Hi guys,

Long time, no see. I know I must not have updated in a month. So sorry for that :( D: Anyways, Feels great to be back.

Cressida Crowell (forgive me for the wrong spelling) and DreamWorks own HTTYD movies and series... (I told that already, didn't I?)

Also a request: check out my other HTTYD story TDRD! I think you'll like it.

Let's get on with the chapter, shall we?

It was relieving to see the tiny island of Berk after a week of weariness. Stoick thought so, as he saw how his fellow Vikings let out sighs of relief and jubilance at seeing their island, lit up by the evening sun. The island just never ceased to amaze him, although it was the reason of being the living chief that restrained him from leaving that island. He had decided to leave the island after his nephew, Snotlout Jorgensen, became the chief. He never approved of that boy but he was the only one who, by birthright, could claim the chieftainship. If it were his way, Astrid the "Fearless" Hofferson would be chosen as the chief.

It wasn't that only men could be chiefs or anything. Besides, wasn't, Big-Boobied Bertha, his rival, a lady chief on the edges of the archipelago, a chief? Astrid, by honour, was wise, strategic and careful in everything she did. Also she was fearless and the one to be feared, hence the title, in spite of her family being in the bad times because of their uncle Finn "fearless" Hofferson's sudden inexcusable demise at the hands of the infamous flightmare.

The island village was set on a cliff that sloped gently until it came to a sheer drop from where the young adults and the teens loved to jump off. Stoick never discouraged them; instead he beamed in joy and acceptance as he saw them perform such a dangerous stunt. Mothers although hushed the children, why would they ever listen to them?

The village was simple with a plaza in the centre square with paths leading to different residences but the one that Stoick could see clearly from the ship was his own that, nearly fourteen years ago, was full of laughter always and lots of love. But now it was empty.

It hurt Stoick to remember those moments. He had become so harsh after that, to the villagers, to Gobber, to the traders and visitors. They had given him privacy after the incident but, were that enough?

No.

Stoick didn't know what to do. He didn't want to stare at his house so he just walked around the deck, encouraging his fellow comrades. Some of them patted him on the shoulder, although most of them were disheartened. The plan to find the Dragon's nest was futile.

Because of those Dragon Riders.

Where had they come from? Stoick shielded his eyes as he looked at the sky, supposing they'd followed the sole ship. But no. They had disappeared into thin air, vanishing as silently as they'd come.

And that dragon: Stoick would never forget the fear on his wife's face when she was just picked up from the house, one hand in the sharp, desperate claws of the beast, the other around a bundle, his baby boy-

Enough, he instructed himself. Strangely enough, he listened. No one spoke about that anymore. Not after he had silenced them all those years ago. The stunned faces of his friends and elders lay frozen in his mind. Without him realising, the ship rocked against the harbour, sending him into a jolt of surprise as he held the barriers of the ship. Someone tapped him on his shoulder,

"Stoick, ye alright?" he asked as his tongue rolled over his metal teeth he had hammered into place. Gobber stared at him through his eyelids. "Spacin' off a lot, of lately?"

"I am fine." Was the only reply he got as Stoick walked away and landed on the harbour, touching solid land for the first time in a week. The search hadn't gone far. They were just a week into it and WHAM! Dragon riders capsized his ship, although some of them said that a Nightfury rider had thrown them into the sea moments before the ship was capsized, thus saving their lives. Stoick didn't buy it. How could a dragon save lives if all they did was to kill? It just didn't make any sense. But if the dragon had a rider that controlled it, also was it possible to tame them? To rule over them in revenge of what they all did to Berk and mostly to him?

The teens, Astrid, Snotlout and Fishlegs came to help put away the things that had been saved but to be frank not much for them. They'd be free after a half an hour. They'd go home early and sleep in their mother's arms warm and cosy. Warm and cosy before they all started dragon training.

Each year, selected students were given training to fight dragons although the past batches taught it for free to their friends who couldn't make it to the finals. That was what Stoick wanted, for all the children to help others in need, if they ever needed help, without asking to help. That was one of the few things he had learnt over the course of his years as the chief of berk, to love each other as brothers. That was what kept berk so protected against the dragons and the outcasts. That was what other people saw as being stubborn but that, that was a gift Odin had given them and in his honour for the gift, they celebrated Snoggletog every winter. It was a time of fun and frolic when all the Vikings forgot their pains and worries, well, all except Stoick.

A Viking came to Stoick, "Stoick what're ye doin' here? Came so soon from the dragon nest?"

"A dragon raid, Spitelout." Stoick said, lifelessly. "Call for a meeting. There's more." Stoick moved past the confused Viking, who moved with unending agility impossible for a forty-year old. Spitelout gathered the others without a question. And Astrid walked to the chief.

"Sire, you came back early." It was a statement, hence Stoick didn't tell anything.

"Aye, lass," the chief sighed, putting his hand on the girl's shoulders in a fatherly way. "The dragons were ahead of us. Way ahead of us."

The girl grunted and turned around to walk away, when someone called her out.

"Astrid?" the gruff Scottish accent rang through the air.

"Yeah?"

"There's a meeting in the hall. I want you to attend It." the chief gave a sad smirk as he strode away, leaving the girl in confused happiness.

The whole hall was Chaos.

For a moment Astrid wondered why she had even come there. The chief was pacifying the crowd, raising his hands when the girl had slipped in.

"What about the dragon raids?" A robust Viking lady asked, pounding on the table.

"We have to wait for the winter to clear. We set out in spring." Stoick said.

"Then the dragon riders?" Spitelout asked; the others look at each other as Astrid perked up. Dragon riders?

"As for that, they attacked only when we were sailing towards the nest. They didn't follow us. If they had... Odin help us."

The hall fell silent, grasping the fact. Astrid heard a few whispers like, "... there were three of them..." and "... a Nightfury..." Astrid was stunned. A Nightfury? The unholy offspring of lightning and death itself?

The thought was so unbelievable and yet, believable. The chief never lied, so his words were taken seriously. And judging by his set jaw and frowned eyebrows, he too didn't see it as good news. Nobody did, for that fact.

Astrid looked around: the Vikings were rubbing their hands, some were shaking their heads, clearly not believing their chief, whatever the case was.

Astrid didn't know what to tell. The chief had called her for some reason. But what? The young lass stood up and pounded on the table in the back with her hand, gaining attention. "So what should we do sire?" She asked; the others began nodding their heads, acknowledging the lass. Stoick smiled: there was at least someone who would do something.

"We wait. As it is we can't fight and destroy dragons and if dragons and humans go together..." the chief grew silent.

"... It'll be terrible I tell ye." Gobber spoke scratching the table with his hooked hand, making a cacophony of sounds. Astrid shut her eyes, squeezing them in the hope that the sounds would reduce, but to no avail. It was only when Stoick slammed hard into the blacksmith did he shut up.

"This meeting's over. Get yourself out of here. I need some time to myself." Stoick spoke the last words silently as he turned around and walked into the back.

The silence of the hall was broken as fellow Vikings and Valkyries walked out, talking about the meetings and the dragon riders. The hall was empty in a matter of minutes except for her, Gobber and Stoick. The chief had his head in his hands as he shook it gently. Gobber made his way to the chief and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Gobber," the chief sighed and looked up. Astrid gasped and shut her mouth lest he heard it. Stoick had called her for some reason, and she had to know why.

"Chief," she stood up, her nose in the air as she strode towards him, her axe swinging in her hand, a habit Stoick admired about her.

"Astrid," the chief acknowledged her with a nod and she stood in front of him

"Astrid, me lass, what're ye doin' here?" Gobber smiled at her, a genuine smile she returned.

"Sire, why did you call me? You know this has nothing to do with Me." the girl pointed to the empty hall, indicating the short meeting that had taken place there some time ago.

"True," The chief sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "That's not the reason. You children are starting dragon training." The slow grin on her face was delighting Stoick. This wasn't something to be taken as a joke and Stoick was glad she wasn't taking it so. "Gods know how long it will take before another raid occurs. We need to prepare you, kids." Stoick spoke, looking at her in the eye. "And you'll tell them."

"Yes, chief." Astrid beamed. Stoick had chosen her! She, Astrid 'Fearless' Hofferson had been chosen! It was a matter of pride. Giving a small nod she rushed out into the night, the warmth of the sun gone as the chilly winds took its place.

She'd tell the others tomorrow. She had to sharpen her axe and then pull out her old shield. There were so many things to do. Telling them can wait. Her preparation cannot. Thinking so she ran into her house, slamming the door hard behind her, unaware that a certain dragon rider had indeed made his way to the village and was grinning under his mask, seeing her walk hurriedly.

"What do you reckon bud? We visit that place sometime this week?" Hiccup talked to his dragon, an offspring of Lightning and death itself, a term, the bookie Redcod had labelled for the dragon, the Nightfury itself.

The dragon warbled an I don't know...

"We'll see later, then." The rider shrugged as he geared up and the dragon flew out, silently.

Hiccup had snuck out and he didn't want his mother to see his spare bed empty. The others were sleeping in his bed.

It would be a few hours before he made it back, just in time for daybreak. But he had to make it fast, the sunlight was not going to wait for him.

Hope you guys found it fine. I am so sorry for the delay. I was in a bad mood because when we were watching HTTYD 2 on our TV when it came, my brother was taking a video of my first sight of Hiccup. It was so terrible! he sent me the video like a week ago. I was Blushing! I mean i was in a bad mood. i deleted the video but still... it was terrible!

Now tell me wouldn't you feel a billion things*tears are filling* if something like that happened to you. *I buried him* you get it don't you?

Well, that's my reason. *Please die if you are smirking* LOL *sighing* it doesn't matter, just a bunch of letters to bring out my inner hatred for my brother's blasphemous actions! *AArgh!*

I began writing as soon as I got a "Please update" request from one of my friends.

Thank you to you'll-know-who-I-am-talking-about.

Also the story starts from now; these few chapters were just starters, the main course is coming.

Sorry once again for the delay. Hope this chapter makes up for it :( :/ :) ;)