Something New

Rating; M for Mature

Parings; HiccupXAstrid, FishlegsXHeather, RuffnutXSnotlout, TuffnutXCamicazi

Disclaimer; I do not own the HTTYD movies, series, or mini-shorts.

Chapter 9

~Normal POV~

The excitement never stopped and the anticipation continued to grow as Astrid was now in her seventh month of pregnancy and still doing perfectly fine-it was worry some for Hiccup because he himself was born two months early and barely survive his birth and the whole first year according to Gobber-who had told him stories about his mother who was dead having been carried off by a dragon. Eydis assured Hiccup that as long as Astrid took it easy then she would make it to term no problems at all. Hiccup and Astrid both couldn't believe that two months had passed since their birthday, it was like time was just passing them by but they didn't mind at all. It was amazing too that they had been married eight and a half months already. Four more and it would be a full year, not to mention also they'd been together as a couple for three years given they hooked up two months after Astrid's seventeenth birthday-Hiccup's was about three days before hers and had he been born on time instead of two months early, Astrid would actually be older than him.

It was fun to think about, to this day Astrid tells Hiccup that the only reason he came early was because he was too stubborn to be second oldest of all the kids born that year and as such-he came early and is the oldest between Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut. The next set of kids after them was almost three years later, but it didn't matter. The Tribe was doing well, same as always with no problems or visitors except Johann every few weeks sometimes months-it depended on where he traveled to. Johann was known for never going near the Murderous Mountains, another trader was brave enough for that excursion. Johann went from Berk and below it to the South, Southeast, and Southwest. Hitting all the islands in that area: Berk, Peaceable County, Hysteria, Bog, Meathead, Outcast, Berserk, Waterlands, and of course, Hiccup's island being Cloud Rider Isle.

Johann knew of the island but didn't know Hiccup and Astrid lived there-he only knew them as Hedvig and Alva who had two adopted boys and a child on the way, Johann also didn't know about the dragons for obvious reasons. Hiccup had requested that Johann never mention their island to others so it wouldn't peak curiosity about when it became an inhabited island and try to visit or introduce themselves. The Skywing Tribe was a very quiet and keep to themselves type of village-they didn't want everyone poking around of when they got there, would they sign alliances with other tribes, it was just not something Hiccup wanted to deal with-it would involve the risk of revealing their peace pact with the dragons, that itself could start wars he wanted nothing to do with so for the safety of both species, the would keep to their own.

"Chief, Trader Johann's ship was just spotted should be arriving in about an hour and a half. Orders?" Viggo asked quickly while approaching on foot besides Hiccup.

"Johann was just here two weeks ago, why would he be back so soon I wonder..." Hiccup pondered a moment with a hand to his chin-then he looked to Viggo. "No matter. Outsider incoming plan Alpha," he commanded.

"Yes sir, right away." Viggo saluted and rushed off. Plan Alpha was to hide the dragons and assume normal Tribe behavior. It also meant that Hiccup and Astrid had to put the temporary dye in their hair so they didn't give away their appearance to Johann who knew Hiccup and Astrid very well from their days on Berk. Hiccup turned heel with Toothless and returned to the Haddock household to find his wife relaxing and working on lunch.

"Weren't you going to check the store house?" Astrid inquired with a smile.

"I was until Viggo informed me that Johann is an hour and a half out from docking here. Outsider plan Alpha is being commenced," Hiccup told her as he kissed her cheek.

"I'll get the hair dye," she giggled heading for the downstairs washroom and two bottles: one labeled Hedvig, the other Alva. The twins didn't need to change their hair color because with Hiccup and Astrid's dye job-the twins looked just like they were meant to be their kids. Astrid slipped on the thin gloves as Hiccup sat in the chair while she applies it and let it sit twenty minutes while she did her own and let it sit the same amount of time. After that the dye dried and with a little adjusting-the hair color was changed. Hiccup to black and Astrid to caramel brown color. Astrid had one other thing for Hiccup though, a powder that matched his skin tone-something to hide the scar on the right side of his chin. With it covered Hiccup didn't look like, well, Hiccup anymore.

Astrid put everything away as they and the boys ate lunch together-cleaned up, then went outside together as Viggo approached again. "Plan Alpha in effect. Johann is twenty minutes out," he said.

"Very good, Viggo. Grab your brother and follow us to the docks, we'll greet him." Hiccup smiled, Viggo nodded as he hurried off to find Ryker. Fifteen minutes passed as the Haddock family was standing on the docks with Viggo and Ryker on either side of them, the twins in front of Hiccup and Astrid as Johann's boat moved slow into the dock area. Hiccup and Ryker grabbed Johann's two lines and helped pull him in and flat to the side of the dock-then tying it in place. Ryker helped Johann with the board as the always happy trader stepped off and shook hands with Hiccup.

"Ah, master Hedvig. Always good to see you," Johann greeted brightly.

"You as well, my traveler friend. What brings you back-was sure we wouldn't see you for another few weeks or months?" Hiccup inquired softly.

"My apologies for the sudden return. I'm afraid I may have let slip your island is one of my stops in the Archipelago..." Johann admitted nervously. Hiccup's eyes widened a bit but remained calm.

"Perhaps we should move this inside. Children, will you take your mother home to rest-I believe she's looking a bit tired." Hiccup said looking to Tore and Hagen.

"Yes, father." the two replied leading Astrid back towards the house after she received a look from Hiccup that clearly said he would tell her what was going on afterwards.

"Come, Johann." Hiccup said calmly to him, Johann nodded and followed Hiccup to the building where he held meetings, Viggo and Ryker following silently. Reaching the spot, Hiccup led Johann inside and had his guards stay outside so they wouldn't be interrupted.

"It was an accident, Chief Hedvig. I was on Bog Isle a week ago and the young Heir stumbled upon one of your inventions below deck-it was the...um, thing you gave me to help pull up my gang plank. You've given me a few, and she asked if she could trade for one and then questioned where I found such a useful too. You know me and my stories-I informed the young Heiress to Bog Isle that I got it from the chief of a new island. Now, I did not say where it was located-just that it housed a small tribe." Johann explained quickly.

"Did you mention my name?" Hiccup asked, Johann nodded to him. This was a problem-Bertha and Camicazi knew about him as Hedvig, and Astrid as Alva. They had stayed there for a month-all of Bog Isle knew about them under their secret names and now they were aware that he was chief of his own island. The story Bertha and Camicazi knew was that Hedvig and Alva were abandoned at the age of eleven.

"I'm so sorry, Chief Hedvig," Johanna said full of regret.

"It's fine, Johann. But I assume you did not return here to inform me about letting it slip. Did the chieftess of Bog Isle send you?" Hiccup asked.

"Yes, with this letter regarding an upcoming meeting for all island rulers to attend. She said given you have a tribe now, and you are chief-it's rather required to attend." Johann enlightened as he pulled the letter from his clothing and handing it to Hiccup to read over.

Hedvig, or I should say Chief Hedvig now-I'm pleased to find out you are alright, it's been some time since we last met. As chief of your own tribe in the Archipelago, you are required to attend the meeting in a month being hosted on Meathead Isle by Chief of the Meathead Tribe, Mogadon. It's to discuss the dragon scourge we all face in two months. Oh and if you have an Heir, or Alva would like to come along-they are welcome to. Hope to catch up with you then. Signed, Bertha Boggs-Chieftess of Bog Isle, home to the Bog Burglar Tribe.

Hiccup sighed heavily, he knew of this meeting. It was something he attended with his father when it was hosted on Berk when he was about thirteen years old, now that he was a chief himself which Johann carelessly let slip in one of his stories-Hiccup was required to attend it as a chief. Great. "You received this last week?" Hiccup asked.

"Yes, Master Hedvig." Johann replied.

"So the meeting is in three weeks and it takes almost two in order to sail to Meathead. I'd have to leave next week to make it on time...I suppose if I must then I must. Thank you, Johann." Hiccup stated with a soft smile. Johann nodded as the two stood and shook hands.

"I must be leaving now, my friend. I'm behind on my usual schedule, " Johann said.

"Of course, I understand. Safe sailing, Johann." Hiccup replied, Johann and him exited the building. Johann moved on to his ship and prepared to leave the island. Hiccup sighed heavily as he moved towards his house, he had to talk to Astrid about this-Hiccup knew she couldn't travel, it wasn't safe with her being seven months pregnant and by the time they got there, Astrid would likely be almost eight months along. Reaching the house, he sent the kids to play with Eret as he discussed with Astrid about why Johann was there and the meeting Hiccup had to attend.

"And let me guess, you want me to stay here?" Astrid asked gently.

"It's not safe for you to travel, babe. You'll be eight months by the time we get there and Thor forbid you went into early labor, I want you here: safe at home. I'll take Eret and Ryker with me, the boys can stay here with you. I should be back before you give birth," Hiccup told her.

"I understand, Hiccup. When do you leave?" Astrid looked at him.

"I plan to leave in a week, travel the time it takes to get there-then leave as soon as it's over. These meetings are literally just a gathering of chieftains to discuss dragon raid solutions, who did nest searches, if anyone has ideas that help keep them away. Then everyone just enjoys a celebration of being around one another-mead and food for the night and most people leave after a few days," Hiccup smiled some.

"Alright. You be safe, I'll make you some extra dye and powder to take." Astrid said gently as she kissed him, he returned it and they relaxed on the couch in the main area near the fire. Hiccup was going to hate this trip-he and Astrid hadn't been apart in years, but if he didn't go then Bertha was likely going to talk about her run in with him and Astrid or Alva and then it would spark the other Tribes making a go to look for Johann and get him to spill where the island was. Hiccup closed his eyes sighing, just a month-maybe less if the winds and weather were on their side. He wanted to go and get it over with-this was a once a year thing too so he'd have to do it every year which only irritated him more. Such was the life of a chief-doing things you didn't always want to do.

(Two & A Half Weeks Later)

The Gods were on his side! Hiccup left Cloud Rider Isle about seventeen days ago and they were about half an hour out from arriving at Meathead Isle. Hiccup already did his hair and covered his scar, he was wearing black pants, green tunic, his armor(A/N: Think his HTTYD 2 armor) with some additions like the metal shoulder pieces on his shoulders to hold his light gray wolf pelt cloak that hung down his back and of course his boots. The people who came with him were Ryker, Eret, Folke, Goran, and Ivar. Those last three were parts of Viggo and Ryker's crew on their ship before Hiccup converted them from dragon hunters to dragon lovers.

"Alright, listen up Skywingers. I've been to this before as a kid. It's long, boring, and irritating. Folke, Goran, Ivar-I want you to stay on the ship and make sure no one comes aboard looking for clues about the island or Tribe. Eret, Ryker-you will be with me during the meeting. If anyone asks, Ryker, you are my second in command and Eret, you are my guard. That is what most of other chief's or chieftess's have with them. Some also have their Heir's, wives, and/or husbands. It's hard to tell but basically this is just a meeting for them to discuss how to handle their raids because for most of the islands-the next four months will be heavy raid months. They all just talk to figure out if anyone has had success in deterring, defeating, lessening-you get the idea." Hiccup announced.

"Understood, chief." they replied as the island was coming into sight now-this was going to suck.

(Meathead Isle-Great Hall)

The others had arrived already-they liked to come early to catch up and recover from the sailing. Rulers from Berserk, Outcast, Berk, Murderus, Hysteria, Waterlands, Peaceable, and Bog. Most of them were just sitting around with a mug of mead or water waiting for this new chief to arrive. Bertha had told them about it when she arrived that there would be a new chief among them for the meeting.

"Bertha, I don't understand. Who is this chief and why have the rest of us never heard of him?" came the chief of Hysterics Tribe; Asgeir.

"You will meet him when he gets here, patience, Asgeir." Bertha chuckled some.

"If he ever gets here," said the chief of the Berserkers; Dagur.

"Brother, come now. He is a new chief-perhaps he was unaware that most of us arrive early," said a sweet voice beside Dagur-his little sister, Heather. Dagur groaned some while playing with his dagger.

"Precisely. Camicazi and I met him three years ago-he and his lover washed up on our beach after a dragon destroyed their ship. They were looking for supplies to rebuild their home on the island they'd been abandoned on by their tribe for being runts to their families when they were eleven. The two were placed on a ship with clothes and some food and sent off on their own-the elder suggested removing them in hopes of pleasing the Gods to stop their raids." Bertha explained.

"Which Tribe would do that? None of ours..." Gunvor, chief of the Peacekeepers Tribe spoke now.

"I think they were from outside the Archipelago, there is another world out there." Camicazi mentioned now.

"Yes, she's right." Thuggary-Mogadon's son, agreed with her.

"Chief Mogadon! There's a ship pulling up towards the docks," came the voice of a guard who rushed in to alert his chief. Mogadon stood up now as Thuggary followed him. Curiously, the others leaders did the same-all curious of this new chief.

(Outside-The Docks)

Hiccup sighed, so they'd arrived finally. Might as well get this over with, he moved towards the side of the ship as two dock helpers from the Meathead Tribe grabbed the lines and pulled their ship up to port. Folke and Goran lowered the board and Hiccup had his arms crossed over his chest, putting on his bored but serious expression.

"Welcome to Meathead, stranger. Are you the one Bertha spoke of, the new chief to an Archipelago island?" asked Mogadon. Hiccup gave a nod as he walked down towards him, Eret and Ryker beside him.

"Got a name, lad?" Hiccup recognized that voice-it was Gobber's. Such fond memories indeed.

"May I present, Chief Hedvig Olovsan. Chief of the Skywing Tribe on Cloud Rider Isle." Ryker announced, it was the job Hiccup gave him.

"Hedvig!" Camicazi smiled rushing up now, "Wow, you got taller since we last saw you. How's Alva? Did she come too?"

"I'm afraid not, Heiress Camicazi. Chief Mogadon, a storm is headed this way. We've stayed a few miles ahead of it, it would be wise to return inside," Hiccup informed.

"Oh, yes. Of course, right this way." Mogadon motioned towards the hall. A ten minute walk later and everyone had filed inside of it with the doors shut. "So, I believe since you're new-we should get to know you better." the man offered.

"I suppose that would be acceptable to agree to. Very well, what would you like to know?" Hiccup asked calmly.

"We could start with when you came to the Archipelago, when you formed a Tribe, how old you are...something along those lines?" Dagur remarked.

"Twenty years old and three years ago," Hiccup replied plainly.

"Pretty young to be chief," came Stoick's voice, Hiccup fought glaring at him.

"Young-but smart, wise, strong, brave, and talented." Eret responded to the Berk chief.

"So where is, Alva?" Camicazi asked with a wide smile now.

"Home resting, she wasn't up to traveling so I elected to come with my guard and second in command." Hiccup answered.

"Poor dear is sick?" Bertha frowned.

"Nothing she won't recover from in about a month," Hiccup smiled some as Camicazi and Bertha blinked a bit, "She's eight months pregnant,"

"Oh my Gods! She is? Wonderful! You must bring yourselves by Bog Isle so we can meet the little one!" Camicazi squealed happily.

"I'll speak to the wife about it when I get back," Hiccup chuckled.

"And you two are married now!?" Bertha exclaimed.

"About nine months ago now. Got married and she conceived on our wedding night," Hiccup replied.

"In good Viking tradition, we'll send gifts for the new child." Oyvind, chief of Waterlands.

"That won't be necessary. Our Tribe keeps to our own, we only came because it was required to." Hiccup informed blandly.

"Hah, that's how I feel about it." Madguts of Murderus scoffed.

"Nobody asked you, Madguts." Stoick rolled his eyes. "So, Hedvig. I know I'm curious-where is your island?"

"None of your business. I believe we are here to discuss something regarding dragons, that is what I was told. I have other places to be and a million better things to do with my time then sit here and be questioned. My wife is three to four weeks from giving birth and I will not be missing such an event over a meaningless matter," Hiccup retorted coldly-effectively silencing the room. "So I suggest we get started with whatever this is, I'd like to go home." he added while leaning against the wall with his eyes closed and arms crossed over his chest.

Gods he just wanted to go home and be with his boys and wife. He was better off not coming at all, this was pointless for him because he didn't suffer raids. Now these people would be all over him wanting to know more because he was-for lack of a better word, secretive. Hiccup listened as the room began to talk about things slowly-occasionally going silent to see if he was still listening. This didn't matter to him, and he wanted it to be over so he could leave and not have to worry about it for another year.