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-After spending another hour at the palace-
The Ryder's took Hiccup and Toothless out to the marketplace. Eva was looking over the list she made while Victor was explaining to Hiccup on how he trains his recruits.
Hiccup has to admit that his adopted father's method was a lot better than his previous father's training. He recalls most of the time he had to dodge out of the way from throwing axes to spars. There was one point where his father told him to smash a rock with his head.
But after seeing that he couldn't do anything, Stoick had Gobber to teach him instead. Another way of saying, you're not a true Viking and you're weak.
"Will...you be training me like that as well?" asked Hiccup. He bites his lip, "And what about Toothless? He can't fight properly since he can't fly on his own."
"I'll have Storm teach Toothless a thing or two about fighting," said Victor before chuckling. "You know if I'm not mistaken, my dragon will adopt your dragon as his own."
Hiccup smiled to know that his best friend was going to gain a father figure as well.
"Alright, we have four hours to get everything that Hiccup needs," Eva started. "First, we need to go to Lottie's Place where we can get his everyday clothes, school uniform, night clothes, ball suits, traveling capes – are you even listening to me, Victor?"
"What – oh yes! Clothes! Whatever you say dear," Victor said .
"Oh stop daydreaming and go order a carriage – now!" Eva insisted before grabbing hold onto Hiccup's arm. "Come along dear. You will need proper clothes for the winter as it can get rather cold here."
Hiccup didn't have much to say when they entered the store.
A woman with long blond braided hair and had gray eyes was sitting at a desk. She looked up and smiled warmly at them, "Lady Ryder, what can we do for you today?"
"Afternoon Charlotte, I want your full service today," Eva said before placing Hiccup in front of her. "You see, I have adopted a son and he needs a new wardrobe – at once!"
Charlotte's eyes shine brightly before shouting over to her assistant. "Margret! Cancel any upcoming appointments right now! We have a full wardrobe order!"
Margret, a young girl with short brown hair and had light brown eyes, nodded her head before running back to the door she came out of. Charlotte grabbed hold onto Hiccup's hand and guided him to a stool. That's when Margret and three other women came with measuring tapes and fabrics on hand.
Outside, Toothless watched his hatchling with a grinning smile. He then heard someone walking up to him. The Night Fury turned his head to see the male human, smiling to him.
"How's Hiccup holding up?"
Toothless cooed before looking over at the window again.
Victor looked over at the window before seeing Hiccup getting fuzzed by Charlotte and her assistants. He sighs, "I feel bad for the poor lad. To endure my wife's shopping fit. Never argue with Eva about shopping as you'll never win against her."
Toothless titled his head.
"Right, we'll wait right here," Victor said. "We'll be out...soon I hope. Let's go Harold."
"Right sir," the carriage man said.
It took about two hours for all the measuring, choosing the right fabric, the right color, and Eva's approval. The assistants loaded the boxes into the carriage while Charlotte was finishing up Hiccup's dress robes.
Charlotte had taken out a lovely emerald, forest-green fabric and placed it onto Hiccup's shoulder. She smiled, "You have such lovely emerald eyes, child. You shouldn't be hiding them."
Hiccup blushes from embarrassment.
Once the dress and suits were done, Hiccup was finally out of the store and saw that Toothless was giving him one of his playful smirks.
"Oh who asked you," Hiccup murmured before widening his eyes. He looked over at Eva, "How can all that stuff fit into the carriage?"
"You'll be surprised how big is inside, Hiccup," Victor said before leaning over to his ear. "Not only that, my wife is an expert on making things fit."
"I see," Hiccup said before noticing a few people were staring at him and Toothless. "Um...I know that Althea told me that the people can't hurt my dragon but why are they staring?"
"They might be wondering why there is another Fury since only the Princess has one," Eva replied.
Victor helped Eva and Hiccup into the carriage before going inside as well. Harold took his seat and started to navigate the streets but made sure the dragon was following him.
"I wouldn't be surprised that Charlotte and her assistant will be gossiping about this," Victor stated. "Everyone in Aldmoor will know about you and your dragon by the end of the day, Hiccup."
"Gossip?" Hiccup asked
Victor nodded, "You will find that here in Aldmoor, there are bunch of news flowing through the streets. Some can be great news while others can be quite horrible and bunch of lies to boot."
"S-So I have to be c-careful on what I do or say around here then?" Hiccup nervously asked.
"I...guess you can say that since I am the General which place me in a high statue in nobility," Victor replied. He placed his hand onto Hiccup's shoulder, "Don't worry about it. Most of the time those rumors are simply just silly rumors."
"Don't you worry Hiccup, we will teach you on how to be a Noble," Eva said. She smiled, "But I have a feeling you will do great."
"That's...This is a whole lot different where I lived," said Hiccup. He shook his head, "There was nothing about nobility in Berk. Respect was giving to the strongest Viking but nobility, nothing."
"You are strong Hiccup," Eva happily said. "You have a strong heart and will. Use it as your weapon, my son."
Hiccup nodded, slowly.
"That reminds me," Victor said. "If you like you can change your name to something else."
"Change...my...name?'
"That's correct but it's your choice," Liza said softly.
Hiccup thought for a moment, "...I-I would like to change my name but my biological Mother named me and I don't want to erase what is left of her."
"We understand, dear," Eva said.
"If I may ask, you don't have to answer but what happen to your Mother, Hiccup?" Victor asked.
"...She was ... suffering from a bad sickness.."Hiccup replied softly. "She suffered more after giving birth to me.."
Victor and Eva nodded.
"If you like you can have your first name as your middle name then you can decide on a new name, how that sounds?" Victor suggested.
Hiccup tapped his chin before nodding his head.
"Wonderful! Now onward to get you some dress shoes and boots," Eva stated.
Victor left out a sigh before leaning over at Hiccup, "This shopping hell thing will end soon and afterwards we will be going out to eat."
Hiccup nodded his head while Eva pouts.
"I head that and do you ever think of something else besides food and fighting, Victor!"
"Hey in my defense, I was thinking for all of us since we haven't eaten lunch," The General Duke said. He smirked a bit, "And didn't you want to eat that new diner place that just opened."
Eva sighs before smiling, "You know me to well – Harold! Change of plans! Mind driving us to Ada's Diner instead?"
"Of course Lady Ryder," the carriage man , Harold replied.
"You'll love the food there, Hiccup,"Victor whispered. He lean close to Hiccup's ear, "I've tried the food there already and it's simply amazing but don't tell my wife or she will have a fit. I promised her that I would take her the moment it was opened."
Hiccup smiled a bit before frowning, "What about Toothless?"
"Not to worry," Victor said. "A friend of mine got a job there and he knows all too well about my dragon. He has a special place just for him and no doubt about it that he will cook something special for Toothless."
Hiccup nodded as the carriage stopped at their destination.
"Here we are boys," Eva said, happily. She arranged Hiccup's vest a bit, "There, that's better. Let's get going as I can hear Victor's stomach from here."
"Very funny," Victor murmured.
The General got out first before helping his wife and Hiccup out of the carriage. He told Harold to take a break before guiding Toothless to his friend where he took the young dragon to a special stall for dragons.
Supper was amazing in Hiccup and Toothless mind.
Afterwards it took about another hour or so to finish the shopping before the Ryder's took Hiccup to their home – his home.
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~TO BE CONTINUED~