A dragon raid broke lose in the Viking village of Berk. Of course, it wasn't like it wasn't a regular occurrence.

Chaos spread through the village like wildfire. Literally.

Dragons swooped around the village, exhaling flames of destruction that incinerated buildings to ashes.

Many broke into the village's food storage, raiding food to leave the Vikings with less food to last the coming winter.

Sheep bleated with desperation as they were carried off by the claws of the unwanted pests.

Vikings poured out into the blaze. They wielded their best, and most trusted weapons used for every battle they fought. Shouts from fierce warriors spread through the blaze.

Gigantic torches rose from the ground, lit by flames.

Men rallied families from home, evacuating them to the Great Hall.

Some warriors had the courage and strength to fight these reptilian beasts with their bare hands.

Unfortunately, it did lead to some losing a limb or two. Blood poured out of flesh, staining the ground.

Although it led to such a tragedy, Vikings were not afraid of a missing limb or two. To them, their wound provided such significance of pride and honour.

Through the grey and orange smoke, arrows fired from watch posts, wounding a Monstrous Nightmare.

The crimson-red dragon plummeted to the ground, roaring in agonising pain.

The dragon collapsed in the heart of the town plaza, completely battered and defenceless. Yet, it did provide an opportunity for Vikings to kill it right on the spot.

A brute Viking charged towards the Monstrous Nightmare, axe held high ready to strike.

"Stop! You're only making it worse!" A woman's voice broke through the haze, stopping the man before he could go for the kill.

Valka grasped onto the man's axe, holding him back from killing the beast.

Sensing opportunity, the Monstrous Nightmare weakly limped away as the Viking grudgingly set down his axe.

When the man left, Valka suddenly caught something in the distance.

Up on a hilltop stood the Chief's home where flames engulfed the rooftop of the house.

Then a silhouette of a dragon broke through the Chief's home.

An uncomforting feeling nudged her heart. She knew her house wasn't a safe place right now. With danger lurking, she fears what might happen to-

"Hiccup!"

Sensing trouble, Valka quickly clambered up the hill; axe grasped in hand.

"One night a dragon broke into our house, finding you in a cradle," Valka blinked, recalling flashbacks of Hiccup as an infant, "I rushed in to protect you..."

When Valka reached her house, she rushed upstairs to her son's bedroom. Only to find the most intriguing sight.

"...what I saw was proof of everything I believed,"

Valka lowered her axe, her jade-green eyes widening at the sight before her.

There, among the blaze, a dragon with owl-like features and four magnificent creamy brown wings peered over the cradle. Instead of killing the small human, the dragon was playing with him.

Valka's eyes beamed with curiosity and compassion. Never had she witnessed such a sight, yet it did touch her heart that the dragon never meant to do her son any harm.

"This wasn't a horrible beast, but a kind, intelligent creature," Valka spoke, recalling the awestruck moment, "whose soul reflected my own,"

Startled by the woman, the dragon stroked its claw across Hiccup's chin by accident.

Hiccup wailed out in pain as blood seeped out of his chin.

Curiously, the dragon moved towards the woman, noticing how she bears such a close resemblance to the infant boy.

Valka slowly fixed her gaze to the dragon's impressive eyes, seeing no traces of rage. However, all she could see were nothing but kindness and curiosity.

Then it struck her. Dragons weren't the horrible beasts Vikings thought they were, but-

The moment was short lived as an axe hurled between woman and dragon.

Alarmed, the dragon let out a startled growl.

"Valka!" a gruff voice broke into the blaze, startling both Valka and the dragon "Run!"

Valka whirled around to find the Chief of Berk, Stoick the Vast rushed into the blaze. Flames engulfed the room, tearing away the walls.

All three humans were trapped inside a scorching ring of fire. There was no safe escape, and with the dragon at their midst, escaping the blaze did seem like a risk.

Stoick glared at the dragon; his green eyes burning with rage. He clenched his fists, determined to finish this monster before it harms his family.

Sensing the fear in the dragon's eyes, Valka stood back, her hand outstretched in defence.

"No, don't!" Valka called out to the fuming Chief.

But Stoick would not listen; blame his stubbornness issues for that matter. He leapt onto the flames, grabbing the crying heir in his grasp.

He whirled around; his eyes widened at such a heartbreaking sight.

The winged beast clutched Valka in its claws and whisked out of the burning home, breaking through the roof.

Frightened what will happen to her, Valka let out a desperate cry to her husband.

"Stoick!"

"Valka!" Stoick shouted through the blaze, "No!"

His heart ripped in two as he watched his beloved wife being lifted higher to the sky. Soon she became nothing but a silhouette; a memory as she vanished through the clouds above in the claws of the beast.

Perhaps that would be the last time Stoick will ever see his wife.

Left alone, Stoick glanced at his young son, the only family he's got left.

"I won't let you down, Val," he spoke softly, cradling the crying infant in his arms, "I'll avenge you and take care of our son. I can promise you that,"

Hiccup continued crying, and then eventually stopped. He stared up at the hazy sky having no idea that was the last time he would see his mother.

(End of flashback)

"You and your father nearly died that night," Valka said, lowering her eyes, "All because I couldn't kill a dragon,"

Hiccup gave a nod. At least now he knew where he got his dramatic flair from. More importantly, now he knew where he got his curiosity and compassion towards dragons.

Yet, he couldn't understand why his mother never came back if she were still alive.

"Yeah, it runs in the family," Hiccup furrowed his brows, puzzled, "So why didn't you come back?"

Valka stared at her reflection in the lake. Remorse stabbed in her heart, realising her long absence have led to unanswered questions. She didn't think she would be questioned about it. Now that she was, Valka knew she needed to explain herself.

"It broke my heart to stay away," Valka let out a long sigh, "But I believed you would be safer if I did,"

Hiccup stared at her, dumbfounded. Then he gave a solemn nod.

"I've never actually fit in with the others," Hiccup said glumly. He shut his eyes, recalling all the painful memories while growing up.

"I've always been...different. Sometimes, I wished you would have been there. It would have been better,"

Sensing the distress in the young Viking's voice, Valka came forward, placing a warm hand on his shoulder.

Guilt gnawed at her the more she thought about those years where she was absent from her family.

Valka wished she had been there for Hiccup all those years. It hurt to know Hiccup never felt wanted by his own tribe, like a black sheep cast out of its herd.

In this case, Hiccup had been the black sheep with a different perspective and beliefs about dragons than the other Vikings. It had been harsh that the fact he couldn't kill a dragon would result in banishment.

Then again, Vikings were too stubborn, too proud, and too foolish to have an open mind. Valka learnt that from experience.

She stared at the son closely, realising he was a splitting image of her. A smile formed on her lips.

"You and I are similar, Hiccup," Valka declared, lifting the young teen's chin, "Nobody quite understands us like we do. We have our own beliefs and views, yet not many appreciate it. I must show you something,"

Hiccup nodded slowly. He then let out a yawn, feeling drowsiness taking over him.

However, he wasn't ready to go back to bed just yet. He still had questions about his mother's disappearance.

To be frank, Hiccup was quite intrigued with stories she has yet to tell from all those years.

Being away for seventeen years was a long time, and hiccup could imagine his mother must have visited places around or beyond the archipelago.

One question floated in his mind; how was she alive all this time?

Cupping her hands on either side of her mouth, Valka mimicked some kind of a dragon's call.

Moments later, the sound of mighty wings flapping loudly could be heard in the distant.

Then a dragon's roar, quite similar to Valka's call, echoed through the night.

Hiccup looked up his mouth agape in awe at such a magnificent sight.

Hovering in the sky was a four-winged dragon with an owl-like presence.

The dragon landed on the ground, and wandered over to Valka, nuzzling her.

Valka let out a cheery laugh.

"Cloudjumper never meant to hurt me," she said, rubbing Cloudjumper's neck, "He thinks I'm one of them. Come with me, Hiccup. There is something I need to show you,"

Hiccup exchanged looks with Toothless, who gave a groan of approval. He was just as intrigued about this woman and the Storm Cutter as hiccup was.

"Well, I suppose we can tag along," Hiccup declared, mounting on his dragon.

Valka hopped onto Cloudjumper and then launched into the inky-black sky with Hiccup and Toothless trailing behind.

~

Despite being his biological mother, Valka was still a stranger to Hiccup than anything.

Though, she really did seem trustworthy. Yet, Hiccup couldn't help but have this nagging feeling in his chest.

If this woman was really his mother, why hadn't she returned to Berk, if the dragon never meant to harm her?

For Hiccup, growing up neglected by his father and believing his mother was dead hadn't been pleasant.

Honestly, Hiccup did felt abandoned that his mother had left with no intentions to return. Sometimes, he did blame himself for not being the son she wanted.

"So, where are we going?" Hiccup yelled over the roaring wind.

He and Toothless had been flying all night, and hardly got any sleep.

Yet, he persisted since this was the one opportunity where he could gather some questions. So his mother's offer to come with her was something he couldn't refuse.

Dawn was slowly approaching. That's when Hiccup realised how long he's been flying.

Wherever his mother was taking him, it seemed farther than he'd been before.

By now, Hiccup was far away from Edon.

The cool nippy air proved they were flying somewhere in the north.

A herd of Deadly Nadders flew past them in a flurry of colours.

"Oh, you'll see, son," Valka shouted over the wind, "We're not too far now,"

Every muscle in Hiccup's body ached. His eyes were slowly drooping from being sleep deprived.

The croon from the Night Fury alarmed the young teen from falling asleep.

Slurring, Hiccup blinked an eye open and gave a content smile to his Night Fury. He wrapped his arms tightly around his friend's scaly neck.

"So what were you doing in Edon?" Hiccup asked, steering Toothless closer to Cloudjumper, "You know these people aren't a big fan of strangers,"

He paused, recalling the first time he encountered Ingrid in the woods.

Frankly, Hiccup never felt so intimidated in his life. However, the people of Edon were a peaceful tribe and they weren't accustomed to strangers outside their shores.

"Oh, I am a frequent visitor," Valka replied, which made Hiccup blink in surprise, "The people of Edon are very welcoming. Though, they are highly suspicious of outsiders,"

Hiccup gave a snort, "You're right about that. But I guess they do have trust issues,"

"Edon is a lovely place," Valka went on, "It is one of my favourite islands to visit. They are only a few islands who make peace with dragons. Edon is one of them,"

Hiccup's eyes widened with realisation.

"Ingrid told me a stranger frequently visits Edon. She told me the stranger meant the people of Edon no harm, and it's a coincidence that this woman resembles you..." Hiccup paused, eyeing his mother closely, "Wait, that woman is you, right? You've been visiting Edon, revealing secrets about dragons, right?"

Valka chuckled, nodding, "Indeed. I enjoy showing secrets I've learnt about dragons. Though, I am could not permanently stay in Edon,"

Hiccup raised a puzzled brow, "Why not?"

His mother gave an excited smile. She fixed her gaze towards a group of iridescent young dragons yapping and snapping as they flew past.

"You'll see, son. Come, let us hurry now,"