{Hiccup's POV}
The party to celebrate my becoming chief of Fury Isle lasted until 2am at best guess. There had definitely been drinking involved and now I was regretting that choice as I had to face my first day running the village. I was the chief so I was an exception to the underage drinking rule which I actually changed. I didn't get hammered but still enough to give me a headache this morning. I hadn't gone to bed until I knew everyone was in bed safely and the guards were on patrol. A lot of things were about the change now that I was chief, dad always told me to rule this place to my vision. A place where humans and dragons could exist without fighting or death. I sat up in bed of my father's house, Toothless was up and now laying his head on my cheek.
"I really miss him bud...Still not used to not having him greeting me every morning with one of those back breaking hugs..." I sigh with a soft smile. Toothless nuzzled my cheek as I rubbed his head softly. "Come on, lets got take a sky view of the island. Maybe I can clear my head up there..." Toothless licks my cheek and we saddled up heading out into the early morning light of my first day. I got on Toothless's back and opened his tail as we sped off into the slow changing sky. I loved it up here, so peaceful. The island was a mix of humans and dragons, all living together. No fighting, no raids. Just peace and I was the one who helped make it happen. I remembered it like it was yesterday how it began with me being on Fury Isle.
/Flashback/
Toothless and I had been flying for 3 weeks almost constant. We did stop at night to sleep and eat, then start early again the next morning. So far, we were good. Not a worry in the world for us. I was free of Berk, never going to look back either. I loved being in the air with Toothless, I never knew I could feel so happy just by being able to touch the clouds which I could actually do. What a feeling it was. I did miss Gobber as I suspected I would, I missed getting up every morning during a raid and seeing his smiling face. Always joking around with me, making me laugh. Sure he teased me but never meant it. He always told me I'd made something amazing out of myself one day. Now I'd get that chance.
I told him about Toothless for the brief meeting in the cove before I left and I knew he'd keep the secret. So here Toothless and I were, 21 days since leaving Berk and still doing fine. "Hah, take that Stoick...I've survived 3 weeks." I chuckled of course referring to the fact Stoick said I'd never survive on my own. I'd love to show up and rub it in his face. I did wonder if he cared at all that I left. I thought I saw a sliver of it when I was headed towards the forest when he said I'd change my mind. And I wished I could still contact Gobber but it was better to break all contact. I was no longer their concern then again...I never was.
I pulled out my map when Toothless and I stopped for the night, checking to see where we were. "Alright...Outcast island to the North, and Berserk isle to the West...I guess we keep going East bud. Don't want to be near those places...We gotta settle down somewhere, we can't just keep flying..." I sigh out. Toothless warbled in response. It was true, we had to find a place to live...That was hard when your means of travel and best friend was a dragon that people feared. Oh well right, we'd make it work.
Another 14 days and Toothless and I had gotten caught in a bad storm and no where to set down to ride it out. A strike of lightning hit his tail, it caught fire and began to burn fast. This was bad, without that tail we couldn't fly. There was an island close by but it had people on it and that was something we avoided. Another harsh wind sent me off Toothless's back and falling. Toothless dived after me then everything went back after we hit the ground. What happened next was me waking up in a hut, everything was fuzzy. "Oh good, you're awake laddie. Thought we might lose ya for a bit there..." A deep voice chuckled. My eyes focused on him, a large man with a short beard that was a caramel color, his short hair the same. He had green eyes, lighter shade than my own.
I sat up holding my head, my whole body hurt. "Where...am...I?" I asked looking around.
"On Fury Isle son. You crashed here on your dragon 2 nights ago in the storm. Don't ya remember?" The large man said.
"I remember...flying on Toothless and...the lightning hit his tail then us falling...Toothless! Oh gods is he..." I asked in fear.
"Calm yerself lad, the dragon is okay. He's outside with the kids, they've taken an interest in him. Come on, I'll help ya out. Can ya give me yer name?" The man asked helping me up.
Thank Thor...Toothless was okay. And outside with the kids? Huh? Did this...place not mind dragons? What a stroke of luck that would be. "Oh...Its...Hiccup." I tell him
"No last name?" He asked.
"I...prefer not to use it...And there's...a long story behind that..." I sigh.
"Well you can tell me later then. I'm Thurmond Hagebak, chief of this here island." He introduced, we shook hands. Oh great, so he was the chief. Once outside, I saw Toothless jumping around with the other kids who were laughing. I was relieved.
"Toothless!" I called happily, Toothless stopped and bounced at me. Knocking me down and licking my face with worry. "Hey hey, its alright bud. I'm okay...I'm glad you are too." I sigh as he let me up and nuzzled against my cheek.
"Seems happy to see ya. Never seen a human and a dragon so close before. We work with them from time to time." I hear Thurmond say.
"You guys...don't kill them?" I asked curiously.
"Odin no lad. We don't harm the dragons. We work with them, peace between us here on Fury Isle. They were here before us after all so we like to share everything from food to land. We help one another out, seems you and your dragon though are a lot closer." Thurmond chuckles.
"He's...my best friend. Thank you...for helping us..." I bow my head.
"You're welcome. How does he fly? With the one tail fin?" Thurmond asks.
"I had...built him a prosthetic tail before...leaving my old home...I controlled it so we flew together." I explain nervously.
"You had blacksmith trainin?" Asked another man, I assume the blacksmith himself.
"Since I was 3." I admit.
"I like this lad already! Anyone who can make a workin dragon tail is a-ok by me. Come by the shop anytime if ya need anything. I'd like to see your skills in action." The blacksmith laughed.
"Now what's all this about leaving your old home?" Asked a woman with dark brown hair and brown eyes. My stomach growled and I blushed.
"Enough. The lad just woke up, I'm sure he'd like some time to eat and recover. Come lad, I'll take ya to the hall." Thurmond smiled leading me there, Toothless following us now. Reaching the hall, I found others following in curiosity of Toothless and I. Was a different feeling for sure. Inside, a worker brought in some fish for Toothless and I got a plate of chicken and bread also a cup of yak milk. I looked across from me to see one girl with light brown hair and hazel eyes looking at me intently.
"So are you gonna be staying here with us?" She suddenly asked.
"What uh...I-I don't know...know..." I admit at such a bold question.
"Sylvi. Don't pester the boy. This is pretty new to him." Thurmond states. Gods I thought she was beautiful though.
"Pester? Oh no...she's okay. I just wasn't expecting such a bold question. Being a stranger and being asked if I was staying here..." I chuckle a bit.
"I certainly have no problem with it. A young boy who rides the back of a dragon, I think we could learn a lot from you. But we gotta know more about ya lad. How old are you?" Thurmond asked.
"14..." I admit softly.
"Pretty young to be traveling by yourself. You on a mission from your old home?" The chief asks, I shake my head.
"No. I...left on my own..." I mumble recalling the events.
"How long have you been on your own?" Sylvi asked curiously.
"30 days." I answer.
"Wow..." Sylvi smiled now.
"And how did you come to leaving your home?" Thurmond questioned.
"Well...its kind of a long story..." I sigh, they nodded for me to go ahead so I just began to tell them everything about my life on Berk. I could hear their gasps about what happened to me. I explained the things Stoick said to me right before I left, before I invoked self exile and left with Toothless and everything up until now where I was with them. "And...that's everything." I took a breath.
"I can't believe any father would treat their son such a way. My son passed away before his first birthday...My wife shortly after unable to deal with the grief of losing him. That was about 10 years ago..." Thurmond admits.
"I'm...sorry for your loss..." I say softly.
"You're a good lad, thank you Hiccup. Well, I don't know about the rest of the tribe but I'd like ya to stay. You're more than welcome too. You said you wanted a new life, and heck we want ya here."
"You...mean that?" I asked in shock. These people I'd only met about an hour ago wanted me to stay on their island with them. I was being welcomed so easily.
"Course I do! You can stay with me, gets lonesome in that house all by me self." Thurmond chuckled.
"Yeah, come on Hiccup...Stay on Fury Isle with us! Please?!" Sylvi asked pleadingly. I smiled, how could I say no?
"Alright...I'll stay!" I smile, the room cheered as Thurmond actually hugged me. It was a nice feeling, almost broke my back.
"Excellent lad. The future is already looking brighter." Thurmond announced, "From this day forward. Hiccup will be a member of our tribe! Effective immediately." I smiled, I wanted to cry. I had a home again. A real one where dragons were allowed! Oh life was amazing. I couldn't believe it.
/End Flashback/
I smiled while Toothless landed on a high point and I looked down at everything. It was always so beautiful this early in the morning. I remember after I accepted being part this tribe, a lot changed for me and everyone else. I lived with Thurmond in the extra room, Toothless with me always. Sylvi and I became best friends as she always had questions about dragons and how I met Toothless. I rebuilt Toothless's tail in the forge with Thurmond and the smithy who I learned was named Colden watched me closely finding it fascination. Sylvi stopped by a bunch of times to watch and after I fixed it up, I went flying and it felt good to be back in the air.
About 3 months after being there, Thurmond asked me if I'd like to have a dad again. I actually broke down too in his arms accepting. He told me that he saw me as the son he never got to have, and wanted me to be his son and he'd adopt me. Of course I didn't say no. Thurmond had been like a father to me since I arrived, he helped me when I crashed there. He let me stay with him and on the island as part of the tribe. It was amazing. I loved it. So after that was taken care of...My name became Hiccup Hagebak, son of Thurmond Hagebak and heir to Fury Isle and one day chief of the now called tribe of Dreki Riddari, also known as Dragon Rider tribe. Thurmond renamed the tribe after I taught them how to earn a dragons loyalty and ride them.
It was an amazing feeling to know this man changed his tribe name to represent something I had done. Finally something I did was recognized and liked. I had a home, a father, friends...All in the course of a year. I had turned 15 in that time and training with Thurmond to be chief. It actually wasn't as hard as I believed it to be. Thurmond or dad now always wanted me to take this place into the future and now...here I was on my first day as chief. Everyone was asleep still, but they'd be up soon. I sighed looked at everything, I spotted Sylvi's house and couldn't help but smile. She'd been nothing short of amazing since I joined the tribe. We actually started dating not long ago shortly after I turned 15...and right before my father died.
I closed my eyes now remembering all that. Dad got sick when I'd been about 8 months, come to find out he'd been sick a while but now it was getting worse. He confided in me he wouldn't live and I thought I'd have more time with him but he was taken just 2 months ago from all of us and it hit me hard. I'd left a father, gained one, and now lost him too. He had asked me to take over as chief, it was supposed to be right away. His dying wish to see me become chief but he got worse and just...died in his sleep before the ceremony. We postponed it those two months so I'd be ready to take the position. I still ran the village before becoming official chief but still, it was hard. But Sylvi helped me get through it. That girl was a godsend for me.
I missed dad, I really did. It was still hard to get up every morning knowing he wasn't there to greet me with that smile. He was always happy and I never managed to teach him to ride a dragon...He got too sick. First person I taught to ride was actually Sylvi. That had been fun to do, I took her flying on Toothless and she just begged me to teach her after that. I decided what the hell and began teaching her, then we found her a dragon. A Nadder to be specific whom she named Rosethorn because of the nadder's red and pink colors. Since teaching Sylvi to ride a dragon, others in the tribe wanted to do the same so I began classes. Groups of 10 or less to teach how to gain a dragon's trust and ride them. I used an open field to do this in since using the caged ring for event seemed a little prison like and these creatures weren't our prisoners rather our friends.
And of course, my age limit was no one younger than 14 since that was the age I learned how to ride seemed only fitting to keep it at that. However, I did say that younger kids between the ages of 6 and 14 could own a dragon but it had to be a Terrible Terror. Today would be a meeting with the council to discuss new rules or traditions. I was going to set it up that way no one really came to our island but rather we would travel by ship to other islands or wait for trader Johann to come through. My father had spoken with Johann a while back and made the trader promise not to tell Berk where I was, and Johann didn't mind keeping his mouth shut. I didn't care if they found me but I still didn't want to see them. I had a new tribe now. A new home that I loved. Not to mention, I'm also the chief. I found a smile finally as I watched the sun begin to rise.
I heard the beating of wings as I looked to my right and saw Sylvi coming over on Rosethorn. "Morning chief." She greeted smiling. I chuckled, that was going to take some getting used too.
"Hey babe. How'd you sleep?" I asked her as we shared a quick kiss as I got off Toothless and sat in the grass, she followed suit as our dragons laid down beside us.
"Great, you?" Sylvi asked gently.
"I slept alright, maybe a few hours." I chuckled softly looking out over the village again.
"Nervous about your first day?" She asks me while laying her head on my shoulder.
"A little but...Dad taught me well." I tried to smile.
"He'll always be with you, Hiccup...You know that. He'll always live on in all of us, he was a great chief and a wonderful man. You made his last days happy by becoming his son." Sylvi put her hand around my shoulder now.
"I know...This last year has been...amazing. I never imagined I'd make it this far after leaving Berk..." I sigh.
"Well you have and you'll only go farther. I honestly believe that this is how things are supposed to be. Think about it. You trained a Night Fury, learned to ride him by building him a working tail fine. And you left your old home that hated dragons, and landed here a month later to a place that doesn't believe in killing them. It worked out if you ask me." Sylvi kissed my cheek, I smiled. She was right. What were the chances I left Berk and ended up here on Fury Isle a month later? Must of been fate if nothing else. I kissed her again. "Do you miss it at all?" She asks.
"What? You mean Berk?" She nodded to me. " Not really. I hate that place and everyone who lives there except one man...I wish I could see him again. Just to let him know I'm alright...He was really torn up when I left." I looked down a bit. Gobber, my mentor and father figure. I missed being in the forge with him every day, listening to his jokes and his playful teasing about me being a toothpick for dragons.
"Well...Trader Johann is coming into port today...Why don't you send him to Berk with a letter for Gobber?" Sylvi suggested.
"I would but I told Gobber I was breaking all contact...I can't risk Stoick trying to find me and drag me back, not that he could because I exiled myself but you know what I mean Syl..." I mumbled.
"Hiccup, listen to me. Gobber was always like a father to you, or the crazy uncle at best. Send him a letter, something short so he'd know it was from you. So he knows you're okay. It's been a year, if they were going to care enough to look for you then they would have already." Sylvi had a point there. If they really wanted me back, they would of come looking for me by now. By flight on dragon, Berk was about 4 days away. By sailing it was closer to 6 maybe 7 depending on weather. I was close to them, Toothless and I had done a lot of flying around the Archipelago and doubled back a few times and I'd been making a map to keep track of where I was. What harm would it do to send Gobber a message, just to let him know I was alright? I trusted Johann to make sure Gobber got it. I looked down seeing everyone beginning to gather around the hall for breakfast. 7:30am, right on time as always.
"Well, lets get down there then." I say as I got up and pulled Sylvi with me. We got on our dragons and went for the hall, in there during breakfast I ate, gave people their jobs or orders, then wrote the note to Gobber. Short and simple like Sylvi suggested. When Johann pulled into port, I handed it to him. "I know Berk is your next stop. Make sure Gobber gets this. Tell him its from an old friend and to make sure he reads it alone." Johann put it in his inner coat pocket with a nod to me.
"Of course, Master Hiccup. And congratulations on becoming chief...I know you'll do a fine job just as your father told me you would." Johann smiles. That felt good to hear. Johann left 5 hours later, I had him stay for lunch. I sighed softly. I knew Gobber would know it was from me, than man knew me better than I knew myself sometimes.
{Regular POV}
(Berk; 5 Days Later)
"Johann is here!" Someone shouted. The Hooligans flocked to the docks and began searching the ship, Gobber hobbled over and began looking at metals and weapons. Johann moved beside him, pulling the letter from his pocket.
"I have a letter here for you from an old friend." Johann whispered, Gobber took it curiously.
"From who?" Gobber questioned.
"I was asked to only say that it was from an old friend, and that you read it alone." Johann then stepped away before it looked suspicious. Gobber blinked and nodded, he tucked it away then made his trades before returning to the forge and putting his things away. He moved into the backroom and pulled out the letter, opening it slow his eyes widened.
This will be a one time message. This is to let you know that I am alright. Safe and sound starting anew elsewhere. Don't tell anyone I made contact. Hope you're doing alright. -An old friend.
That handwriting was something he'd never forget. This message...was from Hiccup.