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━━ chapter fifteen
chief hiccup, ii

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    "ZEPHYR!"

    Valkyrie was sobbing as she ran to meet her dragon. As soon as he touched down, she was sprinting straight at him, crying his name and holding her arms out. Zephyr met her in the middle, bounding across the dirt to sweep her up into the air. She laughed through her tears, wrapping her arms around his long neck. Her feet dangled off the ground, but she didn't care. Scratching his scales and matching his squawks, Valkyrie set her forehead against the horn on his snout, cheeks a tear-stained red.

    He was so happy, he wagged his tail and stood up onto his hind legs, holding her even higher. Valkyrie just broke out into more laughter, nuzzling into his touch and letting herself be wrapped into a hold with his neck, safe and sound; together again.

    "Oh, I'm never letting you go again!" she sobbed, laying her head against his scales and calming down to the vibrations of his guttural squawks as if he was telling her exactly the same things. "I promise, Zephyr, I'm never letting someone like Drago hurt you ever again. We're staying together."

    Zephyr closed his eyes and titled his head to her touch. She smiled, her tears starting to calm as she settled; happy with him back and at her side.

    All around there were happy reunions. Vikings ran to their dragons; they hugged, they laughed, they cried. New dragons settled down onto the ground and were immediately welcomed by everyone else, given fish salvaged by the docks. A group of kids had absolutely fallen in love with the Scuttleclaws and were already playing tag around the ice.

    Gothi was swarmed by her Terrible Terrors. Asrifth laughed, jumping right onto Boulder's back from behind and giving him a scratch under the chin. His Gronckle slammed his clubbed tail, estatic. Valkyrie saw Gustav be swung around by Fanghook, almost setting the house nearby onto fire. New dragons met their new home, and those who resided in it, under the protection of the Alpha; Toothless. Hiccup smiled at his dragon, "You never cease to amaze me, bud," he murmured and closed his eyes━their foreheads met. Toothless huffed, sharing this quiet moment; one of sorrow, but also forgiveness. Valkyrie smiled as she hugged Zephyr. It turned into a laugh when the Night Fury let out a guttural groan and brought his tongue right over Hiccup's face. "Agh! Ah━You know that doesn't wash out!" but he couldn't be angry. He just cackled as he was toppled over onto the ground. He was happy to have his dragon back━to hug him and let out a tear against his scales.

     Astrid cried as she met up with Stormfly, laughing and nuzzling her head into her scaly cheeks. Her Nadder ruffled her wings and tail in her excitement. Mak and Erik ran through groups of Vikings straight for Fleecey and Meecey━the two Terrible Terrors wrapped their small legs around their necks, chirping a beautiful song. Hott flung his arms around Spikemoth's underbelly, latching his legs up as well as she cried out in cheerful greetings. Hott didn't care about being manly, or a warrior, or some big Viking with his braid that told them all that he was a grown up. He trembled in his sobs as his Nadder covered him in her wings, keeping him safe and protected. That was all that mattered to him right now. He didn't have to be manly━he just wanted to be himself; he just wanted to know that Spikemoth was back, and his best friend was okay.

    Valkyrie was let go by Zephyr as she met with her parents. She hugged her mother, who was shaking a little. She rubbed her back, letting out a long sigh as she relaxed. Her father pressed a kiss on her forehead, wrapping a tight arm around the both of them. She pulled away, tearful. Her mother cupped her cheeks, they shared a silent moment, and Valkyrie knew she understood. She kissed her forehead as well, as if to say, you're all grown up. I love you.

    She watched them make their way towards her brothers in turn, checking on them each. Valkyrie glanced over her shoulder and chuckled to see━just in time━Gobber be squashed under Grump. Fishlegs and Snotlout sprinted to their dragons, cheering and Ruffnut━who was in the middle, held out her arms, expecting them to come straight to her. They just pushed right past, their attention for once not even slightly on her. They burst out into many mumbles and cries of happiness in reuiniting with their dragons━it made Valkyrie's heart swell.

    Ruffnut frowned, crossing her arms. That was until Barf nudged his head against her shoulder and she broke out into a smile. She held his head close. Belch sniffed at the two of them and she rolled her eyes, "Not you!" he sparked a scoff in annoyance and turned back to Tuff who brought him to his chest protectively. They both scowled at the other two. Barf sniggered at his brother head.

    But there was one dragon who didn't have a rider to reunite with. Hiccup held his palm out towards Skullcrusher, tearful. The dragon whined, and Hiccup sighed, scratching him under the chin to say, I know...

    Eret awkwardly approached them. "That was some pretty fine dragon-wrangling back there." Hiccup glanced over, hands falling away as Skullcrusher sniffed at the stranger curiously. "You'd make a good trapper━whoa!" The Rumblehorn smelt something good━he smelt comfort, something familiar. Hiccup was surprised to see him immediately latch right onto Eret, nudging into his side for attention. His heart squeezed. As a Tracker Class, a Rumblehorn was very intuitive; they learnt every smell, every feeling ... for Skullcrusher to act like that ... there must be something about Eret that reminded him of Stoick.

    Eret son of Eret laughed nervously. He knew whose dragon this had been, and was hesitant to do anything. Hiccup pursed his lips in thought. He saw him brush his knuckles against Skullcrusher's scales with caution. He found himself nodding.

    Hiccup knew that if Skullcrusher could trust Eret, then he could trust him, too. And from that day on, Eret became one of Hiccup's most trusted friends.

    "You know..." he spoke up, "... Skullcrusher is gonna need somebody to look after him now."

    Eret realised what he was saying and his eyes widened. "Me?" he breathed.

    Hiccup shrugged. Why not? It was a casual exchange, but deep down, it was a deep weight of trust onto Eret and the ex-trapper took it on with a square of his shoulders and a set of his jaw. He gave Hiccup a strong nod. Then, he shuffled in closer to Skullcrusher and smiled down at him, "I'd be honoured."

   Valkyrie gave Zephyr another gentle trace of her fingers down his snout, smiling before cupping his jaw. He peered at her, squawking softly and tapping his horn against her forehead again.

    She pulled away after a moment, glancing over her shoulder as Hiccup talked with his mother. He smiled, and it was happy━but there was that weight to his cheeks; the drain in his eyes. The slump of his shoulders; a sadness that might never leave, now. Valkyrie was okay with that.

    No matter what, they'd get through. That's what a husband and wife do. Through the dark, through the rough waters and under the heat of the fire, they held onto each other, and they helped the other get through. Valkyrie was going to be there for him, no matter what. They had a future. A future of sadness, fights, tears and hugs and kisses; sitting by the fire and just leaning into the other, happy in their company. In a home that will be smaller now; just them. But Valkyrie was ready. She was ready.

     As if knowing she was watching him, Hiccup met her gaze. His smile stayed; tired, mournful━but there was that spark; that love, and Valkyrie knew that everything will be okay.

    She kissed Zephyr's scales before leaving him be, walking up to her husband with a small, sad smile of her own. They met in the middle. "See?" Valkyrie gestured to him, her fingers reaching out until they touched the leather of his suit. She placed it, tenderly, upon his heart. Hiccup watched her, the sadness in his smile turning loving. "I told you it was in here━"

    Pop!

    Her fingers swiftly hooked underneath to press the spring coil and the fin of his wingsuit shot out. She broke out into laughter at the look on his face, proud and happy to see him throw back his head and roll his eyes, "Ha, ha, ha━" He let out sarcastically and she snickered into her fingers. Valka smiled, amused at the two of them. "You're still doing that one."

    "Yes, I am."

    "That's hilarious━"

    "I know, I'm so funny━" 

    Hiccup shook his head at her and couldn't stop himself. He surged forward and swept a tight arm around her waist, "━Get over here, you━"

    Valkyrie's laughter soon turned into a gasp as she was yanked so close, she was flushed against her husband's chest. Her eyes were wide, startled. Hiccup grinned and dipped his head down to capture her lips in such a passionate kiss that made her knees weak and her cheeks burn. She melted into his touch, arms slowly rising to shoulders with no care to the village around them. His right hand reached up to slip something back into her hair; the flower he had taken yesterday━he had kept it this entire time. Valkyrie kissed him harder at this, arms pulling him closer around his neck.

    There were some gasps. Gobber placed a hand out in front of Valkyrie's youngest brother, Erik. Her other brothers, Hott, Asrifth and Mak all gagged. Val believed she heard Snotlout and Ruffnut cheer.

    His right hand secured at her hip, his thumb brushing along the edges of her abdomen. Valkyrie slowed the kiss, her arms slipping back down so her fingers could lift to the stubble of her husband's cheek. She smiled into kiss and Hiccup chuckled, his breath fanning her lips. Even now, he made her heart pound against her ribs.

    He pulled away, brushing his nose against her small one. Staring into his wife's eyes, Hiccup felt like he was the luckiest Viking in the world. He fixed the flower a little amongst her auburn hair. It slumped, old, but still gorgeously bright. He smiled, and she met it with a beautiful beam. "I love you," he told her softly.

    Those words still made her blush. "I love you, too."

    A staff tapped his shoulder. He glanced down, letting go of Valkyrie's waist. Gothi bowed a little, not scribbling a word. Her gesture to the ashen wood beside them was enough. Hiccup took a deep breath and Valkyrie squeezed his hand to tell him, you can do it.

    He gave her a smile before stepping forward. The whole village watched him kneel down before the Edler. Valkyrie stepped back beside his mother, her heart in her throat. Gothi scraped off the ash from the wood with her finger. She smiled at Hiccup sadly and he nodded━he was accepting his future here. He wasn't going to run away. Not anymore.

    Gothi reached forward and brushed the ash across his forehead. She drew a chief's rune; the rune of a king. A ruler. She gave him another smile. He pursed his lips and with a final deep breath, he stood up.

     Gobber walked up to him. He gave him a proud (and a bit tearful) nod. Hiccup tilted his head, teary himself. Their silent exchange passed and Gobber turned to the village. "The chief has come home!" he announced.

    The tribe broke out into cheers; a chorus of, "LONG LIVE THE CHIEF!" Even the dragons flared their wings, roaring their heads up high. Toothless fired a shot that exploded a bright purple into the sky and the others followed. Valkyrie watched, heart swelling and a smile so wide on her cheeks it hurt. She repeated the chorus softly to herself.

    Hiccup glanced back at her and they locked eyes again. A message passed between them, a mutal agreement. She nodded, telling him, yes, of course. He smiled. And though he wished his father was here with him; passing the title onto Hiccup himself, watching him start a life full of responsibility; finally grow up ... Hiccup knew he was there. He was with him. In the sky, in the air, in the legacy of the ash Gothi spread across his skin. But most importantly, Stoick the Vast was here, by his side, in him; his soul, his heart.

    He held out his hand to his wife, and she took it. He led her towards him and out to the village. Their friends going ballistic in the front, their family smiling nearby, and the rest━their people continuing to cheer. But they added something else, now.

    "TO THE CHIEF AND CHIEFTESS!"

     Valkyrie locked gazes with Hiccup. She nodded at him again and he brought her hand to his lips. In the cheers, roaring dragons and the shower of embers from above in their shattered home, Val knew their future was more secure now than ever.

    Toothless peered at them and Valkryrie scratched him behind the ear.

     Long live the chiefs, she thought to herself with a smile.

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    TO THE CASUAL sheep grazing in the fields, a pesky Terrible Terror was normal. They always bit off more than they could chew, trying to tug the poor animals up into the air by their fleece. But a Terror was far too small; it didn't have the strength to cart a sheep no higher than scuffing its hooves along the dirt.

     But the hands flying straight towards the sheep and Terror━well, they had a much better chance.

    The Terrible Terror shrieked, desperate to get away before the poor sheep was swept up from the grass. The target painted onto his wool flashed brightly under the morning sun, and he bleated with pure horror as he was chucked right up. He flailed his thin legs and was caught, yet again in between two siblings━identical in every way, especially in their competitive, determined and angry nature.

    They soared up higher amongst scaffolding, melting and broken ice shards and working Vikings on the necks of a Hideous Zippleback. The heads mumbling━if not completely ignoring━the riders on their saddles. The Twins grappled for the sheep, a hand latched onto each leg. Tuffnut screeched. He refused to let his sister take it. Not this time━he will win this time━

    But she just yanked it from him and chucked the sheep over her shoulder towards a pudgy Viking and his Gronckle. Fishlegs smiled. He held out his arms to take it━

    "Yeah━!" up between flashed a deep, monstrous red. A mean-faced Viking and his Monstrous Nightmare snatched the sheep midair, "Snotlout, Snotlout, oi, oi, oi!"

    "Snotlout!" seethed Fishlegs.

    He blew a kiss back towards Ruffnut and she gushed, waving it off with a beam on her face. Tuffnut slammed his fists, "NOOOOOOOOO!" he shouted dramatically towards the heavens.

     Snotlout laughed, sweeping down and throwing the sheep into Ruff and Tuff's basket anyway. The crowd of dragons and Vikings cheered. They slammed their feet onto the stands, rammed their heads together, roared out sparks of flame━Dragon Racing was enjoyed by everyone, for sure. Dragons and Vikings alike.

    From the packed stands, a green and red Rumblehorn joined them in flight, estatic with his new rider, Eret still trying to understand the ropes on his back. Snotlout and Hookfang spun up and down for the next lap━

    "Out of our way, Snot-face!" Up from under the bridge, a blonde-haired, green-eyed Frode by the name of Hott shot his Deadly Nadder pass Snotlout. He knocked him and Hookfang askew, taking the lead with ease. He was determined to win this game. He was going to win this game, no longer wanting to impress the girl he liked by being someone he wasn't, but by being exactly who he's always been. Annoying, sometimes a little immature, and very mischevious, but kind-hearted, brave and with a bright future ahead.

    He caught sight of another targeted sheep below down by the Hangar and grinned. "Yes Spikemoth! This is it━this is it━!"

    "I'll take that!" Astrid swooped in and stole it from him before his Nadder could even wrap her claws around the wool. She and Stormfly launched into the sky, sending a playful smirk over her shoulder. He narrowed his eyes, scoffing and raced to keep up with her. They weaved in and out through the Hangar, passing Gobber, Asrifth and Valka taking off Drago's armour from the Thunderclaws he forced under his control. They waved.

    This was Berk, now. A bit trampled and busted and covered in ice, but it was home. It was their home. No longer was it the best kept secret that side of ... well ... anywhere, but that no longer mattered. Sure, it was going through some repairs (but they always had their set of lots and lots of new houses), and if Stoick was alive to see it right now, he'd probably be purple in fury. But Hiccup was proud of it. Proud of his village; his home. Proud to help fix the roofings with Toothless, proud to train the new dragons they had at their shores, proud to look over and see his father's statue be built by the doors of the Great Hall━

    Woosh.

    A flash of an aurburn braid flew past him on a mighty blue, yellow and white Windstriker. Valkyrie Haddock laughed at his fright, flicking her hair over her shoulder to arch a brow back at him; taunting. She smirked and dived down, plunging past in the lap she took. Hiccup smiled, scrunching up his nose after her to say, you'll get it for that.

    (And yes, those who had and continued to attack them were relentless and crazy, but those who stopped them? Oh ... even more so! They may be small in numbers, but they stood for something bigger than anything the world can put against them. They were the voice of peace. And bit by bit, they will change this world).

     Valkyrie continued to laugh as she passed her family at the Dragon Sanctuary, taking care of the many new dragons on their shores. Her mother gasped, shocked to see her racing and ran after her, shaking her fist but Val just cheered, pushing Zephyr to go faster. Those passing by and working looked up to cheer and wave at their Chieftess, blessing her and rooting for her to win.

    She dived down right past Gobber who dusted off his hand and yanked down the lever for the Black Sheep. It burst up into the air and Valkyrie after it. "Yes! Come on, Zeph━let's win this thing━up! Up!" they ascended after the sheap who cried out, starting to fall back down. Valkyrie extended her arms to catch━

    There was a roar and up past them, came the dark scales of a Night Fury. Toothless took the Black Sheep seconds before Valkyrie could and she gasped. Realising, Valkyrie narrowed her eyes. She chuckled at the gummy grin Toothless gave and the cheeky wink his rider sent down. Valkyrie shook her head as Zephyr squawked, folding his wings to chase them.

    Hiccup shot to the nets and with a grin, sprang off his saddle. Hands tight on the Black Sheep's wool, he leapt over the trapdoors. With a grunt, he threw the sheep into the yellow and blue painted net where it landed amongst Valkyrie's winnings. Toothless was there to catch him on the otherside and they flew up to the stands. Valkyrie came in next to him, landing on the platform at his side. She punched him across the shoulder as the others followed suit.

    (You see, they had something others didn't have. Oh, sure, they had armies ... and armardas ... and plenty of other things. But Hiccup and his friends had━the entirety of Berk had━

    Dragons!).

END OF ACT ONE!

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    a/n: nope i'm not ready for the next act. i'm not ready. i'm not ready. i'm not ready fUUUKKK

    i hope you enjoyed act one though and this chapter!!!!!! i definitely enjoyed writing httyd ii even though i cried. and i'll definitely enjoy writing httyd iii while sobbing throughout it entirely.

     but we finished the first act!!!!!!

     to celebrate i have a few drawings ahahah!

     first up is a drawing i did of hiccup and val which isn't the best but i realised i hadn't drawn a full version of val's httyd 2 outfit for you so here it is!:

    next up we have an old httyd 2 scrap where i was just drawing hiccup and valkyrie and figuring out features and designs:

    and last but not least we have a snippet into valkyrie's dragon armour next part!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

    it's taking me AGES to design and colour so i really hope you'll like it next part!!!! (as well as Hott's ... hehe i'm excited for you to see his, too)

    and i guess we say goodbye to httyd 2 valkyrie (sobs)

    she's gonna be as much of a queen next part as she was in this one. i have an idea for her next part that i really hope you'll like, too. it just really goes along with this whole ideal i have with her where she doesn't really fit into a 'stereotype' or whatever. she's 'girly' but she's also a warrior as well as someone who wants to be a devoted wife and friend and leader, but also will smack snotlout with her hammer if she feels the need to. 

      i'm just really excited but also so sad because like THEY'RE ALL GROWING UP!

     anyway i love you all!!! see you soon in the next act!!!! and we'll all cry to httyd 3 together. (bring your tissues but also be prepared for extreme cuteness, hiccyrie domestic life, sob-worthy friendship, comedy and hottstrid).