[Author's Note; Just so no one asks questions. This story is not one of the originals posted to FFN before I left. It was a newer one I worked on after I left. It's been on AO3, and now it's here. Hope you all enjoy!]

=Hiccup's POV=

My name is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third. I'm currently fifteen years old and also the heir to my tribe. What does this mean? My father is the chief, and I'm his only son. When he retires, or Odin forbid it, he dies; I will take over as leader of the tribe. My father's name is Stoick Haddock, and the tribe is known as the Hairy Hooligans of Berk. My mother was taken by a dragon when I wasn't even a year old; it's been assumed she's dead. My father searched for months, but it was all for nothing. My father held a deep-seeded hatred of dragons ever since, well, more than anyone else. Everything changed not too long ago, and the three-hundred-year old war is now over thanks to me and my dragon. Yes, I have a dragon. His name is Toothless, and he's a Night Fury; one of the fastest, smartest, and rarest dragons known to us Vikings. He's definitely rare considering I've never found another Night Fury since him, or even really before either. So, as I mentioned before, we live on an island called Berk. It's just one of many Viking-inhabited islands in the Barbaric Archipelago. Like all tribes, we have allies and enemies among one another. It's starting to settle down, who really wants to get into a war with a tribe who has dragon on their sides as allies. Which brings me to what I said; the three-hundred-year old war with dragons is over, thanks to me and Toothless. It didn't come easily, and we nearly died. I only lost my left leg, but it was all worth it for the peace we have currently.

To make a long story short; I shot Toothless down during a raid and in the bad landing, he lost his left tailfin. I had the chance to kill him, but I found that I couldn't. I wouldn't. I knew how it felt to be defeated and unable to fight back. I didn't have the greatest relationship with my father, nor my tribe. I was known as the trouble-making runt. Back to my tale about how the war ended, I let Toothless go and the over the course of a few weeks, got closer to him and eventually earned his trust. We became friends, and I built him a new tail that I could control and we flew together. We got caught by a girl my age, Astrid Hofferson, and after a terrifying flight to make her not run off and tell my dad, then apologize; she understood how amazing dragons were. During that flight, we found the dragon's nest on an island west of Berk, now known as Dragon Island. We learned of a queen dragon we call Red Death, was making the other dragons raid us for food. I didn't know what to do, but I knew revealing such would trigger my dad to storm the nest to fight. He'd also kill Toothless. I couldn't lose my friend, so I tried to show them we didn't have to fight.

I only succeeded in getting chased by a ticked off Monstrous Nightmare, and Toothless racing into the village to save me. As I expected, my dad was furious. He told me I wasn't a Viking, not his son. It hurt, but I still raced to the nest with Astrid, and a few others; Snotlout Jorgenson, Fishlegs Ingerman, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut Thorston. I got Toothless back and we defeated Red Death, effectively stopping the raids in the Archipelago. My only loss was my left leg, but that was a small price to pay for peace. Things are great now. Everyone seems to be accepting dragons into their lives, bonding with them as I did with Toothless. Astrid had a Deadly Nadder named Stormfly. Fishlegs has a Gronckle he calls Meatlug. The twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut share a Hideous Zippleback, they gave the two heads separate names, since it's a two-headed dragon. Ruffnut's side was Barf, which breathed the gas and Tuffnut's was Belch, which sparked the fire. Snotlout had the Monstrous Nightmare that chased me, he calls the dragon Hookfang. I have the village's praise and acceptance, something I didn't have before. I say it all the time that I had nothing before Toothless and it was true.

Life truly was perfect, I didn't imagine it could get any better. Right now, we're in our summer month of August. It's the 1st and about seven in the morning. I was wide awake and ready to take on the day. I got myself washed up and then dressed before going downstairs to find my dad going over papers while eating breakfast.

"Morning, Dad," I greeted him with a smile and wave of my hand.

"Hello, son," He replied. "How'd ya sleep?"

"Alright. You?" I wondered as I grabbed a few of the breakfast foods, then sat down at the table. Toothless was laying on the floor by the fire and enjoying a bucket of fish.

"Well, my boy. What are your plans today?" Stoick inquired.

"Fly with Toothless, see if Gobber needs any help, then head to the academy." I informed. "What about you?"

"My usual, Hiccup." Stoick chuckled.

"Sounds enthralling," I teased.

"May not be as exciting as your day, son, but I remind you that it will be your job one day." Stoick said.

"I know, Dad…" I responded.

How could I forget? He reminded me all the time that I was his only child and would, one day, be chief. I assumed I had a couple years before he really got on my about training under him. I was only fifteen, most heirs started at sixteen with basic laws and traditions. Maybe attending a council meeting or two. I didn't get into the more chiefly job things until I was eighteen. It really all depended on when the chief decided to do things, but I knew my dad wouldn't start until I was sixteen or older. There was a lot going on right now with bringing dragons into our lives, so dad left me in charge of dragon training. We turned the old kill ring into a school for learning about dragons, bonding, care, and flight. Dad made me leader of that, so that was my job for the time being. We also had work on other islands, bringing them into the new age too.

"You don't sound happy about it." Stoick stated.

"I'm not one to be tied down, Dad…" I reminded him. "I know it's my birthright, and I really don't have a choice as your only son…But still. It's not my thing."

"You'll adjust. Every new chieftain brings something new to their reign of the tribe. They make it work for them, so I'm sure you'll do the same. Look at all you've already done? You spared a dragon over killing one, and you found the source or the raids, stopped it. You're already making life better for everyone here and on other islands and you're not even chief yet." Stoick smiled. "You'll be alright."

"I didn't say I wouldn't be…But still." I said. "I know there's more that comes with ruling the tribe. Such as…Marriage, giving another heir…"

"There would be time for all that, and I'm sure you understand why such would be required?" Stoick mentioned.

"Yeah, doesn't change that it's required and who wants to be forced to do that stuff just for a job?" I countered. "Again…I get it. But see it from my view. Becoming chief means I have to get married and provide an heir. I know I get first pick in a wife, but say that person doesn't want to get married? And contracts fall through? Now, I'm stuck in a position to marry someone I don't love. Being intimate with someone I don't love. Have a kid with someone I don't love. See where the whole forcing aspect comes into play?" I stated calmly.

"I do see it, Hiccup, and it wouldn't be fair…But the tribes didn't come up with these laws on the purpose of them being fair." Stoick sighed.

"I'm just saying that while I have no choice…I do reserve the right to be annoyed and bothered by it. I can complain freely when it's my life that's affected by such…" I told him.

"Of course you have that right, son…I just want you to understand that it's our way of life. There's many things you can't do as heir to the tribe, even more so, as chief." Stoick smiled.

"I know, Dad…" I nodded, getting back to eating my breakfast. "But you don't plan on training me yet, right?"

"Not yet. I know you're busy with bringing people and dragons together. We'll get that settled before I train you to be chief. I'll give you warning, don't worry." Stoick reassured.

"Alright." I finished my breakfast shortly after. I cleared my dishes away, the rinsed them off and set the objects to dry. "See you later, Dad!" I called to him before rushing out with Toothless.

"Bye, son!" Stoick responded.

I got outside with my dragon, then jumped on his back to open the tail before he darted into the sky. This was my favorite part of the day; flying with my best friend. I started and ended my day with this. We flew in the morning after breakfast, and also at night just before dinner. Being in the air was just peaceful, or maybe having a friend as amazing as Toothless. He was probably my first friend, I didn't have any before him. But as I've said before; that was then and this is now. My life couldn't be better.

. . .

=Normal POV=

The morning had been great. Hiccup enjoyed his flight with Toothless, then went to see if Gobber needed any help in the forge before heading to the old kill ring, now Dragon Training Academy. Hiccup and his friends worked with their dragons in training and helped some others bond and start classes for care and flying. Currently, it was about 1:30 in the afternoon and while everyone had other things to do; Hiccup walked around with Toothless.

"Nice day, huh, pal?" Hiccup asked Toothless, who crooned in response. "Good to not be fighting anymore." He added. Toothless nuzzled Hiccup's arm gently. "You changed my life in so many ways, Toothless. Us being friends and allies doesn't even begin to cover being thankful for you giving me a chance. I love you, bud." Toothless warbled a response close to you too. "Wanna go for a fly?" The Night Fury jumped around and got back next to Hiccup, who laughed and got on his back. "Let's go!" Toothless launched into the sky and they were soon high above the clouds. Hiccup could only smile wide as the cool air hit his face.

After a little bit of flying around, they two headed back into the village because Gobber had signaled Hiccup to come down. Gobber was the village's blacksmith, but also Stoick's best friend and basically an uncle and second father to Hiccup. The man practically raised Hiccup when he was younger. "There ya are, laddie," Gobber smiled.

"Hi, Gobber. What do you need?" Hiccup asked with a smile.

"I gotta go on some deliveries, and your father called a council meeting. Think you can man the forge for a bit?" Gobber wondered.

"I've grown up here, and I probably know everything you do." Hiccup chuckled. "Yeah, I got it."

"Thanks, lad," Gobber got his cart and headed out. Hiccup got inside the forge and began his work on organizing and then working on the weapons Gobber hadn't yet. Soon, it was late afternoon when Gobber finally returned. Hiccup had stayed busy the entire time, though he was a little worried for his dragon. Toothless had made the clear mention in his own way that he was going into the forest to use the bathroom and, of course, Hiccup wasn't going to stop him. The problem was that Toothless had been away for a while, so Hiccup wondered if he was in trouble. After all, Toothless couldn't fly without him; that left him open to attacks with being unable to get away. "I'm back, Hiccup."

"Hey, Gobber. How'd the meeting go?" Hiccup inquired.

"Same as always, but we came to a decision about you starting your training." Gobber informed.

"Dad told me this morning he was holding off," Hiccup looked at the man quickly.

"Nothing formal, laddie. We just believe it's time for you to get the books for Viking Law and Hooligan Tribal Traditions." Gobber said. "I'm sure you know that-,"

"The Viking Laws book was established when Vikings first settled here by the first Viking Counsel of Chieftains to all tribes. And the Traditions book is exclusive to just how the Hooligan tribe. More than traditions since formed, it's our rules. None of which can be changed without either a tribal vote or just the counsel." Hiccup stated.

"Very good," Gobber beamed.

"You've taught me a lot over the years, Gobber. I know how things were back then before dragons, but you never treated me differently…" Hiccup smiled.

"I did what I could for ya, laddie," Gobber admitted.

"So, I'm just reading when I have nothing else to do?" Hiccup blinked.

"Basically. It's easier training if it's done in smaller sections. You won't have to train all day with your dad and read in between if you read the books now. You've got like a year or two, we never stated a time when you'd start. I think your dad is waiting until you're eighteen, or until the dragon thing is under control." Gobber shrugged.

"Ah, okay." Hiccup nodded. "Am I getting those books now?"

"Yer dad will give them to you tonight after dinner." Gobber reassured.

"Sounds good. Am I good to leave? Toothless wandered off about an hour ago and isn't back yet, so I wanna go see if he's alright." Hiccup asked.

"Not like him to wander from you," Gobber chuckled.

"Well, I knew he left to do his business him the woods, but…He's usually right back within ten minutes." Hiccup mentioned.

"Off with ya." Gobber waved Hiccup away. The young heir grabbed his bag then hurried out to get to the forest.

Hiccup didn't know where to start searching; the forest was huge but Toothless wouldn't go too far from the village just in case of any problems. He couldn't fly without Hiccup, so he wouldn't leave himself in a position to not be close. Hiccup figured to walk the normal trails they went on. He'd never cover the entire woods by himself. Hiccup wandered through the main trail to the cove, thinking Toothless wouldn't have gone inside knowing he couldn't get out. Or maybe he could, he did it once before during Hiccup's final exam for dragon training. It was a special spot for them, it's where they bonded and became friends. Hiccup sometimes went there with Toothless just to relax, the cove was always peaceful.

"Toothless!" Hiccup called out as he trekked the pathway towards the cove. "Come on, bud…Where are you?!" He tried again. Hiccup sighed heavily as he finally made it to his destination, then worked at getting through the rock to look down into the area. However, instead of seeing his dragon; he saw a young male with jet black hair and tanned skin, a little bit of a bigger build than himself. Hiccup had never seen this person before in the village, so who was he? The male was working at getting out of the lake and was fully nude. Hiccup knew he shouldn't look, but he wanted a better glance of this person. Hiccup decided he should probably find out who this guy was, maybe his name and what tribe he was from, if any. He could be an outsider to the Archipelago too. However, as Hiccup was going to make himself known; the male got on his hands and knees as a blue glow encased his body. Out of nowhere, the male turned into a dragon. And not just any either; a Night Fury that specifically was missing a left tailfin. And Hiccup knew one dragon like that; it was Toothless.

Hiccup didn't even know what to say or do; he just stared in shock trying to process what he'd see and make any sense of it. His…Best friend, that was a dragon, could become human? What kind of sorcery? Maybe a curse? Magic? Hiccup didn't know, but he had a lot of questions. Hiccup jumped down as Toothless got startled and quickly turned to see his human rider there. "Toothless?" The dragon looked at him curiously, warbling. "What in the name of Odin did I just watch you do?" The Night Fury tilted his head, acting confused. "Don't act innocent. I saw you come out of the lake…As a human, and then go back to a dragon…"

The Night Fury sighed and pushed himself up on two legs, then the blue glow returned to change him back to human. "Suppose I couldn't hide it forever." Toothless stated. "Hi, Hiccup," He greeted with a smile. "Have a seat, I'll get a fire going and explain." He offered.

Unable to find words to say after he just saw his best friend go human, then dragon, now human again and talk so clearly; Hiccup plopped himself down on a log while Toothless gathered some stones, and sticks, assembling a small fire ring. Toothless clacked to small stones together to create sparks until they lit the small twigs and piles of dead leaves on fire. Hiccup just wanted to understand.