AN: It's been a while, but here it is! Sorry for it being so late. Sometimes I forget my ff . net account exists lmao.

"Because, evidently, some of ye are behind, we're gonna take a step back!" Gobber announced while idly picking his teeth with his hook-hand, "Every one of ye babies say 'ello! Welcome back–", and with his free hand, he pulled a very familiar lever down, "The Gronckle."

Snotlout blinked slowly, before a smirk wormed its way across his face, "Ha! Again? Really, Gobber, you're losing your– AH! "

Gobber yawned boredly, "Evidently not. Now remember lads and lasses! Pay attention ta yer surroundings! Or, ya know, the Gronckle gets dinner early."

"I know I've said this before, but your teaching methods are really, really questionable!" Fishlegs shrieked and ducked from a shot of lava.

"Ha…" Hiccup grimaced, "Still waiting on that doctor…"

"Hiccup, get your head in the game!" Astrid growled, suddenly up in Hiccup's face.

"Astrid! Hi– Ack! "

The blonde girl had punched him in the stomach with the butt of her axe (which he made, by the way–how rude) and drove him away with another subsequent kick to the chest. He flew a good four or so ells away, well out of the Gronckle's range.

Well… Hiccup sighed, and sat in the darkest part of the arena he could. Could be worse.

He didn't want to be here.

The Gronckle spewed lava across the ground, nearly burning the twins' boots. Tuffnut yelped and hopped out of the way, heartlessly leaving his sister to its mercy.

"Seriously Tuff?!" Ruffnut yelled, pulling up her shield and blocking a blast, "I thought we were on the same side!"

"Sorry sister." Tuffnut intoned grimly, twirling his mace, "It's every man for himself here."

"I'm a woman– "

"Ruffnut, duck !"

Ruffnut bit back a curse and fell forward on top of her brother in a haphazard heap of limbs and metal with a sound that was rather obvious to the giant, lava-spewing dragon that was currently in pursuit of their lives.

"Ruffnut get off me!" Tuffnut screeched, attempting to kick her off.

"And whose fault is it that I'm even on you to begin with?!" Ruffnut yelled, spitefully pressing the heel of her palm into her brother's face.

"Sh –mmph! "

Snotlout groaned, and started pulling Ruffnut off of Tuffnut, "Would you two muttonheads shut up and get moving already?! That dragon is going to be on our tails at any moment!"

"Well, technically humans don't have tails," Tuffnut said once Ruffnut was off him, "So… maybe it would be on our behinds? Our butts? Haha, the dragon's going to chase our–"

" Tuffnut!"

"Okay! Jeez! I'm moving!" Tuffnut exclaimed, before muttering something unintelligible (but no doubt insulting).

Eventually, the situation found itself having Hiccup alone on one side of the ring, Astrid with Snotlout about 6 or so ells away, and Fishlegs with the twins by the shield racks. All with the Gronckle twitching with rage in the middle.

"Uh, guys?" Fishlegs called out nervously, "Any ideas?"

Tuffnut huffed and gave a little half-smirk, "I have one. How about some human bait?"

Ruffnut snickered and pushed Fishlegs into the ring. Fishlegs squawked and lost his balance for a split second, running right into the dragon's behind.

The dragon wasn't very happy.

Fishlegs tensed. The Gronckle turned around slowly, murderous rage shining through the tiny slits it had for eyes, and Fishlegs nearly wetted himself. "Uh…" he gulped, "Nice… dragon? P-Please don't kill me– agh! " The dragon cut him off with a chomp to the air where his head once was.

"I promise I'm not tasty, dragon!" Fishlegs whimpered, running around the ring, "S-Snotlout's tastier!"

" EXCUSE ME?!"

The Gronckle seemed to falter for a moment, a strange expression passing over its eyes, before the accustomed rage returned.

"Yeah! Snotlout's tastier!" Fishlegs vehemently added on, taking the slight change in expression the wrong way, "I promise! Way tastier! Please spare me! " The Gronckle seemed to huff before landing and stalking toward the giant teen dangerously.

For every step Fishlegs backed up, the dragon took two forward, and it kept on going until Fishlegs found himself with his back against the wall. "N-Nice dragon…" Fishlegs whimpered.

The Gronckle chuffed and seemed to smile meanly before taking to the air again, readying itself for another lava blast.

I'm a goner, aren't I? Fishlegs thought morosely as a dark glow built in the back of the dragon's throat, I have only one regret–

His train of thought derailed with Astrid's screech. Before he knew it, the blonde girl's axe was buried into the Gronckle's back, just shy of the wings, and she hung on.

The dragon screeched, and dropped to the ground, immediately jumping around violently trying to get the girl off.

Astrid but her lip and hung on.

The dragon roared, and for a split second, an expression that wasn't rage flitted across its face, and Fishlegs stopped in his tracks.

That…

Is that Fear…?

But before he could look again, the dragon jumped and smashed into a wall, digging Astrid and her axe deeper into its body. It growled again, three pulsing sounds of pain and took to the air.

Hiccup's eyes widened. That's risky.

Astrid's axe was already situated dangerously close to her wings, and if it came loose because of the wing movement… The wing would be sliced clean off.

Although… Hiccup's eyes narrowed, The Gronckle knows that… doesn't she? She just… She's…

Desperate.

Astrid yelled and swung back and forth, off the side of the Gronckle's back, holding on only by the grace of the Gods and Hiccup's masterful forgery of her axe.

Oh no. Fishlegs watched, panic rising at the back of his throat, If this continues…

The axe shifted, and the dragon's eyes blew open wide. Then, the axe fell, bringing the dragon along with it.

A cloud of dust exploded outward from the point of impact, blurring everyone's vision of the blonde Viking girl and the dragon. Then, Astrid hobbled out of the dust cloud, a vacant look in her eyes, and axe covered in blood.

No one knew what to say.

"So…" Ruffnut started hesitantly, "Did you… you know…" she mimed a killing motion, and shrugged.

Astrid scoffed, "No. That's not my honor. Not yet." she looked away, her bangs working to cover her eyes.

Hiccup tilted his head. That's strange . If he didn't know any better, he'd say Astrid almost looked… shaken .

"Good job, ye tiny beans, all of ye!" Gobber announced, walking into the arena and interrupting Hiccup's train of thought at the same time, "Ye've all gotten quite good a' dodging blasts."

"Yeah," Snotlout muttered, "I wonder whose fault that is."

Gobber glared at Snotlout, and the dark-haired teen shut his mouth with an audible click. "Ye know." Gobber started slowly, "I've seen many a Viking die on the field–many a Viking leagues better than ye because they weren't able ta move in time an' they got scorched instead. I do wha' I do ta help ye. Ye'd do well ta remember that."

Snotlout shrunk in on himself and nodded, "Yes, sir."

Gobber's expression brightened, "Tha's more like it! Now rest up, laddies and lassies! An' don't forget ta study!"

A multitude of groans erupted from the crowd gathered in front of Gobber, and the one-armed, one-legged Viking laughed, "Bah! Just do what I tell ya!"

The teens groaned and walked out of the arena. Fishlegs stayed. He didn't know why. It's not that he felt bad. I mean, come on. Feeling guilt…? For a dragon…?

How absurd.

He still stayed. He remained until the dust cloud cleared and watched as Gobber walked the dragon back to its cage. The Gronckle looked… not angry. Not anymore. Now it seemed more…

The dragon moaned pitifully, and Fishlegs watched as Gobber wordlessly pushed it into the cage.

Sad .

Fishlegs's gaze trailed lower, to the Gronckle's left wing. It was torn, nearly sliced off by Astrid's axe. It wouldn't be flying anytime soon.

Fishlegs felt like he was going to be sick.

There was so much blood

But Fishlegs just couldn't look away.

Drip.

Drip.

D-d-d-d-drrrrrrip .

"Fishlegs?"

Fishlegs snapped back to attention, and turned in the direction of the voice. It was Hiccup.

"H-Hiccup." Fishlegs acknowledged, "What do you need?"

Hiccup grabbed the giant teen's arm and pulled him in the direction of the exit, "Come on. I need your help with studying. I heard you read the dragon manual 7 times?"

Fishlegs nodded, "Yeah! There's this dragon that can shoot boiling water at its victims–"

"The Scauldron," Hiccup interrupted, a glint of amusement in his eyes, "I know. You told me."

Fishlegs's eyes widened in surprise, "I did? When?"

Hiccup shrugged, and pressed the palm of his hand to Fishlegs's back, "A long time ago." he said, guiding the giant teen to the exit, "But I think our conversation was interrupted at a point and you couldn't tell me everything about it. So…"

Fishlegs stopped, "Wait, seriously?" excitement bubbled up in the back of his mind, "You're actually willing to listen to me?!"

Hiccup chuckled, "Of course! You're interesting to talk with, Fishlegs." he said sincerely.

Fishlegs smiled widely for a moment, before his face crumpled in shame.

"Fishlegs?" Hiccup tilted his head, "What's wrong?"

"Hiccup." Fishlegs breathed, "I am so, so sorry." he said, "I'm so sorry that I left you alone all these years, I'm so sorry for not being your friend. For making you be alone. I'm sorry."

Hiccup's face went blank for a few moments, and then he laughed, although in an outsider's eye, it would seem forced, "It's fine, Fishlegs. Be my friend now, and I'll forgive you for everything that happened back then."

Fishlegs smiled timidly, and continued talking, "So anyways, they say the Scauldron's hot water blast is so strong, it can rip the scales right off a Screaming Death!"

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, really!"

"And what's a Screaming Death? I've only ever heard of a Whispering Death."

"Oh, a Screaming Death is…"

The two continued talking all the way to the forge. By the time they made it there, the light of the sun was just about setting over the horizon, and the cloud front seemed to be rolling in. Hiccup hummed and looked up at the sky. "Well, that's that, eh?" he turned to Fishlegs and smiled, "Nice talk, Fishlegs. We should do this more often."

"Yeah, we should!" Fishlegs affirmed, practically vibrating in place.

"Ha…" Hiccup looked away awkwardly, "See you tomorrow, then… I guess."

"Yep!" Fishlegs grinned, and held out a hand, "See you!" then, he turned around and walked away.

Hiccup sighed. Odd. he walked into the forge, picking up random materials and the tailfin he'd been working on last night, Of all the times to say sorry, he chose now… Why now?

Hiccup opened the tailfin and poked his finger through one of the holes on the fabric. He thought back to the arena. It was so weird. The Gronckle clearly had one shot left. She could've just blasted and then been done. So, why didn't she?

Just like Toothless , Hiccup's mind supplied, and Hiccup frowned at the thought. But that's not like Toothless. This is a Gronckle. And this happened with Fishlegs. Why Fishlegs?

It was just… so… wei–

"Fishbone!"

Hiccup jolted and shoved all his work under his workbench. "Snotlout! Hey! Snotlout! Hi! Snotlout– What in the name of Thor are you doing here?!"

Snotlout strolled into the forge like he owned it, carelessly touching weapons, and looking at blueprints– wait a second–

"Snotlout!" Hiccup clunkily moved himself in between Snotlout's eyes and the blueprints for Toothless's tailfin , "What are you doing here?"

Snotlout growled slightly, and looked off to the side, "I want one of your maps." he muttered.

"I'm sorry?"

"I said ' I want one of your maps '." Snotlout repeated, slower and louder, "God, you're so stupid."

Hiccup's smile twitched, "Why do you want one of my maps?" he questioned, pushing down the thoughts of, The audacity of this guy–

Snotlout hesitated. Hiccup narrowed his eyes. Now this was interesting.

"I need to pick Elderberries." he said finally.

"What? No elaboration?" Hiccup prompted, "You realize I spend time working on these maps, right? If I give one to you without a good reason that's all that work gone ."

For all that Snotlout had changed, there was one thing that remained consistent, that stubbornly hung on to his original character.

He respected time.

Hiccup's question was largely rhetorical. He knew that Snotlout knew that he had spent hours upon hours of drawing those maps (he was there for the first draft, all those years ago), although the part of it that wasn't rhetorical was directed specifically at the reason Snotlout wanted the map to begin with.

Snotlout recognized that.

"I'm not asking for your map." Snotlout defended carefully, and Hiccup raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I'm serious! I just need to look at it for a second."

Hiccup stifled a curse with a beatific smile, "Of course. Give me a moment. I'm going to just–" Hiccup slid off to the side and opened a large chest filled to the brim with scrolls and loose papers floating around in a chaotic mess, "–look through all this ."

Snotlout made a noise of affirmation, not even bothering to look twice.

Hiccup hummed a jaunty tune as he shuffled through the random scrolls and papers he kept in the chest. Snotlout kept to his silence as he scoped out Hiccup's place in the forge. Then, the dark-haired teen recognized something. He picked the large sheet of paper up between the ends of his fingers and called out, "Hiccup. Why are you making a tailfin?"

Hiccup yelped and fell into the chest. "What? What tailfin? I don't know what you're talking about."

Snotlout stared at him, unimpressed, "Hiccup, contrary to popular belief, I'm not an idiot. This is a tailfin," more specifically, a tailfin for that stupid drawing you did, Snotlout mentally added on, "Care to explain?"

Hiccup stammered, "Uh, it's a project! I've been working on!"

"For what, exactly?" Snotlout pressured, Perhaps that missing dragon tailfin on that stupid drawing…? But why?

Hiccup laughed awkwardly and his eyes darted around, "It's a new project of mine!" he repeated.

"Yes, I heard you the first time." Snotlout rolled his eyes and shook the paper in front of him for a emphasis, "For what, though?"

Hiccup scrunched his eyes shut, "Okay! You've caught me! I'm working on a Dragon Killing machine! I was thinking, so, see how the thingy looks like a dragon, right? I'm trying to make a mechanical dragon so the other dragons won't attack us! Then we can just, haha, kill them without suspicion! Less death!"

Snotlout nodded slowly, his eyebrows now fully furrowed, "Okay, but then why are you starting from the tailfin?"

Hiccup felt a drop of sweat track its way down the back of his neck, "Is there a rule against me starting from a tailfin?" he countered.

Snotlout pinned Hiccup with a blank stare. Hiccup met it valiantly. Then, Snotlout turned that expressionless gaze away from him, "Sure, whatever. Thought it wouldn't be as efficient, though." he muttered, Each to their own, I guess.

Hiccup had to stop himself from straight-up laughing in relief. "Hey, Snotlout," he called out, "The map."

Snotlout walked over and gingerly took the map from Hiccup's hands. He unfurled it and gave it a long once-over, before handing it back. "What?" Hiccup asked, "That's it?"

"Yeah." Snotlout grunted, trudging out of the forge, "That's it."

Hiccup paused, before a sudden realization hit. I may never get this chance again. "Hey Snotlout! Wait up! I want to go with you!"

Snotlout froze, "You what." he mimicked flatly.

"I want to go with you!" Hiccup repeated, now at Snotlout's side.

Snotlout laughed derisively, "Absolutely not, you fishbone. I'd be spending and wasting more time waiting for you to catch up with me rather than actually picking some damn Elderberries."

Hiccup huffed out a laugh, "Firstly, you'd actually wait for me? Awww –Secondly, allow me to rephrase my earlier statement. I am coming with you to pick Elderberries, and you aren't going to stop me!"

Snotlout snorted, "Oh really?"

"Yes, really."

"And what's stopping me from stopping you?"

Hiccup grinned, and struck a pose, "All of… this glorious Viking-ness!"

Snotlout took one look at Hiccup and scoffed, "I'm not saving you if you die."

Hiccup grinned, "Great!"

IN THE FOREST—

"So." Hiccup started awkwardly, kicking a rock on the path, "Is there a reason you're picking Elderberries this… uh, close to winter?"

Snotlout stopped walking and glared at Hiccup, "Fishbone," he hissed, "This is the eighth time in five minutes that you've asked me that question, and we've barely entered the forest. I am not telling you! " he crossed his arms and smacked a branch, "So, shut up. Fishbone." he muttered.

"Wow." Hiccup said dryly, "So eloquent, Snotlout."

Snotlout growled wordlessly.

"Really, the peak of intelligence–"

"Shut up , Hiccup."

"Snotlout–"

Thunder boomed from the clouds. The two cousins looked up to the sky in unison. A drop pricked the tip of Snotlout's nose.

"Oh the Gods hate us." Hiccup said flatly.

"Nope. Just Thor." Snotlout grumbled, walking over to a tree, laying back against it, and tipping his Viking helmet to cover his eyes.

Hiccup stared at Snotlout incredulously, "You can't seriously be thinking of napping at a time like this."

"Well, are you going to talk Thor out of striking us with lightning?" Snotlout snapped, eyes still covered, "Didn't think so."

I swear. Hiccup felt his temper fraying at the ends as the slight drizzle really turned into a pour. This guy is so–

Hiccup swallowed his curses and forced a smile, "You realize we have to make a shelter, right?"

Snotlout shrugged, "Shelters are for the weak. Jorgensons aren't weak."

Hiccup felt his eyebrow twitch. "Snotlout…"

Snotlout sighed and took off his helmet, "Look, Hiccup," he began, "If you want to make your sissy shelter or whatever, that's fine by me! But I'm not helping. At all."

A fat raindrop plopped onto Hiccup's scalp, dispersing into multiple rivulets that trailed down the sides of his skull uncomfortably. The dying rays of the sun were all but invisible under the thick cloud cover–a glaring signal of the oncoming winter.

"Snotlout, it's going to be dark soon." Hiccup tried.

Snotlout shrugged and tipped his helmet over his eyes again.

" Snotlout ." Hiccup hissed in frustration, rubbing the cold rainwater from his eyes, "It is not weak to build a shelter! It's reasonable ."

Snotlout shifted slightly, and although his eyes were covered, Hiccup could feel the skeptical look his cousin was shooting him.

"No one will know about it." Hiccup assured.

His statement was punctuated with another roll of thunder, and that was when Hiccup knew he had Snotlout in his palm.

"Fine." Snotlout got up and dusted himself off, "This'd better be worth it."

The two worked like a well-oiled machine, fast and efficient. If it were anyone else, Hiccup doubted the ordeal could've gone as fast as it did. Of course, more than one time, Hiccup found himself weighing the pros and the cons of calling Toothless, if only to have someone who was already friends with him… But…

It's too early . HIccup mused, and I have no idea how either of them would react.

And, besides, it'd been a long time since he'd ever actually spent time alone with Snotlout. Not since they were 6 or 7, at least. They always had at least one person watching over them since. Most of the time, it was either Gobber or Snotlout's dad, and the difference between the two was like day and night.

Where Gobber was tolerant and playful, Spitelout was harsh and unforgiving. Where Gobber would make peace, Spitelout would encourage–encourage Snotlout to make war. Hiccup never understood that man's vendetta against him–although he knew there was a slight… dispute in the chieftainship between the Jorgenson family and the Haddock family a couple decades ago.

The original chieftain family of Berk died out, their only heir fleeing the island for some unknown, uncited reason. As a result, the three most prominent families gathered together to "discuss" which one would be the next Chief.

The Hoffersons.

The Jorgensons.

The Haddocks.

The Hofferson family immediately opted out, instead preferring to stay a close advisor to the Chief, whoever it may be. Now that Hiccup thought about it, it was quite a smart choice. No matter what the Hoffersons did, they would always have the most significant power after the chief, on Berk.

( Very smart… )

So then it came down to the Jorgensons and the Haddocks. Ultimately, it boiled down into a duel, and when it came to physical (and mental) prowess, the Jorgensons would always lose against the Haddocks.

However, while the whole political mess should've been cleaned up there, it… didn't . The Jorgenson clan head really wanted to have a shot at the Chiefdom, so he ended up striking a deal with the Haddock clan head.

If the Haddock clan ever spawned someone worthless, someone useless, someone who was a bad leader, the Jorgensons would take charge. The Jorgensons would always be next in line for the Chiefdom.

From then on, the Jorgensons and the Haddocks were always in close contact with one another, and with Stoick and Spitelout being sworn brothers in battle and bond, it was expected that Snotlout and Hiccup were just as close. (Honorary cousins, in fact!)

However, Snotlout was a Viking.

Snotlout was strong .

Hiccup… while he was a Viking (and even that was being put to the test nowadays), he was also a fishbone .

A weakling.

It was a stretch, one that came partially from the pressure he knew Spitelout put on Snotlout, but he thought Spitelout was aiming to steal the Chiefdom from the Haddock family and transfer it over to the Jorgenson family through Snotlout. After all, it wasn't like Hiccup seemed to be much of a… competition .

Insulting, but at least it would explain why Snotlout acts strange around his father. It's like he's walking on Nadder spikes over a pit of lava.

"What are you thinking?" Snotlout asked, suddenly, and Hiccup jolted.

"What do you mean?"

"That look on your face," Snotlout twisted his face as if to mimic Hiccup's expression, though he was a ways off. "You're either thinking of something hilarious or painful."

Hiccup chuckled for a moment, before speaking, "It's been a long time, you know." He paused, then elaborated, "A long time since we've actually spent any quality time together."

Snotlout's face went from pensive to disgusted, "Seriously? Quality time? We are literally being pelted by Thor!" Snotlout waved out a hand, and as if to punctuate his statement, a roll of thunder sounded out.

"True." Hiccup acquiesced, "Each to their own, then, I suppose."

The shelter was finished.

Without further ado, Snotlout waltzed in and went back to his nap.

Hiccup hummed, "You know." he started, fully aware that Snotlout was half-ignoring him. (But that was fine, because he wouldn't be ignoring Hiccup after this) "I… miss you."

Snotlout stilled.

Hiccup had his attention.

"I miss when we were friends, you know." Hiccup continued, desperately using all the newfound confidence being friends with a Night Fury gave him, "I miss when we talked freely. I miss when we were friends–"

"Shut up , Hiccup." Snotlout interrupted, a strange undertone to his voice, "It's not happening. The only way we're going to ever be associated with each other is through the Chiefdom. And we aren't friends." Not anymore .

Hiccup winced. I pushed too far. Too fast.

Wordlessly, he walked over and sat down beside the tree, a safe distance away from Snotlout, who was taking deep breaths, as if to calm himself (as if to prevent tears). He took off his vest and curled the warm fur around him in a shoddy mimicry of Toothless's warm scales.

Before he nodded off, Hiccup forced out one last thing– "I would give up the Chiefdom, if it meant you could be my friend once more."

He fell asleep before he could hear or see Snotlout's response.

O~O

"I would give up the Chiefdom, if it meant you could be my friend once more."

And then Hiccup nodded off.

Snotlout felt numb.

He didn't know how to feel.

So many things had been building up to his mind before this, he didn't know what to say–or do. A part of him wanted to scream.

Another wanted to yell.

( Perhaps a part of him wanted to run to Hiccup, tell him everything, knowing Hiccup would listen unbiased, insightful, and sympathetic)

In the end, none of them succeeded. Snotlout just stared ahead blankly, wondering why he came out to begin with.

None of this would've happened if I just hadn't made that stupid Elderberry soup . He mused, Stupid, Snotlout, stupid. I should've…

Elderberries were an Autumn crop.

Any that he found were most certainly going to be either overripe or rotting. (It was so close to Winter…)

When he was making the soup to begin with, he had known–he had known what he was getting into. Snotlout shouldn't have forgotten.

This time away from his father–away from the discipline and reminders of Jorgenson nobility and perfection had softened him.

( It made him associate with weakness–

With Hiccup. )

He was a failure of a son.

He needed to go.

Now.

An ell is a Viking unit of measurement that generally equates to about 1.25 yards (1.143 meters).