Hiccup turned to his dad.

"I'd like you to meet Skullcrusher. I'm sure you can figure out why he's named that." Hiccup stepped up to Skullcrusher again. "There's a few things about taking care of a dragon you should know. Firstly, they're big, mean, and ornery." He stared at his dad for a couple seconds. "Secondly, dragons are built to last. These ones especially." Hiccup pinched one of the plates on Skullcrusher's side. "But just because they can take a beating, doesn't mean that they like it. So an iron grip when needed, but a soft touch goes a lot further than you may think. While most dragons look like they'll tear you apart if you get too close, most of them have a good heart. Third is that they're very smart. They learn quickly and never forget. They can even learn language. So while it may take a bit, you could, in theory have a complete conversation with them. You'll be speaking two different languages though, so that could get annoying. They seemingly can't speak human language at all though.

I tried to teach Toothless once, but they just can't make the right sounds. Not that they're language is any easier to learn, and I'd like to think I'm quite fluid in that. Their language actually isn't super hard to learn, they're just a lot of nuance that's confusing.

So then at least you'll be able to give commands once they learn. Or more accurately make requests of them, since there isn't much you can do about something this big not wanting to move.

And finally, it's all about trust. Yes, I know, 'you're telling me trust one of these devils? After what they did to Berk?'" Hiccup said in a big dumb guy voice. "Yes I do. My dragons were trapped here by their old leader. Commanding them to attack Berk. Many of them regret what they've done and simply want to live the regular life of a dragon and not be used as a weapon.

Unfortunately I'm doing just that at the moment. So do as I say not as I do." Hiccup paused. "Actually, last lastly, dragon's aren't pets. And you won't treat them like one. They're our friends. Family." Hiccup ran his hand under Skullcrusher's chin. "They deserve our respect and to be treated as such." Hiccup smiled. "But don't be afraid to give them a scratch under the chin. It's basically their biggest weakness." Hiccup dragged his lightly pointed nails against the scales under the Rumblehorn's chin.

"Now then, get over here, he's not gonna bite. Probably." Hiccup looked down at Skullcrusher. "No biting."

"How am I supposed to show your father I like him then?" The Rumblehorn asked.

"You can give him a nip once he's comfortable around you."

In the meantime Stoick had finally gotten close to the other two.

"Okay so tell me what to do." Stoick grumbled.

"Okay well first of all, relax. They can sense your fear… I'm only half joking. Just stay calm, no sudden movements your first couple times around them. So let's get started, cause you need to get used to each other pretty quick. Just stick out your hand and you can probably figure out what to do from there." Hiccup took a step back to give the pair a bit of room. Stoick held his hand out but after just standing there for a little too long Hiccup took it into his own hands.

The large man standing silently, staring at his own hand didn't notice that Hiccup had moved out of his peripheral vision, and then suddenly fell forward. Having no choice but to catch himself against the nearest solid object. Hiccup popped out from behind his father.

"Well you two look like you're getting well aquainted."

"Hiccup that isn't funny." Stoick pulled himself off Skullcrusher.

"Well it's not like you were exactly doing anything." Hiccup crossed his arms.

"I was getting ready." Stoick looked away.

"Getting ready? You've been standing there so long that I felt myself aging."

"Well it's not like I ever expected to do this ever."

"Well all I'm saying is, you're being shown up by your own people."

"What?"

"Yeah.?" Hiccup said, confused. "I mean you're the only human who hasn't done any sort of real exploration. I told everyone that they were free to explore when you showed up. You saw every last one of your people wandering around. With curiosity comes blind bravery. Plus my people were probably just as curious. Without a doubt in my mind someone was dared to touch a human, or dragon.

So let's make you the first to ride one." Hiccup grinned.

"Hiccup?"

"What? You have to get home somehow. Plus if you do it your people will follow. We'll have to find some others of mine willing to carry yours, but hey, if I got one willing, then there has to be more. So I'm not worried too much."

"Why do I have the feeling that you're having a little too much fun with this?" Stoick looked nonplussed at his son.

"It's not everyday someone gets to see Stoick The Vast near a dragon without wanting to kill it. And it must be a seriously cold day in Niflheim if you're about to ride one."

"Just tell me what to do Hiccup." Stoick sighed. Hiccup took a step back to look at Skullcrusher, trying to figure out where Stoick should sit and how he'd get there.

"Okay so I think that you're going to have to sit basically at the top of his back. Just make sure that you're not too forward. We don't need you throwing off weight or you falling forward, cause that horn isn't going to break if you land on it." Hiccup pondered again. He looked at Skullcrusher. "Would you mind getting down on your belly?" The dragon didn't act right away, but eventually got down. "Okay so dad, what I want you to do is hook your foot on the end of one of the plates and kinda hoist yourself up. You want to kinda end up right in front of where his wings meet the body. I think that'll be the best spot for both of you." Stoick leaned against Skullcrusher and placed his foot where it needed to go.

"Are you sure about this Hiccup? I feel like I'm going to hurt this damned thing."

"You're definitely not going to do that. Rumblehorn can't really feel anything in their plates. Like if it was to break in half it would hurt for a second but then not hurt anymore. The only reason we had to be careful with the one we saved was because we had to pull them out of her skin. But if you do somehow break one it means that we'll just have to change how and what he eats. But we've never had any issues like that with him. So I'm not worried in the slightest. Now get up there. But a word of warning, once get on you'll never want to get off." Hiccup watched his father take a deep breath and could swear he saw his hands shaking.

Stoick bounced a few times before all at once heaving himself up. He held himself up then started to rock back and forth to get his leg to swing over the otherside. Once he was officially seated proper he looked around almost confused.

"Well it wasn't the most graceful mount I've ever seen, but you're up there. We'll have to make some stirrups or something for next time."

"There very well won't be a next time." Stoick said grumpily.

"There very well will be a next time unless you plan to live up there. Which makes complete sense to me, they're super warm. And super nice to touch, a great texture under the hand." Hiccups stopped himself. "So anyway how is it up there? Like it? Don't like it?"

"Hiccup."

"Okay I understand, new thing, still trying to wrap your head around it." Hiccup walked up to one of the holes in the mountain and whistled. He asked the first dragon to show up to find Toothless and tell him to get up top as fast as he could. While he'd walked away the other humans had made a half circle in front of Stoick. Hiccup rolled his eyes listening to the group praise Stoick. He was about to look inside when Toothless slipped passed him. Hiccup caught his tail making the dragon whip around.

"Can you believe this." Hiccup pointed at his father and Skullcrusher. "I ride a dragon and I'm chased out, hunted for years, and nearly killed. But when he does it, he's majestic."

"Jealous?"

"Nah. I'll let him have his moment. The only person I need that much attention from is you."

"Mhmm."

AN: This is the 100th chapter/part to this story. I want to thank everyone who continues to read this. See that people even read this is crazy. So thanks. Also I know that there are only 98 chapters (when this is counted) but there are 100 parts to this story in my files, so I think I forgot to post something that was a part of this story, from along time ago. And to find and fix it would be a nightmare. So that's where the discrepancy lies, but this is chapter/part 100. yay