Chapter 2: The New Vikings

Its two years after Hiccup lost his leg and had actually grown into the fact that he doesn't have it anymore. His father had also gained great respect for him but still has issues with wanting to control him, to an extent. Just recently Hiccup was told that he is to take over the village but that was the last thing that he wanted right now. One plus however is that his father is helping him with a few things. Well, actually it's his father telling Gobber to help Hiccup with certain things while he prepares to step down as chieftain.

Now Hiccup is walking down the steps from his room to head to the blacksmith building to do the one thing that he loves to do and to finish a little something for the love of his life. It had started raining not that it is too big of a surprise as it had been raining for the past week but Hiccup would like to be able to actually walk normally without worrying about slipping. He just wanted to get to the shop before he catches a cold. He had made it almost all the way down the steps when he slipped but was caught. "I gotcha Hiccup." Hiccup loved the voice but more then that, the person that owns the voice. "You should really be more careful walking down the steps Hiccup. The last thing we need is for you to injure your other leg or worse." Astrid smiled helping Hiccup down the rest of the steps while teasing him. "Don't want to lose our soon to be Chieftain before he gets the chance."

"Astrid." Hiccup said frustrated but quickly calmed down. "You know how I feel about being Chief. I really don't want to be." Hiccup and Astrid reached the bottom of the steps and Astrid let go and then Hiccup turned to her. "I know what my father wants but I don't. Besides Astrid, what good am I if I can't go outside most the time without slipping down steps. I'm just not good enough to rule the village. Now of course we have some Vikings coming from I don't know where to trade with us and I have to be the one to help make the trade. Why can't my father just understand how I feel about it?" Hiccup said and then sat on a bench.

"Hiccup." Astrid said simply and then gently grabbed onto Hiccups face with both her hands. Each hand on one side of his face and then looked softly at him. "I know how you feel Hiccup and I don't want to have your path laid out for you, after all, we all know how impossible that is to do." Hiccup and Astrid giggled a bit and then Astrid gave him a quick peck on his lips and then let go. "You're the only son he has though Hiccup, what is he supposed to do?" Astrid then sat down next to Hiccup.

Hiccup frowned, he knew that trying to avoid it is impossible and after what his father is sort of helping him with, he just doesn't have the heart to try and avoid it. "Astrid, I…I just don't know what to do or even what to think right now." Hiccup then stood up and started walking away leaving Astrid on the bench. 'Who am I kidding?' Hiccup thought.

"Hiccup." Astrid said softly watching the downtrodden Viking walk away; at least he surely looked downtrodden. Astrid had to admit that she feels bad for him, she knew him better then anyone, maybe even his own father but what could she do. She knew that Hiccup is destined to be Chieftain and she can't change that no matter how much she wanted to. 'Believe me Hiccup, I may not know what it's like to not have any control but I'll do my best to help.' Astrid stood up and then walked away soaked and cold.

Hiccup soon arrived at the blacksmith to meet Gobber skillfully doing the things he does best with one bad hand and leg. "Hey Gobber." Hiccup spoke with a most saddened voice and Gobber knew why and knew not to talk about it. "So Gobber, how is the little project going?" Hiccup asked as Gobber dropped what he was doing, literally. "Gobber, why is it that you always literally drop what you're doing?" Hiccup laughed slightly.

"Ay, that's why. Ya cheer up when ay do." Gobber said with a large smile revealing his stone tooth. "As fer ya precious trinket, its goin fine." Gobber said lifting up the round object with no center to it. "Ay think Astrid will like it with a few more little things added to it." Gobber said putting down the object.

"Thanks Gobber, However I worry a bit about a few things." Hiccup sat down on a stool, bowed his head, and covered his face as water from his hair started running down his hands. "Everyone knows her father, he wouldn't let me." Hiccup mumbled into his hands.

Gobber could see the sadness in his eyes long before he covered his face and knew what young Hiccup is thinking. "Don't ya worry, ya father will do what he can. He knows ya love her." Gobber could see that it didn't help the poor Viking any and just sighed. "Ok Hiccup, ya go and be with ya dragon and relax fer a bit." Gobber offered and saw Hiccup raise his head.

"You sure Gobber?" Gobber simply nodded and then Hiccup gave the bulky Viking a hug and walked off. He had something else in mind however, at least until he ran into Ruffnut. Hiccup looked around and didn't see Tuffnut anywhere which confused him. "Hey, where's Tuffnut?" Hiccup asked.

"I had to restrain him a bit." Hiccup folded his arms and then started to tap his foot while looking at Ruffnut suspiciously. "He is fine Hiccup, as long as he doesn't struggle." Ruffnut said.

"Where is he?" Hiccup really didn't want to deal with this right now. He does have more important stuff to do then to save Tuffnut from his sisters' wrath. The two walked toward the cliff nearest Tuffnut's and Ruffnut's house and looked over. "You tied him up and threw him over the cliff to hang there." Ruffnut just smiled and shrugged. "Forget it." Hiccup said and then grabbed onto the rope which startled Tuffnut.

"Oh Hiccup, thank you for the help. My sister has gone crazy." Tuffnut said as Hiccup pulled him up.

"I would ask what happened but I have some more important matters to deal with." Hiccup said as he untied Tuffnut and then headed toward the Hofferson house. Once he reached the house, he could hear arguing. "Maybe I'll do this later when things are less hostile." Hiccup then noticed some items unknown to the island. "These are southern Viking items. I had better go find Astrid." Hiccup then turned around and started walking toward the area that both he and Astrid know very well. He reached the area where he had first found Toothless and looked over the edge to see if he could find Astrid. When he did, he quickly turned his head and backed away. "Bathing in the lake, I guess I can't blame her." Just then he was picked up by the collar. "May I help you?" Hiccup said struggling to get free from the burly Viking.

"You spying on the bathing girl." The Viking asked but didn't give Hiccup time to explain. Quickly Hiccup was punched in the stomach and then thrown to the ground. "It's not nice to spy on people." The Viking said.

"I don't know who you are but it's not nice to hit people either." Hiccup said trying to catch his breath after being punched.

"A smart mouth huh?" The Viking then picked Hiccup up and then punched him again but in the face. "Don't mess with southern Vikings half pint." The Viking then walked away.

Hiccup watched as the Viking walked away. 'At least he didn't point to all of me like most do. I must say that half pint is a nice change of pace.' Hiccup joked wiping away blood from his nose. Then he felt a sharp pain shoot through his leg with the prosthetic leg. He looked down and noticed that the prosthetic had actually bent and almost ripped off. 'Not what I need right now.' Hiccup breathed as he slowly blacked out.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews and please continue to review and I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thanks again.