Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Why? Way was it always him? Why was he always at the center of every unexplained phenomenon?

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was old. He’d lived to the ripe old age of 68. He’d lived a long life with Astrid, their children, and their grandchildren. He’d been a good chief and had raised his children to live honestly. His son was chief when Hiccup died.

Now, most Vikings wake up after death expecting to see the glorious halls of Valhalla or the icy realms of Helheim. But, no, hot Hiccup.

Hiccup opened his eyes to see wooden rafters from an era long ago. Confused, he carefully sat up. Hiccup, being an old man, always moved cautiously, least he slip and fall. As he sat up, he didn’t feel any of the aches and pains he’d come to expect from his body due to age. In fact, he didn’t hurt at all.

That’s when he got a look at his hands and body. His hands were not the knobby, spotted, paper-thin skin they were the last time he looked at them (just before he died). No, they were small and the skin was smooth, and looked like Hiccup had never broken or burnt them (Hiccup had burnt and broken them a lot in his work as chief or in the forge).

His body wasn’t as skinny as it had been, either. As an old man, he’d had trouble eating, despite how much he enjoyed his daughter-in-law’s cooking. AS such, his body was skin and bones. Or, it should have been. His body now was still skinny, but differently. He was small like he’d been in his youth.

‘No, it can’t be,’ Hiccup thought with dread.

Slowly, as if afraid, he pulled the blanket back, exposing his feet. Yes, feet – his left foot was still attached.

Was he somehow in the past?

Knowing he’d get no answers otherwise, Hiccup stood up. His room was as it had once been – mostly barren. He had his bed, a desk covered in ideas, and a small chest holding what little personal belonging he’d owned. So, he decided to go downstairs. Having two feet when one has been missing for most of his life made for a clumsy stumble down the stairs.

The cold didn’t bother him after years of dragon riding and visiting the Northern Archipelago. But, in Berk, allowing the fire to go completely out was a bad omen, so Hiccup quickly stoked the almost dead fire until it was roaring.

He used it to heat up some chicken, relishing it. He hadn’t been able to actually eat chicken in years. Chicken broth and porridge had been about all he could keep down in the end.

He practiced walking around until he was more sure on his feet before leaving the house.

Warm sunlight (at least for Berk) lit the village for him to see. Torches and watchtowers were placed strategically – several of them being repaired at the moment. The village was as it had once been when Hiccup was a youth – well before when he improved the fireproofing of the village.

Hiccup slowly walked down the hill, gazing at the village and villagers in awe. A lot of the men and women he saw were dead – at least to him they were. None more so than the man walking up the hill towards him. Gobber.

Hiccup had to blink back tears upon seeing Gobber. The last he’d seen of him had been his funeral. It had been a bad winter in Berk that year, and the snow was extremely heavy. Gobber’s roof had collapsed with the smith inside. Gothi said he hadn’t suffered, but Hiccup still felt the blow. He’d reformed the village after that so the houses were sturdier. Gobber’s had been the last house to collapse in Hiccup’s lifetime.

Now his former mentor/uncle figure was stopping in front of him. “What’s wrong, Hiccup?” Gobber asked kindly. The haunted look in Hiccup’s eyes were worrisome for the blond man who took care of Hiccup.

“I-” Hiccup swallowed the lump in his throat. “Sorry, I just… had a bad dream,” he finally said.

“Oof, visited by the Mare, eh?” Gobber replied.

“Yeah,” Hiccup said quietly.

“That explains yer distracted state,” Gobber said. “Yeh f’rgot yer axe. Today’s th’ first day of Dragon Training. Go an’ get it.”

“All right,” Hiccup agreed. He turned around and returned to the house, his mind racing. ‘Does this mean Toothless is still trapped by his bolo?’ If this was the past, the first day of training, then Toothless would be trapped and scared. He had to get to Toothless as soon as possible.

Hiccup followed Gobber to the training grounds, feeling how weak his body really was. The axe was heavier than he remembered. He’d have to build up his muscles again. Well, at least this time he knew how.

At the ring, his fears proved true. The twins and Snotlout were teasing him about ‘killing the Night Fury’. Astrid glared at him, and it hurt to see that look on her face again.

Hiccup worried what it would mean for him and the people of Berk. Vikings wouldn’t accept dragons unless they saw the Red Death. Did that mean he had to let Toothless get captured again?

Something to ponder later as Meatlug was released from her pen. Hiccup left his axe leaning against a wooden barricade as he equipped the shield.

“How many shots does a Gronkle have?” Gobber asked as he watched from above.

“Five?” Snotlout guessed.

“No, six.”

“Six.”

Hiccup and Fishlegs answered at the same time.

“Correct. Tha’s one fer each o’ yeh,” Gobber laughed.

Hiccup saw Meatlug aiming for Snotlout, away from him. Deciding to make his move, Hiccup dashed forward.

“Hiccup!?” Gobber called out in panic.

Meatlug fired at Snotlout, but before she could turn to fire at Hiccup, Hiccup was already scratching her chin. He found her ‘spot’ and she dropped to the ground in pure bliss.

Gobber froze right behind him. His fellow teens were just as flabbergasted.

“So, is that it?” Hiccup wondered as he removed the shield. “Okay, them, I’ll, uh, just be going then. See you,” Hiccup called out to those behind him as he picked up the axe and scurried out of the ring.

Hiccup wasn’t sure if he should let history repeat itself or not, but he didn’t care at this particular point in time. The axe was dropped off at home (didn’t want to be armed near a potentially fearful Night Fury) and Hiccup ran into the forest.

It didn’t take long to arrive at Raven’s Point. As he suspected, Toothless was lying there, all tangled up, his tail already missing half of his tailfin.

“Toothless,” he sighed in regret. If he was sent back, then why couldn’t he have been sent back just one more day? Why couldn’t he have prevented the loss of Toothless’ tail?

Toothless’ head popped up upon hearing Hiccup speak, and Hiccup realized he wasn’t the only one sent back. Toothless’ face lit up and, despite his predicament, smiled at Hiccup. Hiccup wasted no time in cutting him free.

“Oh, Toothless, it’s good to see you,” Hiccup said as the two friends shared a hug for the first time in over a decade. Hiccup had been too fragile to visit The Hidden World in the last decade of his life, and it had hurt to stop visiting Toothless.

Hiccup finally gave in and cried. It was just too much. Being back and seeing so many he’d seen die alive again. Of those of his age, the only one still alive had been Ruffnut, who had become more morose after her twins’ death. With him being young again, he’d have to watch them die again. It made his chest hurt, like someone took a dagger to his heart.

“What am I supposed to do, Toothless?” Hiccup bemoaned.

*

In the end, Hiccup ran away.

It took only two days for Hiccup to build a saddle behind Gobber’s back. He still knew the exact measurements needed for Toothless’ saddle. With bags packed, he left a note for Gobber to find (he didn’t want them to think he was dead, just that he was running away).

Toothless took off from Raven’s Point, heading to the arena. Hiccup released the dragons, who didn’t recognize him as Toothless had – he had to prove he was their friend. With their help, he destroyed the arena and cages, so their wouldn’t be any training until Stoick and the others returned (he remembered no attacks happening between training starting and the return of Stoick).

They flew to Dragon’s Edge, storing their belongings and resting. Later that day, they turned around to return to Berk. They rested at Raven’s Point before flying Northwest – to the Red Death’s Den.

He was a bit glad to see the Berkian ships still sailing in circles in the mist. They were fine – mostly unharmed – so he let them be. Without a dragon, they’d never find the island.

Passing them, the duo arrived at the Den. Blowing up the mountain drew out the Queen – as large as they remembered, and just as temperamental. But, this time, the duo weren’t two inexperienced youth’s still learning to fly together. This time they were two experienced youths (with adult mentality) who had survived war.

It took only three shots near the base of her wings to get her in the air, and a taunt to get her to try a flamethrower. Three minutes after they arrived, the Queen was dead.

As the new leader of the pack, Toothless assured the dragons that he wouldn’t hurt them. As an Alpha, Toothless led them to Dragon’s Edge, away from humans.

Hiccup and Toothless missed the Berkians arriving on the island, drawn by the sounds of battle. Stoick led them onto the island, ready for battle – only to find the burnt out corpse of the Red Death. They eyed the dead Queen in awe. Who – or what – could have killed a dragon that large? A dragon that Stoick knew instantly that would have killed them all. They didn’t see Toothless and Hiccup leaving to lead the dragons to freedom.

After the dragons and Hiccup arrived on their island, they rested. Wounds were tended (none from Hiccup or Toothless, but some of the dragons were hurt, and Hiccup did what he could to help) and food was shared. After a week, Hiccup led those who wanted to go to The Hidden World, where they’d be able to live peacefully. Only about 35% of the dragons stayed (including all the dragons he’d rescued from Berk’s arena. He named them the same to honor the bonds they wouldn’t make).

Hiccup spent months there, building a small house and forge. Getting rid of the Thorston’s Claim Stone was easy enough (just in case; better safe than sorry). He used Toothless’ winter molt to create an insulated armor – like the one he’d worn when facing Drago Bludvist in his last life. He didn’t have enough to make anything more complicated.

With the suit, he made his way North, to the island where the Night Furies were said to have lived. He found thirty-three still living there. When he explained about Grimmel, with Toothless backing him up, they agreed to come to Dragon’s Edge with them. They even got rid of the scales that they molted, just so Grimmel wouldn’t get his hands on them (they were thrown into the sea).

He offered to lead them to the Hidden World, and all but three took him up on that. So, Toothless had three other Night Furies around for companionship. Two of the three were young, and one was older.

Now on a roll, Hiccup targeted his next adversary: Drago Bludvist.

The wannabe dragon ruler was easy to find. He pretended to be interested in working for him – even showing him a bag of mixed dragon scales to prove his capableness. Drago was very interested, and hired him on the spot.

Hiccup left, planning a raid. He didn’t plan on getting captured by Cloudjumper and Valka before he could return to Toothless. They were stunned when Toothless came to rescue him (his prosthetic tailfin was the same design as when Toothless had left for the Hidden World – allowing him freedom in the skies).

Hiccup talked Valka down, made easier when she recognized him as he son. She was so flabbergasted that Hiccup was like her that she almost fell off of Cloudjumper. He led her to Dragon’s Edge, and explained his plan.

She was in on the plan now. They set off for Drago’s camp. Valka had never been able to locate it, so when Hiccup told her he knew it, she almost jumped for joy.

They, and dragons from The Edge, attacked Drago’s camp in the dead of night, aiming for the traps. Valka led the attack while Hiccup and Toothless targeted Drago. Toothless took great pleasure in shooting off Drago’s fake arm and hearing him almost squeal.

Drago panicked and called up his Alpha. But, Toothless was an Alpha was well – one who had already beaten this particular Alpha. When it failed to control Toothless, Drago lost his composure. He came out from behind the Alpha’s tusk, and a well placed Plasma blast ended him. Hiccup and Toothless weren’t so naïve to think sparing him would bring anything but pain and misery. The Alpha saw his master killed, and submitted to Hiccup. Hiccup allowed it to leave, telling it about The Hidden World before it left.

The dragon hunters working for Drago surrendered. Hiccup warned them they’d get the same fate as Drago if they ever hunter a dragon again, then allowed them to depart (there were too many for him to cold-bloodedly kill them all. And, he knew hunters like Eret could change).

The dragons from Drago’s army were led to The Edge, where Hiccup and Valka removed the metal from them (yay, free metal). Many of these dragons also chose to live in The Hidden World, while some chose to stay. Some stayed at the Edge, while others went to Valka’s sanctuary.

Valka visited often after that, and Hiccup loved getting close to her again (and making sure she never cooked).

*

By now, a whole year after he’d left Berk, he was gaining a reputation. Unless he was heading for battle, he didn’t bother to hide his face. The whole archipelago knew who he was. Formerly Hiccup the Useless, he was now Hiccup the Dragon Master. He knew this, but couldn’t care less. Let all Dragon Hunters fear him.

Dragon Hunters like the Grimborns.

It was surprisingly nice to match wits with Viggo again. He’d almost missed him sarcastic wit. Battling with the Grimborns again led to him meeting Mala and Atali, and their people, again. It was nice to make allies with the Defenders of the Winds, and the Wingmaidens, again.

When Heather shipwrecked on his island, he introduced her to Atali and the Wingmaidens instead of letting her sail off. Heather got along with them swimmingly, and joined their tribe. He hoped it would help heal Heather’s heart.

As before, he put Viggo and Ryker through the wringer. He always attacked alone, or with a group of dragons – never with another human. That meant Viggo couldn’t blackmail him with his friends’ wellbeing, and Viggo couldn’t track them (the dragon’s always knew, and led him on a wild dragon chase).

Viggo was fascinated and Ryker was furious. Hiccup was their combined headache. Knowing what buttons to push, Hiccup targeted Ryker more than he did Viggo. The hotheaded Hunter hated Hiccup, and became furious whenever Hiccup’s name came up.

When he targeted Viggo, he managed to kidnap him every time. They played Maces and Talons (Viggo tied up every time) as a means of bargaining his freedom on. Viggo lost every time and had to wait on Ryker to save him.

Viggo finally asked why (after the fifth time Hiccup kidnapped him), and Hiccup shrugged and admitted it was nice to have someone to match wits with. Ryker came to rescue him shortly after that, and Hiccup left with a sigh.

It took a year-and-a-half for Ryker to turn on Viggo – only two months after Viggo’s latest confinement by Hiccup (they had both stopped counting by now).

Hiccup knew the double-cross would happen. They knew how stealthy he and Toothless were, yet they were always unprepared for them. The two regularly snuck up behind Ryker’s tent (always in the rear of the came instead of the middle – Hiccup was disappointed in Ryker) to listen to Ryker’s attempts at strategy (it was pitiful). They were gone with no one the wiser to their spying.

So, when Ryker betrayed Viggo, Hiccup was there to save Viggo. Of course, Hiccup made him a prisoner.

“With Ryker thinking you dead, he won’t pay your Wergild. Meaning, dear Viggo, that you are now my Thrall,” Hiccup smirked at the caged strategist. This was the first time Hiccup had caged him, bringing home the fact that Hiccup didn’t plan on letting him go this time. “Not that he would have paid, given that he tried to kill you.”

“This was your plan all along, don’t try to deny it,” Viggo remarked.

“Why, yes. Yes it was,” Hiccup admitted with a smirk.

“Why me?” Viggo wondered. Even stripped of his armor and weapons, in the simplest of wool clothes, and trapped in a cage of Gronkle Iron cage, Viggo Grimborn was a strategist and information collector.

And, Hiccup found he admired that. Enough to spare him, at least. “Because you’re smart, Viggo Grimborn. Killing you, or letting Ryker kill you, would be a waste. Having you as an enemy is a waste.”

“Ah, so you want me for my mind and not my body,” Viggo teased. “How disappointing.”

“While you are quite nice to look at, you’re not my type,” Hiccup retorted.

“Pity,” Viggo remarked, his eyes going up and down Hiccup’s body to show he appreciated Hiccup’s body.

Hiccup knew Viggo wanted him – had known it in his last life as a naïve teenager. Maybe he used that knowledge this time to play Viggo? And, it had worked – Viggo was right where he wanted him to be. But, he’d never give himself over to Viggo. He had better standards than that.

“You’ll be staying here as I take care of Ryker,” Hiccup suddenly stated. “I’ll be back within a day or two.” He tossed Viggo a bag of food. “That should be enough to sustain you until I return. If I’m not back within five days, the dragons have been instructed to free you. You’ll fine a boat in the cove, and you’ll be able to escape.”

“And if they don’t?” Viggo asked.

“Dragons, at least my dragons, don’t like to see others suffering.” Hiccup knew that was because most of them had suffered before Hiccup had freed them. “Meaning, if you DO run out of food, they’ll bring you fish. Which,” Hiccup smirked evilly, “you’ll be expected to eat. Raw.”

He cackled out of the building at Viggo’s look of horror and disgust. Not that Hiccup had been joking – the dragons would feed him if he ran out of food. But, he’d been amused by that look on Viggo’s face.

He ordered Stormfly, Hookfang, Smidvarg (and pack) and Skullcrusher to watch over Viggo for five days, and allow him to go if Hiccup hadn’t returned by then. He knew Viggo wouldn’t be able to escape with them in charge, but if he did, he wouldn’t find Hiccup’s base. They weren’t anywhere near Dragon’s Edge – no they were on a small island just barely big enough for the house to fit. The ‘cove’ was literally ten steps out of the door, and the boat was beached and stored, ready for use.

Did Hiccup revel in tormenting Viggo? Maybe a bit too much. He now understood why Viggo had always tormented Hiccup before.

Putting Viggo out of his mind, Toothless and Hiccup flew away, heading straight for Ryker’s camp. AS always, the hotheaded hunter was unprepared for Hiccup. With his skills, he’d gotten his hands on some Deathgripper venom, and applied some to a dart. Ryker was surprised and subdued within a minute. Hiccup tied him up and Toothless grabbed him by the ropes. They flew off with Ryker, leaving the Hunters without a leader.

So, when Hiccup and an army of dragons attacked the camp, the remaining hunters panicked. It took less than ten minutes for them all to surrender. Between Ryker’s and Viggo’s succession struggles, Ryker’s incompetence, and Hiccup’s army, there were only fifty left by the time the attack was over with.

All the dragons were freed and the men captured. Like with Drago’s men, Hiccup vowed to hunt them if they ever hunted a dragon again, and let them go (i.e. leaving them stranded on that island, because all the boats had been blown up).

He returned to Viggo just long enough to give him more food (don’t want him getting sick on a diet of raw fish) before leaving again.

He took Ryker far to the Southeast, to a land of hot sand, and sold him to slavers. Even if Ryker did get free, it would be practically impossible for him to return to their frozen homeland.

With the brothers separated and the Hunters taken care of, he returned.

Viggo was brought to the Edge, serving as Hiccup’s Thrall. He was actually offered freedom (Hiccup didn’t want to have to deal with him), but he wished to serve Hiccup. He even went so far as to threaten to cause trouble around the archipelago under Hiccup’s name if he didn’t allow Viggo to stay with him (Hiccup had no choice but to deal with him).

Confused by the man, Hiccup allowed him to stay. Viggo even built his own house so he wouldn’t bother Hiccup.

And that’s how Dragon’s Edge got its second human inhabitant.

Hiccup didn’t know what to do with him, so he told him to do whatever he wanted, as long as he didn’t bother the dragons.

Two-and-a-half years after he left Berk, he found him. Grimmel.

He got the help of Toothless and the remaining Night Furies to lure him into Hiccup’s trap. He managed to trick and defeat Hiccup in his first life, but not in this life.

As nasty and narcissistic as he remembered, it was actually easy for Hiccup to trick Grimmel onto an uninhabited island. When the man thought Hiccup and Toothless were trapped, Hiccup sprung his trap on Grimmel – the three Night Furies ambushed him.

Wounded and helpless, Grimmel was left to the four Night Furies. Hiccup promised not to judge them, then walked away. The sound of four plasma blasts and Grimmel’s scream (that was cut off mid-yell) was their answer. The Night Furies delivered their vengeance.

Hiccup returned to the Edge, wondering what he should do. All his enemies – all the enemies he knew about – had been defeated.

The Red Death, Drago, and Grimmel were dead. Ryker had been sold to slavers. Viggo was his willing Thrall.

Johann wouldn’t ever find the Dragon’s Eye (Hiccup had buried it as deep as he could and planted a tree on top of it) meaning he’d never find the Alpha and her egg hiding under Berserk Island.

He had allies in Valka, Atali, and Mala, and their tribes. He was welcome to visit at any time.

Yet, something in him felt… hollow, empty, incomplete. Why?

He moped around Dragon’s Edge for weeks with nothing to do. Sure, he went flying with Toothless, spent a lot of time in the forge, and even played Maces and Talons against Viggo. But, everything became… boring. Monotonous.

With all his enemies defeated (separated or killed) he had no goal. Why had he even been sent back? With no answers, he became morose.

Viggo looked upon him and shook his head. Hiccup’s mind was brilliant, even more than Viggo (and that sentiment was something he never thought he’d admit before he met Hiccup). But, his intelligence was his biggest roadblock. He knew what Hiccup needed, and went behind his back to arrange it. He just hope Hiccup would forgive him.

Chapter Text

Hiccup was once again sitting on a cliff overlooking the sea (sulking, Viggo would say) when dragons came flying over (some flew away from The Edge). They were obviously distressed, catching his attention. He got up and followed them back the way they’d come – all the way to the other side of the island.

Shocked, he froze in place when he saw Viggo welcoming Vikings onto the island. But, they weren’t just any Vikings. No, they were Vikings Hiccup knew. They saw him as he just stood there – flabbergasted.

(Hiccup didn’t see Toothless blocking the other dragons from interfering).

“Hiccup.” Stoick rushed over, onto an island of dragons, unarmed and not wearing any armor, IGNORED the dragons, to scoop his son into his arms.

Hiccup was beyond flabbergasted – his brain couldn’t comprehend. Why were Stoick and Gobber there? He thought they’d be glad to see him gone. He never rescued them from the Red Death. He never showed them that dragons could be friendly. He ran away. He chose dragons over his tribe. He couldn’t – why – ?

“Oh, Hiccup, I’m so glad ta finally find yeh,” Stoick said in a broken voice that trembled. “I’ve been looking fer yeh ever since I learned yeh’d run away.”

When Hiccup felt his tears fall onto his neck, he broke down. “Dad,” he said in a voice just as broken and fragile. He clutched tightly to Stoick, hugging him back as tears rolled down his face.

*

It took a while for the two to calm down. When they turned back to the Berkians, Hiccup was caught up in another tight hug, and it almost broke him again.

“Gobber,” he sniffed as he hugged the blacksmith tightly.

Gobber let him go, patting his back. “There yeh are, lad. Yeh’ve grown up on us. Now, don’t yeh go scarin’ me like that again, yeh hear?”

“Yeah, okay,” Hiccup agreed.

Gobber chuckled, then pushed him towards the others. Five others: Astrid, Fishlegs, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, and Snotlout. All who pounced on him, hugging him tightly with exclamations on how they missed him.

“How – how did you?” Hiccup tried to ask.

“Hiccup!”

“Let him go, heathens.”

Hiccup sighed as his allies came to his ‘rescue’. They pointed sharp blades at the Berkians, with the dragons as their backup.

“Atali, Mala, I’m fine,” Hiccup insisted, easing out of the teens’ hold.

“They are not holding you captive?” Atali wondered.

“No, they were just greeting me,” Hiccup corrected.

“That is an odd way of greeting someone,” Mala remarked as she dismounted from Atali’s dragon.

“It’s called a group hug,” Ruffnut remarked.

“Yeah. Who doesn’t know what a group hug is?” Tuffnut replied.

“Ruff, Tuff, not helping,” Hiccup retorted.

“C’mon, Hiccup, when are we ever helpful?” Tuffnut quibbled.

“Fair enough,” Hiccup sighed. “Okay, let me introduce everyone.”

Since the Wingmaidens had stopped by Caldera Cay, they picked up an equal number of Defenders. Normally the Defenders of the Wings wouldn’t ride dragons, but they thought that Hiccup had been in danger. Meaning there were ten Wingmaidens, ten Defenders, ten fully grown Razorwhips, seven Berkians, Hiccup, Toothless, and Viggo to introduce.

Hiccup looked around. “I don’t have enough space to accommodate everyone,” he realized. The only buildings were his house, forge, and Viggo’s house. Dragon’s Edge never got visitors, so there had never been a reason to build a great hall.

“Then we can all stand around an’ talk,” Stoick said.

“Yes, that’s fine by me,” Mala agreed.

“I have no issues with that,” Atali nodded.

“Okay, first off, why are you here?” Hiccup asked his allies.

“We had dragons fleeing to Caldera Cay, and we recognized them as dragons from Dragon’s Edge,” Mala replied. “We thought you had come under attack, so we prepared a force to come to your aide.”

Atali nodded. “Same. We stopped when we saw Mala and her warriors sailing for The Edge. We offered them a ride, as twenty warriors are better than ten.”

Mala nodded. “You are our ally, and one who has conquered the Dragon Hunters.” She glared at Viggo, who was standing behind Hiccup. “Of course we would come.”

“Well, thank you all for that. I’m glad you came to help, even though it wasn’t needed,” Hiccup remarked. “Now, Dad, how did you find Dragon’s Edge?”

“I found a package on my doorstep,” Stoick answered.

“A package?” Hiccup wondered.

“Aye. I was confused, an’ wary as well,” Stoick said. “Inside was a sketch of yeh, an’ directions ta this island. I’ve been lookin’ fer yeh fer nearly three years, so I didn’t hesitate to come. Gobber an’ th’ kids insisted on comin’ wit’ me,” Stoick finished with a smile.

“Who could have sent that?” Hiccup wondered.

“I did,” Viggo admitted.

Everyone turned to stare at him.

“Why?” Hiccup asked.

“Because it’s what you needed,” Viggo stated. “You’ve been spiraling into depression in these last few months, and I wanted to stop you before you did something… drastic. Yet, I knew I could not be what you needed.”

“I haven’t been depressed,” Hiccup denied.

Viggo raised an unimpressed eyebrow. “How long has it been since you took care of Grimmel?”

“… A couple of weeks,” Hiccup replied uncertainly.

Viggo’s second eyebrow rose to join the first. “An exact time?”

“Six weeks?” Hiccup guessed.

“It’s been three months,” Viggo ruthlessly pointed out. “Even Toothless has been worried.”

Toothless, in rare agreement with Viggo, purred and rubbed against Hiccup’s leg.

“Hiccup, you’ve been staring off into the distance for months now, in the very direction of Berk. Toothless has tried to get you to go home several times, but you always turn back when you notice you’re getting close,” Viggo continued his verbal disappointment without a qualm.

“Wait, you followed me? Whoa, whoa, whoa, when did you bond with a dragon?” Hiccup asked, his mind racing. How had he missed that?

“Six months ago, and yes, I followed you,” Viggo remarked. “That you noticed neither should tell you just how bad you’ve gotten.” Then, quietly, he continued and knelt in front of him. “As your Thrall, I know I stepped out of bounds. I will accept any punishment you deem fit.”

Hiccup sighed as he eyed the former dragon hunter. “For now, return home. I’ll think on it and let you know your punishment later.”

“As you wish, Master,” Viggo remarked and turned away from the group.

When he was gone, Stoick asked, “Are yeh really gonna punish him?” He was grateful that the man had sent him that package, and didn’t really want him to get into trouble.

“Yeah. He’ll expect it, and punish himself if I don’t. I’ll probably ask him to build a great hall, or something else mundane. He would have likely done it either way, so by making it a ‘punishment’ he’ll feel properly punished.” At first, Hiccup hadn’t noticed, but if Viggo did something that frustrated Hiccup, he’d hurt himself. It was only when Viggo collapsed, a wound infected, that he’d found out. It was easier to just assign him a task that needed done.

Seeing their looks of confusion, Hiccup shrugged. “Yeah, I don’t understand it, either. I don’t know, but I think he enjoys getting ordered about and being punished.”

After a moment of silence, Tuffnut whispered to Ruffnut, “I never thought we’d ever see our little Hiccup keeping a Thrall.”

“I can’t blame him. That Viggo is FINE,” Ruffnut replied with a smile.

“Ruff, that is NOT why I keep Viggo around,” Hiccup huffed.

“So, he’s free game?” Ruffnut asked hopefully.

Hiccup gave her a disgusted and disturbed look. (He wasn’t the only one, either). He knew she was like this, but still, she was talking about VIGGO. “If you want to pursue him, go ahead. But, I won’t order him to accept you.” Hiccup knew Viggo wouldn’t be interested in her, just as he knew Ruffnut wouldn’t be stopped. “If he says ‘no’, I expect you to respect his wishes.”

“You got it,” Ruffnut said as she ran off towards Viggo’s hut.

“Will she be okay?” Stoick wondered.

“Yeah. Viggo won’t do anything. He’s not interested in… physical appearances,” Hiccup remarked. “He’s more attracted to intelligence than physical appearances.”

“Has he made a move on you?” Stoick asked in a dark tone. He knew Hiccup was intelligent, and would kill the man (Thrall or not) if he’d abuse his position.

Hiccup smirked. “The last time he tried, Toothless took him for a ride. And Viggo wasn’t in the saddle. He hasn’t tried anything since.”

Toothless laughed at the memory.

They looked from Hiccup (smirking evilly) to Toothless (laughing like a loon).

“Well, then, I won’t worry,” Stoick eventually said. He may have tried to kill dragons all his life, but he was glad Hiccup had such a protective companion by his side.

Hiccup nodded.

They were all quiet for a minute.

Mala looked between father and son, the air almost palpable between them. Clearing her throat, she said, “Well, since Hiccup isn’t in danger, we should head off out armies.”

“Yes, that’s a good idea,” Atali agreed.

Within minutes, the Defenders and Wingmaidens had taken off, leaving Hiccup alone with the Berkians.

“We should prepare the boat fer a stay. Come along,” Gobber said, herding the teens (Ruffnut included, since she’d returned rejected) back to the ship.

Leaving father and don alone. Even Toothless had ambled off.

“So…” Stoick nervously rubbed the back of his head. “Will yeh show me around?”

“Sure,” Hiccup agreed. Mentally an old man, he reverted to being a nervous teen upon being in his father’s presence. “Not much to see, though.”

He showed Stoick the house and forge. His house was only big enough for him and Toothless (a larger house meant more firewood and a harder time keeping the fire lit). The forge was larger than the house and stocked with small projects that Hiccup was working on.

“It’s… quaint,” Stoick remarked. Who would have thought the most feared man in all the archipelagos would have such a small, humble, inconspicuous house.

“It’s small,” Hiccup corrected.

Stoick couldn’t contradict him, even to be polite.

“I spend a lot of time either in the air or in the forge. I don’t need a large home,” Hiccup remarked.

“Speaking of…” Stoick hesitated. “Would yeh be willing? Ta come home?” Seeing Hiccup look towards him so sharply, he clarified. “Just ta visit? Everyone’s missed yeh. I had practically the whole village volunteering ta come help me find yeh. And… and yer dragon. Toothless. He’d be welcome, too,” Stoick rambled on.

“I – I’d like that,” Hiccup cut him off. Though he was worried about how Berk would welcome Toothless, he knew Berk COULD accept dragons. If certain criteria happened. Eventually. He thought that Berk wouldn’t accept dragons without the dragons having saved them, but maybe he was wrong?

And, he WAS. When he returned to Berk two weeks later, he was surrounded by those who had missed him. Everyone hugged him, ruffled his hair, or patted his back. Even Spitelout sighed and told him it was good to see him again. Spitelout! The only one who hadn’t was Gothi. The old woman huffed and hit him with her staff. It was only when he apologized that she hugged him.

The Berkians hesitated when Toothless came off the ship, but they’d known about Hiccup’s reputation throughout the Archipelago as the Dragon Master. Seeing the dragon being so protecting (and dare they say clingy) around Hiccup eased their worries.

The Hairy Hooligan Tribe partied hard that night, and everyone (even Gothi) ended up drunk.

No one seemed to know what to do when Hiccup drunkenly collapsed atop Toothless. It’s not like they could reach him, either, as Toothless curled his wings around him human. The drunken consensus was to just leave them there.

But, not Stoick. As drunk as he was (and he was quite drunk) he walked over to place a hand against Toothless’ head.

Toothless opened an eye and glared at him.

“I know he seems comfortable, but he needs ta rest in a bed,” Stoick said. "Can I pick him up?”

Toothless had never seen Hiccup like this before. The smell that had come from the drinks they had consumed had disgusted him. But, Hiccup drank alongside his tribe. He didn’t know what to do, so he cuddled his human. But, the large man was correct – Hiccup should rest in a bed. So, he lifted his wings and allowed Stoick to pick up his son.

“Yer welcome, too,” Stoick told the dragon.

And so, Stoick the Vast, known hater of all dragons, carried his son home with a dragon following behind him.

Hiccup woke up the next morning (afternoon) in his childhood room that looked just like he’d left it (there were even drawings and notes still tacked to the wall) and Toothless hanging from the rafters.

It made him smile. He was home.

Not everything was perfect, far from, in fact. But, the Berkians were willing to welcome Hiccup and Toothless. But, when other dragons started stopping by to greet Toothless, they became nervous. Hiccup explained that Toothless was an Alpha, and the others were just saying hello, but some were still nervous.

Others were curious or excited. There were some children too young to have remembered the fear dragons had once brought. One day as Hiccup was in the forge with Gobber, Toothless curled up and took a nap outside the door. When Hiccup and Gobber left for lunch, they found a bunch of children napping with him. (Children that said they were too old for naps, but seeing a mighty, powerful dragon napping was enough to convince them that naps were acceptable). The adults didn’t know what to do. Hiccup just smiled and told Toothless he didn’t need to get up. Toothless huffed, not even opening his eyes to glare at Hiccup. The children loved Toothless.

It only took a week for Astrid and the other teens to ask about dragons. Hiccup smiled and told them he knew just the dragons to introduce them to. He returned to The Edge just long enough to gather the dragons, then returned. Hiccup introduced them to Stormfly, Meatlug, Hookfang, and Barf and Belch. As before, the bond formed between dragons and humans. Hiccup and Toothless taught them how to work together.

Shortly after that, some adults melted. Hiccup sent a letter to Viggo with Sharpshooter (gotta love Terror Mail), and the ex-hunter complied. Viggo and his dragon (a Skrill he’d named Tempest) brought the willing dragons to Berk. Some stayed on Dragon’s Edge, unwilling or unable to live with humans who had, at one time, hurt dragons.

Not everyone was able to bond with the same dragons as in Hiccup’s first life. Some dragons like Fanghook, Kingstail, and Skullcrusher, had decided to live in the Hidden World. Meaning not everyone could make the same bonds.

No one was more surprised than Hiccup when Stoick bonded with the largest Night Fury, and named him Silhouette. Both Stoick and Silhouette were leaders – Silhouette had been the leader of the Night Furies on the island before Hiccup found them, and the eldest to stay. Silhouette wasn’t as fast, or as nimble in the air, as Toothless, but more focused on firepower. He fit Stoick better than Hiccup could have anticipated.

Six months after Hiccup came back to Berk (and showing no desire to return to Dragon’s Edge), a large four-winged dragon appeared over the skies of Berk, a rider upon its back.

“Oh, shit, I forgot to tell her what was going on,” Hiccup murmured. He felt like an idiot. Toothless came to collect him, and they flew up to speak to her. “Mom.”

“Hiccup, what’s going on?” Valka asked. “This is Berk, and they’re… they’re… with the dragons,” Valka couldn’t believe her eyes enough to get out a coherent sentence. “Explain.”

And, so he did.

Valka couldn’t hardly believe it, but the proof came when Stoick and Silhouette flew up, unwilling to leave it up to Hiccup any linger.

“Ye must be an ally of Hiccup’s. I am Stoick the Vast, Hiccup’s father. Would yeh like ta come down an’ talk?” Stoick invited the rider down to Berk, even though he wanted to shoot them out of the air. Though it had been eighteen years, he recognized the dragon that dragged his Valka off.

She nodded and patted Cloudjumper’s back.

They flew down to Berk.

“Come, we can talk in the great hall,” Hiccup invited. “Trust me.”

Valka met his eyes and nodded. For the first time in eighteen years, she walked amongst the people of Berk again. They looked at her cautiously, but seeing her with Hiccup, they just nodded before going back to whatever they’d been doing. Valka could only gape as the people of Berk worked WITH the dragons. She couldn’t believe it.

At the great hall, it was just them and their dragons.

“Are yeh thirsty? Can I offer yeh a cup o’ mead?” Stoick invited politely.

“Yes, thank ya,” Valka agreed.

Stoick walked away to get them drinks.

Hiccup turned towards Valka. “Mom, everyone’s changed. I can’t hardly believe it myself. I mean, Dad bonded with a Night Fury, of all dragons. Can you, maybe, possibly, think about at least telling him who you really are?”

Valka was shocked that Hiccup would even suggest it. Or, she would have been had she not seen the people of Berk working with the dragons. When Stoick returned, he passed her a cup of mead. Seeing him pat his dragon’s head, gently, caringly, made her mind up for her. Valka placed the cup on the table to take her helmet off.

Stoick froze, then dropped him mug. He shook his head in disbelief. “Valka?”

“I know what you’re going ta say, Stoick. Why didn’t I come back to you? To or son? Well, what sign did I have that you could change, Stoick? That anyone on Berk could? I pleaded-” She was cut off as Stoick placed a gentle hand upon her chin and lifted her face.

“Valka,” he sighed, truly believing she was there. “Yer as beautiful as the day I lost yeh.”

Hiccup smiled and herded the dragons out. Let them have their privacy.

That night there was another reunion party in Berk. Valka was welcomed back into Berks folds, though she couldn’t stay like Hiccup – at least not at first. She and Cloudjumper had work in The Sanctuary keeping peace and looking after the hatchlings. But, it didn’t take long for Stoick to be trusted with the location of The Sanctuary.

Another month after that, Dagur visited Berk to reaffirm the treaty. He’d been angered at the dragons, until Hiccup stood up to him.

“You think you can stand up to me just because you have dragons, Hiccup?” Dagur growled at him.

“I don’t need my partner to challenge you, Dagur. I can challenge you by myself,” Hiccup stated.

Everyone had been worried, because Hiccup was still very slender compared to most Vikings.

“If I defeat you, you’ll calm down and give dragons a chance,” Hiccup challenged.

“Fine. But, if I win, your dragon is mine to kill,” Dagur challenged back.

Hiccup didn’t hesitate. “Fine. Challenge accepted.”

The two of them went to the arena, where Stoick and Vorg (Dagur’s second) acted as the referees.

Needless to say, Hiccup kicked Dagur’s ass. Hiccup was a veteran of several wars (in both lives). Most damning, however, was that Hiccup had often trained with Dagur in his first life – to the point that Hiccup knew every tell Dagur had, even the ones Dagur didn’t know he had.

Hiccup won easily. Best out of three; best out of five, best out of eleven. No matter how many times Dagur tried, Hiccup beat him, until he lay on the floor of the arena, breathless and exhausted.

“Give up yet?” Hiccup asked, looking down at him.

“How? It’s only been three years? How have you improved so much?” Dagur demanded.

Hiccup knew Dagur wouldn’t believe him (who would?), so he hedged. “Dragon riding requires a lot of muscles and quick reflexed. Also, if you remember, I’ve beaten some of the most bloodthirsty dragon hunters out there. I’ve experienced true war, and I have their blood on my hands.”

Hiccup was being serious, and Dagur could tell.

“There’s a lot to gain from befriending dragons. Are you willing to give them a chance?” Hiccup asked. He knew if Dagur chose violence, he’d treat him as an enemy, and it would be too bad.

“What benefits?” Dagur wondered suspiciously.

“Did you know dragons can improve agriculture?” Hiccup asked. When Dagur gave him a confused look, he explained how dragon dung made their crops grow much better.

As a Chief, and thus caretaker of his people, he seemed surprised.

“Come, I’ll show you,” Hiccup said, holding out a hand.

Dagur accepted it, and followed. When he saw the crops, he was shocked because they were a lot larger than they usually were this early in the growing season.

“There’s more. Are you willing to listen?” Hiccup asked.

Dagur listened, and realized just how mature Hiccup had become. Dagur had matured as well in the last four years. As a Chief, he’d had to learn about leadership and how to take care of his tribe on the fly. Oswald had disappeared one day, and Dagur had to pretend to have killed him, and hate him. Dagur didn’t hate him, but he was disappointed in Oswald’s lack of bloodlust. He wouldn’t ever tell anyone, but he’d rather have had Oswald than the Chieftainship.

As he listened to Hiccup, he had to take into consideration everything he knew. Hiccup was known all across the archipelago as a champion for the dragons – if anyone hunted them, then he would appear and end you. He had already taken out the three biggest names in the dragon trapping business (all but Viggo, who had become a Thrall). If Dagur continued to blindly attack dragons (not that he’d been able to, since dragons avoided humans nowadays), then he’d become Hiccup’s enemy. Hiccup, who had bested Dagur in battle.

Dagur the Deranged, for once in his life, chose peace. Hiccup taught him what he knew about dragons, and Dagur was fascinated. Hiccup even taught him to bond with dragons, and he bonded with a Gronkle he named Shattermaster. It wasn’t easy - and Hiccup didn’t take it easy on him, either. But, that only deepened the bond between them.

Dagur returned to Berserk, and taught his people all about dragons. They were reluctant at first, but he wasn’t ‘the Deranged’ for nothing. They knew not to argue with him. It didn’t take long for them to have dragons of their own.

On Berk, Hiccup was pleased with everything. Up until Astrid blindsided him. She admitted to having feelings for him. Hiccup wanted to deny her at first (he was mentally over seventy), but he’d always been weak to Astrid. He loved her, always. He took it slow to learn this Astrid (she was different from his Astrid, but still Astrid). No one was surprised. Just shy of his nineteenth birthday, he requested Astrid’s hand in marriage. Astrid accepted.

To her. Hiccup had always been an outlier. She couldn’t understand him as a child. She knew he was the chief’s son, but he didn’t act like it. He wasn’t cocky, and he didn’t throw his father’s weight around. In fact, he seemed to be crushed under the weight of Stoick’s lineage. He was often picked on by Snotlout or the twins, and he never retaliated.

They were ten when she noticed the shift in Hiccup. He started avoiding people by going into the forest. He would spend every spare hour out there. If he wasn’t helping Gobber, or Gothi, he was out in the forest. It’s something no one else noticed, to her surprise. Hiccup had even saved her when she got lost in the forest – all the way by Raven’s Point. He made it seem like he was running away from her, but she noticed he wasn’t running as fast as he usually would have. He was guiding her back to Berk by pretending to run away.

They were thirteen when she noticed Hiccup wasn’t eating very much. It worried her, because he’d never grow muscles if he didn’t eat. He came in with Gobber and ate with him, but Gobber liked to ramble, and didn’t notice Hiccup spent more time pushing the food around than eating it. They were fourteen when Hiccup stopped coming in with Gobber, eating at his house instead. No one else seemed to notice, but Astrid did.

She was frustrated with him. Was he just… giving up? He has everything anyone else wanted – he was the heir, he apprenticed with Gobber, Stoick’s right-hand man (no matter what Spitelout says), Gothi adored him – yet he didn’t see any of it.

They were fifteen when Hiccup ran away. It was then that everyone realized just what he was to them.

Gobber was the one to find the note from Hiccup – he refused to be a dragon killer and left so he wouldn’t be forced to kill dragons. Gobber was devastated to lose Hiccup – someone he thought of as an honorary nephew.

No one thought to count the boats, but Astrid did. No boats were missing, so how did Hiccup leave? Astrid wandered through the forest until she came to Raven’s Point. She found the cove, and she found the dragon scales littering the ground. It was suspicious to her, but none more so than when she found Hiccup’s dagger thrown into the pond. Had Hiccup… no, impossible.

Or so she thought.

Then dragon training was canceled because the arena was destroyed and there were no dragons. The timing of it was even more suspicious to Astrid.

Stoick and the rest of their fighters returned, for once having found the nest. What they found baffled everyone – a dead giant dragon and an otherwise empty island.

Then Stoick learned of Hiccup’s departure, and he was devastated. She had never seen anyone so devoid of life. He just… stopped functioning for weeks. Gobber and Spitelout covered for him with his Chiefly duties. She truly thought he had given up on life; and who could blame him? He lost his beloved wife in a dragon attack, and his only son ran away.

He may have given up completely if Johann hadn’t come when he did. Johann, in a rare moment of seriousness, insisted on speaking to Stoick, and no one else. Once Stoick had made himself presentable (barely, they could all tell) he went to the great hall to hear him out.

That’s when they learned what had become of Hiccup. Hiccup, son of Stoick the Vast, disaster on the battlefield, and the clumsiest Viking in the archipelago, had befriended a dragon. Not just any dragon, but a legendary Night Fury.

Astrid remembered what she’d found at Raven’s Point, and realized her initial thoughts on how Hiccup had left were right, no matter how ridiculous they’d seemed.

New life had been blown into Stoick. With hope that Hiccup was alive, he had something to live for – something to fight for. Stoick cleaned himself up, started to go about his duties again – to the relief of everyone. He sent out search parties looking for Hiccup, but no one ever found him.

They heard rumors about Hiccup as the years passed. Hiccup defeated Drago Bludvist (when they heard that, Stoick collapsed in awe. It wasn’t until he told them of the tale from when he was younger that they realized just how significant that was). Hiccup was fighting the Grimborn brothers, and after more than a year, he was victorious (rumors said he captured one brother and kept him). Hiccup faced the Night Fury Hunter – a man said to have killed every other Night Fury. They all worried over Hiccup, and a collective sigh of relief came upon hearing that Hiccup won.

They still hadn’t found Hiccup, and likely never would have if not for the package on Stoick’s doorstep. With the help of Viggo, they found Hiccup.

He had returned with them, and he taught them all about dragons. Astrid bonded with Stormfly, and loved every inch of her scaly hide, and would kill anyone who thought to hurt her. If the actions of every other Berkian were to go by, they all felt the same.

Then Valka returned to Berk with a dragon of her own. No one had ever seen Stoick so happy. He even wept in public. And, when the two did their song, everyone watched in awe (and Hiccup kept Gobber from joining in, thankfully). It was like a piece had been missing from Stoick, and now that he had it back, he was a completely different person. He laughed and smiled, and he meant it. Stoick even made jokes. It was baffling.

Astrid could understand exactly why Hiccup had left rather than killing dragons, and she was grateful he had. If not, he would have always remained in the shadows.

Astrid had watched Hiccup for years, and maybe that was why it took her so long to understand her own feelings? She adored Hiccup; not because he was the son of the chief, but because he was such an unpredictable outlier.

When he got to drawing in his notebook, he got this look in his eyes that she thought adorable. When he worked with Gobber, she saw his muscles bulging to hold the hot steel and had to excuse herself from the vicinity. When he sparred with Dagur, she had to fan herself, she became overheated.

Naturally, everyone else (everyone but Hiccup) knew even before she did. So, she did what anyone with a backbone would; she confessed. Hiccup was shocked. But, he’d eventually accepted.

You’d think a teenager who had cooped himself up on an island alone for years would be eager for some action, but Hiccup took things slowly. It was almost eight months before he asked for her hand. Astrid accepted eagerly. When she kissed his cheek, he gave her a dopey smile, but wasn’t flustered as she thought he’d be. But, it was nice.

Hiccup didn’t know which God, or Gods, decided to send him back into the past, but when he married Astrid for the second time, he blessed them. He had his wife, he had the dragons, and Berk was prospering. He had a feeling it would be a nice life.