Stepping Forward

Chapter Eight

As autumn faded into early winter, the temperature dropped and the Vikings' excitement rose. The harvest had been plentiful. Most of the Sanctuary dragons had returned to their old home so there would be more than enough food to last the winter. Best of all, Snoggletog was fast approaching and everyone was looking forward to the greatest holiday of the year, a last chance for fun and festivity before Devastating Winter set in.

Everyone except Hiccup, that is.

He came downstairs one morning to find his mother singing a holiday song as she heaped eggs and sausages from a platter onto their plates. With the coming of winter, Cloudjumper and the few remaining Sanctuary dragons had moved into the underground stables and Valka had come to live with Stoick and Hiccup. It was both wonderful, and occasionally a little jarring, to have her there all the time, but Hiccup loved having a whole, complete family, especially because she and his father seemed so happy together.

But the holiday song caused him to frown even as he greeted his mother. "Morning, Mom."

Valka looked up and smiled. Misinterpreting his frown, she reassured him. "Don't worry. I didn't cook. Gobber brought this up from the forge."

"No, I didn't mean—" Hiccup began, but he was interrupted by Stoick and Gobber coming in from outdoors. They both wore thick hooded cloaks and brushed snowflakes from their clothes before entering.

"It's going to be a cold winter," Stoick was saying. "The snow doesn't usually start this early."

"We're well prepared and a little snow will put us all in the mood for decorating," Gobber replied cheerfully.

Then he looked over and noticed Hiccup. "Or not," he added awkwardly.

Valka glanced back and before between them before shaking her head slightly and holding out a hand to Gobber. "Come join us, Gobber."

But their old friend shook his head. "Thanks, Valka, maybe another time. I've already eaten and I'm going to help Sven and Mulch start setting up the Snoggletog Tree."

"Oh, we start decorating today!" Valka exclaimed happily. "I can't wait. It was always so much fun."

She looked at her husband and son. "What should we do first? Help set up the Tree or decorate the Great Hall?"

"Um, I'll see you all later." Gobber waved and hurried outside, closing the door behind him.

Stoick shrugged off his cloak and hung it on a hook near the door. "Why don't we have some breakfast first?" He crossed the room to give his wife a kiss on the cheek and then patted Hiccup's shoulder.

They sat around the table with their plates and mugs of small ale. Stoick and Hiccup ate in silence while Valka continued to chatter about the holiday, but after a few minutes she stopped and looked more carefully at them. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, Mom. I just—don't do the whole Snoggletog decorating thing anymore." Hiccup glanced down at his plate. "I'm full. Does anyone want the rest of this?"

Stoick cleared his throat. "Hiccup, you're the Assistant Chief now. Snoggletog is an important event for the village. Don't you think you should help this year?"

But Hiccup shook his head. "The village has managed just fine without me for years, so no, I don't think I should help. I'm going flying with Toothless."

He left the table and went to get his own cloak from its hook.

"Hiccup." Stoick's tone was both frustrated and pleading. "All that happened a long time ago. Maybe I over-reacted, but you weren't entirely blameless either. Can't you let it go?"

Hiccup froze, but didn't turn around to face his parents. After a moment, he repeated quietly, but firmly. "You don't need me for this. I'm going flying with Toothless."

He slipped out the door before they could say anything else.

Valka turned to her husband. "What in the world was that about?"

H & T H & T H & T

Normally Toothless was nearby when Hiccup stepped outside for the day, if he hadn't already come back inside the Chief's house, but this morning the Night Fury was still in the village square. Hiccup could see him, along with some of the other dragons, helping to bring bundles of brightly-painted lumber planks to build the village's Snoggletog Tree. The Riders, among other villagers, were pitching in as well.

Hiccup sighed as he walked slowly down the steps from his home. He had hoped to slip away quietly without anyone noticing, but apparently he would need to try to catch Toothless' attention—unless he gave up on flying right now and went to the cove instead. Toothless would know to look for him there later.

Abruptly he turned towards the woods, but it was too late. Astrid had already spotted him.

"Hiccup!" She cried, setting down a basket of shield ornaments and hurrying towards him. "Wait!"

At least she'd gotten Toothless' attention too, and he came bounding over. /I'm sorry, Brother. They asked me to help and I didn't realize it was getting so late./

Hiccup scratched him under the chin. "It's all right, bud."

He straightened and forced a smile as Astrid and his other friends approached.

Astrid caught his hands and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Morning, sleepyhead. You know, we've got a lot to do today. We could use your help."

"We really could," Fishlegs agreed.

But Hiccup quickly shook his head. "You're doing fine-"

"But we want you to help too," Tuffnut said eagerly.

"Please?" Ruffnut's voice was unusually subdued.

Even Snotlout spoke up, his tone uncharacteristically entreating. "Come on, Hiccup. It's not the same without you."

There was a quick flash of hurt—and maybe a touch of anger—in Hiccup's eyes, but then it deflated into sadness.

"Thanks, but I'd rather go flying." He answered quietly, refusing to meet their eyes.

Toothless obligingly stepped close and Hiccup sprang to the saddle. They took off with a beat of the Night Fury's strong wings and vanished into the clouds.

Astrid looked after them unhappily. "I can't believe Hiccup still won't help decorate, even after his dad specifically asked him to help again after the Red Death Battle."

Fishlegs nodded. "He forgave us all for everything else, and he wasn't even completely innocent with the Snoggletog thing. I mean, I know the fire was an accident, of course, but it could have been dangerous…"

His voice trailed off as he and Astrid turned and noticed that Snotlout and the twins were all staring at the ground and looking very uncomfortable.

Astrid put her hands on her hips and frowned at them. "Why do you all look like Terrors caught in a fish trap? What's going on?"

H & T H & T H & T

Toothless flew for a long time. He knew all about Hiccup's history with Snoggletog and understood that his brother wasn't in the mood for fun and games, so there were no aerial acrobatics today. Toothless simply flew far and fast, putting distance between the two of them and Berk. They flew over sea stacks and the wide grey ocean, soared up to the thick clouds and glided along with a flock of sea gulls.

But after several hours of flying around the Archipelago, Toothless began to tire and circled back towards home—to the one specific place on Berk that had always been a sanctuary for himself and Hiccup, and where there were plenty of good memories to help balance the bad ones.

They landed lightly in the cove. The early morning snowfall had stopped, but a light dusting of snow still covered the ground. Together Hiccup and Toothless built a fire and Toothless warmed the ground for them to sit close.

/Let's rest a while and then we can fly some more if you want./

Hiccup leaned against him. "I'm sorry, Toothless. I didn't mean to tire you out. We could have stopped earlier."

But Toothless just gave him a gentle nudge. /I'm fine. Don't worry about it./ He eyed Hiccup. /Are you all right?/

"Yea, sure." Hiccup shrugged. "It's just the usual Snoggletog thing. It wouldn't bother me so much if everyone didn't always nag at me to help. I mean, nobody wanted my help for years. It never bothered them at all until we were heroes, and now they can't shut up about it. And when it's Dad and Snot and the twins…" Hiccup's voice trailed off unhappily.

Toothless licked his cheek, hating to see his human brother so despondent. /I thought you had forgiven them./

"I did. I do." Hiccup's shoulders slumped and after a moment, he mumbled. "I just wish Snoggletog was over."

Toothless studied him. /It seems to be bothering you more than usual this year./

Hiccup shrugged again. "Yea, I don't know why. Maybe because Mom is here now, and she'll want to know about it. And since this Assistant Chief thing started, I guess I keep worrying about what everyone will do when I mess up. Remembering all that doesn't help."

Toothless nuzzled his hair. /I told you, I think you should talk with Dad about this./

But Hiccup shook his head. "No, I don't want to go dragging up ancient history."

/Is it ancient history when it still hurts you?/

"Dad's already said he was sorry about everything and I said it was all right. If I keep whinging on about stuff, then I sound like an immature brat." Hiccup told him.

/No, you don't./ Toothless tucked a protective wing around him. /And Dad would believe you now if you talked with him about it./

"He should have believed me then." Hiccup whispered, and Toothless could only pull him close in comfort while Hiccup stared blindly at the ground, lost in his memories.

Flashback

"Right then, that's the last one," Gobber beamed down at the dozen newly-painted Snoggletog ornaments spread across the table. "Think we did a good job, if I do say so myself."

He patted Hiccup's shoulder in approval and the twelve-year-old boy smiled at him gratefully. Most people in the village looked down on him. The Vikings had settled on the island of Berk over three hundred years ago. Generations of battling the harsh climate, the unforgiving sea, and dragon raids had forged them into a strong and fierce people. The majority of the Hooligan tribe were tall and burly, and even those who weren't physically intimidating were dedicated fighters.

But Hiccup was an anomaly.

His smaller stature could have been overlooked. After all, he was the Chief's son, and both the Hofferson and Thorston clans were on the smaller side, though no one ever doubted their skill, assertiveness, and (in the Thorstons' case) occasional borderline insanity.

But Hiccup was not a fighter. He was bright, inventive, and artistic. He could read and write as easily as the other Vikings could throw an axe. He was fluent in Latin, English, and French, thanks to the books he bought and devoured whenever Trader Johann came around.

But his inventions broke down as often as they worked, and though Hiccup usually figured out how to correct a problem, his father had forbidden him from experimenting after a couple of unfortunate accidents. Reading, writing, and foreign languages were just not valuable skills on Berk, not nearly so much as fighting prowess.

Hiccup never had much luck with hammers, axes, and the heavy broadswords that Vikings favored, but he was actually a decent shot with a bow and arrow, as long as he was shooting at a practice target. But when it came to shooting a living creature, he was hopeless.

All of these things made him an outcast among his own tribe, especially among his peers. They had played together as small children, but as they grew older and Hiccup's differences became more obvious, their friendships had fallen apart. Snotlout became a bully with Ruff and Tuff often following his example; Astrid became focused on training; and Fishlegs lacked the courage to stand with Hiccup against the others.

But two years earlier Hiccup had joined Gobber working in the forge, and things had gotten a little better. The blacksmith might have been a little rough around the edges, but he had a good heart. He was the only person on Berk who ever spoke a kind word to Hiccup, with the (very) occasional exception of Stoick, and the only one who ever seemed to enjoy spending time with him.

Like today. While the other men and boys were setting up the gigantic frame for the Snoggletog Tree in the village square, Hiccup had been sent with the younger children to the Great Hall to make some new ornaments. But once the Tree's main support pole had been set, Gobber had come and spent the rest of the morning helping Hiccup paint shield decorations.

But now that they were finished, Gobber stood and stretched. "I'm going to check how the Tree is coming along. You go get some lunch, laddie, and this afternoon we'll string some lights up in the forge."

He went back outside and Hiccup went to the kitchen to get a bowl of stew and a chunk of bread. He settled down in a far corner of the Great Hall, sitting cross-legged on the floor, to eat his lunch. There were still plenty of empty seats at the tables, but Hiccup had learned that it was best to stay out of sight as much as possible.

While he was eating, the wide double doors of the Hall burst open and a large crowd came in, laughing and talking. Hiccup watched wistfully as Astrid and Fishlegs sat down at a table with their food. He even briefly considered joining them, as Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut weren't there, but even if those two weren't as unkind as the others, he knew that they wouldn't want him there.

No, it was better just to leave them all alone. In fact, it would probably be best if he slipped away and went on to the forge. But just as Hiccup was about to rise, his cousin and the twins came hurrying over to crouch down nearby. Hiccup shrank back into the corner, but for once, they didn't pay him any mind, their attention focused on a small box that Ruffnut held.

"It's our best invention yet," Ruffnut spoke in a quiet, but excited voice.

"Yea, Tuffnut Bang Powder!" Her twin chimed in.

"It's Ruffnut Bang Powder!" She snapped, and probably would have clunked him over the head if she hadn't been holding the box.

"Tuffnut Bang Powder!"

Snotlout broke in quickly. "Guys! What does it do?"

"This!" And before anyone could stop him, Tuffnut reached for something hidden in his vest and dropped it into the box.

"Not here!" Ruffnut hissed, her eyes widening.

But it was too late. There was a loud pop, and suddenly flames shot from the box. Ruffnut tossed it to the side and the three of them took off running. "Fire!"

The Great Hall erupted into movement, as some of the Vikings raced for the outside doors, while others ran to put the fire out. There was still a little water in Hiccup's mug and he automatically tossed it on the flames, but to no avail. So he ripped off his fur vest and beat frantically at the fire. With others joining in, beating out the flames with their own shirts and vests, and throwing buckets of water, the fire was soon out, with minimal damage and no injuries.

"But that was pure luck," Stoick growled menacingly a short time later as everyone assembled in the square. "People could have been killed. The Hall could have been destroyed. What in Helheim happened?"

Confused and angry voices echoed the Chief's with everyone wanting to know how the fire had started.

Hiccup hesitated. He hated to be a snitch, but his father was right. The fire could have been a tragedy. He stared at the ground anxiously, not knowing whether he should speak up or not.

"Hiccup started it."

"What!?" Hiccup looked up to find Snotlout pointing at him. "He had a box with some kind of powder, probably another one of his crazy inventions, and it caught fire."

"I did not! It was you, and the twins!" Hiccup protested.

"No, it was you," Snotlout declared.

Stoick held up a hand to quiet the noise and pointed to the Thorston twins. "Ruffnut, Tuffnut, who's telling the truth?"

The twins had been staring uncomfortably at the ground. At the Chief's words, they looked up and around at the angry villagers. They hesitated, but then both said, "Snotlout."

"But Dad, I didn't—" Hiccup began.

"That is enough from you," Stoick interrupted in a cold voice. "Go home. At once!"

Hiccup started to protest more, but his father's furious expression stopped him. For a second, he stood there, not wanting to admit defeat, but he could see that arguing with his father before the village was only going to make him angrier. So Hiccup turned and trudged up the hill towards home, away from the disapproving glares of the tribe, from Snotlout's smug relief, and Stoick's fury. He could only hope that his father would calm down and be more willing to listen later.

But when Stoick came back to the house that afternoon, his anger had not abated.

"Hiccup, when you were born, I swore I would be different from my own father, that I would never raise a hand against you, but by Odin, you push me to the limit! Do you even realize how you have shamed me today? First, you set fire to the Hall, risking everyone's lives. Do you realize that people could have died? We could have lost the chief portraits and the tapestries. They're priceless."

"But I didn't! Dad, will you please just listen to me?"

"And that's another thing," Stoick continued, his voice like ice. "You don't even have the courage to take responsibility. It's cowardly to lie and blame others for your mistakes."

He paused. "You've disappointed me before, Hiccup, but I don't think I've ever been so ashamed as I was today."

He glared as Hiccup stared at him in mute anguish, gulping back a sob.

"You are grounded from now until the Celebration. You will either be working in the forge or doing chores around here. You're not allowed to help decorate the village this year, since I can't trust you to stay out of trouble."

Stoick started to leave, but then he turned back. For just a second, an expression of regret flashed across his face, but then it hardened as he added firmly. "And just to make sure you've learned your lesson, you can forget getting any Snoggletog gifts this year. Odin doesn't leave gifts for boys who lie and act like cowards."

He gestured around the house. "I want this place spotless by the time I get back home, or I might just forget my vow!"

He stomped outside, slamming the door behind him.

Hiccup drew a long, shaky breath before he went over the chest of drawers by the wall, reaching blindly for some cleaning rags. But then abruptly he sank to the floor, burying his face against his knees as he sobbed bitterly, until finally he was left with his hollow despair aching in his chest.

End Flashback

For the next two years, Hiccup had continued to be isolated during the holiday preparations. Stoick had not forbidden him from helping, but it was obvious that the villagers didn't want him to, so Hiccup kept away during the days when everyone else was putting up wreaths and lights and decorating the Tree and Great Hall. He would have liked to have skipped the great Celebration on Snoggletog Night too, but his father insisted that he attend that.

The first Snoggletog after the Red Death battle had been a little better. Snotlout, Ruff, and Tuff had actually apologized to him and Hiccup had accepted. Stoick had officially invited him to put the horned helmet on the top of the Tree, an honor always given to the Viking who had shown the most courage and dedication to protecting the village throughout the year.

But Hiccup had declined. He didn't want to be petty, and hang on to his past grievances. But he just couldn't get into the spirit of Snoggletog. For Hiccup, the holiday joy had died that day when he was twelve and only Toothless had been able to resurrect even a glimmer of it.

So for the past five years, Hiccup and Toothless spent a most of the Snoggletog season flying around the Archipelago and avoiding Berk as much as possible.

Hiccup was staring dully into the flames of their bonfire when Toothless raised his head, sniffed, and then nuzzled his brother's face.

/Dad and Skullcrusher are coming./

Hiccup looked up, but before he could jump to the saddle and they could take off, the great Rumblehorn dragon had landed beside them and Stoick slid his back.

The Viking chief sank down beside his son. He started to place an arm around Hiccup's shoulders, but Hiccup tensed and almost imperceptibly shrank away. Stoick hesitated, then slowly lowered his arm and twisted his hands together.

He cleared his throat and then said softly. "Son, I know it's much too late and I should have listened to you then, but will you tell me the truth about what happened that day?"

Author's Notes: I apologize for the long wait, and I wish I had written this chapter around Christmas when it would have fit better, but I only had this idea a couple weeks ago. I hope you'll enjoy it anyway!

Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews! And a big thanks to CHSHiccstrid, because I can't send you a PM to say thanks! But I really enjoy and appreciate your comments.

Also, I'd like to recommend two wonderful authors, Silver Sentinel and OrangeCat64! I hope you'll enjoy their stories as much as I do.