Hello again. In this chapter, the young lives of Hiccup and the Night Fury are explored along with Hiccup's parents learning new things about their little one. Posting this chapter 8-27-2014. Next chapter to be posted in 5-6 days. In addition, two more chapters may be added if needed. Thank you and enjoy.

...

As the first light of day touched the horizon, Stoick woke from his slumber, stretching his body outward without stirring his still sleeping wife. He hopped out of bed and dressed for the day before turning over to see two bright green eyes staring right at him silently from a cradle. When their eyes met, a soft and sweet laugh sang out of the baby's mouth as she smiled. Stoick wasn't sure how long she had been awake, but ever since his child's birth two months ago, she always managed to rise before he did.

A smirk graced Stoick's face as he walked over to his little girl. "Good morning, Hiccup." He lowered his arms out to her, lifting her stagnant body wrapped snuggly in a soft and warm yak swaddle. "How's my little one fairing today?" he asked with a smile as he walked to the kitchen.

Hiccup giggled and beamed back to her father, happy to greet him along with the day. Looking to her, his eyes widened to what held within her mouth. Her first baby teeth were popping out already and she showed no signs of discomfort or pain. He had to admit, for being born early into the world, she was developing at a surprisingly rapid rate. She was still small, but he couldn't help but notice little things she'd do over the course of the past month that were out of character for an infant.

For one thing she had an advanced set of motor skills. While it took most infants months to develop the skills to crawl, Hiccup was practically ready to start scuttling around and would sit on her own at any moment she was out of the swaddle. Her eyes just seemed to wander around, forever curious to whatsoever actions he or Valka were up to. There were even times where he or Valka would lay her down on the floor to play with colorful blocks of mixt shapes Alvin had made for her, turn their back on her for no more than a minutes and find she'd managed to form the color spectrum and create miraculous structures that seemed impossible for an infant to do. And every time she's complete her projects she'd just giggle and start over again until he or Valka picked her up or when she'd simply tucker out and whimper out to be lifted once she crawled to them.

While he at times found her actions odd, just seeing and hearing her laugh and enjoying the simple things made him happy. That's all he ever wanted for his baby girl, to be blissful and safe.

"Mummy's still asleep, so how about we wait until breakfast wakes her up?" he said to her as he undid her swaddle and sat her on a secure elevated wool seat Gobber made for her. Hiccup giggled and clapped her hands wildly to his suggestion as he made his way to fix up some breakfast for him and Valka. He prepared some eggs, mushrooms, slices of buttered toast spread with blueberry purée and topped with smoked salmon by the time his wife emerged from the bedroom.

"Good morning, my loves," she smiled as she sat at her seat by Hiccup who immediately reached out for her, making small 'ma' sound repeatedly. Valka gently lifted her child and untied her blouse at the top to feed Hiccup, a slight pinch to her grip. "Teeth?"

"Yes, up before me again as usual. It seems our little girl is growing fast," Stoick answered as he presented her with a plate and a cup of herbal tea.

"I hope not too fast, I want to enjoy these moments with her for as long as possible," Valka said between a bite of toast.

"As do I, Val, as do I," he shared as he took seat, the three of them enjoying a peaceful breakfast as a family.

…

"Night Fury," the Gronckle called throughout the forest in search of his pupil.

Three months had passed since they were relocated to the outside, while still within Red Death's reach, and the Night Fury had taken that time to continue on his training as well as exploring the island. He was already eight months old and was developing well in flight and tactical analyses on little scouting missions he'd arrange for the young one and for the most part he couldn't have asked for a more diligent student. The only problem was he would sneak off before training some days and his tutor would have to go out in search of him. It wasn't a difficult task, Gronckles possessed an excellent sense of smell but that did little when his student would deliberately zig-zag around the island, thus confusing him significantly. He knew his student was good, he could just be a tad bit rebellious and headstrong but that's what reminded him of the young dragon's father.

As he continued his search on the ground, high above the treetops sat the young black dragon, watching intensely as his teacher tried to track him down. While he did enjoy training and growing stronger, it felt like it was the only thing he ever did. Just once he'd like to maybe lay around and be lazy or go off and do his own things by himself. He hated having to be tied down to one place for long lengths of time, that's why he hated the volcano so much. It wasn't just the heat, it was like a one-celled prison for all inmates with the warden forever on watch.

Red Death had always told him he was saved as an egg by human bandits who wanted to hurt him, but he could see through his six red eyes of lies. It took some prying but he finally managed to have his mentor tell him the truth a few days after they were on the outside. How he took him from his father on the mainland. How he died saving his unborn life and the solemn oath he took to keep him safe and make sure he made it to the top of the ranks. In his heart he couldn't hate the Gronckle for doing what he did, it was his job, otherwise it would have been his head. The Gronckle was more than just a mentor, he was the closest thing he had to a father figure. That's why when he learned the Nadder from three months ago was plotting to kill him, he had to stop that from happening at any cost. For now though, he'd simply relish in the joy that his honorable teacher couldn't find him, even with all his efforts.

"Oh well, I guess I'll just have to eat all that fish I caught all by myself!" the Gronckle shouted with a smirk to his face.

The Night Fury's smirk faded and formed into a pout. "Cheater", he bitterly bit as he clawed down to the Gronckle's side who motioned for both to head back towards the coast.

Living on the outside came with certain advantages, like being able to gather food for one's self before feeding the prince. Not that he was starved when he was in the mountain, if anything he was given the most out of the rest of the hatchlings. With him not there anymore, their share was sure to have increased in some way to compensate his absences; at least that's what they had told him when he had to go back to be examined for his end of the week evaluation.

Back to the coast, they ate their breakfast before beginning their training.

"What do we do today?" the Night Fury eagerly readied himself for some sparring or maybe a scouting exercise. What he wasn't expecting was the Gronckle to look out to the sea and then back to him. "Nope," he stubbornly sat.

"I haven't even told you what the lesson was going to be," his mentor smiled.

"Don't care. I'm not getting wet," he had never even touched the water, but still he firmly held his ground against the notion. He did like to chase it as the tide went back and forth on the sandy beach but that was different, this was being plunged into it.

"Who knows, you might like it?" the Gronckle insisted. "In emergency situation where you are rendered flightless by bolas or ropes while overseas, it is important and curtail to have a basic understanding of swimming. It can be used as a strategically advantage over the enemy when raiding boats as well providing you with a means to escape from hordes of Viking ships and most of all…eels," he felt a shiver run through his back from the last word.

"I'm not afraid of Vikings!" the young Fury said with his little chest puffed out that slightly deflated at the thought of their underwater foes. "...but I don't like eels."

"That's why it's important for you to learn these skills while you're still young. Now go on, into the water with you," the Gronckle walked behind his student and began pushing him towards the approaching waves.

The little Night Fury tried to hold himself down to the ground but that was deemed useless as the warm sand below him passed by his talons and body like wind. The sound of the oncoming waters had him close his eyes as the cool sensation of liquid passed over him smoothly, the sensation tickling his toes. Opening his eyes, he viewed as the sea water began to recede back to the vast puddle of blue and his body soon lifted to follow it in. Soon he was neck deep in the shallow end of the shore, allowing the oncoming current to rock him in and out. Once he felt ready, he stepped further towards the blue to the point where the tips of his paws were barely grazing the sandy floor. He looked over to his mentor, his legs about completely submerged as he demonstrated the proper paddling techniques. Before long the Night Fury was pushing his way around the water, his wings still not knowing what to do so he kept them tucked closed as he took his first dive. He could see little fishes swimming casually by and long blades of grass waving to him with the current. His forte was flying but he guessed swimming was just as boundless.

Now, two worlds were accessible to him, and it only made him thirst for more.

…

It was late at night when Stoick returned home from a long day of work. He helped gather lumber with Alvin, Finn and Vinn, read and signed a few legal documents, listened to Mildew's complaint of the day, and helped collect inventory of both the food and weapons storage. Now, he just wanted to sit down for a while and relax.

He opened the front door and his tired expression lightened at the sight of his wife and child seated on the floor, several flash cards stacked to one side and a dish of pureed sweet potatoes to the other.

"Alright, Hiccup, 'Eyes'," Valka smiled as she flashed her a card with two eyes, the word for it under the image.

Hiccup smiled as she placed her little hands over her own, then removing them and saying. "Is."

"Eyes," Valka repeated encouragingly.

"Ice," Hiccup giggled, as her tongue tickled the roof of her mouth.

"Eyes," her mother said once more.

"Eyes!" Hiccup correctly stated as she covered her green orbs again.

"Very good, Hiccup!" Valka cheered as she placed the card down and spooned a bit of the purée and motioned it over to Hiccup who eagerly ate it up with a smile.

"How many today?" Stoick asked as he placed his helmet on a hook making his way towards them. He and Valka noticed her desire to communicate with them, making sweet little sounds and gestures so they thought if she was eager, they'd try to teach her as best they could. Gothi had suggested flash cards and it seemed to work like a treat and before they knew it, Hiccup was saying simple words.

"Fifteen! And watch this…" Valka motioned as she looked to Hiccup and placed a different set of cards before her. They had only text and no images so the only way to know what the card said was by reading it. "Hiccup, find me, 'Tree, Apple and Up'."

Stoick watched as his little girl swept through the cards, picking up and showing them the three correct words.

"She can't seriously…can she?" Stoick said with his jaw dropped before turning to a deep smirk.

"I couldn't believe it either, but every time without fail, she shows the right one," Valka said as she handed Hiccup another spoonful of sweet potatoes.

Hiccup smiled as the taste of sweet potatoes passed her throat. She then began to rub her eyes and yawned, tired from her long day of building towers, crawling and learning new things with her mother. Raising her arms out to them she sleepily spoke. "Sleep."

Bending down, Stoick lifted his four-month old. Her front teeth were already set in and it seemed every week they'd find her back ones would start popping out. Hiccup had grown quite a bit. She was still smaller than the average infant but he supposed everyone grew differently. Stoick nuzzled her softly before walking up the steps to the second floor. Since Hiccup wasn't too needy and developing quickly, Gothi had suggested they start separating her to her own space. Ever though the practice was normal and taught the growing Viking independence, it took a while for them to accept it but knowing it was for the best decided to follow the elder's orders.

She took to the new space with a fuss at first but after a few good minutes she was sleeping on her own, sometimes Stoick would secretly wake in the middle of the night to check on her only to find her deep in sleep. It pained him that his little girl didn't need for him to be there all the time, he missed seeing her bright eyes up before him in the mornings. Once he was to the second floor, he took hold of her covers, where Hiccup allowed him to wrap her in the swaddle before laying her down in the cradle.

"Good night, Hiccup," he kissed her as her eyes started to bat into slumber.

"Night-night," she cooed before dozing off.

Valka readied a tankard of mead for him once he returned to the main room. "Busy day?"

"It always is. I spend so much time out there that I feel like I'm just missing Hiccup growing up. She's so smart and now she's reading… One of these days she's not going to need us anymore, Val, I'm not ready for that."

"You make it seem like she's already an adult, Stoick. Remember she's still a babe, and she'll always need us just like we need her. Hiccup is doing things I never though a baby could do and I'm proud and honored to know that we helped make that possible for her. So don't worry, she may be growing but we still have so much to teach her," Valka reached out for his hands, both sharing in loving smiles till the horns of the night watch rang through the air.

Valka and Stoick looked to the front door as they ran, Stoick reaching for his helmet and axe before they raced out, the other villagers doing the same as the approaching storm of dragons drew near.

Stoick raced out towards the square where he met Alvin and the others. An approaching Nadder flew close, ready to attack to which Stoick retaliated by tossing a heavy wooden cart to it, bringing it down to the ground.

"What have we got?" Stoick asked, his physique strong and expression stronger.

"Gronckles, Nadders, Zipplebacks…oh and Hork saw a Monstrous Nightmare," a soldier said before ducking under his shield when a blast of Gronckle fire fell from the heavens, a small flake of burning stone falling onto Stoick's metal shoulder plate.

"Whispering Death?" Stoick asked as he flicked the fire as if it were a puff of dust.

"None so far," the soldier confirmed.

"Good," his chief looked out to the sky. It wasn't just the Whispering Death he was worried about. Every so often at night he'd catch glimpse of the four-winged dragon circling Berk. It never stole food or attacked, it merely watched from high above for something. It seemed to have followed him from the mainland, at least he felt it was the same dragon. From some research, he learned it was a Storm Cutter, but that was all he was able to find on the subject. Right now he'd focus on the dragons present and drive them away from his home and people.

"We move to the lower defenses," Stoick commanded to one man as he carried off as many sheep as he could. "We'll counter their attacks with the catapults," he told the others as they raced towards the new catapults Gobber designed. They were something he had wanted to try out for the village's defense and today was their maiden trail.

"Odin help us," Stoick prayed as he and Alvin set one up.

"They found the sheep!" Mulch yelled out from the ground to Stoick.

"Concentrate fire over the lower bank!" Stoick shouted to Alvin and Vinn who helped him position the catapults at the proper angle, taking aim at a Nadder prepared to rod sheep.

"Fire!" Vinn cried out and the ropes were cut, sending a large boulder towards the beast, pinning it down in seconds.

The Monstrous Nightmare by its side stormed towards the machine, lighting its body up in an inferno of anger as he snarled his fangs to Stoick.

"Reload!" he called out as the others did so. "I'll take care of this one." He then began swinging his axe towards the dragon, cutting at its face till a loud ring had him stop and turn towards the heavens. The Nightmare soon fled as the noise only seemed to increase.

Everyone in the village remained quiet, the high hiss piercing their eardrums till someone finally managed a, "GET DOWN!"

In a flash, a blast of blue fire shot out from nowhere, a dark and speedy figure following behind. The shot landed onto the catapult as its fire spread, destroying everything in its path.

"JUMP!" Stoick shouted as the pieces of burning wood and metal spread out in explosive chucks towards the town. In an instant, the machine was completely destroyed, leaving nothing but burnt rubble.

Everything was silent till the sound of Valka's voice echoed through Stoick's ears and without a second thought, ran to go find her.

…

"Light the torches!" Spitelout yelled out as they were lit and raised up.

Valka ran throughout the streets, helping people extinguish the fires from homes by handing out buckets of water from the well. Once they gave her the okay they could handle it, she ran towards a man in the distance as he was preparing to chop the head off of a Nightmare.

"Stop!" she cried out as she held his weapon at bay with one hand. "You'll only make it worse!"

He gave her a queer stare for long enough, allowing the Nightmare to escape from its potential execution. He gruffed, releasing himself from her hold. He had great respect for her as the chief's wife but there were times when her old ways of wanting peace would interfere with the cause.

"If you're not going to help, go home to your child!" he snapped out before running off to fight.

Valka was taken aback by the comment and turned to her house atop the hill, seeing it at peace. Despite the chaos all around during raids, the Haddock house was always safe and untouched since Hiccup's birth. At first she though it was just luck, but that changed when she'd notice the Storm Cutter guarding it from other dragons since her daughter's arrival. He would perch himself on the roof, somehow going unseen by the villagers. Whenever a dragon would draw close, he'd let out wild growls of aggression, rarely unleashing his fire unless necessary.

At first she was scared when she saw him over her house, worried for Hiccup's safely but the way he protected that house was incredible and Hiccup never fussed or cried when the raids were over, as if they never happened.

The sound of a loud and growing screech flooded the air and soon all that could be seen was an explosion of catapult pieces flying outward, one heading straight for the house.

"HICCUP!" Valka shouted as she sped towards her house, fire spreading over the roof of the house as the giant dragon entered through from the massive hole created by the falling stone of fire. Valka ran faster hoping she was not too late.

…

Fire encircled the room, the Storm Cutter fanning it away from the child until there was none left. The sound of sweet giggles and chirps rang in his ears. He had his back to the baby and was nervous to look. For the past four months he had been protecting her home from the raids but he had never even caught a glimpse of the baby. He had wanted to but fear kept him away. Now the child was awake and saw him, he had nowhere to go but out and yet he couldn't.

The baby continued to laugh adorably to the point where he couldn't take it anymore and turned slowly to see the child. What he saw was incredible.

The child was female, with glowing peridot eyes and dark dots covered her pale face. She had a small layer of brown hair on her head looking so soft enough to touch. His heart melted upon looking at her and he feared now that he revealed himself she'd scream and cry. Yet she never did, only letting out more giggles as she reached her arms out to him.

The fear inside of him shattered as he lowered himself to her, the cradle she was held in rocked slightly and he brought one of his wings forward to rock it gently for her. She seemed to enjoy this, so much so that she began clapping, to which small orbs of bright light appeared out of the air. The lights surrounded the two of them as they shared into each other's eyes.

Hiccup had never seen a dragon before, but she knew what it was from the flash cards her mother had shown her. He looked nothing like the scary picture on the paper, he was kind and gentle.

"Dagon," she tried to say.

"That's right, little sister, I'm a dragon. I've been waiting to see you for so long," he cooed to her.

Hiccup listened closely to him, his words familiar but different from her own speech. She looked to him closely and smiled. She understood if she was the sister then he was the… "Brother!"

His eyes went wide. Her first word to him in the dragon language and it was 'brother'. His heart skipped a beat at hearing that. The Strom Cutter continued to rock her gently till the sound of a creak on the floor caught his attention as he moved his wing. The sharp end of his taloned wing grazed the baby's chin, causing her to cry out slightly from the sting. He looked to her with concern before turning to the source of the noise with bitterness that softened upon what he saw.

…

When Valka opened her front door, she sped up the stair, grabbing her sword and readied to take aim and strike. She was against killing dragons but she would do anything to protect her child. She froze when the sight of the dragon and her daughter caught her eyes. They were so close. Hiccup was laughing and smile as the Storm Cutter pushed her cradle back and forth. She stepped incorrectly causing a sound and the dragon took notice. He cut Hiccup, but she saw it was an accident from the way it shone in his golden eyes. He turned his attention to Valka who dropped her weapon and stepped back as he approached.

He looked to this human mother, mother to his sister and bowed his head in respect. His eyes dilated and Valka felt her soul align with his. They both wanted Hiccup safe, that was their duty. Valka still couldn't figure out why he was doing this but as long as he kept her safe, it seemed right to her.

The Storm Cutter cried out when a sharp pain hit him on his left side, Valka seeing the axe lodged to his scales.

"Valka!" Stoick cried out. All he could see was a dragon glaring at his wife and took action. He needed to protect her and Hiccup. He walked up the steps, the Storm Cutter setting the stairs on fire to prevent his ascend. Stoick couldn't get up the steps with the high flames blocking his path.

They were trapped.

With the fires growing on the stairs, Valka pulled the axe out of the dragon and looked to Hiccup, staring up to the ceiling. Valka looked to see a piece of wood ready to break and fall onto her child and ran to the cradle to protect her. As Valka took hold of Hiccup and waited for the wood to strike her back, she felt nothing but warmth between her arms. Opening her eyes and looking up, she could see the wood, covered in by a thick layer of mist over her head. The sound of chirping and tiny howls made her shiver as she looked down to her arms.

She knew what she held in her arms was Hiccup, her child, but her appearance was that of the statue from months ago on Trader Jaune's ship. Her fur was a tannish-grey with tiny cream-colored spots covering her face and neck but her eyes were differently those of Hiccup.

Things started to make sense to her. The light from the crystal statue, the pregnancy cravings, the orbs that protected her during the raid, Hiccup's rapid development and the Storm Cutter. It all happened because the statue was real, alive.

Hiccup was a Mist Runner.

She was no bigger than a small fox and her body barely fit in the swaddle. Hiccup looked to her mother, unsure what she was staring at and shivered her body, mist covering the room and dying out the Storm Cutter's flames. The Storm Cutter looked to the child, now pup, and was taken aback. He didn't have much time. He tried to take the pup from Valka, but before he could she pointed out to the hole in the ceiling.

"Go," she had to get this dragon away from Hiccup and Stoick, before everything boiled over once more. This was too much to take in.

The Cutter quickly looked to the pup once more and lowered his head. "Be human again." And with that he was off before Stoick could make it up to the second floor.

Valka held Hiccup close, not wanting for Stoick to see. What would he do if he saw a furred dragon in place of his child, even if it was his child? He couldn't understand. He wouldn't.

"Change back, change back, change back…" Valka repeated softly as she prayed, Stoick taking hold of her shoulders.

"Val…" he saw she looked frightened, cradling the yak swaddle closely. He feared the worst. He reached out to Hiccup, Valka flinching back onto the wall till the sound of human laughter filled the air.

Valka released her tight hold on Hiccup, seeing her child human once more. Hiccup reached out to the skies seeing her brother flying away and called out for him, "DA-DA!" She desperately wanted to say dragon correctly but couldn't form the 'r' sound yet.

"That's right Hiccup, Daddy's here," Stoick wrapped his arms around Valka and placed a hand over Hiccup's tiny cheek.

She looked to her father. She didn't mean to make it sound like 'daddy' but she smiled anyways and accepted it. Looking back to the sky, her eyes caught the Storm Cutter's and they shared in another stare. She raised her arms out again and cooed to him, Valka and Stoick seeing her do so.

They were both amazed.

"She's not afraid," Stoick whispered.

…

"Now, about last night…" the Gronckle said once the Night Fury resurfaced for a breath. They were having yet another swimming session.

The Night Fury pulled his ears back in silence. One of the reasons he had actually gone hiding after the raid was to avoid this conversation but it seemed he wasn't off the hook so easily. "I didn't mean to disobey a direct order," he lowered his head till it was bobbing in the water.

"I'm not disappointed. If anything I'm proud, not everyone can destroy a catapult with a single shot," he smiled.

Yesterday Red Death insisted he be taken on his first raid to experience firsthand what his future tasks consisted of. He was only meant to observe but amidst the rubble from the burning village, they had managed to set up a catapult. The young dragon seemed to be the only one minding this action and immediately struck down the wooden machines, turning it into a mass of towering flames. Covered by the darkness of night, the only sign of his strike was the high-pitched siren of his collective gases gathering into a tight ball. The Vikings below all scrabbled to the ground in fear. It was an excellent raid, so much so Red Death commanded he'd join all future raids and at ten months of age, the Night Fury was promoted from simple hatchling to solider. It made many happy, except the Whispering Death who was used to being the hive favorite for years, now she was being replaced by a black dragon with an attitude.

"Thanks, but I'm nervous. What if I mess up?" the Night Fury asked as they both exited the ocean.

"You won't as long as you train hard, keep focused and learn to listen to what your commanding officers and prince say."

"I'll try," the Night Fury grumbled as he shook the droplets of salt water from his form.

…

Hiccup was six-months old when she took her first steps. She was seated on the ground as her father presented her flash cards, one reading 'Walk'. Taking it as both a thing to say and do, she placed her tiny arms to the ground and lifted herself up, taking small steps towards the shocked Stoick. When she finally made it to him, she smiled brightly and shouted out, "Walk!"

Stoick couldn't contain his excitement and lifted him and her off the ground, tossing her in the air, something her loved for him to do. Valka watched with a smile as she rocked on her seat, sewing the last bit needed for her project. She started this project a few days ago when the Strom Cutter returned and she was able to get a better look at him. After sewing in the last yellow button eye, a smaller black one over it, she held it up to gaze at the toy dragon. Getting up from her seat, she walked over to Stoick and Hiccup, presenting her little one with the little dragon.

"Hiccup," Valka smiled and watched as her bright green eyes light up with happiness as she reached out for the dragon.

"Brother!" she cried out as Valka handed her the toy. Hiccup cuddled the figurine close, her first toy.

"Brother?" Stoick whispered confusedly but was simply happy Hiccup liked it since he knew Valka put so much work into it.

"Down?" Hiccup asked her father, to which he set her to the floor and watched as she walked around the room with her stuffed dragon.

Stoick and Valka watched as she played around, lifting the dragon up as if it were flying and tossing it in the air before nuzzling it tight. She never asked for much so seeing her react so positively made them both cheerful.

There was a knock at the door, Alvin soon walking in. "Mornin' family! And how's me favorite niece fairin'?" he asked placing his hands to his knees to see her. "And when'd ya start walkin'?!"

"Unca!" Hiccup shouted as she raced towards him with her arms out, "Up!"

Without questioning it, he lifted her off the ground and placed her on his shoulder to sit on.

"Today," she said to him as she held her stuffed dragon out.

"Ya started walkin' today, well aren't you growin' fast," he smiled as he walked over to Stoick and Valka.

"How are things looking today?" Stoick asked.

"Pretty fair. Good catch, good weather. I'd say it's the perfect day for a stroll around town," he said knowing Hiccup had been anxious to leave the house, it would be her first time being outside.

"Town, please?" Hiccup asked her father.

Stoick looked to Hiccup, she had been so curious about the outside for a while now and he had to watch as he opened and closed the door since she'd try to make quick escapes out. He figured if there was a day she should go outside, it'd be today.

"Why not, you've been so good," he answered as he pinched her cheek.

…

"Gobbs!" little Hiccup ran towards the forge, stopping at the window. He looked down at the familiar voice and smiled widely.

"Well, look who's out and about today! Never thought I'd see you out with your father keeping you inside all the time," he limped out to greet the child, standing on her own two feet. "Well I'll be a dragon's uncle…"

"Forge!" she pointed to the smoke puffing out the chimney.

"That's right, Hiccup. This is the forge, where I make all the weapons and tools for the village," he stated proudly.

Hiccup was limited to the amount of people whom could see her and everyone stared as this tiny child walked and talked. They hadn't seen Hiccup before, only heard from Gobber and Alvin that she was very bright and advanced or her age. Many figured they were exaggerating but it was clear they hadn't.

Continuing her way, Gobber followed closely as she passed the bakery, pointing to it.

"Bread."

"Aye, that's the bakery."

"Fire," she continued.

"Correct, the fire bakes the bread," he answered back.

Hiccup pointed back to the forge. "Fire."

"Excellent eye, Hiccup. Fire is a handy tool around here," at moments he'd forget he was talking to a child and not an adult, she was just so curious and knowledge.

Hiccup turned around as a white mass walked towards her, "Sheep!"

The elderly man by the sheep looked down to the child below, dressed in a simple grey tunic and brown boots.

"Well now, who's this little one?" Mildew asked looking to the girl with a smile.

"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, sir," she proudly stated, placing her hands behind her back and bowing slightly. Her parents always told her to be polite to others so she wanted to make a good impression.

"My word, she's a smart one. Isn't she Fungus?" he asked his pet sheep who bleated out in agreement. "Just like her father's father and mother's grandfather before her. She's gonna make a fine chief someday if she keeps this up," he said before making his way in the opposite direction.

"Mildew, being nice? Well that's new," Gobber commented before turning to Hiccup pointing out forward.

"Daddy!"

"Hiccup," Stoick huffed out of breath.

"What happened to you, Stoick? You look like you ran across the entire village," Gobber placed his hand over his friend's shoulder.

"I did...I open the door just a creak and she bolted out like an arrow," he answered before regaining his breathing. "How'd you find her?"

"I didn't. She ran to me at the forge, I thought you and Val were right behind her," he corrected before looking to Hiccup, a big smile on her face. "How does she know her way around the village without being outside to explore it?"

"Ah, I taught her to read the town map. It's a game to her, she's actually quite good at it," Stoick replied before spotting Nora Hofferson walk their way.

"Good morning, Chief, Gobber…" Mrs. Hofferson greeted before looking to the little girl between them as she adjusted Aarne in her arms. "Hello there, and who is she?"

"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, ma'am," Hiccup greeted like before.

Mrs. Hofferson was taken aback by her quick answer, not actually expecting her to answer. Aarne was barely learning to walk and kept his speech to the simple 'yes' and 'no' and other small words, but Hiccup it would seem was quite fluent.

"Well, Hiccup, I'd like you to meet Aarne. Say hello, dear," she bounced her child in her arms, he only tightening his hold on her as he glared to the smaller child to the ground. "Be nice, Aarne."

Aarne turned his face away and looked to the opposite side, only to find the girl had made her way to where his face was now.

"Hello," she smile and waved to him, eager to be polite.

Aarne simple buried his head to his mother's neck and quietly replied, "Hi."

Hiccup felt a bit saddened that he wouldn't even face her to say it and walked over to her father, lifting her arms up that still held her dragon toy. "Up?"

Stoick gladly lifted his child, holding her close as she nuzzled to his beard.

"He's a little shy, he's never seen a little girl before," Mrs. Hofferson giggled at her son's reluctance. He usually was a bit more sociable but she supposed seeing Hiccup walk on her own at a young age really got to him.

"Aarne's a good lad," Stoick reassured Hiccup who softened her hold on her father.

"Aarne," she echoed softly.

Hearing his name, Aarne looked over to the little girl now held in her father's arms. She turned to him and smiled brightly. "Aarne!"

His face turned red before retreating back to his mother's neck for cover. He wasn't too sure why but her smile and the way she said his name made him happy.

…

Vinn and Nora dressed in their uniforms. They had taken leave since Aarne's birth and now that he was a year old, they felt ready to go back. It helped that wood cutting season was over and Finn would be able to stay with Aarne.

"We'll be back by supper," Nora reassured her son with a kiss to the forehead as he stood by the door to wish them goodbye.

"Be brave for your uncle Finn, Aarne. We'll see you soon," Vinn said, rustling his short blonde hair.

Aarne nodded proudly as they walked out the front door, with Nora's axe at hand as Vinn adjusted his belt and shoulder pads.

"It'll be good to be back on sea, being land locked was both a blessing and a curse," Vinn said. He loved having to spend his time with his wife and son but over the past few days reports of invading pirate ships were coming in. He and Nora were the best at their jobs, watching over Berk's borders at sea and tracking down criminals. It was something they both took pride in doing and now they'd protect their home at all cost.

…

It was late in the afternoon when the first bells rang as well as the horns. It signaled an oncoming pirate ship and for everyone to prepare for a possible attack. Many made their way to see the commotion, but no one could have ever anticipated what was to be seen. The ship where Nora and Vinn resided on was set ablaze, the silhouettes of their body set over a backdrop of flames as they fought against the foes.

Stoick ordered men and women alike to take to ships and sailed towards the burning ship in hopes of aiding their companions.

All seemed well till one pirate pulled out a sword from his boot, stabbing Nora through the heart from her backside. Vinn soon fell too as he went to his wife's side and was pierced by a spear.

Everyone who had seen the events were appalled by the pirates' actions, no honor in their combat. Stoick and the other ships drew closer, finally able to reach the ship. They showed no mercy as they killed every last pirate on the blackened ship. The pirates defeated, the Vikings turned to the bodies of their friends, the Hoffersons. Vinn held Nora close before taking his final breath.

…

A knock at the Hofferson house stirred Finn as he sparred with Aarne.

"It's open," he laughed as Aarne managed to give him a small punch to the face.

It was Stoick who walked through the doorway, a tightly wrapped cloth in his arms. Finn looked to it and his expression hardened.

"Aarne, please go to your room, the Chief and I need to talk for a moment," he said to his nephew who complied.

Stoick presented him the cloth containing his brother's belt and shoulder pads along with Nora's trusty axe. Finn looked to it and hitched his breathing, he knew what this meant.

"I'm sorry. We didn't make it in time. They were avenged…but that can never bring them back. I'm so sorry, Finn," Stoick lowered his head. He lost two amazing friends, but he knew Finn lost a brother and the mother of his nephew.

Finn held the items close and placed a hand on Stoick's shoulder. "It's not your fault. I hold no malice over you or anyone. They always said they'd die together." A single tear fell from his blue eyes. "I'll raise Aarne, he's all I have left."

Both men shared in the sorrow as Aarne watched from the cover of the room. He wasn't too sure what was going on, he just hoped his parents made it home for supper soon.

…

More houses burned to the ground as the raid continued. Men and women raced around with swords and shields before pausing for a second to look at the laughing child running around the burning village like it was a party.

"HICCUP!" Stoick called out to his child as she ran. He had opened the door thinking she was asleep in her cradle upstairs but low and behold she managed to escape and was now loose on the town. It took everything in him to keep up with her once she learned to run, she was a fast one.

To Hiccup, everything was amazing, she had never seen a raid before and was eager to know what all the fuss was about. Every time her parents went out to the raid she thought it was some big party and wanted to join in on the fun.

Turning the corner, Hiccup was heading straight for a large mass of fire. Mildew who had been guarding the sheep managed to spot her and dropped his staff.

"Hiccup!" he cried out as he fled towards the eight-month old child but it was too late, she leapt into the flames and he felt all was lost till he saw something that made his entire body quiver.

…

A Zippleback was about ready to set another building ablaze when the laughter of a human child came across to their path. She was heading straight for the flames and waited for the sounds of screaming, but not the feeling of a soft and warm something by their feet.

Looking down, a little furred dragon with crystal fangs, dressed in a white tunic chirped sweetly to them, "Play?"

Both were set off to a panic and kicked the creature through the fire.

"What was that?!" the head to the left questioned.

"Like I have the answer to that!" the right one barked back.

Again, the little dragon burst through the fires, whipping her long tail from side to side, "Play?"

This time they lit their gas and set a spark onto the little thing hoping to scare it but the image of a little human girl in its place was there once the smoke settled.

"Play?" the human child asked once more but in their language.

"Oh my scales, it can talk!" the head to the right shouted, freaking out wildly while his other head examined the child.

She wasn't afraid of them, if anything, she was curious. They weren't too sure what to make of this creature but their thoughts were halted by the feeling of a strong presence overhead. Looking up, their mouths dropped as a Storm Cutter loomed over them, clearly agitated.

"Hi, big brother!" Hiccup waved to him, causing the Zippleback to back away from the human/dragon child slowly.

The Storm Cutter placed himself between his sister and the Zippleback, readying to fire till Hiccup stopped him with a light touch to his wings. Seeing their moment to flee, the Zippleback flew off.

"Should we tell the boss?" the head to the left asked as they flew away.

"What that we just saw a Storm Cutter defend a shape shifting human-dragon thing that resembles the description of the ancient Mist Runner and not bringing them to him? Or that we didn't bring any food?" the logical one to the right asked.

"Good point, get the food and never tell him anything unless we want to be food," his left headed brother said with a goofy grin.

"And they say I'm the smart one," the right one remarked before they swooped down to grab several sheep.

…

"I saw her change, Stoick! Your child is a monster!" Mildew accused after the raid in front of everyone in the square. "She consorted with dragons, spoke to them in their language and turned into one! I even saw her clear way all the fire with fog! She needs to be executed!"

Valka held her child close as Mildew drew near to take Hiccup. "Lay one hand on my child Mildew and I'll…!"

Alvin stopped her mid-sentence. "Val, let me handle this," he said softly before exploding. "Ya take another step towards me niece and I'll shove that staff so far up yer…!"

"That's enough, Alvin!" Stoick shouted. "Mildew, your claim is just outrageous without evidence. Do you have any proof of this?" He knew his daughter wasn't a monster, but as chief he had to delegate.

"Toss that demon into fire and that will be all the evidence you'll need!" he yelled out, pointing his staff to Hiccup. "I should have known she was a witch from the start. Too smart for her own good, I always said. Don't you all see it, she's a dragon!" he screamed out to the crowd, all giving him bitter and angry glares.

They had never known Hiccup to be anything but a sweet child, a normal human Viking child. Mildew was obviously lying in order for the heiress of Berk to be killed just because he didn't like her. No one came to his defense.

Mildew's heart grew dark and shriveled like a prune as he lifted Fungus off the ground. "You'll all see! You'll rue the day you crossed me!"

With that he walked off to the far end of the village towards his home, vowing to one day get his revenge on the dragon child who made him look like a fool.