Not fully edited...

Shortly before midday the next day, Stephen comes with news to the tower.

He figured out how to do it. How to get everyone home. To our worlds.

I lean against the wall with Toothless by my side as the Avengers start milling about, some nursing headaches from drinking a little too hard. I cross my arms, taking a breath in as I think carefully, because now that we're presented with the opportunity to go home, I'm not so sure about my decision to stay anymore.

I'm terrified of going home. I'm scared that the bad Dr Strange wasn't bluffing, that he really did ruin everything.  that he really has taken everything and everyone from me. From us.

I look down at Toothless when he nudges me, and I give him a half smile and unfold my arms to scratch his head. What would I do without him? The only constant in my life right now.

"Let's get moving, people." Dr Strange calls. "We have a small window to pull this off." He looks over at me, "An opportunity like this won't return anytime soon."

I glance at the floor at that last sentence, doubt in my head. I know that I said I wanted to stay here, but what if I'm making the wrong choice?

"Guys, guys, you need to stop chasing Loki," Peter tells the twins, putting himself between them and Loki. "I'm fairly sure you're about to get stabbed if you keep that up." They'd been following, literally, in his footsteps, all over the room. Sure enough, Loki is now gripping a dagger and seeming  deciding that the consequences to follow might be worth it after all.

"Cool!' Tuffnut cheers.

"N-No... no, not cool, actually." Peter retorts. He looks at me pleadingly. I shrug; i've never been able to control them, I'm not gonna start now. However, Toothless takes pity and directs a growl at Barf and Belch, who lunge forward and pick up their riders by the back of their shirts, turning and walking away from Loki, who keeps an impassive expression, but slips the dagger away.

I sigh. I mean, I'm a Chief, for Thor-sake... that feels weird to think now that I've literally met him. But anyway, I have a responsibility to my people, don't I? Our people. And the dragons. Even if... even if the only responsibilities left would be funerals... don't I owe that to them?

"Watcha thinking, Hiccup?" Dagur slides up next to me, startling me.

"Uh... just about—about everything, I guess." I admit, rubbing my neck. This is something I'd LOVE to find a thinking sea stack for. I've always been able to sort my thoughts out on an isolated sea stack with a good view and sea spraying up at me. "It's not easy."

"Well, it never is, brother." Dagur shrugs, but he meets my gaze and his eyes are soft. "That's usually how you know its the right thing to do."

"But, that's the thing! No matter what I decide, I find a reason to do the other option!" I exclaim, and then the words spill out of my mouth faster than I can stop them. "Stay here, sure; I decided that, and then I don't have to face the chance of seeing everything messed up. but I am CHIEF, and I swore a responsibility to my people. I'm abandoning them by not wanting to return."

So then I decide to return, but then I have the crushing weight of what I might find waiting there, not knowing how much time will have passed. And I'd know I could just stay here and build a new life for Toothless and I. And Toothless--gods, don't get me started. I want him to be happy, I don't want to force him to stay here, away from the other dragons, but he literally won't leave me here alone, and is too gods-damn loyal for his own good. He's willing to stay here forever with me, just because! I don't want to leave him either. And I don't know what to do about it because what can you do about something like that?"

Dagur stares at me, waiting patiently until I finish ranting. I finish with a loud groan and throw my hands around in frustration.

"Hiccup," he sighs, and I'm once again reminded that he's aged ten years since my disappearance, because the way he holds himself is more controlled, regal even. He's no doubt dealt with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, not just for his tribe but Berk too,  and I'm left wondering that perhaps that responsibility forces him to lose the crazy—just for a little bit, like now.

 "I know that this isn't an easy decision for you to make. But you're right. Berk needs you. And if— if that comes in the form of funerals, then you can be comforted knowing that they'll all be going to Valhalla. There's no doubt that they would fight to the end, for each other, for their dragons, for you. if—and this is a HUGE if— they died a heroes death, then they at least deserve a Heroes Funeral, right?"

I swallow, reluctantly nodding as a lump forms in my throat, but I'm still not entirely convinced.

"You'll think about it, right?" Dagur adds.

"Yeah... yeah, I'll think about it." I respond, forcing myself to speak.

"Alright everyone, meet in the Quinjet in two minutes." Steve calls from the kitchen. "FRIDAY, tell everyone not present, please."

"Certainly, Spangles."

"Why don't you pack your things," A hand on my shoulder brings me out of my thoughts, and I look up to see Pepper standing in front of me. "Just in case you do decide to return after all."

She's gentle, calm, and I feel a little envious that she can remain so calm when her life is filled with so much stress. Tony, Peter, the Avengers, attacks on the city—I'm pretty sure she even runs this building.

"It's up to you, we won't force you to go, or stay." She adds with a small smile.

I nod. "Yeah, okay, that— that makes sense." I agree, and she walks off with another smile. "C'mon bud," I add to Toothless. We walk towards the elevator.

*A short time later*

Toothless and I are last to leave the jet, walking down onto the grass where everyone is gathered as a group, including Pepper, the twins, their dragon and Dagur. Dr Strange is already doing magic, or whatever they call it, along with another man he calls Wong.

it feels so long since we were here, confused and slightly delirious after a crash landing. Yet its only been a few days. Three? something like that.

"The twins are going first." Dr Strange announces, making a circle of fire in the air.

"Say your goodbyes." Wong adds gruffly, laying out some artifacts in a circle.

"It's honestly best that you forget this ever happened." I tell the twins.

"Are you kidding?! We met THE Loki! I'm never forgetting this!" Ruffnut insists. I was afraid of that.

"Yeah! we're gonna spread the news back on Berk, put up some statues, and make our Loki days SO much more fashionable!" Tuffnut adds. "Is that good, Loki? We're doing it all for you!"

"I am overjoyed." Loki deadpans.

"Take these with you. Never lose them." Wong pushes some wooden objects into each twin's hands.

"You're sending them back with wood. To a world full of dragons." Rhodey speaks slowly. Wong rolls his eyes and Rhodey holds his hands up in surrender. "Just making sure you know."

About a minute later Dr strange completes his spell and sends them home, which goes pretty smoothly if it weren't for the daggers Loki gave the twins, but I'm hoping they won't take his request to stab people seriously. Surely not. Right?

I stand next to Dagur as Dr Strange finishes the spell to send him home, too. I still haven't decided whether Toothless and I will stay. Seeing old Berk briefly through the portal the twins went through was...jarring. It was just how I remembered it, before everything went wrong. Vikings. Dragons. Living in harmony on our home of seven generations, my father in there somewhere doing his Chiefly duties. Their 'me' was probably off exploring. Expanding the map. not knowing what he was going to get himself into.

"What do you think you'll do when you get back?" I ask Dagur, not looking at him.
"It's been ten years, I didn't really plan on coming back without you, if I ever found you." He chuckles faintly. "I don't know what I'll do."
"You'll look after the people, right?"
"Of course. But you know, you could come home, Hiccup." He lays a hand on my shoulder and I turn to meet his gaze as he continues. "You could come... or at least, go back to your world."

"Dagur, I—I..." I stammer, and then sigh. I'm scared about what I would return to.

Dagur nods. "I know. But do you really want to risk never seeing them again on the chance that something bad happened?"

He really has gotten wise over the years. I crack a smile. "Gods, Dagur. Why are you right all of a sudden? What happened to the boy who tried to drown me when we were seven?"

Tony spits out his drink (he'd brought it in a metal cup).
"Tried to what?!" Steve asks.

Dagur gives a typical deranged laugh of his and punches my shoulder. "Ohhh, I miss the good times, brother."
I rub my arm with a chuckle. Dr Strange finishes the portal, and it opens to reveal a vast, empty ocean.

"You can't be serious!" I exclaim. "He'll drown!"
"I can swim, Hiccup." Dagur sighs dramatically.
"For how many days without a break?!" I retort.
"Surely you can change the location of the portal?" Steve says to Stephen, who sighs and turns to Dagur.

"Okay, can you draw me a map, or something?"
I pull out my journal and flick to a new page, glancing at Dagur. "Where do you wanna be dropped? Defenders? Berserker Island? I can whip out a drawing of the Archipelago."

"New Berk, actually. That's where we're all living. Easier, that way." He explains, and after a second or two of shock at that news I go ahead and draw a quick map that features New Berk, surrounding rock formations and small islands.

"Is that good, or do you want a bigger scale?" I show the drawing to Strange but he waves me off and starts altering his spell.
"Whoa, you just drew that? That's really cool, man!" Kate exclaims, looking over my shoulder. I smile a genuine smile. its not often that people express interest in my maps.
"Thanks! I love cartography."

"If only you could draw a map to find my will to live." Yelena says.

It's followed by an immediate "Oh, mood." from Peter.

"How much money would you be down if you paid for everyone's therapy?" Sam asks Tony.

"I wouldn't even notice it leave the account." Tony responds. "Pepper's been trying to get half of us into therapy for like five years, she never stops bugging me."

"You'll give in eventually. I know I could force you, but I'm fairly certain that won't help." Pepper sighs. "It's not like you listen to me on a good day."

"But you love me anyway, dear."

"Unfortunately." She sighs.

Dr Strange finishes, stepping back as a portal opens up.

"New Berk?" I ask Dagur for confirmation, leaning forward to get a good look. It looks so different, but at the same time, it looks the same. Same typical building designs, Dragon Perches, hatcheries, and paths. People and dragons mill about, flying and walking. The village looks to have expanded quite a bit, but its hard to tell from this angle.

"Yep." Dagur responds.

"Everyone looks... happy." I add, my breath hitching in my throat as I observe as much as I can. "I'm glad, truly. That without Toothless and I, everyone can—can still be peaceful." We worked so hard to build that life for us. I'm glad they continued to live it. I have no doubt that Astrid played a role in it; she's always been stronger than all of us.

"We'd be happier with you, brother." Dagur says, stepping towards the portal. He turns and gives me a smile and some final words before he turns to walk through. "You just remember that."

I take a step towards him without thinking. "Dagur, wait."

He turns to face me as I come up to him, and I hate myself for the hopeful look on his face. Like he thinks I'm going to go with him to his world. "Before you go..." I stick my hand out for a handshake, and he takes it. I grip his arm firmly. "Dagur, thank you. For everything. For uniting our people, for not giving up on me, for... for helping me choose what I want to do today."

"Does that mean..." he trails off, but I give him a small smile and continue speaking.

"But most of all, I want you to know I'm so proud of you. You've come so far over the years, Dagur. You're a great leader to your people— and ours now, too. I know we haven't always gotten along, I know we've gone toe to toe and had some pretty ugly battles. But over the years you've proved yourself to be an amazing ally for us Berkians, you've far made up for the past. I forgive you for all of it. You've grown into the man I'm honoured to call my friend and my brother. I should have said that a long time ago."

he stares at me, astonished. "Oh... you called me brother."

I bow my head down slightly, giving him a sincere smile. Then he pulls my arm, still holding his, forward and wraps me in a hug. he proceeds to squeeze me to Helheim and back. "Thank you, brother." he gushes.

"Haha, you're welcome." I wheeze. He lets me go finally and steps back, a grin on his face.

"I won't forget this, brother." He tells me, before he turns and walks through the portal. I watch him go with a smile, bent with my hands on my knees as I try to catch my breath.

"That guy is a whole bag on weird." Sam says.

Dagur, on the grass on the other side of the portal in New Berk, turns. "Hey, 'that guy' can hear you."

Sam gives a fake smile and lifts his middle finger at Dagur. Whatever that means.

"Dude." Rhodey says as Dagur gives a confused squint. "it's no fun if he doesn't understand it."

"It's pretty fun to me," Sam shrugs. The portal closes and Dagur vanishes from sight.

I turn and face everyone, clearing my throat.

"I'd, uh, actually like to go back to my world, after all." I announce.

I stand, watching Dr Strange perform yet another spell. Toothless sits to my left, lending me his head to rub. I sigh. "I hope I'm making the right call here."

"You are," Natasha says calmly from my right. "You can't run from this type of thing."

"And you can't leave them wondering about you." Steve adds from somewhere behind me and to the left. "Not everyone gets the kind of chance you're getting; to go home. A lot of people would... would kill for it."

I get the feeling he's talking about himself.

"I've spent my whole life with my people." I explain slowly. "I've never been able to imagine my life without them. losing my father was hard enough. But my friends? Astrid? And my mum? My mum... gods, twenty years without her and then I got her back, just to lose her again? I can't... I can't do that."

"Listen, think of it like this." Dr Strange says and I turn to look at him as he continues making the spell out of thin air. "I talk a lot of shit. There's a high chance that alternate reality 'me' was lying through his teeth. Trying to get to you psychologically."

"A lot of the people we fight do the same," Peter adds.

"Yeah, it's usually because they're insecure!" Kate adds.

I let my shoulders drop. "Yeah. I guess you're right. its not like I will have anything left to lose. if I stay here I'm giving away my life with Astrid. if i go and she's... well, then it was already gone."

"That's... not the most optimistic take, but at least it's something." Steve admits. I shrug.

"So, you two ready?" Tony claps his hands together. "I'm all out of coffee."

I look down at Toothless. "Well, I guess so." I'm dressed in the scaled armour, Toothless is saddled up, and its not like we came with anything else, so physically speaking we're all set. mentally? I'll never be ready.

"You're so cool, I'm going to miss you." Yelena exclaims, and I glance over to see her talking to Toothless. "Your rider is cool too, I guess."

"Yeah, wow, thanks." I retort sarcastically, amused. A glowing speck forms in the air in front of Stephen. I watch it, swallowing a lump in my throat, as it slowly starts expanding.

"You know, I won't blame you if you remodel your wings to look like mine." Sam brags.

"What, broken?" Bucky, next to him, quips and I can't help but laugh. He leans in close to me. "Don't let the clipped bird tell you what to do."

Sam slaps him with his good arm. They look at each other, both about to bicker, but they stop when they recognise how they're both sporting broken/prosthetic arms.

"We have to paint your cast like my arm." Bucky tells him, which is wholesome and all until he adds, "You might finally get hotter."

I shift my attention away as they start to fight, shaking my head in amusement.

"Here," Pepper tosses me another container of the pills I've been taking for my side. I raise my eyebrows in surprise that she'd thought to bring them, given that I only just decided to go back to our world. "When the pills you already have run out you'll probably need a few more before you're better." Pepper advises me. I smile in thanks and tuck it away safely, where it joins the container of pills I'd already been taking. Tony steps up next to her.

"Get out of my city, you're annoying." Tony grins slyly at me, waving me away, but I know he's joking.
"You take care of Peter," I smile at him, nodding my head over to where Peter is bugging Wong about magic, asking what I can only assume are annoying questions. "He's a good kid, reminds me of myself when I was younger. You have the opportunity to be the best father.." My own was dodgy, though he tried. I'm assuming Tony's was too. He just has the bad father 'look' about him. Don't get me wrong, I love and miss my father, but we all know he was very... difficult at times.

Eventually we turn our focus back to Strange, who's performing hand gestures slowly up at the sky, two orange lines glowing between his left thumb and right pointer finger and becoming slowly but surely bigger, the small speck that was there now growing in size. "You ready to go home?" He glances at me with a twitch of a smile.

I suck in a breath, then exhale it slightly shakily as my mind finally settles on the decision I'd made minutes ago— finally accepting it.

"Yes." I answer without hesitation, but with a heavy heart that knows two things.

1) I'll never see these people again.

2) I might not like what's waiting for me.

I try not to let the intrusive thoughts show. Partly because I don't want to believe them, I would rather hang onto the hope I have.

Strangely enough, it's also partly because I don't want to doubt Stephen's ability. I know logically he's just done the same for the twins and Dagur. Nonetheless, the doubt still float around in the back of my mind. My heart beats fast as I consider for the first time today that What if it doesn't work? What if we can't go home? I don't know if I want to think of that, To have finally decided to go home and then not be able to anyway? That would suck.

"Do you have to go?" Peter whines as he finally abandons Wong— who takes the subtle chance to slip away through a portal—and comes up to Toothless and I. "You— you could stay, right?"
I smile softly, shaking my head and looking back at the growing portal. "My people need me." For whatever context that may be. I let the hope flood my mind, instead of the fear. Astrid floats in my mind. Gods, I can't wait to hold her.

"Besides, you don't want the fabric of reality being torn apart, which might happen if you were to stay." Strange casually adds in the background, adding another orange line between his fingers.
"That too." I agree, nodding.
Peter smiles at me. "I thought you'd say that. I'm gonna miss you, dude." He says. He bends and gives Toothless a scratch, who purrs and rubs against Peter happily. they've definitely won each other over.
"So will we." I answer for us. I look over at Strange, seeing the orange lines finally forming into a sphere at his hands. It slowly starts expanding. Its almost done.

Toothless launches forward onto Peter, attacking him with licks. Peter is absolutely over the moon for the love. But I just laugh as I know what's to come for him. "Good luck getting that out. It doesn't wash out."
"Something to remember you by, then." Peter chuckles as he sits back up, but grimaces at the slimy saliva covering him.
"That's gross." Yelena calls from behind.
"Yeah. Don't come near me." Kate adds from a considerable distance away.

"It's ready." Strange calls. I turn, seeing the sphere expand into a portal much like the ones he was making in the battlefield. It's fairly misty, as if in the middle of a rainstorm, but if I squint I can see familiar waters and skies. I even see the water dropping off, I guess we were closer to the Hidden World than we thought.

I whistle, and Toothless bounds over, but not before a victory lap where he bowls Tony over, playfully slaps Bucky with his tail, and pounces on Vision, who is not quite sure what to make of the situation. I laugh, shaking my head at Toothless as he stands next to me, tongue rolling out of his mouth in happiness. I run a quick check over Toothless' gear, checking for faults. The tail should hold up fine, but I'll get to work on some repairs once we get... home. I stand back up.

"Hey, what's that giant water pit?" Peter asks loudly, standing next to me and peering into the portal.

 I wave him off, acting suspiciously casual. "...Don't worry about it."
"I don't know, it looks like something we should worry about." He objects. I just chuckle, pulling my helmet on but sliding the visor up. I turn to face everyone.

"Thank you." I say. For not killing us on site. For not handing us over to dangerous people. For not giving up on getting us home. For encouraging me to gain the strength to go home. And for sending me home with some pretty intense painkillers and some trauma to go with them. "For everything." I'll never forget this experience—both the good and the bad. I know that Toothless and I came down onto this park only a few days ago, but I know I am leaving it a changed man— I just don't know if its going to be a good change or not.

"You're welcome. I think." Kate responds.

"Anyone else kinda feel like we're sending him back to his world with PTSD and no resources to deal with it?" Yelena states.

"What's PTSD?" I ask.

"Nothing you need to worry about." Tony responds.

"Tony." Steve sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

I shrug and pull my visor down. I swing into the saddle, attach myself, and flick open the tail. Toothless spirals into the air and we fly a lap around the park. I raise an arm to wave as we turn towards the portal, earning a few waves in return—especially an enthusiastic one from Peter.

Toothless fires a celebratory plasma blast above the park, and we turn and surge forward into the glowing light while everyone is ducking for cover. We emerge into crisp, sea washed air, the familiar skies not filled with reflective buildings or people in machines. I let out a scream of joy as we perform some twists and flips in the air, followed by a few plasma blasts. We fly away from the portal, I take one last look over my shoulder to see the vague figures standing in the park. I wave, not entirely sure they'll see me, but to my delight I get several raised hands before the portal shrinks to nothing.

***

The flight back to new Berk couldn't have felt more longer if we tried. "Gods, I just... I can't wait to get home." I sigh as we fly through the sky. Because it was the truth, I needed to get home. See everyone alive and well, and the I'd be able to breathe properly. Toothless croons his agreement, no doubt wanting to be back as much as I do. We're both tired, so tired, after everything that has happened... but the excitement outweighs that and fuels us.

"You know," I comment after a little while of flying, "I never thought our lives could get anymore crazy." I chuckle.

I never thought our lives could get any more damaged, either.

"It's almost like we've seen it all!"

I had no way of knowing...

We fly above the ocean, letting the cool sea spray up at us and encourage us to continue.

I had no idea of the battles to come.

After a few minutes, New Berk towers over the ocean in the distance. We hurry towards it, excitement bubbling through us so much that we take to the clouds.

I thought after everything we'd just been through that I'd be prepared for everything.

We get closer and closer, looking at each other in excitement and joy.

That nothing could phase me. And I don't know what I was expecting...

The clouds part as we dive downwards.

But...

Below us, New Berk burns.

This was not it.

***

A cold wind blows at me harshly as I step off the saddle numbly. My feet hit the ground, sending a mix of ashes and dust into the air. My legs are weak. I look around, a lump in my throat making me speechless. I lift up my visor. There's no dragons, anywhere. None in the sky, the water, or on the ground. harsh wind cuts into my face, making it red raw, but i don't notice.

Somewhere in the haze I find my voice as I stumble further into town, calling out desperately as I run downs street after street, smoke and ashes fill the air and my lungs as I get more frantic by the second. "Hello?! HELLO?! ASTRID? MUM? GUYS?"

Buildings are on fire, burnt down, or crumbling and toppled over. There's no people. No talking, laughing, no one walking the ground or working on roofs. There's no Astrid.

I continue to scan the area, shockwaves of chills running through my body with each heartbeat, each breath I take. I catch a glimpse of something amongst the rubble of a house, a body resting in a puddle of red buried beneath wood.

I start shaking in sorrow.

And that concludes the alternative epilogue. A sequel is in the works that will follow directly after this epilogue, and I will try to keep you updated on it.

Meanwhile, keep a look out for Peter's alternative epilogue. And then the bonus happy epilogue/s. sorry its been so long, i've been working and studying so i haven't had much time to write.