The Choices We Make

Plot Summary:

Hiccup leaves Berk the night before the final test. Five years later; Hiccup is now living a new life with a new identity. But one day it all changed when he saves a familiar blonde girl together with a bloodied old man with attitude and interchangeable hands from a burning ship and bloodthirsty Vikings. Also he found out something that will lead him back to his past. (AU) Dark Hiccup

A/N:

Hello guys! ProcrastinatorSleepyhead here…I'm back here again, this is my second story here in FF. Well my first one is still a work in progress and I'm planning to finish it soon. But my mind was full of this new story(I'm referring to this one) so I think, why not give it a shot? Well let's make It short, please enjoy my new one guys, if you have complaints or criticism or something, just send me a review and I'll do something about it(I guess)—So let's start~~!

I do not own "HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON" and its characters,

And anyways R&R!

~Prologue~

~Kill ring- Afternoon~

A Gronckle hovers above the ring, hunting victims as the teen recruits scramble. Astrid ducks behind a barrier to find Hiccup already there.

She forces her axe at his throat. "Stay out of my way! I'm winning this thing."

"Please, by all means." Hiccup replied to her intimidated at her threat.

She darts off, CLOSING FAST on the dragon. The crowd above cheers her on.

A random Viking shouts at her, "You got it Astrid!"

Hiccup stands and looks around. Amidst the crowd of onlookers, Stoick watches keenly, beaming with pride. He locks eyes with Hiccup, giving him a nod of encouragement. Hiccup adjusts his new helmet and forces a half-hearted smile. Unbeknownst to Hiccup, the Gronckle spots him and makes his way towards him.

Astrid was preparing herself for the kill behind one of the barriers. She catches her breath and scowls, focused, determined.

"This time. This time for sure! Aaaaaaa—" As Astrid jumps from the barriers and runs towards the Gronckle, she sees that Hiccup has already laid the Gronckle out.

"...aaaaaaauGGGGGHHHHHHHH! No! No!" Astrid was defeated. She was defeated by Hiccup, the runt of the village weeks before!

Hiccup shrugs, as unhappy with the situation as she is. "NO! NO! SON OF HALFTROLL RAT EATING" Astrid was now swinging her axe in the air, releasing her anger—well some of it.

A loud CLACK ring out. From the crowd above, Gothi, the village elder, steps forward, tapping her staff. There was a short silence as everyone lights up excitedly, waiting for the decision.

"So I guess—" Hiccup tried to leave the kill ring but was grab by Gobber.

"Not so fast!" Gobber then positioned Hiccup at his right side.

"Well I'm kinda late for—" Hiccup was cut off by Astrid, she glowered at him suspiciously.

"Late?! Late for what exactly?!" Astrid was livid.

"Okay quiet down the elder has decided!" Stoick cheered.

Gobber then stands behind the two young Vikings. He points to Astrid as the crowd waits in silent anticipation. Gothi then shakes her head as a sign of "no." The crowd erupts in a series of "Ooooohs."

Gobber then points to Hiccup, the elder nods an affirmative "yes." The crowd was cheering. Hiccup was opposed to the result but tried to mask it with amusement. He turns to see Astrid seething at him, sending him a deadly glare.

"Oh! You've done it, you've done it Hiccup! You get to kill the dragon!" Gobber cheered.

"Ha, ha! That's my boy!" Stoick shouts outside the arena.

Hiccup was hoisted onto the recruit's shoulders and carried out to the cheering spectators.

"Heh, heh. Oh yeah! I can't wait. I am so—"

"Leaving." Hiccup mumbled to himself walking towards the door. As he was just about to close the door, Stoick was already behind him.

"There you are son!" Stoick was beaming with joy.

Hiccup gave Stoick a quizzical look, "Uh... yes dad I'm here—do you need me for something?"

"Something? Of course we need to celebrate!" Stoick stated.

Hiccup was astounded at he said, "Wha-what?! Are you sure we need to celebrate right now?" Hiccup tried to questioned Stoick's decision.

"What are you saying? This is the right time to celebrate!" Stoick replied with glee in his voice.

"I didn't even killed a Dragon yet—" Hiccup protested but was cut off by Stoick,

"But you will son! And if that happens we will celebrate again!" Stoick justified his decision.

"No Dad, I can't kill a dragon!" Hiccup's tone slightly rose, probably because of annoyance.

"Yes you can." Stoick said in a calm manner.

"Let me rephrase that, I will not kill a dragon! I'm really extra sure that I won't!" Hiccup said it with a playful tone.

"But you will kill that dragon son." Stoick said it with a straight face. Hiccup just sighed, Stoick then puts a hand on his shoulder and bents down to his eye level

"C'mon son they're waiting at the great hall." Stoick looks at Hiccup waiting for an answer.

"This conversation is feeling very one-sided...again," Hiccup said it with a hint of sarcasm.

"I'm serious!" Stoick furrowed his brows.

"So do I!" Hiccup protested.

But it seems his protest was went unheard, as Stoick continued to glower at him. Hiccup sighed in defeat.

"Fine!" Hiccup faked a smile, and schemed in his thoughts.

They ventured towards the Meade Hall, and on the way there they saw a bunch of Vikings congratulating Stoick and also Hiccup for his imminent success. Stoick's mood was great, that he almost forgot their conversation a minute ago. While Hiccup plans in his thoughts how he will leave the island, well his first plan was now scrapped because of the sudden celebration.

When they arrived at the Meade Hall, Hiccup noticed the mood was jovial. Lots and lots of Viking was drinking and eating. Hiccup and Stoick took a seat at the center of the crowd, Stoick then raise a hand to silence them.

"Okay! I was surprised at—all of this! In a short week that I was gone, I was worrying about my son here. Because that's what a father does right?" A few laughter's were heard from the group.

"Well if someone had told me that Hiccup would go from being, well ... Hiccup, to placing first in dragon training and soon to be dragon killer... I would've tied him to a mast and shipped him off for fear he'd gone mad!" Stoick together with everybody else was now laughing.

Stoick then stops laughing and turns to look at Hiccup, "You really had me going there son!"

Stoick raised his mug, "To Hiccup!" The crowd cheered together with their chief.

After the speech, Hiccup decided to sit at a different table away from his father. There was still cheering and shouting. The mood was still convivial even if the main reason of this celebration was not at the limelight. Night came and the party is still going. Hiccup spent the evening with smiling and talking to the ones who persecuted him just a week ago. Most of the people who despised him were now being nice to him. He smiled at those who congratulate him—well faked a smile. He hated all of it. As he formed a plan inside his head he noticed Astrid was leaving the Hall alone. He decided to leave the festivities right away and follow Astrid.

As Hiccup walk towards the door, he heard his name was being called. He turns to see who was calling him, it was Stoick.

"Son! Where are you going?" Stoick asked with a sober voice.

"Just checking in for the night—you know big day for tomorrow!" Hiccup replied while he rubs the back of his neck.

"Oh! Okay then have a good night!" Stoick said it merrily.

"Okay see you tomorrow dad." Hiccup replied with haste and then turned towards the door.

As Hiccup bid farewell to his father and other Vikings and was outside of the Great Hall, he searched for any signs of Astrid and by luck he saw a silhouette of a girl with an axe in tow walking into the woods.

"That must be Astrid," Hiccup mumbled to himself.

Hiccup then jumps from the stone steps to the grassy field and strode hurriedly towards the woods. Hiccup searched frantically, searching for Astrid's track. After a few minutes of walking and following broken twigs and trees that had marks from an axe. Hiccup heard a faint scream, to which is not too far from his position. Hiccup runs past Ravenpoint and found the source of the voice, it was Astrid's. As he runs to the direction of it, Hiccup could hear a bunch of cursing and some gibberish. But as Hiccup nears to it, he could hear it loud and clear.

"That son of a half troll—rat eating—munge bucket—""Yup she's now angry at me" Hiccup thought. Hiccup is at the top of a cliff far from the clearing where Astrid was releasing her anger. So it's easy to avoid being seen by the fearless angry Hofferson.

Astrid was throwing axe to the bunch of helpless trees. Hiccup plans his entrance when suddenly; he hears a shuffle at the bush opposite of the frustrated shield maiden. Astrid stopped cursing and turns to face at the bush. Astrid raises her axe waiting for something to come out while Hiccup was observing from afar. There came a group of wild boars; there were three of them.

Hiccup watch intently as Astrid and the group of wild boars circle through each other. After a few seconds of staring, one of the boars starts to lunged at her. Astrid made a somersault dive to the side and swings her axe to the boar hitting it on its stomach. "One down two to go." Hiccup thought.

The remaining ones didn't give Astrid the chance to stand as they charge towards her. Though Astrid may be a warrior she is still a teen with a petite body, comparing to the built of the beasts. And because of this she did have a hard time of warding them off. While Astrid was being kept busy by the two boars in front of her Hiccup noticed a movement at the back of Astrid, and after a few moments of observing he saw a pair of red eyes waiting for a chance to attack the shield maiden.

Hiccup was alarmed at this; he discarded every reasonable thoughts or logic in his mind and makes a run for it. Though because of his clumsiness Hiccup slipped on the side of the cliff and slides down near the clearing. Astrid, together with the wild boars was distracted by the sound of Hiccup's clumsiness, though Astrid quickly regain's composure and used that opening to attack.

Astrid charge to one of the beast and was caught off guard as she struck its face and one of its leg with her axe. The attack was swift but not strong enough to kill it though it immobilizes it. The other one starts to attack her but Astrid dodges it with ease. Hiccup gets up from the fall; the cliff is not that high so he only got a gash in the forearm. After checking himself for other injuries other than the gash at his forearm, Hiccup returned his gaze to the fight. Hiccup saw Astrid was now dodging the beast's attacks with ease; he also noticed that the other one was left crippled at the side. Hiccup turns to look for the pair of red eyes he saw earlier, and there it was creeping to an unsuspecting Astrid.

"Astrid Look out!" Hiccup rushed to her in an attempt of saving her.

Astrid was startled when he heard Hiccup's voice and was pinned down by the beast in front of her. Though at the last second, Astrid managed to shield herself using her axe. She berated herself for being caught-off guard by the foul beast, and it was all because of Hiccup. Astrid was angered by this, so she took every ounce of her strength and pushes the boar away from her. Though this time it was Astrid that was more aggressive, she was in frenzy as she dives in front of the beast and struck her axe deep enough to kill it. Astrid stands slowly while catching her breath and started to walk towards the other one. Astrid stops in front of the crippled beast. She took a deep breath and struck it with force to put it out of its misery. After this Astrid falls on her knees exhausted because of the battle. She was surprised—again when she heard Hiccup's voice.

"Ah need some help here," Astrid didn't even bothered herself to turn her head to find the Hiccup.

"Where are you anyway?" Annoyance was evident in her voice. Astrid then hears a grunt,

"Ngh—Right here below," Hiccup tried to squirmed but it was futile.

Astrid turns her head to see Hiccup lying in the ground and atop of him was the body of another wild boar, the one that she didn't recognize from the battle. Astrid then pulled the boar away from Hiccup then starts to berate him,

"Why is it that every time you were near me, it always ends bad for me—"but Hiccup cuts her off.

"UH… I would appreciate it if you've thanked me for saving you—" Hiccup said it with a sarcastic tone.

"Saving me? Don't make me laugh!" Mock in her voice, though she knew it was true and was too blinded by her anger at the moment to admit it.

"Uh yes? —" Astrid pulls Hiccup carelessly in a seated position. "Ouch! Can't you be a little more careful!" Hiccup whined,

Astrid gasps at the sight of the wound. Startled at Hiccup's sudden outburst, Astrid apologized and checks his wound.

"Sorry—" She sighed, "Well good thing is, it's not that deep. If it was, your dad would probably be angry at me—" Astrid paused, "Injuring his little dragon killer." Sadness in her voice.

"About that, I'm sorry—" Astrid cut him off.

"Sorry? About what? There's nothing to be sorry about." Astrid rebukes his statement.

Hiccup was silent for the few minutes while Astrid was wrapping the wound in a cloth.

"A-actually there is something—no a lot of things to be sorry about." Hiccup looks directly to Astrid after he said it, and he was astonished at her reaction.

Astrid had a look of disbelief on her face for only a moment, and then it quickly changes to a smirk,

"Pray tell Mr. soon to be dragon killer—" Astrid then tightens the wraps and Hiccup cried "Ouch!" Astrid then smirks at her work then says,

"That's for the lies—" Astrid then tightens it the second time around and added, "And that's for everything else!" Feistiness in her voice.

Hiccup then shouts, "A-are you trying to help or not?"

Astrid huffs at him, "Sorry—"

Hiccup sighed. Astrid had finished wrapping his wound and after that she helped Hiccup stand up.

"But really I'm sorry about what happened Astrid it—it should be you, not me…" Hiccup protests.

Astrid sends a glare to him and Hiccup had gone quiet.

"You know as much as I don't want it, its already done. And we can't do anything about it!" Her voice was filled with frustration.

Astrid turns away from Hiccup and marched towards the village.

"You're wrong Astrid! Maybe you can't do anything about it but I on the other hand—" Hiccup paused for a moment to collect his breath then added,

"In what would I do it will change everything." Hiccup said it with a serious tone.

Astrid was surprised at what she heard.

"Just what are you planning to—" She turned to question Hiccup, but only to find that he was gone.

Astrid tried to search for him, any trails that he must've left behind but nothing. Astrid gave up on it and decided to head back to the village.

Hiccup on the other hand, was looking at Astrid from afar hidden among the bushes. He can see the quizzical look plastered on Astrid's face. Hiccup sighed and began to walk towards the village but on a different path away from her.

After arriving at his house, Hiccup crept inside slowly and quietly as much as possible. But only to find that Stoick was still at the Great Hall, celebrating with the others. Hiccup took this chance to pack his things and make his way to Gothi's. On the way there he saw Astrid, so he tried to avoid her by blending into the shadows. To his luck Astrid was lost in her thoughts and didn't notice him. Hiccup stayed in his hiding spot for a few seconds and making sure Astrid was gone, before heading out to the road and onto Gothi's.

Upon arriving at the top, Hiccup search through the shelves and took the necessary items for his wound and some medicines that will last even after his wound had healed. After redressing his wound and putting the items on his bag he began to walk back down and towards the forge to get some last tools that he will need for the trip. He moves towards the forge discreetly, but was faced with another obstacle; Astrid.

"Great! What is she doing here? I thought she already went home?" Hiccup whispered to himself.

Astrid was just there sitting on a stool near the entrance of the forge, looking down at her axe. Hiccup waited for Astrid to leave. But his time to leave the village is running out so he decided to circled around her and hide the bags at the side of the forge. After a few seconds Hiccup circled back and approach her.

"Hey!" Hiccup called out.

But Astrid was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't noticed Hiccup standing in front of her.

"Astrid!" Hiccup roared.

Astrid jolts from her seat and looks up to Hiccup, she almost drop her axe.

"Hiccup!" She stood up from the stool.

"I-I uh didn't notice you there…" She puts her axe at her back and looks down.

Hiccup found her behavior strange but he shrug it off, Hiccup sighed.

"Well you would've seen me if you were heedful with your surroundings." Mockery was in his voice.

Hiccup enters the Forge and began to grab some things.

Astrid was offended at Hiccup's comment and opens her mouth to speak but was stop by Hiccup's hand held out to her.

Confusion was plastered in Astrid's face. She stares at the hand then to Hiccup and he stares back. After a few second of staring contest and awkward silence Hiccup spoke.

"Uh—your axe?" Hiccup motioned for me to give my axe.

"W-what?" Astrid was baffled at what he said

"I said your axe, give it to me—" He was cut off by Astrid.

"And why, should I give you my axe?" Hesitation in her voice.

"Uh isn't that the reason why you're here? To sharpen your axe? Although I doubt that Gobber can sharpen it at this time, considering the celebration." He grab ahold of Astrid's axe as she gently hands it over.

"R-right…" She replied meekly.

When taking the axe from Astrid, Hiccup noticed a gash on Astrid's forearm.

"Wait here." Hiccup instructs to her and she meekly nods.

He puts down the axe at the table and walk towards the part of the forge where he hid the bag of medicines. He came back at Astrid who was standing there awkwardly. To her surprised Hiccup drag her into stool and motioned for her to seat.

"Wha—" She voiced out but was cut off by Hiccup.

"Hush, you shouldn't left this uncovered or it will get infected." He started to patch Astrid's wound.

"It's just a scrat—" She protests but was cut off by a resounding,

"No!"

Astrid sends her a glare but Hiccup didn't budge. After few seconds Astrid sighed in defeat.

"Okay, okay."

Hiccups released a sigh of relief at her answer.

He finished patching Astrid's wound and started to sharpen her axe while she was sitting there. Her eyes were transfixed at Hiccup, while the boy avoids her gaze. After a few minutes of awkward silence Hiccup handed to Astrid her newly sharpened axe. She opened her mouth to say something but as she looks up to Hiccup, he was already busy with other things at the forge. Astrid bit her lips and turned away from the forge. Unbeknownst to the young shield maiden, Hiccup was watching her while she was walking away.

Suddenly she stopped from walking and a loud grunt of frustration was heard. Hiccup was startled by her action and it causes him to drop whatever he was holding. Astrid turned back and started to walk towards him. He saw the fierce look on her face and it left Hiccup frozen. Astrid paced hurriedly towards the forge then she stops in front of him. Hiccup awkwardly rubbed the back of his head as he spoke.

"Uh is there anythi—Ouch!" Hiccup didn't finish his statement when Astrid gave him a punch in the shoulder.

Hiccup was dumbfounded at the gesture.

"W-what was that for?" Hiccup's voice was cracking.

Still with that scary look at her face, Astrid sighed and said.

"That's for beating me at the dragon training!" She rebuke.

Hiccup was about to say something when she grabs him by the collar and kissed him in the cheek. It was a quick one, after the kiss she took a step back and tucks her hair behind the ear.

"And that's for—everything else…"

Astrid took another step away from her, and another one, another one, until she is out of the forge and into the rays of the moonlight sky. And Hiccup swore he saw Astrid's face was tinted with pink, she blushed at what she did but Hiccup couldn't say a word. She turned around to run, leaving a frozen Hiccup. After a few minutes Hiccup touch the part of his cheeks where Astrid kissed him—wait Astrid just kissed him! At first he was surprised then happy, it was his first kiss, though it was just on the cheeks. But when he think about things, he felt sad. He sighed.

"It's for the best Hiccup, it's for the best." He reminded himself.

He was now back at the cove preparing for the journey

"Are you ready bud?" Hiccup pats Toothless on his chin to which the dragon croons in approval.

He took one last look at his belongings to see if he didn't leave anything—bed roll, blankets, some medicines for his wound, a small knife, food provisions that will last him for weeks, a map, a compass and lastly some gold coins. Hiccup mounted Toothless and took a deep breath.

"Let's go bud!" He said to Toothless as they launched to the sky.

Up there, Hiccup took one last glance to Berk.

"Goodbye, Astrid…" Hiccup mumbled to himself as the image of Berk was buried to the clouds.

Stoick went home mildly drunk from all the drinking at the celebration. He was a proud father, tomorrow his son will be one of them—a true Viking! He climb through the steps to check on his son. He reached Hiccup's room with difficulty and mumbled come complaints on himself. In the room he saw a lump on the bed. He was convince that it was Hiccup sleeping tightly on his bed. Stoick decided not to disturb his son, to get more sleep for the upcoming challenge tomorrow so he went back down and crawled into his bed.

If Stoick did pat Hiccup that night to check on him, he would have known that it was just a pile of pillow, made up to look like a shape of a person. And together with it was a letter.

In the morning, Stoick was so excited to encourage and support his son for the fight. So he woke up early despite of the hangover and prepared a food for Hiccup. He went out of the house and walk towards Sven's farm to get a fresh slain yak for him to cook. Bucket and Mulch gave him their best catch, also they gave him their compliments for Hiccup's victory. He also stopped by Mildew's house to get some cabbage for him to make into a soup. Stoick wants Hiccup to eat plenty, so that he has the strength when he faces the monstrous nightmare in the arena this afternoon.

He returned home with a sack of foods in tow. He checked Hiccup upstairs to see that his son was still asleep. Stoick didn't bother to wake him up, after all it's still too early for anyone to be awake except for those who didn't drink too much and those who need to do some fishing. He went back down and walks silently towards the kitchen and started to brew the cabbage soup with chopped yaks in it. He grilled the cod that Bucket and Mulch gave to him earlier. He also transferred to a pitcher the fresh yak milk. After few moments of cooking and tasting, Stoick hoped it tasted good. It's his first time cooking since Val died, every morning after his wife was taken he let Hiccup cook for his own food because he was out early to do some chiefly duties. But today was different, Hiccup will kill a dragon—he will be finally treat as a Viking and not some—well, hiccup. He took a sip of soup and grab a small bite to one of the grilled cods. After seconds of chewing, he grunted—it's passable for a food.

"At least its edible!" He reasoned to himself.

He didn't eat just yet, this time like any other mornings he have so far, he wants to eat with Hiccup. Talk with him, give him some pointers about where to strike a monstrous nightmare! Or he would've ask what weapon Hiccup would use, so that he can give him some tips. He went upstairs to wake Hiccup, it's still early the sun just rose but Stoick might want to train Hiccup before his fight. As he lifts up the door to his son's room, Stoick happen to glimpsed upon a piece of paper in the floor. He noticed that there was writing upon it.

He didn't want to pry at Hiccup's stuff but curiosity got the best of him so he continued to read the letter.

-o-

—I'm sorry, Dad. I'm not the son that you wanted me to be, and I'm not the Viking I thought I was. I-I don't know…

Maybe I'm just not cut out to be the Chief, Dad…

By the time you read this, I was long gone. I made the decision of leaving Berk for the better. I don't want to live in here while hiding secrets. I'm no dragon killer, I'm just the runt of the village, and I'll always be just a Hiccup. All of those times at the arena, the time when I defeated a dragon—it was all just tricks, techniques that I've learned while studying dragons.

Well the truth is I didn't study those tricks in the book of dragons… I-I befriended a dragon Dad… There I said it, that's the real reason why I am leaving. Maybe this is for the best, me leaving so the village's problem would be lessened…

Maybe I was being a coward, running away so that I could escape your wrath. But I don't want to keep living a false life. Back then after Mom died you disregarded me as a son and drown yourself in your chiefly duties. While growing up, I learned that I was alone, because every time I was bullied you turned a blind eye about it, thinking that maybe it will toughen me up, But No! It didn't…It messed me up Dad. I grew up without my mother and worse of all I did have you but you chose to treat me as a stranger. And by the time I excelled in the dragon training, it—it overwhelmed me. I-I…just want to be one of you guys—at least that's what I want before…

Maybe in this letter you can listen to me, your full and undivided attention. Just this once Dad, listen… PLEASE DON'T TRY TO FIND ME, I don't want to disappoint you even more.

I'm really sorry Dad, but I think it's for the best…

—Hiccup

-o-

Stoick's eyes went wide after reading the letter. He dropped the piece of paper and walk towards his son's bed, only to find Hiccup was indeed not there. He steps away from the bed and fall to his knees. Stoick broke down and silent sobs can be heard from him. After a few moments he wiped the already dried tears from his face and rose from where he was seated. On his way towards the stairs, Stoick picked up the letter and crumpled it. He went downstairs and raced towards the door. One moment Stoick was just standing outside the house and the next moment he was stomping towards the forge with grim look on his face.

The villagers who were about to greet their chief a good morning suddenly restrained their tongue and stop in their tracks when they saw the look on Stoick's face. On the other hand, Stoick was ignoring the strange gaze the berkians was giving him. He rushed in the direction of the forge and find Gobber who had just woken up.

"Gobber!" Stoick's voice boomed throughout the forge and it startled Gobber.

"Stoick—?! What are you doing here? The sun just rose?" Gobber hobbled towards his shelf , full with interchangeable hands. He pick the brush and used it on his beard.

"Gobber—" Stoick was cut off by Gobber.

"What Stoick? Too excited for Hiccup's battle? Or too afraid that he will fail? Come 'on Stoick, he's your son have faith in hi—"

Gobber didn't finish what he had to say when Stoick slammed his fist in the table. Silence engulfed the room as the two Vikings stared at each other straight in the eye.

"Hiccup—Hiccup is gone…" Stoick voice was weak but Gobber can hear it fine.

A weak sound of crates falling was heard from outside.

"W-what?" Gobber's eyes was wide in disbelief.

"He is gone, now I need a ship, assemble the men and meet me at the great hall!" He said while walking in the direction towards the Great Hall, but before he exited the forge he tossed a piece of crumpled paper to Gobber and said.

"I need to knock some sense back into him!" He shouted as he resumed his way towards the Great Hall.

Gobber picked up the piece of letter and started to read it. After he finished reading it, Gobber was left speechless at the discovery. He smacked his forehead with his ol' good hand and mumbled to himself.

"Gods Hiccup—what have you done?!" Gobber stashed the letter into one of his drawers and started hobbling towards the exit and into the docks.

Astrid was up early to do some training at the woods when she saw Stoick walking towards somewhere with a grim look on his face. Curious as to what might have happened, she decided to shrug it off. On her way to practice, Astrid thought it would be nice to sharpen her axe before going, so she dropped by at the forge. Nearing it she heard a loud slam inside of it. Astrid sprint towards it and hide on the sides. As she took a peek inside, she saw Stoick and Gobber staring at each other. Stoick with a grim expression on his face while Gobber had a wary look on his, Astrid tried to listen to their conversation.

"Hiccup—Hiccup is gone…" Stoick said with a weak voice.

Astrid gasped at what she heard, causing for her to stumble upon some of the crates beside her. She tried to leave, to walk away with haste, but her feet won't simply move. So she sat there for a few seconds and continued to listen into the conversation. It was all a bunch of gibberish words maybe because she's outside, or the voices were too weak, or maybe she can't process anything at the moment since she heard of Hiccup's disappearance. At the end of conversation, he heard Stoick stomped off, away from the forge. She tried to conceal her presence by hiding between the barrels. After the chief was gone, she took a peek inside only to see Gobber holding a piece of paper. Astrid saw his reaction while reading the paper, and she also saw where he hid it. He then took off to Thor knows where.

Astrid regained her composure and snuck quietly inside of the forge and towards to the drawer where Gobber kept the piece of paper he was holding earlier. Astrid search inside the drawer hastily when she was grabbed by the shoulder by someone.

"Lass, what do you think you're doin?"

It was Gobber, he drags her away from the drawer and took the crumbled parchment and placed it inside his pocket.

"This is not for your eyes to see lass…"

"I-I—Why? Why I can't see it?" Astrid protests.

"You wouldn't like what you'll see inside it, but I'll promise you one thing we'll get 'im back." He assures the young shield maiden.

"Why did he leave? After everything happened just—why?" Her voice was cracking.

She wipes the tears that was already pooling in her eyes to prevent it from falling. Gobber looks at her with an apologetic expression in his face and sighed.

"I-I don't know how to say it lass, but I think Hiccup made a decision…"

He shook his head while walking away from the forge leaving a confounded girl inside it.

Astrid just bit her lips and took a sprint away from the forge and into the woods. She ventured out farther away from the village and closer to Ravenpoint, where she last saw Hiccup holding something. On her way there she was venting her anger and frustrations to the helpless trees and wreaks havoc to the path. After arriving at the spot she just falls into her knees.

"Damn it Hiccup! Why did you have to leave?"

Astrid buried her face into her shoulder as she started to cry it all out. And it seems the gods were mocking her when the sky started to weep together with her. Astrid didn't mind it at all, after a few seconds the droplets became streams of rain that prickles her skin, but she chose to stay and cried her feelings out. Bathing in the tears of her frustration and missed chances, Astrid then stares off into the horizon.

~Timeskip~

Hiccup was gliding throughout the vast sky together with Toothless. They did a few barrel rolls, and some tricks until they reached what they came for. Hiccup rose past the cloud wall to prevent exposure from the trappers. Hiccup's feature suddenly darkens as they came nearer to a trapper's boat. Hiccup readied his things and put Toothless on autopilot so that he can fly on his own. He reached to Toothless with his other hand.

"Ready bud?"

"Ready as you are.." Toothless replied still focused at the lone boat still wary at the crew.

"Then let's do this!"

They dove towards the boat with speed. The unaware crew was met with panic when they suddenly heard the shrieking sound coming from above.

"Night Fury! Get down!"

Most of them duck and protected themselves with shield but there are few who manned the catapults. Toothless didn't gave the trapper a chance to attack as he shoots a plasma blast causing the trapper to meet his demise. Distracted, most of them stares at what happened to their fellow trapper, though they didn't comprehend what happened next. One by one, the trappers fell with a loud thud to the wood deck. They were thrown out of their daze when someone shouts,

"It's the Dragon Master!"

It was the famed dragon master, who graced them upon with swift deaths. Their workforce was cut in half. The other half was fighting off the Nightfury and the other half fought the said Dragon Rider. One by one they charged at the duo when Hiccup suddenly jumped from the boat and into the water, disappearing from the sights of the trappers. The men was dumbfounded to what just happened some laugh for a short period out of disbelief.

"Well that was easy, he chose to jump into his death, he even gave us a nightfury as a gift!" The captain of the ship bellowed.

The men that were occupied with Toothless laugh at his remarks but staying vigilant to what the dragon might do. Then a loud shriek was heard from then water.

"Toothless, now!"

"On it!"

In the confusion Toothless blasted the trappers in front of himand used that chance to fly away from the ship. As for the remaining trappers they were taken by surprise by a the huge number of dragons swirling around them from the sky. Hiccup was seen standing atop a huge stoker class dragon; the Green Death.

Hiccup used his sword to signal the swarm of dragons up in the sky to send a barrage of fire balls into the trappers leaving them no choice but to jump. Bu Hiccup is no fool, for the sea was already swarming with lots of Seashockers that would electrocute the trappers to their death.

After checking that no one was alive, Hiccup checked the boat for provisions and documents that would prove to be useful. After he finished searching the boat, Hiccup took the foods and documents then ordered the dragons to sink the boat or what's left of it. He mounted Toothless and flew away from the boat and towards the swarm of the dragons up in the sky. Hiccup hovered with them for a minute while he was talking with the Green Death.

"Thank you again, for helping us this time" Hiccup bowed to the titan wing.

"It was not a nice thing to disturb me for something small like this—but their numbers are increasing as of lately Vandreren," The Green Death bemused.

"I'm afraid I can't deny that, so I will be expecting your help next time, yes?" Hiccup smirked.

"Clever boy, until next time then Esom Ulv—"

As the huge stoker class went to dive in the water, Hiccup motioned for the rest of the Dragons to go back first at the nest.

"Old hag…" Toothless mumbles to herself to which Hiccup rubs the Nightfury's head then said,

"Now now—"

"I don't understand why we needed her help this time, I mean its an ordinary run-in-the-mill mission like always. Me and the rest of the guys can do it…" Toothless bellowed at Hiccup.

"Well you do have a point bud, but this time we need the boat as a whole and also what's inside of it, so we need the big guy to scare 'em off so that we could avoid any more damage to the boat. Also it worked out anyway so stop your whining—" He reasoned out to the beast.

"Well fair enough.." Toothless croons.

Five years have passed since Hiccup leaved Berk, and in those years Hiccup experience many things, things that he could learn in Berk but not without ridicule. But not all change was good, for he also experienced bad things. All in all Hiccup was a changed man, he was just a shell of what he used to be. The scrawny naïve Hiccup was gone, and was replaced by a ruthless dragon master, Hiksti. He attacks villages that enslaves dragon. He kills hunters and trappers without second thought and sinks their ships after. In the age of seventeen he managed to kill the Red Death and gain an entire fleet of dragons at his beck and call. He gained a reputation in the archipelago, a demon in the shape of a man, a dragon turned man to make revenge against its oppressors, some even say that he was once a prince of a certain kingdom that was curse to kill his own brethren until the end of time for killing dragons in his past life. But out of all the bad rumors about him, he doesn't endanger the lives of the innocent, the only thing redeemable about the guy. He goes by many names, to the innocents call him Eventyrer, a friend that brings no harm to anyone who doesn't endanger him or the dragons. The merchants call him Reisende, a guy that they can exchange items with and routes that cannot be navigated with. While the elders call him Vandreren, a person who was destined to wander the Midgard until Ragnarok comes. But he goes by Drake Enchanter and Dragon Master to the hunters and trappers.

It was already nighttime when Hiccup and Toothless finished patrolling the area where the map indicates that it was a route that is frequently used by the trappers and hunters for their business. They didn't see any ship that was crawling within the area so the duo agreed to call it a night when suddenly the nightfury's ear perked up. Hiccup noticed it the dragon's behavior so he decided to take a look around using the spyglass. It's distant but he can see a smoke rising up in the air. He taps Toothless for him to use his roar to know what's going on.

"So what you got bud?" Hiccup asks while fumbling his things on the satchel.

"It's a fight, though it used to be, the other side was greatly outnumbered, so what will it be?"

"Well let's decide on the way, whether to save or to destroy. Come on bud~!"

Hiccup readies his sword as Toothless took him towards the skirmish.

Hiccup use his spyglass to see what are the flags of the ships they were raiding with, and it's the "Outcasts"

"Wait bud,"

Toothless hovers in the air, away from the ships.

"What is it Hiccup?"

"Its Outcast ships, we need to survey the situation first bud."

Toothless croons in response.

There were a total of three ships, though the other one was in flames. The other one that was full with outcast soldiers were farther from the burning one while the other one where the outcast guys were all but bloodied was rammed at the burning ship. Standing in the flaming one, is a girl wielding a bloodied axe together with a bloodied bearded man and interchangeable hands. At this Hiccup ordered Toothless to fire five consecutive plasma blasts at the farthest one, all in the hull so that it can pose no problem later on. He puts Toothless on autopilot to do his work while he was doing his own as he jumps into the ship where the Outcast where all bloodied. They were all shocked at the intrusion while Hiccup slashed his way through into the frozen crowd. Having a second look, the girl was panting indicating that she's already at her limit but nonetheless, she still helped Hiccup in defeating the remaining Outcasts. As Hiccup took all the attention, the girl took the initiative and quickly did a somersault to one of the Outcasts and chops his foot off before he can counter. Before the others can move, a ball of fire was seen rolling towards their foot and it's not the size of a boulder but the size of a head. All of the Outcasts froze at the sight of it, even the girl was terrified at it. Well it actually made easier for Hiccup it finish them off one by one there was a little struggle but because of what they saw earlier, it just made easier for Hiccup to read their moves. The girl on the other hand was standing at the corner with a horrified look at her face. She can't stomach what just happened, as she looked at the sight of the battle she didn't saw a human killing human, it was like something else, a beast, no; a dragon.

She was pulled back from reality when she saw the masked man with a flaming sword walking towards them. Panic filled her mind, she wants to held a solid grip at her axe, she want to move but it was like, the stranger had a grasp on him, so tight that it was getting harder for her to breathe. He suddenly stopped just a few meters away from her. He raise his fiery sword and threw it to the crawling Outcast that the girl fought earlier, he then took a look at her and said,

"Always—go for the kill…" Then Hiccup turned his back on her.

The girl took this chance to go back at the injured bearded guy with an axe for a hand, he's bleeding—but he will live. She was startled at the loud thump at the boat, she was surprised at what she saw when she turned. It was a Nightfury together with the masked man that help her earlier, but this time he's no longer at the boat, he's at the dragon; riding it.

"Who are you people? And why are these men after you?" Hiccup already knows the answer but he wants to be sure.

The girl stood slowly and tried to reach for her axe but was cut off by the Dragon Rider.

"Don't, he'll get agitated—"

"Who?" The girl had a wary look at her face.

"The dragon."

His voice was dead flatted so the girl made no move of reaching for the axe.

"You must be the one they call "Drake enchanter?"" The bearded guy spoke.

"And what if I am?" The boy asks.

"We need your help then—" She was cut off by the rider.

"I ask who you are but answered me by a request, how rude…"

"I-I'm sorry, we didn't mean to—"

"Enough, I will ask again who are the both of you?"

"I'm Astrid and this is Gobber, and we are from Berk."

~To Be Continued~

A/N:

Hello guys! ProcrastinatorSleepyhead here again, so what can you say about it guys? Any suggestions, criticism or anything at all, just send me some review. Also I'm still choosing whether to call Hiccup, Hiksti or Hikke or Karzel or Kriel? I need your opinion about this. About the action scenes, I'm sorry if it didn't suit your taste at all guys, its my first time doing action scenes and I think I totally suck at it, but I accept guidance ahahaha anyway here's some translation to some words in the fic, well I'm not sure if its correct, I used google translator on this one so if you have any objections about it just tell me and I'll be happy to hear it~!

Also I don't have a image cover for this one, so if anyone has a suggestion it would be a great help really~!

Eventyrer-adventurer

Reisende-traveler

Vandreren- wanderer

Hiksti-(Icelandic) hiccup

Hikke-(Norwegian) Hiccup

Karzel-(Polish) Runt

Kriel-(Dutch) Runt

Esom ulv- lone wolf

Then until later guys, this is ProcrastinatorSleepyHead, sleepin' out~

Till next time people :D