Chapter 8.

Authors notes:

Well guys were already at the last chapter hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for reviewing Romantica21 and the two guests

A whiteout of ash. And through it comes...

''I don't know if I wanna see this'' Fishlegs says making many around him nod in agreement.

''Hiccup? Hiccup!?'' Stoick appears, searching desperately. Everything is scorched. Even the ground is smoking from the terrible heat.

Everyone's eyes are practically glued to the screen, on the one hand wanting to see the future and on the other not wanting to see it knowing what happened just before this.

''Hiccup!? Son!?'' Through the ash, Stoick the motionless silhouette of Toothless.

''Hiccup'' Stoick says gravely.

He hurries to the dragon's side. Toothless is roughed up, but conscious. His scorched saddle, however, is vacant.

Everyone is silently looking at the screen in despair holding their loved ones close. Hiccup is sitting between Stoick and Valka with Toothless lying in front of them, next to Stoick sits Gobber and the teens sit by their respective parents and dragons.

Stoick looks to the sky in despair. He buckles at the knees, overwhelmed by the loss.

''Oh son...I did this...'' Stoick says

''It's not your fault dad'' Hiccup tells his dad leaving no room for argument.

Astrid pushes through the crowd, her eyes welling up. Followed by Gobber. They flank Stoick as he kneels, slumped over.

Behind them, a ring of Vikings form, keeping a respectful distance. As the dust and smoke clear, a ring of wild dragons can also be seen, gathering just behind and between the Vikings.

Toothless stirs and groggily rolls his head toward Stoick.

''Well at least Toothless is okay mmm bud'' Hiccup says making Toothless croon in return.

Their eyes meet.

''I'm so sorry...'' Stoick says.

Toothless unfolds his wings, revealing Hiccup, unconscious, clutched safely against his chest. Stoick's eyes widen.

Gasps and ''hiccup'' 's are heard throughout the theater

''Hiccup'' Stoick says

He scoops Hiccup into his arms. Listens to his heart. Bursts into relieved laughter.

''He's alive!'' Stoick yells out relieved and bursting with happiness.

The theater freezes in shock and then bursts out in cheers, roars, laughter and happy tears.

Stoick turns to Toothless and says ''You brought him back alive!''

The crowd roars. Followed by the dragons. The Vikings look around to find themselves surrounded.

This makes all the occupants laugh even louder.

Stoick leans close to Toothless, meeting him eye to eye.

''Thank you... for saving my son.'' Stoick says to Toothless quietly.

''I'm alive'' Hiccup says still kind off stunt considering he was expecting to die.

''Your alive!'' the teens say with big smiles on their faces.

''I'd never let anything bad happen to you hatchling'' Toothless states with a gummy smile.

Gobber looks Hiccup up and down.

''Well, you know... most of him.''

This halts the celebration.

''uh what?'' Hiccup asks looking at Gobber.

Gobber shrugs ''How should I know this hasn't happened yet''

Stoick glances back at him. Gobber shrugs, redirecting his eyes toward...

The scene shifts from the nest to Hiccup, asleep, his head on a pillow. Healing scars on his face show that maybe a week or two have passed.

''Don't see anything different about him'' Ruffnut says.

''Yea still as funny looking as before'' Tuffnut says backing up his sisters statement.

''I'm not funny looking'' Hiccup says slightly offended.

''Eh you're small, skinny overall unviking like'' Tuff says gaining a few nods of agreement.

''So are you!'' Hiccup counters.

''Noo waaay, I'm super Viking like see'' Tuff says waving around a hammer and striking poses with it up until he accidently hits Ruff with the hammer.

''Ow what the-'' Ruff begins saying but is interrupted by Tuff ''You shouldn't have been sitting there''

A scuffle ensues.

''Guys focuse, don't you want to know what happens in the future'' Hiccup says making the twins pause mid punch/kick.

''Just wait you'll pay for this'' Ruff says. ''Bring it on sister'' Tuff replies. Both twins sit back down.

Toothless hovers over him, whining and grumbling impatiently.

Hiccup stirs. Opens his eyes.

''Oh, hey Toothless'' Hiccup says groggily. Toothless excitedly nuzzles and nudges Hiccup. ''Okay, okay! I'm happy to see you too, bud. Now just-''

Toothless steps on his groin, causing Hiccup to sit bolt upright with a yelp.

This makes all the men in the theater his in sympathy. Toothless just looks confused.

He looks around, confounded. He's in his bed, moved beside the fire pit on the main floor of his house.

''I'm in my house''

Toothless is leaning over him, excited

''You're in my house.''

Toothless tears around the room, knocking things over, far too big for the space.

''My poor house'' Stoick says as the onscreen Toothless runs around in it.

''Uh...does my dad know you're in here?!''

Toothless pauses at the foot of the bed, tongue wagging. He eyes the rafters... and leaps up onto them, brimming with 'happy dog' energy.

''Okay, okay - no Toothless! Aw, come on...'' Hiccup says distressed.

Hiccup shifts to get out of bed... then pauses... sensing that something is wrong.

''What is the matter?'' Valka asks quietly.

He peels back the covers slowly. What he sees startles, horrifies, and overwhelms him - all at once.

On the bare floor his booted foot touches down. Followed by a mechanical prosthetic in place of his second leg.

Sharp intakes off breaths around the theater.

''Ow son'' Stoick says Valka hugs Hiccup and smiles softly.

''It's not that bad Hiccup now we have matching feet'' Gobber says.

''Gobber is right, well not about the matching feet part but the part where it isn't all that bad I mean I'm alive and I can still walk and talk and I'll figure something out so me and Toothless can fly again.'' Hiccup says.

It's an ingenious spring-loaded replacement, made of wood and iron.

Toothless lands by the bed and approaches calmly, sniffing the new leg. He raises his eyes to meet Hiccup's, seemingly aware of what Hiccup is going through.

''I'm sorry hatchling'' Toothless states remorsefully.

''It's okay it's not your fault Toothless and even if it was we'd just be even considering it's my fault you lost part of your tail'' Hiccup says whilst hugging Toothless who croons contently.

Hiccup braces himself on the bedpost and tries to stand on it. He winces and stifles the pain...

''Okay...okay...''

... but Stumbles with the first step. Toothless catches Hiccup's fall with his head... and slowly lifts him up, stabilizing him.

''Thanks bud.''

Hiccup leans on him like a crutch. They take a few steps together. Their missing parts form a poetic silhouette as they make their way toward the door.

Hiccup pries it open, (as he did in the opening scene) revealing a monstrous nightmare flapping outside the door. Hiccup yelps and slams the door closed.

''This looks like what happened at the last raid'' Fishleggs says.

''How do you know- never mind you watched that raid on this thing'' Hiccup says gesturing at the screen.

He turns to Toothless, alarmed.

''Toothless? Stay here, bud.''

Hiccup pauses... and cracks the door open again. He peeks outside, his eyes widening. He allows to door to swing open, revealing...

... the Monstrous Nightmare, carrying Snotlout on its back.

''Come on guys, get ready! Hold on tight! Here we go!'' Snotlout instructs.

A class of newbie dragon riders follow him through frame on a variety of dragons, pulling back the curtain on an amazing Vikings and dragons mill about by the dozen, basking on the rooftops, weaving along the plaza.

''wow'' Astrid says quietly along with many others.

No one seems upset, there isn't a sword in sight.

Under the framework of a massive barn, a nadder blasts fire onto a metal brace. It steps back to let a Viking hammer it into shape.

Nearby, a Gronkle lands, carrying a tree trunk in his mouth. He shows a Viking what he's found. The Viking pats his head.

Another Viking backs a Zippleback into a stall to check it for size.

Hiccup takes a step outside, finding Stoick waiting for him on the step.

''I knew it. I'm dead.'' Hiccup says.

Stoick laughs.

The Vikings and dragons laugh alongside onscreen Stoick.

''No, but you gave it your best shot.'' Stoick says.

He puts his arm around Hiccup, steadying him. He gestures to the transformed village.

''So? What do you think?'' Stoick asks

Hiccup just shrugs, amazed.

''I think it's amazing'' Hiccup says looking at his dad.

Below, the plaza, villagers take notice.

Viking Boulder ''Hey look! It's Hiccup!''

They rush over, surrounding him with a hero's welcome.

Viking Nether ''Hiccup, how you doin' mate?''

Viking Os ''It's great to see you up and about.''

''Turns out all we needed was a little more of...'' Stoick gestures non-specifically at hiccup.

''... this.'' Stoick says sweetly

''There's the man I married'' Valka says smiling at Stoick.

Hiccup playing along responds with ''You just gestured to all of me.''

''Well. Most of you.'' Gobber interjects.

''Really Gobber?!'' Valka asks.

''What too soon?'' Gobber asks.

''A little, try the next day'' Hiccup says sarcastically but in good humor.

Gobber pushes through the crowd, beaming proudly.

''That bit's my handiwork. With a little Hiccup flare thrown in. Think it'll do?'' Gobber says about the prosthetic leg.

''I might make a few tweaks'' Hiccup says bitter sweetly, coming to terms.

''Not too soon to criticize my work apparently'' Gobber grumbles.

''Apparently not'' Hiccup answers cheekily.

''Shut it toothpick'' Gobber tells Hiccup.

''Just you wait meathead'' Hiccup says enjoying their banter.

''For what exactly?'' Gobber asks dubiously.

''With genes like dad's I must grow bigger sometime'' Hiccup says with a bit of desperation and longing at the end.

''Of course you will Hiccup'' Valka says reassuringly.

''How do you know?'' Stoick asks confused only to be slapped over the head by Valka who is looking at him with wide eyes looking exasperated.

Astrid appears and jabs Hiccup in the arm. Hiccup recoils with a grumble.

''That's for scaring me'' Astrid says.

''What, is it always going to be this way? Cause I...'' Hiccup says protesting.

She grabs him aggressively... then kisses him. Hoots and hollers follow.

Hoots, hollers and roars fill the theater as well making Astrid and Hiccup blush.

''... could get used to it'' He finishes.

Gobber presents Hiccup with a rebuilt saddle, rigging, and tail.

''Welcome home'' Gobber says.

Suddenly, Toothless pounces on the crowd, crushing several unsuspecting Vikings under his weight.

Viking Schrekkle ''Night Fury, get down!''

Toothless eyes the new tail excitedly, tongue wagging. Amidst the groans and grumbles, Hiccup and Astrid exchange a sheepish grin.

Laughter fills the air.

Hiccup's prosthetic foot, snapping into the modified stirrup. The two pieces click together, forming a single shape.

Astride Toothless, he's whole again. He rotates the pedal. The new tail opens. Bright red with a skull and Viking horns emblazoned on it. Hiccup approves.

''Cool'' Snotlout says

''awesome'' Tuffnut says

''I want one'' Ruffnut purrs looking at Hiccup instead of the new tail.

Hiccup and Toothless, saddled up and ready to fly. Astrid backs her Nadder into position.

''You ready?'' Hiccup asks Toothless.

Toothless snorts an excited 'yes!'

From his mount, Hiccup looks out over the changed world.

''This... is Berk.''

(beat)

''It snows nine months of the year... and hails the other three.'' Hiccup says.

They leap into the bright blue sky, together as one. Astrid follows, giving chase.

''Any food that grows here is tough and tasteless. The people that grow here are even more so.'' He continuous.

Hiccup and Astrid race their dragons through the village -under eaves, over rooftops, down cliff-sides, and between ship masts. It's a high energy, romantic dance of sorts.

''The only upsides are the pets. While other places have...ponies or parrots, we have...'' Hiccup says.

Their fellow recruits join them as they take to the open sky, rocketing far above the village. The Northern sky swirls with blazing, multicolored dragons.

Hiccup and Toothless break from the pack, spinning into the blinding sun.

''... dragons.'' Hiccup finishes proudly.

The screen fades to white.

It's time for you to go home

You won't remember being here

''Than what was the point of this?'' Hiccup asks.

You will remember parts or feelings when it is time or necessary for you to remember

''Okay but doesn't our time change if Hiccup's mom lives?'' Fishleggs asks.

Not necessarily

''What does that mean?'' Valka asks

All we'll become clear in time

''Now just hang on a mome-'' Stoick begins saying.

But before he can finish his sentence he along with everyone else in the theater is transported to their own timeline leaving the theater empty.

Authors notes:

Well this is the end already O_O Hope you enjoyed the ride, I did. Thanks for favorting, following but especially reviewing.

Reviews make me happy for a few specific reasons;

One- I know what the reader is thinking about my story

Two- I can incorporate a little of what the readers/you guys want into the story

Three- Your support makes me fill all warm and fuzzy in my cold, twisty heart ;)

Four- Some of your reviews just crack me up

Thanks for reading and goodbye I guess, at least for now still haven't decided what I'm gonna do next.