Hi again. So just reached over 70 reviews which I'm very pleased with. Also once again, I'm still considering doing the sequel as well, but it would be quite different. Can't really say how without giving away spoilers, but characters like Dragon and the Bewilderbeast would still be included, and also that in would include some fantasy elements with a couple of OCs. If you are interested in that kind of sequel please let me know

Once again, big thanks to Shinigami Merchant for beta reviewing the chapter for me.

Also another big thanks to Marcuc S. Lazarus for a really great review. I do appreacite everyone who reviews me, and I would thank everyone individualy but that would take too much time I feel, so I want to thank the review that stood out the most to me since last chapter.


Httyd Chapter 7

"Valka? You home?" Gobber called as he walked through the front door.

"In here" she replied. Gobber walked further in and found Valka standing on top of a stool in front of an opened cupboard, carrying several plates under her arm.

"You got a minute?" he asked.

"I'm a little busy now" she said, putting some more plates inside the cupboard.

"Well I can see that, but I wanted to ask you if-"

"Look Gobber, I already told you" Valka said sharply as she stepped down from the stool. "You can't throw your laundry in with ours and I'm not helping you with it either. I don't know what that smell is, but last time I had to burn almost everything your underwear touched"

Valka grimaced in disgust as she remembered and was now on the verge of being sick. Gobber frowned, looking a bit offended.

"Okay first, there's nothing wrong with my underwear. Second, what I really came to tell you was that the ships are back and I was wondering if you wanted to come with me to-". No sooner had Gobber said it then Valka had dropped the plates she was holding to the floor and rushed out the door right past Gobber.

Valka sprinted right through the village, reaching the hillside overlooking the docks. Peering out into the distance over the water Valka saw that there was only one ship returning, its sail ripped and its mast almost broken. Gasping in fear Valka took off again, down toward the harbour.

Gobber had managed to follow Valka up to the hill, but gaped in disbelief when she came running right past him again in the opposite direction.

"Wait up!" Gobber panted with exhaustion, barely able to catch his breath as he went after her.

Valka reached the docks just as the ship came into port. She frantically scanned the ship and sighed with enormous relief when she saw Stoick safely at its head.

Once the ship was docked, the weary Vikings on board began to disembark. Stoick, scowling deeply with anger, climbed off the ship, carrying his duffel bag under his arm.

However he didn't take any more than five steps when Valka suddenly tackled him and threw her arms around his neck.

Though he was a bit caught off guard by her presence Stoick's features soon softened and sighed in deep content, he enveloped Valka in one massive arm, pulling her in tight to his chest.

"Oh, I missed you" he said quietly.

"I missed you too" she replied. For what seemed like the longest time Stoick and Valka just stood there in each other's arms, ignoring the rest of the world.

"Ahem!"

The two of them broke from their embrace to look up and see that Gobber had joined them on the dock, no longer panting and eyeing them mischievously.

Stoick and Valka quickly pulled away with from each other with some embarrassment and began to awkwardly straightening themselves. They then started to mumble vague excuses and glance in other direction around the dock.

Valka cleared her throat loudly before speaking in a more formal manner. "Well...it's nice to see you back Stoick."

"Yes, it's good to be home. Very good. Yes." Stoick said just as stiff.

"Right" Gobber said, still grinning to himself as he took Stoick's duffel bag.

"Were there any casualties?" Valka asked Stoick, now sounding more composed.

"No" Stoick said heavily. "We lost two of the ships, but thankfully no lives. Some of the men are a little roughed up. Few scrapes and burns but nothing too serious"

"Well did you find the nest at least?" Gobber said, trying to sound optimistic

"Not even close" Stoick said, his mood sour again as he walked past Gobber.

"Ah excellent" Gobber replied, limping after Stoick.

"So as usual all of that was for nothing" Valka muttered dryly.

"I hope you had a little more success than me" Stoick said to Gobber, not hearing Valka's comment.

"Well, if by success, you mean that your parenting troubles are over with, then... yes" Gobber said with a happy grin.

Stoick stopped walking and turned to Gobber with a puzzled expression. He was about to ask what he meant, when several villagers came speeding down the docks toward him.

"Congratulations Stoick! Everyone is so relieved"

"Out with the old and in with the new, right?"

"No one will miss that old nuisance!"

"The village is throwing a party to celebrate!"

Stoick was so stunned by what they said; he didn't even get a chance to form a reply as each villager past him. He then turned around to Gobber, who was still smiling, and then over to Valka.

"He's... gone?" he said.

"What?" she said.

"He's gone? He's dead!?" Stoick said, sounding more panicked.

"What?! Oh no, no, no, he's fine, he's fine" Valka said quickly. "Everything's fine. Well I mean uh..."

"Well he is gone" Gobber said, walking forward again. "Most afternoons. But who can blame him? I mean the life of a celebrity is very rough. He can barely walk through the village without being swarmed by his new fans"

"Hiccup?" Stoick reached out grab Gobber's shoulder.

"Who would've thought, eh?" Gobber said, smiling broadly back at Stoick. "He has this...way with the beasts"

Stoick couldn't seem to comprehend what Gobber was saying.

"But...but h-how...?"

"Let's go home love" Valka said placidly, putting her arm around Stoick's, as if to support him. "I think you may want to sit down for this"


"So what a minute, now let me get this straight. Hiccup, as in our Hiccup, is tied to be placed first in dragon training?"

Stoick was pacing up and down in front of Valka and Gobber inside the living room. Valka and Gobber glanced at each other and then nodded back to the still dumbfounded Stoick. He continued to gape at them and put his hand to forehead, reeling from disbelief.

"Look I know it sounds insane" Gobber said, trying to reassure him. "But you should have seen him in the ring. Every time a dragon gets near him, it literally falls at his feet. I'm serious! Ask anyone. I think he really could win!"

"That's...that's unbelievable" Stoick whispered, still pacing. "I had...no idea..."

"I don't think anyone was really expecting it either, but I would say that you own a certain someone an apology." Gobber said smugly.

Stoick stopped his pacing and turned around to the two of them. His eyes then settled on his wife.

"Valka you were right!"

"Yeah-wait what?" Gobber said abruptly. Stoick crossed the room and stood in front of Valka, who looked somewhat surprised herself.

"You said yourself. All we had to do was give him a chance and it paid off. Oh I knew it! I knew he had it in him!"

Stoick roared with laughter as he picked Valka up by the waist and pulled her into a hug, while spinning her in a circle around the room.

"No love for the smithy" Gobber muttered dryly, putting his head down on his hand.

"Stoick! Stoick please!" Valka laughed as they kept spinning. "Stoick put me down!"

Stoick did as she said, still laughing to himself, but no sooner than he put Valka down, did he draw her in again for a kiss.

"This is spectacular news!" he said, breaking away again. He then looked around the room. "Where is he now?"

"He's...I don't know" Valka said sadly.

"He'll probably be by the forge later" Gobber said as he stood up. "Anyway looks like you two have some celebrating to do, so I'll just leave you too it. Not like I'm gonna get any hugs or kisses anyway" he mumbled to himself as he went out the door. "I might like some too if you asked".

"Oh Val, isn't this great?" Stoick said once they were alone.

"Yeah, it's great" she said, clearly not as enthusiastic. "Really great"

"Do you think he was this good all along but was just messing with us?"

"Somehow I doubt that"

"Oh I can't wait to see him!" Stoick said, almost giddy with excitement. "It'll be just like with me and my Dad. We can talk about training; I'll give him advice and share fighting stories. Oh wait a minute"

Before Valka could ask what he was doing, Stoick hastily ran out of the room and down to their bedroom. Remaining where she was, Valka could hear the sound of objects being moved around. When Stoick returned a few minutes later, he was now holding what seemed to be a small horned helmet in his hands.

"What is that?" Valka indicated to the helmet

"Oh this?" Stoick looked down at the helmet. "It's just something for Hiccup. I had Gobber make it for me. As a...a gift you see. I was going to give it to him sooner, but ah..." Stoick trailed off for a minute and then began to sheepishly fiddle with the helmet.

"He...he's definitely earned it now" he said, avoiding Valka's eyes. "Well anyway, I'll be off"

Stoick tucked the helmet in behind his cap and then walked to the door.

"Stoick, wait" Valka said.

"Yes?" he said, turning on the spot.

"Stoick when you see Hiccup, I want you to talk with him. Find out what's troubling him."

"What could be troubling him?" Stoick said, chortling with disbelief

"I don't know, he disappears off into the woods somewhere every day after training and no one knows where or why"

"Ah he probably just wants to practice by himself" Stoick said dismissively. "Old rule of Vikings. Train alone, that way you don't get distracted showing off"

"No, look Stoick" Valka said, sounding serious. "I think something is going on with him. He's been acting different ever since training started"

"Of course he's different" Stoick said happily. "He's acting like the rest of us now!"

"Stoick" Valka said in a biting tone.

"What?" he said unperturbed.

"There's something not right with him" Valka said. "Now I've tried to talk with him about it, but he keeps avoiding me. You need to go down there and speak to him. He'll be honest with you"

"Alright, I will" Stoick said, opening the front door.

"And Stoick." Valka paused carefully. "When I say speak to him, I mean listen to him and to what he has to say"

"Of course, of course" he said assuredly. "Don't worry. We'll be fine. He and I finally have something to talk about!" Stoick laughed loudly once again as he closed door and didn't even notice Valka as she rolled her eyes at him


Sometime later in the evening. Valka was sitting curled up on the couch near the dimming fire, reading a book. She was so immersed in the book, that she didn't notice Stoick as he silently entered the room. He paused to look at her sat on the couch and then tried to sneak by without being noticed. However he tensed up when he knocked over a stool with his foot. The resulting banging noise was enough for Valka to look up at him.

"Stoick?" Valka put her book down and stood up from the couch.

"Oh, Valka you're still up?" he said, trying to sound casual.

"Yes, I've been waiting for you to come back. So how did it go?"

"How did what go?" Stoick said vaguely, not looking Valka in the eye.

"Hiccup" she said sharply. "Did you talk to him?"

"Oh yes, yes, we talked" Stoick said. "We definitely talked. Talked and talked. We talked really well him and me"

"What did he say?"

"Well I said you him that-"

"I didn't ask what you said" Valka cut right over him coldly. "I asked what he said"

"Well he...he said...ah..." Stoick quickly began to fumble with his words. Valka crossed her arms and eyed him with an unimpressed look.

"You didn't listen to him did you?" she said.

"No I did! He said... thanks for the hat!" Stoick said triumphantly.

"Thanks for the hat?" Valka repeated. Stoick gave her a firm nod in return. "That's it? That's all he said to you? Nothing else?"

"Well we...we...we didn't need to use words!" Stoick said, waving his hands evasively. "Real Vikings can talk in silence. We can tell what each other's thinking with just our eyes"

"Well what did his eyes say then?" Valka said scathingly.

"Look what matters is that I told him exactly what I needed to. That I'm proud that he held up his end of the deal and that he has learned to fight dragons"

Stoick walked past Valka. He took a seat at the bench and began to stoke the fires with the poker.

Valka sighed and dropped her arms down in defeat. She stood where she was for a moment before walking over to sit down beside Stoick. She leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees

"Stoick" she said cautiously. "I know you're happy about how well Hiccup is doing. But I think you might just be seeing what you want to see"

"What do you mean?" Stoick said, turning up to look at her.

"You haven't really seen what Hiccup can do in the ring. Not like I have. I've seen Vikings fight dragons all my life. But in all the times I've been watching from above the ring, I have not once seen Hiccup fight a dragon"

Stoick seemed unsure of how to reply to Valka's statement. "How have you not...?"

"Because every time I see Hiccup in that ring with a dragon, I don't see fighting. I don't see slaughter. I see something else. Something we've never seen before."

"What are you talking about?" Stoick said, totally confused.

"Hiccup doesn't fight dragons like any Viking I've ever seen before. What he does is something different. Something special. And I really think that maybe, he could be the one to help bring us a step toward peace. Real peace"

Stoick stared at Valka for a second and then widened his eyes when he realised what she meant. He groaned heavily and put his hand over his eyes. "Oh Val. Not this again! I thought we were past all this".

"I know we were, but something is different now. I know it"

"Look, Val please, this is not the time to bring that up again". Stoick stood up from his seat and walked away from her.

"But I think it is" Valka said, standing up as well. "I really think that maybe we don't have to keep fighting with dragons any more. And I think Hiccup feels that way too"

"Why are you bringing Hiccup into this?" Stoick said pacing around the room. "Valka, we've had this argument a million times before and nothing has changed. We have to fight to survive! It's the only way. Otherwise they'd kill all of us"

"So we just kill all of them instead? Wipe them all out?"

"Their beasts" Stoick spat. "Monsters!"

"But what if there's more to them than that? What if Hiccup can change that? What if-"

"Valka, enough!" Stoick roared, his voice booming in the house. Valka fell silent. Stoick took a deep breath and exhaled. Then he spoke in a much softer tone.

"Valka, Hiccup is doing what is meant to be doing. Our son is finally shaping up to be the Viking he was born to be. To be the leader who will protect our people. He's gonna do great things Valka. I can feel it"

"But that doesn't mean he has to kill drago-"

"Ah now look I don't want to hear any more of this" Stoick said sounding angry again "This is the first bit of good news I've heard in a long time and I don't need you spoiling it"

"Spoiling it? So what, your saying that I'm the one ruining things?" Valka said dangerously.

"What I mean is" Stoick said firmly. "I don't want you to start making things awkward for everybody again. Now it's high time you left well enough alone"

Stoick gave her curt nod to signify that their talk was over. He then walked down to the bedroom, leaving Valka seething in silence.

"Pff, well enough he says" she muttered contemptuously.

"Hey Mom"

Valka gasped in surprise. She turned around to the front door to see Hiccup standing, half hidden in the doorway.

"Oh. Hiccup" Valka glanced in the direction that Stoick had gone, her anger now replaced with embarrassment. "Um, how long were you...?"

"Probably longer than I should have been" he replied, feeling equally embarrassed. He walked into the room and stood in front of Valka. "I've never really seen you guys argue like that before"

"Yes, well, I'm sorry if we upset you. Your father and I were just having a...discussion"

"Well that's relief" Hiccup said, sarcastic as always. "For minute there I thought you two were actually fighting"

"Heh" Valka chuckled slightly. "Well, even the best marriage can have bumps every now and then. It's nothing to worry about okay dear".

Valka reached out her hand and gently rubbed Hiccup on his head. She then turned around to leave when Hiccup called her back.

"Mom". Valka stopped and turned back to Hiccup, who seemed like he didn't know whether or not to keep talking.

"Mom, I...I...I need to tell you something"

"What is it sweetheart?" Valka said with concern. She walked back to stand in front of Hiccup.

"Well... I can't really talked to Dad about it, but there's this per-uh thing-uh I mean place that I want to show you. Tomorrow. In the morning"

"Tomorrow morning?" Valka said. "Why not now?"

"Well it's a bit late and it might be better if you were well rested for this" Hiccup said, shrugging a little.

"For what?" she asked.

"Ahh...words don't really work" Hiccup said, rubbing the back of his neck. "It'd be better if I just showed you. But please don't say anything to Dad about this."

Valka looked at Hiccup for a moment as she contemplated his request before speaking again.

"Okay. I won't say anything. But Hiccup, this isn't anything dangerous is it?" Valka asked, raising an eyebrow suspiciously.

"Well it's definitely gonna be like nothing you've ever seen before. That much I can guarantee" Hiccup said, managing a half hearted smile.


Yup. Next chapter is what you've been waiting for. So fingers crossed that it goes well.