NEW STORY! :D So I know I said "How Not To Ride Your Dragon" was the last book in the "How Not To" series, but I suppose that changed. :) I just got the idea for this story and simply HAD to write it. I love Hiccup/Valka bonding, and I had a lot of that in the previous story, but this one is focused slightly more on Hiccup/Astrid friendship. I don't have any big romance scenes, and they don't kiss (sorry to those who enjoy stuff like that). You don't have to read "How Not To Ride Your Dragon" to understand the story. It's optional. Although I would suggest it to some extent, you don't have to. Anywho, enough of my rambling. Enjoy the story!

This, is Berk. It's a couple hours East of No Where Ville and a couple days West of No Fun At All. It's located solemnly on the Midham of No Where Appreciated.

My home, a small village, which is the best kept secret this side of...well...anywhere. We have snowstorms that freeze the hairs off the back of your neck, and winds so cold and strong you feel as if you are going to be swept off your feet and blown halfway to the Isle of Night before you can even yell for help. And then the bad weather starts.

My name is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third. I am the relatively newly appointed Chief of this wet heap of rock we call home. Truly, though, it is home. Our home. And we Berkians have promised to protect it. I did so the minute I stepped forward to take my place as Chief. And the rest of the Berkians made their choice the instant they shouted, "Long live the Chief." And we will protect it. Even from the darkest and greatest of foes.

Hiccup soared through the village on Toothless. Since becoming Chief, he always did his flights with Toothless either early morning, or sometimes (if he wasn't too worn out from a full day of chiefing) late at night, although that was seldom.

This time, though, it was at night. Hiccup and Toothless were both longing for a night to just enjoy being together, and so that was exactly what they did.

Of course, Hiccup had to first take it up with his mother, who was still worried. About two weeks ago, Gothi had said that Hiccup had fully recovered from his injuries. Two months before, Hiccup had battled Dagur, fought Dagur; and in the end, killed Dagur; intentionally or unintentionally, however you would like to put it. Dagur was dead. And since that day, when the battle between Berkian and Berserkers had been won in Berk's favor, they had never seen or heard anything from Berserk since.

A few of the Berserkers escaped; of course, it didn't mean much, though. They were few in numbers; what were they going to do?

Hiccup leaned over Toothless as the Night Fury spun into the night. It was incredible, flying was. After a few hours of flying, Hiccup headed back home. Everything seemed to be in order; no reason to stay out, especially since he woke up early to chief the village and fly with Toothless.

He landed Toothless in front of his house, and then dismounted. It was quiet, except from the snoring coming from Valka's dragon, Cloudjumper, heard from inside the house. Hiccup walked up to the door slowly, opening it as quietly as he could, hating the way it creaked. He really had to fix the creak.

He opened the door for Toothless, and then shut it behind both the dragon and himself. Right before he turned around, he heard someone speak to him.

"You're home late," said Valka.

Hiccup turned around and offered a smile. "Yeah," he said. "Sorry about that. Why are you up?"

"Looking for you," said Valka. She was hiding something, though; Hiccup could tell. That was something he and she both had in common; they could pretty much hide their emotions from other people fairly well, but not from each other.

"What aren't you telling me?" said Hiccup. He pulled a stool over and gestured for her to sit down while he dragged a second one over and placed it in front.

"I keep having these dreams, Hiccup," said Valka. "Every night I would wake up from them, and then I would make sure you were alright, because they feel so real. But you weren't there, and I didn't know where you were...and then I heard Toothless fly in, and was relieved, but...it was only two months ago, Hiccup. I still can't get over the fact that I came so close to losing you."

"Do you want to talk about it?" said Hiccup. "It helps sometimes, you know."

"I know it does," said Valka. "And so...in the dreams...it's the same every time. Dagur brings you back, and you die before the Berkians save us."

"I'm sorry," said Hiccup.

"Don't apologize," said Valka. "I guess it's anxiety that's causing the dreams, not so much the actual event itself. I mean, it's a huge part of it, but i just haven't let it go yet."

"Let what go?" said Hiccup.

"I can't get it out of my head, Hiccup," said Valka. "The fact that I almost lost you rings in my mind every time I close my eyes. I'm afraid to lose you. That's what it really is. I'm terrified of losing you. Especially after what happened to Stoick..." Her voice trailed off as she dropped her head.

"I'm not going anywhere, you know that, right?" said Hiccup.

"I'm afraid someone's going to come and take you, like Dagur took you all that time ago," said Valka.

"Ha," said Hiccup. "I'd like to see them try, what with the Walking Fireplace never leaving my side." Toothless snorted and whacked Hiccup with his tail.

Valka smiled. "I know," she said. "I just don't want to lose you."

"I won't leave you," said Hiccup. He gently took her hands in his and looked straight into her emerald green eyes that mirrored his own. "I promise."

"I know you won't," said Valka. "Thank you. But I don't know if I can get back to sleep now."

"You wanna play chess?" Hiccup offered. Without waiting for a reply, he stood up, grabbed their chessboard and set it on the table. "Astrid and I used to play. We don't really have time anymore." He sat down on the bench and gestured for her to sit on the other side. Valka did so, sitting across from Hiccup, the board in between them.

"You wanna be whites or blacks?" Hiccup asked.

"It doesn't matter to me, really," said Valka. "I guess whites."

Hiccup nodded and gave her her pieces for her to put up while setting up his own. They finished at about the same time, ready to start the game.

"Whites go first," said Hiccup. "Go for it."

"So, how have things been going as chief?" Valka asked, moving the pawn in front of the King two spaces ahead.

"Can't complain," said Hiccup, mirroring her move. "It's tiring, but really fun at times. Slightly irritating, too. I guess I have mixed feelings about it." He copied Valka's next move.

"I'm not very good at chess," said Valka.

"It doesn't matter very much," said Hiccup. "I'm not very good, either." They continued to play in silence.

...

"CHESSMATE!"

Hiccup threw his hands into the air when Valka slammed her Queen down on the same row as the King, putting him, with the help of other pieces, in counter check.

"You're kidding!" Hiccup said. "That's the seventh time this evening!"

"I know!" said Valka, laughing. "Again!"

Hiccup and Valka both took to resetting their pieces. The game ended in the same results; Valka shouting "CHESSMATE" and Hiccup pretty much falling off the bench in frustration. He wasn't one to care about winning, but this was beginning to grow ridiculous.

"One more time," said Hiccup, resetting his pieces. "One...more...time."

"That's what you said five games ago!" said Valka, but complied, putting her game characters in their assigned places. Then, the game began. About ten minutes later, the game ended with a "CHESSMATE!" from Valka and a "HOW DOES THAT KEEP HAPPENING!?" from Hiccup.

"One last game," said Hiccup. "Last time, I promise."

"Ohhh no," said Valka. "I would like to hold my position as champion."

"Oh, I see it!" said Hiccup, laughing. "You're afraid of losing to me!"

"I am not afraid," said Valka.

"Then play again!" said Hiccup, setting up his pieces without waiting for a reply.

Valka grinned mischievously and set up her own pawns. "You're a tricky boy, you know that?" she said.

"Yeah," said Hiccup, not taking his eyes off the game. "I get that a lot from Astrid."

"You deserve it," said Valka. The game went on, Valka winning again.

"Okay, I'm done," said Hiccup. "Ten games, and I didn't win one." Although his words betrayed his actions. He was grinning. Toothless and Cloudjumper were sleeping in the corner of the house. When Hiccup stood up, Toothless perked up and walked over to him.

"We'll have to play again tomorrow," said Hiccup. "I need revenge."

Valka laughed and helped Hiccup put the chess game away. After that, they both bid each other goodnight and headed to bed.

They were unaware of how much things were about to change.