Chapter Four:

"Oh boy... this is going to be good." I sarcastically announced as I sank back down onto my old bed, one eyebrow shooting upwards as I stared at him expectantly.

Dad appeared to stumble over what he was about to say upon hearing that, confusion crossing his features. "How is me grounding you gonna be good?"

I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. Oh man, this was going to be just like before the others got used to my sarcasm! "Sarcasm Dad... that means that I mean the opposite of what I said."

"Oh..." He cleared his throat loudly, suddenly looking rather embarrassed. "For your punishment you have to help me for the next week with my Chief Duties. Here's your list for today. Nothing too strenuous since your shoulder is still healing."

I accepted the scroll he held up to me, quickly unrolling it. I bit back a snort as I realized that this shouldn't take me longer than a few minutes tops... then I can go looking for Toothless and my gear. "Fine... I best get going on this then."

"Not without breakfast first." Dad crossed his arms, his features stern. I sighed, wondering vaguely how much complaints would I receive if I tried to introduce a few of the technological advancements that we enjoy at the Edge.

"Fine." I dragged myself back up from my bed, shoving my way past him. Chances were that he still hadn't learned how to properly cook in all the time that I was gone.

Stomping down the stairs, with my good leg, my prosthetic was throbbing similarly to back when I first lost it, the last thing I expected to run into was a tall woman stirring something in the pot over the stove. She glanced at me... and immediately dropped her spoon and rushed over to hug me. "Hiccup! Your awake... and alive!"

"Umm... hi random stranger that I have never met." I drew my brows together, even as I noted that whatever she was cooking was starting to burn. Shrugging her off of me, I hurried over and pulled the... I have no idea what it was supposed to be. Somehow I doubted it was supposed to be the lumpy brown gunk that I was seeing that most definitely didn't look edible at all. In fact... "Why does this look like something Astrid made?" I muttered under my breath as I started to work on salvaging the meal.

"Right... you were just a baby last time I laid eyes on you." Okay... so she knew me and we have met... I still don't know her. "I'm your mother."

I almost dropped the spoon into the pot like she did. Shoving that to the back of my head, I seriously need to talk to Toothless about that announcement, I tipped the pot over the fireplace and scraped the whole thing into the thankfully at the time lit furnace. "What are you doing son?" Dad had arrived on scene, carrying little Briar... who was my sister. Wonderful.

"Obviously neither of you know how to cook. I'll be making breakfast and I don't want either of you to add anything to it. Understood?" I gave them my best Don't Push my Buttons Look, or the look that my friends claimed was a death glare since I usually saved it for the enemy when they don't surrender right away.

Both of them flinched at the sight of it, Briar whimpering slightly as she buried her head in Dad's thick beard. Whirling around, I began to sort through what was in the kitchen, quickly deciding that I was way to used to the Edge's food surplus upon noticing that there was only fish, which stank like nuts without a fridge or freezer to keep the meat good, yak meat, mutton, and of course Mildew's cabbage. There was also some wheat stored in a barrel. Shaking my head at the mere lack of technological advances that I am way to used to, I decided to see if there was enough sugar and cinnamon to make cinnamon cakes. That'll only take a minute. Even though cinnamon buns or rolls both were much tastier than cinnamon cakes. Finding the sugar and cinnamon, I quickly started stirring up the treat-like breakfast, finding a flat piece of metal that I could use as a griddle over the flames.

"Breakfast will be ready in five minutes." I warned them as I ladled a scoop of the batter onto the makeshift gridle.

"...and done!" I marked off the last item on the list that Dad had given me to do. Funny really, what he considered to be a good punishment was a quiet day for me. Shaking my head at that thought, I walked towards the Killing Arena, to start my search for Toothless. I was only a few feet from it when I finally started sensing his presence once more. Grinning to myself, I hurried over to the arena. Shoving the door open, I darted inside to find Toothless and the other dragon from the day before eating a large pile of fish together in the center of the killing arena. "Toothless!"

Hiccup! This is Conner, his human nickname is Cloudjumper. Toothless bounded over to greet me, jerking his head in the direction of the other dragon.

Why are you introducing me to him? He is human, he can not understand you.

I glanced around nervously, wanting to double check that no one else was nearby first. While at the Edge it would be considered normal, around here was whole other culture and I so didn't want to be accused of being friends with Loki. Satisfied that we were alone, I turned my attention to him. "Actually, I can understand you. Do you have a name that you prefer? Like Adeline here?"

I told you to never call me that! Toothless went into panic mode, twisting around to look nervously at the older dragon... who was doubling over with laughter.

I prefer Conner... and isn't Adeline a girl's name? Conner struggled to keep his face straight as he eyed Toothless curiously.

My parents may or may not have wanted a girl... Toothless sank to the ground, using his tail and paws to hide his face in embarrassment.

I snickered at that, settling down next to him. "So... how has your day been?"

A/N: Toothless Lover 13: Yep... he's grounded... only he isn't finding it much of a punishment.

Obiben27: Sorry... that isn't happening. Just expect really long update times with me, alright?

HG4EVER69: Um... how about Hiccup doesn't bother with that... for a reason that will be revealed in next chapter because I forgot to put it in this one...

omega13a: Oops... sorry didn't mean to freak you out. Does hanging out with another dragon count as being too busy to go looking for him?

catlovingmermaid: It was only for one night!

MalirBly: Thank you!