Chapter 1: A New Era

The shards of frozen blue ice splintered all over Berk, countless houses were decimated, the Great Hall was blocked off with a combination of ice and rock locking it off from the outside, and most importantly, people had died. Stoick The Vast had died. The Chief of Berk was given a private funeral before the New Chief, Hiccup Haddock III, was anointed with his friends and family beside him. The village all crowded around to watch as the 20-year-old stood up as their new leader, and the promise of a bright future for Berk was lit.

Hiccup POV:

As i stood in what remained of the middle of Berk, i had Astrid to my left, and Mom and Gobber to my right as the village celebrated my anointing as the new Chief. I stood and smiled as a feeling of relief washed over me as i watched my village, my people, celebrate the fact that I was their new leader. Their new Chief. And as soon as the relief came, so did the sadness and the anxiety. Dad was gone, the village was in tatters, what if i cant do this? What if I'm not ready? What if i screw things up? What if I...

My rampant thoughts were suddenly put on ice when i felt a small, soft hand slip into my own. I turned to my left and saw the most beautiful face smiling at me, almost as if just from my body language alone, my angel knew i needed her.

I smiled back before embracing her in a long, much needed hug, before detaching and looking out at the crowds of Vikings that looked to me for guidance in rebuilding our village, our lives.

"A-hem." I announced, letting everyone know i intended to speak to them all. Everyone talking or muttering immediately stopped, and looked on, eagerly awaiting for what i had to say.

"So, Dads... gone". I started. "He died to save me, to let me live on, and I promise that in my Fathers memory, i will always give my all to do right by all of you, to be the Chief you deserve, to lead you into our bright future, together. Things will be tough, the road ahead is clouded in uncertainty and mystery, with enemies potentially coming out of every corner of the map, but if we stay focused, we can push forward, we can make this our home once more and we can continue to live our lives, without living in fear of what's out there. Now what we need to do first is to rebuild our home, it will take time, those whose houses are currently destroyed will preside in the Main Hall and will receive blankets, pillows, food and water. Those who are able to, will help in the rebuilding, whilst Bucket and Mulch will take themselves and four others to go out to sea and fish for food, and Eret will take five men to go to the forest to cut down trees for wood." I broadcasted.

Everyone stood still in silence. 'oh gods did i do something wrong?'

Snotlout suddenly jumped in the air and screamed,

"Whooooo- lets get to work you sons of Vikings." And they all got to work, with Agnar taking control of the repairs whilst Bucket and Mulch assembled their fishing crew to go out and get fish, since the food storage unit was completely obliterated.

I turned round to Mom, who was looking at me with a proud grin on her face, and Gobber who had the same grin on his face.

"Well done son, you're a natural." She shared whilst coming over to me and giving me a hug.

"Thanks Mom." I breathed. "I think i need to call an emergency council meeting, since, well... its an emergency." I uttered. I heard Astrid giggle at my lack of a complex sentence, and i gripped her hand harder to let her know i heard her loud and clear.

"Spitelout, Gobber, Sven, Fishlegs, Mom, come with me, we have important things to discuss, follow me to my hut." I ordered. "Will you attend to Milady?" I questioned.

She leaned up and pressed a kiss to my cheek,

"Does that answer you question babe?" She asked playfully,

"It sure does." I answered before we walked up to my hut, my hut. Not my Dads hut anymore, my hut. Gods it hurts, I miss him so much, but I've got to be strong, for the village, for my Mom, for my Astrid.

I walked in with Astrid, and the others followed suit closely behind, with Toothless staying outside to keep an eye on all the dragons. We all sat round the large table my Dad used to use for maintaining his saddle, or to eat off of whenever i used to come back and visit from the Edge, gods i miss it sometimes, things were so much simpler then. And we were nearly being killed everyday by Hunters or Wild Dragons. I noticed that everyone was looking at me, waiting for me to say something. Astrid squeezed my hand in a sign of support, letting me know she's always there for me, like how I'm always there for her.

"So, firstly we need to organise which buildings to rebuild first, then we need to blow our way into the Great Hall, then we-" I started.

"Chief, Chief, we know there's a lot to do, how about we tackle one issue at a time, okay?" Spitelout suggested.

I blushed, but he's right, three seconds into my first council meeting and I'm getting carried away.

"Yes, yes you're right Spitelout, one at a time." I breathed. "So, we need to discuss which buildings need to be rebuilt first." I restated.

"I think it would be wise to rebuild the huts on the eastern side of the village, they received less damage when compared to the rest so it'll take less time to get them ready for people to move back in, creating less of a stressful situation in the Great Hall." Fishlegs suggested.

"Ay i second that." Mom agreed.

"Nice to see you again Val, its been much too long." Spitelout said with a genuine smile on his face.

"Good to be back Spite, as you said its been much too long." She affirmed returning the smile.

"So we're all in agreement that the eastern huts will receive support first." I summarized.

A room full of nods.

"Good, next i want Spitelout to take as many as he needs to go to the storage outhouses to bring back fresh clothes and food, and if they can, to find any valuables, we'll need them to trade when traders inevitably show up." I shared. Spitelout nodded in response.

"Chief, i think it would be wise to appoint your general, so you can have an official second in command, just so the people are clear on who's role that is, although I'm certain of your choice anyway." Gobber brought forward with a smirk on his face. And he was right, i already knew who i wanted to be my general, the only person i trusted with that much responsibility.

I turned to my right and looked dead into Astrid's eyes, gods they were beautiful, Focus Hiccup! She looked right back and didn't seem to get what i was saying, so i raised my eyebrows and smirked which seemed to do the trick.

"oh. OH!" She exclaimed. "You want me, me to be general of Berk?" She asked in a puzzled voice, with a split second flash of fear and nervousness showing.

"Of course, there's no one else I'd rather be my number two, no one." I remarked before kissing her hand. "Milady, will you do me the honour of being my general?" I asked in almost a proposal type way. The split second flash of fear and nervousness was immediately replaced with a grin, and a look of love in her eyes.

"I'd be honoured my Chief" She answered before kissing my cheek in the same place as earlier.

"Well now that that's sorted out, we just have the small matter of the wedding to plan for." Gobber announced.

"Whose wedding?" Me and Astrid both asked simultaneously, i wasn't aware of a wedding scheduled.

"Well, your own of course." Gobber stated.

I felt my breathe hitch, Astrid's too. My brain just stopped functioning as i processed Gobbers words. Wedding? Why were we getting married all of a sudden, i mean don't get me wrong, we are engaged, and we'd both love, well I'd love to get married someday. The truth of it is that we'd never really discussed it properly before, not seriously.

"Gobber, we aren't getting married." Astrid said coolly. Was that a 'not right now' or a 'never'? Gods i hope its simply a 'not right now'

"Gobber, why do you think we're getting married?" I asked, with everything that's going on it seemed weird to bring up that, especially since we hadn't spoke about it at all or anything.

"Well, its custom for when a new Chief ascends to the throne, he gets married, usually it takes a little longer since most aren't already betrothed, but since you both are, well it seems right for you to get married sooner rather than later." He explained. Gods how could i forget, Dad used to go on about when he finally retired me and Astrid would get married. Gods i wish he was retired, so one day he could watch us get married, although i suppose he'll look down on us from Valhalla, smiling.

"Gobber." Mom interjected, "Things are so up in the air right now, and they both have such big changes in their lives as it is right now, maybe we can make an exception to the rule and leave all the wedding talk for later." She reasoned.

Phew, 'thanks Mom' I mouthed to her, and she simply smiled back.

I looked at Astrid who seemed suddenly very interested in the floor. I squeezed her hand, and she looked up at me, and i could see she had been blushing since her face was all red. I leaned into her and whispered,

"One day."

I kissed her on her cheek and pulled away to see her gleaming, and she nodded and mouthed it back to me. Well thank Odin, at least she wants to get married to me one day, Gods i cant wait for that day to come!

"Well, I think that's all on the agenda for today, I'll see to the repairs on the Great Hall, Spitelout I'd like you to assemble your team and go right away, Gobber I'd like for you to assemble the A-Team and help with the repairs, and Mom if you'd accompany Astrid to the forge, I'd like you both to discuss plans to build new houses, eating stations, bathhouses, things like that." I announced.

We all stood up and Spitelout and Sven left first, with Gobber in pursuit. I felt a small hand tugging at my own, and turned to see Astrid looking at me with wide eyes, rather worried eyes.

"What's wrong Ast?" I asked in a worried tone.

She looked down and replied in a hushed voice,

"Well, its just I've never properly met your Mom before, and now we're meant to plan new buildings together, and she'll undoubtedly have questions for me about us, and what if she doesn't like me." She quickly whispered.

Oh gods, i hadn't even thought about it from Astrid's point of view, she was right of course, she hadn't been properly introduced to my Mom, no wonder she's so nervous.

"Hey." I whispered back whilst placing a hand on her chin to lift her head to look at me. "She'll love you, how could she not. I get it though, remember how nervous i was to tell your parents about our relationship, gods i nearly died from nervousness." I smiled, which she proceeded to giggle to. "But look, she'll love you okay, because i love you, and I'm sure she'll ask questions, but I'm also sure she'll have questions for me later too, okay." I said trying to make her feel better, and due to the look of love on her face, I'd say i succeeded.

"I love you babe." She whispered in my ear before kissing me directly on the lips, to which i immediately kissed back with the biggest grin on my face. Honestly, i could've stayed like that forever, but someone was still in the room with us.

"Ahem." A voice in front of us made.

We both stopped and looked towards the door and started to violently blush, of course my Mom was still in the room.

"If you're all finished, i think me and Astrid better get to the forge to start plans for the buildings, hmm." She stated.

Astrid, still blushing, stood up,

"Yeah, you're right, i'll see you later babe." She said quickly before leaning in and giving me a peck,

"See you later." I called as they left through the front door. Well I'm sure my Mom will have a few extra questions to ask both Astrid and me later on, well for now id better find Toothless and make my way to the Great Hall, its time to get Berk back on her feet.

The End Of Chapter 1

Wow. Its been a long time now hasn't it, a year and a half now. Jesus i cant believe its been so long. Well I'm back, and I'm venturing into my favourite franchise of all time, How To Train Your Dragon. Now for all you Carl & Beth lovers (for which there aren't many), I'm not planning to return to that story, at least not in the near future. I wont write it off completely, but the chances are infinitely slim, especially since I'm going to give all my writing time to this story.

Now to make things clear for all you HTTYD fans out there, this story fits into timeline just as the 2nd film closes, but not including the dragon racing scene, and will set up HTTYD: The Hidden World. It will be like how Race To The Edge set up the second film after the first. I've always dreamed of doing this story, and i still pray to this day we get it, a show set between movies 2 and 3, that would be perfect.

Also, if anyone has a suggestion for a better title, I'm all ears, I'm not really sure about what it's currently called, so let me know if you have any ideas

Anyways, its time to go now, I'm glad to be back, i hope (if you're still there from before) you read and enjoy, and if you're new, i equally hope you enjoy.

So Goodbye for now, until next time!