Author's Note: Hey, hey, everyone and welcome back to "Sticks and Stones!" =D To answer a question asked by one of my reviewers, Alliswell (Guest): No, I don't take one-shot requests. X) I already have all of the upcoming one-shots planned out, but awesome idea! =D
Anyway, I don't really have much to say (dang, I really need to come up with some stuff to add onto my author's notes...X)), so I hope you enjoy this little one-shot. =D
Summary: The Dragon Riders have been through it all. Adventures, peril, and even silly little escapades. During the first Snoggletog without their dragons at the Great Hall, the Riders talk about how life was like with their dragons and what they miss. (Post HTTYD: THW.)
We've Been Through It All
It was the first Snoggletog without dragons. New Berk had never felt any stranger.
While the vikings were much cheerier than when the dragons had dramatically departed their lives, there was still a sense of sadness and longing hanging over the Berkians as they continued on with their Snoggletog festivities. Smiles were exchanged with a hint of forlorn. Snow dragons were created by the children, keeping the reptilian creatures fresh in their mind. Many of the younger kids asked their parents for dragons for their Snoggletog gifts, which was, sadly, a present that no one on Berk could give.
As much as Hiccup would have loved to head to the Hidden World and bring the dragons over for the great Snoggletog feast that was currently being held in the center of New Berk, he knew that the dragons needed to stay where they were. It was too dangerous to bring them out, especially since they had managed to stay hidden for nearly a year already. Hiccup didn't want to put his friend in danger, but a part of him longed to see him again. In fact, all of the Dragon Riders wished to see their dragons again. Even if it was just for a small, brief moment.
But despite the feeling of longing and the sad absence of the dragons, Hiccup still did his best to make the first Snoggletog without dragons a happy one indeed. The Berkians had spent years and years celebrating Snoggletog back when they were at war with the dragons, and everyone had been completely fine. Now shouldn't have been so different. But since dragons had entered the lives of vikings, they had come to discover how much they relied on them. How much the dragon had affected them. With the dragons gone, it felt as if Snoggletog was missing something. There was an empty, vacant space in the holiday that could only be filled by the dragons.
But they were gone. Tucked and concealed from vikings and people in the Hidden World.
Hiccup walked through the feast that was taking place. A Great Hall wasn't constructed yet, and nor were many of the huts and homes that the vikings would soon live in, but Berk was creative with what it had, so tables were set up outside and bright, colorful Snoggletog-themed lights were hung to brighten the area. The red and green that illuminated from the lights and lanterns reflected off of the white, sparkling snow. A full moon shone brightly in the sky, and several vikings and families had gathered around to eat and talk with each other. Dragons weren't mentioned in the conversations.
The young chief of Berk spotted his friends sitting at a table that stood apart from the others. Hiccup could tell that the twins had tried to decorate it. Since the dragons had left, Ruffnut and Tuffnut had been trying new hobbies to fill in the space where they would usually go around blowing up stuff with Barf and Belch. They still pulled Loki pranks every once in a while, and they even started a book club at some point, but that didn't last very long. The twins' interest in specific hobbies faded and flickered faster than a light went out, but their interest in decorating was the one hobby that seemed to have lasted quite a while. A sloppily made Snoggletog wreath hung from the end of the table, and a viking helmet sat in the middle with a few messily tied pinecones and holly. Simple white lights spangled around the tabletop, and a cluster of bells sat next to the viking helmet.
As cheery as the table looked, the Dragon Rider's expressions were downcast. Astrid was sharpening her axe, but her beautiful features were marred with sadness. Two of Stormfly's spines pinned the small poncho she was wearing, and the blonde often glanced at them, and her blue eyes glittered with longing.
The twins looked like their usual selves, but Hiccup could tell that they were missing their dragons too. Ruffnut was currently bickering with her brother about what type of lights they should've used to decorate the table, and Tuffnut argued that Belch liked the plain lights better than the colored ones. Ruffnut retorted that Barf preferred the colored ones, so they should have used those. The two went silent for a while at the mention of their Zippleback, and both of them sighed in unison, placing their heads in their arms in perfect sync.
Fishlegs was currently reading a book; the Ingerman was never without one. His backpack that held a stuffed version of Fishmeat was still on his back, but Hiccup knew that it would never replace the real baby Gronkle. As Fishlegs' green eyes read over his book, he occasionally spat out random dragon facts that made the Riders miss their dragons even more.
Snotlout was obviously trying to look manly; he seemed like he didn't miss Hookfang at all. But Hiccup knew his cousin, and he could see past his facade. The Jorgeson was yearning to see his Monstrous Nightmare again. He had told Hiccup himself.
The Snoggletog festivities and music continued on, but as happy as it sounded, the atmosphere at the Riders' table was dismal. Hiccup felt himself falter at the sight of his friends, but he straightened out and walked up to them with a small smile on his face. An empty seat was right next to Astrid, so he sat down next to her and sent everyone a grin.
"Hey, guys," he said. "Great night, huh?"
Astrid, Fishlegs, and Snotlout nodded while Ruffnut and Tuffnut mumbled, "Sure."
The smile on his face felt completely fake. Hiccup dropped the cheery act and he sighed.
"I know you all miss your dragons," he said. "But…we should at least try to be a little happy. For Snoggletog's sake."
"We've tried," said Tuffnut. He gestured to the ineptly decorated table. "Ruff and I spent three hours decorating our table."
"You spent three hours decorating a table that looks like someone tossed whatever they could find lying around on it?" mocked Snotlout.
Ruffnut gasped, offened. "Hey, we worked hard on this table!"
Tuffnut nodded. "You have no idea how long it took for us to borrow this stuff."
"Borrowed or stolen?" asked Snotlout.
"We didn't steal!" Ruffnut snapped.
"It's Snoggletog, Snotlout. You don't steal during the Snoggletog season," Tuffnut said as he crossed his arms. Ruffnut nodded, concurring with her brother's statement.
Snotlout rolled his eyes. "Whatever…"
Hiccup looked at each of his friends. What comfort could he give them? They didn't know when they would see their dragons again, or if they would ever see them at all. Hiccup felt his shoulders slump. He was missing Toothless just as much as the others were missing their dragons.
Astrid looked up from her axe and placed a hand on his shoulder. She turned to the other Dragon Riders.
"Guys…I know it's hard without our dragons, but Hiccup's right. We should at least try and celebrate Snoggletog instead of just moping around," said Astrid.
"But that's all I want to do for Snoggletog," Ruffnut moaned. "I miss Barf. We used to gas people's homes randomly just for the fun of it."
"And Belch and I would spark the gassed homes just for the fun of it," Tuffnut added. A wistful look rested in his eyes. "Remember the explosions we made?"
Ruffnut nodded pensively. "Yeah…"
"I still remember how Stormfly and I would go out training back when we were still living on Dragon's Edge," said Astrid. "The sunrises were really beautiful, and it seemed as if nothing could separate us when we were up in the air."
"Well, there was that one time when Ryker shot you two out of the sky. You kind of got separated there," said Tuffnut. Astrid glared at him.
"What? I'm just being factual," the dreadlocked twin stated innocently.
"We had some crazy adventures," said Hiccup as he rested his arms on the table. "I still vividly remember encountering the blown up dragon trapper base."
"Those giant spikes of ice were huge," Astrid said, the memory flickering through her head. "I kind of miss those epic adventures that we used to have."
"And the epic battles," chimed in Snotlout. "I was the best while we were fighting Grimmel."
Fishlegs snorted. "You jumped off of Hookfang and got stuck on a pole."
"Shut up, Fishface!" Snotlout snapped. The other Riders laughed.
"You know," said Astrid after a few moments of silence. "I never realized how reliant we were on our dragons. I remember being separated from them for a while, but now that they're gone…"
"It feels completely different," finished Hiccup. "I feel the same way."
And they all did. Dragons had become a big part of the Berkians' lives. They had been at war with them, they made peace with them, and they flew on them. Hiccup and his friends had learned so much about the dragons, and the dragons had learned so much from the vikings. Hiccup never thought that their time together would end. He thought that dragons and vikings would live together forever. But things change, and as Hiccup looked back on his life with Toothless, he realized how fast six years had gone by. Six years felt so short, and Hiccup clearly understood why people used the term "time flies" now.
"We've really been through it all," said Hiccup. He faced each of his friends. "Battles and fights. Adventures and escapades…"
"Imminent death and peril," added Tuffnut.
"I don't think we've been through imminent death as much as Hiccup has," commented Snotlout.
"I actually have to agree with that," Astrid said with an impish grin.
Hiccup rolled his eyes, but he smiled. "Anyway…even though the dragons are gone, they're still here. Sure, they're a boat trip away, but it's nice to know that they're still…somewhat close."
"I guess," said Ruffnut. "But I still wish they were here."
"We all do," Astrid said. "And we'll see them again sometime. Someday."
"I hope that day comes soon," said Snotlout.
"Me too," said Hiccup. He looked up into the sky where the moon was still round and full. He remembered the flights that he and Toothless used to take together on the eve of Snoggletog, enjoying the wintery air and beautiful snowy air.
"But no matter the distance, us and the dragons, we're still together from afar," Hiccup said with a small smile. And the snow began to fall.
Author's Note: Pretty short, but I think it's pretty sweet. =) I hope you guys enjoyed this one-shot, and I'll see ya'll in whatever comes next. =D
Until the next story!
-BeyondTheMoon1203