's when he was suddenly approached by Camicazi and Thuggory. before going out for a walk. That's when he was suddenly approached by Camicazi and Thuggory.
The duo practically dragged Hiccup away with them, telling him there was something important they had to show him. Hiccup tried to put a resistance, but soon realised it was useless. So he let them lead him to whatever destination they wanted to.
When they finally reached the spot, Hiccup found himself in front of an old hut. It is the very first building he had built when he came to this island. After moving to his larger house, he often used this hut as a store room. His friends practically shoved him inside the hut.
Once inside, Hiccup looked around a bit before his eyes fell on something, or rather someone.
"Stoick!? What in the name of Helheim are you doing here!?" Hiccup yelled, bewildered to see the man here.
"I don't know! Astrid and her friends told me that they had something important to show me and brought me here and locked me in here." Stoick replied, equally bewildered.
Just then, the door of the hut closed behind Hiccup with an auditable snap. He looked back at the door and rushed to it, frantically hitting the door and screaming at Camicazi and Thuggory to let him out.
But there was no response.
Hiccup huffed and gave up and looked around the room. "Great! Just great!" Hiccup sarcastically thought.
Inside of the hut wasn't too dark, thanks to the courtesy of a lit candle that was kept on a table. Two chairs were kept on either side of the table.
"Look." Stoick said, gaining Hiccup's attention.
Hiccup followed his gaze and saw a piece of paper, with something written on it, laying on the table. They both went forward to get a look at it.
"Neither of you two are getting out of here unless you two are getting out of here unless you two have made up." it read.
Hiccup cursed under his breath. He really wasn't looking forward to this.
"Guess we have no other option." He grumbled before sitting at a chair at one end of the table. Stoick also took a seat in the chair opposite to him, unsure of what to do.
"Speak." Hiccup gruffly said.
"Look, Hiccup, I understand that you don't…." Stoick began.
"Make it quick." Hiccup snapped at him.
Stoick exhaled, trying to keep his nerves calm. It was the first proper conversation he was going to have with his son since the past five years and probably the only chance he has at repairing his broken bond with Hiccup. But with this kind of start, things weren't looking much good for him.
"I,... I just want to say that, that I'm sorry… Sorry, for-for everything." Stoick said "
Hiccup just scoffed at those words. "You think you can just pop back into my life and say sorry and everything will be okay like some children's fairytale?"
Hiccup glared at Stoick. A man whom he once called his father. "You invade my island. Injure, no not injure, almost kill Toothless, my Nightfury, and you think I'll forgive you just because you said sorry?"
"Why do you care so much about that Nightfury? He's just a Dragon!"
"That Dragon has shown me more love, care and affection in five years, than you and your tribe did in fifteen years!" Hiccup sneered,"I trusted that Dragon to look out for me during all these five years. A Dragon! A creature I was raised to fear and hate, had kept me safe. While you, my own father, and the whole damn tribe made me feel like an outsider."
Stoick winced at the venomous tone Hiccup used when he said the word 'father'. But he couldn't deny the truth behind those words.
"You don't understand Hiccup. Loosing her was hard for me. You can't understand the pain I had felt after loosing her." Stoick said as he looked away.
"Which part, the pain that never goes away, the guilt that eats away at you everyday, or the constant need to make those responsible pay?" Hiccup replied with his face twisted into a snarl.
Stoick stared at him in shock as Hiccup let out a sad chuckle and turned away from him. "That night, you didn't just lose your wife Stoick. I lost my mother too. I can never explain how much her absence has pained me." Hiccup said.
Stoick felt even more guilty as he saw the pained expression on his son's face as he talked. Hiccup then turned towards Stoick and said,"But I thought that at least I still have you. Someone to look up to. Someone to go to when I'm down….. Someone who will give me the affection I craved so much." After a few moments of silence, Hiccup looked at Stoick "Was it too much to ask Stoick?"
Stoick looked down in guilt and shame. The words spoken by his son had truly made him realise how much he has messed up.
"All I can say is that I'm sorry. Even though I know it won't do anything anymore." Stoick said. The last part sounded almost like a whisper to anyone hearing.
Hiccup just stared at Stoick, the person he once called his father. It was so unnatural to see him so broken. Hiccup, in the past, has only seen Stoick like this very few times, when he mourned about his wife.
A part of him wanted to reach out for the old chief and comfort him as he had done when he was younger, but the other part of Hiccup couldn't let go of all the pain this man has caused him.
Conflict was once again rising in the mind of the young Dragon rider. But this one wasn't an easy one. Hiccup thought things through as he tried to make up his mind.
"I don't think I can forgive you, Stoick. Not after all that has happened." Hiccup said.
Stoick didn't look towards him. Instead he was staring at the wall on his side, trying not to look at Hiccup. Stoick didn't dare to look at his son, as he knew he'd be unable to hold back his tears if he did and Hiccup could sense it too.
"But I'm willing to give you a chance." Stoick heard Hiccup say.
His head snapped at the direction of Hiccup and he stared at him with shock. Stoick didn't know what to feel at that moment but before he could say something Hiccup spoke again "Don't get any ideas Stoick. Mom wanted peace and so did I. So, I'm willing to try one more time."
Stoick nodded, a small smile forming on his face. "Thank you."
The people back at the Viking camp were starting to get anxious as the sun dawned closer to the horizon. The fact that it has been so long and their chief hasn't come back yet was starting to worry them.
Just as they were about to form a search party and take the risk to venture into the lands of the Night rider to look for their chief, someone yelled out "HE IS BACK! CHIEF IS BACK!"
The Vikings were relieved when they saw their chief and the gang slowly walking towards the camp. But then they saw something that made them freeze on their spot.
Behind Stoick, there was Hiccup, the Night rider, the Dragon master, their former heir. Following them closely was the unholy offspring of lightning and death itself, along with Hiccup's allies.
No dared to even breathe as all three of them entered the camp. But their chief seemed to be unbothered by the fact that Hiccup and that Nightfury was there, among them.
While the Vikings were relieved to see their chief in good health, they couldn't help but feel intimidated by the presence of their former hire. Especially knowing what he's capable of.
Soon Stoick called for his men and gathered them around as Hiccup took a spot on a large rock.
"People of Berk," Hiccup began,"We've had our fair share of conflicts over the past few days. Conflicts that have left some scars on both of us. But after thinking for the last few days, and having a… discussion with your chief, I've come to realise that this conflict between us doesn't bear any fruit for either party and it is only causing destruction and damage for both of us."
No one dared to say anything when Hiccup stopped. The former heir of Berk took a breath and then spoke,"So, for the better future and peace, I'm willing to extend my hands towards your tribe for an alliance."