The Heart of a Viking

I: Prologue

Disclaimer: How to Train your Dragon is owned by Cressida Cowell and DreamWorks Animation; I claim no rights.

Deep in the forests of Berk, on a cliff overlooking the sea, sat Hiccup. He leaned casually against his dragon partner, Toothless, as they watched the sun descend past the horizon; the sky was awash with colour. The last dying rays of light reflected off Hiccup's semi-transparent black wings, the pale gold scales sprinkled on his shoulders flickering.

The boy was fingering the mechanical tail that sat in his lap. It was bright red with a complicated gear system attached. When it was finished, the tail would allow Toothless to fly unaided. Sighing― he had gotten nowhere with this project― Hiccup ran his fingers over the thick leather insignia, a black stylized skull, before gently reattaching it to Toothless's tail.

Not able to retain his frustrated mood, he smiled slightly as mounted the saddle on Toothless's he changed the tail's setting from the non-working "self-assist mode" to the normal "control it with my foot" mode. Obviously naming things wasn't Hiccup's strong suit. Speaking in Dragonese, he confirmed, "I'm ready," to the normally not-so-patient Toothless. Not waiting to be told twice, the dragon eagerly shot into the sky.

Upon reaching the village, Toothless circled and reluctantly descended in the direction of Hiccup's house. Leaping a few steps, Toothless walked the rest of the way to the door before pausing to let Hiccup dismount. The dragon warbled and gestured at the house.

Hiccup's smile widened, "Yeah. I'm on it." He opened the door and nearly got run over by Toothless as the dragon playfully bounded up the stairs to their room.

Reaching the small study complete with a rock slab, bed, and desk, he was not surprised to see the Night Fury already dozing off on the bed. Stoick, his dad and chief of the tribe, was going to kill him. Again.

Sighing, he climbed up onto the uncomfortable platform and nestled against Toothless, the black dragon's sleek scales surprisingly warm and soft.

Once again sighing― this time in contentment― he thought, I'll worry about Dad tomorrow, I'm too comfortable to get up now.

...

The morning was peaceful...

...For the most part.

"Hiccup! How many times have I told you that dragons are not to sleep on beds?!"

...Okay, maybe not so much.

Hiccup groaned as he was forced to get out of his comfortable position. He knew better than to argue with the chief of Berk. "One moment."

"Toothless, get up: Dad's here."

Hiccup grasped and gently shook the dragon's shoulder.

Toothless snored away...

Hiccup took a deep breath to prepare himself for what he would do next.

"Toothless! Hurry before Mildew steals all your cod!"

The dragon's head instantly shot up, eyes comically wide, and he metaphorically turned pale at the thought of Mildew stealing his precious fish. Realizing that he had been tricked (Not for the first time either), he growled at the boy, "How dare you! Expect payback!"

Stoick simply looked between the arguing and sighed. He turned and left the room.

At least life on Berk was peaceful now.