Dragon Treasure Chapter: 23

Summary:  Hiccup is just a little seven year old boy running away from his father’s disappointment and meets a new friend hiding in the woods. Stoic is about to learn that one man’s burden is another man’s treasure. 

The dragons and Vikings were once again gathered in the great hall to discuss their attack on the queen. The Night Furies were being the translators between the two species as they had been debating on how they were to attack all morning.

"From what the dragons tell us the best attack is to surround the island since she has eyes around it. Besides the fact that this creature is larger than life we'll need all the help we can get just to take her down. Unfortunately any other dragon clans that I know of would take at least a month to get to, leaving Berk vulnerable. Uncle, are you certain there are no other human tribes that could assist us?" Tyra asked Stoick.

"Yes, we could contact them but by the time boats reached their islands and if they agreed it would take weeks for them to get here," the chief replied rubbing his eyes.

The room was silent for quite some time as everyone mumbled different ideas but quickly dismissed them when they didn't work. Meanwhile in the back of the room the children of Berk were quietly listening to what they adults were saying.

"Screw backup I'll just go and glare the dragon down with my manliness and smash it's skull with my fist," Snotlout said smashing his fist into his other hand.

"Ya know that just might work," Ruffnut piped up surprising the other kids.

"Really?" Astrid replied praying that this was a joke.

"Oh ya I agree. Ya see guys, Snotlout here is so ugly and smelly that if his face doesn't scare the dragon to death the smell should choke it out nicely," Tuffnut said in a matter of fact tone before the twins burst into laughter.

Astrid, Hiccup, and Fishlegs were trying not to laugh at their friend who was glaring at the twins for the comment. Another chuckle behind them caught their attention and they all turned to see a Nightmare chuckling before he realized he had an audience.

'What? It was funny' the Nightmare growled at them as he gave them a look.

"What I don't get is why they just don't ask the dragons to help," Hiccup said getting everyone's attention.

"That could work," Astrid said in agreement remembering the idea from the dinner they had the night the Night Furies came.

"Ya, your right. See guys that's why he's my cousin. Genius runs in the family," Snotlout bragged making Hiccup blush a little and the other roll their eyes.

Before anyone could stop him Snotlout jumped onto a table and put two fingers in his mouth before letting out a huge whistle that got everyone's attention.

"Listen up! Hiccup has an idea that you guys should hear," the boy shouted to the room before he pulled Hiccup onto the table with him.

"What are you doing?" Hiccup whispered to Snotlout in shock.

"You need to tell them your idea Hiccup," Fishlegs said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"How? I'm not very loud and they can't even see me," Hiccup replied.

"Well then speak up idiot," Tuffnut said crossing his arms.

Hiccup just sighed, "I don't think this is a good idea."

"Oh ya they can't see him right? Snotlout give the man a life," Ruffnut said.

"On it," the boy replied before he crouched down low enough to put Hiccup onto his shoulders and lifted him up so he could be seen over the crowd. Hiccup yelped in surprise as he was lifted high up into the air and his eyes bugged out of his head when he saw all eyes on him.

"Uh...hi," he said nervously.

"You're good to go. Tell them Hiccup," Astrid encouraged him.

Hiccup looked down at the other kids who were all nodding in agreement with Astrid and then back to all the people who were giving him their undivided attention.

"Well speak up lad, what is it you wish to say?" one of the Vikings hollered from the crowd followed by murmurs of agreement.

"I uh…I think maybe if we ask the dragons we could fly to the other tribes and then it won't take as long," Hiccup said feeling more confident as he spoke.

"Time wise it's a fine idea but what if the tribes think they are being attacked by dragons?" someone else hollered in the crowd.

"What about if they saw Vikings riding the dragons. Maybe they wouldn't attack if they saw that," Hiccup replied.

"Boy, do we look like horses?" one of the Night Furies said irritated at the idea.

"N-no, not like that. The humans would be riders ya, but not to ride you like a horse but to watch out for you like a partner," Hiccup explained quickly silencing the room.

The little boy didn't know what to make of the silence. He looked down at Snotlout to see if he knew but he just shrugged back in return and urged Hiccup to keep talking.

"Your rider is your partner and you are their partner to. So you protect and trust each other like a family…After all isn't that what we're doing now?" the little boy explained standing taller as he spoke.

He waited hesitantly for somebody, anybody to say something before he started to become self-conscious and immediately looked into the crowd for Toothless. Even in his dragon form Hiccup could tell the Night Fury was smiling proudly at him as the dragon walked over to him and stood beside him supportively.

"You would ride with him boy and trust him with your life? Do you think he trusts you?" a Viking asked still uncertain.

"Of course we're like brothers," Hiccup replied without a second thought.

The crowd murmured among themselves about the idea and the pros and cons of accomplishing such a thing to gain allies.

"Why don't we leave it to a vote then," Stoick boomed over the crowd to which they nodded in reply.

"All in favor say Ai," he commanded.

"Ai!" he heard in reply across the room.

"All opposed say Neh," he yelled.

The only one to object was Mildew and since everyone was choosing to ignore him anyway the decision was settled. Everyone suddenly began discussing how partners were to be chosen and how training would happen. Tyra looked around in amazement, the excitement in the room giving her chills as she looked over to Hiccup and Toothless smiling.

'Great job' she mouthed to Hiccup when she caught his gaze and applauded him as she nodded her head to him making the boy blush.

'You did good hatchling' Toothless growled gently to the boy as he nuzzled him feeling happy as he thought about what Hiccup said about them being brothers.

'Yes, my precious little brother' he thought fondly of the child.

"Excuse me can the cuddle fest wait till I'm not trying to balance on a table with someone on my shoulders," Snotlout said in a disgruntled tone.

'What's that? Make it harder? Ok' the Night Fury teased as he tickled the boy with his paws making Snotlout start snickering.

"Woh," Hiccup yelped as he started being twisted side to side.

"HA HA HA H-Hiccup tell him to s-stop I'm gonna pee HA HA HA," Snotlout struggled to say between laughs.

Finally the Night Fury noticed that Snotlout was losing his grip on Hiccup's legs and stopped his torturing. The young Viking glared at the dragon as he put his little cousin back on solid ground making Toothless snicker as much as a dragon could.

"You're a jerk of a dragon you know that," Snotlout growled at the dragon.

'It's a gift' Toothless replied before turning his attention back to Hiccup.

Snotlout glared at the dragon's retreating form with Hiccup at his side when a warm puff of air caught his attention and turned to come face to face with a Nightmare.

"You again. What do you want?" he scoffed fearlessly remembering the dragon that made him go in the shelter the night of the raid as he crossed his arms.

The Nightmare gave him a toothy grin before knocking the boy off the table and pinning him to the floor with his enormous paw. The boy looked a little scared before the dragon leaned his snout down on to the child's belly and began tickling him mercilessly. He had watched the Night Fury torture the boy and thought it looked like fun so he decided to try it for himself.

"Ah! I'm really gonna pee now!" Snotlout shouted as he laughed out loud.

"Baha! It appears someone has chosen Snotlout as their partner," someone joked from nearby.

'Me? Partnered with this annoying creature?' The Nightmare thought as he stopped his assault to look over the child in his grasp.

He never forgot the hatchling with large muscles that covered an even bigger heart. Surely this child who he now knew as Snotlout should have someone as a partner that could keep his cocky nature in check but also to make sure he didn't get himself killed using his big heart and big muscles to protect the other humans.

"Get off me you hook fanged freak of nature," the boy said pulling him from his thoughts.

'Hook fang am I? Well hook fang this brat' the dragon said before continuing his attack but this time bringing his tail around for some fun and used it to get under the boy's shirt to find more ticklish spots.

…

Toothless carried Hiccup on his back as he walked just ahead of Valka and Stoick as they travelled home from the dinner at the great hall that night. He didn't entirely know what was going on with those two but they seemed happy together and decided they needed alone time. The dragon did envy them a bit in regard to the fact that one of them was a leader and yet they did not have to sacrifice their love to be together and was even supported by their clan. Why couldn't it be this simple with the dragons?

"Toothless are you playing match maker?" The Night Fury turned his head to look at the little boy giving him a knowing smile.

'What of it? They both deserve to be happy with a mate and you little one should have a mother to care for you' the Night Fury growled as he nodded his head making the boy giggle. Hiccup shook his head at his friend's confession before twisting himself so that he was able to see his father and the nice lady.

"Daddy, are we walking Valka home?" he asked when they hit the crossroads. One way led to Kelda's hut where Valka was staying and the other to their hut.

The two adults looked at each other not really sure before Stoick said, "Come for a bit and I will walk you home."

"Are you certain? It is late as it is and you'd be leaving your sleeping boy alone when you walk me home," the woman replied.

"Valka, my son is protected by a dragon who believes him as precious and rare to the world as I do. Hiccup's safety is never questioned with him around…however if said dragon could stop scratching up my home that would be great," the chief explained.

The humans heard a growl up ahead indicating Toothless heard Stoick. It distinctly sounded like he said, "ya ya whatever."

The group walked in silence until they arrived at the hut and Toothless immediately climbed the stairs up to the child's bedroom before he plopped him into his bed. Hiccup crossed his arms not looking impressed by any means.

'Come little one it's time to sleep' Toothless growly sternly recognizing this familiar bedtime rebellion.

"I'm not tired," the boy said in a matter of fact tone.

The Night Fury accepted the challenge with a smirk and used his snout to gently shove the boy forcing him to lie down on his pillow.

'Oh look at that you must have be sleepy now, I'll tuck you in' Toothless growled sarcastically as he used his teeth to pull the blanket to the boy's chin and tucked the rest of the blanket underneath him.

Hiccup squirmed and kicked the blanket off before sitting up again and crossed his arms again but this time with a glare.

"I'm not sleepy," he said emphasizing each word amusing the dragon.

"I wanna stay up with the grownups," Hiccup decided and jumped out of his bed opposite of where Toothless was standing.

'Hey! Get back here' Toothless demanded before he chased after the giggling boy who thought this was a delightful game.

Downstairs Stoick and Valka stared at the ceiling where the stomping and giggling were coming from with amused expressions.

"Poor bugger," Stoick said out loud sympathetically.

"Been on bed time duty for 6 years and not once has it ever gone smoothly," he explained with a chuckle.

"I think I'll go give him a hand. I know a thing or two about stubborn hatchlings at bed time," Valka said laughing.

Stoick smiled as he watched her go and couldn't help but wonder how much trouble Tyra was as a little girl. After all that stubborn Haddock nature tended to run from generation to generation and was never easily swayed.

When Valka got to the top of the stairs and opened the door she tried desperately not to laugh at the sight before her. Toothless had finally caught Hiccup by the middle of the back of his shirt looking like a cat holding a kitten that was squirming desperately to get away from the irritated adult.

"No, no, no," Hiccup repeated over and over squirming in his captor's grasp.

'Yes, yes, yes' Toothless replied irritated.

Hiccup smiled when he came up with an idea and twisted his body so he could tickle under the dragon's neck. Toothless dropped to the floor from the happiness of the sudden chin scratch causing his grip on the child to loosen. Hiccup quickly got up and ran over to Valka before hiding behind her skirt.

"Save me! He's trying to make me go to sleep," Hiccup cried between giggles.

"Oh the horror, the horror," she replied in mock despair as she scooped up the child in her arms and cradled him to her chest. Toothless looked up from his spot looking extremely unimpressed with his hatchling at the moment and a little embarrassed by his defeat.

"I can take it from here," Valka said to him sympathetically before Toothless left the room grumbling in his dragon tongue.

"You young man are not very nice to your friend," the woman said giving the boy a look.

Hiccup just gave her a mischievous smile as she walked over to the bed and sat on it. Thinking quickly she came up with a fail proof plan to get the boy to sleep.

"How about we make a deal you and I?" she said.

"I'm listening," Hiccup replied intrigued.

"Give me five minutes to get you to go to sleep and if I don't you can stay up as long as you like, deal?" she explained and smirked when Hiccup replied with a nod confident he would not lose.

"Alright get comfy," she said tucking the boy into his bed.

Valka smiled at the little boy as she began to hum and run her fingers through his baby soft hair. Before long she began to sing a lullaby that had been stuck in her head since her memories slowly began to surface.

'The sky is dark and the hills are white

As the storm-king speeds from the north to-night;

And this is the song the storm-king sings,

As over the world his cloak he flings:

"Sleep, sleep, little one, sleep;"

He rustles his wings and gruffly sings:

"Sleep, little one, sleep."

As she sang suddenly images began to flash in her head of a baby in a cradle that looked very much like the boy that laid in the bed in front of her. She remembers watching over the baby as she stirs something over the pot that hangs over the fire, the home looking very much like the one she is in now.

On yonder mountain-side a vine

Clings at the foot of a mother pine;

The tree bends over the trembling thing,

And only the vine can hear her sing:

"Sleep, sleep, little one, sleep;

What shall you fear when I am here?

Sleep, little one, sleep."

She remembers the smile that comes to her lips every time she hears the creak of the door but does not turn around from her chore. She sighs as two strong arms wrap around her waist.

She remembers trying to sound irritated as she says, "You're late."

She remembers she always ends up laughing when he replies, "And you're beautiful as ever. Now quit pretending you're mad and give us a kiss."

The king may sing in his bitter flight,

The pine may croon to the vine to-night,

But the little snowflake at my breast

Liketh the song I sing the best, -

"Sleep, sleep, little one, sleep;

Weary thou art, anext my heart;

Sleep, little one, sleep."

She remembers looking up into the face of the one she loves and seeing…

"Stoick," she whispers out loud as tears come to her eyes.

"Valka, are you alright? Do you need me to take you home?" Stoick asks surprising her as she looks up to see him at the door.

"I am home," she replies simply still in shock before she runs over to the chief and embraces him tightly.

"Do…do you remember?" Stoick asked hesitantly not wanting to give himself false hopes.

"Yes, my love I remember now," she replies and feels herself being held onto tightly.

"You're late," Stoick states in a teasing manner.

"And you're as handsome as ever now quit pretending to be mad and give us a kiss," she teases back before pulling her husband into a kiss.

*Whistle*

The couple are so captured in the moment that they don't realize they have an audience until they hear the noise. They turn around to see an amused dragon that somehow snuck back in the room sitting beside a shocked little boy.

"Thanks for killing the moment ya devil," Stoick hisses at Toothless knowing damn well he was the one who whistled.

'Anytime' Toothless growls in reply smirking before leaving the room to give the family some privacy.

"You're my mama?" Hiccup asks hesitantly.

"Yes, forgive me for taking so long to get back to you Hiccup," she said gently.

Hiccup jumped out of bed and wrapped his tiny arms around the woman's neck as she clung to him just as tightly. Stoick sat on the bed side his wife and pulled his family into his arms feeling bliss at having them together again.

"Mama…you still have one minute to get me to go to sleep before I win the bet," Hiccup said after a while and pulled away from his mother smirking.

The woman stared at him for a moment before she matched his smirk and said, "Hiccup, you've got one minute to go to sleep or you're grounded from flying for three days."

"Oh boy am I tired well goodnight," the child replied leaning forward on his mother's chest with closed eyes and made snoring sounds.

The two Vikings laughed at the child's antics before kissing him on the head and tucking him in for the night. The pair thought nothing of the Night Fury leaping into the child's bed and curling around their son as they left. Toothless watched them leave and the envy that he had for them earlier disappeared because he knew as he watched over the small family that the happiness they now had was earned through for their suffering.

Dragon Treasure Chapter: 23

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