━━ chapter four
the gift of the night fury

✿✼:*ﾟ:༅｡.｡༅:*･ﾟﾟ･⭑

━━Valkyrie has ruined Snoggletog.

She ruined the holidays and now she had to clean up after it.

Zephyr was gone, all the dragons were gone, no one liked her Yaknog and the eggs exploded and now she was stuck fixing every roof in Berk with nothing but nails and a hammer. Someone may as well have somehow made a glowing sign that said YOU RUINED SNOGGLETOG! and shoved it right in Val's face. (Could someone make a glowing sign? Was that possible? A wooden sign with glowing letters?).

She slumped against the wood of Starkard's house, staring up at the evening sky and at the stars that were starting to filter in through the snowy clouds with a sad sigh. All she wanted to do was save Snoggletog, was to make everyone happy. Maybe the gods were just as surprised by her sudden act of kindness as everyone else and decided to ruin it for her. She was sure Loki was having a blast overseeing the entire village explode from dragon eggs.

"This was supposed to be the best Snoggletog ever," Valkyrie wasn't sure whether she was talking to herself, or Zephyr ... wherever he was. "And now look what I've done ..."

"You made a big mistake," the voice startled her so much, she nearly fell from the roof. Looking over, she frowned to see her father, hoisting himself up onto the roof as well with a hammer of his own. Mallory the Dragon bone fixed his helmet.

"I know," Valkyrie murmured.

"I know you know," said her father. He climbed over to cling on next to her. Valkyrie watched him, confused. "But you're a Viking, and so what do Vikings do?"

She was still trying to comprehend how she did not hear him get up here, and when she didn't answer, her father chuckled. He hoisted up his mallet, "We fix it, and move on and don't make that mistake again. And if it's our family, we help them get through it."

Around her, more people started to show up on the roof. Her mother with a tray of nails, Asrifth supporting a small hammer, Hott with a measurement cloth, and Mak and Erik both holding planks of fresh wood. Valkyrie's breath faltered, and she stared at each of them for a moment, before realising, "You're going to help me?"

Asrifth scoffed, "No need to be dramatic, of course we are. What did you think we were going to do?"

Valkyrie found herself grinning, and her spirits lifted. Despite making her mistakes, and perhaps ruining Snoggletog for this holiday, what mattered most was still present around her; and that was the importance of spending it with your family.

It was just a shame Zephyr couldn't be there to celebrate it with her, and nor could their other dragons that had become a part of their large family. But maybe they should celebrate for them, with them still in their hearts, and in their minds, hoping that maybe they will come home; and if they didn't, they'll keep saving a spot for them by the Snoggletog fire.

All of the sudden, Mak gasped. He pointed up into the sky and exclaimed, "Look!"

Valkyrie stopped hammering the wood to follow his gaze. Her breath hitched. The rest of the village soon were gawking up at the sky, amazed at the large mass that was flying towards them; a whole shipwreck, carried by ropes from the feet of ... of their dragons!

And leading them, on a mighty Windstriker, was Hiccup and Zephyr.

Stoick frowned, confused at what the commotion was all about. He pushed and shoved his way to the front of the crowd, and when he finally saw it, his shoulders slumped━ "It's Hiccup!"

Astrid threw her hands up, "And our dragons!"

A cheer erupted amongst the villagers. Valkyrie felt her heart leap right out of her chest, and she grinned so hard her cheeks hurt━a beam so bright it lit up in the cold night as she climbed down from the roof. She dropped her mallet and nails, racing to the edge as the flock of dragons settled their large Viking ship on the snow-capped ground.

She reached the front, her breath stuck in her throat; silence echoed across the crowd of Vikings as they stared at the broken ship, wondering what possible could be on it.

Then, a pair of bright, big yellow eyes peeked out from behind the broken boat shafts. They blinked, and following it was the tilting head of a little, baby-blue Nadder━no taller than Valkyrie's shin. More and more appeared; tiny Nadders, Hideous Zipplebacks, Gronckles, Monstrous Nightmares, Windstrikers ... so many baby dragons that it sent even the strongest of the Vikings to let out a coo━or perhaps a breath of awe.

Hiccup hopped off Valkyrie's dragon, and she wasted no time in shouting━ "Zephyr!" and launching herself right at his snout.

Reunions commenced all around them; Vikings hugging their dragons━some even crying in their releif; Fishlegs barrelled Meatlug to the ground as soon as he saw her. Valkyrie held onto Zephyr tight, having missed the warmth of the underbelly of his neck. He wrapped her up, nuzzling his horn against her cheek and she laughed in delight. "Oh, I missed you! I missed you━!"

There were some tiny squawks at Valkyrie's feet, and she pulled away to gasp down at the tiny little Windstrikers that gazed up at her, flapping their tiny little wings eagerly. Her hands flew to her mouth, "Oh, my gods━baby Zephyrs! You're a father!"

She crouched down, and the four baby dragons swarmed her; they peered at her face, nipped curiously at her fingers, shuffled in under her arms for warmth━and Valkyrie was absolutely smitten. She had to name them; she had to befriend their mother; she had to have playdates━co-parenting!━Oh, my gods, Valkyrie is a dragon auntie!

(Well, kind of ... not really ... she's excited, okay?!).

"Oh, you're all so cute!" she gushed, tracing the patterns on their scales━there were two yellows and blues, one white and yellow, and one that was just like Zephyr with a beautiful design of blue and white with accented yellow wings. "I'm going to name you Bottlebrush, and you Berry, you Nuffroot and you Maplehorn ... and where is your mother? I have to meet your mother! Oh my gods, Stormfly and Spikemoth are mothers you'll have Deadly Nadder baby friends!"

✿✼:*ﾟ:༅。.。༅:*·ﾟﾟ·⭑

━━Snoggletog was no longer ruined.

In fact, Snoggletog turned out to be the best Snoggletog Valkyrie has had so far.

The Great Hall was filled to the brim with Vikings, their dragons and their now new baby little dragons. They walked from table to table, played with their new little friends, loudly boasted toasts for the whole Great Hall to hear. Valkyrie sat with her family, trying to get Zephyr's children and Spikemoth's children to get along with Hott sitting eagerly beside her. She was giddy, giggling at each interaction or flap of their wings. Zephyr watched with his head hovering over her shoulder and kept on nuzzling her cheek for attention in which she happily gave him, pulling his head in for a tight squeeze full of holiday cheer. They even had baby Gronckles rolling and butting into each other, and tiny little Terrible Terrors causing as much trouble as they could━their family just got a whole lot bigger, but that was what Snoggletog was about: spending time and celebrating with your family.

Not long after, Astrid joined them with Stormfly and a small herd of baby Nadders following her, too, and she and Valkyrie spent the next minute or two naming each and every one. On the table to the left, Fishlegs hugged Meatlug's babies━all of them fitting into his chubby arms. Snotlout held a piece of his fish for a baby Monstrous Nightmare━one of Hookfang's━to eat, and chuckled when the small dragon coughed out a spark of smoke. Behind them, the twins were teaching their baby Zipplebacks to butt heads, running at each other with full speed and slamming their helmets against each other; they'd fall back, laughing before being right up and ready to do it all over again.

Nuffroot and Maplehorn started to play fight, rolling across the table and knocking one of Hott's Nadders off her feet. She squawked, ruffling her wings in defiance as she stood back up. Valkyrie clasped her hands together, letting out a loud, "Awwwww!"

But when her gaze glanced back up, she faltered. Her smile flickered away as she saw the one person who was without a dragon to celebrate. Hiccup walked through the rows of tables, watching all the Vikings hug their reptile friends and their new offspring with a sad smile upon his weary face.

Valkyrie cursed herself for being so caught up in her own glee and excitement that she forgot Toothless hadn't returned with the other dragons. Hiccup was alone, surrounded by people who weren't, and thanks to him. He had brought them all back, but he hadn't brought back his own. And he was so selfless that he didn't mention it, he didn't show it, he smiled and celebrated for them when he couldn't himself.

She pursed her lips.

Making a decision, she left Zephyr and his babies with a tender hand on his snout before walking through the tables, dragons and Vikings towards the chief's son. Reaching him, Valkyrie felt her heart twist, "Hiccup..."

He glanced over at her voice, and she saw his eyes glisten with fresh, lonely tears. It seemed cruel that everyone else got their dragons back and not Hiccup; the one who held the strongest bond out of all of them; the most special with his Night Fury. It was cruel.

"Hey," Valkyrie greeted him softly. Stopping in front, she placed a hand on his arm, "I can't imagine what it must be like ... to see everyone with their dragons ..."

Hiccup's gaze fell, and her stomach jolted. She wanted to make him feel better, but didn't know how. Valkyrie couldn't bring Toothless back━even if she wanted to, she had no idea where he was. All she could do was be here for Hiccup. To celebrate with him, not him for her. Her hand fell down to his, and she squeezed it. He didn't meet her gaze and so she leant down slightly, tilting her head to peer at his bright green eyes that were now dull and trodden like grass underfoot. She gave him a small, sweet smile.

"But you really did an amazing thing!" said Valkyrie. She held up his chin gently so he would meet her eyes and see how proud she was of him; how grateful and how much she wished he knew that. "Thank you."

Valkyrie might have not had the chance to ask Hiccup to dance with her at the Snoggletog celebrations, but she had this moment right now. And under the lights of the bustling Great Hall, she mustered up everything she had in her to lean forward and quickly peck Hiccup right on the lips. It didn't matter what it might mean, or what it could lead to━if it would lead to anything in the Viking life of two fifteen-year-olds━all that mattered was that Valkyrie had her dragon back, and she had him back, and she wanted him to know that he had her too, even if he didn't have Toothless. It was Snoggletog, and Snoggletog was meant to be spent together.

Hugging him, Valkyrie felt him stiffen, surprised by what just happened. Soon, however, he relaxed, and she smiled. His arms wrapped around her gently, and the two teenagers just stood there in each other's embrace.

Hiccup sighed, leaning into her touch to mutter, "Val, where did Toothless go?"

Valkyrie sighed as well, closing her eyes and shaking her head sadly, "I don't know..."

There was a creak at the door. No one noticed the Great Hall door sneak open and a diamond-shaped dragon head peek its way through. But Valkyrie did. She opened her eyes, and they widened to see Toothless whine softly in surprise at all the people. There was something in his mouth, but she couldn't point it out━not that it mattered. A grin slowly made its way onto her face as Toothless tiptoed inside, eyes bright and searching for his human best friend.

When he saw her, his ears perked up, and Valkyrie's smile turned into a mischevious smirk. Her eyes flickered to Hiccup still hugging her, his face buried into her shoulder and a plan began to form in her head.

She sent Toothless a quick wink before pulling away. Holding Hiccup by the shoulders, she let out a loud and dramatic sigh, "Wow! You know━" she kissed her teeth, "━would not want to be you right now ..." the smile that was on his face started to fall, and his brows knitted in confusion━and if not taken-aback by the sudden change of Valkyrie's mood. "I mean, look around..." she did her best to hide her grin, or the need to bounce on her toes at Toothless who watched the exchange curiously behind them. "You brought back everyone's dragons except for yours..."

Hiccup pulled away, arching a brow. His gaze flickered with annoyance, "Yeah, you know, this is not helping━whoa━!"

Valkyrie couldn't keep it in. With a giggle, she spun him around on his feet and pushed him towards his dragon. Toothless's face lit up, as did Hiccup, who gasped and cried out, "Toothless!" he ran towards his best friend, and Valkyrie stood back to watch, her chest and shoulders light with euphoria in seeing the most special bond of them all reunite under the Snoggletog lights. "Hey bud!"

They met in the middle, and Hiccup threw his arms around the Night Fury's neck. Toothless blinked, moaning in surprise at the boy sobbing into his scales. The rest of the villagers stopped to glance over, but that didn't matter to the rider and his dragon ... nothing else mattered right now.

Hiccup stepped back, and furiously wiping away his tears, he pointed an angry finger at Toothless. "Bad dragon! Very bad dragon!" the reptiles eyes just followed the finger around. "You scared me to death! Don't ever stay away that long again and what is in your mouth━?"

Toohless plopped whatever it was onto Hiccup's head.

"Ewwww," chorus the twins, Snotlout and Fishlegs. Astrid laughed from where she now stood beside Valkyrie.

The dragon stepped away, and grinned a gummy grin at the wet, slobbery helmet now on Hiccup's head. It drenched his entire hair and face━Hiccup coughed, flicking the slobber away as he tried to push the helment and his wet hair out of his eyes. "Yeah━you━you found my helmet━" the realisation hit him, and his heart burst with warmth. "H━hey!" he exclaimed, beaming at Toothless. "You found my helmet!"

He nudged Hiccup's palm, purring and the Viking smiled. "That's where you've been?" His beaming smile turned to a breath of awe, and Hiccup scratched his dragon's chin. "Buddy, thank you. You are amazing..." he hugged him again and Toothless's ears fell back tenderly to close his eyes and nuzzle into his best friend's shoulder.

Valkyrie started up the cheer, clapping her hands to cry out, "Happy Snoggletog!"

(And it was. It ended up being the best Snoggletog Valkyrie could have ever asked for).

✿✼:*ﾟ:༅｡.｡༅:*･ﾟﾟ･⭑

a/n: *dies from the cuteness*

and that's the end of the interlude! riders of berk up next! and omg valkyrie and hiccup actually kissed?!?! what will this mean? Well, i know, you don't, hehehe.

what're you all excited about valkyrie and zephyr's journey in the tv series the most?