I'm going to go back to one chapter a week with this new story. So expect a new chapter every SATURDAY!
O
Life on Berk flourished greatly after the wedding of Hiccup and Astrid. Their Food Storage was never empty; it was always stocked full. People were happy; all but one. It was late at night; Hiccup sat slumped over in his chair; work papers scattered over the table in front of him. He sighed and ran his hand through his auburn hair. The roaring fire in the fireplace was the only light around. Hiccup sighed; his body and mind were exhausted. It was quiet except for the light footsteps of Astrid, his newlywed wife, as she came up to him with a cup of milk. Hiccup smiled up at her and she smiled at him. "You should get to bed," Astrid suggested.
Hiccup shook his head, "I've gotta finish this...It won't take too long."
"Fine," Astrid brushed the hair from his eyes, "Afterwards you should go for a flight. Stormy will be happy to take you."
Hiccup stopped what he was doing. He stared at the papers in front of him for a moment before shaking his head. "No thanks," he sighed, "I don't think I'll be flying anymore. Besides, I'm too busy."
Astrid was surprised by this. "But your Hiccup," she rubbed his back, "You're all about dragons! You can't not fly!"
"Not every dragon can fly," Hiccup reminded Astrid.
"Still," Astrid sighed.
"Just...forget about it," Hiccup asked her, "Please?"
Astrid looked worriedly at Hiccup. He was stressed with his work as Chief. It was obvious that he did nothing but work to distract himself; to make him forget about Toothless and move on. "You know," Astrid sat down next to Hiccup, "In two months Toothless' babies will be able to fly. He'll most likely come here to see you."
Hiccup looked at Astrid; as if she had just said a forbidden name; and now that she said it all of the memories that were made were going to come flooding back and make the emptiness Hiccup felt even emptier. "If he does, then that'll be great," Hiccup leaned back and stretched, "I think I'll go out for a walk, okay?"
"Don't be out all night," Astrid stood up and kissed Hiccups forehead. She then walked up the stairs to go to bed.
Hiccup stood up and pushed in his and Astrids chair. Everything was quiet except for the crackle of the fire and the snores of Stormy outside. A feeling came over Hiccup; something felt different. He couldn't quite place it, but, Hiccup noted that this night was extra quiet. Hiccup stepped out and the air was oddly chilly. It was normally cold on Berk, but the air felt colder than it usually did. There was no snow; it wasn't winter time. Hiccup scanned the village square; nobody was out. Hiccup walked down the steps, then wondered for a bit.
Hiccup walked by his mother's house. They had built her a house in the center of the village after Hiccup married. Cloudjumper lay sleeping in his nest-like bed. The dragons, soft snores vibrated through the air. The same feeling came to Hiccup; and he turned and looked towards the ocean. He couldn't tell; but something or someone was out there. He couldn't tell if that someone was good or bad; human or dragon. Hiccup looked up at the starry night sky. His mind went to Toothless. Luna told him that the babies hatched a week after he let Toothless go; three boys and three girls. Toothless had wanted Hiccup to name his kids; but Hiccup could only come up with four; Plasma, Jewels, Thora, and Stoick. Hiccup stretched his arms again, then got to work.
O
Later that day gathered her friends. "This better be quick," Snotlout crossed his arms, "Hookfang is needing a bath."
Insulted, Hookfang snorted steam on his Rider. 'I'm not the only one boy,' he growled in annoyance.
"Guys," Astrid got their attention, "It's pretty obvious that Hiccup have been driving himself tired to distract himself from the fact that he had to let Toothless go."
"I get why," Kari understood.
"Well," Astrid sighed, "Last night I suggested that he should go for a flight to relax. But...Hiccup said that he isn't going to fly anymore!"
"What!?" Andres gasped, "But...he's Hiccup! He's all about dragons! He can't not fly!"
"That's what I said," Astrid patted her dragon when came over, "but won't take it. We're going to find him a new dragon."
"We?" Ruffnut asked.
"Yes, we," Astrid smiled, "We will each find and bring back a dragon for him. But don't let him know. I want it to be a surprise."
"Well," Snotlout boasted, "I know the perfect dragon for him! Come on Hookfang! We'll take that bath later."
"Maybe you should take it now," Tuffnut held his nose as Snotlout walked passed. "You know," he turned to his sister, "Since Hiccup has been so tired lately he should have two dragons."
"Good idea!" Ruffnut climbed onto Barf.
Snotlout and the twins left to look for a dragon to give their Chief. The others then left to so the same.
O
Snotlout and Hookfang flew through the air. Snotlout scanned the Berk forest below. 'What dragon do you have in mind?' Hookfang asked.
Suddenly, a loud roar of a Monstrous Nightmare echoed out from the forest. "Ah ha" Snotlout cheered, "There's one! Down Hookfang!"
They landed and Snotlout slid off his dragon. He walked around; the forest went quiet. "Hm?" Snotlout couldn't understand where the dragon could have gone, "You go that way Hookfang. I'll go this way."
They separated; Hookfang sniffed the ground. It wasn't three minutes later when Hookfang heard the Nightmare roar again and Snotlout scream. As he turned around Snotlout ran passed him; the butt of his pants on fire. "I FOUND THE DRAGON!" Snotlout screamed.
O
Andres and Stormtwister flew above the open ocean. "What Hiccup needs is a Thunderdrum," Andres explained, "Not only will it give him a new dragon to ride, but it'll also be a little reminder about Stoick. You know, keep him going if he ever feels sad."
'Thoughtful idea,' Stormtwister noted, 'But do you even know how to train a Thunderdrum?'
"It can't be that hard," Andres scanned the ocean, "Stoick trained one."
'Oh boy,' Stormtwister sighed.
They flew for a few minutes, then dove under the water. Andres, who held his breath tightly, smiled when he spotted one. "Alright," Andres coughed after they surfaced, "Now how do we get him to come up?"
'Why not just ask him?'
"I know!" Andres didn't hear his dragon, "Blast around him; get his attention."
Stormtwister just looked at his Rider. 'Okay,' he groaned, 'I'm going to need to talk to the twins after this. You've spent too much time around them.' Stormtwister did as Andres wanted. Then they waited. And waited. Suddenly, the Thunderdrum exploded out the water; anger in it's face. He let out a sonic roar right at the two boys.
O
It was late in the day; Hiccup had just finished his work and was fixing up Stormy's pen. When he suddenly felt cold; this phantom chill even made his bones shiver. He looked around, everything seemed normal. "Hey," he looked at a little Terrible Terror, "Do you feel cold at all?"
'No,' the dragon shook his head, 'Warm as ever.'
Hiccup stood there; confused. Maybe it was just him? The Night Mountain; where he left Toothless; was a cold place. Maybe he was just imagining the coldness? But that didn't explain the feeling he got earlier; which he was now feeling again. He looked out to see, nobody. "Hm...maybe Astrid was right," Hiccup sighed as he got back to work on the pen, "Maybe I am overworking myself."
As Hiccup worked with his back to the ocean the feeling grew stronger; as if whoever he was sensing was getting closer. He didn't know it at the time; but he would soon meet this mysterious individual.