HTLANF AU: How to Raise Your Night Furies

Part 4 ~ Chapter 27

After about an hour, Hiccup and Toothless made their way back to the rest of the group in their human forms.

Kala dashed over to them, having transformed back into her human form a little while after Hiccup had gone to check on her older brother, and lifted her arms towards her father as she made grabby hands. Hiccup chuckled and picked her up, settling her on his right hip as they approached the others.

Stoick noticed them and smiled softly, resting his hand on Toothless' shoulder. "Feelin' better lad?"

Toothless nodded with a small smile. "Yeah.."

"Good." Stoick said with a nod, then his attention turned towards his son. "May I have a word son?"

"Oh, uh...sure Dad." Hiccup said, handing Kala off to Astrid as he followed Stoick away from the others.

Kala whined and clung to Astrid, not happy at being transferred to another set of arms so soon. Astrid smiled softly and rubbed the hatchling's back as she hid her face in her aunt's shoulder.

"What do you think Grandpa needs to talk with Dad about..?" Toothless quietly asked his aunt and grandmother.

Valka and Astrid exchanged glances with knowing smiles.

"You'll see soon enough, squirt." Astrid said, not wanting to give away anything to the twelve year old just yet.

Toothless huffed as he crossed his arms, his cheeks puffed out in annoyance at the vague answer.

Once they were out of earshot of the others, Stoick turned to face Hiccup with a serious look on his face. Hiccup grew concerned and rubbed his arm as he tried his best to not break eye contact with his father like he usually did when that look was directed towards him.
"What'd you need to talk about? And why couldn't we just do it around the others?" Hiccup asked, his concern very evident in his tone.

"I want you to take over as chief once we've gotten back to Berk." Stoick said and Hiccup's eyes widened in shock.

"What? Dad, I'm nowhere near ready for that! As much as I agree with you finally retiring, I'm still so far from being ready to run the village on my own." Hiccup said in fear.

Stoick smiled softly and rested his hands on Hiccup's shoulders. "Oh trust me, Hiccup, you're ready. I know you might not think you are, but I can see it in your eyes. You may not know all the tips and tricks to it all, but you have a good understanding on what must be done in order to protect your people. You'll never know everything it takes, son. I sure didn't, and I still don't. Every chief has their own unique ways of doing things. It's time you find yours."

Hiccup held himself as he looked away then looked back up at his father. "Are you sure..?"

"With every bone in my body, son." Stoick said with a reassuring smile, which melted away the fears piling higher and higher in Hiccup's mind.

Hiccup nodded with a small smile of his own. "Okay."

"Atta lad. You'll do great. And if you're worried about the wee ones, they've got plenty of people to watch over them." Stoick chuckled, which got a laugh from Hiccup.

"Yeah. Yeah they really do."

"So, what's your plan for defeating Drago?" Stoick asked, which made Hiccup stiffen.

"Wait..you want me to take over now?" He asked wearily.

"What better way to start your rule than a battle to protect your home?" Stoick asked, although it came off more as a statement than a question to Hiccup.

"I suppose..." Hiccup said as he looked away in thought, strategies already forming in his mind.

After some time passed he nodded with a determined look on his face and turned around to head back to the others. Stoick smiled and followed suit, feeling nothing but pride in that moment.