The Night Before Snoggletog

Disclaimer: I don't own any of this

'Twas the night before Snoggletog, when all through the island of Berk
Not a creature was stirring, not even Toothless the Night Fury
The houses were decorated and the helmets were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that dear old Odin soon would be there;

Snotlout and Hookfang were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Snoggletog chaos danced in twins and their Zippleback's heads
And Fishlegs and Metlug in their 'kerchiefs and Astrid and Stormfly in their caps
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
Hiccup and Toothless sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window Hiccup and Toothless flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the light of mid-day to the village of Berk down below
When, what to Hiccup's wondering eyes should appear
But a golden chariot being flown by eight dragons with Snoggletog cheer

With a tall old driver, who was strong and foreboding
Hiccup knew in a moment that it was indeed old Odin!
More rapid than Night Furies, the old man's coursers they came,
And Odin whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, ZIPPLEBACK! Now, RUMBLEHORN! Now, GRONCKLE and THUNDERDRUM!
On, HOBBLEGRUNT! On RAINCUTTER! On, SNAFFLEFANG and STORMCUTTER!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As lightning-fast Skrill that before the wild hurricane fly
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew
With the chariot full of presents, and old Odin too.

And then, in a twinkling, Hiccup and Toothless heard high above the ceiling
The prancing and dancing of each dragon's wings flying
As Hiccup drew his hand and was turning around
Down the chimney old Odin came with a bound

Old Odin wore a black fur cape attached to his nape, and was dressed in gold from head to foot
And his clothes were enchanted to be untarnished from ashes and soot
A great bundle of presents he had flung on his back
And he reminded Hiccup of Trader Johan just opening his pack

Old Odin's singular bright blue eye, how it twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were rosy as Monstrous Nightmare's skin, his nose like a cherry!
His comical little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as a dragon who lives in the snow

The stump of a horn he held tight in his teeth,
And the holly and mistletoe on his helmet encircled his head like a wreath;
Old Odin had a broad face and a tightly packed belly
That shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly

He was stocky and strong, like Hiccup's own father, Stoick the Vast
And Hiccup thought perhaps, Odin resembled his father when Stoick reached old age at long last
Hiccup gave a laugh in spite of himself, but a wink of Odin's eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave Hiccup to know the boy had nothing to dread

Old Odin spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the helmets with presents and place more under the tree then turned with a jerk
And giving Toothless a barrelful of codfish as a Snoggltog wish, then laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney Odin rose

Old Odin sprang to his chariot, to his team gave a blow of his horn
To signal the arrival of Snoggletog morn and away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But Hiccup and Toothless heard old Odin exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight
"HAPPY SNOGGLETOG TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"

—Happy Holidays, everybody!

Brightfire15