Chapter 3

The Vikings of Berk were not well known for change with the times. If anything they stayed and followed the same teachings and lifestyles their parents did. And for good reason, why mess up something that was not wrong to begin with. But every once and a while, something came along that would change how they acted. And like most things when dealing with Hiccup, it was something new and mostly untested.

Hiccup's Spy-glass was one of these things that proved to be an almost invaluable item. Able to stop things at a great distance with much greater detail than one could normal do. Why other things fell flat on their face, like Hiccups launchers which could throw weapons at great distances than a normal Viking, but required more understand and patience than most Vikings had.

But the six dragons of Berk, were currently an undecided factor. For many Vikings the thought of being near a dragon without having to fight it was rather unheard up till this point. The idea that they could be trained to not only live with Vikings but also help them was boarding on crazy. But as many of the Vikings of Berk knew, talking, and proof were to different things.

Hiccup had proven dragons were not dangerous, at least not unless they felt threatened. And through the long three months of Devastating Winter, his and Astrid's families never once had to worry about starting a fire even if water got into the logs. Not to mention just one or two dragons could round up more food in an hour than a small team of Vikings could in a couple days.

So by the time the Thaw Winter rolled around, six months after Hiccups victory over the new named Red Death, some people in Berk were looking to get dragons of their own. But before Stoick would allow such a thing to happen he wanted to give things a test. As such after a few long, and hard meetings with the other Clan Heads, it was decided that the current teens in the village would be allowed to ride and train dragons. Depending on how well it went they would then decide if dragons would be allowed to all other families.

Hiccup, to his slight surprise, was placed as head of the Dragon Riders, with Astrid as his second in command. And he was handed the now unused Dragon Killing Arena as their place of operation till more room was needed. It would house the dragons overnight, and the main gates would not be closed unless needed. Of course there were those that believed this was the worse idea ever. Believing the dragons to be wild beasts, capable of nothing more than killing, but those were becoming fewer and farther in-between as time went on.

Hiccup choose Toothless as his dragon, and carefully picked out who would be riding which dragon. Astrid got Stormfly, Fishlegs got the Gronckle Meatlug. Hookfang, a Monstrous Nightmare, would be with Snotlout. And the Twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut got the Hideous Zippleback, which was a two headed dragon. Hiccup decided to keep the Terrible Terror and train it himself to send messages to and from places.

"So is that everything son," Stoick asked looking about the Arena.

"Yep I believe so, with the dragons able to feed and hunt for themselves. We only need stuff to clean out the stalls and clean the dragon, and well the saddles that you brought," Hiccup said going over the items that Stoick and Gobber had brought over.

"Now are you sure you can do this," Stoick asked.

"I know I can, besides if I didn't we will find out quickly enough," Hiccup said, with a nervous chuckle.

"True, just make your mom and me proud." Stoick said with a smile.

Hiccup nodded and shifted his new helmet back. It had been a given to him by Stoick not long after Hiccup had returned from his fight. It had been part of his mom's breast plate, and made into a helmet with Stoick's on Helmet being the other cup. It was a weird sort of way to keep her close. Hiccup only wore his once and a while, but seeing as today they were about to introduce the dragons to their rides for the first time he felt it was something he should be wearing in honor.

Astrid came running down the ramp into the arena, "Hi Hiccup, Stoick. they are coming now."

"Good, are they ready to meet their new best friend," Hiccup asked.

"About as ready as they will ever be," Astrid said.

"Now remember you two, you both are being watched as well as are the dragons. Try to not mess this up, so no pressure," Stoick said, with a small smile of reassurance.

"Normally I would ask what you have to worry about. But in this case I will say we will try our best to do our best," Hiccup said.

"Agreed sir," Astrid said.

"Good, well I will leave you to it, and remember if you need any help… well you know where to find me," Stoick said, before leaving with Gobber.

Hiccup watched as Gobber and Stoick left the Arena, and only a few moments later the four teens entered in. Tuffnut and Ruffnut were twins, each about Hiccups own age, but they were taller by a good foot. They lived for destruction and chaos, but had a good heart in them when it came down to it. Though there biggest downfall was lack of actually mental skills, but they could be have a brilliant moment every once and a while.

Then there was Fishlegs he was easily the size of most full grown Vikings. But were full grown Vikings had strength to spare, Fishleg's body was more fatty, not that anyone would ever tell him that as he could still throw a heavy cart around with ease. Fishleg's also boasted the most dragon knowledge of any Viking Hiccup knew, having nearly mesmerized the entire Dragon's Manual and Book of Dragons.

The final and Hiccup's and Astrid's least favorite person of the group was Snotlout. He was the very example of a classic Viking teen. He had the build most none Vikings would spend weeks trying to get, and was one of the most skilled weapon users Hiccup knew. But that is where the good became bad. He was arrogant, self-absorbed, rude, and always looking for a fight to 'Prove' he was better than others.

Astrid personally disliked Snotlout with a passion as Snotlout did not know the meaning of no. And Snotlout would constantly keep hitting on her, no matter how many times Astrid said no or denied his advances. Astrid had even gone so far as to almost break his arms to get the point across but still he continued. If it was not for the fact that Hiccup could calm her down Snotlout probably would not have lived through any of the last two winter season and into Winter Thaw.

"Welcome everyone I am sure you already know why you're here," Hiccup said

"Yeah we do, to become the best Vikings on Dragons ever," Snotlout said.

"Close. As requested by my dad and the other Clan heads; we are going to be seeing how just how the dragons will now live in our world. As such I was assigned with Astrid to teach you how to ride and train the dragons that used to live at the Arena. Understand," Hiccup asked.

"I do," Fishlegs said.

Ruff and Tuff both nodded as well, the idea was simple enough for them to get. Snotlout rolled his eyes looking at the dragon's which were behind Hiccup, eyeing them closely.

"Now because of this I have put a great deal of thought into which dragon each of you will be with, and learning to ride. Astrid here will be on Stormfly the Deadly Nadder. Fishlegs, you will be with Meatlug the Gronckle, Ruff and Tuff your dragon is the Hideous Zippleback who I will let you name as I cannot figure out if I should give it one or two names. And Snotlout that means you will be on…" Hiccup said, but was cut off.

"The Night Fury, it figures you give the best dragon to the best Viking," Snotlout said.

"No, I will be on Toothless," Hiccup said, firmly.

"Oh and why not me. I am obviously the best Viking, so I should be on the best dragon," Snotlout said.

"No. First of all, you are not the best Viking. Second, you have no clue how to even work with a dragon yet. And finally and most importantly because of Toothless's tail there are only two people capable of even flying with him. The First being me, and the second being Astrid. So you will be placed with Hookfang the Monstrous Nightmare," Hiccup said in a firm tone.

"And if we choose to not listen to you," Snotlout asked.

"Then you will not be riding dragons at all," Astrid said.

"And who placed you in charge," Snotlout asked.

"The Village Council, placed Hiccup as the leader since they are his dragons to begin with. Then I was placed Second in Command as I have learned a great deal from him. Now unless you want me to break your arm instead of just popping it out of joint, I would listen and behave yourself," Astrid said, glaring at Snotlout.

Snotlout glared back, but slowly back down after a few moments. Hiccup smiled, at this, he did not want to get into a fight with Snotlout if he could avoid it. One by one they Hiccup and Astrid introduced each of the riders to their dragon. It went surprising well, as Fishlegs, Ruff and Tuff began bonding with their dragon quickly. Snotlout was having a harder time bonding with his dragon.

For the rest of the week Hiccup had each of the new riders get to know their dragons and bond with them. Hiccup was not really ready to send them up in the saddles yet, though he knew it would be time soon. It was not so much he was worried that they would not be able to survive the ride, or would direct their dragons into a tree it was something else. The Berserker Tribe was due into port any day now and seeing people on dragons would be begging for trouble.

Now while Hiccup and Stoick were sure that their current chief, Oswald the Agreeable, would not see the dragons as a threat. They were not willing to risk it, after all you cannot be mad or scared of something that you don't know about to begin with. As it was, Stoick planned on telling Oswald later anyway when Stoick came up with a better plan on how to reveal, without it coming out like a threat.

"Are all the dragons safe," Stoick asked, as Gobber and Hiccup walked down the wooden pathways to the docks.

"Yep, all are hidden out in the cove where I found Toothless," Hiccup said, noticing there was a lot more ships than normal from the Berserker tribe here.

"Good," Stoick said.

"Do they normally travel with this many ships," Hiccup asked.

"No, not unless they are planning a raid," Gobber said.

"I sure hope not, because I am pretty sure that is the entire armada," Stoick said as one ship pulled towards the docks itself.

"This cannot be good," Hiccup said as the Berserker ship stopped and hooked up at the docks.

One of the Berserker stood forward and spoke, "Presenting the High Chief of the Berserker tribe! Cracker of Skulls! Slayer of Beasts! The great and fearsome, Dagger the Deranged!"

The Berserker moved aside revealing a teen same age as Hiccup, who threw a knife at a Hiccup. Hiccup ducked as the knife stuck into the post behind him. Hiccup could not help but repeat what he had said before.

"This cannot be good."