Something New

Rating; M for Mature

Parings; HiccupXAstrid, FishlegsXHeather, RuffnutXSnotlout, TuffnutXCamicazi

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

Chapter 21

~Normal POV~

The Hooligans of Berk would admit that they were beyond happy their Heir, Hiccup, was alive, as was Astrid-but the shocking thing to that reveal was only because a grief stricken chief forced them into telling everyone who they really were. All they knew so far was that Hiccup and Astrid were married with two adopted sons, one blood daughter, and now-another on the way with Astrid being three months pregnant. Also that Hiccup was chief of his own island because he had a second in command and lead guard-the biggest find of it all was when Madguts threw Milla off the cliff was that Hiccup was a dragon rider of a Night Fury and more on that was that everyone on his island was a dragon rider. They wanted to know more, they wanted to understand how all this began and now with Hiccup and Astrid having their little moment to celebrate their five year anniversary of marriage, Hiccup was ready to tell them everything.

"This is a long story to get through so I'll tell it in sections..." Hiccup sighed heavily, this is not how he wanted to spend his day. Honestly he just wanted to take his family and go home-forget this all ever happened.

"And are you starting from when you left Berk?" Fishlegs asked.

"Oh no, this starts way before that so just be quiet and listen..." Hiccup took a breath. "Who here remembers the day my father yelled at me in front of the village when I said I shot down a Night Fury?" he asked as a few people put their hands up, "Well, Toothless is that Night Fury. When he landed in the forest, his left tail fin had been torn off, but the tail you see on him now is my creation." Hiccup began-from there he told them about leaving his father's house, sneaking into the forest and finding Toothless on the ground and then trying to kill him but couldn't. Hiccup explained that he let Toothless go, and then Toothless let him go. He also went more into detail about the fear he saw in Toothless's eyes and that is why he couldn't and wouldn't kill him.

Hiccup went on about his time in training, and then how he made several attempts to get close to Toothless but it always failed. "Finally after all that moving around on the lines he drew, my back was to him and only a few inches away. I turned around and was staring at him, I tried to touch him and he growled at me. So I did something crazy, I closed my eyes and turned my head with my hand out and felt him press his nose to my palm. When I looked at him again-his eyes were closed to and I just...couldn't even begin to tell you the feeling it gave me. It was an unspoken...bond of trust, respect, and understanding between us. Toothless wandered off after that and Astrid came out of hiding telling me she saw everything..." Hiccup then started to explain all that.

How he told Astrid how he found Toothless, so on and so forth. He told them how Astrid said she wanted to help him get Toothless to be able to fly again because it wasn't fair he was trapped in the cove. That's when he began to tell about the tail building and after the test flight where he realized he had to control the tail fin for it to work. Hiccup told them how he and Astrid started dating-after the flight on Toothless and then after they landed, Astrid said she wanted her own dragon so they released Stormfly from the kill ring and had her stay in the cove while Hiccup trained her to train and ride a dragon. Hiccup cracked his neck after finishing that explanation and took a breath.

"So that's how you got so good in training, you were learning from a dragon yourself how to tame them with tricks. What I don't understand is why you didn't tell anybody you learned something like that?" Stoick asked.

"Would you have listened, Dad. I mean be honest here...when you found out how good I was doing you gave me a helmet and said how proud you were of me for being like you. You even admitted to me that before training I was the worst viking Berk had ever seen..." Hiccup mentioned calmly.

Stoick was going to say something-but then he stayed quiet realizing Hiccup was right. "What led to you two leaving?" Gobber asked now.

"You know that already-but I know the rest don't so...Astrid and I wanted to keep our dragons safe so we were going to fly them to another island and sail back to Berk-however, we didn't want to lose the friends we had made. When Astrid went home that night after we tied off in training, which was a plan to make it appear we both took the dragon down-she found out she was going to be engaged to Snotlout because his father went to her parents and offered double the bride price for her hand. When I got home, I was told I got selected to kill my first dragon in front of everyone and I knew I couldn't. I made the choice to take Toothless and runaway-but then Astrid came to me crying about the contract and I told her to come with me, we'd runaway together with our dragons and live our own life where no one could tell us how to be or what to do. She agreed so that night a little after midnight-we met in the cove and took off on Toothless and Stormfly off of Berk." Hiccup explained.

"So you never took a ship, that's why no one saw you sailing. You two took the dragons..." Stoick said softly.

"And used the cover of night so no one would see us flying either. We'd gotten past Hysteria and Bog Isle by 6am-we were both tired and had to stop on an island for the day. We ate, and slept in a cave until later on. We thought of staying there but after investigating we found that is was crawling with Scauldrons who didn't want to be friendly. As good as I am-there are some dragons that I can't train to be docile. So we packed up and continued flying, I was marking islands on my map so I'd know which to avoid. It took us two months to find the island we call ours now, a lot of delays in flying due to weather, Astrid got sick once, and people sailing. Once we got to the island-we knew we'd need materials to start building a home there." Hiccup told them.

"Is this...when you came to Bog Isle?" Camicazi asked.

"Yes. We actually flew there, made sure to land the dragon in the beach caves then we put ourselves in the water to wait to be found. We introduced ourselves as Hedvig Olovsan and Alva Vintmar to Bertha and Camicazi. Came up with the story we were cast out at eleven years old, had a place of our own but it was destroyed by a raid. Bertha agreed to give us the materials we needed if we worked for it so we stayed on Bog Isle for a month. We snuck away under the cover of night with the ship they gave us, and the dragons pulling it. Once getting back to the island, we named it Cloud Rider Isle and got to work building." Hiccup said.

"Took us six months too. We planted everything first, then built our house, then the barn, forge, and stables. After all that was done, we just enjoyed life there on our own. Then others started coming-crashed there, curious, needed a place to stop for the night. We didn't hide ourselves, we just let people see on their own that there was peace with dragons on our island so people decided to stay and more building continued. When we were nineteen, we adopted Tore and Hagen after they'd been sent of Murderus Island for helping a wounded dragon. Madguts was going to kill them for being traitors, their mother pleaded for their lives-trading hers for theirs." Astrid added in as the boys looked down and she hugged them both.

"A month after that-I proposed to Astrid. We'd formed a Tribe-Skywing, and they needed a chief-which I'd been voted as because I was the only one to have the status of being an Heir myself. Our Tribe at the time only had twenty five members including Astrid and myself. Two months after proposing, we got married and in those two months we gained three more people. Eret-who is now my lead trainer, Eydis-our healer, and Hella-the elder. Astrid and I were married, then six weeks after the wedding-it came out she was pregnant. The boys turned ten, she and I turned twenty and that was it really until the chieftain meeting on Meathead Isle where you all learned of my island and Tribe." Hiccup stated calmly.

"And...out of curiosity here, how did Gobber know it was you two?" Stoick asked.

"When I put you through the training, I used a line he had said to us when we were in dragon training: I believe in learning on the job. And I guess he saw my scar when Stormfly licked me. The hair color was just a dye Astrid created for us to use in case of outsiders. And the last four years since the first meeting on Meathead-we've gained more Tribe members. Sixty four now, and the island is doing better than ever with the way I run it." Hiccup answered.

"Gobber, I don't understand why you never told me you knew where Hiccup was!" Stoick yelled now.

"Because of that old law that says I can't reveal information about another chief...Gothi knew too, she knew from the minute I stepped foot back on Berk after we returned from the lad's island..." Gobber replied. Stoick sighed now as he looked back at Hiccup.

"Why did you never let us know you were okay sweetheart-we've been so worried and upset with you gone..." Asvilla whimpered some.

"Because you would have tried to get us to come back and we let go of our old lives, and lived in the new one we made. We worked hard to get where we are now, we weren't just going to throw it away to come back to a place that still kills dragons." Astrid remarked.

"We only do it to protect the village..." Asmund said softly.

"Doesn't matter, you still kill them. Hiccup and I don't live that life anymore," Astrid said.

"So that night on the ship, when you spoke to us as Hedvig...you were actually telling me why you didn't come back. Because you were afraid I wouldn't accept you as this-a dragon trainer and rider? Is this what you meant in your letter to me? That you aren't a dragon killer because of Toothless? And you didn't know who you were when you really did but thought I wouldn't accept you?" Stoick asked.

"Yeah, that about sums it up." Hiccup retorted.

"Hiccup, I would have accepted you son. Look at this-you found peace where so many failed. You did something that not even yer mother could. How could I not accept this?" Stoick smiled some.

"Because you never accepted me as being different before this." Hiccup responded now as Stoick's smile fell. "I've always been different, Dad. Always. My inventing, drawing, even being, well, a hiccup. Growing up, I didn't have your acceptance. You always had be in the forge with Gobber, and any single time I messed up-you scolded me for it in front of everyone. I was never the viking you wanted me to be. I was never anything you wanted me to be-until you saw what I could do in the ring. That's when you were proud of me, that's when I had your acceptance. And the reason I left was because I knew if I told you the truth about what I discovered-you'd lose it knowing your son was best friends with a dragon."

"Hiccup, please. I meant what I said on the ship..." Stoick said.

"But it doesn't excuse the years before with you always telling me I wasn't something. I was never good enough for you, Dad. Never, until you saw me in the ring being like you. I'm never going to be like you! This is me, right here. Chief, husband, father, dragon trainer and rider! This is me-this something you can accept? That I secretly trained a Night Fury on Berk and only got so good in training because of him? That I whisked Astrid away on our dragons to an island we built ourselves? That we adopted two kids, got married, had one of our own, now another on the way? You don't even know half the things I've done since leaving here..." Hiccup said firmly.

"Viggo and Ryker were dragon hunters until they met me. I converted them to dragon lovers. Eret is a former dragon trapper. And the rest of the Tribe-some of them are actually people who used to reside on all of your islands. Some are from outside the Archipelago to. All people I showed the truth to and they wanted fresh starts too." Hiccup added after taking a breath. "So tell me, Dad. Is this something you can accept?"

"Of course I can. You're my son, and I love you, Hiccup. Please...I know I messed up all those years ago. I just want you back as my son, I want you to come home..." Stoick asked nearing him now.

"That is not going to happen. It can't even if I wanted to. I'm chief of my own island, have a Tribe...I'm not giving all that up to come back here." Hiccup said calmly now.

"You don't have to give it all up," Stoick said quickly.

"Excuse me?" Hiccup inquired now.

"Bring them, all of your Tribe. Bring them here." Stoick insisted.

"Have you lost your mind? My Tribe has sixty four people, it would take ages to build that many new homes." Hiccup questioned.

"I'll do whatever I have to, Hiccup...just come back to Berk. I've missed you, Astrid's parents have missed her. We want to be in your lives. You can still have them...we won't try to stop it." Stoick tried again.

"This is insane, you know that. I can't believe you're even suggesting it..." Hiccup sighed with his eyes closed. "It's just better to keep things as they are." he said moving towards Astrid and his kids now. "It's time for us to leave, long sail home."

"Astrid please, please don't leave again..." her parents begged her.

"Hiccup is right, what we have on Cloud Rider Isle can never be done here...and I'm not giving up what Hiccup and I built from the ground up." Astrid said as she moved away from them and beside Hiccup.

"We can do the same thing, just teach us..." Gobber said.

"We've been over this. I taught you what you needed in order to have what I have and four years later-you're still killing dragons! It took me a month to learn the truth with Toothless-you have no excuses anymore. It was a choice, and you chose to kill so I choose to walk away from it-again." Hiccup retorted leading his family out, Viggo and Ryker following closely.

"Son please...we'll do anything. I'll do anything to have you stay here. I'll even step down as chief and give you Berk to lead-however you want to. You can bring your Tribe here, and your dragons. I won't get in the way or stop you...just please stay." Stoick said quickly which made Hiccup freeze and slowly turn to face his father.

"What did you just say?" Hiccup asked him. "Did you just say you'll step down as chief and let me do things my way?"

"Yes. Yes I did, son. And I mean it too-I'll step down today, right now even...if you agree to stay on the island. You can bring your dragon, and Tribe members here, you can continue to be chief of them and the Hooligans and run things your way." Stoick said firmly with a nod but still pleading eyes.

"And how do I know you won't hurt my dragons?" Hiccup asked.

"I give you my word, on my life that no harm will come to them. Teach us your way, son. We want to learn...please. Please stay..." Stoick asked him. Hiccup didn't know what to do-his father was willing to give up his chiefdom to let Hiccup stay chief of the island, and bring his Tribe and dragons back to Berk. In all his years, he'd never seen Stoick get so desperate to keep him around-to want to him to be around. It was a new feeling for him, he wasn't sure how to feel about it at that. Hiccup was actually shocked, he looked at Astrid who was just as surprised at Stoick's sudden and bold offer. "Will you stay, son?"

"You're actually being serious right now?" Hiccup asked.

"As serious as you were when you kicked Madguts butt." Stoick replied. Hiccup closed his eyes sighing-he couldn't decide this right now. It was an incredible offer but it didn't just affect him-it affected everyone on what he decided to do. He had the chance to convert a lot of people into what he and Astrid strove to do from the beginning.

"You're going to need to give me time to consider this. It's not just me who this affects, it's my entire island." Hiccup stated.

"Y-you're...actually considering it?" Stoick asked in surprise as was Gobber, and the Hofferson parents.

"Considering, and that is all for now. I need to speak with my wife and Tribe. When I have made my decision, I will contact you. Until then, I expect to be left alone." Hiccup remarked as he continued walking with Astrid, the twins, Milla, Viggo, and Ryker.

"Wait...can we come too?" Fishlegs asked.

"Come where?" Astrid blinked some.

"With you, to your island. We wanna see what you guys built, please? We haven't seen you in so long!" Ruffnut exclaimed.

"Us too? We've missed you so much, Astrid." Asmund added on now.

"It's up to my husband," Astrid stated looking up at him.

"Your parents and those four can come, the rest stay behind. I don't want too much weight on the one boat because we have the dragons too. And if you two," he began motioning to the the Thorston twins, "or you," he pointed to Snotlout, "cause trouble on my island, I'm throwing you in the prison hold. We clear?" Hiccup stated firmly.

"Crystal, Hiccup..." the three he'd motioned to nodded.

"Good. We leave at daybreak. They can stay for a week-then I'm sending them back on a spare ship," Hiccup informed and then looked to his father. "You'll have my answer within a month or two," he added.

"We'll be waiting, son." Stoick nodded to him, with that they left the hall and returned to the ship with the dragons following them outside and towards the docks. As soon as they all loaded on it, Hiccup went below deck and sighed heavily lying against Toothless who crooned worried for his rider and friend. Astrid came to sit beside him.

"Are you actually considering it?" she asked.

"I don't know. I said I was going to-but can I really? Just give up everything up to come back here?" Hiccup asked her.

"In truth...I wouldn't mind coming back if they are willing to change-we said one day we'd show the world what we have, the peace between humans and dragons. This could be that chance. I do miss my parents and I...want them in our children's lives-but no matter what you decide, I'll stand beside you as your friend, partner, wife, and chieftess." Astrid told him as he nodded, "Take some time to think about it," she smiled and kissed his cheek before getting up to go back on main deck to check the children. Hiccup sighed out looking at the ceiling, he told them he'd consider it so it wouldn't be fair to not consider it at all-but for now, he was going to wait until he got back to Cloud Rider Isle-this was something he needed to think about carefully and involve everyone else. Yes, he would wait for the time being.