ONCE WE WERE WARRIORS

A/N: I have fallen in love with the world of HTTYD. I have watched both movies so yes SPOILERS will be mentioned. I have also watched Riders of Berk and Defenders of Berk, I highly suggest watching them! The timeframe of this fic takes place sometime after HTTYD2.

There will be adult content, coarse language, and sexual content, this is why it's rated M. I also will NOT tolerate flames, and if you hate it, write your own fanfiction! I will apologize in advance for several things:

It takes me forever to write.

My interest wains (and I also end up managing to kill a laptop or two.) So I go back and forth between fics.

The reason it takes me so long is, I have a life outside of fanfiction.

I write everything by hand before typing it up. Feels more authentic.

Grammar, punctuation, and spelling have never been my strong suites. So I apologize in advance.

I write fanfiction, like I was reading a book.

It will contain elements of Eragon...Sort of, just read it!

There is interbreeding of dragons (I felt sorry for Toothless)

So I lied it was eight things. Enough from me and on with the show!

LOVE LIKE WINTER

This is the isle of Berk, it has faced many trials and tribulations but has always come out on top. Their Chief is young, inexperienced but has no choice. He is the son and heir to the great Stoick the Vast. This past year has been rough, gaining a Mother, losing a Father, and having to take on the responsibility of Chief at such a critical age. Still Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third strives on, as if it is part of his life force, as if it pulses through his veins into his blood, as if he doesn't know of anything else...but he does.

He has successfully trained dragons, started a dragon academy, and has won the heart of his dream girl Astrid Hofferson. So why do the winds feel as if they are changing even more so and not for the better...?

The hut that was once cramped and suffocating was now hollow, thick and heavy air hung all around. Valka had tried to live as a civil Viking of Berk, but old habits die hard. She would camp with all the wild dragons. Hiccup would not venture near Stoick's room, as if he never existed. Vikings died all the time, it was an occupational hazard. Astrid would stay as long as she could. Hiccup may have not been strung up on traditions, but her parents certainly were, as was the whole village. Yet others were suffering, unforseen in the shadows.

Believe it or not Snotlout had shed more tears then he cared to admit. Stoick just wasn't his Chief, he was also his Uncle. Even though he had given Hiccup a gutful over the years, they were still family, and he couldn't imagine losing his own Father. Both Snotlout and Hiccup were similar in aspects of their life's. Both were only children, and their Father's only wanted the best for them. Even if that meant pitting them against each other. Snotlout was descaling Hookfang, this was the fifth night in a row. Hookfang knew that something was very wrong. Although he loved the attention, this wasn't his rider. His rider was arrogant, full of himself, not scared of anything, and usually louder than Thor's thunder. Yet he was silent as if in thought, which would be something new for his rider.

Fishlegs and Ruffnut sat on the beach watching the waves roll in under the starry night sky. They were sitting unusually close, and Ruffnut was unusually still, usually she was so hyperactive that nothing could get her to sit still and shut-up. Things had really changed, Fishlegs was remembering how it started. It was just after Hiccup had been inducted as Chief. Fishlegs had given up on Ruffnut as she went after Eret. Maybe he was destined to spend his life alone. He could be the crazy old fat guy, with all the dragons, and the dragon knowledge. Maybe it was better this way, he looked at Hiccup and how hurt he was. He couldn't do that to a wife or even a child. Yes maybe it was better this way. He wandered down to the beach where he could clear his head, and just take in the beauty, however he was slow and someone was already there.

"Fuck! I hate you! I fucking hate you! Didn't we do everything you asked? Haven't we suffered enough?!" Ruffnut threw another rock into the sea. Fishlegs was caught up, he shouldn't be watching this but didn't know what else to do.

Ruffnut turned to pick up another rock and stilled when she saw Fishlegs. "I'm, I, I didn't..." Fishlegs protested not knowing what else to say. Ruffnut shrugged her shoulders and went back to yelling at the ocean. "Why the fuck should I care?!"

"Ruff!" Fishlegs said shocked.

"What? Don't look at me like that. Everything is so messed up. Stoick's dead, my stupid brother has gone to follow his heart, and my heart has been ripped into a million fucking pieces!" She spat, something in that speech stirred Fishlegs.

"What?! You think your heart has been shattered!" He marched down to her.

"How on Berk do you think I feel?!"

"Fish I..."

"No, shut-up! You wouldn't even give me the time of day. I know I'm not Viking material. How do you think I feel?! I hate fighting or any kind of confrontation, I'm fat and I saw the way you looked at me in disgust." He spat.

"I've never looked at you in disgust. Okay when you and Snotlout were fighting over me. I'm not some damn prize to be fucking won, and I never asked you to change for me!" The argument was heated and they were now only mere inches apart.

"No but you saw Eret and I was a stranger you never knew!"

"Well I'm sorry about my stupid fucking body acting on it's own acc..." She never got to finish.

Fishlegs lips were pressed to hers. He had enough of her speaking and just wanted to shut her up. For once his mind wasn't processing when he did it, but now all he could think of was: 'She's going to kill me', or 'Why in Thor's name did I do this?' Ruffnut hadn't moved away, was she frozen in fear? Was she plotting his murder? She backed away slowly blinking. Should he say something? He was going to apologise but Ruffnut beat him to the punch. "Wow!" Was all she said with a goofy grin as if she were drunk on mead. Fishlegs face was bright red and blushing profusely. "I should um, yeah I'm just going to go." Fishlegs turned to go, when Ruffnut's hand shot out and grabbed him, pulling him into the sand. Boy was she strong for someone who looked so thin. "Ruff?" Fishlegs questioned. She cozzied up to Fishlegs, pressing her fingers to his lips, then to hers as if it was an indirect kiss. From that moment on this had become their regular spot.

"Fish?" Questioned Ruffnut running her hands up and down Fishlegs hands. "Hmm?" He mumbled back.

"Do you think it's wrong to want to do more than just hold hands and kiss?" This was deep especially coming from Ruffnut, who would act like the village idiot, along with her twin. Fishlegs stumbled backwards in fright. "Wh-What?" He stuttered. Sure they had shared a few pecks, but nothing emotionally deeper than that. Fishlegs knew Ruffnut still harboured feelings for Eret, well at least he thought she did. "Ruff, do you still think Eret's." He couldn't bring himself to say the word sexy, so he shrugged and held out his hands. Ruffnut looked at him wide eyed, like he was crazy. "I mean it's fine if you do, I know feelings don't...ompf!" She had knocked him back over, lying on top of him. "Shut-up Fish." She whispered pecking his lips, his lips weren't pecking back and she craved his touch. "It was just hormones." She said in between pecks. "What are we?" Fishlegs said suddenly, stopping Ruffnut in her tracks. She sat back as did Fishlegs. "I don't want to be your practice doll." Fishlegs said in dis-stain. Even if she never touched or kissed him again, it was better for him this way. "Is that what you think?! That I just go around kissing guys to practise?! Thor's thunder you were the one who basically opened my eyes to see how stupid I was."

"You're not stup..." He was about to protest.

"Stupid and yes I was. I had this incredible guy right in front of me, and I was so set on looks, I was blinded. No Legs I never go around just kissing anyone. I just oomph!"

It was her turn to be pulled down into his lap, as he pecked her lips. "Legs you never answered my question."

"You never answered mine." He replied. She pecked him on the lips. "I thought that was obvious." She said smiling at him, and he smiled back hugging her to him.

"He'll be back soon, I promise Ruff." Fishlegs whispered into her blonde hair. Ruffnut didn't need to know who he was talking about, it was her counterpart. He'd been gone for five months now, in search of his heart. Everyone thought he had probably died out at sea, either from drowning or starvation. Ruffnut knew he was alive, it was twin intuition, she would know when he was in real danger. Fishlegs was right, he would be home soon, at least she hoped he would be home soon.

"Hiccup! Hiccup! Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third, you answer me this instant!" Astrid huffed tapping her foot impatiently her arms folded and blowing her bangs from her eyes. "Huh? What? Did you say something Astrid?" He still hadn't looked up from the parchment he was reading. "Impossible." Muttered Astrid under her breath wrenching the parchment from his hands. "Hey!" He whined in protest like a five year old. "No Hiccup it can wait. Your food on the other hand can't, it's getting cold. Now eat." She ordered. He felt like a child again, he wanted to respond and tease her but she would take it the wrong way. He looked at the food with a careful eye, it looked edible but was it really? Astrid watched him eye the food and sighed, she knew she was a horrible cook. "Relax Hiccup it won't bite, your Mother made it." He did relax then and dug in. They ate the meal in silence until they both finished. "So how was it?" Astrid asked with interest. Hiccup shrugged. "Fine I guess, why?" Astrid has a smile plastered to her face, Hiccup knew he was in trouble.

"Good cause I lied, I made that." Oh crap, what should he do? Should he make himself throw up? He couldn't afford to get sick, he was Chief after all. Maybe he should go see Goethi. Astrid watched with amused eyes, the thoughts flickering through Hiccups face. She stood and walked around to him, placing herself comfortably on his lap, playing with his hair. This stopped his frantic thoughts. "Relax Hiccup. You're too easy sometimes."

"You mean you didn't make that meal?" He visibly relaxed and then flinched when she punched his shoulder. "No I did cook it, with Valk...Your Mothers help." He looked surprised.

"Your Mother said it would be an asset if I learned how to cook, just in case." She wanted to say more but then he would be upset and shut her out again. She couldn't take that a second time, her heart broke the first time, it would die the second time. She hadn't realized his arms had snaked around her waist until now. She began to massage his scalp and heard him moan , he needed time to relax and just be Hiccup. She couldn't help herself, his lips were just tempting her and she licked her lips in response. Gods she wanted him, no she had to calm down. This wasn't about her, it was about him. Just one kiss couldn't hurt though, could it? She kissed him, lingering near his face, big mistake. Green eyes met blue and one kiss became four, four become more and hands were grabbing and pulling.

How long had they been at this, minutes, hours? It seemed it didn't matter until the horn blew killing the mood and sending a wavering shiver down Astrid's spine. She grabbed her axe it wasn't far, she was never without it and raced out the door after Hiccup. Hiccup wouldn't try and stop her, she was a valkyrie, a warrior till the end, still he didn't worry any less. A lot of Berk came out to see what the commotion was a lot with weapons, a lot without. It seemed to be coming from the docks. "A boat approaching Chief, not one of ours, what should we do?" A deep male voice called from somewhere in the distance. Hiccup howled for Toothless, they were off faster than anyone else closely followed by Astrid on Stormfly. She knew to stay behind Hiccup and watch for scouts. It looked to be only one Viking ship, which looked worse for wear, washed upon the shores. What happened to the ship was anyone guess. Hiccup circled the ship suspiciously. "Hey Hiccup long time no see. See get it?" Said a male voice from aboard the ship, chuckling to himself. His blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail and even though he was skinny he had a lot of defined muscles which could be seen through his shirt.

It was Astrid who recognised him first. "Tuffnut!" More people came down to the shores, to see the commotion. As soon as Ruff heard her brother's name, she ran to the front, shoving people out of her way. "Tuff!" Ruffnut shouted hoping to see her brother. "Hey Ruff!" Tuffnut called out whilst waving from the ship, when another head appeared. "Heather?" Questioned Hiccup. Heather didn't exactly look great. Her hair was a mess, she looked sea sick even though she was use to the sea. Snotlout chose this time to come along on Hookfang. "What's all the commotion? Woah! Hey Heather babe, long time no see." Snotlout wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Hey Snotlout leave my wife alone!" Tuff shouted fist pumping in the air. Shouts of "Wife?!" Came from everywhere and there may have even been some fainting.

A/N: So this concludes chapter one. Yes I'm evil I know. To be continued next chapter!