I'm baaaaaack. Did you miss me?

As usual, I own nothing except my OCs- credit to DreamWorks and Cressida. Also, a few years between this and Third Crisis

"Big day big day big day!"

"Ooh, someone grab him, it's far too early for this."

"BIG DAY!"

"HICCUP!"

"NO!" Hiccup stomped his foot in protest and then Snotlout tackled him. The cousins toppled down the hill, crash-landing in a bush and wrestling the other. Their wives stood at the top with their heads in their hands, heavy with denial they were married to those lunatics.

"I thought Haddocks aged gracefully?" Alastor quizzed.

"When has Hiccup done anything Haddocks are supposed to do?" Astrid replied with a sigh. Alastor considered this for a moment, biting his bottom lip.

"Fair play." He eventually agreed. "Is Snotlout supposed to be that red?"

"Oh gods…" Astrid and Waiola hurried down the hill, yelling at the spouses. Alastor was left with his younger siblings. Aloe was humming merrily to herself, watching the clouds go by. Fenrir was poking a frog with a stick.

"Fen, leave the frog alone."

"But it's so slimy."

"It's not slime, it's mucus." Alastor confiscated the stick. His brother stuck his bottom lip out instantly, blue eyes reflecting the sky as they glowered up at Alastor. "If the wind changes, your face will stay like that."

"Liar." Fenrir challenged.

"It will!" Aloe insisted, suddenly coming back to earth. "Didn't you ever hear of Grumpy Gertrude and the Wailing Wind?"

"What?" Fenrir floundered. "No! Tell me, tell me!"

"Ah," Aloe shook a finger at him, "I need a smile first." Fenrir pouted. Then bared his teeth. "Don't hurt yourself, kid." Aloe laughed, ruffling his auburn hair. He waved her hand away and stuck his tongue out.

"I'm not a kid. I'm eight." He said proudly, puffing his little chest out.

"And I'm eighteen." Alastor smirked. "Beat that."

"Give me ten years and I will."

"Fen, you- we- you know what, never mind." Alastor shook his head. "Al, keep an eye on him for me. I need to find Ingrid."

"Tell me about Grumpy Gertrude!" Fenrir insisted, bouncing excitedly. Aloe beamed at him- at least someone liked her stories. Alastor left them to it, heading home. Hiccup was right- today was a big day. He was passing the chief mantle onto Ingrid. Who hadn't been seen since breakfast. Even Vadik, her not-so-secret-secret boyfriend, hadn't seen her and they usually went for morning flights.

"Ingrid?" Alastor called, pushing the door open. "Ingrid? Answer me, because if I have to tell Dad you've migrated, we're going to have a serious melt down on our hands." He counted to five. "Ingrid!"

"Go away!"

"Charming." Alastor muttered, stomping up the stairs. "Ingrid, don't be such a drama queen. This was your idea." His sister was on her bed, chewing her thumbnail. "You're not going to be sick, are you?" She mumbled, managing a minute shake of the head. Then she nodded. "No." Alastor scrambled for a bucket, crashing back into the room just in time. "I'm sure we didn't have carrots for breakfast."

"Shut up." Ingrid groaned. Alastor left the bucket with her, taking a seat at the end of her bed.

"What's going on? I thought you wanted to be chief?"

"I do, but- today's really freaking me out."

"Why?"

"I don't know." She shook her head.

"You're going to miss us, aren't you?" Alastor grinned. His sister's impending-chiefhood also meant she was moving out. Her new home was only a five-minute walk away- Aloe liked to keep them all together- and as much as Ingrid had worked to make it her own place, Alastor could see she was already feeling homesick as well as regular sick. "Will it make you feel better if you took Fen with you?"

"I am not taking Fen."

"Oh, come on. Someone's got to have the little blighter."

"I thought you liked Fen?"

"When he's not trying to fight the wall in the early hours of the morning."

"That was funny though."

"It was right next to my bed!" Alastor wrinkled his nose at her. "Lazy." He said. "You're not even dressed properly."

"I tried."

"Well, for starters, you might want to turn your tunic around." Ingrid looked down at herself.

"Oh." She said quietly. Alastor got the bucket back- not something he was happy with- and she pulled her arms out of her sleeves, twisting her shirt around and wiggling her arms back in. "Better?"

"Now the rest of it. I'll get rid of this… bucket of delight and carrots. I'll meet you downstairs in five. And don't make me set Aloe on you."

"Oh, fight me."

"I'll get Fen." Ingrid shut the door in his face, but not before he had seen her smile. Alastor sighed, looking at the gift she had left him. "I don't get paid enough for this." He muttered.

"Are you talking to yourself again?"

"I have the best conversations with myself, thank you very much." Alastor looked up. "I wouldn't go up there now, Dad, she's… trying to get ready. Emphasis on trying." Hiccup peered in the bucket, making a face at the contents.

"I'd postpone it until she's feeling better, but that might just make things worse."

"You've got leaves in your hair."

"I've got leaves in places there shouldn't be leaves. Your mother is very creative. And what's this about Grumpy Gertrude? You and Aloe aren't telling him weird stories again, are you?"

"The kid needs to smile more. And not like this," Alastor grimaced, "that doesn't count." Hiccup shook his head, amused. "I'm going to get rid of this. After you've de-leafed, could you pep-talk her through the door? I think she wants to bury me."

"What gave you that idea?"

"The shovel in the corner."

"There's a shovel- we talked about- she's not allowed shovels, not after what happened with Arne."

"His face will never be the same again." Alastor sighed dramatically, snickering seconds later.

"You used to be so nice." Hiccup tutted. "What happened?"

"Ditto." Alastor ducked his father's grab, rushing out the door.

"Ingrid?" Hiccup knocked on the door. "Ingrid, you haven't climbed out the window, have you? Your mother will kill me. For real this time."

"No, I'm… I'm not climbing out the window. Anymore."

"Can I come in?" Hiccup heard a very tiny 'OK' and pushed the door open a crack. Ingrid plonked herself down on her bed, picking at her lip. Hiccup went and sat next to her. "You'll be OK." He said kindly. "You'll make a great chief."

"Not everyone thinks that." She mumbled.

"That's because, with all honesty, you're a girl. Sorry, young lady. Ooh, you're all growing up too quickly, I don't like it." He shook his head. "I know how you're feeling, Ingrid. I never thought I could take over from my dad either, but…" Hiccup faltered. Ingrid glanced over at him, seeing the grief weighing down his shoulders. Stoick had passed away last year, went in his sleep. Valka had found him, raised the alarm, but there was nothing anyone could have done. "But we got there in the end." He continued, rubbing his hands together. "I'll be here if you need me. And Astrid. I'm sure, between us, we could help you get settled in."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to enjoy my retirement." Hiccup smiled sadly. "I'll miss it, being chief, but it does give me more time to terrorize your mum."

"You're not going to be retired for long, are you?"

"She'll kill me by this time next week."

"This time tomorrow." Ingrid corrected with a small grin.

"Oh, of course. What was I thinking?" Hiccup shrugged good-naturedly. "Hey," he said, elbowing her playfully, "you'll get the cloak." He plucked at the bearskin garment and smiled. "Warmest thing I have ever owned."

"You're not allowed to keep it."

"What are you going to do, fight me for it?"

"Berk's first civil war and it'll be over a cloak."

"Deal." They shook on it and then dissolved into giggles.

"What are you two doing?" Astrid dropped on Ingrid's other side, shaking her head at the pair of them.

"We're planning our first civil war." Hiccup replied easily. Astrid didn't even bat an eyelid.

"Ingrid, aren't you supposed to be getting ready?" Ingrid hunched her shoulders. Astrid's expression softened. "You'll make a wonderful chief." She smiled, squeezing her daughter's hand. "Don't let anyone tell you different, OK? And, woe betide they do, there's a shovel over there."

"Oh yeah," Hiccup remembered, "your shovel privileges are cut."

"Why?"

"Arne looks like a hog that ran headfast into a volcano and face-planted a nest of Zipplebacks."

"Couldn't look any worse." Ingrid and Astrid said together, high-fiving. Hiccup rolled his eyes- not something that he did often- and Astrid pinched his leg. "Why don't you go and check the others aren't tearing up the village? I'll stay and make sure Ingrid gets there on time."

"I can see when I'm not wanted-"

"Apparently not very well." Astrid cut across. Hiccup gaped at her, gaining a sweet smile in return. He muttered something foul, got punched for it, and then swept from the room, purposefully billowing his cloak only to get it stuck in the door on the way out. Astrid snorted with bemusement, cackling seconds later. Hiccup popped his head back in, made a rude hand gesture and then vanished. "Ooh, he's in trouble." Astrid decided. "Right, let's get you sorted then."

"Dad, will you calm down? You look like you're about to explode."

"And?" Hiccup defied. "What are you looking at?" He said, planting his hands on his hips and looking down at Fenrir.

"You're strange."

"Has it really taken you eight years to realise that?"

"Is it my turn to be chief next?" The redhead asked. "Can I get a dragon now? Mum said you'd have more time to help me get my dragon when Ingrid's chief. Can I have a Night Fury? Or a Thunderdrum? Deathsong!" Fenrir's little round face lit up and he started pulling on his father's arm. "I'm not hearing a 'no'."

"You're not hearing a 'yes' either. We'll go through the book later and see what takes your fancy, OK?"

"Promise?" Fenrir fixed a steely, demanding look on Hiccup.

"Astrid." Hiccup muttered. "Yes, I promise."

"Good." Fenrir smiled/grimaced and held onto Hiccup's hand with an iron-grip. He may only be eight years old and built like the rest of them, but he was freakishly strong. Hiccup was convinced he was too Hofferson to be a Haddock. Astrid had no idea what he meant by that and kicked him into the lake.

"There she is!" Aloe beamed. Ingrid, looking considerably less pale but no less nervous, was making her way towards them, her mother beside her. "Mum, can you do my hair like that?" Aloe asked eagerly. Ingrid's dark hair had three braids in it, two either side of her head and one running across the top, all converging into one larger braid hanging amongst a curly ponytail.

"Later." Astrid smiled. She looked to Hiccup, noticed the child latched onto him and smirked. Hiccup pulled a face.

"I can't feel my fingers."

"Diddums. Fen, sweetie, come here."

"Ok." Fenrir hopped over to his mother's side. "Ingrid looks posh."

Over a sleeveless red tunic and black trousers, Ingrid wore her new set of armour, commissioned by Hiccup solely for her coronation. The bladed covers for her shoulders gleamed in the sunlight, her upper arms bare, but her forearms bound with fur-lined leather greaves tied neatly with white ribbon. The breastplate was made to measure, inspired by Hildegard Hofferson's Gronckle Iron clothing range, a black leather belt at the waist buckled with the ceremonial clasp. A skirt of pelt and chain mail hung to just above her knees, toned in black and grey, hints of red in the folds and her boots were made to match, ready to stomp people into the ground should the need arise or if she ever got bored.

"Isn't this a bit much?"

"No, something's missing." Hiccup sighed, crossing his arms as he thought. He started muttering to himself, drumming his fingers on his forehead and completely unaware Aloe was doing the exact same thing behind him. "Got the armour, got the belt, got the boots, I didn't do a helmet because I ran out of time, but I will get that down for you. Um…" Hiccup shot his wife a befuddled look. Astrid shook her head.

"You said she didn't need a helmet just yet. You had the other thing for her."

"What other thing? Oh! The other thing! I know, I know! Other best thing about this cloak, Ingrid- not only is it warm, but it has a hell of a lot of pockets. Only problem is, I can't remember… which pocket… um…" Hiccup made a face with each pocket that yielded no results. Aloe had stopped mimicking her father and fallen into a fit of giggles, Fenrir was holding onto her arm, just as amused. Alastor stood watching Hiccup, one hand over his mouth and the other tucked into the crook of his elbow, doing his best not to laugh. Even Ingrid's mood seemed to brighten a little at her father's charming idiocy. "Aha!" Hiccup eventually declared. "Found it!" He produced a small wooden box, contemplating Ingrid's hair for a moment. "Milady, would you like to do this? I might mess her hair up." He handed the box over.

Inside, a long silver chain studded with tiny portions of amber and emeralds. Astrid gently, yet deftly, weaved it amongst the braids of Ingrid's hair, stepping back a minute later to smile proudly.

"Berk's first female chief. About damn time."

"Hey, it's not my fault! Why are you glaring at me?"

"Everything's your fault."

"Three hundred years of Viking tradition is my fault? I'm only eleven!"

"Oh, shut up and retire already." Astrid flicked him. Hiccup muttered something that sounded suspiciously like 'poohead', ducked a sudden swing and darted up the steps to the stage. The chatter of the crowd waiting for him died to a murmur and then silence.

Alastor was still holding the bucket- thankfully clean now- and was watching Ingrid carefully. Aloe was humming to herself, as she often did, and then started to laugh.

"Don't go on yet!" She hissed, grabbing Ingrid by the wrist. Ingrid raised a brow at her- she hadn't even moved. "I just remembered, I made you this. I know it's not my best work, but definitely my best materials. Here." She held out one of her famed bracelets. "For luck." She smiled. "I know it doesn't match your snazzy new outfit, but even a chief needs some luck." Ingrid dutifully held her hand out and Aloe beamed at her, fitting the charm around her wrist. It was made of seagrass, silk and small shells, beaded with small pieces of gemstones.

"I love it." Ingrid smiled.

"Of course you do." Aloe brushed an imaginary speck of dust from Ingrid's armour and then sighed. "Do you think Dad will make me armour?"

"You don't like armour." Astrid pointed out.

"I'd like stylish armour though." Aloe nodded seriously. She cocked her head to one side and they started listening to the tail end of Hiccup's speech.

"And without further ado, I give you your new chief! Ingrid!"

"Nope." Ingrid squeaked. Her siblings clamoured behind her, spewing words of encouragement and pushing her up onto the stage. Astrid hopped up after shooing them away. "Mum, I can't-"

"Yes, you can. Ingrid, you've stood on the stage as acting chief before, countless times."

"It's for real this time though."

"It is." Astrid agreed. "And it's what you've worked so hard for, all these years. All that extra training, following your lunatic father about, all those days where we didn't see you except for meals because you were too busy reading up on the history of Berk and dealing with inter-tribal relations. You were already doing chiefly things. The only difference is, today you'll be getting the title. Now go up there and make us Hoffersons proud."

"What about the Haddocks?" Alastor chipped in.

"Yeah, them too, I guess. I didn't ask for your opinion, go away." Astrid waved him away and then turned back to her eldest. "Go on, Ingrid. Your dad will up there with you and you won't be alone in this. You'll get naysayers wherever you go. Don't let them stop you from becoming what you want to be." Astrid gave her a gentle push in the back and then Ingrid was on stage, next to her father, who looked like all his Snoggletogs had come at once.

"I'm so proud of you." Hiccup whispered as he took his cloak off and swung it about her shoulders. Bjorn Junior advanced, holding a small wooden pot. Fishlegs was with him, holding a sword and a shield Ingrid hadn't seen before. The sword was purely ceremonial, she could see that, and the shield was rounded, painted with the Berkian colours. "We'll get pie later to celebrate." Hiccup promised, grinning. Ingrid managed a small smile. "Deep breath." He advised, nodding his thanks at Bjorn. Ingrid did as he said, getting down on one knee so he could paint the symbol of chiefdom on her forehead.

She rose carefully. Hiccup had swapped the pot for the sword and shield, still smiling at her, more reassuring now. She took the sword in her left, the shield in her right- Hiccup's smile broadened at this- and then he stood to one side, presenting her to her village. Ingrid could see her siblings and mother from the corner of her eye, standing to one side of the stage. She stood tall, focusing on breathing evenly, keeping her shoulders back, chin up, props steady. "Vikings!" Hiccup called. "All hail your new chief, Ingrid Haddock!"

I've missed these stories ^_^