(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Prior to the curse, Hiccup hadn't had a favorite phase of the moon.
Hel, he'd have thought anyone who did was crazy to have put so much thought into it. The moon was the moon, no matter how it waxed or waned – he'd never been particularly attached to it.
It was just, sort of…there. Like air.
Things had changed. The moon had taken on new meaning, becoming a core pillar of his life. He knew each phase of its cycle by heart, having grown to appreciate the complexity of its changes – the way it seemed to shapeshift on a schedule, not unlike himself.
Most of all he'd grown to love the full moon. Its vivid light was the closest he could now come to seeing his world bathed in sunlight through human eyes, and he did not take that for granted. He'd gained a deep appreciation for it over the years, drawing comfort from the cool glow.
He cherished those nights.
It was because of the full moon that he kept getting distracted, neglecting his current project in favor of gazing out of the forge. It was a quiet night in Berk, and the light rainfall that had come at dusk made the buildings now appear to glitter in the starlight.
It was as if there was some sort of wild magic in the air.
Hiccup reluctantly tore his gaze away from the shimmering village, returning to the task at hand. He only had a few more bolts to tighten, and then it would be complete.
He hummed to himself as he worked, precise in each of his final adjustments. Once the last piece had been secured into place, he surveyed the finished project with critical eyes. He'd had to flex his original design, improvising in order to achieve the results he wanted. Though it no longer matched the schematics he'd sketched out, he would say that it had turned out fairly well.
He'd been testing it throughout the construction, ensuring all the tricks that he'd worked into it functioned with ease – but there was one last test he needed to take into account.
Hiccup took a seat on the bench, running his fingers over his new prosthetic. Its revised design had been his last creation, and he was glad that he'd prioritized it. Gobber's initial work had served him well, but it felt so much more him to have his own creation in place. It might not be an organic limb, but it had come from his mind and he found that made it feel more authentically his own.
Finding the latch that he'd installed, Hiccup flipped it down and heard the click of the metal rotating. A compartment had opened up in the side, and he carefully lined up his new invention with the opening. To his relief, it slid in with ease, slotting snuggly into the provided space.
He flipped the switch again, effectively closing off the compartment and securing his invention in place. He rose, taking a few careful test steps to get a feel for the weight distribution.
"Not bad…" He muttered to himself, pleased with the results.
The sound of approaching footfalls drew his attention, and he peered out of the stall. Astrid smiled as she neared, leaning her elbows on the ledge of the stall and pecking him on the cheek.
"Hey," she greeted warmly. "I thought you were off tonight? Or are you still working on that mystery project of yours?"
"I just finished it," he corrected, gesturing for her to enter the forge. "And it's not really a mystery – I just didn't want to say anything too early in case it didn't work. Come on, I'll show you."
Astrid needed no further invitation, quickly slipping inside the stall and joining him behind the counter. She put her hands on her hips, eyes darting over the messy surfaces of the forge as if looking for clues. "Well, where is it?"
Hiccup leaned down, quickly unlocking the compartment in his prosthetic and withdrawing the object in question. He held it up, giving her a clear view of his creation.
Astrid's gaze slid between the item in his hands and the gap in his prosthetic, taking a minute to process the clever hiding place. Then, she squinted at the invention in confusion, "Is that a hilt?"
Hiccup nodded, adjusting his grip so she could see the details he'd carved into it. "My dad was right," he explained. "I can't always rely on lucky timing to keep me safe, I need to be able to defend myself after dark."
"With a hilt?" Astrid asked skeptically. He could tell she was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt but failing to see his vision. "What? Are you planning to bludgeon your enemies to death?"
Hiccup laughed, shaking his head. "No, of course not," he assured before pointing the hilt away from his side and triggering the switch that extended the blade.
He'd taken what she and Gobber had said about his combat skills to heart, focusing on creating a lightweight weapon that he could wield more easily than a typical sword. He'd built out the outline of a standard sword, edges sharpened to a razor's edge, but the middle portion was hollow. It served the dual purpose of helping collapse the weapon into a small space and keeping it from growing too heavy in his hands – or when tucked into his prosthetic.
"I don't ever want to feel defenseless again," he explained, raising the blade and taking a few half-hearted practice swings. "Gobber's going to start my combat training up again soon, and I wanted to be prepared with a weapon that I can actually swing."
Astrid snorted, remembering their last training session. "You weren't that bad, Hiccup."
It was true. While he favored lighter, more precise weapons…he'd done fairly well for his lack of experience. With some practice, and a weapon suited to his strengths, there was no reason to believe that he couldn't become a skilled warrior in time.
Hiccup waved her off, a lopsided grin splitting his face. "Want to see the best part?"
"Sure."
Hiccup took a step back, putting some space between them. Then, with a flourish, he triggered one of the surprises that he'd built into the blade. At once, the blade caught fire, igniting the well of Monstrous Nightmare gel that Valka had helped him harvest the night before.
Astrid jumped back, startled by the display. "That's…"
"Pretty amazing, right?"
Astrid nodded, peering at the flaming sword with interest.
He gave her a brief overview of the Nightmare gel's properties, explaining how he'd incorporated it into the blade. "It burns for about an hour on its own," he said, triggering the lever that would extinguish the flames, "but I can stop it whenever I want. And see this little canister? When it runs out of gel, I just have to remove it and click a new one into place. I'm, uh, still working on building up more stores of it though. Bit of a work in progress for now."
He'd have to make a point of tracking down a few more Nightmares, now that he knew how to harvest the gel. It would be a tedious process on his own, and he wondered if there was anyone he could recruit to help. He was hesitant to keep dragging his mother away from his father when they were working so hard to make sense of their relationship.
Collapsing the blade down with ease, he slid it back into his prosthetic. "If I run out of the gel, I can still use it just fine. It should be effective enough without the fire, but adding it just felt right, you know?"
Astrid nodded. "A dragon fire blade," she murmured, looking thoughtful. "That's got to be the first of its kind."
Hiccup shrugged, bringing a hand up to scratch the back of his neck. "Well, yeah…I think that's probably true." The blade was sure to turn a few heads, but he felt confident that he could wield it to defend himself.
"It suits you."
Astrid's words warmed him. After all, he'd thought the same thing. His life was unconventional, and it always would be – why then should his weapon be bound by convention?
He was a dragon, and dragons fought with fire.
"I spoke to one of the traders at port today," said Astrid, almost hesitantly. Like she was afraid to share whatever she'd learned from the visitor.
Very few things scared Astrid – and even less did so enough that she didn't hide it. If something had her unnerved enough to let that vulnerability leak through, it didn't bode well. He braced himself mentally, trying to prepare for whatever news she had to deliver.
Warily, he asked, "what did they say?"
Astrid avoided his eyes, drumming her fingers atop one of the wooden workstations. In a quiet voice she informed him, "they knew…about you. It's starting to spread."
Of course.
It had only been a matter of time before they started to see the consequences of Viggo's escape. While Hiccup had enjoyed the last month of relative quiet, he'd known it would end soon enough. He wasn't foolish enough to hope that the poachers would keep what they'd seen to themselves.
Still, her revelation had surprised him in one way.
"They knew, and they still stopped here?" Was it really possible that the truth of his curse hadn't been enough to completely alienate their allies and trade partners? While it was an encouraging thought, he couldn't risk hoping that one trader ship would signal a larger trend.
Astrid glanced back at him, her look of surprise implying that she hadn't really considered that angle. There was a new spark in her eyes as she nodded, "I guess so," she said slowly, looking a bit more at ease as she assessed the meaning. "They did imply they'd be back."
"That's great news."
Berk depended on traders – just like any other island village. The relationships they built with those trade partners went a long way in securing necessary supplies and maintaining contact with other ports in the archipelago.
It was a relief to know that his curse hadn't cost his tribe those key relationships.
There were at least some, it seemed, that would not dismiss the entire isle over his presence. That knowledge took some of the weight off his shoulders, as he'd feared they'd all cut ties as soon as they knew. If they had…well, he wasn't sure how he'd have handled the guilt.
"It is," she agreed, but there was still tension present in her posture, "but, Hiccup…it's going to keep spreading. Everyone is going to know about you – probably very soon."
Hiccup had assumed as much. Many traders were notorious gossips – any information that they couldn't sell was typically shared with anyone who would listen. If they'd been clued in on something as mind-boggling as his cursed state…well, he was sure that every port they visited was about to hear the tale.
"We knew it was coming," he reminded her with a shrug.
Astrid did not look mollified, crossing her arms as she regarded him.
"What are you going to do?" She asked, "Viggo's still out there. Everyone's about to know about you and all eyes are going to be on Berk."
"About that…" Hiccup trailed off, turning away from her and biting his lip. He focused his attention on his workstation while he considered his next words. It had become a bit of a disaster, clutter piling up all over it as he'd lost himself in crafting the sword.
"My dad and I have been talking about that a lot since Viggo escaped," he said. It was something they spoke of nearly every night, trying to make sense of what Hiccup's future would now look like. He'd held back from sharing those discussions with Astrid, wanting to be sure before he shared his decision.
"Since there's clearly no use in pretending I'm dead anymore…he's going to uh, fully reinstate me," informed Hiccup, hands stilling as he clarified, "as the official heir of Berk."
He heard her sharp intake of breath as she put the pieces together, "you're going to be the next chief?"
Hiccup nodded, keeping his eyes trained on the task at hand. He sorted a few unused bolts back into their bucket, tossing the outdated schematics in the trash. "Why not?" He asked, though the very thought of it still put his nerves on edge. "It was always supposed to be me, and now that I'm not hiding anymore…there's no real reason it can't be again. Of course, I'll need to delegate certain tasks during the day…but every leader does. I've decided to embrace it."
All of it. He thought, done apologizing for who or what he may be.
"Though," he muttered, more to himself than her. "The next gathering of chiefs and heirs is definitely going to be awkward. Or violent. Maybe both..."
A hand fell on his shoulder, spinning him back to face her. "Hiccup, I'm serious," she pressed, blue eyes reflecting the truth of her words. "Are you really okay…with all of this? Your whole life is going to change."
"My life is change," he offered easily. It was true both in the physical sense of the daily transformation and in how fluid his world had become since he'd taken that fateful shot. Steadiness was not a luxury he expected to attain any time soon.
In the month that had passed since Hiccup had been abducted, he'd had plenty of time to think about the latest change coming his way. At first he'd been terrified, wondering if it would be safer for both himself and Berk if he simply disappeared into the wind. There had to be islands that were remote enough for him to stay off the radar of anyone who wished him harm, though he loathed the thought of returning to isolation.
Stoick hadn't taken the suggestion well, immediately vetoing it as an option. He'd been gentle but firm in his denial, making it clear that such a plan was not the answer. It had taken a few thorough and heated discussions for Hiccup to agree, but he'd come around.
After all…If he ran now, he'd likely be running for the rest of his life. Instead, it was important that he now stood his ground and that Berk stood behind him. It would show that he a had a place in viking society, and a people who supported and would rally behind him.
Once he'd worked through his initial fears, he'd come to a surprising conclusion.
"To be honest," he admitted quietly to her, "I'm actually kind of relieved."
"Relieved?"
"Yeah. There's no more sneaking around, no more looking over my shoulder in fear someone's gonna see something they shouldn't or figure it out. I can just be me – for better or for worse," he said, wringing his hands together. "I don't have to be Berk's big, dark secret anymore."
"Hiccup…" Astrid's voice broke on his name, but she couldn't deny the truth of his words. He'd been relegated to the sidelines, keeping himself hidden from everyone outside the island's borders. It wasn't sustainable long-term, at least not in any sort of fulfilling way for him.
As Viggo had said, he'd been nothing more than a ghost. And Hiccup was much too alive to accept that fate.
Astrid reached out, wrapping her arms around his waist and drawing him near.
"I know that not everyone's going to like it," he continued with a grimace, knowing full well that he'd make enemies just for his existence, "but from here on on out, at least it's out of my hands, you know? The world's just going to have to take me or leave me, as-is."
Taking back his birthright as heir would force him to see those reactions face-to-face, but he hoped that would help his situation. That in interacting with Berk's allies directly, it would demystify the curse for them, showing them that underneath the scales and claws he was still the same boy they'd always known.
Perhaps it was too idealistic a thought, but after the acceptance that he'd found in his village…he couldn't help but hope.
Astrid's grip tightened before she released him, stepping back. "Well, I can't speak for the world," she replied, a thoughtful look taking hold, "but I'd say Berk is more than happy to take you as you are – someone asked again today."
"Another one?"
It was getting ridiculous.
Ever since Gobber had suggested that Hiccup lead a new version of dragon training – one focused on understanding and bonding with the creatures, rather than fighting – the idea had swept across the village like some sort of plague. Hiccup hadn't even agreed to anything, yet villagers kept seeking him out and volunteering to be part of his theoretical class.
Between Stormfly and Cloudjumper, the tribe had gotten a good look at what harmony could look like with a dragon companion. After an uneasy first week of having dragons in town, much of Berk had begun to warm up to their presence. The two dragons had been playful and curious, but they hadn't shown even the slightest hint of aggression.
It had been enough to captivate the curiosity of several vikings, who'd never seen such a friendly side to dragons.
Fishlegs had been the first to ask if it could be replicated, eager for his chance to get up close to one of the dragons he'd been studying with such passion. Considering the genuine interest the boy had in understanding dragons, Hiccup had agreed easily.
Afterwards…well, Gobber had gone and made his crazy suggestion. Loudly, in the middle of the town square for all to hear. Subtly had never been his strong suit.
As much as Hiccup kept insisting that Valka was the best suited for the task, having spent so much more time bonding with dragons over the years, it seemed his words fell on deaf ears. He'd been cornered by the twins, by Snotlout – Hel, even by Gobber himself!
It seemed like all of Berk wanted him to be the bridge between species.
"Gustav," confirmed Astrid, rolling her eyes. "Probably just trying to suck up to Snotlout since he's already volunteered, but the kid's eager enough. I'm not sure he really has the patience for training just yet, but maybe he could at least watch?"
"I haven't actually agreed to anything."
"You haven't refused, either," she pointed out. "Knowing you, there's got to be a reason for that."
Hiccup ran a hand through his hair, knowing she was right. It was a lot of pressure to take on, especially when he was already taking back the mantle of heir…but he couldn't shake the feeling that it was his destiny to be that bridge.
That he needed to do it – both for his village, and for himself.
"I guess I could give it a try," he finally relented, leaning his weight against the worktable, "it would probably be good to have a few more dragon riders in Berk…but I'd want to start small. Maybe just Fishlegs, Snotlout and the twins for now as sort of a trial run, you know? I think I could manage that, just…so long as you're there with me, by my side."
"Always."
"I don't know about this," said Hiccup, hearing the unease in his own voice. His nerves were wound tightly, muscles locking with tension.
Astrid looked down from her spot atop Stormfly's back, expression incredulous and hand still extended down. "You can't be serious," she said with a disbelieving laugh. "What? Don't tell me you're afraid of flying?"
Hiccup felt his face grow hot, ducking his head in embarrassment. It was ridiculous, but the idea of getting onto a dragon's back was somehow so much more intimidating than carrying himself on his own wings.
When he told her as much, she only shook her head in fond amusement.
"Oh, come on," she insisted, leaning further out of the saddle as she did. "You know you'll love it."
Hiccup's gaze flitted over the saddle that he'd made for her, noting with satisfaction that it was holding up well under the strain of her daily flights. He'd never imagined a day would come when he'd be crafting saddles for dragons, but with the sudden influx of potential dragon riders, it had become a very real part of his work in the forge.
He'd been hard at work sketching out plans for how to apply his design to different dragon species, customizing for their unique needs. It was a nice way to combine his two worlds, marrying his love of dragons with his love for inventing.
"Alright," Hiccup allowed, reaching out and grasping her hand. He allowed himself to be pulled up behind her, settling into place on the Nadder's back.
As Stormfly launched herself into the air, Hiccup wrapped his arms firmly around Astrid's waist. There were no stirrups for a second rider to brace himself – he had no other way of steadying himself outside of hanging on tight. He wasn't complaining about it, happy to have any opportunity to be closer to her.
They rose steadily up into the air, soaring high over Berk until the buildings below looked like specks in the distance.
Stormfly swooped wide, bringing them into a slow lap around the island. As they flew, the salty sea air rushed through Hiccup's hair and bit at his skin, swirling all around him. They passed through a stray cloud that lay in their path, leaving a faint dusting of water droplets over their clothes when they emerged.
Hiccup was surprised by just how different the world looked from above through human eyes. Though he saw it all with less clarity than his Night Fury counterpart, it didn't take anything away from the experience. If anything, it added a new feeling. His stomach dropped, but not in an unpleasant way – more like a spike of adrenaline. Everything seemed so much smaller, and by extension, as if they were even higher up.
Despite the differences, he found that the sense of wonder and freedom that he'd grown to associate with flight was untouched. It remained just as awe-inspiring as ever, drumming up familiar feelings of comfort and elation.
With that realization, all his nerves evaporated.
A loose peal of laughter left his lips, grip loosening a bit as he let himself enjoy the feeling more fully. This was what it meant to be a dragon rider, he supposed. No wonder Valka and Astrid had grown so attached to it.
It was a rush.
They continued to circle Berk, taking small detours to twist and wind through the maze of sea stacks nearby. There was no urgency as they swept across the sea, lazily taking in the sights of their home in the pre-dawn glow. The torches that lined the streets had long burned out for the night, but fading moonlight kept the houses aglow.
Hiccup was all too aware of the sky, keeping careful track of the time. When he knew he was almost out, he drew one hand from Astrid's waist and tapped her on the shoulder.
She twisted to look at him, making a soft sound of surprise when instead of speaking, he leaned forward and kissed her.
Astrid smiled against his lips before returning the gesture with intensity, leaning her weight backwards against him. Her warm hands rose up, brushing first against his face and then twisting and tangling in his hair. He felt them catch on the small braids she'd woven behind his ears, a reminder of whispered promises they'd made to one another in the night.
Hiccup caressed her waist, taking comfort in the familiar warmth of her body. He could feel her hot breath against his lips, and the rush of his own rapidly beating heart.
Gods, he loved her.
A familiar buzzing began in his veins and he forced himself to draw back, feeling great reluctance as he did. For a moment he simply gazed upon her, letting himself swim deep in her ocean blue eyes. He could see the understanding in them – the way way that she knew without him having to speak, as if their very souls were connected.
"Milady," he said with an exaggerated wink, letting go of her waist and relaxing his posture. His fingers twitched, wishing he could prolong the moment and grab hold of her once more.
Astrid released her own grip, eyes crinkled in amusement. "Babe," she returned with a raised eyebrow, knowing the pet name still got a rise out of him.
Hiccup ignored the heat that rushed to his face, concentrating instead on the sensation of the buzzing that was growing stronger in his veins. Time was just about up.
He shook his head at her in mock disapproval, giving a snarky salute before leaning his weight heavily to his left side. He let gravity do the rest of the work, quickly pulling him from Stormfly's back and sending him plummeting headfirst towards the sea below.
It was exhilarating.
As the sun broke the horizon, purple fire erupted around him. He welcomed it, embracing the feeling of his shifting bones as they gifted him with flight.
He flared out his dark wings, swooping upwards just before he would hit the waves. With a few powerful pumps, he brought himself level with where Stormfly still hovered in the air. The Nadder's blue scales shone like gems in the growing morning light, but they didn't hold a candle to the blinding smile Astrid shot him.
Then her eyes suddenly narrowed, expression growing mischievous as she yelled out, "Race ya?"
Hiccup roared his approval, wasting no time in shooting off into the distance. The tell-tale shriek of a Night Fury in flight filled the air, a now familiar sound to all those called the isle of Berk home.
"Hey!"
He let out a warbling laugh as he heard her indignant shout from behind him. He looped back, twisting around the Nadder playfully before reclaiming his lead.
In that moment, the chill of the wind no longer phased him, and his worries of the future were far behind. All that mattered was savoring this quiet moment with the girl that he loved.
Hiccup had made one vow to her already, and he was poised to make one more. It was a big step – more serious than the previous vow and far more binding, but he believed in it with all his heart.
He believed in them.
He wanted to spend forever with her…but for now he'd allow the dust to settle. There was no reason to rush things, but that didn't stop him from eagerly daydreaming of what their future could be. Before the year was out, he hoped they'd be betrothed.
For now, he was content to appreciate every sunrise and sunset together.
Hiccup was home, and he was free.