The morning light pierced through the clouds of the Wilderwest. Its warmth glinted against the icy peaks of the mountain only for it to vanish, swept away by the cold winds. With the light –shadowed by the very clouds.
A cold breeze swept through the village of Berk. Making children shiver as they clung to their fur–covered clothes. Yet they played. Laughing as they chased each other under the watchful eyes of their elders who shook their heads with amusement.
Berk had returned to the rhythmic sound of bustle. The sound of saws and hammers mixed with he clanging of steel and the thudding of wood. With the voice of the people, either in hushed whispers, laughter, giggles, shouting and downright cursing becoming the beat of life in the very air. Berk had turned chaotic, loud, and most of all –familiar.
"How you doing Stoick!?" greeted one,
"Good day to ya' Stoick!" greeted another.
"Fine morning for a walk ay Chief! Stretch them legs yeah?" said a third.
All in greetings of Stoick the Vast as he walked through the village. Smiling and waving for each soul that would deign his presence with their attention.
The cold winds, the salty air, the sound of the waves and the bustle of Berk made the man sigh in relief. His heart felt at ease accompanied by the lightness in his chest and the calm on his shoulders.
His feet thudded softly, belying a man his size. And as he walked –despite being a head taller than the tallest man of Berk– he mixed with the crowd. A pair of horned helms in a sea of them. Allowing the bear sized man slip his way through, chasing the scent of ash and soot not far from him.
He arrived at the forge, both eager and curious.
"Hiccup?" he called out and walked in, his eyes taking in everything.
From the swords among barrels and racks, axes neatly stacked atop each other like logs. Shields, both wooden and steel framed and even broken could be seen in the corner, stacked high like a pancake along with various ingots, boxes of nails and iron beads.
His eyes then landed on a wheeled contraption. His hand briefly gliding above its cylindrical frame. And with a step on a wooden pedal, the roof of the contraption rose and with several clicks of iron, wood and steel, a wheeled bolo–launcher unfolded itself.
Seeing the familiar invention made Stoick nod in satisfaction, eager to put the 'prototype' to good use.
*clang! *cling~
Stoick's attention snapped to the noise coming from further in, and just as he lifted a leather partition, he froze. His eyes widened seeing a round kid with short blonde hair framing his chubby face. He was looking at him with wide eyes as he held a Gronkle, with his arms draped around the head as if hugging it.
Stoick's wide eyes turned to the dragon. Waggings its tail as it clattered various items behind it. With its tounge lolled out, face adorned with a wide happy smile... like a puppy.
His eyes turned to the boy, who looked to the dragon, who looked to Stoick... and then. *Bam! "Oooff!" groans Stoick as he was tackled by the dragon on his back with a loud *thud. and then– *sslick~
"Uhk! get off!" shouted Stoick as the Gronkle licked his face whilst Fishlegs slowly and silently stepped out the door. Still wide eyed and trying to look inconspicuous despite barrelling through the various tools in the forge.
"FISHLEEEEGS!!!!" and with that, the boy ran.
—.—.—.—.—
"Ha!" grunted Astrid, as she threw her axe. *thud. it went as it bounced off the tree bark.
Seeing another fail, the girl snarled and stomped her feet towards her axe. And just as she bent over to pick it up, light refracted against her eyes. Attracting her attention, she turns to the source and saw a shield.
With uncontained excitement, she unknowingly rushes forward, kneeling before the weapon. And as she held it at her hand, she marveled at the lightweight steel. Easily lighter than a wooden plate. The smooth surface was cold to the touch, smooth to the skin. She held it up against the sun and saw how the light spilled at its edges, perfectly circular. And as she straps it around her arm, she sighed at the perfect fit. Unstrapping the shield, she checked how the shield felt with one hand, gripping the steel handle with red leather wrapped around it and found herself feeling giddy at the balance.
It was when she was inspecting the details of the shield that she noticed it. Carved into the leather strap of the shield is a familiar mark that made her heart skip a beat.
The Chief Seal of House Haddock.
"Hi Astrid."
"Kyah!" the girl yelped and turned to find Hiccup sitting on a nearby branch with his feet dangling off the tree.
"Hi." the boy waved with his brilliant smile.
"...hey." she responded with such uncertainty that it made his expression fall with her tone.
"So... uhmm... A-how do you like it?" the boy stutters out.
But Astrid did not simply answer. Not when a familiar heat bubbled beneath her skin and suddenly out her nose.
Hiccup could only wince with a mixture of sadness as the girl unknowingly flared her nostril before she answers.
"It's good."
"...I see."
Not knowing what else to say to an eight year old who most likely only know what is happening to her family and ignorant to everything outside of it. Hiccup could only sigh in disappointment.
'...What exactly was I thinking believing things to be otherwise...'
"Ok." he mutters, choosing to retreat for now.
After all, he remembers his own childhood and understood that kids... kids are stupid. And so with a defeated smile –a mix of both acceptance and understanding– he jumped down. Grabbed the girl by her shirt. Pulled her close and kissed her at her cheek with ith a loud smooch.
"Bye Astrid!" Hiccup loudly squeaks out as he let the red–faced and wide-eyed girl go and run away.
—.—.—.—.—
Little Astrid could only looked dumbly at the boy as his back retreated further and further away.
First he looks at her with excitement. Like one of her niece and nephew eager to show their embroidery to her, with an expression of pure hopefulness.
Only for him to just– It galled at her skin! Remembering the punishment he had extolled towards her uncle. The humiliation of her family.
Only for him to look at her with disappointment! –her hands clenched and grip tightened around the shield– Noticing how he.looked at her with such pity. Like some petulant child who did something stupid not knowing it. It was a look she had only received from her mother and yet this boy had the audacity to do so!
Only for him to kiss her!
"AH!" her body jolted, remembering something her mother had shared.
"Remember Astrid, you do not watch when a mom and a dad are making those noises!"
"But why?" her littler self asks.
"Because it is... uhm... sacred! Yes! Special even!"
"Really!?"
"Yes sweetling. It is when mommy and daddy try to make more siblings for you after all!"
"Can I do it to!?"
"NO!"
"Why not! I saw you and dad do it at the kitchen before."
Her mother sputters before coughing and saying. "Because you had to have your first!"
"My first what?"
"Uhh.... kiss. Yes! You have yet to have your first kiss! You remember what a kiss is right?"
"Uhum!" she happily nodded. "I kiss mom and dad before bed time after all."
"That's right sweetling. But if you remember your dad kisses me elsewhere right."
"Yes! Beneath your skirt."
"NO! No- nononono- No. That was him... licking ...his spilled yak milk yes."
"Ooohhhhh!"
"Yes, what I meant was a kiss on the lips sweetling remember?"
"Yes."
"Good. That first kiss darling ... it is special. Ok? You don't give that to someone willy-nilly."
"Ok!"
"And if someone takes it from you. You have to remember to uhhh- tell your dad. Ok?"
"But why?"
*sigh~ "I don't know sweety, maybe just for him to take responsibility! This is his duty after all! So in short?"
"Don't disturb the sacred moment."
"Yes."
"–keep safe 'my first'."
"Yes."
"–make sure dad drinks his Yak Milk."
"Yes."
"–and make sure that they take responsibility."
"Very good my sweetling."
Stirring out of he Memory, Astrid's hands softly held her cheek and whispers.
"I have to tell me' dad."
—.—.—.—.—
Stoick stood at the center of the Dragon Pit. Arms at his side with his jaw clenched and his eyes wide. His attention was solely focused on Yrsa Ingerman as she rub a roll of grass at the Dragon's– Meatlug's– nose.
Her efforts is making the beast look so tame and calm that in seconds, Yrsa had put the creature on its side.
"Good Girl! That's a good girl aye!"
The Gronkle warbled in joy as Yrsa rubbed it's belly. And minutes later, it was snoozing. Stoick couldn't believe his eyes... a Dragon bought low with... Grass!...
"You saw that ...aye Chief?"
Yrsa's words snapped him out of his stupor. The bubble of disbelief popped and the reality of the situation immediately crashed on his shoulders.
"Well?" Yrsa probes? "Your boys discovery seemed fruitful no? Me' son and my love believe we could put it good use!"
"Uhmm.. wha-what are Hiccup's words exactly?"
"It was more of a stumble really. A bit of this grass–" Yrsa showed a grass at the palm of her hands, looking far too ordinary to be thought of anything special. "–was stuck at a fish basket when they tried to feed her. How she reacted to it... it was hilarious really." Yrsa recounts with humor spilling with every word.
"Did he mention anything specific about this... uhmm–"
"Dragon Nip." Yrsa supplied.
"Yes. Dragon Nip. Any plans he intends to implement for it's use?" Stoick asks.
He still remembers the eel applied to the barn and the nets. And knowing how the Dragons reacted to it, it was only natural that he be hopeful aswell if his son had some ideas of merit to pursue regarding it.
"It would take time." Yrsa answers. "Most likely not usable for the nearest raid if my bones are to be believed." Stoick nodded, he could feel it too. Much like most of Berk. "But if we could make nets or place it on Dragon Muzzles... it would come a long way in sedating Dragons with little bloodshed."
Stoick hummed. Thinking how 'Sedating Dragons' isn't exactly a path to pursue. Not when he doesn't know how many lives it would cost to bring down a Dragon than kill it. But with the possibilities that these new findings offer...
"Hiccup said anything else?"
"Only concerns." Yrsa said grimly.
"Aye..." he whispers, remembering his son's warning.
"It might work." Hiccup said. "If it does then good. If it doesn't then all the worst. They aren't mindless beasts father. They are creatures of the world, much like us. One at war with our kind. But if I am to judge them by that standard then... I know a Chief's command holds weight... I can only imagine what sort of Dragon could impose it's will on Dragons that they would abandoned heir instincts entirely."
"... strength... One to be admired or feared. No different than men...." Stoick says.
"No different than us." Yrsa adds.
But Stoick didn't nod, nor did he respond. It was too soon... too soon to say it. His memories resurfaced, of her auburn hair and green eyes. Pleading and begging for a peaceful way... for another way... for any other way to end the war.
Each one he rebuffed, each one he discarded and with the memories of his dead, of those fallen, he refused to acknowledge them. And now... he was seeing things he never knew possible. And his heart ached with the whisper...
'If only I had listened sooner.'
Stoick shut his eyes forcing the memories to the back of his mind and as a shout ripped through Berk–
"HADOOOOOOOOOCCKK!!!"
–his eyes snapped open. Hearing Halvard's voice boom from the village.
*sigh~ "It seems my duty lies elsewhere."
"Haha... Good luck Chief. Go easy on 'im will ya'?"
"Come back here! You bastard!"
Stoick turns to the noise and sees Hiccup being chased by Halvard, who was being chased by Astrid, who was being chased by the Thorston twins.
*sigh~ "Back to work."
.
.
.
.
.
—.—.—.—.— AN —.—.—.—.—
Sorry if the humor falls flat. I don't know how to write it.
My favorite shows are like Brooklyn Nine Nine. Less jokes and more humor so I'm not really sure how this translates in writing. And as you've seen. I ain't that good at it.
Anyway, let me know what you think of the story so far.