The Way It Has to Be (Book 2)

Chapter 1

The sun pours into Hiccup's room, lighting the once dark room. The bright shine of the sun spreads across his face, causing him wake up. He blinks a couple of times and groans. Not wanting to get up, Hiccup rolls over on his side and pulls his blanket over his head.

Toothless, who is curled up on his bed, looks at Hiccup. The young, new chief has always had a hard time not wanting to move since the events of last year. The Night Fury huffs in annoyance as he once again has to force his best friend to get up. Toothless scurries over to Hiccup. He bumps his head against his rider, trying to get him get up, but Hiccup refuses.

"Toothless. Stop," Hiccup groans frustrated, pushing his dragon away. Hiccup turns over, with the blanket still over his head.

Refusing to give up, Toothless tries once more, unsuccessfully, to get Hiccup up. Toothless growls at his rider. Only way one way to get him up.

Toothless stands by the side of Hiccup's bed and then gives him a hard shove. Hiccup falls off his bed, landing hard the ground.

"Ow! What? Toothless!"

Toothless laughs, while Hiccup glares at his dragon angrily. Getting off the ground, Hiccup places his blanket on the bed and then decides to get dressed, since sleep is dead news.

Hiccup puts his armor on, and heads downstairs to where his mother, Valka sits at the table. She has a plate of untouched eggs in front of her. Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, Valka looks up.

"Oh, Hiccup! Good morning. I-I didn't hear you get up."

Hiccup takes a seat, pulling a plate of eggs in front of him. Toothless heads outside to get himself something to eat. He takes a bite.

"Oh, uh, yeah. I kinda wasn't planning on getting up, but Toothless had other ideas."

Valka nods in understanding, but a pained expression haunts her face. "Sweetheart. You know as the acting chief, you can't just abandon your duties to help your people."

Hiccup sighs, shuffling eggs around in his plate. "I know. It's just, that I can't."

"What do you mean you can't?"

He can't handle anything anymore. It's all too much for him bear. Hiccup has been through too much. The loss of his father taking a heavy toll on him, and then there was...No! He won't think about.

"Everything! The chiefing! The threat! All of it! It's too much!" Hiccup explodes suddenly making Valka jump in her seat.

Seeing his mother's distress and worry, Hiccup calms down. All traces of anger wiped away. He sighs, raking his hand through his hair.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout and scare you. I just can't do it anymore," he explains, pushing his eggs away from him.

Valka stands up from her chair, walking around to Hiccup's chair. She cups his face, staring into his eyes that matched hers.

"Hiccup, I understand. I feel the same way. I feel your pain. I miss him, too. I struggle every morning trying to get up and do something to take my mind off of last year. And with...Sapphire," Valka winces at the name and so does Hiccup, but nonetheless she continues." With Sapphire, it's nothing to worry about."

What? Nothing to worry about?

"It's a lot to worry about. She threatened us. She wants revenge and if there's one thing I learned from her, is that she always keeps her promises. Just because she hasn't attacked yet, doesn't mean she won't. She's coming mom. She's coming for me, and Eret."

"I know, but I'm trying to say that for now, everything will fine. I know what your feeling, Hiccup. I need you to focus and be chief of Berk. We need you. And as for Sapphire, when that time comes we will be prepared." Valka stares at Hiccup intently, hoping that he gets what she's trying to say.

Hiccup nods giving his mother a kiss on the cheek. He stands, towering over her and leaves the house.

The birds chirp, singing their songs, bringing a new light to Hiccup's depressed mood. A gentle breeze ruffles his hairs, the wind whistles a light tone in his ears, persuading him to go fly.

"Hey, stranger," a voice calls. A moment later, a blue Deadly Nadder lands in front of Hiccup with a viking girl on top. The rider dismounts and walks to Hiccup.

"Hello, M'Lady," Hiccup greets bowing like a true gentleman. He chuckles as he stands upright and gazes into a beautiful blue eyes.

"It's nice to see you up," Astrid says. Ever since last year, Astrid has hardly seen Hiccup, since he locked himself in his room.

"Yeah, well, I guess you thank Toothless for that." Right on cue, the Night Fury comes bounding out of nowhere and tackles his rider to the ground, licking him uncontrollably.

Hiccup manages to push his best friend off him, but frowns when he sees his suit.

"Aw, Toothless. Bad dragon! You know that doesn't wash out," Hiccup grumbles, but there was small smile forming on his lips. He wiped the saliva off of him, even chucking some of it at Toothless, who growls disapprovingly.

"Well, since your feeling better and all, how about a Dragon Race? It's been forever since we've done one. Plus, I would love to kick your butt again."

Hiccup shrugs in that weird way of his. "Sure, why not. That way me and Toothless can show you why we're in charge."

Astrid just waves his comment off, as if it were a mere Terrible Terror. "Says the person who was cooped up in his house for a year."

He laughed. She got him.

"Let the games begin."