Disclaimer: Dream Works and Cressida Cowell own the How to Train Your Dragon franchise.

I just realized that I got into the habit of posting every 5 days, 4 days to write, the fifth day's afternoon is when I posted. This is a bit shorter than usual in terms of total word length, but I think it makes sense.

Anyways, enjoy and if you like this story, please leave a comment for me to read.

"And then Hiccup drove of the Whispering Death off the island!" I proudly declared, much to the astonishment of those around the gathered around the dining table. None of them were seated at the table, mostly they were just gathering around just as a I recalled the past few days events. I probably wondered what they thought was more fantastic, the fact we lived in a world where Vikings can turn into dragons or that my brother could fight such a terrifying enemy and win. That'd show them not to underestimate us.

Father sat at the opposite end of the table, a faint smile on his face. He took a drink his mead goblet and then asked, "And then you sent the fleet home without you?" He didn't seem all too upset, most likely because the docks were likely to freeze sometime soon.

My brother nodded. Hiccup sat right next to me, well, sort of. He had his rear planted firmly on the floor since no normal chair would have been able to support all his weight. He then took a bite out of his plate of raw fish. I'll admit, it unnerved a little every time he swallowed something whole, that was going to take some time getting used to...

"We needed to stay behind for a day longer," I explained. "Besides, we could have flown home at any time."

"I can see that," my Father pointed out. Father was being literal of course. As soon as Hiccup shown me that saddle Gobber made for him, he never took the thing off. Granted, I was also dressed up in my flight suit, but that was only because we came home…around fifteen minutes ago, just in time to catch dinner.

"Yeah, and to think it took him this long to realize he wasn't wearing anything," I muttered.

Hiccup gave me a look that made me wonder if he going to do cover me in drool again just to annoy me, but instead he told me, "I don't know, I think lots of people say you're really strong and tough if you can stand the cold weather without wearing anything."

"Isn't being a dragon is cheating?" was my reply.

"That doesn't mean I'm not tough," Hiccup pointed out.

I counter, "But you're wearing something now…"

Father didn't understand a word he said, but I think he got the general idea. "Well, the Meatheads must have been really impressed with that getup; Vikings flying dragons, just as crazy as Vikings turning into dragons I say," he said, much to the agreement of a dozen other Vikings.

My brother and I had our face contort into big grins that threatened to fly off at any moment. Both of us a little proud of our flying over the Meatheads earlier today. While we were waiting for the Hairy Scary Librarian to deliver us our books, we did some 'joy riding' over the Village. We spent the whole day pulling fancy stunts or performing crazy tricks with our only stops being to eat and to rest whenever we got too exhausted. Onlookers who saw us were amazed, all of them gave us cheers and shouts as we danced around the sky. Other than working together in the forge, flying had just become our favorite 'bonding activity'.

"You can say that," I told our Father.

"Well, looks like you two did well," Father said, a grin plastered onto his face. "Not only have you accomplished your task and brought home much needed supplies back home, you have strengthened our ties with our neighboring Tribe and you have completed a your first official Quest."

"Quest?" I knew what a Quest was, but I didn't think what we just went through qualified.

Father glanced back at Bucket and Mulch. They were sitting on their own table a small distance off. The latter "Well, it was only a simple trading trip to another nearby island, but facing a deadly enemy and earning a payment for it makes it count in my book. Mogadon must have had a hard time believing you bested a dragon twice!"

"Right, deadly enemy..." I trailed off. Then, Hiccup gave me a stern expression, as if waiting for me to say something. I just stared back, not backing off this time. Brother did nothing. This was not be the right place to discuss… Donnar. I'm a little biased when the matter involves Whispering my little spiel about my brother defeating him, I delibrately left out a few parts, like the fact that he was someone who was from Berk or he had turned human. The truth was something for either Bucket or my brother to discuss and I don't think I'm the only one who thought that. "Well, if you want to I'm sure Hiccup or Bucket will let you know any of the important to know details."

Father nodded. Whether or not he already knew the truth, I couldn't tell. He gave a short sigh of relief. Then he stood up turning his attention the whole audience, his mug held up high. "And speaking about dragons, we've made it to the Winter season without dragons ransacking the village in months! We can celebrate Snoggletog in peace!"

The assembled crowd roared with excitement, obviously glad that they wouldn't have to worry as much about dragons destroying their homes. During this time of the year, the King let his servants have their leave. Even the Knights had their duties significantly diminished and often returned to their home fiefdoms. This wasn't to say dragon attacks did not happen, sometimes Knights gathered some commoners on their own little hunting parties. The raids merely happened much less often and they were often much smaller than at any other time of the year. Though, for the life of me, I couldn't exactly remember what made this season so important.

"What's Snoggletog?" I whispered to Hiccup. The adults were still talking, their voices raised in cheer. They ignored us almost completely whilst discussing things like decoration and sacrificial offerings.

"Just a festival we celebrate during the Winter. You'll like it!" he said.

"And why does it have…"

Hiccup cut me off, apparently knowing exactly what I was going ask. "I know it's a dumb name," said my brother. "No one knows why we call it that, but that's just what we call it... "

I don't get Viking names sometimes. Most a fine, but then others just make nose But 'Snoggletog'? Really?I glowered at him, but I didn't press him about that; I knew that would just lead to nowhere. "So… what's it about?"

"It's a festival," Hiccup said. "There's going to be lot of eating and drinking, bud. You'll love it." I was looking forward to sampling the food off of tables and I imagined what kinds of nice dishes I could find. Maybe there'll be some fried oysters or deep fried yak. Drinking, I didn't fancy as much, but still, maybe I could find a nice goblet of milk to wash everything else down. Already, I could feel my mouth water.

"So, it's just a celebration, then?" Dragons had festivals, often to mark special occasions or notable individuals and I think Berk hosted their for the same reason. I think there was a winter one coming up, but I forgot what it was about. Maybe it had something to do with the King releasing the majority of his servants from service.

"Yes," Hiccup confirmed. "But during the celebration, it's customary to exchange gifts with others…"

I frowned. If it's customary to exchange gifts with others, I wanted to know just what that meant… and if possible figure out what I would exchange. "With who?"

Hiccup's shoulders bulged forward in a shrug. "Whoever you want," my brother told me, "family, close friends…"

"…Astrid?" I guessed.

Hiccup backed away, almost ashamed, but he confirmed my guess. "Astrid."

I might as well press on and ask for help."So, what did you get her?"

"I gave her axe polish last year," he told me in as cold and low of a voice he could manage. I knew why he seemed so depressed, Astrid lost her prized axe a few months ago. Now it was unusable, enshrined in the Hofferson clan house.

"So, what are going to do?" I asked.

"Just something for you and Dad," he said. I nodded. Whatever that meant, I hoped he knew what he was doing.

I finally decided I had enough being trapped under a mountain of Viking men and suggested for my brother and I to leave the table. Dad was clearly wrapped up talking to the villagers, planning for the upcoming holiday. Hiccup easily cleared the way for us to leave. One the advantages of having a large scaly reptile for a brother, people tended to pay attention to that.

Still, I wondered just who would I be giving things to this year? And what? I mean, I know I'm my Father's son and all, but I didn't exactly have much money all of my own. I could probably make a few axes or spears and gift those, but I don't think Berk needed that many more weapons.

And then, there was the possibility I had to give Hiccup something. That terrified me to no end. When I learned that I had him for an older sibling, a part of me sighed in relief while the rest of me frantically denied it. Before, I was worried of being in so much debt to Hiccup that I could never repay him for his kindness. Once it was revealed we were siblings, that debt practically went away. His old clothes became my new hand-me-downs, the lessons he gave me became things expected of him. Now, I shuddered to think what I could possibly give the brother who gave me my...everything.

Thinking on more possible matters, I realized that I could easily get things for my human friends. My older cousin Snotlout would obviously get a flail or maul, his choice. Fishlegs would want books and/or dragon related things, so maybe I could get a book from somewhere. The twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, wouldn't mind receiving their own cruel weapons. I could probably make an axe for Astrid… Maybe something else for Thuggory, something to at least trust me a little more.

But then I realized, there were others I needed to think about. It owed it to my former peers, since I more or less dragged them into the mess I was stuck in. I had very little idea of what I could get them. I could probably get matching helmets to go along with the twins. Meatlug would be difficult, but maybe I can ask for Fishlegs's advice since she seemed to always be near the guy. Hookfang stumped me though. I grew up having him near me all the time, but that was just because he was my teacher's grandson; I didn't really talk to him all that much.

As for the Nadder, Stormfly? Forget her. I don't think I would have given her anything, even if I had the foggiest of ideas. Back when we were in Squire training, she was one of the ones who teased me the most, often telling me that I didn't earn my place in the Knighthood. These days, I think she might have had a point, but I'm not going to admit that in front of her.

Before I knew it, I found myself gravitating towards the table where my former peers were gathered. All them save the Zippleback were in human form and talking amongst themselves.

"So, should we stay?"

"Or should we go?" asked both heads of the Zippleback. I still had a little trouble telling which head was which.

"Well, it is that time of year…" suggested Meatlug while absentmindedly flipping through the pages of a book. "But I wouldn't mind staying."

"We do have to stay around, for our Hosts. My liege needs me after all, especially after… yesterday. We have many responsibilities here to the Chief," said the tall dark haired boy. Hookfang was always big for his age and that still showed even in human form.

"We do have to consider informing our other Kin, tour relatives. With the upcoming festival, this might be our only chance to meet up with them, without drawing the direct attention of the other Flight Commanders; I do not wish to see them until our teacher is avenged..." said what I assumed to be a certain Nadder.

"So does that mean," started who I assumed to be Barf.

Belch completed. "We stay for Snoggletog?"

"I don't know. What is Snoggletog anyways? And does it really have to have such a strange name?" asked Stormfly.

My former peers were clearly talking about leaving somewhere for the Winter, but were kept from going due to their duties on Berk. It must have had to do something with the Winter festival again. I decided it would be a good idea to move past them before they had the chance to realize I was there.

But instead of letting me go forward, Hiccup patted me on the back with his tail and gave me a look. "Ask them to stay."

"Why me?" I said. "You do remember they can understand you, you know."

"I remember," he said."But they're your friends."

I sighed. I didn't want to force them to stay if they didn't want to; it was because of me they were here in the first place, I shouldn't be the one to force them stay if they didn't want to go. On the other hand, I wouldn't object if they stuck around… Besides, I was kind of depending on my brother to help me walk. I really need to get a staff or walking stick, anything to stop him from having so much leverage over me.

"It's a sort of gift giving celebration," I told my former peers. As we approached, they all turned and looked at me. "At least, that's what my brother says."

"Gift exchange?" mused Meatlug.

"You mean like..." start Barf.

Both of the Zippleback heads then started looking around, as if to check if there was anyone else who could overhearing, despite the fact the only other people who could have understood them were a trio of horribly singing Nadders. "Like our King does?"

I shook my head. "No, not those kind of gifts," I said. The King had the power to bestow strange and marvelous powers to his favored servants. My old teacher One Eye for instance could see as good, perhaps than any normal dragon who had both working eyes. Though, what I would give to have access to one of the most commonly received gifts, the power of healing.

"Then, what are we receiving?" asked Hookfang.

"Items, possessions," I supplied.

"Clothing?" mused Stormfly.

"Yeah, like that." I said. Well, actually I didn't know if clothes were a smart idea, but I don't think I would have minded having more things to wear. Was that what she wanted?

Then, Stormfly's deep blue eyes focused on me, like a hawk, and I suddenly felt cold, like I was going to start shivering at any moment. I feared she might go make a comment about how weak I was since I needed my brother to help me walk without straining my injured leg. "Did you really face a Whispering Death and shoot out its eye?"

"Um… yeah," I said. I didn't know what else to say, only to confirm what I had done. For a moment, I feared like I might have put myself into the firing line.

"And you were injured for it?"

Before I could have done the smart thing and shut up about it, my mouth moved on its own, "One of my legs got was crippled." I wanted to just run away now, I practically gave her permission. Hastily, I added, "Temporarily."

She seemed to consider my for a moment, most likely to figure out the best way to mock me. Then said with a grin that almost scared me more than the Whispering Death. "Then I think you had the better aim. Good job."

It took me a second for me to process that. Did she really just… compliment me? For a moment, I wondered she might have been catching me off guard, just to make my whole situation worse. But, she didn't look like she normally did. She wasn't dressed any different; she had the same tunic and silk scarf like always, but she just didn't seem to have the same air about her.

"Why are you giving me that look?" She said.

"Uh, it's just nothing!"

Stormfly gave a growl. It actually sounded, I don't know...cute, like listening to a puppy try to growl. Still, it did sound threatening. "Well, then you better recover. Though, I don't think it'd make much

"Uh, thanks…" I replied. Maybe I was just imagining things. She was still the same old Stormfly I had always known. Before I could walk away, Hiccup's tail slapped my back, reminding me why I got involved in the first place. "So are you going to be staying or not?"

Stormfly and the others turned and looked at each other, as if that was enough to have a quick discussion. "It is decided then, we will attend this 'Snoggletog' of yours." said Stormfly. "I suppose I can wait another year before attending my first mating festival…"

And with that, I suddenly remembered what made the Winter so important, mating season was coming soon…

I really hope Mother does not stop by for a visit with her free time…

Ever since I've been stuck in this body, I've gotten used to having eyes that could see so clearly in the dark. It was really handy, really, probably the one natural ability I had that I've used more than any other. I never had to worry about being near blind or fear that I might step in something I just because I couldn't see it. It's no wonder Mom or Toothless could easily pinpoint and destroy catapult towers even in the darkest night; Night Furies only needed the faintest of lights.

And I was using this incredible power to read. Without a candle. Yes, Hiccup, you're a genius, use one of the most incredible and amazing parts of being a dragon for the most mundane things. Well, I guess it offsets the fact I had no hands. My paws were simply put too big to even manage turning a page without flipping over a dozen parts all at once. It was possible, but really difficult. If I tried flipping pages while I had a candle? I would be surprised if I didn't destroy a neighborhood blocks; I've done that before.

Maybe if I had been a little more patient, I could have waited until morning and had Toothless or Dad to come and help me read. But tonight, it seemed like I was out of patience. I have been waiting for a breakthrough for a months now and I have used the last of my ability to wait longer just to keep me until I had returned home. How could I not want to learn the information that could fix everything?

I was by the house's hearth Now that it was Winter, it would pretty much be going nonstop. I took advantage of it, using it as my light source, despite the fact I was maybe a dozen feet away. Toothless and Dad were sleeping in their respective beds, leaving me alone with a book. Other than turning a page, I had very few problems reading the book on Rune based magic the Hairy Scary Librarian wrote.

According to the book, Rune magic is simple and can be summed up with the phrase 'Words have power'. It's about putting words on objects and using them to store and control the power imbued into the item. Unfortunately, that's where the simplicity ends.

First off, the Runes involved are not the same kind used in everyday life. They're still Norse Runes, but I think they're the special kind, like the ones used by priests to dedicate temples and label tombs. This part, I didn't think I had a full understanding of, but I think Fishlegs would be a big help.

Second, the Runes written on an item had to specify exactly what the intended effect was, otherwise, things would be random. There's a very detailed example of how simply writing 'Fire' on a sword was not enough to make a flaming sword. Such a blade had a good chance of setting its wielder and anyone in a twenty yard radius a blaze. Writing 'Fire', 'On' and 'Sword' in that order was better, but even then, there was a good chance the sword would constantly be melting itself without more words to protect it. With my luck, I might suddenly turn someone into a dragon because I misspell something.

Third, the more complex the enchantment was going to be, the more power it would need backing it up. Using the flaming sword example, making a sword that was on fire was one thing, making a sword that could melt through stone was another matter entirely; the amount of skill and power needed was just way different. This part is what the Hairy Scary Librarian was talking about when he said that it was odd my brother and I could use runes despite lacking formal training. The whole point of the training was to give an initiate enough skill and practice to develop a reserve of energy and channel it into an enchantment. Whatever it was, the book didn't know, yet somehow, my brother and I had this part covered.

There were also a dozen other nuances like how certain materials did better at focusing certain enchantments, how making enchantments at certain times of day or during special occasions of a year could affect the process, and how people's names fit in, but I didn't think I needed to know all that stuff just yet. I needed to know the basics before I worried about the complicated stuff. Maybe tomorrow, I could read about what are the actual steps in the imbuing process.

Before I could go any further, I heard someone knocking on the door. Which was odd, considering what hour it is. Putting my book away, I went over to the door. "Who is it?" I barked. Hopefully, whoever it was could understand it... and not think I was threatening him.

"It's me!" said a muffled, but familiar voice.

"Astrid?" I called out.

"Yeah!"

With some difficulty, I twisted the door knob with my tongue, revealing a very familiar blonde girl standing just outside the threshold. Well, mostly blonde girl. Astrid had changed in the few days I had been away. She was barefoot, her feet having grown large and morphed into a shape vaguely reminiscent of a bird's. Her eyes has both turned golden yellow, showing a dim glow. I could only stare at the girl, my mouth agape.

"Careful, your mouth might freeze open," Astrid told me.

I still stared for a while longer. "Astrid, what happened?"

"Stormfly is a better fighter than Toothless," she declared while flashing me a big satisfied grin. Even her smile had changed, becoming… sharper. And yet, I still found it so endearing.

"Uh, come in!" I told her once I snapped out of my trance.

She stepped in and immediately regretted it once her hand touched the doorknob to close it. "Ew, gross!"

"Sorry!" I cried. "Only had the tongue!" Note to self, ask Gobber to make a door able to be opened by a dragon, just so I don't embarrass myself in front of her any more than I had to. I didn't need to think twice before I decided to change the topic. "Uh… why are you here?"

"So I can't come visit a friend?" she questioned, making me feel a little guilty. Right, I forgot Astrid was a friend now, not some girl who I just knew and stayed away from me.

"Uh, I didn't find you at the Great Hall," I said. I actually said 'Great Den', but she knew what I meant.

"Dad grounded me for a week," she said with a not-so-wistful smile.

"And you snuck out?" I think I had a hard time trying to understand that. Astrid, the girl who pretty much was obedient and straightforward, sneaking out seemed stranger than her physical transformation. Why… that's almost like something Camicazi would do.

Astrid merely shrugged. "Dad kinda went nuts once I started having a taste for raw fish…"

"Well, I don't blame you…" I said, mostly buy more time just to try to understand what I was seeing. "It's oddly satisfying…"

The partially-dragon girl took a seat by the hearth and began warming herself. I took a seat right next to her, after flicking the Rune writing guide away with my tail. "You know, I missed having you around."

"You did?" That surprised me. Astrid broke out of her own home just to see me, that's a first and I'm actually surprised I didn't have to do that first.

"Uhuh, it would have been nice to have someone tell me what I should expecting… someone that wasn't Snotlout."

Oh, right. No need to panic Hiccup, it's nothing major. She came to see you, not that she came to see you. Honestly, you've been trying to get her attention for the longest time and now you're so scared of that. "Snotlout isn't that bad…" Which is why you're trying to get her to talk about Snotlout. Perfect.

Astrid snorted. "Have you seen him lately?"

"Uh, no?" I sputtered.

She shook her head. "Just, never mind. Look, you'll know what happened when you see him..."

Okay, now I really wonder what's happened to my cousin in the past few days. Back in the Great Hall, I overheard Hookfang talk about something happening to Snotlout, something yesterday. Just how bad was it? I mean, I got that he was probably tougher and stronger than I was, but still, he wasn't immortal. One arrow to the heart and I was sure he'd still die. Now that this topic turned a little dark all I could really say was, "Okay…" in an awkward tone.

The conversation died then and there for a few minutes. Astrid kept warming herself by the fire, she was still mostly human. I had finally managed to understand what was going to happen to her.

Maybe it was wishful and selfish thinking, but I actually wished she was going to turn into a Night Fury. It would have been nice having another one around, someone who could have been my equal. That and I would have finally had a chance. Who was I kidding? I never had a chance, not unless I was the last guy on Midgard she could have dated. I managed to finally say. "You're turning into a Nadder…"

Astrid nodded. "Stormfly says it fits me," she said. "Can't say I really understand why. I'm not really all that obsessive about my appearance, not like she is."

"But you do…" As soon as I said it, I started to believe it. Ever since her uncle, Fearless Finn, died, Astrid always played up the image, the ideal, that she was going to be Berk's toughest warrior one day. She kept training whenever she had the spare time and thrown punches and jabs to both her enemies and friends. "Just not in the typical Nadder way. You tend to be more… aggressive."

"Oh, you mean like this?" she said, before landing a elbowing me in the chest.

I recoiled away, maybe a little stunned that Astrid could still manage to break a rib. "Ow!"

She gave herself a smirk. "I missed having my favorite punching bag around."

I returned a sheepish smile. A month ago, I probably have been scared of receiving a hit like that, I would have lost whatever remained of my then slowly ebbing humanity. Now, I just simply lacked anything left to lose. "Well…. thanks." Still, I guess if anything, Astrid considered me a I can settle for that if not...

"Why are you giving me that look?" she said.

Embarrassed about what I was thinking about, I felt my cheeks flush. I really hope myself were black enough to cover that. "Uh… nothing." Great, now she thinks I am more weird than I normally am.

Astrid just shook her head as if to break a thought off her mind. "So, Stormfly's staying with us for…" her face contorted a little bit, trying to use a word that she could no longer use.

"I know, I was there Toothless convinced her." I said. I'm actually not all that surprised Snoggletog did not have a comparable word in Dragonese. I was an odd name, even by Berk or even normal Viking standards.

Astrid nodded before leaning a little bit closer to the fire. "Well, anyways, did you know that Winter signals the start of mating season?" She must have notice my face turn into an inquisitive look. "Yeah, apparently, they," she means dragons, "form couples in the Winter and have a whole festival about when their kids hatch all at the same time."

I wonder if Fishlegs was pestering Meatlug about that…or if Meatlug had other ideas in mind. As far as I knew, Spring was when other creatures than humans found their mates, just at the start of the relatively warmer part of the year to allow their young to have an easy time growing up. But then again, dragons never had to worry about frostbite or having their insides freeze up, with the ability to create fire anywhere and all.

I also frowned. Suddenly, I realized why I was suddenly so… focused on Astrid. With a painful realization, I knew I needed to do something about that before things just ended up worse. Part of me accepting that I might live the rest of my life as a dragon meant that I had to accept that I couldn't… No, I couldn't dwell on that too much. I had no chance anyways.

"Is something wrong?" She must

I shook my head. "Uh, no, nothing," I lied. She didn't need to know or at least I didn't need to say anything. At the same time, I also realized something else. "So, do you think that why our Kin," I said in place of the word 'dragon', since I finally got tired of skirting around using it, "don't attack us much during the Winter? They have to raise their young?"

Astrid nodded. "Yeah, apparently, the Flights are temporarily disbanded while this happens. All of them suddenly have the free time to do whatever they wanted."

I felt my heart freeze over, as if I was suddenly a normal average boy who didn't have insides that burned so hot. "All of them?" I repeated, a crazy and insane idea forming in my head.

"Yeah, according to Stormfly, all of them, even the Flight Commanders go off and pursue whatever they want," Astrid confirmed. She then frowned for a very obvious reason. "Hiccup, you have that look on your face whenever you have an idea…"

I nodded. "It's definitely crazy.

Astrid gave a sigh, as if accepting she had no chance of stopping me. Which was fair, she didn't. "So, what is it this time?"

I told her. "I want Mom to come visit for the Winter."

I've been wanting to do this arc for a while.

I think you all know what's coming next.

Also, lots of implied shipping, even though I don't normally do this. I figure, of all times, the Mating Season would be the time to do it.