The sun had barely crested the horizon when the first alarms rang out across Berk. Nuffink was already awake, staring at Shadow from his barred window. He guessed his father had done this overnight to ensure he stayed put. Frustration settled in as he recalled the events of the previous day. Luna was gone, and who knew what had happened to Shadow?
He paused for a moment, then rose from his bed, rushing to the door, only to find an iron door in place of the old one, complete with a small window for food. His father was quick. Nuffink turned away in frustration and flung himself face-first onto the bed, screaming into the mattress. Grounded and feeling useless, he was overwhelmed.
"Hiccup," came Fishlegs' worried voice from outside the door.
Nuffink looked up immediately. That was Fishlegs, and he sounded anxious. He rose and approached the window, careful not to be seen.
"Hiccup, Tuff, and I went scouting, and well, they're here right now," Fishlegs said, his voice trembling.
"It's okay, Fishlegs. We knew this day would come. That's why we've been preparing," Hiccup's steady voice replied as he readied his weapons and gadgets on his armor. "Just tell the twins to get the villagers to the safe haven at Serpent's Cave, where they won't be seen, as practiced. Tell the other riders, including the A-Team, to meet us at their point of entry with their dragons and weapons ready."
"Of course! Come on, Meatlug! Fly like the wind, girl!" Meatlug made noises of agreement before finally taking off.
"Ready, bud?" Hiccup asked. Toothless placed his head against Hiccup's, who rubbed the dragon's head affectionately. "This is our home, Toothless—your second one. Let's make sure we don't lose it, huh?" Toothless shrieked in agreement. "Come on, let's go find Astrid." Hiccup hopped on Toothless, and they took off into the sky.
Nuffink glanced around, determination igniting within him. He was not going to stand by and just watch. He was a warrior, the son of the legendary dragon rider and warrior Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. New Berk was his home too, and as the future chief, he had to help defend it. But first, he had to get out and see if Shadow was healthy enough for the fight. Suddenly, the door unlocked.
"Zephyr!" Nuffink exclaimed as his sister burst in.
"Nuffink, they're coming! Let's go! Dad wanted me to get you to safety," she urged, her urgency palpable.
"Safety? Is he serious?" Nuffink scoffed.
"Yes, they're almost here, so let's hurry!"
Nuffink rolled his eyes but followed her as they made their way to Serpent's Point, joining the rest of the helpless villagers. Ruff and Tuff sat upon their dragons, directing the frantic crowd. Some of the villagers groaned and muttered things like, "Great," "Village Destroyer," or "Why is he here?" as Nuffink approached, avoiding eye contact.
"Come on, people! Do you want to live or die? Put some pep in your step!" Ruff shouted.
"Yeah, because if they were here, they would have already had all you slowpokes for dinner, so let's move it!" Tuff added.
The crowd continued to move sluggishly. Nuffink walked slowly among them with Zephyr.
"I can't believe I don't get to help. I guess I put myself in this situation, huh?" he said, frustration seeping into his tone.
"Yeah, pretty much," Zephyr replied flatly.
"Thanks for being so straightforward," Nuffink muttered.
"Yeah."
"Maybe we can be a last line of defense in case everything goes wrong, huh?" Nuffink suggested, trying to lift his spirits.
"..." Zephyr was silent.
"What's with the short answers today?" Nuffink pressed.
"You really don't realize what you've done, do you?" Zephyr snapped.
Nuffink frowned, looking at her. "What do you mean?"
"We sent some of the men to scout. They didn't come back, Nuffink," she said, her voice low.
Nuffink looked down in shock and guilt.
"So there is no 'we' here," Zephyr continued, her tone hardening. "It's you. Alone. By yourself. I'm going to help Mom and Dad with this fight." She turned to leave.
"You wanted to ride that day too!" Nuffink shouted, frustration boiling over. Zephyr paused, a flicker of guilt crossing her face. "Just remember that before you start to look down on me."
"I've realized the error of my ways, and it's time you grew up and did the same," she replied, her voice unwavering.
"Zephyr—"
"Just…stay put, Nuffink. We don't need you screwing this up too." She stormed off, leaving Nuffink feeling angry, hurt, and confused. He balled his fists and ran in the opposite direction.
Nuffink reached Gobber's house and found Shadow inside. The dragon looked much better now and was heartily devouring a piece of chicken. Nuffink approached slowly.
"Hey, boy. What do you say we show them who they're dealing with?" he said, meeting Shadow's gaze. The dragon grunted in response. "Maybe then they'll all learn how to respect me." Just then, an explosion echoed in the distance. "Sounds like that's our cue." He hopped on Shadow, and they took off into the air, flying toward the battle.
"Now!" Hiccup shouted.
All the former dragon riders signaled their dragons to fire blasts simultaneously, forming a makeshift forcefield. The Scourge flew up on their dragons, firing back. Suddenly, a massive destroyer emerged behind them, with Nijal perched atop its head.
"Fire!" Nijal commanded.
The massive dragon unleashed a blast that quickly overwhelmed the riders' defenses, forcing them to retreat behind a cliff.
"Did you see that thing?" Snotlout shouted, his eyes wide.
"That's beyond class seven, Hiccup! So far beyond that I think I need to make a new class!" Fishlegs exclaimed, panic evident in his voice.
"Hiccup, that dragon is following commands on its own—no chains, no rods, nothing!" Astrid added.
"Yeah, it's almost as evil as the Red Death. Remember? Weird extra eyes, and massive jaws. Am I the only one who can remember this?!" Tuffnut said.
"You're right, Tuff," Hiccup conceded.
"I am? I mean, of course, I am. I was always the smarter twin!" Tuffnut puffed up proudly.
"Oh please, you're someone's father, and you can still barely tie your own laces," Ruffnut scoffed.
"Well, quite contrary to your belief, my dear sister, I don't wear any laces!" Tuffnut retorted.
"Guys, focus!" Hiccup interrupted. "This thing does have some of the same features. Maybe it's a new dragon of its kind. If I can fire a blast into it like I did before…"
"It might ignite, and you can take it down just like last time! Hiccup, you're a genius!" Astrid encouraged.
The wind howled across the cliffs, carrying the distant sounds of battle with it. Hiccup stood in the heart of Berk's square, his eyes darting from one villager to the next as chaos unfolded around them. His mind raced, trying to form a plan amidst the rising smoke and roars of dragons.
"Alright, here's what we're going to do," he began, his voice commanding but laced with urgency. "The A-Team will distract them. The kids keep the fires down on the ground and continue evacuating everyone to safety. Then Toothless and I can take Nijal high into the sky and rattle him up... just like before."
Before he could say more, Ruffnut's voice cut through his words like a sharp blade. "Uhh, hate to break up your good strategy session, but isn't that your headstrong son up there?"
Hiccup's heart sank as he whipped his head upward. Sure enough, Nuffink was flying StormShadow through the fray, darting between the flames and enemy dragons.
"You're making plans, but your son's out of control!" Tuffnut chimed in, shaking his head in disapproval.
Snotlout, never missing an opportunity to tease, let out a loud laugh. "Good one, Tuffnut!"
Hiccup groaned. "Nuffink?! Oh, come on! I thought I told you, Tuff, and Zephyr to make sure he didn't get out!"
"Well, you can barely lock him up," Ruffnut retorted, throwing a guilty glance at Tuffnut. "What were we supposed to do with him?"
Hiccup's frustration grew as he scanned the battlefield. "What is he doing up there?"
"We have to get him down," Astrid said, already moving toward her dragon, Stormfly.
"No, I'll go!" Hiccup interrupted, his voice rising over the roar of the chaos. "We carry out the plan as we discussed. If we break formation now, we lose our only chance. Stick to the mission, follow my lead, and keep an eye on Nijal and that beast of his."
Hiccup gave the signal, and they all zoomed off on their dragons, splitting into formation. Snotlout led the A-Team, and the rest created diversions, launching attacks from all sides. Hiccup and Toothless soared higher, ready to execute the most dangerous part of their plan.
"First things first, Toothless," Hiccup muttered. "Plasma blast!"
Toothless shot a powerful blast, sending a henchman crashing off his dragon. Hiccup's eyes immediately snapped to Nuffink, who was now deep in the battle, calling out to the stray villagers.
"Come on, slowpokes! You're slower than a yak on Grasshog Day! Move it!" Nuffink shouted, his young voice carrying a fierce determination.
A nearby henchman sneered. "You should be more worried about yourself, boy."
Nuffink turned, his face set in a glare. Hiccup's heart lurched, and he yelled, "Now! We go now!" They all shot forward, executing their roles with precision.
Toothless swooped down, blasting another group of henchmen away from Nuffink. "Nuffink!" Hiccup called out, his voice tense with both relief and frustration.
Nuffink turned, surprised. "Father, what are you doing here?"
"I'm not kidding with you, Nuffink!" Hiccup began to scold, but before he could finish, a fiery blast whooshed overhead, forcing him to duck. The next moment, Nuffink had already launched himself back into the fight.
Hiccup shook his head in frustration, following closely behind. This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
Toothless let out a sharp cry as a Scourge dragon dived at them. Hiccup twisted in the saddle, firing a plasma blast that hit its wing, sending it spiraling out of control. As they continued to battle, Hiccup's frustration boiled over.
"You were supposed to stay back!" he shouted over the chaos, his voice barely audible against the roar of the fight.
"I couldn't just sit there and watch, Dad!" Nuffink yelled back, dodging a flaming arrow. His defiance was clear, but his heart was in the right place. "I'm not a little kid anymore!"
Hiccup gritted his teeth, avoiding another blast of molten fire. "This isn't about watching! It's about following orders! You weren't ready for this fight!"
Nuffink's eyes blazed. "I'm just as ready as anyone else! I'm fighting just like Zephyr, who's out here too!"
Just then, a Scourge dragon descended on them, its rider aiming a spear directly at Hiccup. Before it could strike, Nuffink and StormShadow swooped in, blocking the attack. With a swift motion, Nuffink lashed out with his axe, knocking the rider to the ground.
"See? I'm just as good as anyone else out here!" Nuffink shouted triumphantly, but Hiccup wasn't impressed.
"It's not about being good enough!" Hiccup yelled back, blasting another dragon out of the sky. "It's about being smart! You can't just charge in without thinking of the consequences!"
Nuffink clenched his fists, his frustration rising to match his father's. "Sometimes, you have to act, Dad! We've been planning for the Scourge forever, but where has that gotten us? The other tribes have been destroyed because we waited too long!"
"That was different!" Hiccup fired back, launching another plasma blast. "I didn't have a family back then! Everything I do now is to keep you, your sister, and your mother safe!"
"And you think leaving me out of the fight is keeping me safe?" Nuffink shouted, guiding StormShadow into a sharp dive. "I'm part of this family too, Dad! I might even be chief one day!"
Before Hiccup could respond, a massive shadow loomed over them. The Destroyer dragon, a towering, black-scaled beast, emerged from the clouds. Nijal, its rider, raised his hand, his eyes locked on Hiccup.
"Dad, look out!" Nuffink yelled, but it was too late.
The Destroyer's claws slashed through the air, knocking Hiccup off balance. Toothless dodged, but the attack left Hiccup struggling to hold on.
Without hesitation, Nuffink charged. "I've got this!"
"No, Nuffink, wait!" Hiccup shouted, his voice drowned by the chaos.
"Nuffink, no!" Astrid's voice rang out, watching helplessly as her son hurtled toward the massive dragon.
But it was a mistake. The Destroyer unleashed a torrent of fiery breath, engulfing Nuffink and StormShadow. The flames scorched StormShadow's wings, sending them spiraling out of control.
"Dad!" Nuffink screamed, his voice filled with fear.
Hiccup's heart stopped. "Nuffink!" he shouted, pushing Toothless to the limit.
Astrid, blood seeping from a wound, fought her way toward them. She reached Nuffink just in time, intercepting his fall, but the impact sent them all crashing into the ground.
Nuffink scrambled to his feet, pain radiating through his body as his heart pounded in his chest. His gaze locked on his mother, lying on the ground with blood seeping from her wound.
"Mom!" Nuffink cried, rushing to her side, his voice trembling. "Mom, are you okay?"
Astrid winced, her face pale, but she forced a small smile. "I'm fine, Nuffink," she whispered through gritted teeth. "But you... you need to be more careful."
Tears welled in Nuffink's eyes. "I'm sorry, Mom. I just wanted to help."
In the distance, Hiccup saw the scene unfold. His heart thudded painfully in his chest as he urged Toothless forward, his mind racing with dread. Reaching them, the sight of Astrid lying there wounded sent a chill through his veins. He leaped from Toothless, rushing to her side.
"Astrid!" Hiccup's voice cracked as he dropped to his knees, his hand trembling as he examined her wound.
Astrid's eyes flickered up to meet his, pain clouding her usually fierce gaze. "I'm fine," she said, her voice shaking as she tried to steady herself. "It's just a scratch."
"It's not just a scratch," Hiccup muttered, his jaw clenched. "We need to get you out of here."
Astrid shook her head, determination glinting behind her exhaustion. "I can still fight."
"No," Hiccup said firmly, his voice taut with fear. "You can't. Nuffink, take your mother to Serpent Point now. I'll take care of the rest here."
Nuffink's eyes widened. "Dad, I—"
Hiccup turned to his son, his voice sharp with an intensity that shook Nuffink to his core. "This is exactly why I didn't want you out here!"
"I'm sorry, Dad!" Nuffink's voice cracked, his hands trembling as guilt flooded his chest. "I made a mistake…"
"There isn't time for mistakes in battle, Nuffink!" Hiccup's voice rose in anger. "One wrong move and you could get yourself—or someone else—killed! Look around you. Berk, your mother—people have died protecting what we love. And you acting this way all this rebellion, you're no different from these men raiding our village right now. They think they're right too Nuffink! But are they? You want to help but you are only making things worse! We don't just rush in without thinking! This is why we plan, why I always think and use my head, not my strength just because I have it son!"
Nuffink lowered his head, his father's words landing like blows. He glanced at the destruction around him—houses burned, dragons wounded, chaos everywhere—and his heart sank further, tears filling his eyes. "I'm not like them, Dad," Nuffink whispered, barely audible. "How could you say that?"
Hiccup sighed, his voice softening but still firm. "Take your mother to the village, Nuffink."
"Dad, I—"
"Go!" Hiccup's tone was final, the weight of responsibility hanging heavy in the air.
Swallowing his shame, Nuffink helped his mother onto Stormfly, his heart breaking as Stormfly soared away from the battle. Astrid placed a gentle hand on his cheek.
"You're brave, Nuffink," she whispered her voice tender despite her pain. "But bravery doesn't mean taking unnecessary risks. You have to think. Always."
Tears stung Nuffink's eyes as he rode back toward the village, Astrid's words echoing in his mind. He had wanted so badly to prove himself, to show his father he was worthy. But now, all he felt was shame.
The sun dipped low as the battle came to a bitter end. Berk lay in ruins, the once-proud village now a landscape of destruction. Dragons limped through the streets, and the air was thick with the smell of smoke and blood. The Scourge had left their mark, and though they were driven away, the cost was devastating.
Nuffink wandered through the village in a daze. Everywhere he went, he heard the murmurs of the villagers.
"Did you see what happened? Nuffink nearly got everyone killed."
"He's too reckless."
The whispers followed him like shadows, each word piercing his heart. With heavy steps, he found himself outside the healer's tent where his mother lay. He paused at the entrance, his heart pounding. Inside, his sister Zephyr sat quietly by Astrid's side, her face pale and tense with worry.
Nuffink swallowed hard, stepping inside. Zephyr looked up at him, relief in her eyes but also something else—something that stung.
"Gothi says she'll be okay," Zephyr whispered, her voice trembling. "But Nuffink... what were you thinking?"
Nuffink opened his mouth, but no words came. He couldn't explain it. How could he make her understand that all he had wanted was to help, to prove himself? All he had done was make things worse.
"I'm sorry," he finally managed to choke out, his voice a raw whisper.
Zephyr softened slightly but still looked at him with a mix of concern and disappointment. "I know you are," she said quietly. "But Nuffink, you have to start thinking before you act. You can't keep doing this."
Nuffink sat down beside her, staring at their mother, so pale and fragile. He wanted to speak, to apologize properly, but his voice seemed to fail him. Instead, he sat in silence, guilt gnawing at him.
Hiccup entered the healer's tent later that evening, exhaustion and worry etched into his face. He moved quietly to Astrid's side, taking her hand gently. "How is she?" he asked Gothi, his voice laced with fear.
Gothi nodded reassuringly, motioning that Astrid would recover with time. Relief washed over Hiccup, his grip on her hand tightening as he leaned closer. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
Astrid stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she gave him a weak smile. "Hey," she murmured, her voice a whisper.
"Hey," Hiccup replied softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You scared me."
She chuckled weakly, wincing in pain. "Sorry... but you know me, I can't sit on the sidelines."
Hiccup smiled, though his heart was heavy. "I know. But I can't lose you, Astrid."
"You won't," she whispered, her gaze filled with determination. "I'm not going anywhere."
They shared a quiet moment, but the weight of the day's events still pressed down on Hiccup. He hesitated, glancing toward the tent's entrance. "Astrid... I yelled at Nuffink today. I think... I think I went too far."
Astrid squeezed his hand gently, her eyes soft despite her pain. "You still have time to make it right," she said. "Talk to him."
Hiccup nodded, leaning in to kiss her forehead. "I will."
Outside the tent, Nuffink stood on the cliffs overlooking the sea, the crashing waves below a reflection of the turmoil inside him. His father's words echoed in his mind, twisting like a knife in his heart.
You're no different from them...
Nuffink clenched his fists. No matter what he did, he couldn't escape his father's shadow. He was Hiccup's son, but he realized he was nothing like him. He was nothing more than a troublemaker. Maybe that's why he was named, nothing.
The decision he had been wrestling with for weeks now felt inevitable. He needed to leave to be on his own. Away from Berk. Away from the expectations and the whispers. With one last glance at the village, Nuffink mounted StormShadow, his heart pounding with the promise of freedom.
As they soared into the sky, he didn't look back.
Hiccup stared at an empty tent, a chill creeping into his veins. "Nuffink?" he called out softly. But the tent was silent. Something was wrong.
Panic surged in Hiccup's chest as he ran through the village, calling his son's name. StormShadow was gone. Nuffink was gone.
His breath hitched as the realization sank in. His son had left.
"We have to find him, bud," Hiccup whispered, mounting Toothless. "Before it's too late."
With a beat of powerful wings, they soared into the night, racing against time to bring Nuffink home.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
