Hiccup

This is all so backwards.

Déjà vu doesn't even cut it, this is history repeating itself all over again, what disappointed Hiccup the most was how quickly it had come around. His father, Chief Stoick the Vast, and his council had been exploring around their lands for some time and had expanded their home to new lands. They were beginning to colonise. Hiccup never went on these explorations, even with his father insisting otherwise, he knew exactly what was going on and it sure as heck wasn't all trading and negotiation. Hiccup knew his father and his tribe too well, it was all out war.

Berk was quiet now. Having the dragons around didn't replace the fact that so many had left to go and join in with the raids, even Astrid had left, the moment she turned eighteen. Hiccup had been disappointed, he thought that she would have known better, but she was far too stubborn to listen to him.

Hiccup sat dangling his legs over the side of the wooden walkway on the rock face, looking out to sea. Clouds swollen grey with rain loomed on the horizon, Hiccup sighed, another storm tonight. Beside him, the large black dragon stared at the waves breaking off of the rocks below, his ears flicking back and forth with each crest of a wave. Hiccup pulled his knees up to his chest and pressed his face into his forearms, he couldn't believe they could be so stupid! It was only a few years ago when the tribe had been so intent on killing the dragons they had now befriended. How could things swing around so fast?

Oh no, that's right. He remembered. It's because now the Vikings had power, real power. Strength formed in the hundreds of dragons that flew by their sides into battle, Hiccup moaned to himself in dismay, "Will they ever learn?" He asked, looking over at his companion. Toothless looked up at him with those bright eyes, he shook his head. Hiccup sighed, it was true. He'd have to pull a serious hat trick to try and convince his father not to raid every settlement he sees, but with his new thirst he doubted that riding in on the back of a Night Fury would save the day this time.

Hiccup lifted his gaze to the horizon and squinted. Black shapes on the horizon… He shot to his feet, Toothless jumped in surprise, "Dad!"

They met them on the docks. Hiccup embraced his father when he disembarked from the ship. Stoick looked exhausted and so old, his hair had even begun to grey from the stresses of a fight. Hiccup frowned internally, he put on his best smile, "It's good to see you dad."

"And you son," Stoick patted him on the back, breaking from the hug and held Hiccup at arm's length. It had been a year since he had last seen Hiccup, "you're taller."

Taller than Stoick, in fact. Hiccup had had a growth spurt, but he hadn't put on an ounce of muscle in that time. He was all skin and bone, gangly on long limbs. Hiccup shrugged, "I guess I have." Stoick laughed, he clasped his hand tight on Hiccup's shoulder as they trekked back to the house.

The house felt a lot smaller when Stoick filled the frame of the door, Hiccup busied himself with the fire and getting some food ready. He could imagine that the journey back from wherever they had returned from would have made him hungry. Toothless curled up in the rafters as Hiccup began to gut fish. Stoick took a seat by the fire and stared at it intently, "We've heard a mighty fine rumour, Hiccup," He shared, still glaring into the hearth, "a beautiful green place, off in the west. Big mountains, huge lakes and rivers. The perfect place to open up a trading port."

Hiccup pressed his lips together as he threw the fish innards into a bowl, Toothless would be having them once he was done, "Oh? Well that sounds nice." Something so beautiful must have a catch.

Stoick swung round on his stool and clenched his fists, "But there's a problem," here we go, "living there are savages. Celtic creatures, descendants of warlocks and the most fearsome of warriors." He stroked his beard, Hiccup gave him a perplexed look whilst skewering the fish.

"Ah, well, I guess that's a shame I guess you'll have to go and look elsewh-"

"We leave tomorrow to invade. There's one river that goes from the sea straight into the heart of their lands, we shall use it to our advantage and crush them!" Stoick yelled, standing up and punching the air with such passion that Hiccup gulped when that hot glare looked down at him, "and I want you and Toothless to come with us."

Hiccup dropped the fish and stick he was holding, "Yo-you what?" Toothless peered down from his perch, "you want me to come with you on what sounds like a suicide mission. Great dad, thanks, I feel so loved." He retrieved the fish and skewer.

Stoick scoffed, "Hiccup! We have the dragons! Nothing can stop us! And nothing can stop that damned Night Fury of yours, you are coming with us. Is that understood boy?"

Hiccup lost his appetite, he finished up and stabbed the skewers down into the hearth to cook. He didn't say a word as he picked up the bowl of fish guts and handed it up to Toothless, who accepted it eagerly and ate them all in a single lick, Hiccup caught the bowl when it was tossed back down. He could feel Stoick glaring daggers at his back and it was only when he was at the door to his room when Hiccup replied, "Fine, but we're not killing anyone." Before Stoick could muster a response, he closed the door. He supposed he had better get packing.