Vikings were making their way up they long stairs of stone to the Great Hall, ready for the party. Hiccup left his gifts for his friends down in the forge in his hut. He didn't have the strength to carry them up and down five times. Besides, where would he hide them from them anyway? The twins would've found them somewhere and Astrid would notice he was hiding something, which he sort of was.
He walked up the stairs to the Great Hall along with other Vikings, and greeted a Viking who held the door for him. Once inside, he scanned the whole room for his friends and soon found them eating by their table. He walked over to them quietly, not really feeling for celebrating Snoggletog this year either due to everything that has happened and were to happen in the future. Not to mention everything he would miss out on.
On his way, he grabbed a plate of chicken and a mug of water since he wasn't really a fan of mead. Mead was the drink for grown up Vikings and some teens that liked to get drunk and forget everything they did the next day. Hiccup on the other hand? He would prefer remembering everything in case it would be a memory he would remember for the rest of his life. This brings him to one upcoming memory. The dance with Fearless Astrid Hofferson, the girl of his dreams.
The thought of only dancing with her, made his palms sweaty and feel nervous around her presence. Before even reaching the table and greeting them, he could already feel his throat getting ready to stutter like Fishlegs trying to hide something. Even his mind was stuttering while he kept thinking of a way to greet them. Should I say Hi, H-hello- Stop stuttering you useless brain! Hiccup groaned in frustration, taking a deep breath as he kept walking. A few feet away he notice they were discussing something quietly, quiet enough for him not to hear it.
"H-Hey guys," Hiccup stuttered, mentally face palming himself. The teens eyes went wide, their conversation dying in an instant as they turned around to face him with their eyes still wide.
"Hey Hiccup, Hi…Hic, Hello…uhm," Astrid said awkwardly, leaning over the table like everyone else. Hiccup stared at them questioningly, awkwardly placing his plate down on the table and slowly sat down without breaking eye contact with her.
"Are you guys feeling alright?" He asked. They nodded in a unusual fast way. Hiccup looked over at Fishlegs knowing he would crack if only he held eye contact for a few straight seconds. He met his gaze with a curious look, ignoring Fishlegs hands that flew up to his mouth and his body shaking non-stop.
"Okay! We were hiding our-," Fishlegs was cut off by Snotlout punching him in the face, sending him to the floor in pain. Hiccup looked away from Fishlegs and up to Snotlout who was sitting at the table with a nervous smile. He looked down on the plate before him and stuffed some food in his mouth as an excuse for not explaining himself. Hiccup was about to ask when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around he found his father with Gobber and Spitelout.
"Do you mind if we borrow Hiccup for a few minutes?" Stoick asked, looking at the teens. Hiccup turned to look at them whit an approving look. The teens nodded weirdly at the chief who gave them a questioning look. "Okay then," He walked away with Hiccup who looked back at his friends scolding at Fishlegs for something. His father led them out of the Great Hall, away from the music and loud talking Vikings. Obviously needing some private place to talk.
"So… what did you want to talk to me about?" Hiccup asked nervously, keeping his hand at his sides. He could feel the cold winter wind trying to dry his sweaty hands but to no avail. Stoick cleared his throat and looked at Gobber who nodded.
"Snotlout will be under chief training too," Hiccup's eyes widened in shock. Did he really have to stay with him for three years, hearing him probably hit on Camicazi from already the first day they would arrive there?
"But," Stoick paused, having noticed Hiccup's uncomfortable expression. Hiccup looked at him in hope. "He will not be with you on the trip. Instead, Gobber and Spitelout will be teaching him here on Berk," Hiccup sighed in relief but a question popped up in his head.
"Then why can't I stay here too?" He asked curiously. Stoick sighed.
"The burglars are far more educated in combat skills and know far more techniques than anyone on Berk does, and since you will be Berk's future chief you will have most of the knowledge so that Snotlout won't be able to compare his combat skills with you. When you come back, you will be able to teach him what you've learned from Bertha, but that is up for you if you trust him enough with the information," Hiccup nodded understandingly.
"And you're telling me this… because?" Hiccup asked.
"Have you told your friend's about chief training yet?" Gobber asked.
"No. I planned on telling them tomorrow at the academy," He explained.
"Okay. Well, Snotlout doesn't know of this and if Spitelout tells him now he will only brag about it," Spitelout nodded at that statement. "That's why we need you to tell him while you're telling them that you will be leaving so that he doesn't start talking about it all the time," Hiccup nodded. There was an awkward silence.
"So… Did you need anything else, dad?" Hiccup asked, breaking the awkward silence. Stoick shook his head and watched Hiccup open the door.
"Wait!" Stoick shouted. Hiccup turned around, hands still on the door handle, curiously. "Happy Snoggletog, son," He said softly. Hiccup smiled, letting go of the door handle and walked over to his father who embraced him in a tight hug.
"Happy Snoggletog, dad," Hiccup smiled, letting a single tear fall. They pulled away and went back inside. Hiccup walked over to his friends table. He felt something wet on his right cheek, then remembered the tear. He quickly wiped it away and took a deep breath. It was the first time he actually heard his father say it to him. He was sad but at the same time happy. Happy that his father said it, but sad that he wouldn't be able to hear it from him and get a bone crushing hug as well for a few years.
He sat down by the table and started to eat, listening to their normal conversation. Well normal for Snotlout and the twins who were getting drunk on some mead they had stolen from a few already drunk Vikings. Astrid gently nudged his side, getting his attention.
"We have something we'd like to show you later," She smiled happily, taking a zip from her mug.
"Oh? I have something I need to show you guys too," He smiled back, looking into her beautiful blue eyes. She nodded and looked over at Snotlout.
"Come on! One more, one more, one more," The twins cheered, punching the table in rhythm. Snotlout looked at the last cup of mead in disgust. He took a deep breath and drank it. "YEEEEY! Snotlout is now confirmed drunk for the first time in his life," Tuffnut cheered, knocking heads with his sister.
"What do you guys say if I show it now?" Hiccup suggested, mostly talking to Astrid.
"Show us what now?" Snotlout asked, rubbing his head.
"I have something for you guys, but it's down in the forge," The teens stood up excitedly, fighting each other towards the door. Astrid and Hiccup ran after them with smiles on their faces. They ran down the steps and towards the forge where the four teens waited excitedly with their eyes glowing with happiness. Hiccup walked inside the forge, telling them to follow him out to the back yard where their presents were.
"Okay, so since the dragons aren't here and it's not really much fun to do. I invented something new a bit earlier today. Though I haven't had time to test it out properly," Hiccup muttered the last part. "Close your eyes," They closed their eyes and followed Hiccup's voice. Once they stood in a row, Hiccup stepped beside the presents that lay against the wall of the forge.
"Open them," He said excitedly, "Tada! I call it, snowboarding!" He gestured to the five boards that stood against the wall. The boards were long and round at both ends, a bit of it covered in the snow. The teens ran over to them excitedly, laying them down in the snow and took a foot on it to test it. Each board had a different color to symbolize which one was which. Fishlegs got a green one, Snotlout red, Ruffnut light blue, Tuffnut dark blue and Astrid yellow.
"This is amazing!" Astrid said, running a little and jumped on the board and let it slide in the snow. She smiled from ear to ear and jumped off it and tackled Hiccup in a bear hug. "Thank you," She said.
"I thought we could try them out tomorrow somewhere in Berk and have a race," Hiccup said nervously scratching the back of his neck.
"That would be awesome," Snotlout said.
"I'm in," Ruffnut cheered.
"Me too," Tuffnut said, fist bumping with his sister.
"Looks like it's settled then," Hiccup smiled.
"Now, we have something for-," Astrid was cut off by a roar. Wait. A roar? "Did you guys hear that?" She asked shocked. Then it came again.
"It sounds like a…," Fishlegs trailed off.
"Dragon," Hiccup breathed out, looking up in the sky. The moon barely covered in clouds, but something else, something that was moving, showed itself in front of the moon by the cover of night. Hiccup narrowed his eyes to try and get a better view of what was in the air. That was when he noticed whatever it was, had wings. "We gotta got tell my dad," Hiccup said, not frightened but happy. He knew what it was, and so did the rest of his friends. They ran up to the Great Hall, leaving the boards by the forge for tomorrow. Once they arrived, Hiccup slammed the doors opened and called out.