One Day

Author; Nightstar Fury of Nightstar Productions

Rating; M for Mature

Pairings(Main); HiccupXAstrid, FishlegsXHeather, RuffnutXEret, TuffnutXStilsta(OC), SnotloutXCamicazi

Disclaimer; I do not own any of the HTTYD movies or Dreamworks Dragons episodes, shorts, so on and so forth! Also, by chance if I use any songs...I don't own those either.

1; I'll Come Back

[Hiccup's POV]

All I wanted when I was younger was to be accepted. To be given a chance to prove that I wasn't what they said I was: weak and useless. I left years ago to show them that I wasn't what they saw me as. I did more than that, but...I never wanted to be the best. I never wanted to become the one they called for. I never wanted to be all these things they believed. Most of all, I never wanted to become the hero.' I sighed closed my eyes as I'd just returned from helping another village who had a dragon raid. I shucked off my armor, took off my mask as I laid right down on my bed staring up at the ceiling. I was trying to think back to when all this started: me being on my own, helping Vikings with their dragon raid problems. I knew how it started. Ten years ago, when I left Berk on the back of my best friend, Toothless. A dragon feared and known as none other than a Night Fury.

My name is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third. Great name, right? I have messy auburn hair with forest green eyes. I was born into the Viking culture, their way of life but I guess the Gods had other plans for me because I never fit in with all those...big, burly men who wanted to wield weapons and kill dragons. You see, I was born early. Three months actually according to my father, Chief Stoick 'the Vast' Haddock, making me the runt of the litter. Did I mention that my father was also chief of the tribe I was born into? That's right. I'm the son of the chief, making me his only heir. The heir to the island of Berk, home of the Hairy Hooligan tribe. Right, back to the story about my odd name. So in Viking tradition, a hiccup, is the runt of the litter. Whether be animal or human, the runt of the litter was named 'Hiccup'. Also, parents believe that a hideous name will frighten off Gnomes and Trolls. Must be working, I've never seen any running around. Anyways...I'm a skinny guy, not a lot of muscle and assumed to never amount to anything. Cheerful, right? Well that explains my name at least but there is so much more to me than just my name.

According to my father -who again is the man who is Chief of the tribe-and the rest of the tribe itself, I was known as Hiccup the Useless because of my destructive nature. Mind you, I wasn't destructive-at least not on purpose I wasn't. I liked to invent and try things out. Some were good, others...not so much. From the time I could walk, I've been a blacksmith apprentice to my father's good friend, Gobber 'the Belch'. Not sure what his last name is, he's never mentioned it to me or...anyone else for that matter. Gobber has been my primary caretaker, since my father is obviously just too busy with the village, being Chief and all. I love that guy, he's like the father I never got to have, but out of respect for my old man, I consider Gobber to be like an uncle. A crazy, sarcastic, one armed, and one legged uncle but an uncle nevertheless. My mother was taken by a dragon when I was just a baby: I think it's part of the reason my Dad hates dragons so much. I guess I could understand: having a dragon take your wife leaving you to raise a hiccup on your own can be frustrating on top of being Chief of the tribe and island.

Anyway, I bet you're wondering if I was the only kid on the island. Well of course not! There were actually tons of kids on the island. Some older, some younger and then four others who were basically the same age as me. Their names are Snotlout Jorgenson, who is actually my cousin. Then there is Fishlegs Ingerman, a big guy but harmless and loves all things fact wise. There are the twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston. These two hail themselves to Loki, the God of pranks. You can only imagine how much trouble those two cause, yet I'm the one who gets yelled at. The last person around my age-just a little younger-is Astrid Hofferson. And just like her name, she is a Divine Beauty indeed. A goddess in my eyes. If only she knew I existed though. Well she does, she just didn't reciprocate my feelings. Well, not right away she didn't at least, but I'll get to that later.

So I'm the oldest even though I'm basically the skinniest...and shortest between the five of us. I was born during a blizzard, during one of the worst and coldest winters that Berk had ever seen. On Berk, it snows nine months of the year, then hails the other three. There are few times, like maybe one or two where it's warm enough that we didn't need our heavy clothing on. Me, I always wore a long sleeved, green tunic, dark brown pants, brown boots, and a brown fur vest. I carry a single dagger in my belt. My Dad...and everyone else thought any other weapon would hurt me. So much confidence right? Oh well though, at least with everyone fearing I'd destroy something, they left me alone with my thoughts. I never had friends growing up, hence my name: Hiccup the Useless. Who wanted to hang out with a loser? But enough about me. You wanted to know the truth behind my leaving when I was 15? Well grab a stump and gather round the fire, kids. I'm going to tell you what happened to lead to my leaving, and bringing me to where I am today.

-Flashback; 10 Years Ago-

[Regular POV]

Hiccup had done it. He said he'd take down a Night Fury and by the Gods, he did! He broke a bunch of rules completely disobeying his father and Gobber but he finally did something right: he shot down the most feared, and elusive dragon known to Vikings. A Night Fury: the unholy offspring of lightning and death itself. Or that was at least what Hiccup knew from legend. However when Hiccup shot down the Night Fury, he also attracted the attention of a Monstrous Nightmare who chased him into the village, destroying just about everything, including a torch post that fell and proceeded to...destroy more. He was scolded by his father, then sent back to the house. That didn't keep Hiccup from venturing out though. He rushed through the back door into the forest, following the haphazard drawing to determine where the dragon went down off Raven Point.

After almost two hours of searching and coming up empty handed, Hiccup stumbled across some torn-up terrain, shrubbery, and trees. Curiosity winning over caution, he traipsed through it avoiding broken, snapped tree branches and dirt path until he looked over a small mound of dirt and saw it laying there, unconscious and wrapped up in the bola that Hiccup had shot with his invention that he referred to as the Mangler. It was a device that shot a bola instead of it being thrown by hand. Hiccup couldn't believe it-he actually had done it! He took down the dragon before him. Hiccup pulled his dagger and made his way towards it. It wasn't moving, nor did it appear to be breathing. Hiccup didn't know if it was dead or not but he was just thrilled his invention worked and he took down a Night Fury. "I have brought down this mighty beast!" Hiccup boasted with his foot on the all black lizard with wings.

The dragon shifted, growling and Hiccup backed up, afraid, holding the dagger close, and breathing heavily. Looking closer now, he could see the Night Fury's eye open past the bend of the wing. Hiccup tried to prepare himself to go through with this: to kill the dragon to prove he could be like the other Vikings. It was a way of proving his father's words wrong: that Hiccup was many things but a dragon killer wasn't one of them. As Hiccup raised the blade up to bring it down over the dragon's heart, he closed his eyes but hesitated. He heard the dragon almost sigh in defeat: opening one of his eyes, Hiccup saw the dragon with its eyes closed, resigning itself to its fate by Hiccup. He backed up: he couldn't do it. He thought bringing the dragon down, killing it was right but never had anything he'd done suddenly felt so wrong. Hiccup backed up once more, lowering his dagger. "I did this..." Hiccup sighed, closing his eyes and preparing to walk away. Then he glanced back at it.

This Night Fury was breathing heavily, so Hiccup made one more decision. He crouched down and began to cut the ropes holding the dragon bound helpless. When enough were loose, the dragon pounced on him, glaring intently and holding him down. Hiccup fearfully winced: this is where he'd die...and what was worse, no one knew he was in the forest right now. But then again, would any of them really care? The dragon stared at him as Hiccup prepared for his fate and the dragon snarled, showing teeth almost in a smirk and then...it roared right in Hiccup's face with a screech. And then it darted off quickly. Heart racing in his chest, Hiccup let out an exasperated sigh. He was alive: the dragon had spared his life, just as Hiccup had spared his. Hiccup found the strength to stand again and begin to make his way to leave the forest and then he just blacked out from fear alone.

(Some Hours Later)

Hiccup returned home to see his father already there. He tried to sneak upstairs but his father stopped him and informed Hiccup that he was getting his wish: to join the dragon training class with the other teens, starting the following day. Hiccup panicked. He didn't...want to fight dragons any more-not after he couldn't even kill a Night Fury. It was...wrong. That dragon could have blasted him, torn him to shreds...but it didn't. It had let him live. That dragon, a Night Fury was known for never missing a target and that if you ever encountered one, you should hide and pray it didn't find you. But that same dragon had allowed Hiccup, a 15 year old boy to live after Hiccup allowed the dragon to live? Was it some kind of debt? Hiccup didn't know but he knew right now, his father was forcing him into dragon training….and he was now dreading the entire thing.

(The Next Day)

Stoick, Hiccup's father had left with other Vikings for another-sure to be pointless, fruitless, and disappointing- search for the dragons' nest. Hiccup made his way to the Kill Ring, where dragon training was being held. As expected, the other teens were already there with their weapons. Hiccup had an ax his father had given him the night before. Gobber, the trainer for the class, explained that behind the cage doors were just some of the dragons they'd learn to fight such as the Deadly Nadder, the Terrible Terror, the Hideous Zippleback, the Gronckle, and of course the Monstrous Nightmare-the dragon one of the teens would get the honor of killing if they became the top recruit in the class. Gobber also, being the crazy fellow he was decided to teach them by 'learning on the job'. By this, it meant he released the dragon, a Gronckle, and expected the teens to figure out what to do while it was chasing them.

"What's the first thing you're going to need?" Gobber asked.

"Plus 5 speed." said Fishlegs fearfully.

"A doctor." Hiccup tried.

"A shield," Astrid stated confidently. It went from there, badly too. Snotlout, the twins, and Fishlegs were out after being blasted by the Gronckle-not actually blasted but their shields were destroyed so they had to move to safety. Hiccup and Astrid remained: Hiccup dodged one blast then dropped his shield. The Gronckle then prepared to fire at Hiccup again when he was backed into a corner but Gobber stopped him, the blast going right over Hiccup's head.

"Remember. A dragon will always, ALWAYS go for the kill," Gobber said, looking right at Hiccup. This made him think: if that was true then why didn't the Night Fury kill him? Deciding to look more into it, Hiccup returned to the place where he released the dragon the day before. Inspecting the cut bola ropes, he wondered at the dragon's actions.

"So why didn't you?" Hiccup whispered aloud to no one but himself. Walking more, he stumbled upon a cove and made his way in. It seemed calm enough and then, from nowhere, a black dragon shot up before him and tried to climb out but couldn't. Taking a moment to himself, he looked down, seeing the dragon there. It kept trying to take off, but couldn't gain enough altitude to get out of the deep cove. Hiccup took his chance: he pulled his notebook and charcoal pencil as he began to draw the outline of the Night Fury. After finishing the two tail fins, Hiccup looked again, more closely. "Why don't you just...fly away?" he murmured. That's when Hiccup noticed that the dragon's left tail fin was gone and he knew why too: from being shot down by Hiccup. It made him feel really bad: he might not have killed the dragon, but he had trapped it here.

The pencil dropped down from his fingers as the Night Fury saw him again. Fearing he wouldn't be given another chance, Hiccup froze, looking straight at the dragon. The Night Fury looked back at him and the two tilted their heads, curiously but otherwise...nothing happened. Again. Hiccup eventually left the cove to return back to the village when he heard thunder.

(The Following Day)

The next training class was against an agile Deadly Nadder where Hiccup was asking about Night Furies instead of watching the dragon and ended up being chased. Gobber scolded him for not paying attention. In the end, Astrid ended up repelling the Nadder and driving it back to its pen-then she scolded Hiccup herself. "Is this some kind of a game to you? Our parents' war is about to become ours. Figure out what side you're on!" Moping that his crush had yelled at him, Hiccup returned to the cove: this time with a shield, although-typically-it got stuck between two rocks, leaving him with no protection but the young teen pressed forward regardless. Hiccup picked up the fish he'd tossed in and looked around slowly for the dragon which didn't appear to be there-but it was, crouching behind a rock, stalking him intently. It jumped down and sniffed him curiously but was still hesitant. Hiccup offered it the fish but it backed up until Hiccup took his dagger and tossed it aside. This seemed to calm the Night Fury as it inched forward with its mouth open. Hiccup suddenly noticed there were no teeth.

"Huh. Toothless. I could of sworn you had..." he began...and suddenly teeth snapped from the gums as the dragon snatched the fish from his hands, swallowing it in two bites and licking its lips happily, "...teeth..." Hiccup finished, eyes wide in surprise.. The dragon inspected him for more but he admitted he had none. Without warning the dragon spat half the fish back up into Hiccup's lap, then it sat back on his hind legs, staring curiously at him. Hiccup took the hint: the dragon wanted to...share the fish with him? Hiccup very reluctantly took a bite and swallowed it, forcing himself to keep it down. The dragon smiled at him, mimicking the smile Hiccup had given him. But when Hiccup tried to touch the dragon, it growled and glided away. Hiccup tried again with the same result. After some time, Hiccup gave up and sat on a rock away from the dragon around sunset, using a stick draw the dragon's face in the dirt. Little did he know that the dragon was beside him-inches away-watching closely and purring contently. Not wanting to startle the dragon, Hiccup pretended as if he wasn't there.

After a moment the dragon snapped a sapling and began drawing as well-although it was more like a collection of random lines- but Hiccup understood that this dragon was at least...trying to copy him. When the dragon was done, it dropped the sapling and sat back with a contented nod, looking over its work. Hiccup stood rather amazed at the dragon's...skill level or or attempt to copy, to learn from him. Hiccup wasn't sure right now what the dragon had been aiming to do, but in his admiration he stepped on one of the dragon's lines: it growled at him. He moved his foot and the dragon smiled again. Confused now, Hiccup put his foot down which got him another growl-and now Hiccup understood: the dragon was proud of its work. So Hiccup stepped over the line rather than on it and the dragon was fine, looking approvingly at him. Carefully, Hiccup followed it around making sure not to step on lines and then soon found himself with his back to the dragon's chest, under his head.

Looking back carefully, he saw how close they were. Hiccup reached a hand forward as the dragon growled again. Hiccup sighed, closing his eyes and stretching his hand out again: this time however...no growl. The dragon pressed its snout to his open palm and the two held that for only a moment before the dragon snorted and trundled off. Hiccup was shocked: the Night Fury allowed Hiccup to touch him. It was...mutual trust. It was amazing. Was this what it felt like to have...a friend?

(That Night)

Hiccup listened to Gobber tell the his favourite tale-of him losing his arm and leg and he suddenly sat up as Gobber made a remark that a downed dragon was a dead dragon. Immediately, Hiccup understood that his friend would die if he couldn't fly and that was all the inspiration he needed. Heading out secretly, Hiccup heated of the forge and worked with a bunch of spare materials to make an almost perfect prosthetic tail for the dragon.

(Next Day)

Hiccup returned to the cove with a basket of fish for Toothless-the Night Fury that Hiccup had now named such. Hiccup also quickly learned that Toothless didn't like eels. Hiccup wrestled with the tail to get the fake on and then Toothless took to the sky. Mid-flight, they began to fall as Hiccup noticed the tail couldn't remain open on its own-so he held it open and realized that Toothless couldn't fly without him holding the tail open. This sparked more new ideas in the young boy's head.

(Next Few Weeks)

Since that first flight, Hiccup had worked with a variety of designs to make the tail stay open...and in the process, he had learned a bunch of new tricks to subdue dragons that made him...increasingly popular in the village and caught the eye of one blond-haired, blue-eyed maiden named Astrid. Although she strived to be the best, she admired that Hiccup was really good at working with dragons. She was becoming more and more attracted to him. However, after Hiccup had finally perfected the tail rig for Toothless, and mastered positioning the tail so they could fly together. Stoick returned and learned of Hiccup's success. As one of the two leading students, he contested for the position of top student-and Hiccup won and was chosen to kill the Nightmare in the Kill Ring the following day. That night he made his decision: he wasn't going to do it and he couldn't face the village either. He wouldn't risk Toothless or himself: he knew the truth about dragons. They weren't dangerous at all, just misunderstood, like Hiccup was. No one knew about him until they saw the truth, and it was the same with dragons. Hiccup saw the truth but he knew the others wouldn't agree and that left one choice.

Run away.

While everyone was in the hall celebrating, Hiccup was packing his stuff in a basket. Clothes, notebooks, drawings-even Toothless's spare tail parts in case repairs had to be made along the way. This was his only choice. His father had been right: he wasn't a dragon killer-he was something else. He didn't know what yet but right now it was best friends with and rider of a Night Fury. And that was not a skill that would be welcome on Berk, or any island for that matter. Hiccup would find out what he was destined for but he knew it wasn't Vikinghood or dragon killing. He was different, there wasn't a way to deny that anymore-so he'd leave and find out what the Gods had in store for him. When he was done packing, he began making his way to the forest.

"Hey. If you're camping out in the forest tonight, me and the others can join you?" came a female voice. Hiccup turned quickly to see Astrid there with a small smile.

"No thanks. I think...I'll solo this trip, Astrid," Hiccup replied.

"That's...a lot of stuff for just one night. Staying...in the forest longer?" Astrid questioned him, slightly suspiciously. Hiccup sighed closing his eyes now and putting the basket down by his feet. "You're not...coming back are you, Hiccup?" Astrid asked next.

"I'm not...what they think I am, Astrid. I'm not some...dragon prodigy. It's just like my dad said: I'm not a dragon killer. Its not...who I am," Hiccup answered.

"But you still defeat them, just a different way." Astrid reminded him softly.

"Astrid, I don't defeat them. I subdue them with...pressure points and shiny objects on the ground. That's not defeat, its not me, Astrid and I'm not going to go in there tomorrow and be something I'm not...so I'm just going...to leave," Hiccup said finally.

"Well the docks are...that way, why are you going to the forest?" Astrid motioned behind them towards the docks.

"I'm going to use the tunnels to get to Thor's beach. That way, no one will see me..." Hiccup sighed.

"Will...you ever be back? Ya know like...after you find out who you are?" Astrid asked, stepping towards him.

"I haven't decided that yet. Astrid, you know how my life was before all this dragon champion stuff. Hiccup the Useless-that's what I was called. A weak, useless, destructive...loser. Now that I can do all this with dragons, people like me? It's all...lies, Astrid. Once I leave, people are just going to think I died or whatever...you can tell them I ran away or whatever...it doesn't matter. They'll just call me a coward and weak again. I'm sure even you will forget about me too. I'm nothing, Astrid...why do you care what I'm doing or if I come back?" Hiccup asked her.

"Because...I know there is more to you than what everyone sees now or used to see. Everyone is good at something, Hiccup. Some just take longer to find it. If I felt I had to leave to find out who I really am...then I would too so I won't stop you...or tell anyone," Astrid answered.

"But why do you care if I come back or not?" Hiccup repeated.

"So I can save myself for you," Astrid said firmly, Hiccup looked at her, a little shocked. "I like you, Hiccup. Maybe I even love you. I know you'll come back one day and will have done something amazing with your life. If you're not meant for this...killing dragons, then you're destined for far more. And I want to see what you become, and I hope you return so I can be with the real Hiccup Haddock," Astrid smiled softly.

Hiccup couldn't believe it. Astrid liked him? She...believed he could be more, that he was destined for more? And she wanted to be with the real him? Hiccup finally returned the smile: it sucked he had to leave because he'd love to stay and be with her but...she was right, he was destined for more and he had to find himself, become who he was meant to be. Taking her hand in his, he saw her blush under the glow of the moon overhead. "Then I give my word, I will return one day. Until then...wait for me with this to remember me by..." Hiccup leaned in and kissed her softly: she closed her eyes melting into it. They broke it a few seconds later.

"You better come back, Hiccup. I'll be waiting for you," Astrid said gently. Hiccup nodded.

"On my life, Mi'lady. I'll come back." Hiccup backed up, picking up his basket and disappearing into the darkened forest as Astrid only watched with a smile: she'd wait for him. Hiccup wouldn't break his promise, this she was sure of. Not long after, Astrid moved away from the forest so no one would get suspicious as to why she was there. She would keep his secret that he ran away and also that he would be back. That piece of information was only for her: Hiccup would be back. She'd hold firm to that believe until she saw those green eyes and auburn hair once more. Meanwhile, in the forest, Hiccup reached the cove. He attached the basket to Toothless then mounted him and opened the tail. "Well, bud, this is it...Ready for an adventure?"

Toothless crooned happily, spreading his wings and taking to the star filled sky above. Hiccup only looked back once, seeing Astrid returning to her home slowly. 'Until we meet again, Astrid...' Hiccup thought as he looked forward and the two sped off, away from Berk.

-End Flashback-

[Hiccup's POV]

-Present Day-

I sighed heavily, opening my eyes and hearing Toothless croon beside me. "I take it you're ready to eat, bud?" I chuckled, my friend jumped around and licked my face once. I got up and left my room to feed Toothless-which was just a whole basket of fish for him. Then I got a second basket before I sat down at the table but not before placing two plates down of yak chops and a baked potato with yak butter. "SOREN!" I called out.

"Yeah, Dad?" the male replied to me from the other room.

"Bring Streamwing and yourself out here for dinner!" I said.

"Coming!" the boy yelled. Soon a dark pale blonde/caramel colored hair boy with light hazel eyes emerged from his room with a gray bodied, dark blue eyed Night Fury bounding beside him. The Night Fury sat beside Toothless to eat his fish, while Soren-who was my adopted son-sat down at the table so we could eat dinner. "That was some mission today, huh, Dad?"

"It was. Very successful too," I replied.

"Dad?" Soren said. I glanced at him. "Thanks, for everything. I never knew I could be this happy until you found me," Soren smiled.

I smiled back, "You're welcome. And I feel the same, son. Now eat up," I said. He nodded and we continued to eat. Yep, here I was, ten years later after leaving Berk. Three years after leaving Berk, I found Soren and now here we were: Soren being 13, and myself 25. Just a father and son, working together to save dragons from Vikings and Vikings from dragon raids and me...labeled a hero for doing so. A hero. Something I never wanted to be.

~*Authors Note; Alright so! As you can see, this is the new story. Now, for the first few chapters it will be in Hiccup's narration explaining the last 10 years since he left Berk. So keep that in mind while reading, I won't leave ya hanging in wondering who Soren is, how Hiccup found him, and why there is a second Night Fury. Also who Stilsta is when I listed her above as someone who will be with Tuffnut. All will be explained! So, stay tuned for chapter two!*~