AN: Well, I suppose the winter holidays can't last forever... But I wish they could.

Chapter 1

"Son, it's time. I already told the village, while you were out on your morning flight with Toothless."

I looked down from my attic room, watching as Dad stamped the snow off his boots. All heirs, on their sixteenth birthday, had to trek from one end of Berk to the other—a three day journey—to prove their strength. They could take four companions of their own age with them, and a couple of flint stones, but that was it. No food, no drink, no shelter, nothing. I was nervous, but excited. "When do I start?"

Stoick sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Early tomorrow. That'll give you time to gather your companions. Have you picked them yet?"

"You cleared dragons with the council?"

Stoick nodded. "Aye, I did. Can't imagine separating you two for a whole week. It's hard enough to get you away from him for two minutes! But you're to leave the tail fin behind, because flying would be cheating."

I smiled. "Then my companions are: Toothless, Astrid, Fishlegs, and Snotlout."

Out of all the people my age, I could take all but two. The twins were the obvious people to leave, since Astrid and Toothless would refuse to let me go without them and Fishlegs' knowledge would be invaluable. Splitting up the twins was unthinkable, so I had to take Snotlout.

He smiled proudly. "Good choices. You'll do fine. Have you thought about how you're going to present them?"

I nodded. The heir had to make a mini speech for each companion, and I'd spent hours, and multiple notebooks, working out how I was going to introduce each person. Toothless was going mad with curiosity, but I jealously guarded my speeches. I was a little embarrassed about them, but Dad had shown me his speeches, and they were just as sentimental and honest as mine. I loved reading his proud description of Gobber, the desperately cobbled together compliments he'd found for Spitelout, the flowery description of Valka's many virtues, and his respect for Fearless Finn, Astrid's uncle.

'You'd better get some sleep,' Toothless rumbled to me, not as asleep in the corner as I'd assumed, and Stoick glanced at him.

"What did he say?"

"Dad, I thought you were learning Dragonese!" I protested. All the teenage dragon riders had learnt Dragonese, but the adults found it more of a struggle. Dad was the only one who'd persevered, but even he'd given up when he set Thornado free.

He sighed. "I am, but the beast speaks so fast... It all sounds the same to me."

I rolled my eyes. "He said we should get some rest."

Toothless nodded, and Dad removed his helmet. "Yes, good idea. Got to be well rested for tomorrow."

"Night, Dad," I called, and turned to climb into bed. My foot slipped and I lost my balance, falling over in a windmill of whirling limbs. Toothless grinned and gently lifted me by the scruff of my neck.

'Clumsy.'

"Lazy," I retaliated, swatting at his nose as he draped me across my bed.

"Night, son." Dad dampened the fire and the room was shrouded in darkness. I closed my eyes and sought sleep, but nervous Terrors in my stomach kept me awake, and my eyelids kept springing open, leaving me staring at the wooden ceiling.

I was shifting position for the fourth time, trying to find something that would let me get enough rest for the next day, when something swatted at my legs.

'Can't you sleep?' Toothless complained. 'You might not hear it, but that bed makes the weirdest noises when you move.'

"It's not my fault," I grumbled, shifting again. There was a small spike of wood digging into my hip, and I couldn't seem to avoid it. "This bed hates me."

'Well, find one that doesn't hate you," he grouched. Having struggled to switch from a nocturnal lifestyle to sleeping at night, he was touchy about messing it up again.

I flipped the blanket over, wondering if it would help at all. It didn't.

Eventually, I gave up on the bed and forced myself to stand up. My body protested the cold temperatures, and I wrapped the blanket around my shoulders, carefully hopping over to the stone slab where Toothless was trying to sleep.

His wing was soft and leathery, and I laid the blanket against the piping hot stone by his side, heated by his fiery breath. With the material protecting me from most of the heat, I curled up like a baby dragon against his side, instantly calmed by the slow motion of his large lungs. It was impossible to describe how he could influence me like that, I just knew that I never felt safer than when I was by his side.

'What are you doing?' he asked.

"What you told me to," I said, a smirk rising on my lips.

'What?' Honestly, he was handing it to me on a silver platter!

"You told me to find a bed that doesn't hate me. Do you hate me?"

'No, you ridiculously literally-minded human.' His wing stretched out for a moment, wrapping more securely around me. 'You know I love you.'

"And I love you too," I murmured, sleep tugging at me already. "You're warm."

'Great,' he said sarcastically. 'From the most feared dragon to a hot water bottle. It's good to know I'm appreciated.'

I felt his head come down to ruffle my hair with his breath, and I reached up and hooked my arm around his neck. "Thanks, bud. You don't mind?"

Dad was up at the crack of dawn, even earlier than Toothless normally woke up. He was trying to be quiet as he prepared breakfast, but he knocked into the table and sent the plates crashing to the floor. I woke up with a start, crashing my head into the underside of a large black wing.

'Morning, rock-head.' Toothless warbled, and Dad looked up.

"Good morning, Toothless. Is Hiccup awake?"

I stuck my head out and looked down the stairs.

"You'll want to make the most of your last proper meal."

I laughed as Toothless tossed me onto his back and insisted on carrying me down the stairs. Even though we were the same age, I often felt like the younger brother. I liked it when he played with me like that, or let me share his warmth, or caught me before I fell. No one had ever cared for me like that before.

"Breakfast is served!" Dad boomed, and I thanked Toothless as he bounded back upstairs and brought me my prosthetic. Hopped slightly as I tied it on, I rubbed my eyes tiredly. If only I'd been able to go to sleep earlier last night.

"Morning, Dad," I said as I pulled out a basket of fish for Toothless. Even as he eagerly attacked the food, I knew I wouldn't be able to eat anything. I sat down and picked at the food on my plate.

Dad noticed immediately. "Aren't you hungry?"

"I'm just a bit nervous." I tried to laugh it off, but my entire body was stiff with tension and sweat collected in my palms.

He nodded sagely. "I remember my trip. The morning before I set off, my insides felt like they were a nest of Terrible Terrors, twisting and turning in every direction at once!"

I nodded. That was exactly how I felt. "I think I might be sick."

Toothless nudged me, purring steadily. I leaned into his touch and took a shaky breath, calming a little.

"Thanks, bud." I choked down a few bites, then put my fork down. "I'm done." Toothless' eyes flicked to the leftover food on my plate, and I laughed, pushing it towards him. "Greedy dragon." Dad frowned as my breakfast disappeared, but he let it go.

"Are you ready?" he asked, and I nodded hesitantly.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

We got to our feet, and I touched Toothless' strong shoulder, craving his calming influence. 'You'll be fine,' he purred gently. 'It's just three days of walking, it'll be over before you know it.'

The bitter cold stole my breath away as Dad opened the door, and we stepped out into the frozen world.

"I know," I replied, still worried. "It's just… every chief before me has successfully completed this. What if I'm the first to fail?"

'Even if I have to drag you the entire way, you will complete it. Astrid will feel the same when she finds out,' he growled. 'You've got a great team, and you don't have to do this alone.'

"You're really good at pep talks, you know?"

He lifted my head proudly. 'Of course. I'm really good at everything.'

I pretended to slap his head, my hand brushing his ear. "Careful, or your head will get so big you won't be able to take off."

He widened his eyes in mock horror and I laughed tightly. We approached the village square, decorated with colourful Snoggletog wreaths, and I grew quiet. The entire village was ready and waiting for us, with a space left for me and Dad to stand at the front. Everyone was watching me, and I clamped down on my urge to nervously rub at my neck. I'd hoped it would only be a few close friends… Dad stepped in front of everyone, and I waited with Toothless on the side of the space.

"Well, my son has already proven that he is a worthy heir, many times over, and you know it!" he bellowed, and the villagers murmured to each other. "He has ended the dragon war by killing the Red Death: a monster all our ships could do nothing against!" I was sure I was bright red, unable to look at anything except my boots. "He is an incredible smith, and many of his inventions are helping the village today!" Gods, why did he have to bring that up? "He has given us a new ally: Alvin and the Outcasts! And he and his fellow dragon riders have captured the deadly Dagur the Deranged, Chief of the Berserkers!" That wasn't even me, I couldn't have done any of that without the other riders and dragons!

'He shot me down, releasing me from the Queen's service. He gave me back my flight, something I thought was impossible. I owe him more than my life.' Thankfully, no one else heard Toothless, but I was mortified.

"Bud, please don't," I stuttered, blushing furiously. "Dad's bad enough."

"Today, he will undergo another challenge! Myself, and the village Elders, will accompany him and his companions by boat to the opposite side of Berk, where we will leave him! Hiccup will lead his team through the wilderness back to our village, without any aid or equipment! So, without further ado, I present to you: Hiccup Horrendous Haddock The Third, my son… and my heir!" Stoick took a step back.

I took a deep breath, sure I was about to fall over, and slowly walked up onto the stage. Everyone applauded noisily, and I straightened my shoulders. Gothi stepped forwards, and Gobber walked beside her. Glad I knew the ceremony off by heart, I knelt and she drew a strange symbol on my forehead with charcoal. Then she scribbled in the dirt, and Gobber read it out loud.

"Who are your companions?"

I stood up and squeaked slightly, blushed again, and cleared my throat. "My first companion is dearer to me than my own blood." The words had seemed over the top when I wrote them, but now I was glad I'd put so much feeling into them. "I would rely on them through thick and thin, and I know they always have my back. There is no one I'd rather have by my side than my first, and best, friend: Toothless the Night Fury!"

He lifted his head and regally stalked through the crowd to take his place by my side, and I was the only one who noticed when he almost misplaced a paw and stumbled. He nuzzled my hand, eyes flickering with an unidentifiable emotion, and I smiled. "Is that good enough for you?"

'M—more than enough,' he choked, bending down for Gothi to draw a symbol identical to mine on his head. His nose wrinkled and he stifled a sneeze. I made a mental note to scrub it off with snow as soon as possible.

I took another deep breath, struggling to remember the formal words I'd written. "My second companion is very close to my heart." I silently sighed in relief when the phrases flowed out. "Since I was eleven years old, I have looked up to them as they performed every task given to them capably and with confidence. They are reliable, trustworthy, and a born leader. I could never complete this task without the second-in-command of the Dragon Academy, my close friend: Astrid Hofferson!"

Astrid stepped forwards confidently, but her lips trembled slightly as she joined my side. She knelt down for Gothi to draw the symbol on her forehead, then stood up and punched me. I stumbled backwards, and a smile ghosted across my lips. "What was that for?"

Astrid glared at me. "I'm a warrior. You don't bring me to the edge of tears in front of my entire village without consequences."

Gothi motioned for me to continue, and I spoke a little faster, trying to get it over and done with. "My third companion is compassionate and kind. Their love of knowledge is second to none, and they have true bravery: the ability to work through fear. I promised that I would never leave them behind again. My trusted friend: Fishlegs Ingerman!"

"Me?" Fishlegs squeaked, pointing to his chest, and everyone laughed.

"Yes, you. Come on up."

Fishlegs scurried over and knelt down in front of Gothi as she refreshed the charcoal on her fingers and drew the symbol on his forehead. "Wow, this is such an honour, Hiccup!" he whispered. "Are you sure you want me?"

"Were you listening to his speech?" Astrid hissed. "Of course he wants you!"

"And who is your final companion?" Gothi asked, through Gobber.

"My fourth companion is headstrong and stubborn," I declared. This had been the hardest to write, but every word was true. "But they have saved my life multiple times, and they always came through in the end. They are completely fearless, often stupidly so, but I want them by my side. My cousin: Snotlout Jorgenson!"

Holding his head high, Snotlout wove his way through the crowd to get to us, and Gothi reached up and applied the symbol without waiting for him to crouch.

"What do you mean, stupidly fearless?" he sulked, and I rolled my eyes.

"Remember that time you—"

"Fine, you don't have to remind me," he hissed.

Dad stepped forwards again, and I slumped in relief as gazes switched to him. "These five people will journey on foot all the way across Berk, in a feat of daring and courage!" There were a few mutters, and I heard Toothless' name being bounced across the crowd a few times. He lifted his tail into view, revealing that I hadn't strapped his mechanical tail fin on this morning, and the mutters subsided. He'd argued until I finally gave in and left the saddle on, but we wanted to be able to prove that I hadn't cheated. "To the docks!"

I was breathing a little faster than normal and my legs wobbled slightly as we started to walk down the stairs. Toothless pushed past Astrid and walked next to me, letting me lean on him.

'Are you okay?'

I shivered. "I'm so glad that's over. I hate public speaking."

'You were great,' he reassured me. I looked at him sceptically, and he held my gaze, green eyes soft and proud. 'You're going to be a great chief.'

We arrived by a medium sized boat, and Dad climbed in. Gobber helped Gothi in, then he and Spitelout hopped on board. The rest of the village Elders were content to stay behind. I boarded with my head held high, still watched by most of the village, and Toothless, Astrid, Fishlegs, and Snotlout trailed after me. I stood near the side of the boat and waved hesitantly as the adults hoisted the sail and headed for a small beach on the other side of the island. The twins waved back, seemingly unaffected by not being chosen, and a small smile twitched at my lips. Snotlout, Astrid, and Fishlegs waved at their parents, and most of the village waved back as we slid away.

The prow of the boat crashed through a wave and freezing spray washed over us, so I backed away from the edge. I could feel the chill even through my proper winter clothing: a thick fur coat and fur covered boots. The others were well prepared too: Astrid wore long sleeves with a warm hood, Fishlegs looked toasty in a fluffy shirt, and Snotlout had a long scarf wrapped around his neck. We settled back to enjoy the ride while the adults steered us past the high cliffs and low beaches of Berk.