A/N: Okay, it's been a month since I updated this story, a.k.a. too freaking long. As much as I wanted to wait to update until I had the entire chapter written, I just do not have the time for that, sorry. So I'm breaking it into two parts. This is part one. Part two will come eventually. Maybe another month. Who knows? *rolls eyes* This chapter and next chapter will cover a year in Hiccup's life, as per the title. Like chapter 6, it will just be blips.
P.S. —AAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHJDWVNWEJVHEWKJVNEKVBELWKFJCLEKNFBVEBVKENF!
lizzielou525 - I'm glad you like it! Thanks for the kind review! I love Valka as well. HTTYD 2 did her and Stoick dirty.
CHSHiccstrid - Thanks! I was really worried chapter 24 would be terrible.
AdamantJackal - You're good at picking up on the small details. I always enjoy reading your reviews :D
Disclaimer: Nope, not mine.
MONTH 1
VALKA'S POV
When we finally made it back to the nest, I was immediately on the lookout for Toothless. If I had to guess, he'd been anxiously awaiting our return the entire night. It had been nearly impossible to convince him to stay behind when we'd left, but his respect for Hiccup's wishes thankfully outweighed his fears.
Hiccup was sitting behind me, his fingers tapping impatiently against Cloudjumper's scales as he searched the nest for his dragon. Cloud had transferred us to his back as soon as we'd cleared the island, since an hour long flight in his claws would be less than comfortable for us. It had been a silent trip. Hiccup spent most of it staring into space, too deep in thought for conversation. I figured I would wait until we were back home until I asked him about tonight's mission.
The few dragons that were awake when we arrived called out greetings as we passed, but overall it was pretty quiet. The minute waves formed in the lake by the rise and fall of Alpha's chest as he breathed were the loudest sound that could be heard. The nest was even more peaceful at night than in the day. Most of the dragons here slept at night, which meant no flying, fighting, or roaring for a few hours. Toothless' species was nocturnal, but he'd adapted to Hiccup's schedule quickly after their first meeting. He definitely wasn't sleeping now, though.
As soon as Cloudjumper landed in front of the cavern, Toothless came running out of the tunnel, making a straight beeline for his human. Hiccup grinned and jumped off of Cloud's back without hesitation, crouching down close to the ground and leaning forward on his hands. Toothless slowed to a stop in front of him, then ducked his head and rubbed it against Hiccup's, a familiar gesture traded between all dragons. It was their version of a hug. Hiccup had started copying the behavior as a toddler, but I never had the heart to correct him. He should be able to show affection however he pleases, no matter how strange it looks from the human perspective.
I let them have their moment and slid down Cloudjumper's extended wing, walking over to pat his cheek. "You okay? No arrows hit you or anything?" I checked. His part of the mission had been dangerous. If he was hurt, it was my job to help.
His chest rumbled in fond amusement, and he leaned into my hand. *I'm fine, Valka. You should worry about yourself more. You're fragile.* He commented, a teasing lilt to his voice.
The corner of my mouth lifted. "You're my best friend, Cloudjumper. I'll always worry about you," I responded sincerely. For the past twelve years, Cloud has been my rock. I couldn't imagine life without him. We might not be two halves of a whole like my son and his dragon, but our lives were forever intertwined.
"Get some sleep," I suggested softly. "You must be exhausted." I touched my forehead briefly to his, then stepped back.
*Rest well, Valka. I'll see you tomorrow.* He nodded once in farewell before turning away and jumping back into the air. His wings whipped the wind in my direction for a few seconds until he disappeared over the cliff above us.
When I looked back to where Hiccup had just been a couple minutes earlier, both he and Toothless were nowhere to be seen. I sighed tiredly, heading into the tunnel. They were probably already in the cavern.
As expected, I found the two of them in the main room. Hiccup was kneeling next to his wooden chest, placing his weapons inside carefully. Toothless was licking the boy's face, cleaning off the dried blood while simultaneously healing the injury. The fact that he was still calm proved that the wound wasn't nearly as bad as it looked—probably barely more than a deep scratch.
When Hiccup pulled out the last weapon to put away—the bloody dagger he'd buried in that one hunter's thigh—he simply stared down at it, biting his lip pensively. Toothless, content that he'd done his job, leaned back and cocked his head in curiosity as he followed Hiccup's gaze.
I set my staff down on the table, then shuffled over to them. As tired as I was, this was a conversation I'd been dying to have all night. Hiccup didn't react as I sat down beside him, crossing my legs to get comfortable. I waited, trying to decide what exactly I wanted to ask, but Hiccup spoke up first, his voice hardly more than a whisper.
"I hate them...the humans," he began, and I pursed my lips together, willing to listen to anything he had to say. A small part of my brain noted with surprise that he was speaking aloud. It was nice to hear his physical voice again. "I've always hated them, you know?" He shrugged, his eyebrows furrowing as he twirled the dagger slowly between his fingers. "They kill dragons...so many dragons..." I resisted the urge to comfort him, not wanting him to shut down. Even Toothless remained perfectly still, though I could tell he was confused about the entire situation.
"I could've killed that hunter, Mom," Hiccup continued, his tone almost pleading as he finally glanced up at me. "I could've ended him right there, and he would never be able to hurt another dragon!" His gaze grew distant as he recalled the event. "I was so close...but when he looked at me, I didn't see a hunter, or a trapper, or the face of evil...I just saw someone who was afraid..." He trailed off, looking back to the dagger. "And I thought...how could I become the very thing I hate—a killer—and not wake up tomorrow hating myself, too?" Hiccup shook his head defeatedly. Toothless instinctively leaned in to nuzzle his cheek, providing some sort of reassurance.
"I don't want to hate anyone anymore," he confessed after a few moments of silence. My eyes widened at the statement, but I quickly schooled my expression before he noticed. "I want to save them," he declared. "All of them—dragons, humans...all of them." My heart fluttered with pride. How had I raised a kid so selfless? So compassionate? I'd always known he was special, but he still managed to exceed all expectations.
I gently placed a hand on his shoulder, gaining his attention. "Whatever you decide, I'm with you. Always," I promised.
He sent me a small smile in return and seemed to perk up a little, straightening his shoulders. "Yeah. Thanks, Mom," he murmured.
MONTH 2
TOOTHLESS' POV
*Now, bud!* Hiccup shouted, and I instantly responded to the command, releasing a powerful plasma blast directed towards the ship. It hit what the humans call the "mast," causing the wood to splinter under the force and break in half. An irritating creaking rang through the air as I pulled up out of the blast zone, and the mast tilted over, pulling a bunch of ropes and cloth—sails, I think—with it. The humans on the ship shouted and scurried for safety, too busy avoiding getting crushed to try and stop Valka as she and Cloudjumper released the Spike-tails onboard.
I circled above, eyeing the humans just in case one dared to grab a weapon and attempt anything stupid. My rider was laughing with delight, already sure of the mission's success. He'd been itching to see what I could do to a hunter ship for a while now. The destruction was obviously even better than he'd anticipated. I was happy to contribute any way I could to his joy.
This was my first mission, and I had to admit it felt great to help other dragons. Even though I was more dedicated to Hiccup than the cause itself, that didn't mean I wasn't glad to see the dragons being released from their cages. The whole thing seemed fairly simple. Hiccup was the brains, and he directed me where to go and what to do. Valka had told us that this particular mission would be quicker and easier than usual since there was only a single ship we were targeting, but I doubted that changed the sense of accomplishment. As Hiccup says—"Every dragon's life is significant." No matter the difficulty of the mission, this was a routine I could definitely get used to, especially when it ended with a grin on the boy's face.
Once Valka had released the Spike-tails and they'd escaped to safety, she and Cloud flew up to meet us out of range of the hunters' weapons. She had a similar expression on her face as Hiccup, and she sent us a thumbs up.
"You guys did great!" She exclaimed proudly.
Hiccup patted my neck. *It was all Toothless, Mom.* He argued lightly. I grunted in disagreement at that, but offered no verbal response.
"With the sails destroyed, they won't be going anywhere anytime soon," Valka commented, glancing down at the burning ship. I'd tempered my blast so it didn't completely destroy everything and send the ship sinking to the bottom of the ocean, courtesy of both Hiccup's and Valka's wish to keep the pesky humans alive.
*How many more ship locations did you get from those documents?* Hiccup wondered.
Valka scratched her forehead lightly in thought. "Uh...six or seven, I think?" She mused. Hiccup nodded, taking in the information with pursed lips.
*Well, then...we've got work to do.* He announced, excitement seeping into his voice. I warbled in agreement. I'd love more opportunities to blow stuff up. I rarely got to have this kind of fun.
Valka chuckled, nodding slowly. "You two are quite the dynamic duo. The hunters won't know what to do," she teased.
Hiccup and I shared a mischievous glance, both of us thinking the same thing.
Good. Let them try and stop us. They will fail.
MONTH 3
HICCUP'S POV
*Come on, Toothless! We're already late!* I called over my shoulder, sprinting down the dark tunnel with an excited grin planted firmly on my face. Every now and then I had to climb over sharp inclines or drop into a crawl when the stone ceiling blocked the upper half of the passageway, but I never slowed my pace. I could hear Toothless struggling to keep up behind me, not due to a lack of speed, but because he was nearly too large to squeeze his way through the narrow sections of tunnel. Luckily Night-wings were extremely flexible, their lithe forms allowing them into tight spaces.
We were heading to the nursery for the Naming. It was a tradition I'd started years ago. Whenever the new year's eggs hatched, I would give each dragon a name. The mothers didn't mind. In fact, they welcomed me. Since the concept of a name is foreign to most dragons, they depended on me to come up with them. It hadn't taken much effort to convince them that the nest would benefit from all the dragons having names. It would minimize confusion, and give everyone a sense of identity. Alpha had agreed that it was a good idea, so every year since I've come to the nursery to welcome the new hatchlings—additions to my family—into the world.
Before we even made it out of the tunnel, the loud cries of the hatchlings met my ears. They were always more talkative in their first few weeks. I burst into the room, my gaze immediately tracking to the center of the room where all the little ones were gathered. The adults had already prepared for my arrival, and greeted me with happy squawks and roars when they caught sight of me. I stepped further into the room, Toothless tip-toeing in behind me. His ear fins erected as he peeked over my shoulder, curiosity shining in his green orbs.
I got down on my hands and feet, crawling the rest of the distance. One of the mothers, a Gronckle named Splash, waddled up to me as I reached the circle of hatchlings. She gave me a quick lick to the side of my face, her tail wiggling in anticipation. I chuckled at her eagerness, scratching under her chin.
*Which one is first, Splash?* I asked, nodding at the cluster of young dragons. By now they'd all noticed my presence and were pushing and leaping over each other in an attempt to get to me. Toothless stuck out his tail to hold them back, chortling in amusement.
Splash plucked up one of her hatchlings—a purple male—and gently deposited him on my lap. The little dragon stared up at me with wide eyes, his tongue hanging out of his mouth as he panted energetically. I loved the happy-go-lucky nature of Gronckles. They never failed to improve my mood.
My naming process wasn't complicated. There were far too many hatchlings to give it too much thought, but I always took the species into consideration. I found that the mothers didn't care what the name ended up being, so most of the time I just used the first name to pop into mind.
*How about Whammy?* I suggested, tapping the end of the purple hatchling's tail absentmindedly. Splash let out the typical rah rah sound of joyful agreement, and wasted no time in plucking Whammy up and replacing him with the next hatchling.
As I went through naming each hatchling, I made sure their mothers liked my choice before moving on to the next one. One of the best parts about the Naming was that I got to meet all the new dragons, and they were able to get used to me. They learned my scent so that in the future when they were out and about in the nest they'd know that I was one of them. It was a short but effective bonding experience.
It was a privilege to be able to come into the nursery at all, one that I valued highly. My mom was allowed to visit occasionally, but she had her limits. She wasn't able to come here when the hatchlings were this young, for instance. The adults were too protective for that. I don't know why the mother dragons trusted me so much, but I was grateful. In return, I was always more than willing to put my life on the line to protect every single one of them.
The dragons were my family, and they always would be.
MONTH 4
HICCUP'S POV
*Toothless, you can stop licking me. Your saliva has done all it can. I need stitches now.* I grumbled, shoving at my dragon's head in an attempt to give myself some space. I couldn't see my wound past his giant head, but so far he'd refused to leave me alone. His stress practically seeped into the air, which in turn had me stressed.
He backed up reluctantly, then immediately began to pace back and forth in front of me, a string of whines escaping him as he stared at my leg. I had a relatively deep gash in the middle of my right thigh where an arrow had struck me during our mission. It was my fault for letting my guard down. We'd finished the task—destroy the ship's sails and all the hunters' equipment, same as usual—and started to fly away, but one of the hunters had gotten in one last hit with a crossbow. In hindsight, I should've made sure all the hunters were properly incapacitated before turning my back on the ship. That was a mistake I wouldn't make twice.
Of course, no matter how mild, this was the worst injury I'd ever received, and Toothless wasn't handling it very well. I could understand where he was coming from—I hated seeing him in pain, too. But his pacing wasn't helping either of us.
As I reached out to comfort him, I heard familiar footsteps rushing down the tunnel, making me sag with relief. My mom ran into the cavern, her eyes searching around desperately until they landed on me. I'd sent one of my nest-mates to find her as soon as we made it back. I needed her help to stitch me up. My hands were a little too shaky to do it myself.
*I'm alright, Mom.* I assured her before she could freak out at the sight of me leaning back against the wall, bleeding and sweaty. Hopefully this didn't affect my newfound freedom to go on solo missions. This certainly wasn't a good look for me.
She nodded slowly, taking a deep breath to calm herself down as she approached. Toothless, who still hadn't even noticed her up until that point, spun around to face her as soon as he felt her presence. All of his muscles were tensed for a fight, and his back arched as he hissed threateningly in her direction. I couldn't see his expression since he was positioned protectively in front of me, but I'm guessing it was less than friendly. My mom halted mid-step, appearing genuinely wary of him for the first time in years. Panic flared in my chest, memories of blood and death flitting through my mind.
*Toothless! Back off!* I ordered, putting as much authority as I could into my voice. A human might've laughed at my firm attitude, my small stature not being very intimidating, but my dragon had always respected me. His loyalty was everything. No one—not even Alpha—can control a Night-wing.
When Toothless stubbornly remained in place, growling incessantly, I tried a different approach. *Come on, bud. I need her help.* I pleaded, gritting my teeth as I shifted to get more comfortable. *She's my mom.* I reminded him, just in case he was so deep in his primal state of mind that he'd forgotten.
My words seemed to break through the haze, and Toothless finally relaxed, shaking his head and turning back toward me. My mom dragged a weary hand down her face as soon as his predatory attention was off of her, then went to grab the medical supplies out of the chest. I placed one hand on the crown of Toothless' head as he lay down on my left. He crooned in concern, sniffing at my wound. His saliva had momentarily stopped the bleeding and spread a cool numbness throughout the area. It would last just long enough for my mom to stitch me up.
She walked over to us with a needle and thread in hand, each step made with extreme caution as she eyed Toothless. He paid her no attention, the complete opposite of how he'd acted a few seconds ago. Ignoring her was better than attacking her, but that didn't mean I liked seeing him act so distant towards her. There wasn't much I could do about it, though. According to Alpha, my mom, and even Toothless himself, Night-wings are much more aloof than the average dragon. They stick with their own kind, and they don't befriend outsiders unless it's under very special circumstances. They're proud creatures, often considering themselves above others—which, in all fairness, is not an entirely incorrect assessment. I felt lucky that Toothless considered me his equal. It hadn't escaped my notice, though, that the older he got, the less he enjoyed my mom's presence. He loved her, of course—she'd practically raised him—but he didn't appreciate being told what to do by a human besides myself.
My mom silently began stitching my injury, every now and then glancing up at me to check if I felt any pain. I smiled at her reassuringly, keeping one hand on Toothless. The air held an uncomfortable tension, one that I needed to break before it drove me insane.
*I can still go on solo missions, right?* I asked hesitantly, biting my lip.
She rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth lifted in amusement. "I don't know, can you?" She returned, raising an eyebrow.
I nodded earnestly. *Yes! I swear I'll be more careful from now on. No more arrows in the leg.* I promised.
"Or anywhere else, I hope," she muttered.
*I am sorry, Mom.* I told her softly, not quite sure what exactly I was apologizing for, but needing to say it nonetheless. She sent me a brief smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, but otherwise didn't respond.
I repressed a sigh. I would just need to avoid getting injured. Maybe then there would be no more of this unbearable tension.
MONTH 5
VALKA'S POV
"Rise and shine, you two! It's a big day!" I called out in a sing-song voice, leaning against the entrance to my son's room.
Toothless groaned irritably at being woken up so abruptly, rolling onto his side and stretching out his limbs. He raised his wing, exposing Hiccup to the light. My son had a similar reaction as his dragon, complaining unintelligibly as he rubbed at his eyes.
*What could possibly be so important that you wake us up at the crack of dawn?* Hiccup whined, glancing up at the icy ceiling where light was filtering in. Toothless was still lying on his side, almost appearing to have fallen back asleep.
"You're kidding, right?" I chuckled, walking over to him and offering my hand. He stared at it tiredly for a moment, then huffed and grabbed it, letting me pull him to his feet. As he yawned and stretched his arms over his head, I ruffled his messy tangle of hair. It was so long now. Most of the time it hung over his eyes, making him look a bit wild at first glance. It was constantly wind-whipped, too, which didn't help.
I grabbed Hiccup by the shoulders, shaking him lightly to gain his attention. "It's your birthday, silly! You're thirteen!" I exclaimed with a wide grin.
Hiccup simply squinted at me, clearly debating whether he should just go back to sleep or not. *So?* He mumbled with a shrug.
I scowled at his disregard for the special day. "Look, I know you and the dragons don't understand the importance of a birthday, but it's important to me," I told him, letting go of his shoulders. We had this conversation every year. He had yet to see the significance of a day dedicated to his birth. "Plus, I got you a present," I added, unable to hide a victorious smirk.
Hiccup perked up. *What is it?* He questioned eagerly. I pressed my lips together and turned, waving for him to follow me. He needed no convincing and scurried after me, a little off balance since he just woke up. Toothless stayed behind, too tired to care about anything other than sleep.
Hiccup shuffled along behind me as we made our way to the main cavern. It took a few seconds, but he eventually brightened up as the rest of his exhaustion left him, and I could feel him practically bouncing with excitement as he tried to push past me.
It was hard to believe he was thirteen. Some days I still felt like a new arrival in the nest, even though we've lived here so many years. He wouldn't be under my care for much longer, and I wasn't quite sure if that made me feel better or worse. On one hand, his getting older meant he was able to protect himself and make his own decisions. On the other hand, I just missed my little boy. When he was really young, he'd spend almost the entire day within my sight. Nowadays, he's always off on some mission or adventure far away from the nest. It's rare that I get to spend quality time with him.
When we reached the cavern, Hiccup glanced around, expecting to see his present in plain sight. I shook my head in amusement, leading him over to the center table. I grabbed a pouch of coins and held it out to him. He was clearly confused, but he still took the coins from my grasp and looked over them curiously.
*Uh...thanks?* He mumbled, his eyebrows furrowing.
"I'm taking you to the Northern Markets," I explained, laughing quietly at his reaction. "The money is so you can buy yourself a present. Anything you want," I elaborated, casually crossing my arms and leaning back against the table.
*I thought you didn't want me going to the Northern Markets.* He replied suspiciously.
I shrugged. "You've proven that you can defend yourself if the need arises, and you're old enough now. Trust me, there are plenty of scumbags at the Markets, but hunters are worse. You'll be fine," I assured him. He considered my words, then slowly a smile crept onto his face.
*This is great, Mom. Thanks.* He beamed, gently setting the coin pouch back on the table. *Are you coming, too?* He wondered.
I snorted. "You bet your ass I'm coming. You may have a nice, little independent streak going, but you're still a kid. It's my job to protect you," I stated firmly.
He raised both eyebrows at my sudden intensity. *You just said hunters are worse.* He pointed out. *You let me go on missions by myself.* I was wagging my finger in disagreement before he'd even finished his sentence.
"That's different. Toothless is right there to look after you. He can't do that at the Markets," I objected. His dragon would have to remain out of sight at all times while we were there. He wouldn't be able to protect Hiccup without exposing himself, and that wasn't an option.
Hiccup sighed in defeat, nodding reluctantly. *Okay, yeah. I guess you're right.* He allowed.
I smirked. "I'm always right."
MONTH 6
HICCUP'S POV
*I don't see what the big deal is about this place. No one is trying to kill anyone.* I commented as my mom and I walked through the quiet crowd of the Markets. The way she'd always described it, I had expected to walk into a war zone. While most of the humans here looked all sorts of dangerous and untrustworthy, none of them were being outwardly violent. I definitely think I would've been perfectly fine coming here on my own.
"Hiccup, please talk out loud. I look crazy having a one-sided conversation with you," she muttered under her breath, glancing around to make sure no one overheard. I snickered at her expense, but nodded in agreement. We already stood out like a sore thumb since I was the only kid in the vicinity. It was probably best not to draw any more attention.
Strangely, I felt quite relaxed. Normally, being in the presence of other humans puts me on edge. After going on so many missions, though, I was growing accustomed to being near them. I still didn't trust them—not at all—but they didn't seem as threatening as they had in the past. That might be naive on my part. Only time would tell.
"Sorry. I'm just saying, I really think I could've handled this trip," I pressed, eyeing each tent we passed and the items inside. I hadn't seen anything yet that caught my particular interest. I wasn't really sure what to look for in the first place.
"If any of the men here saw you were by yourself, they'd take advantage." She shuddered, and I raised an eyebrow in curiosity. She noticed my confused expression and shook her head dismissively. "I just mean...you're still young, and vulnerable"—she cut off my protest with a raised finger—"...you're a good fighter, son, but even you have your limits. You could be snatched up and sold into slavery in the span of an hour, and disappear forever," she warned, resting her hand on my shoulder. Now I was the one to shudder. Maybe I was glad she was here...
"Have you spotted anything you like yet?" She asked, changing the subject before the silence became too awkward.
I shrugged noncommittally, but the next second my gaze wandered over to a wooden hut. It stood out amongst all the identical tents along the path. There was a giant hole in the front that allowed anyone to see inside. There were a couple people lined up out front, obviously waiting for something from inside. I changed my direction, speeding up a bit as I tried to figure out what the hut contained. My mom kept pace beside me, not questioning my sudden shift in focus.
I purposefully avoided the two men outside and walked right up to the open doorway, peeking into the large space. There was a huge fire lit in the middle of the room—a furnace, if I remembered correctly—along with a few tables and dozens of tools lining them, as well as the walls. There were papers, metal, leather, and all sorts of other materials. It was some sort of workshop.
An aged but muscular man was hammering away at a piece of heated metal, grunting with effort. Sweat poured down his face, he was covered in dirt and grime, and his clothes were worn and blackened, but he didn't seem miserable. He was just...working.
I couldn't explain it, but as I stood there for what felt like a lifetime just watching him pound away at what appeared to be a sword in progress, I couldn't help but feel utterly fascinated. I loved to design and create, but this man took things to another level. He had so many materials at his fingertips. He could create anything he wanted. I was jealous, curious, and amazed all at once.
My mom nudged my shoulder, breaking me from my trance. "Hiccup?" She ventured.
"He's making a sword," I told her with a grin, as if she couldn't see it for herself.
Her eyebrows furrowed. "Yes, he's a blacksmith. That's his job," she explained slowly, not understanding my excitement about the situation.
"So...he does this all the time? Creates stuff?" I questioned, my attention flickering between her and the old man.
"Pretty much," she answered, starting to look a bit more amused at my enthusiasm. "Mostly weapons. Why?" She wondered, turning a scrutinizing gaze on the man, attempting to find anything interesting about him.
"I don't know," I murmured thoughtfully. "It's just...if I were a viking, that's probably what I'd be doing, too."
Maybe I could find some books here about it. I'd pay any amount to learn more. Even if I'd never be able to make a weapon myself, it wouldn't hurt to expand my knowledge. Who knows? Maybe I will be able to sneak my way into a blacksmith's shop one day and make something of my own.
