His heart was wild,

But I didn't want to catch it,

I wanted to run with it,

To set mine free.

Prologue

My names Hiccup.

Great name I know, and I honestly still don't know how I was carted off with it. I suppose it could be because I'm one of the smallest wranglers in Berk, or that I was born early. I've never asked, although I suppose it would make a good question.

My father is the great Stoick "the Vast" Haddock, one of the best and well-known sheriff's in the country. He's big, has got all the muscle, taller than most, can shoot any gun from any distance and still hit the target. He's a man not to be reckoned with, and many outlaws have gone under his hand.

Me? I'm his deputy. Well, that's what I'm told. And even though I wear the little brass star on my chest, often time's I hide it under my bandanna or pin it inside my shirt. It's not like anyone listens to me anyways, and that little star has gotten me into more trouble then I care to explain. The title deputy isn't really acknowledged by… anybody, it's more of a statement that yes, I'm Hiccup, the failure of a son to Stoick Haddock.

The title "Hiccup the Useless" is starting to pick up now, and I try to ignore it, but Samson "Snotlout" Jorgenson finds it some kind of joke, as do the twins, Tyler "Tuffnut" Thoroston and Rachel "Ruffnut" Thoroston. Fred "Fishlegs" Ingerman seems to be the calmer one out for the other teen wranglers my age. But he can afford to be shy, for he's got the bulk to make up for it and a good shooting hand. He's never been mean to me… exactly… but has definitely never stood up for me either.

Then, there's Astrid Hofferson, one of the best horse wranglers in Berk. Even though she's just fifteen, she can still wrangle a wild mustang down with one hand tied behind her back. And gods, she's one of the prettiest gals in town. She's got this wild blonde hair that seems untamable, always tied back in a heavy braid although hair seems determined to escape it. She wears this old Stetson that I haven't seen her go anywhere without, along with a leather beaded headband of some sort that overlapped her hair and forehead. Most of the time she wears leather leggings tucked inside worn cowboy boots, and even though I know she doesn't do it to look good, she accidently makes herself even more attractive. Added with the tight blue tank top and leather vest, exposing her bare arms that had leather chords tied around the biceps- she's a woman that all the teens in Berk are after.

Even though she's never out and out made fun of me, like the others, she's never tried to stop the bullying either. But that gives me hope that perhaps she doesn't truly hate me- at least not as much as the others do. Still, I don't stand a chance. Who's going to want Hiccup the Useless anyways? Not to mention I'm skinnier then a pole, and I'm shorter than her. Plus I'm a terrible shot.

Most deputies out here can shoot fairly well- if not reward winners. Not me. I've been practicing with a gun since I was eight, and even now when I'm fifteen and sworn in as a deputy, I still can't shoot straight to save my life. Dad's tried to teach me, a long time ago, but after five tries and failures he gave up, and it was Gobber who took over the job.

Gobber's my Dad's best friend and voice of reason, although to me he's like another father… or more like the father I never had. He teases, sure, and he's rough at times but Gobber knows when to stop. And he's always been there for me, even in the hardest times when all my Dad and I seemed to do was fight. I even stayed over at his Blacksmith's shop a couple of nights when I was too tired to go home, or just plain didn't want to.

I've worked with Gobber over the past three years in the forge, it distracts me. And many might think that me, as a deputy, would have many and beyond duties to tend to. Nope. I do not. My Dad just gave me the title deputy years ago, before I became a total nuisance Now I carry it just so he can call on my whenever he wishes without fighting me, for I'm his deputy, and I should listen to his rules no matter what- even if I find them petty and not exactly the jobs deputies should be doing. I'm more his delivery boy then anything, so I for the most part hang out at the forge and help Gobber with all the work there. It's one place where I feel like I can actually do something right, like I stand a chance. I don't goof up as much, I know how to handle myself in the forge. It's my only refuge.

I'm not allowed to go out and hunt outlaws, bandits, or cattle rustlers like my Father and the other "teens in training" do. I'm told to stay behind and "stay out of trouble", and even though I'm the deputy and should be the one to watch the town, Spitelout, my Uncle, is put in charge of Berk while my Dad's away.

Yep, so is my life on Berk. Not too terrible, but definitely not great either. I have a feeling it won't change any time soon either, so I try to do the best with it, the best that I can.

It's hard, yeah, and times get tough. But I'll just try and push through and hope for the best.

…

Hiccup stepped out onto the wooden deck of the porch, lifting a hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight that skimmed shadows across the ground. The sun was barely peaking above the hills in the distance, and Hiccup could feel it in every bone in his body. Every part of him was screaming at him to go back to bed, to lie down and get some well needed rest. But he knew that if he ever wanted to get anything done- or even survive for that matter- he'd have to get his butt moving and head down to the forge.

Gobber had started paying him about a year ago now, since he began working at the forge full time. Hiccup hadn't told his Dad, not fully sure what Stoick would think of it. He probably should, but somehow, he figured that would take an even worse turn…

"Hey Pix." Hiccup greeted the old collie dog curled up on the steps. She lifted her head and wagged her tail slightly before curling up again, letting out a sigh as she fell back to sleep.

Hiccup laughed slightly before giving her head a light pat, then trotting down the steps. He finished tucking his green wool shirt into his brown trousers, grabbing his rumbled old Stetson off the step railing before pulling it over his tousled auburn hair.

Hiccup finished tidying himself up by the time he reached the corral behind the house where the four horses were being stalled. His small Quarter Horse gelding trotted over immediately, giving a little whinny of joy at the sight of him.

"Hey, Cisco." Hiccup smiled and let the horse's head rest against his shoulder before bringing a hand up to rub its soft velvety nose. "Good to see you too, fella."

He turned and went to grab a bucket of feed for his horse, along with his tack and pick. On his return, he let Cisco eat the feed while he brushed him down and took a look at his hooves. He then took the heavy saddle, struggling to lift it up onto the horse's back.

"Okay." Hiccup bent down and grabbed the cinch, carefully tying the straps before stepping back and taking a deep breath. "Now, the hard part. Suck it in, Cisco."

He grabbed the leather strap and gave a hard tug, trying to tighten it as fitted as possible. Cisco snorted and stomped a hoof, but otherwise didn't object to the tack.

"Oof." Hiccup grunted, hastily flipping the strap into the buckle. He stepped back and grabbed the saddle horn, giving it a little wriggle to see if it would stay steady. "Alright, that looks good."

Cisco stomped another hoof, anxious to be free of the pen and to let out some pent-up energy, the little energy he had. Cisco wasn't exactly young anymore, well going on to his seventeenth year. But he still had spunk and energy, just the right amount for Hiccup to handle. Although at times Hiccup did wish he had a big stallion instead of a small bay gelding, but Cisco was a good horse, willing to work and didn't shy from long rides which Hiccup took often to wear off steam.

"Let's go to the forge, huh, fella?" Hiccup asked, lifting a foot and trying to pry it into the stirrup. He was still too short to climb into the saddle easily, even with Cisco's 14 hh, Hiccup still struggled to get himself onto his back.

With a little jump, he flung himself aboard and swung his leg over the saddle and into the other stirrup. He picked up the reigns, turning his horse towards the gate. He bent down and unlatched the rope, Cisco pushing the gate open with his chest before back pacing so Hiccup could relatch it.

"To the forge, Cisco." Hiccup stated, Cisco giving a snort before following the well-worn path through town. It wasn't a long ride, only a couple of minutes, but Cisco could use the exercise, and at noon break Hiccup always took Cisco for a five-mile ride.

Cisco broke into a slow, lazy trot, his head even with his body and his ears flicking from backwards to front ways, betraying how relaxed he was. Hiccup relaxed as well, letting his hand go up to readjust his Stetson before falling in front of the saddle horn.

A sharp inhumane scream split the air, causing Cisco to spook abruptly. Hiccup in his alarm lost his hold and tumbled off, Cisco backing away with wide white eyes and his feet sprawled apart.

Hiccup sat up slowly, rubbing his rear tenderly as he looked in the direction the scream had emanated from. It was from the corrals, where the wild mustangs were broken…

Around the outermost corner- the building of Sven's Outpost- dashed a black blur towards the outside of town. At first Hiccup was just shocked that anything could run that fast, then, he let out a shout of disbelief.

A small person ran out from the corner, shouting streams of curse words that Hiccup didn't dare repeat. She took hold of her Stetson and slammed it to the ground, digging the heal of her boot into the crown before standing there, staring off at the quickly disappearing horse that Hiccup knew all too well.

It was the Night Fury.

Hiccup wheezed for air, still trying to catch his breath from his fall. He scrambled to his feet and grabbed Cisco's reigns, murmuring words to the frightened horse in hopes of calming him down. The gelding huffed and was still stiff, although his eyes were slowing readjusting to normal.

Hiccup turned back towards Astrid, and saw that she was still standing there on her hat, her head swiveled in the direction the Night Fury had escaped. Hiccup laughed shakily, not believing what he'd just seen. Astrid had caught the Night Fury? The wildest horse in the country, dubbed the unbreakable stallion?

Maybe what shocked Hiccup more was that Astrid had failed to break the horse. She'd never failed, had always been seen first on any wild horse's back. And Hiccup had never, ever seen a horse get away from her still as wild as when it had been free.

He stared at her for a bit longer, then looked back towards the prairie's where the horse had long since disappeared. This wasn't the first time Hiccup had seen the legendary mustang, he'd seen him another time in his wild herd. He hadn't known a horse could run so fast… and to be honest it scared him, yet amazed him at the same time.

Before Astrid could turn and catch sight of him, Hiccup ducked around and scrambled onto Cisco's back. The horse snorted uneasily, but listened when Hiccup gave the reigns a small tug towards the Smithy; Hiccup could hardly wait to tell Gobber what had happened.

Hiccup looked over his shoulder before Cisco took him out of sight, and he smiled in awe at the sight of the Night Fury running over a distant hill, nearly four miles away. That horse wasn't huge, but had muscle and a fiery spirit to match, and even though the Night Fury was often described as "devil", Hiccup admired him. He was a small 15hh, was constantly being attacked and captured to be broke, but he never gave up. It reminded Hiccup a lot of himself, although he definitely didn't have the hard core fire the stallion had.

Hiccup sighed and turned back around, holding a bit tighter to the reigns. Someday… maybe someday, he can capture the Night Fury and prove to the whole town of Berk that he was worthy to be a Haddock. Worthy to be on the earth at all.

Someday…