Oh my fucking god. I don't have the words. It's 4am and i just binge read this entire thing, and omg. I love fics where hiccup doesn't just forgive the village for how they treated him but this fic was vera level! I'm amazed!

I'M ACTUALLY CRYING WHY'D YOU GOTTA BE SUCH A GOOD WRITER? AAHHHHTHAT WAS SO SAD AND GREAT AND IN CHARACTER! HOW!? *sobs*

I've started this story at least three times, but I never made it past the first chapter. But this time, I told myself that I was going to read it, that I wouldn't back out like before, and I'm so happy I did. I never would have known what I was missing.

This is a beautiful, intense, real exploration of Hiccup as a person, and I soon found myself sneaking the story out when I should have been working in class, because I couldn't get enough of the words to feel fulfilled. It's so raw, so emotional, so REAL... 15 years of being told you're nothing will mess with a person's mind, and a few "sorry"s won't do anything to change that. I've always loved Hiccup's character for being one of the most positive, forgiving ones out there, but this is a side of him that I feel, while perhaps a bit too much to be in this universe, fits him perfectly.

I admit that intimate scenes are something I've never really enjoyed (and perhaps that's why I turned away from this story so many times), but everything this tale is written for, everything it represents, is why I love HTTYD. These characters are human (even the scaly ones), and they have feelings, things that need to be explored and resolved and fixed. Their bonds are built on so many deep levels, so many experiences, good and bad, that there's nothing you can do but admire the thought that went into them.

Hiccup and Toothless are my favorite duo in all of media, because their bond stands on so many things, both physically and mentally. Even after their story has come to an end, it's clear that there's nothing that can ever truly break them apart, not even the physical distance between them. And I'm an absolute sucker for familial relations, so the exploration of Hiccup and Stoick as father and son is something that I've always loved, and your portrayal of how broken it was made me stop and look at everything different. I've written a few tales myself on this issue, but none, NONE of them could ever come remotely close to the depth and authenticity that this fanfic presents. It's unparalleled.

How long is this review? Several hundred words? And I haven't even gotten a chance to express my love of the use of metaphor of Hiccup's physical loss of his leg to his emotional turmoil? I don't even know if FFN has a word limit, but I don't think I could rightfully express my full thoughts on this story within...

So I'll just leave it at this: thank you for this story, and this contribution to the HTTYD world. Brilliant

I've almost been reluctant to review this chapter, because I feel like anything I say won't do it justice. This is one of the most poignant, beautiful scenes I've read. From the beginning, with Toothless reflecting on how much Hiccup means to him, how they've become almost symbiotic, to the final reconciliation with father and son, it's just perfect.

I love how Toothless thinks that flight without Hiccup isn't worthwhile, and how he has decided that everything he has gained and that the changes he and Hiccup brought are greater than the loss he suffered.

And it was cute how Hiccup responded to the pain medicine, until Stoick mentioned how it had also freed him to speak some of his darkest thoughts, showing how he suffers from depression and anxiety.

Toothless is so great at running interference between the two. Of course he and Hiccup are so close, but it shows that Stoick and Toothless have grown close too, that they can understand and trust each other. They've come a long way since the Kill Ring.

And the interaction with Hiccup and Stoick was heartbreaking, intense, and ultimately hopeful. I'm so glad that they finally got to the root of the problems. As Hiccup says, he's still got a lot to work through so it's not all settled and everything's all good now. But finally he can begin to really heal and he and Stoick can work together. I'm glad that Stoick understands finally, that Hiccup needs to be able to trust in his unconditional love and support, and Stoick can really be there for Hiccup now. I know there will be more pain and maybe anger as they work through the past but there is a strong love too and they can work through it together.

Such a beautiful and wonderful chapter-and one of the best 'Hiccup and Stoick' scenes I've ever read!

What a great chapter! I'm so glad that Astrid finally was able to figure out the root of Hiccup's troubles and made Stoick realize it too.

Poor Thundercry! Losing a leg is another similarity to Hiccup. Hopefully they can both begin a real road to recovery now. And though I like Thornado and Skullcrusher, I can't help but think that in your AU, Thundercry should have become Stoick's dragon. He would have been a wonderful addition to their family.

And poor Stoick too. I can't help that my heart breaks for him. He really does love Hiccup dearly-he wouldn't be so devastated over his failures if he didn't. He's already changed so much. He's willing to discuss the difficult painful issues now, whereas in the beginning he just wanted to bury all their issues in the past and pretend that nothing was wrong. But he's seen that that method doesn't help Hiccup at all, and that Hiccup needs healing-Stoick just doesn't know how to help him, and he does have a habit of putting his foot in his mouth, or at least saying things that can be interpreted differently than how he meant them. Especially to someone who is so emotionally fragile and has such a terrible self-esteem, like Hiccup.

I'm so excited for the next chapter-these two really need to connect with one another.

Thank you again for this fantastic story!

Fishlegs is kind of the 'everyman', isn't he? But almost in spite of himself, he's growing into a stronger, better person. I was proud of him here.

Protective Ruffnut is great, and funny!

Thundercry is a great name for a dragon. It makes me hurt to think of how he must have suffered with his leg in that shape, poor thing. Although I'm sorry for Hiccup's trauma, I am glad that he and Toothless found him.

There's a symmetry to Hiccup and Thundercry, too. Thundercry was injured a long time ago, and maybe not too badly at first, but the wound was never treated, never healed, and over time, it became more and more painful until now it is constant agony and the slightest touch is unbearable. In a similar way, Hiccup endured lots of slights, harsh words, and casual cruelties, and they've festered in his soul and become as badly infected as the Nadder's leg. They both need healing, but at this point, the healing process is going to be difficult, too. But neither of them can keep going as they have been.

The kids have all really grown and changed a lot, haven't they? They are much more mature, and have become good people, good friends-even Snotlout. It was lovely to see them caring for Hiccup and trying to help him. I really liked how Fishlegs shared his story, embarrassing as it was, it was what was Hiccup needed to feel safe enough to open up a little.

Hiccup really needs to reconcile with his father, since his issues really began with Stoick, but I'm glad he has some close human friends to help him, as well as Toothless.

Great chapter!

These next few chapters are hard to read, but things have to get bad before they get better, I suppose. Poor Hiccup, it's starting to be too much for him. I love how you point out how Stoick and Astrid are trying so hard to make Hiccup feel loved, but they don't understand that Hiccup can't trust it because he fears that he could lose them if he messes up badly enough.

I also love how Toothless is the one who really sees how much Hiccup is hurting, but he isn't able to communicate effectively enough with the humans, and no, he can't heal Hiccup's pain on his own-because he was never the one who hurt him.

Typical of Hiccup that he could pull himself together enough to help Thundercry. He is the sort of person who will always do more for others than for himself.

I have a difficult time picturing Ruffnut being a housewife who sews and gossips-no wonder she felt so out of place. Astrid wouldn't fit in with that, either, actually. Glad Berk seems to be a little more enlightened.

I love how Ruffnut and Tuffnut both wanted their own space from each other, but when they got it, it wasn't really what they wanted. They just want to be recognized as individuals, not seen as interchangeable parts.

Love the Ruffnut and Hiccup bonding and how Ruffnut is growing up and seeing other perspectives-she may be the first to see how the parents of the village are not always considerate of the children, their own and others, and how they not-so-subtly contributed to Hiccup being the village 'mistake'. It's a nice parallel with how Tuffnut was one of the first to realize that Hiccup was 'broken'.

It’s such an interesting idea of Stoick’s father having a metal foot. It does make you wonder how things might have been different if he were around to interact with Hiccup. It seems very insightful too, how Stoick never really thought about the reality of someone having to deal with a prosthetic limb until his own son did. How his own father and most of the other villagers with prosthetics keep all the pain hidden, but with Stoick living with Hiccup, he can see first-hand how traumatic it is. I think this is part of what enables Stoick to develop more empathy.

And it’s so sad to see how Stoick wants to, and believes that he does, accept people as they are, but he missed doing that with his own son. Once again they talk in circles around each other and never connect—even though they both want to. Your writing is masterful-you make both of them sympathetic, although it’s frustrating that Stoick just can’t see what Hiccup needs, and although Hiccup tries to tell him, it’s hard for him to be that vulnerable and open with his father.
A beautiful, but sad chapter!

I really like your Astrid. She is strong, but also thoughtful and a genuinely loving person. It's interesting because she is normally self-confident, but she still has moments of doubting. She and Hiccup are a lovely couple, because although they don't always see things from the same perspective, they are always willing to learn from one another and consider the other's POV.

Great story. Thanks for sharing!

This is such a beautiful chapter. Another favorite one.

I think it is absolutely true that Stoick always loved Hiccup, but as you wrote, he didn’t always like him. Hiccup’s strengths and talents are so different from Stoick’s own that he couldn’t recognize and appreciate him for a long time.

I loved the descriptions of Hiccup throughout his early childhood and it is so easy to see how Stoick found it difficult to connect. I bet the Stoick-at-the-end-of-the-story wishes so much to go back in time and show his younger self how to relate. But the sad fact is that if Hiccup hadn’t been so lonely, he wouldn’t have been so desperate to befriend Toothless either.

Love how protective Toothless is! I’m sure it would seem strange to Stoick though, because he and Toothless were getting along, and he doesn’t realize that Hiccup has been confiding in his dragon about the past.

Great parallel with Snotlout struggling for his father’s approval too.

It’s sad that Stoick is mis-reading Hiccup’s insecurities even now, that he can’t see that what Hiccup needs is to know that his father loves him unconditionally, that he worries that Stoick might turn on him or disown him again if he messed up badly enough. I don’t believe that Stoick would-I don’t believe that Stoick truly meant it even in the movie-but of course Hiccup is understandably afraid of that.

Again, I really loved the chapter.

And just when I was hating Snotlout, he proves he actually does have a heart-buried deep down.

He does have a lot of insight, more than you would expect him, and I did laugh about the twins actually making Hiccup a tail fin. They do mean well, lol.

This is one of my favorite chapters-though I have a lot of favorite chapters, lol! But it does such a beautiful job showing the deep friendship and love between Hiccup and Toothless, as well as really beginning to show Hiccup's emotional trauma.

It was sweet how Toothless was remembering the first days in the cove, and the parallel of both of them being so desperately lonely and healing each other. I loved how Hiccup restored not just the missing tail fin, but also Toothless' self-esteem, simply by befriending him when Toothless felt shamed by the loss. And how now, Toothless wants to do the same for his friend/brother.

Good job of portraying Hiccup's issues with his prosthetic leg. I'm sure it would be agonizingly difficult to accept emotionally and physically, especially in the beginning. I was touched that he really grasped that it had been difficult for Toothless too, to lose his tail fin, though I'm glad that Toothless considered it worth the price of friendship.

One can really see how far Hiccup and Stoick’s relationship develops over the course of your story. Obviously Stoick loves Hiccup—we can see his concern when Hiccup is suffering physical pain, and as Toothless tells us, he can be affectionate-but only when Hiccup is unconscious. He’s not yet comfortable being demonstrative when his son would be aware of it. When Stoick speaks to him about the incident with Astrid, he’s only lecturing and talking at Hiccup, not with him. He’s still keeping everything at face value-not digging underneath the surface to the truth of the situation.

But it’s the relationship between Hiccup and Toothless that is the heart and soul of HTTYD, and the scene in the cove was beautiful. Toothless is so wise and aware of Hiccup’s needs. I always love seeing the two of them bond.

Beautiful chapter!

You portray the twins better than anyone I've seen! They're very difficult to write. Tuffnut is such a mix of a comic idiot and a wise old sage. Oddly enough, he seems to be one of the first to realize that Hiccup is indeed 'broken'.

And I laughed at the part where Hiccup says that you need to be sincere about an apology and Tuff is thinking 'that explains so much'.

Great writing!