Run Away

Back to Berk

"I'd say it's time I face Stoick." The next morning we got ready for the long flight to Berk. After we ate we saddled up headed for the exit. When we got to the tunnel we stopped. Mom turned to me. "Are you ready for this?" I nodded, and we flew off. I was excited to be taking such a long trip outside the nest, but at the same time nervous on what was going to happen with dad and the rest of Berk. We flew for a long time. Before long I began to notice familiar landmarks. I realized just how far we were from the sanctuary. Then we passed Dragon Island. I hadn't been this far from the nest in years. Mom must have noticed my nervous expression. She and Cloudjumper flew up next to me and Toothless. "Hiccup, it will be alright." I looked over at her. "Really? I wish I could be that sure." Just then I saw something that made me bring Toothless to a halt. The large statues in Berk's bay. I felt my pulse quickening. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I could do this. We flew forward. I heard the warning horn sound, and  Vikings poured out of the village. Before they could open fire, we landed. I held up my hands. "Stop!" Everyone just stared. I couldn't blame them. I was about to tell everyone not to be afraid, even though I was terrified myself, when I heard a voice ring out of the crowd that made me stop cold. "What going on? What's happening?"  Dad pushed himself out of the crowd. He looked just like I remembered him, except his beard had a few streaks of white. He looked at us, then the dragons. Then he took a double take and looked at me again. I saw his face drop into shock. "Hiccup?..." I stared at him. "Dad." He took a few steps forward. Toothless growled. I put a hand on his head. "Easy bud..." I said softly. I slid off of him and walked towards dad until we were right in front of each other. He looked absolutely bewildered. "You're alive...?" I nodded with tears in my eyes. "I'm so sorry..." He slowly reached out his arms and hugged me. I did the best I could to hug him back. He held me at arms length. "I was so worried. Where have you been?! I thought you were dead!" I felt my ears turning red. "Uhh..." I looked back at mom. Dad followed my gaze, and saw her too. He gasped. "Val?" She looked down. "Hello Stoick." He whipped his head back to me. "That's where you've been? With your- with your mother...?" I nodded. He stared at me. "Why did you leave?" I averted my gaze. "I thought Berk would be better off without me. The way everyone called me a failure, a disgrace, well, it got to my head. I figured if I left things would be better." Dad shook his head sadly. "Hiccup, I'm so sorry. We never should have criticized you." He turned his attention to mom. "You raised him?" She nodded. "Aye." He shook his head. "Val, why? Why not come back?" She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "The same reason Hiccup agreed to come with me. I thought you'd all be better off without me. I saw that Hiccup was different too. So I came and invited him to come with me." Dad shook his head again. "I had no idea.... I'm so sorry. Val, Hiccup, could you forgive me? All of us?" Mom slid off of Cloudjumper and walked up to us, placing a hand on each of our shoulders. "Of course I will Stoick. Of course." A relieved smile spread a crossed his face." I heard a voice behind me. "Idiot... Your not dead." I turned around. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was Astrid. She was standing behind me with a shocked expression, her blue eyes as round as the moon. She was even more beautiful than I remembered her. Then she stomped up to me and punched me in the stomach. I doubled over. "Ow! What was that for?!" She slapped my face. "For running away and making us think you were dead!" I rubbed my cheek. "Anything else?" She scowled at me, and for a second I wondered where she was going to hit me this time. Then she grabbed my collar with both hands and crashed her lips against mine. My eyes almost bugged out of my head. Then I closed them and enjoyed the moment, putting a hand on her cheek. When she pulled away she stared into my eyes. "That was for being alive." I smiled. "Glad I am, Astrid." Then dad came up behind me. "Son, would you care to explain your other friends?" I blushed down to my neck. "Oh, uh, yeah." I walked over to Toothless and put my arms around his neck. "This it Toothless, my dragon. Mom helped me train him. Her dragon is Cloudjumper, he's a Stormcutter." Dad was staring at Toothless. "You- you've been riding a Night Fury?!?!" I looked around. "Uhh, yes? And, I would appreciate it if you didn't do that whole 'kill on sight' thing with them. We're kinda attached to them." He shook his head in shock. "I don't believe it. Dragons, trained! And to think..." He put his hand over his eyes. "We've killed them for so long."  I shook my head. "It's alright dad. You didn't know." He put an arm around my shoulders. "Well then, why don't you and your mother come with us down to the arena and show us how it's done?" I grinned. "Gladly."