FIVE YEARS AGO

The smoke was thick. Thick enough that you would get lost in the middle because you lose your sense of direction. But that didn't stop one individual.

He stumbles through, blind. He coughs as he breathes in smoke, but that doesn't deter him. He has to find him, make up for his mistakes. Make sure he is alive. Make up for all the times that he didn't care enough to make sure that he was happy... All those years of neglect and disdain.

They all said his son was a mistake, but the real mistake was doing nothing to prove otherwise. And not just proving the village wrong. He didn't prove to his son that he was loved and that he actually was cared for, no matter what the village said.

"Hiccup!" he yells, desperate for a response. But none comes. "Hiccup! Where are you?" Nothing.

He stumbles, searching any sign for a downed dragon with his rider. He knows what that dragon means to Hiccup. These last few days have shown him the truth. And he was a fool for not listening.

"Hiccup!" He yells once more, his hope wavering. "Hiccup," His name leaves his mouth, but this time its as crushed as his hope for finding his son. He falls to his knees in despair.

What has he done?

-----00-----

When he comes to, he is in a place that is unfamiliar. He is in a house that isn't his own. That alone is enough to tell him that something is horribly wrong.

It isn't until he tries to sit up that he realizes that he can't see from his right eye. He reaches up to feel across the right side of his face when the door to the hut opens, revealing a middle-aged man with graying hair and fierce hazel eyes. Seeing that his patient is now awake, the man hobbles across the room, a cane tapping the ground as he walks.

"How are you feeling?" The name asks. He walks to the chair next to the bed that Hiccup occupies and takes a seat. Hiccup looks at him, confusion showing clearly in his eye.

"I've been better," Hiccup voice is hoarse and his throat feels dry. He frowns in discomfort. The man sees this and hands him a cup with water. Hiccup doesn't hesitate when taking the cup and downs the water. The man rests his hand on Hiccup's wrist, lowering the cup from his mouth.

"Easy boy. You've been out for a while. Take it slow."

Hiccup nods and sips the water then sets it down in his lap. He takes a moment to collect his thoughts before looking up at the man. "Who are you and where am I?"

The man raises an eyebrow but answers his questions, "I'm Steinar, chief of the Bardes. And who might you be?"

Hiccup hesitates. His father is very well known for his combat skills and his accomplishments as a chief. He is also well known for his disappointment of a son.

Hiccup the Useless.

That was his status. And now that he royally screwed up with his attempt at peace, his status is probably worse than it ever has been. It's not like that is very important to Hiccup. He accepted this a long time ago. He just doesn't like how it has reflected on his father.

Though now it seems he finally has a chance to fix his mistakes. Steinar has said that he has been out for a while. And he obviously isn't on Berk anymore. This could be a fresh start for him. If the people on Berk think he died during the battle of the Red Death, then it is one less mess for them to clean up.

With his mind made up, Hiccup looks back up at Steinar.

"My name is Bjarte."