It was dawn when Hiccup reached the Ship Graveyard. He entered the thick fog bank, slowing his speed to he wouldn't crash into an unexpected shipwreck. The sunrays shone through the mist, giving it a spooky pink shade.

Soon enough, the Reaper's flag came in sight and Hiccup felt a shiver run down his spine as he hovered next to it. It was just like the first time, but here, he knew what to expect. He landed at the exact same place as he had with Toothless, avoiding as many traps as he could. He didn't want to relive that experience too much again.

But something felt odd as the Nadder's heavy feet hit the deck of the ship. Approaching the trap, Hiccup saw that it was wide open.

''Somebody got here before us…'' he said to himself, panic catching up to him. If they got the Dragon Eye, then the game was over. Without the Dragon Riders, or any allies, Berk was toasted and so were everybody else.

He dismounted and walked up to the trap. Gingerly looking down inside, he could see the bear trap had already been triggered. Trying as much to stay positive, he walked down the ladder and saw the body of the hunter in a corner who'd been victim of this cruel trap's teeth. Blood covered the floorboards, and as Hiccup advanced, he noticed more bodies of Johann's men lay around in the darkness.

He felt sick, but focused on his goal. But when he finally reached the chamber, what he'd feared the most lay before his eyes.

The Dragon Eye was gone.

''No.'' he breathed, feeling the weight of the whole world drop on him. The faith of his people had lied on his decisions again, and he'd failed them. His father wasn't going to be better, even if he'd never shot down Toothless. He'd been wrong. Destiny still arrives, no matter what. Johann had succeeded in ruling the world.

The boat suddenly rocked violently and a dreadful roar of pain reached his ears.

''Stormfly!'' he cried out, speeding back to the deck. He shot out of the trap to find the dragon lying on her side, arrows stuck in her back. Terrified, Hiccup looked up to the sky, meeting the gaze of two Flyers hovering above with their bows at hand.

He heard the Nadder giving wheezing sighs, suggesting she had trouble breathing. He could guess all too easily the arrows had pierced through her lungs. It was a cruel death to give to a dragon—to anyone, really. It was cruel to leave a beast to suffer. Cruel not to finish a kill…

''No, not you too…'' he said, his voice choked as he collapsed next to her, pressing his forehead against the side of her head. He knew she was fighting her final battle, and Hiccup regretted not having been able to protect his loved one's dragon.

Tears streamed down his cheeks as he pleaded for her to make it through. But he had already lost her, and so the battle no one knew he was fighting. ''Please…'' he pleaded; his hair dangling before his eyes, making him look broken. He had hoped things would've turned out differently, but he had only lost more. In a moment of despair, he wished his friends would show up to fight by his side and called them in cries of fury. ''Astrid! Snotlout! Anyone!'' he cried out to the pale sky above, his vision foggy from the water in his eyes. But no cry was returned and he crouched, holding his middle as the pain of his losses became unbearable. ''I can't do this alone… ''

He raised his eyes to the Gods, quietly challenging them. Releasing his last tears, Hiccup looked at Stormfly's form and refused to keep living with the death of a dragon on his conscience any longer. Her blood was as much on his hands as on these hunters'. He looked down at his hands and balled them into fists, a new energy sparked inside. If he was to die today, he'd better make most of it.

''I'm a Dragon Rider.'' he panted, rising to his feet. He walked across the deck and grabbed an axe that'd been launched from a booby trap into the middle mast of the ship. He repeated the words over and over, slowing down his breathing. He looked down at the blade, his reflection clear against the polished metal. ''I'm a Dragon Rider. Dragon or not.''

His time had finally come, and Hiccup fearlessly raised his weapon over his head, shouting a battle cry that called out to his enemies. He watched them dive for him while the Singetails prepared their fire, the image reflecting in his emerald green eyes. He stood his ground, and when the flames descended, licking the wood of the deck, Hiccup faced the fire, its blinding white-hot explosion leaving him sightless of what followed.

…

His hand was suddenly met with a stone-cold surface on his left as Hiccup regained his balanced. He blinked his eyes opened that had shut from the hot flames, only to be given sight of a perfect quiet night on Berk. The torches leading to the Great Hall shone vigorously, and he could hear the distant lapping of the powerful waves against the foundation of the island.

''What in the name of Thor...'' he trailed off, gazing at his surroundings in awe. Was this real, now?

His feet led him to the edge of the village and he found himself sitting down on the soft grass, his eyes fixed on the horizon up ahead. He suddenly released a loud sigh, dragging him out of his thoughts. He looked down at his leather armor and examined his chest with his hands, just like he'd done when he'd woken up that day all those years ago.

''The Gods will never stop toying with my emotions, will they?'' he told himself, looking up to the marine-blue sky above his head. The story of if he'd never chosen to shoot Toothless down all played in his mind, reminding him of the enemy. The black water of the ocean before him looked peaceful, but he knew awful things were going on beyond that grey line of the horizon.

A sudden careful whine from behind him had Hiccup spin around and green eyes met. ''Toothless!'' he cried, throwing his weight on his best bud's massive head as he hugged him tightly. The Night Fury gazed at his rider worriedly when he retrieved his arms. ''I'm sorry, bud. I'll never again regret shooting you down.''

The dragon gave a warning growl, angling his head curiously at his rider's choice of words.

''Hiccup?'' came Astrid's cautious call a short distance away. He could tell she thought he was still down after blaming himself for his father's state. But Hiccup had accepted it all after what he'd just experienced. He turned from his dragon and approached her, a sincere smile growing on his face. He'd just spent months in his head walking past her without any sign that she knew he existed. And now here she was, worried about him and mostly confused by his change of emotions after his heartbreaking speech in the Great Hall. ''Are you okay?''

Now only inches apart, Hiccup reached for her hand and simply smiled. ''I'm fine.'' he reassured her. ''Actually, I couldn't be better.''

Astrid shyly smiled back, twisting around as the rest of the riders approached.

''Whoa, what's happening here?'' demanded Ruffnut, hands to her hips. ''Gotta party going on?''

''Ruff, Hiccup was on the brink of opening up like waterspout five minutes ago.'' commented Tuffnut, disapproving of his sister's remark with gestures of his arms. ''You really think he's up for that? Not that I wouldn't appreciate a good party. Or a funeral, whichever works best... Did you know, you can put the fun in funeral?''

''Shush, you!'' said Snotlout from their side.

''Hiccup, are you alright?'' asked Fishlegs, his tone cautious just like Astrid's had been. To them, he'd just shouted and they knew it was early to start getting on his nerves again. But Hiccup only felt relieved to see them—all of them. The Dragon Riders. ''What you said about your dad… it got us all pretty shook. I hope you—''

''I'm alright, Fishlegs.'' half-laughed Hiccup, his arm wrapped around Astrid's waist. He exchanged a loving gaze, and he could tell she was glad he was back to his old self. ''No, I… I have a different point of view now. And turns out, it was the twins' nonsense story that was closest to what might've happened if, you know.''

''Really?'' asked Tuffnut, amazed. He turned to Ruffnut, who wore the same expression as her brother. ''Is the old H actually giving us credit for once?''

''Look,'' interrupted Hiccup before this went too far. ''What do you say we get out of here, huh? I'll meet you at the training grounds.'' His gazed trailed to the top of the hill on which his house was built. ''I've got once last thing I need to do.''

…

Hiccup sat beside his father's bed, Gobber and Gothi waiting at the door to give the heir some space.

''I'm not giving up on you, Dad.'' he said, his eyes locked on Stoick's beat-up form. A pang of regret hit him as he recalled seeing his father on his feet and fighting alongside his soldiers in his vision. But he knew he would just have been dead as well as everybody else a couple months later if he had actually chosen to do as ordered by Gobber. Johann's evil plans came rushing back to him, the cause of what could have been and what is now. ''But I've got to stop Johann and the Flyers, or none of this will matter.''

He reached to hold his father's hand, as rough as sandstone. ''You keep fighting. You're not done yet. Berk needs you.'' his voice choked on his next words. ''I need you...''

As a silent reply, Stoick slightly squeezed his son's hand, sparking new hope for Hiccup who couldn't help but manifest a smile of relief.

For a short moment, Hiccup felt as if he was at peace and he wished he could embrace that feeling forever. That was until the door was flung wide and Astrid came bursting into the room, concern painted all over her face.

''Hiccup!'' called Astrid. ''You have to see this.''

Without wasting a second, Hiccup rose to his feet and chased after Astrid down the stone stairs leading up to his house where he saw Windshear laying on the grassy terrain and Heather held in a sitting position by Fishlegs.

''What happened?'' asked Hiccup in a hurry, having a hard time believing the sight.

Heather grunted and turned her head to face the leader of the Dragon Riders. ''Vanaheim has been attacked by the Dragon Flyers.'' she said, her eyes locked with Hiccup's.

Hiccup stared down at the raven-haired girl, wondering if he was still stuck in the other story after all. He exchanged gaze with Astrid, finding new confidence.

He'd lived the worse. He was ready to face whatever came in his way, now. Never had he been more sure.

This is it! I know the end was probably 'out of the blue' for some of you, but that's the way the story goes..! Your reviews were amazing and I thank you all for that. You guys keep me going.

Till next time!