A/N

Answer to THE DRAGON1010's question. Q: did Hiccup learn to fight? A: yes, he has been going around the globe, and the world is a dangerous place, and, though Toothless might try he isn't all powerful; Hiccup would definitely have to learn to survive. Also I apologize greatly for the lack of Toothless. I had made this story in hopes of showing the complexity and purity of their relationship, I will work on making it more about them, I guess right now can be described as a prelude; showing each of their little 'I've changed' moment with Hiccup first. Enjoy :)

the characters belong to Cressida Cowell, the storyline that this story is based off of is owned by Dreamworks/ Dean Dublois.

Chapter Eleven: Freedom of Pain.

Astrid sat on a stump outside of the village square where she had a perfect view of Hiccup's house. Sharpening her axe, pausing she glanced up at the house that she had seen Hiccup walk into. She wanted to see how he was doing, but it had not been that long ago that she had seen Stoick go in. She knew that she had already had her moment of catch up with Hiccup and did not deserve to ruin Stoick's. She sighed, he had looked so different, never before had she thought that Hiccup would ever be taller than her. She shook her head to clear it. She could already see where her thoughts were leading her, and she didn't want to follow it. She put her head down and put more concentration on her axe. Suddenly the door swung open, and both Stoick and Hiccup exited the house. With Toothless at his side Hiccup came over to her and studied the situation in silence.

"Do you still want to be a dragon rider?" He said finally. She smiled at him reassuringly.

"Of course." Was her reply. A smile tried to form on his lips but he instead cleared his throat.

"Dad and I are going to the training Acadamy. Will you follow?" She immediately stood up.

"Of course, but wouldn't that be a bad idea? You know with all the... Killings... That had happened there? Wouldn't that make them upset?" He raised his eyebrows impressed that she was already considering how the dragons would feel about things, a huge step from what she had been taught and a clear sign that she was indeed ready to change.

"It is strategically best to start there, the dragons are already there, for instance. Another reason is because it is the only place that is ready to accommodate scared caged dragons. Also dragons are easy to adapt, by starting with the worst part of their training in the worst place on Berk, the transition into Berk will go easier." Was his answer. Impressed she didn't say anything. He started to walk and she immediately fell into step beside him.

0o0o0o0

Hiccup walked with ease towards the academy, as if he had never left. Five years and yet he still knew his village like the back of his hand, that corner, or this path, he knew where they all led without difficulty. He was surprised that it had not all faded away a long time ago, but it hadn't. With every step he felt lighter, Astrid was right so much was different from the last time he had been in Berk, he kept shaking his head expecting it to be a childish dream. That if he told anyone he would suffer rebuke, or even pain. He looked up at the gate of the Acadamy, and saw that the other teens were there, fidgeting and looking around like they weren't to sure why they were there. His muscles tensed. He could already see Snotlout's face in his mind, what he say how he would act... Should he run? He had only faltered for moment before he remembered his father and Astrid beside him, on either side of him. The fate of Berk, the dragons, the world depended on him, to do this. 'What if I do leave? What happens then?' Hiccup didn't allow himself to complete that thought, all he had to do was think about what had happened earlier, what his father told him. He felt like he could take on the world. Taking a deep breath he continued with more confidence than he had ever felt in his life. Hiccup could almost see how Toothless would react to him running away. He would never forgive Berk a second time no matter if Hiccup had. As that thought completed he came to a stop at the entrance looking at the nervous teens-no adults- curious.

They kept messing with their shirts afraid to look at Hiccup in the eye. Snotlout cleared his throat, took a small tentative step towards Hiccup.

"W-we would-d like to leeearn too..." Said Snotlout, drawing out the 'learn'. Hiccup looked at each of the teens. Then shrugged.

"Sure, the more the better the chances are." He said with no anger or grudge. They looked at him in shock.

0o0o0o0

Snotlout looked at him incredulous.

"You f-forgive us, just like that!" He did in a fearful whisper. He didn't want him to unforgive them, or whatever he had done.

"Of course I do, why wouldn't I?" He answered smiling. Snotlout could never understand Hiccup's easy forgiveness or perkiness no matter what happened when they wee younger, and he still didn't.

"So whose going to go first?" Said Hiccup. Including Stoick and Astrid in his gaze. It kind of startled him when he noticed that the dragon was doing the same thing. Finding himself more startled when he realized he had taken a step forward.

"I will." He said like a true Jorgensen puffing out his chest. Hiccup simply nodded, almost as if he had expected that to be the case. Hiccup entered the arena, everyone following behind the armor-clad man and his ever faithful dragon. Both dragon and man looked at each of the cages that were in front of him for a minute.

"What kind of dragons do you have now?" He asked firmly. Both Stoick, Astrid and Snotlout opened their mouth to speak, Fishlegs had began to speak but the twins had overridden them.

"We have four gronckles- which are completely STUPID!-three hideous zippleback -which by the way are AWESOME!- Twenty terrible terrors-" again Tuffnut interrupted his sister's boring list of dragons with a flourish of his hands pushing her behind him, looking around, finally he whispered with a glare in the direction of the terrors' cage "They are pure EVIL, I am positive they are out to get me. What did I ever do to them?!" He demanded indignantly. Ruffnut punched him the gut, glaring, she continued.

"Five deadly nadders and finally two monstrous nightmare- they are SOOO MONSTROUS!" Ruffnut glared at her brother, who was still lying in the dirt, slightly wheezing.

"Okay then..." He said clearing his throat of the laughter that he had efficiently hidden, he had not realized how much he missed the twins' idiocy and squabbling. Finally hearing Toothless's laughter that he burst out after the shock of what he had just seen wore off. Looking back at Snotlout thoughtfully, wondering what dragon would be the perfect fit for Snotlout. While Snotlout was fidgeting, the scrutiny that Hiccup was putting him under was almost too much. Suddenly Hiccup smiled, and that in itself was scary. Snotlout could never figure out what was going through his cousins mind, except for that one time... No he would not allow himself to think about that. Not now, especially now.

"I think a Nightmare would fit your personality." Hiccup said, Snotlout froze in fear. The others widened their eyes. Who would dare try to tame one of those?! Then all of their eyes slid to the 'innocent' dragon with wide eyes looking around. The same person who would dare to tame a night fury...

"How do you do that?" Asked Astrid.

"First..." He said taking Snotlout's axe out of his hand. "You won't be needing that..." Snotlout didn't know how pale he had been before, but he was positive he was now at least three shades lighter.

"It's simple really," he said reassuringly. "It's like making a gamble, you make a risk and hope the other player takes the bluff. And most dragons would love to be given the chance to take that bluff."

"What about the other dragons?" Snotlout asked hesitantly. Hiccup only looked blank at him.

"You said most dragons, what about the others?" Fishlegs clarified for him.

"Ah... They are sick, hurt, or had been abused." For a moment Snotlout felt a bit relieved, then a realization came to him.

"What exactly... Qualifies as... Abused?" He said hesitantly. Hiccup only patted him on his shoulder.

"Trust me some countries make your treatment to dragons look tame, they brought those dragons to the edge of insanity." He told him. Without making sure that Snotlout was ready, he went over and opened the monstrous nightmare cage, and without hesitation walked briskly into the dark cage/cave with two fire breathing dragons inside! Toothless slowly walked up to the cave and looked in, muscles tense. Within a moment, Hiccup was walking out slowly backwards leading the dragon with his palm outstretched, the dragon intent on following the hand's voyage out into the sunlight. It only took him a moment to realize that he was leading the dragon straight to him!

Snotlout started to bounce, ready to bolt. But the dragon was calm, was on the edge of pleasure.

Slowly Hiccup's other hand reached out and grabbed Snotlout's and gently put it behind his, once his hand was in the correct position, he slipped his own out of the way. Gesturing with his head, Snotlout got the hint and placed his shaky hand on the dragon. The dragon started to purr. Laughing he looked back at his cousin... Who was moving away from him! In his panic he gasped.

" W-where are you going?!" He called out making sure not to frighten the dragon, and losing a hand in the process. "Don't leave m-me!" Suddenly his mind slipped for a moment in the past...

... Looking down Snotlout snorted in contempt for his cousin, the seven year old scrawny boy in front of him was crying, bleeding. The bigger boy smiled at his pain.

"You are so useless, you know that, right? In fact that is what your parents should have called you, and in a way they did, didn't they... Hiccup?" The boy flinched as the words had hit a nerve. Snotlout smiled cruelly.

"I hit a nerve didn't I?" He asked. The boy at his feet looked up with pleading eyes begging, pleading for some kind of mercy that the muscular boy was in no mood to give. Hiccup must have seen something in his eyes, and closed his eyes in defeat. Snotlout lifted his arm to begin making the boy under him very miserable...

Snotlout gulped, and looked back at his tall cousin, that boy was no longer. And in fact if his plan worked, he would be the antonym of useless; the antonym of his past.

Hiccup looked back and must of seen something in his eyes. For he was back at his side in a moment's notice. Giving him a small smile as he nodded. And at that moment Snotlout knew that no matter what happened in the past, present, or future he had been fully forgiven, a clean slate per se. And on this slate he was going to do everything he could do to help his cousin in life, rather than harm it. And he was going to make sure that Hiccup lived a very free life of pain as was within Snotlout's power.

I hope you had enjoyed the story, and have a good rest of the day!

final update:11/10/15