Disclaimer: I do not own How To Train Your Dragon or Riders of Berk.

This is something I had in mind for a long time, but only now had set to paper. I'm not sure about the results, please review! Constructive criticism is accepted. If this isn't as good as I would like it, I will it as a one-shot. If not, I'll find time to continue. Starts at the near end of 'When Lightning Strikes', from Riders of Berk.

"…But it's not going to stop this lightning from destroying Berk!"

There were angry mutters at Hiccup's statement. "How can he prove it?"

"What is he talking about?"

"It's the metal!" Hiccup raised the metal staff in the air, wincing when lightning struck. "The lightning is hitting the metal! Just think about it." He challenged as some of the Vikings continued to grumble. "We never had a lightning storm like this until we put up those perches, that statue, right? And they're all made of metal!"

Mildew scoffed, pushing his way to the front of the crowd. "Oh, ba!" He spat. "You never heard of anything so insane?"

Hiccup ran over to where Toothless was perched, and gestured animatedly to the fried metal bits sticking out like a metal rake. "Y-you see?" He asked, raising the tail so that it was visible to others, "This is where the lightning struck Toothless. On this connecting rod…this metal connecting rod!"

Seeing the Vikings continue to grumble, Hiccup continued desperately. "Look, if you don't believe me, I can prove it!" He ran to where Astrid and Stormfly were waiting, and hopped behind Astrid. "Fly me up."

Astrid obeyed, flying him up to the ship's mast. As Hiccup leapt off onto the mast, Astrid fixed him with a worried look. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

"Sure?" He hesitated. "Uh, that's a strong word. It's really more of a hunch." Seeing her hesitant expression, he shooed her away. "I'll be fine! Go!"

Down below, Gobber frowned at the boy. "Oh boy, here he goes again." Only Stoick, who was beside him, could hear this, and he nodded in agreement.

"He doesn't make it easy." He called to his son. "Hiccup!"

Hiccup looked up at the darkening sky in apprehension, but didn't back down. This was going to save Toothless. "You'll all see for yourselves!" He flinched as another lightning struck through the air, and held up the metal rod, putting it close to the mast. "When I attack this metal rod to the top of this mast, the lightning will be drawn to-"

He didn't get a chance to finish as the lightning struck down on the metal rod, and he let out a grunt of pain before going unconscious, and falling into the ocean.

"Hiccup!" Stoick bellowed, watching his son fall, and helpless to do anything else.

Toothless, however, acted quickly. Forcing the metal band around his head back, he spread open his wings, releasing himself, and diving after Hiccup, going in-between Gobber and Stoick, shrieking out in fear for his master.

"Son!" Stoick shouted again, but received no response.

As the minutes passed, and no sign of either dragon or trainer came up, the Vikings began to mutter anxiously amongst themselves. Stoick looked down, ready to dive in, before Gobber put out a hand. "Stoick-"

Stoick pushed Gobber away. "Hiccup!"

"Stoick!" Gobber yelled at his friend. "If they don't come up, then what about you? What if you don't come back up? Who's going to lead the Village?"

Stoick hesitated, and then fell to his knees as he watched the murky depths of the water, reflecting his mood and the sky above. Astrid was already running to the edge, and there she dropped down to her knees beside the chief.

The other teenagers ran to the scene, looking around for Hiccup, sure that he had fixed the problem.

But when they saw no sign of him, they themselves began to panic.

Mildew gloated. This was the perfect opportunity. "Do you not see? The boy has defied Thor, and the dragon has as well!" He raised his arms. "And now, Thor has punished both of them for defying him! Do you not see?!"

The Vikings muttered anxiously amongst one another once again as even Bucket and Mulch frowned in confusion. Astrid stood up, her voice ringing clearly in the crowd. "No! Hiccup was right!"

Mildew made to push her aside, but she stood firm. "Take away the metal stands! And the statue! Give them a week! If they do not stop, then do what you want! But Hiccup's right! Remember?"

There was silence, before Hackadee Hofferson, the father of Astrid, stepped forward awkwardly and put his hands on her shoulders. "Astrid." His voice was warning now.

"No!" She shrugged out of her father's grasp."Please! Just listen!"

Gobber stood up. "Listen to the lass! If not, then…" He drifted off, looking at the dragons with only the slightest apprehension.

Mildew scowled, and stomped away.

The ocean was silent, the waves calm and perfect. Then, without any warning, something bubbled from beneath the silent waves, and a dragon's head poked out. He looked around, still carrying his master by his shirt, and dropped him on the sand.

Toothless frowned as he looked around. What happened to the people? His brethren, the dragons? The docks? There was some wood here before, where the humans used their ship, but now it was gone!

He looked up, seeing some dragons above. Knowing that he was helpless to fight them without his friend awake, he ducked down low, and moved silently.

Hiccup groaned as he opened his eyes, peering into the green curiosity-filled ones of Toothless. "Bud?" He rubbed his head, now sitting up properly. "Where are we?"

He looked around, eyes wide. The Village was eerily empty. There was no sound of life anywhere.

He looked at his friend, who was staring between him and the dragons above in apprehension. Hiccup looked at Toothless' tail, and understood immediately. He frowned, and looked around. Strands of discarded weapons, pouches and chests lay all over the sand, turning the formerly clean light brown into a messy wasteland.

He grabbed at a pouch, and grabbed the broken tip of a dagger, cutting the pouch open, all the while keeping to Toothless' side.

When he was done, he grabbed some of the other broken metal rods, and using another discarded pouch as a make-shift glove, turned to Toothless, letting him spit fire on the metal rods so that he could meld it with the metal rods connected to his tail.

Wrapping the leather around the rapidly cooling metal rods, Hiccup smiled in satisfaction, before standing up and crouching down immediately. "What happened?" He asked, but he only received a croon in response. "C'mon. We'll see if there's anyone in the Village."

They moved quietly, avoiding any dragons, before Hiccup ducked behind a large charred building, eyes wide in disbelief. "Outcasts." He whispered to Toothless, who looked just as stunned at the dragons that were currently being chained and that were leading the Outcasts.

They moved on further, where they soon reached the Training Arena.

Hiccup's eyes widened. "Gods." He murmured to himself.

Stoick, looking old but still strong as ever, was facing against a Monstrous Nightmare, his sword drawn. Other leaders, like Oswald the Agreeable, Big-Boobied Bertha, and Thuggory of the Meathead Tribe were standing to the side, looking worried.

And the one who was standing on the top, watching the battle below…"Alvin." Hiccup choked out.

The Outcast leader was standing proudly at the corner smirking at the battle. He was standing next to the cage, looking smug as he turned to…"Mildew?!" Hiccup choked out once more. He should have known. After all, Mildew hated the dragons.

"What's going on here, bud?" Hiccup murmured once more, before he saw Stoick, with a weary resignation, sink his sword into the neck of the Monstrous Nightmare. The dragon writhed once, twice, and fell still.

Hiccup felt sick to his stomach, but looked as Alvin stomped out, Savage next to him and blowing a rather large horn. As he did so, many villagers, not all from Berk, came scurrying into the centre of the Village, where Alvin stood proudly.

Suddenly, he felt a cool blade to his neck, and cursed silently. He had been careless.

He turned, eyes wide, even as he met the eyes of an Outcast and Berserker. Toothless snarled, but Hiccup placed a hand on Toothless' snout. They had to fins out what was happening.

As Alvin was shouting something into the crowd, Hiccup and Toothless were led silently to the back of the crowd, where the other Outcasts were standing behind their leader. Alvin turned in annoyance as Savage tapped his shoulder. "Um, Alvin?"

"What is it?" He snapped. Everyone turned to the Outcast as he turned.

"There's someone, or someones here."

Hiccup and Toothless were shoved to the front.

Gasps were heard from all around, and mutterings began to start. Alvin looked around, furious. "Silence!" They continued talking. This time, he stomped his foot. "SILENCE!"

Everyone obeyed this time, staring at the green-eyed boy and the legendary Dragon, who snarled at anyone who stared at him, making them avert their eyes and turn back to Hiccup. A middle-aged woman shoved her way to the front, and Hiccup's heart nearly stopped.

There was no mistaking that blond hair, blue eyes dark with worry, that determined look in her eyes, and the glare she shot the Outcasts. "Astrid." He breathed out silently. The woman gave him a small yet shocked smile.

Alvin plodded forward. "Well well well. If it isn't the dragon conqueror."

Hiccup rolled his eyes, keeping his facade on. No use panicking now. "How many times must I say it? It's dragon trainer, um, what was it? Al. Right. Al."

There were a few snickers and snorts from both sides of the crowds, and Alvin snarled, keeping everyone quiet, leaning his wickedly sharp sword onto Hiccup's neck, ignoring the fact that Hiccup didn't even flinch. "Hiccup."