Hiccup landed in front of his house, looking up at the sky. Dragons swooped down, grabbing sheep's, followed shortly after by sounds of cheering Vikings. "What are you guys doing?!" Hiccup shouted, watching the academy entertain the Vikings who had stopped working to watch. He patted Toothless's head and followed after Snotlout. "Snotlout, would you please tell me what you guys are doing?" Snotlout laughed, putting the sheep beneath his arm.
"We're enjoying the dragon sheep racing competition," Snotlout said, holding up the sheep. "And it looks like they enjoy it too," He gestured down to the Vikings bellow and flew off. Hiccup groaned.
"Toothless, would you mind?" Toothless landed in the town's square where baskets were laid out and sheep laid in them. He sucked in a long breath before letting out the mightiest roar Hiccup had ever heard. The dragons flying around with riders holding sheep stopped harshly and landed down in front of the acting chief and his night fury with their own riders. All attention was brought to them.
Hiccup crossed his arms, looking at them in disbelief. He walked closer to them and eyed them suspiciously. "Tell me," He started, looking at the twins. "Who was the one to come up with this insane, dangerous way of racing?" He asked, eying the twins.
"Why does he always look directly at us when he says that?" Tuffnut whispered.
"No idea," Ruffnut answered, trying to stay calm. Hiccup rolled his eyes and looked at the other four teens. Astrid stepped forward. Hiccup raised an eyebrow. He didn't believe Astrid was alone in it. That was obvious. What he wanted to believe was that they could all stand together like a team. She was about to open her mouth when Heather stepped forward, shortly followed by Fishlegs, Snotlout and the twins.
"It was our entire fault," They said in unison, looking down ashamed. Hiccup smiled, looking at them proudly.
Astrid looked up for a second, expecting to hear Hiccup talk about how disappointed he was in them for disobeying his orders, but instead he looked happy. Scratch that, he looked proud. Astrid held her head in its normal height and looked at him confused.
"Why are you smiling?" This made her friends look at him too.
"I'm smiling because you six worked as a team," Hiccup started. "You worked as a team and pushed your selfishness behind you. And for that, I am proud of you," Hiccup smiled warmly. He turned to look at the villagers and outcasts watching them. "The race will be," The teens looked at him excitedly, waiting for him to continue. "Official from now on," The whole crowd erupted in cheers. Hiccup felt Astrid presence and turned around, only to be punched. He rubbed his sore spot. "Why did you do that?!"
"That's for making us ashamed of ourselves," Hiccup could see the others nodding in the background. Astrid pulled him closer by his tunic and pressed her lips to his, pulling away shortly after. "And that's for everything else," She smiled. Hiccup laughed as Astrid ruffled his hair. "Now on with that hair of yours, it's going to need a cut," Hiccup's eyes widened. There were many things he didn't like, like the annual stump day that's in a few weeks-time and Astrid's Yaknog, but he didn't fear anything more than Astrid cutting his hair. In an instant he pushed his way through the cheering crowd and disappeared behind the houses.
Stoick watched his son, with Gobber, run away from his soon-to-be-daughter-in-law with a smile. He had heard the whole speech he had given his friends. Instead of throwing his anger out on them, he talked to them with a proud attitude, announced something that could be the best sport any Viking had every witnessed. He was proud of his son, there was no doubt in that, and he wasn't one bit angry for the decision of the new sport. He was happy that his son could make his own decisions for both himself and the village. Hiccup was indeed, ready to be chief anytime soon. They both knew that.
Hiccup hid behind a building, poking his head out by the edge but moved away as he saw his friends and their dragons go through the crowd. "Get Hiccup," Hiccup could hear Astrid say to the others. He heard a familiar night fury call and ran. He knew if Toothless found him, then the others would find him too, and that was something he really didn't want.
"Sorry bud," Hiccup whispered, moving behind buildings. Looking up, he found Meatlug and Fishlegs flying above him. Quickly, he jumped behind a barrel until they were gone. With a sigh of relief, he looked out in the streets as he made his way towards his house where he noticed his father entering it and closing the door behind him. Taking a quick decision, he looked up in the sky to find the dragons and their riders looking the other way, and took a run for it. His chest burned and breath quickened, but he managed to get inside without being noticed. He let out a deep breath, leaning against the front door with a sigh.
"Something wrong son?" Hiccup heard his father said. Even though he just saw him come here, he was still shocked out of his boot.
"Wrong? Nothing-Nothing is ever wrong!" Hiccup chuckled nervously, earning a frown from Stoick. "Fine," Hiccup gave up with a sigh, sitting down by the fire pit. "My friends are chasing me because they want me to get my hair cut," Stoick looked at him confused.
"Why is that a problem?" Hiccup sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"Cutting my hair isn't a problem, I was actually going to ask Gobber later, but you know how Astrid is with traditions," Stoick nodded, holding his belly as he remembered the taste of her drink two years ago. "And, you know, since it's tradition that the woman, or girl in this situation, does everything for the one she loves-
"She loves you?" Stoick asked, grinning widely.
"I think so, she is my girlfriend," Hiccup said, looking at him scared.
"GRANDBABIES! FINALLY! ODIN, I thought I had to meet up with you in Valhalla to make this happen!"
"What? We-We're not married!" Hiccup blushed madly.
"Not yet," Stoick said, wiggling his eyebrows. Hiccup blushed deeper, throwing a blanket over his father.
"Can we get back on topic now?" Stoick nodded, still smiling. "So, you know, since she's not exactly as good as doing traditions as she's with coming up with them," Stoick looked at him, nodding in agreement. "And now I'm running because she tries to cut my hair."
"Let me guess. You don't want her to cut your hair," Hiccup nodded, but his eyes widened when he noticed what he'd said.
"NO-I mean, no…It's not that. I just don't want to end up looking like Gobber," He blushed, looking down at his feet, playing with them. Stoick chuckled, nodding. There was an awkward silence until Stoick remembered the announcement earlier.
"I heard your speech earlier today," Stoick smiled like an idiot. Hiccup looked at him with wide eyes. He hadn't expected his father to have heard it, but then again, it is his village.
"Oh gods, I'm so sorry. I was going to tell you dad, really, but I got held up and-
"Hiccup," Stoick chuckled, kneeling down beside his son. He placed his hand on his shoulder, making Hiccup look at him. What he saw wasn't disappointment or disapproval like he had expected, no, the only thing he could see was his father's eyes shining with pride. "It's okay," He said softly. Hiccup looked at him, confusion screaming from his eyes. "In fact, it's better than okay!" Stoick said, grinning from ear to ear.
"It is?" Hiccup asked, a little unsure of what his father meant. How could his father be okay with it? He just made a decision that included the future of his father's people, without the real chief himself!
"Oh, I got so many ideas! We could get face paint, and better baskets-
"Woah, woah, woah, hang on a minute!" Hiccup said, trying to force his smile away but failed. He laughed at his father's childishness. "You're not mad?"
"Mad? Why would I be mad?" Stoick asked, losing his smile.
"Why shouldn't you be? I made a decision that should have been made with you! I'm not the chief!" Hiccup said, gesturing to Stoick's belt and cloak. It was traditional that the chiefs of Berk wore them to honor the legacy of chief's earlier on Berk.
"Listen Hiccup," Stoick cleared his throat. "I know you're not chief yet, but soon you will. You're almost on age for getting titled as chief and I'm almost off age. I don't know when I decide to retire, but when I do, you have to be ready to make such decisions not just for the people of Berk, but maybe for other islands as well!" Hiccup sighed, looking away from his father's eyes.
"But I don't want to be chief," he whispered, looking at the flames beside them. Stoick sighed.
"I'm sorry son. Unless you want Snotlout to take over for you, you're going to have to take the title after me," Hiccup looked up at his father who slowly stood up. "Now come on, let's get you that haircut," Stoick said, standing up. Hiccup looked at him with wide eyes, backing away.
"Not you too!" Hiccup groaned, running up the stairs before his father could push him out the door. He jumped out the window and landed outside, but regretted as soon as he heard a voice calling his name. Looking up he saw Astrid swooping down on Stormfly who got ready to grab him by his shoulders. Hiccup screamed, dodging the kidnappers and ran down the hill before disappearing behind the armory.
"He went down that way!" Astrid yelled to Snotlout, pointing behind the armory. Snotlout nodded and steered Hookfang down with an evil smirk. "AND DON'T SET THE BUILDING ON FIRE!" Astrid called out before taking another turn. Snotlout groaned, stopping Hookfang from firing. He caught eye of Hiccup's prosthetic around the corner, soon to be followed by a sound. Hookfang rounded the corner to find Hiccup jumping on top a wheelbarrow before jumping up on a roof top, heading towards the twins.
"HE'S HEADING YOUR WAY BABE!" Snotlout smiled, winking at her from the distance.
Hiccup almost lost balance while laughing at the so called 'romance' between the two.
"Got him!" Ruffnut yelled, concentrating on steering her dragon. Belch bumped into her side, making her push Tuffnut off the saddle. The three, including Barf and Belch, crash landed on the ground below the house Tuffnut was thrown to.
"THAT WAS AWESOME!" Hiccup heard Tuffnut yelled before he fell off the roof, landing on Ruffnut.
"Get off of me!" Ruffnut yelled at her brother, pushing him away, and once again, the two started fighting. Hiccup jumped off the roof, landing safe and sound on the ground, just in time to get away from Hookfang's claws. He let out a deep breath, hearing another crash landing, followed by an 'oof'. He looked to his side, finding Snotlout and Hookfang in a pile of apples.
Hiccup looked around himself. Snotlout and Hookfang were sprawled on the ground and the same for the twins. It looked like a mess, but the villagers didn't seem to mind. They were watching the academy trying catch their acting chief. It was indeed entertaining.
"Looks like we've got another way of blowing off some steam!" Fishlegs said, pointing to the crowd. Hiccup nodded, not having noticed he stood right behind him until he felt huge arms wrap around his chest.
"Take his leg!" Fishlegs shouted, struggling to keep Hiccup still. Hiccup trashed, trying to get away. This was what he had feared. That this moment would come. This was it, Hiccup thought, but that didn't stop him. He managed to push Fishlegs off of him before he began running away.
"Haha!" Hiccup laughed, running away again. He heard someone screaming, and turned around just in time to find Ruff and Tuff jumping on him. The three fell to the ground with a harsh thud. Hiccup kicked, pushing himself up with the two still on him but felt someone unstrap his leg. The twins let go of him and Hiccup sighed, feeling defeated. "Okay, okay, you got me," He flipped over to his side, leaning on his hands. Looking up, he found Gobber holding his prosthetic and Astrid standing beside him holding a scissor in her left hand and a comb in the other.
Toothless nudged his side, helping him up on his back. Hiccup leaned down, as they followed Astrid and Gobber to the forge, and whispered, "Can you get me out of here?" Toothless snorted, shaking his head. "Aren't you supposed to be the loyal one here?" Hiccup groaned, lying back in the saddle. He felt himself getting lifted off the saddle with a pair of huge hands and put down in a chair.
Astrid smiled, leaning down to Hiccup's ear.
"Now stay still or you'll never get your leg back," Hiccup sighed, laying his hands in his lap as he waited for her to begin. He could hear Gobber giving her advices by the other side of his head. Astrid tried out the scissors, sending shivers down Hiccup's spine, and began cutting. Hiccup closed his eyes as she moved in front of him. Each cut send shivers down his spine and he couldn't help but shudder. Though, each time he did, Astrid slapped his shoulder. "And you're finished!" Hiccup squeezed his eyes shut, showing her he didn't want to look.
"Do I dare open my eyes?" He could practically feel Astrid roll her eyes.
"Don't be such a baby," Hiccup sighed and opened his eyes, looking into the mirror in front of him.
"Wow," He breathed out, holding up the mirror as he moved his head to the side to examine his new hairstyle. It was shaggier than usual, the darker parts shadowing the lighter hair color perfectly. "This is amazing," Hiccup said, smiling like an idiot up at her. "Thank you," She smiled, pecking his cheek before kneeling down next to him. She grabbed a lock of his hair behind his right ear. "What are you doing?"
"Giving it a last touch," Astrid smiled, tying the braid before starting on the next. Hiccup took up the mirror and looked at the two braids she finished.
"You know two braids means bad luck if you're not around right?" Hiccup gulped. He hadn't noticed everyone else but Toothless and Stormfly had left.
"That's why I'll always be with you," She smiled, giving him back his prosthetic. He bent down to strap it down, taking a few short glances up at her.
"SO that means you'll stay with me while I'm chiefing, bathing later and also as I make my new leg?" Astrid blushed at the thought of watching Hiccup bath, though she had already seen half of it.
"Not while you're bathing –wait, new leg? What's wrong with this one?" Astrid asked, pointing down at his prosthetic.
"It's getting too small. I barely keep myself from falling while I run," Astrid nodded in understanding. Hiccup ruffled his hair with a bent head to remove the last loose locks of hair.
"Then I guess I'll be staying with you later to make sure you don't burn yourself," She smiled before walking away to be with the others. Hiccup sighed and went over to his father, with Toothless trailing behind, getting ready for another day of acting chief.