Welcome to Berk 2.0
Imagine a world where dragons don’t fly through the skies, but smartphones buzz in back pockets. Where mead is replaced by matcha lattes, and instead of sharpening swords, people sharpen their resumes. Now picture Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and Astrid Hofferson dropped right into the middle of it—modern times, complete with Wi-Fi, college apps, electric scooters, and social media influencers. What would they be like? What would they do?
Would Hiccup be the quiet guy at robotics club tinkering with his latest flying drone prototype? Would Astrid be the captain of every team, juggling sports and activism with perfect braids? One thing’s for sure—their core personalities would still shine through. Kindness, courage, intelligence, and a whole lot of heart never go out of style.
Let’s time-travel and explore what life might look like if Hiccup and Astrid traded Viking helmets for hoodies.
Hiccup: The Innovator Who Fixes More Than Machines
First things first: Hiccup would absolutely be a STEM kid. The kind who’s always sketching in a tattered notebook or soldering wires in the garage. He wouldn’t be flashy, but he’d be quietly brilliant, inventing gadgets that actually work and trying to solve problems no one else sees. Whether it’s building eco-friendly transportation or creating an app that translates pet behavior into emojis, Hiccup would be the modern-day brainiac with messy hair, mismatched socks, and more ideas than hours in the day.
He’d probably be running a YouTube channel where he breaks down tech builds or talks about design theory while Toothless—his sleek, black cat or possibly an adopted emotional support lizard—purrs in the background. He’d be one of those quietly viral creators whose videos somehow rack up millions of views without him ever realizing he’s famous.
School-wise, he wouldn’t fit perfectly into any box. Not the jocks, not the theater kids, not the honor roll elite. But that’s kind of his thing. He’d hang with the art kids, the gamers, the introverts and outliers—building his own kind of tribe. And while he might not be the loudest in the room, when he does speak, people listen. Because Hiccup doesn’t talk just to fill space. He speaks with meaning, empathy, and the kind of insight that makes everyone stop and think.
Astrid: The Fearless Leader of Every Arena
Now Astrid? She’d own the modern world like she owns every battlefield. Straight-A student, varsity athlete, debate team star, and local activist. She’s the girl who wakes up early to train at the gym, brings homemade protest signs to rallies, and still makes it to math club by 4 p.m. Astrid would have ambition in her bones and a fire in her eyes that makes people both admire her and step out of her way.
She’s not mean, though. Far from it. She’d just have that energy—the one that makes you want to be better. She’d be the friend who pushes you to go for that audition, apply for that scholarship, or dump that jerk. And when she believes in someone, she does it loudly. Fierce loyalty, no sugar-coating, and a soft spot a mile deep for the people who’ve earned her trust.
Astrid would probably have a side hustle teaching self-defense class at the local rec center or working with a nonprofit to encourage girls in sports. She’d have a social media presence, but it wouldn’t be selfies and brunch shots. It’d be action clips, motivational quotes, and posts about breaking barriers. And yeah, her followers would adore her.
She’d keep a close circle, and at the center of that circle—of course—would be Hiccup.
Hiccstrid: The Modern Power Couple
Together, Hiccup and Astrid would be the ultimate modern pairing. Not the Instagram-perfect couple with matching outfits, but the ones who genuinely get each other. They’d build each other up without trying to fix each other. Hiccup would calm Astrid when the world gets overwhelming. Astrid would light a fire under Hiccup when he starts doubting himself. They’d be equal parts brains and brawn, compassion and conviction.
Date nights would be unconventional. Maybe they’d go drone racing or stargazing on the roof of the science building. Maybe they’d build things together—custom longboards, maybe even a solar-powered scooter they both ride to class. You’d find them curled up on the couch, Hiccup deep in coding while Astrid does strength training with a resistance band—and still finds a way to hold his hand.
They’d disagree sometimes. Of course they would. Astrid might push too hard; Hiccup might retreat into his head. But they’d talk it out, every time, because respect would be their secret weapon. No drama, just growth. The kind of couple everyone quietly watches and goes, “Okay yeah, that’s what I want someday.”
Toothless: The Best Friend with Wings—or Wheels
Toothless may not be a full-sized Night Fury in the modern world, but he’d still be around. Maybe as an unusually intelligent dog with panther-black fur and expressive eyes. Or maybe he’s a drone Hiccup built with advanced AI, capable of tracking emotions and playing fetch with shocking precision. Or maybe he’s a skateboard, custom-designed with glowing green wheels and a GPS tracker, that takes Hiccup and Astrid everywhere they need to go.
Regardless of the form, Toothless would still be Hiccup’s ride-or-die. The emotional support, the silent cheerleader, the creature who always knows when to curl up beside you on your worst day or nudge you toward greatness on your best. And honestly? He’d probably have his own TikTok account. Because of course he would.
Berk High and the Modern Gang
Picture the modern version of Berk High School. Snotlout would be that overly confident, gym-obsessed class clown who lowkey gets A’s in AP Bio. Fishlegs would be the walking encyclopedia of every fandom, running a Dungeons & Dragons club and probably dating someone way cooler than he expected. The twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, would be skateboarders, pranksters, and chaotic TikTokers with a combined following in the millions—never in class, but always somehow passing.
Astrid would be student council president and prom queen, but in a leather jacket and Doc Martens. Hiccup would run the robotics team and secretly submit essays under a pseudonym that keep winning awards. Their squad would be misfits, brainiacs, rebels, and ride-or-dies—all bonded through trust, survival, and shared memories of growing up in a town where everyone knows everyone.
Instead of fighting dragons, they’d be navigating tests, heartbreaks, broken phones, and finding their place in a world that doesn’t always make room for the brave and different. But just like their Viking selves, they’d fight—smart, strong, and together.
What They’d Do After High School
Let’s fast-forward a bit. Hiccup and Astrid graduate. The world opens up. What’s next?
Hiccup would head off to a top-tier engineering program, but not the kind of place that polishes him into someone he’s not. He’d take off with a backpack full of blueprints, a part-time job at a tech startup, and a dream to invent things that matter. Think sustainable urban transportation, or prosthetics that change lives. Astrid would enroll in a top university for political science—or maybe pre-law. She’d intern for a senator, lead campus protests, and probably write an op-ed that goes viral. She’d be blazing a trail, one fearless speech at a time.
They’d do long distance for a while, but they’d handle it. Skype calls, late-night texts, surprise visits on birthdays. Eventually, they’d reunite for good—not because one of them gave up their path, but because they made the paths converge.
And yes, they’d still have Toothless—maybe now a service dog, maybe a therapy animal at the local children’s hospital, maybe just the most well-loved companion who ever existed.
Same Hearts, New World
The best part of imagining Hiccup and Astrid in the modern era is realizing that their core never changes. They’d still be the kids who saw something different in each other. Who took risks, believed in second chances, and learned that love isn’t about perfection—it’s about partnership. They’d still be brave. Still be kind. Still be the perfect example of what happens when the brainy underdog and the fearless warrior fall in love.
So whether they’re riding dragons or skateboards, saving villages or starting nonprofits, Hiccup and Astrid would still be heroes in every timeline. And let’s be honest—we’d still be cheering them on, one love story and one innovation at a time.
