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

Another chapter earlier than it should have.

I'm not going to focus on saying things about it too much, for that you'll have to read in.

Also, please enjoy and leave comments if you liked this piece.

I sat with my back against the frozen wall, my heart pounding and ready for action. It's been a while since I've felt the tension in my muscles, the pounding rush in my breath, but never have I felt so alive. I peered through the corner, daring to face my enemy.

"Get down!" I heard someone scream from behind me.

I quickly ducked behind cover yet again, just in time to dodge a projectile that zipped past where my head was. That was a close one, any closer I would have been a goner. I gritted my teeth, glad to face defeat with nothing but glee.

Across the road from me was Astrid, also hiding behind someone else's home. That wonderful maiden then declared, her weapons raised high and aimed at our advancing foes. "Fall back!" She ran behind, retreating but clearly no coward.

"But, what if I don't!" argued Tuffnut. "Hey-Ow!" That earned him a slap from my hand, pushing him out to the lines of fire, making him follow that order whether he wanted to or not.

"Heh!" scoffed his sibling, before running off after the other girl. "You deserved that!"

Yeah, there was almost no question she was the one fit to lead. I fell back, at her order, that's what counted. I dodged the various strikes of our enemies and tumbled behind some well, the snow cushioning my fall. Not that I cared, worrying about scraping a leg? Only a chumps did that.

I turned back to see my foe's advance, only to find that someone straggling behind at our commander's whims.

"Hey guys, wait up!" shouted that little runt Hiccup. He was dead last, pinned down behind some overturned wheelbarrow and receiving enemy fire.

"Hiccup!" barked Astrid. She flung her weapons at the enemy, but to no avail. She grunted, obviously frustrated. Then, she turned to me and suddenly knew I was being given the hardest order of my entire life. "Snotlout, save Hiccup!"

On the one hand, my cousin was a runt a weakling who against all odds somehow managed to survive this long. I sometimes wished we weren't related, but that was the decree of the gods. On the other hand, saving his skin let me score points with Astrid and let me show off just how good I was. I mean, just being around him gave me plenty of chances to prove myself!

. Hiccup was still pinned behind his cover, still facing enemy fire with both hands clasped over his ears. "A little help here!" he shouted.

I thought about it a moment more. I guess it hasn't been too bad being related to him, especially lately, since he let- On the other hand it was his fault she left me behind.

"Snotlout!" Astrid barked. I jolted into action, my mind made up. Astrid's orders were important!

Alright, Snotlout, this is the moment you've been waiting for. Make her proud. I dashed forward, wishing I had a shield to protect me… No, that was for cowards, I wasn't a coward!

My foes threw everything they had at me as I dove in, going full speed at my target. I screamed, charging at them, tearing up snow as I went along. I wasn't going to back out, I wasn't going to be afraid of them and their attacks. My cousin, no, everyone, looked at me gazes of disbelief; I was going to do it.

As I got closer near my cousin, I also went closer to my enemies. Their attacks getting more frequent, more vicious with every step. But I didn't fear, no, I enjoyed it. I leapt off my feet and slided the rest of the way on my belly, my lower profile doing most of the work for me!

"Snotlout!" shouted my cousin as I slammed my back back to the wheel.

"How you doing, Cuz!?" I shot him a look, ready to face our enemy.

"Uh… great," he said, uncertain. "... now I'm sure I'm saved…"

I glowered, mostly internally. Why did he always have to do that? Why didn't he see I was on his side? I mean, all I wanted to do was just show him how awesome I was while saving him. But, I guess I shouldn't that bother me. Gotta keep appearances after all and tough guys like shouldn't let what others think of them affect their choices.

I picked up my weapons and flung them at my attackers, blindly throwing them at any who dared get close. One, no, two of them advanced forward, blasting the wheelbarrow's side. But I didn't let that deter me. I keep at it, managing to land a hit on one and managing to keep the other from advancing.

"Snotlout, we should go..." Hiccup said, still cowering behind the wagon, only managing to take quick peaks every now and again. I was mostly fine with him staying like that; it meant more Glory for me. But retreating here was not an option.

"We're winning!" I declared. "Come on, be a man!" I told my cousin. I mean, he beat that big dragon. Why couldn't he face the Dragons?

"But-"

"No buts!" I shouted, still flinging. At the rate I was going I was sure I could take them all out, just so long as I- Something hit the side of my face, sending me toppling to the ground. I tried to get up, tried to reach to fight back, but it was no use. I was down and I knew it. They got me and now, now I was-

"Out!" shouted a woman's voice. "Dragons win a point."

I heard an uproar of excited shouts blaring from all around me. I got up, blinking. Then, I brushed snow from my face, suddenly feeling like a big moron. There were men and women, boys and girls, all gathered to watch the little spectacle all talking in excited whispers over that big blunder I just made… was forced to make. Especially since he was-

I turned to Hiccup, who flashed sheepish me grin on his face. "...I was going to say, Stormfly and Toothless had their sights on you." he told me.

I got up and peered out at my two enemies, each giving each other looks of satisfied cheer.

"Yeah!" said Toothless, raising his hand up in excitement. "I got him!"

"Teamwork!" I heard Stormfly shout before quickly slapping her palm against my cousin's. They were clearly enjoying feeling me.

"Snotlout, I told you to get Hiccup, not stand there and get hit!" I heard Astrid scream at me across the field. "Now we're down a man because you decided to play hero!"

I glowered Hiccup who just inched back slightly at my gaze. I wouldn't even have need to save his skin if he wasn't dragging the whole team down. Shoulda' been him that got hit! Why was he even in this game?

"Better get out area, nephew!" the woman shouted. "Fighting's stopped while you're still there!"

I grumbled, but didn't complain. I didn't want to make a scene, not with- I shook my head. Both of Hiccup's parents were watching the game, cheering him on despite the fact that he was taking refuge behind a fallen piece of farm equipment. Besides, I needed to smoulder over this.

I walked out of the street and the snowball fight resumed right where it left off, just as if I wasn't even there in the first place. I sat by the chairs set up near my aunt, the so called 'Outzone', the place where those weaklings go to when they are taken captive…. and I didn't belong here.

I locked my eyes at the ongoing snowball fight, waiting for my turn to show them what I am made of. Hopefully, any moment now the game would end and I could finally get back in…

I felt so angry that I wish I could breathe fire again. Why did Hiccup always have to ruin everything for me? I mean, it's only gotten worse since we came turned back! Astrid, the village, everyone, they just-

Hookfang approached me, scooting his chair over noisily until I was back in the real world again. "Uh… nice shooting there… taking me down," he said, admitting defeat with a bow.

"Yeah, I guess," I muttered to the taller boy. At the very least, I went down after I took someone down. I didn't feel like talking, not when there was something more important to focus on.

"Alright, better get a move on!" ordered Astrid, just as if she was actually leading a force of well trained Viking warriors. "Take no prisoners and rescue Hiccup!"

"I'm fine!" my cousin shouted back at her. "Really!"

"You're not gonna be!" said my other cousin. Toothless was at least somewhat better than his brother, since even I had to admit, he was good at something Vikings should be proud of. I mean, not just anyone could take me down. He shot out snowballs in seemingly random directions as if they were shooting stars. Anyone who got in the way of his aim had to duck behind cover or else be taken out of the game.

"Break the line! We're not leaving him!" shouted Astrid, hiding behind a wall.

"Really, you don't have to come save me!" shouted Hiccup. At the very least, he knew how useless he was in a fight. I honestly think he should have stayed a dragon, at least then no one could call him a runt.

"Go on, Hiccup! Beat your brother!" shouted my uncle.

"Dad!" shouted both my cousins. Apparently.

"Just so long as you have fun!" shouted my new aunt.

"Winning is fun!" declared my uncle. He then bent over to the man who stood by his side. "Aint that right-"

Quickly, I turned away and back to the game. No, not right now.

"Uh.. my Leige…" asked the confused boy who sat beside me.

"Not now Hookfang," I said. "Can't you see I'm busy!"

Of all the combatants that were on the field, only two were reluctant. "I'm sorry I have to do this!" shouted Fishlegs. For someone who was so big and gifted with good arms, he had absolutely pitiful throws. He was the nearest to Hiccup, but his throws weren't even getting past my cousin.

Meatlug wasn't much better. The girl, for whatever reason had terrible, absolutely terrible hand eye coordination. It was like she was hitting something that was standing right next to Fishlegs. "I'm sorry too!"

They kept throwing each other, futilely to such a degree that the only thing they seemed to be good for was to provide a moving wall to protect those beside them.

Then in a flash, Meatlug went taken out by a hailstorm of white. She went down without much fuss.

"Hold still so we can hit you!" shouted Tuffnut aiming at Barf. Fishlegs was only just in the way when it happened.

Ruffnut agreed. "What he said!"

Fishlegs then went down, his own body used as a shield by the twins to escape their foes.

The twins were going after Barf and Belch with everything they had in them. Volleys upon volleys of snowballs were being thrown nonstop from both sides. Whenever one of the members of either duo emptied his or her hands, the other one hastily gathered snow to throw while the other went to fill his or her hands. It was strange to see Tuffnut and Ruffnut working together so fluidily, that I almost had a hard time telling either of them appart save for their outfits.

"Those are my kids there!" declared Tuffnut Sr., Tuffnuts father.

"You're-"

"-going down!" declared Barf and Belch their own hail of white not letting p.

"No, you're going up!" spat Ruffnut.

"Yeah! Hey, wait..." replied her brother.

"So… Dragons versus Vikings," I heard Hookfang speak to me.

I turned to him. "Yeah," I muttered. "My aunt's idea." She the referee and I actually felt like getting in her good graces. She was Valhallarama, a famed Viking warrior and a long lost relative; what's not to like about? Well, she used to be a dragon, but hey, so did I. Sure, she did look like Hiccup, but that's where the similarities between the two ended. Just how was a runt like him related to either of us?

The two larger teens were making their way back to us, both clearly glad to be free from the conflict.

"Let's… try not to fight again," said Fishglegs.

Meatlug nodded. "Let's."

Just looking at the two of them reminded me of someone I didn't get to see much of. Hookfang's sister didn't even have so much as a name, but I've been wondering how she was doing after she left. I know, I shouldn't, but hey, that was just me

The assembled villagers all breathed a collective gasp. I turned back to the street. Barf, Belch, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut were all taken out one after another. They all left the field, but at the same time, they kept pelting each other with snow as they left, apparently deciding the game was too fun to just stop.

"Now it's just the boys… and their girls!" declared my uncle.

The crowd all laughed at the teasing, but it my heart feel heavy just thinking of those words. In my head, I knew he was joking, messing with his kids, but in my heart, there was something else. All of my life, I've been the best Viking youth in my family. And throughout most of that, I've been wanting to get Astrid's attention. She was the best in everything, as far as I was concerned. We should have made a perfect pair for each otherr. Yet… now, I shuddered to think of the possibility that Astrid would fall for that wimp. Yeah, yeah, I get that Hiccup's got powers and all, but so did I! I forced Alvin off the island.

No, that can't have been true. I mean, sure they spent some time together, but they were not, well, a pair. I mean, I spent time with Hookfang all the time!

Someone else was apparently every bit as upset as I was. "I am not his!" shouted Stormfly.

"Hah!" Astrid shouted. "You're a terrible liar you know!" For that, Stormfly shot her a look and a flurry of snow.

My cousin Toothless was about to enter in and aid the girl, but Stormfly slapped the snow out of his hands.

"Stay out of this!" barked Stormfly.

"But… I'm helping?" questioned my confused cousin.

Stormfly just slapped herself in the face and then began throwing. "Just go hit your brother.

"But-"

"Now!" she ordered.

I whistled. Okay, someone was definitely more upset by my uncle than I was. Stormfly was good at throwing, her shots quick and precise.

Astrid barreled in and jumped in behind the wheel barrel Hiccup hid in for practically the whole game.

"Astrid!" shouted my cousin.

"Hey, is there room here?" laughed Astrid. Normally, I liked listening to her joyful sounds, but now, I couldn't help but feel like something in me was being strangled.

"Uh… no…"

Meanwhile, Snowballs kept getting thrown at them, uselessly bouncing off the wheelbarrow. Both stopped eventually, realizing they couldn't hit either of their targets.

"I told you to not get involved!" shouted Stormfly.

"They're in the same spot!" said any semblance of working together had fallen apparent because of my uncle's words.

There was a tense moment in the air as both sides of the conflict had reached a relatively even point. One side was unable to attack but also unable to fight back, while the other could fight back yet couldn't make those attacks matter.

"Alright, now that we're down to two combatants on each side, the dividing line separating Team Vikings from Team Dragons will be removed!" shouted my aunt.

"Hah, now things will get really fun!" shouted my uncle. "Ain't that right-"

I turned away. I did not want to look at him, not listen to him, not when I was taken out so early in the game.

I turned back to the game just in time to hear my aunt say. "Now, are you ready boys?"

And then, things changed. Toothless and Stormfly slowly approached the wheelbarrow, cautious but armed. I knew from what little I knew about how strategy worked that this was a dangerous spot. They could easily finish off their enemies, but if Astrid or- No, there was no way Hiccup was going to change the outcome. It was all on Astrid's shoulders. She was the one who mattered, not the dead weight. It all came down to a single, savage moment.

The red haired girl nodded something to my cousin and they approached.

And then Astrid jumped out and hit Stormfly squarely in the chest.

Yet, at the same time, she threw her own snowball, hitting Astrid in the shoulder.

"Out!" my aunt declared for both of them.

Both of them left the field, Stormfly giving Astrid an annoyed expression, while that beautiful maiden kept beaming satisfied smiles.

Now it was down to the two brothers.

I thought to myself of all of the possible ways this could all play out. I mean, Toothless was the obvious superior. I guess if I spun things the right way, I could say that I was taken out so early because I was the most dangerous target. He was garunteed to win from here! "You know, bud, you could have tried to help her out!" my cousin taunted.

"I did warn her not to do that!" said Hiccup. "She could have waited until you were close enough.

"And then you let her go!" said Toothless, stepping forward until he was right in front of the snowpiled wheel barrel.

"I don't control her!" said Hiccup. "I mean, I like her, but that I doesn't make her choices for her..."

"Right…" Toothless said absent, almost absentmindedly. He ready his snowballs and made one last step forward. "So, bud, you giving-"

"Nope!" interrupted Hiccup before leaping out from the cover that protected him through the whole game.

Toothless's hand automatically took aim and shot one last sphere of white at Hiccup, but my cousin was surprisingly quick. He dropped to one side, deftly dodging the snowball.

And then it was practically over. Toothless missed and even Hiccup couldn't miss at these ranges.

Hiccup was armed and waiting and Toothless didn't have time for a second hit.

When I opened my eyes, Toothless had a smear of white coating his black fur vest.

"Shouldn't have come closer, bud!" declared Hiccup, dusting the snow that stuck to his coat.

Toothless laughed and threw his brother another snowball, desppite the fact the game was over. "Vikings win round one!" shouted my uncle, grabbing my cousin and hoisting him over his head like he was some sort of trophy.

All of my friends went to go congratulate my victorious cousin. I didn't and stayed at my seat, waiting for the next round to begin.

And then someone approached me. I knew who, but I didn't want to look. "Hey Dad," I said glumily.

"You got out at early, first casualty on your side," my father muttered. "Coulda at least got another one out before you went down you know…"

I wanted to say that this was just a game, that it wasn't important, but no, it was important, especially for him. "I'll do better in the next round…" I promised.

"You better…" murmured my father. "Family's got to keep up appearances, you know…"

"I'll be the MVP," I assured him, even though I secretly knew that was hardly going to happen. All the uproar my cousin received made it hard to think I'd get any of that.

My Dad glowered at me, "Honestly, why couldn't you be more like Hiccup? At least, he's bringing victory to his family." Those words hurt me more than any fire ever did. I should know, I've been through one. And then he walked off, leaving me with a lump in my chest.

All my life, I was certain I would be the best Viking that ever was, that so long as I did what a Viking should do. A Viking should be strong and brave, be tough and unrelenting. And because I stuck to those ideals, my Dad cheered me on, the villagers celebrated me every Thawfest. Everything should have been perfect. I used to laugh at Hiccup at a kid, thinking he would never amount to anything, since he was the worst Viking I ever known. He was cautious most of the time, doing things like 'experimentation' and recently 'sorcery'.

Then, things changed. When I started coming under the curse, slowly people turned away from me, looking at me with revulsion and discomfort. Dad, well, he did what was right of him to do, especially when I decided to just… accept I wasn't going to be human again. Now, after returning to human form, I felt like I could have my life back, everything. I could even taste bread the right way!

Yet, it wasn't happening. Dad, well, he was Dad. But everyone else, the Villagers, Astrid, I was a nobody now.

"Snotlout…" I heard a voice call out to me.

"Hey Hookfang," I said wearily.

"You don't have to put up with this stuff…" he told me. I didn't really know what he meant by that. Yet, an idea formed in my head, one that clearly worked before.

I looked at the assembled crowd. Everyone was breaking up and heading back to their seats. The next round was about to begin and I knew it was time for me to take my place.

"No, I don't," I told Hookfang.

One thing was for certain, I was going to do better at round two.

And I wasn't just talking about snowball fights…

I hung the shield and hammered it into place. Then, without even looking, I grabbed another shield that suddenly appeared behind me and hammered that shield next to the previous one. Then, once I ran out of nails and places to put the shields in, I slid down the ladder to greet Stormfly. "So, are you ready?"

The red haired girl frowned at me, "I suppose, Astrid, I suppose," she said gloomily. She knew what I was talking about and it upset her.

"Hey, you know I was only joking!" I told her. I mean, it's only been an hour or so since the morning's games and for reasons I couldn't quite fathom she's been acting a little off kilter ever since the Chief- No, there's no way. I mean, the Chief was obviously joking. Hiccup and I, well, we've become close friends over the past few months, but that didn't mean that were…well, an us. I seriously doubted Stormfly and Toothless were one as well.

The red haired girl slowly nudged the ladder several paces to the right and out of the way. "I know, but… it bothers me."

I snorted then putting the hammer in a toolbox and moved it to where the ladder now stood. "A joke like that bothers you?" I laughed.

"Well, aren't you?" she said. "I mean, plenty of people thing, well…"

I rolled my eyes."Hiccup and I are friends, good friends, not in that kind of… relationship."

"And he wishes it was more…"

"And so does every boy except Fishlegs within a five mile radius," I counted. Really, I think Stormfly would understand my situation more if she spent most of her life being hounded by 'admirers'. Really, I'm surprised Stormfly didn't have some of her own, I mean, she was beautiful, both in human and dragon form! Just… not that beautiful.

Stormfly just shook her head. "Right, well, I suppose I should get the yak milk then for that…"

"Yaknog," I supplied. "I'll meet you back home so we can begin." It was an idea I thought up, maybe something to celebrate the changes that happened this year. I figured if things were changing, maybe a new tradition was in order.

Stormfly went on her way to a nearby store to fetch the fresh yak milk. It wasn't too far away, but there was a bit of a line as other people had their own preparations to make for the upcoming end of the week.

As for me, I was going to bake some bread while she was away. Hopefully, it doesn'tend up having use as an impromptu hammer.

Moving through town I found myself feeling strangely awed of how… normal everything had suddenly become. Most of the dragons that I grown accustomed to seeing fly over head were no longer able to fly. Instead, they walked down the streets, clothed and not looking any different from anyone else..

"Morning!" shouted one man.

"Morning!" I waved my hand back at him. He was a Gronckle if I recalled.

A few steps closer and I found myself facing other, former dragons all enjoying themselves in whatever way they could. Nadders, Gronckles, Nightmares, and especially the Terrors; pretty much every type of dragon ended up losing most of their numbers.

It's been a few weeks since Hiccup came and practically undid everything with the power the King game him, I should have been overjoyed, overwhelmed and glad I was not going to turn into some freak of nature. Yet I couldn't help but feel a little… disturbed being in Berk. I didn't know why, but something in me bothered.

I turned upwards to see the dragon flying overhead. Roland the Thunderdrum was one of the few people who opted not to change back when Hiccup first offered. He said he's gotten used to his new life style and he doesn't exactly need to feed anyone but himself, so he didn't need to change back so soon.

I admittedly felt a little… jealous of him flying up there. I've only been a Nadder for a few hours, weeks ago, but even now I couldn't help but focus on how much I missed sensation of flying. It was like, I was giving up something important by forsaking that form...

"Am I bothering you?" I heard a voice next to me say.

My focus shifted back to the world andI turned to my side to see Hiccup's Mom walking right next to me. "Uh, no, you're not, uh…Fl-," I shook my head. I didn't know what to call her. I mean, I could call her 'Hiccup's-and-slash-or-Toothless's Mom', 'Cheif's Wife', or simply 'Miss' or 'Ma'am', but I didn't think either of those were the right thing to cal her.

She grinned and I found my confusion strangely evaporating, like some sort of drain in the bottom of my heart was being opened. "You can call me 'Val', if you'd like."

"Alright, Val," I replied. If I was a little girl, I think I would have been doing backflips and cartwheels in giddy excitement. I mean, this was one of my heroes growing up and well, getting to call her an endearing term like that was something that excited me more than it should have.

"Of course, depending on how things go, you might just end up having to call me 'Mother-in-Law'."

I laughed. The joke hasn't exactly worn out its welcome, so I still found it funny. "I like Val better," I replied.

"As do I," said the older woman.

"So… how has everything been?" I asked her. I haven't exactly had much time to talk to her alone ever since we left the King's domain, so as much as I knew it wasn't wise to get in other people's affairs, I was so curious to know what was going on with her.

A warm smile dawned on her face. "Better than I ever hoped," she replied. "You know the village is celebrating my return by letting me the festivities during Snoggletog."

I nodded. "Well, you are a great Viking hero. We don't get a lot of those these days."

"I don't know, I'm sure there's plenty of younger people who are better suited to the job…" she suggested and I think I had a feeling she and I both were thinking the same things. "But as for my family, my sons both love me, though my youngest still can't look me in the eyes.

"I'm sure Toothless will come around," I said to her. "I didn't much like him when we met, but eventually I warmed up to her." Maybe with a little luck, my words could encourage her, just as well as her actions did so for me a moment before.

"Maybe you're right," admitted Val. "And for my husband...Well, Stoick, hasn't changed since I last saw him." Then she frowned and I suddenly got the feeling the unspoken words were: "And I hope things remain unchanged when I finally tell him the truth."

I didn't fully understand what went on through my childhood hero's mind, but I had a vague idea it couldn't have been good. She spent over a decade as an enemy of the Tribe because she wanted to survive the world her curse set her through. Now that she was back home, the only reason she hasn't faced judgement is because everyone who knew kept shut about it.

So I did the only thing a sane person in my position would do; I changed the topic. "So, I'm going to be making some lunch to give to your boys!" I said cheerfully. Home was only a stone's throw away now.

Valhallarama mused. "Well, I'm sure they could use a snack since they've been working in Gobber's forge all day..."

I nodded. Once there was no one left to break to break curses for, both brothers went back to ordinary blacksmithing to pass the time and to test their skills. I mean, it wasn't like either of them needed to go further and learn more about sorcery, or at least, not yet at least. "I've got this thing called yaknog I want to show them!"

"Yaknog?"

I nodded my head and I almost felt like I'd make a fool of myself in public if I shook it even faster. "A new holiday tradition, starting this year!" The older woman looked thoughtful, obviously wondering about that. "It's going to be a beverage made from yak milk, eggs, and flour!" I explained.

"Flour…?" she looked at me inquisitively. "Wouldn't sugar be better?"

I blinked. The thought hadn't crossed my mind, mostly because sugar wasn't exactly something all too common on Berk. Only the merchants seemed to have that stuff and it wasn't exactly cheap. I thought flour would work, make it, I don't know, taste better? I mean, bread tasted good, and it was made of flour. "Uh, maybe…" I admitted, not sure what to say.

"Maybe I should help you then…" said Val, a small smirk on her face.

A part of me would have been too proud to let her help, but on the other hand, was I really going to turn her down? I mean, this was Valhallarama, Valka, Val, the hero I was getting to aid me. "Okay," I said, a big grin that I could barely keep a hold of formed on my face. Then, I lead her in.

This chapter is mildly important. It provides some information as well as works on building up characters and motivations for the upcoming things.

Hope to see you again.