This was supposed to be up long before now and I apologize for it not being. However, it is here. Please enjoy.
Change. A concept that one, in theory, should be expecting. A concept that more of then not sneaks past the nose of the most observant of watchers. Change is subtle at times even if its effects are monumental. Change can happen in the choosing of one choice over another and with a twist that slings fate in a direction unseen until that moment. Change can also happen with all watching and all knowing, much like one season fading and giving birth to another.
The coming of spring had once been a time of joy, before the war, before the raids, before death and destruction worn down all in their talons. As the war raged on, spring brought more dragons and more raids and quickly became a time of horror. This spring, however, returned the joy the tribe used to experience whenever winter finally released its grip. Not that there were not moments of joy during the remaining points of winter though.
The Ice Trio, as Gyda took to calling her grandchildren and the nickname stuck, learning to fly had been a moment everyone in Berk cheered. On days the weather did not drive people and dragons into shelter, Hiccup giddily allowed himself to be the target for the three hatchlings. They glided from the plaza hill with Hiccup backing away at each practice session until they all flew, one at a time, into his arms at the far end of the footpath.
Snowstorms had once been a source of annoyance for many and a source of pain for one. They became a time of enjoyment and healing. No longer were people having to huddle in fear that their homes would be destroyed and unable to be rebuilt before the next raid ravaged the land. No longer did bellies growl with absence. No longer was one made to stand aside and not join in on the few moments of happiness found in the Great Hall as the winds howled.
Hiccup knew that he could have dealt without the guilt his father, his friends, his queen showed upon their remembrance of past actions and past winters though. He was honest enough to admit he enjoyed their insistence he participate in the games, storytelling, and singing all in the tribe experienced when chilled winds drove them indoors. He relished in Astrid being allowed to sleep in his arms.
Still change is also inevitable. It cannot be stopped. It cannot be circumvented. It can only ever be. Snow blanketed the ground as autumn turned to winter. In the spring it melted and provided water to a ground in desperate need. It brought an awakening to seeds left to slumber in the cold and then allowed to emerge as new life in the growing warmth. Change also brought a new member to the Haddock clan.
Apparently Terrible Terrors held mass mate-hood ceremonies as a normal thing, instead of a way for multitude species to ease their new alpha into his responsibilities. It took the males of the pairs seeking the ceremonies almost the remaining portion of the winter to approach Hiccup for permission. Even with the chance to oversee his brother's mate-hood ceremony, and give some payback to the teasing he had endured since began courting Astrid, did not keep the nerves and giddiness from threatening to overwhelm Hiccup.
The ceremonies did go off without a hitch, even with the visitors from the other tribes still on the island. Stoick and Hiccup decided against speaking with Bjarte about the dragon being able to speak after everything dealing with the holmgang. Padrig volunteered to take the entire contingent of Hopeless warriors, and Banson, on an extended fishing trip since the ice surrounding Berk snapped and opened the harbor. Steinar, to be helpful and get revenge for the blood debt being called in, convinced Bjarte that going would get him back in Stoick's good graces. That allowed the entire tribe to enjoy the ceremony and for Steinar to finally hear Shadowfire singing.
Since more Terrors joined the nest over the winter there were more pairs having a ceremony than Hiccup's first time doing this. Hiccup found it funny that Sharpshot and Sneaky tied with Iggy and Buttercup as the first of the pairs to plummet belly to belly. Duskwing, the purple Terror that found out Valka was still alive, and Shortfuse, the female that stayed to make sure he survived Pinpoint's stomp, were a close second to form their flock.
When all of the pairs joined those six on the cliff, they all bowed to Hiccup and Astrid.
"We welcome all the new flocks," he said, including Astrid in the address.
He had been adamant that she would join him in this ceremony. She was his future queen. She was the dragon's future queen. She would be with him until their lives ended. He even fulfilled his silent vow to her and over the rest of the winter taught her everything he knew being a chief's son. She learned blacksmithing as well, though when Gobber was not in the forge to tease them. The master blacksmith still teased them at evening meal since Hiccup did asked permission before starting her lessons and Gobber said the teasing was payment for allowing the entire thing.
The mated pairs rose as one flock, pulling Hiccup from his thoughts. The dragons hovered then banked around to head inland. Terrors did not travel during their mated month as the Nightmares and Zipplebacks did. They also did not stay in caves like the Nadders and Gronckles did. A single, old, and massive tree halfway up the east side of the tallest mountain was the destination of those Terrors. After it had been discovered by Sage, Brynjar and the other woodcutters gladly promised to leave it alone.
[Grandpa Stoick,] Silverfire began as the sound of flapping wings slowly faded. [Can you answer me a question?]
"What be the question?"
[How are Uncle Alpha and Aunt Lady Alpha going to do like Uncle Sharpshot and Aunt Sneaky just did?]
Hiccup felt his ears burn. His cheeks burned more as many standing close enough, except for Astrid, began to cackle and tell their neighbors the young Nightmare's question. Silverfire looked around and even through his embarrassment, Hiccup could see his nephew was confused. Gyda, thankfully, came to Silverfire and Hiccup's rescue.
"Humans don't begin their flocks that way, little one," Gyda said, kneeling between Silverfire and Spikestorm.
Though all the young hatched in the Red Death's nest before the end of the war now got regular care from the Elder dragons and Gothi and Hilda, as well as food that did not have to secreted into the nest and hidden away from a tyrant, they all remained smaller than those who had not lived their lives in that nest. While at the Hatchery, the Elder Nightmare and the Elder Nadder of all three tribes assured Hiccup Silverfire and Spikestorm would catch up. That gave Hiccup hope Quickcut's siblings would as well. A visiting Sand Wraith that asked permission for her and her young daughter to rest told Hiccup Sandblast would be the size of Toothless when he grew and, like the others, his time in the Red Death's nest would have little negative impact upon his growth now that he was in a different nest.
It would just take more than a few months for the effects to take place. This meant any wishing to speak directly to those younglings had to kneel or hope the younglings found a rise in the land to stand upon. No point in the Vast Meadows rose high enough, forcing Gyda to kneel. Hiccup was happy no one in the nest made his nephews feel bad for what they could not control. It would seem they had learned their lessons with him.
[Human's don't have mate-hood ceremonies?] Spikestorm asked.
"Oh, no, they do," Gyda explained. "Theirs is just different than dragons."
[How?] Silverfire questioned.
"Hiccup doesn't oversee them. Elder Gothi does."
Sandblast moved around from where he had been standing next to Toothless so that he could face Gyda.
[But Uncle Alpha is the alpha.]
"I know," Gyda said smiling. "But that's how humans do things." She paused and then took a deep breath. "The part where Sharpshot and Sneaky fell, humans do that in their dens and they don't fall during this."
[But we have to sleep there!]
Hiccup bit his lip even as his ears burned more. Sandblast sounded scandalized by Gyda's information. To her credit, Gyda did not smile though Hiccup could see amusement shining in her eyes. The humans and dragons standing around did not care though and did laugh.
"For their mated month," Gyda said, "you three are staying with me."
All three younglings tilted their heads.
[Where will Grandpa Stoick be?] Silverfire asked.
[And Dad?] Sandblast questioned.
"I be stayin' wiv Gobber," Stoick replied.
[And I and other adult dragons will be guarding Hiccup and Astrid's den,] Toothless stated.
Hiccup spun, though Astrid did not let him release her hand. Toothless snorted and just stared back at him. Hiccup saw the dragons near to Toothless and Moondust nodding their heads.
"Toothless," Hiccup began.
[Brother,] Toothless said affecting the same tone.
"But…that… It's an entire month!"
[Alpha,] Lorekeeper stated, [for the alpha we love we would endure anything to ensure you and your queen are undisturbed.]
Hiccup, touched as he was by the first part of Lorekeeper's comment, still had issues with the second part of it. Toothless, seemingly able to read his mind, padded over and placed the top of his head against Hiccup's chest. Without thought, Hiccup curled his right arm around his brother. His left hand remained gripped by his queen.
[It is not slavery,] Toothless said softly.
Hiccup hunched over so he could lay his cheek against his brother. "I just don't any of you, any of you, to feel you have to do anything for me."
[We do it because we love you,] Toothless said.
[We all love you,] the other dragons chorused as one.
Welcome to spring everyone.
Kirika: Thank you and I look forward to you joining us all on this journey.
SnowBriar: Thank you for the invite but I don't really know anything about Golden Sun. Also, I hope you enjoyed the rest of the story.
Literally Nobody: Hehe, yes, a long journey…Oh I have learned my lesson on answering just how many chapters something will be. Look forward to you joining us on the new journey. Have a good day/night as well.