-JenniferTjandrajana

A year had passed since Hiccup's banishment.

Stoick grew paler and miserable with each passing day. He was afraid to admit it, but he missed him.

The boy has never left his mind. No matter how much Stoick tried to forget about him, that...traitor, the boy's freckled face kept haunting his mind.

Convinced Hiccup was now mauled to death by that Night Fury, Stoick thought a proper Viking funeral was necessary.

His so-called son had been exiled this time, a year ago.

Now, he was gone, with a death so tragic.

At least now he could reunite with his mother in Valhalla.

The funeral went on for two days near the docks.

Villagers would pay their tributes and respects.

A large ship with a portrait of Hiccup with his belongings sailed through the murky ocean.

Arrows fired through the fog, aiming perfectly onto the ship.

Villagers crowded around the docks, their faces sunken with grief at such a loss.

Their gaze followed the ship as it sailed further into the fog, to be brought into the unknown.

Almost the entire village were at the supposed deceased young Viking's funeral.

However, Astrid Hofferson chose not to attend a pretentious occasion.

She didn't believe Hiccup was dead, let alone mauled by his Night Fury companion.

Instead, she had no doubt Hiccup was out there, perhaps living his life out of fear or judgement.

Astrid had been the only one to know of Hiccup's Night Fury he befriended.

At first, she thought dragons were wild, mindless creatures.

Until that day when Hiccup showed her dragons weren't beasts.

Her perspective about them changed for the better. Yet, most people here weren't the sharpest spear in the shed.

Here people were narrow minded, stubborn to change.

Astrid never thought a simple flight would instantly change her mind.

Perched on a Clift, Astrid stared out into the ocean ahead.

Ever since Hiccup was exiled, he had never really left her mind.

Everywhere she went, even in her sleep, all Astrid could think about was that boy who bravely defied traditions by befriending dragons.

The blonde Viking exhaled deeply. She wished to see her friend here next to her. She wished he could show up on Berk.

So everyone will know he was still alive, not dead.

Stoick had banned him from returning. So there was no way Hiccup could be allowed to step foot here again.

For the past hour, Astrid stood on the Clift, enjoying the cool breeze brushing against her face.

Up here, she could see everything on this island. Most importantly, up here she could really think and get lost in her thoughts.

Nobody really came here, which was a good thing. It was nice to seclude herself from the hustle and bustle of the village.

"Where are you, Hiccup?" Astrid muttered, looking up at the moody sky, "I know you're out there somewhere. I know you're not dead. Everything seems to think you are. So I can't exactly win this argument," she paused, sucking in a breath, "Everyone misses you, including your dad. But I miss you the most. Things have never been the same without you,"

Astrid lowered her eyes sadly, holding back tears.

"Please, come back. I want to tell you that...I..." she let her words trail off.

Dejection flickered in her eyes as she thought of the next thing to say.

Ever since she could remember, Astrid has always liked Hiccup.

He wasn't physically strong, but she had always admired him for being different; for being who he was.

Perhaps she could never tell him how she feels.

Now she never will.

Astrid shut her eyes, hot tears stung in her eyes.

Vikings never cry, she thought to herself, Vikings are strong. Nothing can break them. Only children and cowards cry.

Then she did the one thing she's never done.

Collapsing on her knees, Astrid broke down to sobs.

She couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't hold back all the pain, heart break and misery she's been feeling.

Letting them out was the healthy thing to do.

"Astrid, thank Thor we found you," Astrid whirled around, swiping her arm over her eyes.

Standing behind her were the other teenagers. All four of them stared at her with a mix of worry and relief.

Astrid's face flustered to a deep scarlet.

No one has ever witnessed the Fearless Astrid Hofferson cry before.

Yet, she couldn't help but feel a wave of shame take over her.

"Were you...crying?" the male twin, Tuffnut stepped forward.

Astrid slowly stood up, giving the blonde boy a glare.

"Yes. Is that not a Viking thing to do?" she snapped, swiping an arm over her eyes.

Realising her behaviour had been uncalled for, Astrid sighed in defeat.

"I know he's still alive," she said, slouching, "You can believe what you want. But I know he's out there somewhere,"

The others gave a solemn nod. Although they believed their friend was long gone, a part of them hoped he was still alive.

"You're not the only one, Astrid," Fishlegs spoke after a brief silence, "We kinda believe he's out there. But believe me, that is not a popular opinion right now,"

"So, how did you find me anyway?" Astrid asked flatly. She drew a breath as she stared out into the open sea.

"I thought this place was secluded. Well, it was,"

"That doesn't matter," Fishlegs spoke after brief hesitation, "We notice you were gone for a while. We didn't see you at Hiccup's funeral..."

Astrid closed her eyes for a moment, holding back tears.

The name of that boy- that boy that defied traditions, that boy that showed her a different side to dragons, that boy that ripped her heart in two- have been haunting her mind.

Every time someone mentioned his name, all she wanted to do was break down to sobs.

But she couldn't. She was a Viking and believed her friend wasn't dead.

"He's not dead," Astrid murmured, staring up at the gloomy sky.

Grey clouds gathered over the sky, and a storm was quickly brewing.

It was perfect weather for such a solemn occasion.

"How many times do I have to tell you?" Astrid said, her patience wearing thin. She threw her hands up in frustration.

"Nobody believes me. Not even the chief himself," she turned to the others, "They all think I'm insane,"

Sighing, she sat on the Clift's edge, dangling her legs.

Tugging onto her side braid, she felt a wave of frustration take over her.

But she wasn't going to let everyone think she was insane.

She knew she wasn't. Hiccup being alive was a matter of fact, not an opinion.

"We don't," Fishlegs said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, "You seem so sure, Astrid. When you're this sure, then we know you're right about something,"

Astrid faced the blonde boy. A smile smile spreading across her face.

"So what are you doing here exactly?" Astrid asked glancing at the others.

"We thought something must have happened to you," Fishlegs replied with worry.

Astrid waved him off, "I just wanted to be alone. Besides, I didn't want to attend a funeral that is not even real," she exhaled deeply, "Anyway; I just saw the ship sailed off. So I wasn't really missing much,"

She leapt on a boulder, inspecting her axe. A dejected sigh escaped from her lips.

The others shared looks of bewilderment. They approached Astrid, their footsteps scrunching against the grass beneath them.

"I still remember that day. It's been haunting me ever since," Astrid murmured as flashbacks of Hiccup's banishment crashed through her mind.

Fishlegs nodded gravely, "Yeah, we remember. I can't believe Chief Stoick had been so..."

"Pig headed?" Tuffnut offered.

"Stupid?" Ruffnut added with a scornful look. "I mean, what kind of father would disown his own son,"

The others cast them odd stares.

"...irrational and cruel," Fishlegs finished off with a sigh, "I mean, sure Hiccup defied traditions. But I would have loved to learn a thing or two about training dragons,"

The others exclaimed in agreement, except for Snotlout.

The dark haired boy stepped forward, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, come on. You guys seriously think he's cool?" he snorted, crossing his arms, "You guys need to wake up, especially you, Astrid. He's long gone. Probably killed by that dragon which is probably what he deserves. He did betrayed us all,"

That had been the last straw. Nobody insulted her friend and gets away with it.

Nobody accuses him as a traitor, when really he wasn't.

Astrid pursed her lips. Her blue eyes were burning with rage.

Hoisting herself out of the rock, she marched forward and advanced the boy with her axe.

The dark haired Viking screamed as he was pinned down by Astrid.

Right now, Astrid had the urge to cut him to pieces.

"W-What are you doing?" Snotlout whimpered, threatened by the axe blade being inches from his flesh.

"Say that again and I swear I'll skin you alive," Astrid shot the brunet a glare, "Hiccup did nothing wrong but show us dragons that weren't bad. That dragon would never hurt him. So, get that through that thick skull of yours,"

With a sigh, Astrid stepped back lowering her axe.

Her back was turned against the teens, facing to the open sea.

Scrambling to his feet, Snotlout sighed with relief he was unharmed.

Silence hung the five teens, but none of them minded.

The howling of the wind was the only sound they heard.

Fishlegs shifted uneasily, glancing at the blonde shield maiden.

He had been friends with Hiccup once. That is until he had gained a growth spurt and chose to protect his dignity over being friends with the village screw up.

Sometimes, he wished he hadn't abandoned him just to fit into the tribe. He actually did miss the friendship they had.

Now he realised he might never see him again. Even if he was out there, there was no way that auburn-haired Viking could step foot here again.

"Astrid," Fishlegs began, "I know you miss-''

He was then cut off by the sound of a horn.

Berk's warning single for any incoming attacks.

"A dragon attack!" Astrid peered through the fog surrounding the village.

Ashes of smokes snaked out of homes. Panicked cries echoed through the village, that even Astrid and the teens could hear.

The sound of explosion erupted in the distance.

Among the smoke and ash, buildings crumpled as they collapsed onto the earth.

Dragons of all shapes and classes hovered around the burning village wreaking havoc.

The culprits of the burning buildings, Monstrous Nightmares climbed over homes incinerating rooftops with their fiery tongues.

"We have to go down there now!" Astrid quickly ambled down the Clift as quickly as she could.

Panicked, yet determined to kick dragon butt, the others trailed after her.

Snotlout gave a nod, "Right behind you,"

Out of the five of them, the twins seem the most pleased and excited.

Whenever raids occur on Berk, the twins were always eager to watch the damage and destructions these unwanted beasts caused.

They were adrenaline junkies and loved a bit of chaos every now and then.

Tuffnut clasped his hands together, grinning.

"Oh, boy I LOVE a good old dragon attack!" he exclaimed, glancing at the chaotic village below, "So much destruction. I always wonder why we have to kill dragons. They're awesome!"

"Yeah!" Ruffnut declared, clashing her helmet against her twin, "Now I know why Hiccup wouldn't kill dragons,"

The others abruptly stopped in their trails. They turned to the twins with dead panned looks.

Knowing the others could never understand the twins love of destruction, Tuffnut heaved out a sigh.

"You know what, let's go,"

~

The village was a complete warzone.

Not that it already was for the last three hundred years.

Dragons roamed around burning homes, raiding livestock and damaging everything with their powerful jaws.

Screams and sounds of colliding buildings surrounded through the hectic scene.

Since these raids were a regular occurrence, Vikings were used to them.

In fact, it had become a normal part of the Viking lifestyle.

Flames snaked over rooftops, vicious claws scraped through timbered walls.

Stoick rallied his men on the upper village, shouting orders while he tackled a Deadly Nadder.

The men preceded his orders and scattered to different parts of the village.

Women, children and elderly were evacuated to the Great Hall for safety.

A limping blonde haired woman was aided by one of Stoick's men.

Several crying children clung onto their mother as the family quickly clambered up the steps.

Vikings wrestled dragons in a hand to claw combat.

Although it was dangerous, well, that's the way things were here.

After all, danger was a daily occurrence.

Men rescued crying children to safety.

Sentries clambered on watch towers, releasing catapults, which knocked three Deadly Nadders.

Terrible Terrors squawked as they collide towards Vikings, clawing and biting hair and flesh.

In an alleyway, Astrid and the rest of Berk's fire brigade were putting out fires on burning rooftops.

"Phew! I think that's the last of it," Astrid sighed, emptying the last contents of her bucket.

Unaware, a dark silhouette loomed over her, its vicious reptilian eyes staring at the blonde Viking.

Warm breath ran down her neck, which made the shield maiden froze.

Slowly, she turned around wide-eyed to come face to face with her foe.

Perched on a burning rooftop was a crimson Monstrous Nightmare, its entire body engulfed in flames.

Astrid's jaw widened in shock. She edged herself against a wall, her hands slowly reaching for her axe.

Her baby blue eyes stung with fear. She glanced at her hands, noticing they were indeed ghostly pale and shaking violently.

"Um, what do we do?" Fishlegs whimpered.

Tuffnut grinned at the fiery reptile, impressed by its presence.

"I say we pet it," the male twin chuckled, "I've always wanted to get my hand burned by one of those things,"

"I say we kill it," Snotlout interjected, growing impatient, "I can pound it with my face right here, right now,"

Astrid shuffled forward, her shaking hands raising her axe.

If there was a time she can prove herself as a warrior, this was it.

As she raised her axe ready to strike, something stopped her.

Flashbacks of her first flight with Hiccup came rushing back to her.

What she learned about dragons was truly incredible. They weren't beasts, and that proved Vikings had been wrong.

Now realising this, dragons weren't the true enemies.

In fact, that giant dragon she and Hiccup encountered was.

Astrid dropped her axe with a clatter. She remembered that moment in the village when Hiccup approached the Monstrous Nightmare he was meant to kill.

He had tried to make a point; to prove dragons weren't mindless beasts.

If only Stoick hadn't intervened. Then Hiccup would have shown the village what dragons really were.

Looking up at the dragon, Astrid could sense not rage but fear,

Her blue eyes widened realising this. She slowly approached the dragon, oblivious to the others' panicked cries.

The Nightmare crawled down from the roof, eyeing the blonde girl cautiously.

When the dragon touched the ground, its fiery body turned to normal.

With a breath, Astrid cautiously approached the dragon.

When she was within reach, an axe flew towards her, stabbing the Nightmare right in the gut.

The Nightmare let out an agonized yell as its huge body collapsed on the ground.

Crimson blood pooled around the dragon as it slowly fades to darkness.

"Everybody alright?" the booming voice of Stoick the Vast made the Viking girl snapped out of her trance.

The others nodded, but Astrid's gaze remained fixed on the unconscious Nightmare. If the chief hadn't intervened, then it would have lived.

A death like this was truly sudden and it made Astrid's heart ached.

She turned back to the chief with a curt nod. Then she followed the others as they continue putting out fire.