Thirty Two: Another Way

There was an audible gasp as the Night Fury pressed his nose into the hand of Chief Stoick the Vast, leader of the Hairy Hooligan Tribe of Berk. His disowned son and daughter in law, Hiccup and Astrid, shared a relieved grin as Toothless crooned and opened his large green eyes, pupils wide and trusting. The Chief looked down, briefly thinking that he should be burying an axe between those two acid green eyes...and then dismissing the thought. The dragon had offered him trust, a gesture that was far more intelligent and human than half his fellow Hooligans could manage. Unconsciously, a small smile lifted his lips at the astonishing proof of what Hiccup had so outrageously claimed. And Stoick had to admit to himself that a part of him had doubted the boy's words.

Odin, he was right. This is...amazing. This creature could kill us all and instead, it wants to be friends. Well, let's be honest, it's Hiccup's friend and he's asked it to put itself at our mercy. And it has. Gods, how in Midgard did Hiccup if all people discover this?

Because he isn't a Viking. He sees things differently. He is inventive and attacks problems from different angles to the rest of us. And he always gave people a chance-even when they gave him none. When he was abused and taunted and beaten, he got up and tried harder. He did everything he could to try to make you proud and it was only your own stubborn refusal to accept the son you had, not the mythical son you felt you deserved, that denied you years with this amazing young man.

Thor, I've been a fool. I made a catastrophic mistake with Snotlout, ignoring my own son and his particular qualities. I can't afford to make another. A Chief protects his own-but I have neglected the one of my own closest to me. He was right about everything.

So I will give my son his chance-because he has earned it. He was willing to give his life to prove his point-and that is the act of a Chief. Of the son I owe an apology to.

"Hmm...dry and scaly," he commented but he was smiling at Hiccup's briefly shocked and wary look. "Hah! Got you!"

Hiccup stared. "You're-you're joking?" he gasped. "Stoick the Vast, the best dragon....you know...on Berk is touching a dragon and he's joking?"

"You know, I like the idea that my very sassy and sarcastic son is at a loss for words. I should do this more often," Stoick smirked. Hiccup found his cheeks heating and he looked plaintively at Astrid for support.

"He's got you there, babe," she grinned.

"You too?" he whined. "Thor..." Then Toothless made a noise instantly like a laugh and Stoick's grin widened. Gobber rolled his eyes.

"Okay-so what do we do now...not that watching yer pet that reptile isnae heartwarming'n all," the blacksmith said. Stoick looked up at his Council of Elders and saw the clear division: he knew this would be difficult and painful...though nothing worthwhile was ever easy. Then he patted Toothless gently before turning to the assembled Tribe.

"Maybe...we could see a demonstration of what these young people can do?" he asked, his gaze drifting to his son. Eyes sparkling, Hiccup grinned.

"It would be my pleasure!" he announced.

oOo

Toothless was bouncing like a puppy as they walked out the Great Hall and down onto the Plaza, most of the village in tow. The Riders were following Hiccup and Astrid closely as they hit the ground and Yaklegs flashed Tiril a smile-then blushed as she grinned back and took his hand in a very confident gesture. The Night Fury waggled his behind and grinned as Hiccup climbed into the saddle.

"You ready, bud?" he asked and the dragon gave a confident warble.

"Go get 'em, babe!" Astrid shouted encouragingly as she stood back to stand by Stoick and Gobber. Hiccup hunched over Toothless's neck.

"Let's go bud!" he said and they flung themselves into the air, arrowing straight up before topping out and diving with an added roll, before levelling out and skimming the roofs of the village. Hiccup screamed in delight as Toothless dodged around the houses of the upper village before swooping over the cliff and skimming the waves, circling the giant Harbour Guards, the enormous Viking statues that housed the fires burning at the mouth of the docks, before looping the loop over the Plaza and swooping down to land. Hiccup dismounted with a leap-as the teens broke out cheering and everyone else stared at the skinny, supposedly-clumsy and definitely weak young man who had just blown every assumption about his inadequacy away.

"Whoo! That's my Hiccup!" Astrid yelled and flung herself forward, hugging him. And then a huge pair of arms encircled them both and Hiccup groaned.

"Dad....need...air..." he gasped

"Me...too...sir..." Astrid added as a sheepish Stoick released them.

"Oh...yes...sorry..." he mumbled and Hiccup grinned up at him.

"You still forget i'm a twig, Dad," he said in a mildly reproachful voice but Stoick wasn't having any of it

"I'm not sure a twig could have flown those amazing stunts you did, son," he commented and Hiccup dipped his head.

"Toothless did all the work," he admitted, glancing over to the Night Fury, which was licking his paw and using it to clean his face, like a giant cat. "I think I probably slow him down..." Stoick patted his shoulder more gently, careful not to impact his wounds from the fight with Snotlout.

"So what do we do now?" he asked and Hiccup glanced over to his riders. They all nodded.

"We work out how to best protect you from raids, patrol the island to keep the Outcasts away and work out how to defeat the Chief Dragon," he said determinedly.

"I like a man who has ambition," Gobber commented. "Yer planning on helping me any more, laddie?" Instantly, Hiccup blushed and nodded.

"Gobber-I'm your apprentice and assistant," he reminded him. "And besides-we'll need everything we can get to help when we face that dragon."

oOo

It was no surprise when Stoick dismissed the charges against Hiccup and declared that the young man and his fellow 'dragon riders' could try his plan of protecting the village against raids by flying their dragons against the attackers. Of course, there was the usual mixture of cheers and jeers, with the Jorgensens leading the latter, as the ornery Vikings of Berk argued about the pros and cons of the situation...but as the Chief and their Elder backed the plan, they were willing to try it out. The Fire Crew were being viewed with awe by the younger age group and suspicion and disappointment by their parents-and in some cases, friends.

Else had marched up to Hilde and slapped her hard, the sound ringing round the Plaza. Astrid had spun but Hiccup had managed to wrestle her back as the two girls faced each other.

"You lied to me!" the Jorgensen daughter spat and Hilde faced her silently-because it was a crime she was guilty of.

"Yes. I am sorry-but it was necessary," she replied tonelessly.

"Necessary? Necessary? You were supposed to be my best friend, to always have my back-and you betrayed me!" Else accused her. Hilde stirred, lifting her brown eyes and inspecting the raging girl opposite her.

"I had your back," Hilde said bitterly. "I lied for you to the Council to protect your brother. I agreed with you when you framed the twins for everything. I backed you even when it was patently obvious that your brother was the worst possible choice for Heir...especially when he took up with Lars and Dosgbreath...and I shamed my family by doing all those things for my friend. I spent hours in the forest, trying to track Hiccup down so your brother could kill him or get him outcast. But when I found out what he was doing-how he was trusting the others, I made a choice. He offered hope, a better future...while all Snotlout offered was oppression and fear."

"He wouldn't touch you because you were my friend," Else sneered back.

"That shouldn't ever be a consideration!" Hilde snapped back. "I mean-look at the Chief. You can trust him with anything. He will protect us all at the cost of his life. He is fair and just. He works for all of us-and no task is too small. Can you imagine your brother meeting even one of those standards? Because I never could!"

"How dare you..."

"I made a choice," Hilde said more firmly. "And I hated lying to you, Else-but if you can't see that Snotlout is bad for Berk, then you are lying to everyone...including yourself." Else turned away.

"You made your choice," she hissed. "I hope you're happy with it..." And she stalked away, leaving the girl isolated...until Tiril walked up to her side. She paused-then patted the other girl's hand.

"Never mind yak-breath there," she assured the larger girl. "You were completely right in everything you said..."

"But he is her brother...and she was like a sister...the only sister I had," Hilde managed heavily. Tiril squeezed her hand.

"Hey-I got plenty-and cousins," she noted. "Thorstons and Gunnarsons never have small families. Wanna be my sort-of-sis?" The solid girl looked up at the bouncing blonde, her eyes filled with amusement and also a genuine offer. She nodded.

"I guess...it would be nice," she murmured, missing Hiccup's frantic head shaking and warning waves. Tiril gave a bright grin.

"Welcome to the family!" she snickered.

Mildly astonished and very shocked, Hiccup watched Hilde with her new 'sister' walk down the Plaza, chatting about their dragons-which at least was some common ground between the serious and hardworking Hilde and the wild and irreverent Tiril. Then he shook his head.

"I guess she'll find out what she's getting herself into sooner rather than later," he murmured.

"Something wrong, babe?" Astrid asked him, taking his hand and he squeezed it almost absently.

"There are going to be other people who end in the same situation between traditionalists and the pro-dragon Vikings," he murmured, seeing a number of faces scowling at him. Not that it wasn't a familiar sensation-but it felt different...and he recognised most of them as friends and allies of Mildew and the Jorgensens. Well, mainly the Jorgsensens-because Mildew was even more unpopular than Hiccup himself.

"The Chief has backed your plan, Hiccup," she reminded him, a smile lifting her lips. "You know I was incredibly proud of how you handled yourself back there. You had an answer for everything! And at least Mildew is exposed so it may hamper Alvin's progress as well..." Hiccup shrugged.

"You know, there may be some upsides...but we have a lot of things to work out," he murmured. "For starters-where will we put the dragons?" Astrid craned her neck to see Toothless sitting a couple of yards behind the tall young man and she smiled.

"I think Toothless isn't letting you out of his sight any time soon," she commented. "The Cove?"

"Not exactly convenient if we need then for a raid," Hiccup admitted. "But equally, we can't have them wandering around the village. Someone will upset them, there will be a fire and bang! We're back to Vikings and dragons, enemies again!"

"How about...the Arena?" she suggested.

"Where we used to kill them?" Hiccup checked dryly. "Wow, can really see them lining up to be locked in cages again..."

"Maybe the less trained dragons locked in the arena bowl-and perhaps ours with us?" she suggested.

"Fish will want Meatlug home," Hiccup murmured, his eyes trailing in the husky Viking who was chattering happily to the lumpy brown Gronckle...and her big yellow eyes were trained affectionately on him. "You wouldn't think he would be so attached to a dragon..."

"Says the man with a Night Fury following him around like a puppy..." Astrid teased him. He turned to her with his lopsided grin, his hands sliding down her back.

"We'll try it and see how it goes," he decided. "Now, I'm exhausted and cold and I could really do with a rest...would you like to go home, Mrs Haddock?" She stared up into his eyes and rose on tiptoes to kiss him.

"Of course I would, Mister Haddock," she sighed.

oOo

The next morning, the couple got up at dawn and were on the brink of sneaking out for a morning flight when Toothless almost knocked them over excitedly, having slept upstairs in the loft space. Astrid had given a little shriek of shock that had Toothless backing up in surprise...before surging forward and licking her to Hiccup's laughter. Grimacing, she none-too-gently pushed him away.

"Eugh! That won't wash out-believe me, Mister-I've tried!" she huffed and swatted at the grinning Hiccup. His eyes were sparkling and he looked enormously relieved. Of course, there were still people in the village who didn't trust him and would do their best to cause trouble-but at least they had a chance. Now all he had to do was come up with a coherent plan to protect them from raids, defeat a mountain-sized monster and change three hundred years of ingrained hatred.

"Sorry, Milady," he sighed, not looking at all repentant. "Now let's go flying...because I know someone will be just as eager to see you and have her morning flight!" Astrid grinned and allowed herself to be glided down to the Arena-where Stormfly was waiting eagerly with the Monstrous Nightmares, Stoneskin and Jadespine. Even though there was the option to keep her by the house, the wood store wasn't large enough and Astrid had decided to leave her with the other dragons, where she felt more comfortable, rather than alone and anxious in a Viking village. They were both trusting that the dragons would be safe from the villagers but they knew that most would not risk the wrath of Stoick the Vast-especially after he had roared at Mildew. But as Hiccup swooped down and landed, he could see that the other riders were already there, staring as their leaders arrived, all wide-eyed and eager with the dragons safe and ready to fly. Gustav was grinning and as Fishlegs arrived, they all mounted up and Hiccup glanced over his shoulder, seeing Astrid ready and the others almost paying attention. He gave his lopsided grin.

"Catch me if you can," he invited and leaned forward, urging Toothless to rocket into the air. Stormfly was scarcely a wingbeat behind and the others sped after them, all determined with eyes fixed on the leading pair. Hiccup sneaked a glance over his shoulder. "Okay, bud," he said in a low voice, "let's put them through their paces and show the village what we can do..." Toothless warbled and soared up with the team looping upwards after him. He rolled and banked to the right and out over the seastacks, with the team tightening their formation after him.

"Babe-you're not testing them," Astrid shouted to groans from Gustav and Tiril.

"What d'you say, bud?" he asked, leaning forward. The Night Fury warbled happily and they accelerated, starting to zig-zag through the seastacks as the characteristic whine of the Night Fury's wings slicing the air sounded. The other riders shared glances and zoomed after Toothless, trying to mirror his flight. Astrid rapidly pulled ahead, leaning forward and urging Stormfly on: she was the most experienced and by far the most competitive.

"C'mon, girl-we can't let him beat us," she said and they flipped round, rapidly closing on Hiccup. The others were falling behind but the two leaders had already soared up, swooping round and watching the progress. Hiccup was grinning.

"At least they didn't crash," he commented in a relieved voice as Gustav threw his arms up and Fanghook set himself on fire. The jet-haired boy screamed and his dragon obligingly dumped him in a water trough to cool down his scorching posterior. "And...I spoke too soon!"

"It's only Gustav," Astrid reassured him brightly, hovering at his side. "Hilde's coming along really well."

"Fish and Yaklegs are really steady-and work very hard," Hiccup added. "I can rely on them...and I probably can rely on all of them."

"Even Tiril?" Astrid asked dryly. He nodded as the group formed around them and they swooped down, landing in formation on the Plaza, hard by the solid shape of Stoick the Vast. The Chief greeted them with a smile.

"Impressive, son," he commented as Hiccup leapt from the saddle. "You too, Astrid." The Night Fury gave a warble. "You too, Toothless," the Chief added with a grin. "Um...do you do this often?" Hiccup scared at him-then glanced round and saw the villagers warily watching them from any sheltered point There wasn't quite the appearance of a lynch mob but everyone looked very uncertain-because dragons only came at night and accompanied by fire and death. Rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, the auburn-haired Viking nodded.

"Um...yeah..." he mumbled. "I kind of fly Toothless twice a day because he loves flying and I sort of thought that the team needs to make sure we're up to speed...because we haven't really had a lot of time to practice..." His emerald eyes flicked over his father. "But...um...I realise that the rest of the Tribe may not be so happy..." He swallowed. "Sorry, sir..." Stoick looked around and nodded.

"Aye, you may be right," he admitted. "But I wanted to catch you..." Hiccup instantly looked wary.

"Um...I was going to work in the forge as soon as we settled the dragons down," he added urgently but the Chief shook his head.

"Hiccup," Stoick said, interrupting him. "Mildew has escaped."

"What?" Astrid's gasp could be heard across the Plaza as Hiccup paled.

"How?" he asked quietly. There was a pause and he could almost hear Stoick scowling.

"The man assigned to watch him decided to go up to the Great Hall for his dinner and left him alone," he growled. "When he came back, Mildew was gone."

"Did anyone see anything?" Hiccup asked, knowing the answer. Ashamedly, Stoick shook his head.

"It was dark and cold and we had a raid the previous night," he admitted. "Everyone was inside and most of us were having an early night. No one saw a thing."

"Who do we think released him?" Hiccup asked and his father shrugged.

"Unfortunately, there are a number of people who don't agree with my decision to back you, son," the Chief admitted. "And it's certain at least one of them also knew what Mildew was up to." His eyes expressed the seething anger boiling in his chest: Stoick was a man who protected his Tribe, even to the expense of his own son: that members of that Tribe were willing to work with his implacable enemy was a bitter blow. Hiccup glanced over at Astrid.

"We can get to his farm in minutes," Hiccup suggested.

"He'll already have gone," Stoick pointed out.

"Then we can go to Thor's Beach to see if there's evidence he has left?" Hiccup suggested, leaving back onto Toothless. Astrid was already scrambling onto her Nadder as Stoick spun to face his son.

"Not without me," he growled as Hiccup stiffened.

"Um...Dad...sir..." he mumbled as Stoick stared into his eyes.

"Seems to me...I am willing to risk flying on a dragon in order to catch a traitor," he said stiffly and Hiccup's shoulders sagged. It wasn't that he wasn't keen to spend time with his father-because he still loved his father and a huge part of his heart craved a proper relationship with him, so much it hurt. But Stoick was unfamiliar and he really wasn't sure if Toothless would play along...especially as Stoick was an enormous man. He paused and leaned forward to speak to his dragon.

"What do you think, bud?" he murmured and Toothless gave what could only be interpreted as a sigh. "Thanks, bud...just...let's try to be gentle?" The dragon gave a reluctant croon and then nodded as Hiccup sat up and beckoned his father to sit behind him. He could almost hear Toothless huff as he braced himself under the weight. Gobber peered at him and pushed his helmet back using his claw, his blue eyes wary.

"Eh-yer sure yer want tae be doing this, Stoick?" he checked and the Chief nodded curtly, his hands painfully tight on his son's lean shape.

"A traitor has escaped and could be anywhere," he said gravely. "Up, dragon!" And he dug his heels hard into Toothless's sides.

The effect was immediate as the dragon roared and accelerated at top speed vertically upwards. Hiccup was holding on for dear life, the grip around his waist suddenly so hard it was almost snapping him in half. Gobber glanced up from the floor where the downdraft had knocked him. He looked pointedly at Astrid.

"Whatya waiting fer, lass?" he asked shortly. "Go after them!" She nodded, leaned forward and Stormfly whizzed up after the Nadder. Up ahead, she could hear screams from Hiccup, asking his father to let him breathe and Stoick was yelling in shock. As she watched, the Night Fury levelled out and swooped round, slowing so she could catch up. As she pulled alongside, she could see Hiccup arguing with his father as he tried to get Stoick to relax his grip a little. Toothless's ears were flat back so she swung closer and grinned.

"That was a pretty impressive take-off-but I thought you were taking it slowly," she called over.

"I was just going to give Toothless a little nudge," Hiccup replied slightly grumpily.

"That was a little nudge!" Stoick shot back and Astrid smiled as she saw Hiccup roll his eyes.

"Well, before you nudge Toothless into flying halfway to Helheim's gate, let's go find Mildew," he called and leaned, steering Toothless up over the mountain and down to the miserable bleak cabbage farm that Mildew called home. The place looked deserted and uncared-for, though Stoick murmured it usually looked this way, but they landed anyway. They warily approached the building, concerned about an ambush but the dragons were unconcerned so Stoick paused, pushing open the door and leading them in to see everything of value stripped away from the cold longhouse-all food, blankets and weapons, with only a few dragon heads on the walls-along with three shields portraying three burly, hairy and extraordinarily ugly women. Astrid gaped as a fourth shield portrayed a sheep-Mildew's pet, Fungus.

"Well, he has a type," Hiccup commented, pulling a face. "Bleurgh. And I don't even want to comment on the sheep..."

"Aye-he was married three times-but they all died," Stoick commented.

"Thor-if I was married to Mildew, I would die just to spite him as well!" Astrid commented darkly. "It would probably be a relief..." Stoick peered around.

"I'm glad we left the dragons outside," Hiccup added, seeing the head of a Monstrous Nightmare on the wall, a pair of Zippleback feet boots, a cured Nadder skin and a stuffed Terrible Terror. He shook his head.

"He's cleared everything out," he said. "He's left." Hiccup turned to the door.

"Depends on where his ride is..." he said determinedly as leapt back onto Toothless, with Stoick behind as they accelerated up, flapping determinedly round and over the forest before they spiralled round to land on Thor's beach. Stoick was off first, sprinting down to the shoreline, where the marks of a boat were blurring in the tide-line. He stared out to sea, his fists tight in fury as he breathed hard. Astrid and Hiccup walked to his side, staring out to sea. The ship had already gone from sight.

"We may be able to catch him on the dragons," the blacksmith's apprentice suggested but the Chief paused and then slowly forced his fists to relax. "I mean, we could maybe force them back..."

"But there will be Outcasts and probably weapons that could bring you down," Stoick murmured. "We don't know how many there are..." He shook his head. "He's not worth it...he's Outcast himself, which solves the problem." Almost.

"Then at least watch the beach...with men you can trust, not those who may be loyal to Roar and Ulric and...and Spitelout," Hiccup murmured. Stoick growled in his throat.

"He is my brother," he snapped. The young man sighed.

"And my Uncle-but that never meant anything to him," he reminded his father. "Of course, you are the Chief and it is entirely your decision..." He turned away. "Sorry," he added, walking back to Toothless as Stoick turned to inspect him. There was a slight slump to his shoulders that had been absent when they were on the dragon and the Chief found himself realising that his son's confidence on his friend was impressive...but it didn't take much to undermine him. Hiccup was brave but there had been too many hard knocks for him to fight his corner...especially not now he was on the brink of proving his point.

We made it here in minutes when it would take over an hour to walk here and as much to walk back, he realised. We could chase after them...but do I want to risk them when I have no idea of numbers and what we would do just there three...well, five of us?

"Good thinking, son," he forced himself to say-not because it was untrue but because Hiccup needed to hear the words...and the praise. "I know who I can choose." he walked back after his son and patted his shoulder firmly. "Now do you want to take me back to Berk...slowly...so I can point out to Gobber that 'those wild beasties' can actually provide a quite acceptable ride!" Hiccup managed a small smile.

"Quite acceptable? Really? Are you sure you don't want awesome and scary?"

"Definitely not!" Stoick said firmly.

"Maybe fast and furious?" Astrid added with a smile.

"I'm a Chief, you know! Steady and safe is what I want! And I'll expect more respect as your father-in-law," Stoick reminded her with a playful glint in his eye. Hiccup leaned forward.

"Okay, Toothless...slowly..." he said sternly. The dragon made a laughing noise, bunched his muscles and rocketed upwards.

"AAARGH!"

"TOOTHLESS! Thanks for nothing you useless reptile...not, not the rolling...oh, you really aren't getting any fish at all this evening..."

"Boys." Astrid sighed and kicked Stormfly after them.

oOo

As they circled the Plaza, Gobber was waving with a relieved expression on his face-but the other dragon riders were still there, with crowds of people around their dragons. Tiril was showing off Jadespine to her young brother and sister while Fishlegs's Mum was stroking Meatlug and Phlegma was stroking Hookfang, complimenting her niece on her performance. All the younger teens and children were stroking the dragons and though many of their parents were wary, the dragons were very calm around the youngsters. Only Else was hanging back, her face furious.

"They won't eat us, will they?" Mrs Larson asked worriedly, for her younger children were all clustered around Fanghook.

"They only eat fish," Yaklegs offered. "I think Astrid's Nadder eats chicken but that's it. We offered them yak jerky but they wouldn't touch it..."

"And they certainly wouldn't touch that pie she cooked," Tiril added.

"Nor would we," Gustav added. "Thor, it was bad."

"Do you think Hiccup does the cooking in that house?" Tiril added and then stiffened as she saw them all stare, aghast. "And she's behind me, isn't she?"

"With my axe," Astrid confirmed, jumping off Stormfly and landing with a thump. Tiril sighed, rolled her eyes and slowly got to her knees.

"Twenty?"

"Thirty," Astrid growled and the girl grumbled as she began to start her push-ups. Her azure gaze swept over the other teens. "Anyone else want to comment about my cooking?" Everyone shook their head as Hiccup walked to her side.

"Should I start as well, Milady?" he murmured with a smile. "I have commented on your cooking abilities..."

"Oh no, Dragon Boy-I have other punishments for you..." she smirked. He leaned against her and kissed her cheek.

"As long as we're up to visiting the Nest tomorrow," he murmured. "We need to scout it out and work out a way to defeat that Chief..." Her hand found his and there was a flicker of fear in her eyes. "But I can go alone," he reminded her gently. "I'll be with Toothless so I should be safe..."

"You're not going without me," she told him fiercely. "If I let you go alone, you'll get into trouble and who would be there to save you?" His hand tightened around hers.

"My ferocious wife?" he suggested and she smirked.

"Damned right," she confirmed and kissed him.

"HEY!"

Everyone looked up and saw two grubby shapes walking up the Plaza. The Thorston fishing ship had finally got back from its mission and the crew were walking up, shocked at the new reptilian inhabitants of Berk. The twins stared at Hiccup and Astrid, then at the dragons and finally at the Chief.

"Awesome," Ruff commented. "Looks like things have really livened up since we left." Tuff nodded.

"Totally," he agreed. "So who's gonna tell us what's been going on...and when do we get our dragon?"