Chapter Sixteen

A/N: In response to...

LegendaryGriffin: Sorry I didn't reply in the last chapter, your review only showed up after I posted. And wow, someone who actually likes my cliffhangers! XD I'm glad you like it :)

InfinitiumAce: Yeah, I was going to mention that episode but you beat me to it! XD And yep, I feel like Hookfang only behaves himself around the other Riders. (Particularly Hiccup) But he's ornery towards Snotlout, which is cute in and of itself. They're a lot alike if you ask me :)

Breyannia: Yep, wouldn't be surprising if Stoick flipped on Hiccup...but I guess you'll have to read and find out. XD

NightFury999: I understand that confliction, LOL! And thanks, I'm glad you think it's 'epicness'.

Jesusfreak: XD

XxPinkMustachexX: It was drizzling while I was in school but stopped before I got out to the busses :) (But was that weird combonation of cloudy, muggy, and sunny patches that reminds me of Berk so it was cool! XD) Cool :D I'm glad you think Venomous sounds promising! It's sort of a combo of something I had wanted to write for a long time (but never had the motivation to do) and a requested prompt so I'm excited to write it!

For Thor's sake, Hiccup! Stoick growls to himself as he flies determinedly toward Berk. Hiccup is there, he can tell. And he is in a world of trouble as soon as his father finds him! Why?! Why can't you just obey one, simply order?! Why must you be so reckless and disobedient?! But that dark feeling is still fluttering in his chest, feeling a bit like a butterfly flapping its black wings against his heart. Please be okay...

"...cup."

"...iccup?"

"Hiccup!"

"Huh?!" Hiccup's head snaps up much too quickly, proving Astrid's suspicion that he had been on the verge of passing out again. The groggy-looking boy turns in the saddle to face her, his expression confused. "Did you say something?"

The Viking girl frowns disapprovingly. "Yes, I called you three times already..."

"Sorry." He mutters, turning away again. "I didn't hear you..."

"See! I told you he just didn't hear her!" Tuffnut suddenly shouts to his sister. "Pff, and you thought he forgot what his name was!"

"Hey, it's not impossible! Remember that time I convinced you your name wasn't Tuffnut?" Ruff laughs.

"Ha! Proves what you know! You never had me tricked..." Tuff snorts and shakes his head like it's ridiculous that he would ever forget his own name.

His sister shrugs and turns away, seemingly letting the issue drop. That is, until she peeks over at him and smirks. "Hey, Olaf!" She calls innocently and, as if on que, Tuffnut looks back over and asks,

"What?" But he immediately catches himself and scowls at her, punching his twin very hard in the arm. Of course she retaliates instantly, almost knocking him off of Belch's back.

"Guys! Could you-" But Snotlout is interrupted when Fishlegs and Meatlug buzz up behind him and call out,

"Look! There's someone flying toward us!"

All eyes, even Hiccup's, turn to the figure gliding toward them on the back of a skittish, new tamed Gronckle. Snotlout feels his younger cousin go slightly stiff behind him and hears the boy mutter a quiet, "Oh great..."

Upon closer inspection, Snotlout figures out why. "It's the Chief!" He calls back to the rest of them. Astrid groans and pats Toothless's side, signaling for him to fly faster.

"Come on, boy. I think we have a lot of explaining to do..."

"No, Astrid." Hiccup says, stopping her. "I'll talk to him...I'm the one that insisted I go."

She hesitates and doesn't get the chance to argue. Because almost a second later, Stoick's booming voice cuts through the space as if he were right next to them.

"HICCUP HORRENDOUS HADDOCK THE THIRD!" He shouts so loud the dragons shake their heads in confusion for a moment, their ears twitching from the unaccustomed loudness. However, it appears he hasn't figured out it's not his son who's riding the Night Fury... As soon as he gets close enough to realize this, however, his expression shifts drastically. Straight from blind fury to fatherly concern. He glances around the various dragons, searching for Hiccup...only to find him pale, guilty face peeking out from behind Snotlout's back.

The burst of relief that floods his father's chest is almost enough to make him forget his previous rage. ...almost. "Hiccup!" He growls, steering the heavy boulder class dragon closer to his son. His gaze immediately finds the patch of red slowly growing on his shoulder and grimaces. "This is exactly why I didn't want you to go!" He cries angrily. Without wasting a moment, he swoops up beside his son and pulls him onto the Gronckle's back in front of him, turning the boy's shoulder and getting a closer look at his torn wound.

Beads of red have welled up again, despite the fresh layer of new, pink skin. But by the amount of dried crimson on Hiccup's clothes and smeared down the front of his collarbone, it looks like a lot of blood spilled out in a very short amount of time. Stoick rakes a hand through his hair and sighs. "You're lucky you didn't faint with this amount of blood loss..."

"Um, actually..." Astrid begins, only stopping herself once Hiccup throws her a warning look. It seems to say 'he doesn't need to know!' But of course it's too late.

Stoick glares down at his son, who flinches in response.

"I'm sorry, Dad." Hiccup mumbles. "But they couldn't have snuck onto Berk without me. I...don't regret going." And then he braces himself, trying to prepare for the screaming of a lifetime. He's just not accustomed to talking back to his father...despite the amount he's been doing it lately.

Surely enough, Stoick's face grows dangerously red and his green eyes light up in fury. But...after a moment, he seems to calm down, much to Hiccup's surprise. "Okay, my underhanded son, listen well..." He grumbles. "You are in a HUGE amount of trouble for SO MANY things... But I'm going to wait until we get back to Outcast Island and patch you up..."

When Hiccup looks back at him in confusion, his father offers a threatening smile.

"You're pale as a ghost. Wouldn't want you 'fainting' right in the middle of a lecture."

So Hiccup groans and leans his head in his hand. I am so sorry, Toothless. I get the feeling I'm going to be grounded for the rest of my life...

And Stoick keeps his word. As soon as Hiccup's shoulder has been rebound, cleaned, and medicated for the small infection that had started there, the boy's father goes of a rampage of punishments that seems to stretch on forever. And it's just as Hiccup had feared. The words "grounded forever!" actually leave Stoick's mouth. Although Gobber, who is sitting awkwardly in the corner of the room, having been trapped by the suddenness of his friend's furious outburst, merely rolls his eyes at his apprentice and shakes his head.

At the moment, Stoick is currently pacing the short length of their tent, a small moment of silence hanging there as he tries to figure out what to yell about next. Hmm, maybe lying to him about Alvin? Or possibly making a fool out of him in front of their new ally? Sure, that's technically the same crime but it's two different ways of saying it... And he's just opened his mouth to start another round of lecturing when the tent flap flies open, revealing a breathless and bright-eyed Astrid.

"It's the Romans!" She pants, wiping her sweaty bangs from her eyes.

"What?" Stoick asks firmly.

"They're LEAVING Berk!" She cries excitedly. "The plan worked! They never spotted us and they believed the letter!"

Hiccup's formerly dull expression instantly brightens. "They're leaving?!" He gasps, sitting up from his bed. "It worked?!"

"Yes!" She confirms with a huge grin. "We were out doing recon and saw the ships leaving! No one is left on the island and they took all of their weapons and supplies with them!"

Hiccup laughs in excited relief. "We did it...!" He breathes in sudden disbelief. "We really did it...!"

"We can go home!" Astrid reminds them.

Stoick and Gobber exchange pleased looks before both of them start hurrying toward the door. "We've got a lot of things to take care of before we leave...but we can probably set sail by tonight." He tells his friend as they rush off, leaving Hiccup and the list of punishments behind.

As soon as the tent flap is closed again, Astrid's innocent smile twists into a knowing smirk. She strides over to Hiccup and stops beside him, her hands on her hips. "Just for the record, that's the second time I've saved you from your father."

He stares at her in confusion for a second. "Wait...what do you mean? Are the Romans really gone?"

She nods before sitting down on his bed side. "Of course, I wouldn't lie about something like that! But I could have waited until you dad was done 'talking' before I made the announcement."

Hiccup smiles gratefully at her. "I'm glad you didn't wait."

She chuckles. "You're welcome."

And Hiccup snickers in return. "Thank you." He says, his eyes suspiciously following the hand she is slowly raising toward his cheek. His mind instantly flies into a flurry of thought, trying to figure out what that hand will do. Is she going to hit him? Kiss him? Gods, Astrid is so confusing sometimes! He kissed her on Berk...and she didn't say anything about it but so maybe-

His thoughts are cut off when she suddenly starts laughing. "For the love of Thor, Hiccup, don't look so terrified!" Astrid's hand cups his cheek, ruling out the hit-option...but that means-

She leans down and kisses him, their lips lingering together for a while before they eventually part. "That was for kissing me on Berk." She growls, inciting a grin from the boy.

But before she can draw away, he recaptures her lips and her eyes grow wide from the unexpected kiss. When Hiccup finally draws away again, his smile is almost dopey. "And that was for rescuing me...again"

Rome's emperor glares down at the group of men kneeling before him on the glossy marble floor. "What do you mean you received a notification that you were to move out?! From who?!"

One of the soldiers looks up timidly. "Um...you, your highness. It was addressed from the Roman High King."

And the shrewd king's eyes narrow in understanding. "Ah, I see. We've been set up... Clever Vikings."

The soldier bows his head again and in a firm voice asks, "What are your orders, my liege?"

The emperor sits back on his throne, drumming his fingers against. "Nothing for now. It would take too long to return and we've already lost your commanding officer." A knowing smile touches his lips as he gazes out the arched window overlooking his sparkling city. "Our empire already touches every corner of this world...one tiny heap of rock isn't worth spending more resources on. Let them be for now."

A/N: AND THE MOST UNORIGINAL, CHEESY ENDING EVER AWARD GOES TO LEISATHEGREAT! XD Thanks for reading and reviewing guys! I hope you liked Blood Letter and also hope I'll see you in my next story, Venomous!