An alternate take on the arena scene from HTTYD where hiccup still fails to originally tame the Monstrous Nightmare as he planned, but some things happen differently resulting in a new person emerging from the carnage. At this point Hiccup has learnt more than originally thought about dragons. This right now is only a two or three chapter story concept but if more ideas come to me it could grow to a longer story. If you have any ideas then PM me and I'll happily think about it. Some of this stuff may feel OOC but that's kinda the idea I'm toying with. The chapter is massive as I wanted it to flow rather than breaking it up with chapters.
Enjoy
I, Alone
It was all going according to plan.
Enter arena, head held high.
Every last detail had been planned for.
Pick up weapons from rack and face the Chief. It doesn't matter which ones.
Every angle thought over, analysed and re-thought many times over again.
Say "I'm ready" and await the release of the Dragon.
All in anticipation of this moment.
Allow the Dragon's initial rage to subside and fires to cool. Let it approach then slowly discard weapons and helmet to the ground while talking in soothing tones. Assure the dragon he was not one of 'them'.
And it was working!
Reach out hand to create a bond whilst convincing his worried father that he was ok, that the Vikings didn't "have to kill them" anymore.
Hiccup was on the cusp of showing his entire village that there was a better way for Berk to deal with its dragon problems. He was finally opening their eyes to the possibility that they were not the mindless, evil beasts that had plagued them for the past 300 years. He had already convinced the fearless Astrid Hofferson, albeit involving a bit of kidnapping and unearthed the truth behind the dragon raids.
Ignore the whispers of disbelief in the air. Just a little bit closer and the dragon would be his.
And this would be his triumphant moment to prove that the past 15 years of being "the worst Viking Berk had ever seen!" to quote his father had not been in vain. That his title of Hiccup the Useless would forever be erased from the hearts and minds of his fellow tribesmen. That his father would actually be proud of him accomplishing something, that no other Viking in Berk had ever done before.
Prove to Astrid this won't go wrong! Only a few inches now!
But then 'he' happened.
"I SAID STOP THE FIGHT!"
And with that bellow and clang of Stoic's Warhammer on the kill ring's metal frame, all Hel broke loose. The eyes of the Monstrous Nightmare, once curious and docile, now became murderous slits filled with nothing but aggression and instinct. The dragon had only one drive now. To fight, to kill, to survive against anything placed in front of it. And that 'anything' right now was a totally undefended Viking child with a strangely familiar scent. This would be easy. The Dragon lunged for his outstretched hand.
Hiccup recoiled faster than he thought possible from the Dragon and started to run. He had failed and pure adrenaline ruled his body as the dragon unleashed its flaming breath. Dashing round the arena in front of horrified men, women and children, Hiccup was miraculously nimble as the dragon failed time and again to get range on his target.
"Out of my way!" cried Stoick as he got up from his throne, to rush for the gates, ending this debacle. However he only got two feet when he came across a wall of fierce resistance in form of his brother Spitelout and a large group of his fellow Viking council members. He tried to shove past but they would not yield to even his massive muscular frame.
"What are you doing? I have to get my boy out of there!"
"The boy has betrayed his tribe Stoic!" Spitleout said evenly "Hiccup has betrayed you! He should face the fate he has chosen and let the Gods decide what to do with him. He cannot hide behind being the chief's son any longer!"
The council behind him nodded knowingly and Stoick saw there was no disputing Spitelout's logic.
Stoic looked like he was about to try again rushing for the gate when he let out a large breath he had been holding. With a father's heavy heart he returned to his throne and when he sat down it was with the rage filled heart of a Chief betrayed. Hiccup had brought this on himself and Stoic would no longer be the one to excuse him. Looking in the arena he was surprised that his son was still alive as the Nightmare continued its pursuit.
'Still running, just like the coward he is' Stoic thought.
Despite the emotions rolling inside him, Stoic simply looked on without showing anything, as his namesake suggested. He then noticed action beyond the turmoil in the arena. He saw Astrid Hofferson, Hiccup's fellow trainee trying to pry open the gateway to the kill ring, using a curved axe as leverage. She was almost there and trying to squeeze herself under the heavy gate but was having difficulty.
Even over a roaring crowd, Stoic's voice was able to cut across it with ease. "Stop the Hofferson girl! She's trying to get under the gate!"
Immediately a handful of Vikings were rushing to the outside of the portcullis that Astrid was attempting to crawl under. She was almost through and ready to dash over and help Hiccup when she felt many hands clamp around her ankles and legs. Though she tried to resist, grabbing onto the walls or the frame of the gate itself, she could not escape their pull as she was dragged back under the gate. All she could do was struggle and stare helplessly through watery eyes at the boy who was being hunted like a mouse in a fiery cat's game that was about to end. All she could do was scream his name "HICCUP!"
Astrid's voice reached Hiccup's ears and he dived away from the weapons rack as the Nightmare crushed it. He looked over to see Astrid now restrained in the arms of three burly Vikings on the opposite side of the gate. There would be no help coming from her and he noticed his father sitting back in his throne, unmoving and silent, eyes burning with hatred.
Was he really going to let him die? Was his own father and his entire tribe now prepared to simply leave him to be devoured and forgotten?
A new feeling started to stir in Hiccup's chest as he kept moving and analysing the situation unfolding around him.
His chest was suddenly hit with an additional feeling as the Nightmare swung his tail and caught him fully across the sternum. The force catapulted him back and he was slammed into the arena wall. He started to slump but somehow his legs didn't give out. He was stronger than he thought. The Nightmare raised itself up and stalked slowly forward from the other side of the arena.
Now they would call it off! Now the tribe would have had enough! His humiliation was complete and he was already prepared to endure another fifteen years of their harsh treatment. But he didn't have to die! Did he?
In the growing quiet of anticipation that was falling over the spectators and sensing the boys questions, Stoic stood and simply said with a slight break in his voice "The fight is to the death and there can be only one victor" before resuming his seat. The village took a collective gasp and all eyes bore into the tiny frame of the stunned Hiccup. When he first entered the ring they were all on his side urging him to gut the dragon, now they were all fully accepting of his imminent and gruelling death.
What kind of people are they? A distraught Hiccup thought. He was so shocked he couldn't even find words to speak in his defence. The hate filled eyes of his father stopped any words forming.
From the back of the crowd an unknown voice laughed "Ha ha ha! So much for Hiccup the Useless! Looks like he's finally gonna get what's coming to him!"
Some more villagers chuckled at this and soon 'that word' began to spread through the crowd, like a tide of sound growing stronger and stronger with each new voice that took up 'that word'.
At first it was just one person.
"Useless"
Then it was a dozen.
"useless, uselESS."
Then it was four dozen.
"Useless, useless USELESS!"
Then it was a hundred.
"Useless, uselsess, USELESS, USELESS!"
Then it was everyone!
"USELESS, USELESS, USELESS, USELESS, USELESS!"
The word echoed and reverberated around the arena, each chant breaking on Hiccup's soul like an unrelenting tidal wave. Hiccups eyes were wide with disbelief and horror as the enormity started to sink in.
The people he once tried so hard to be a part of were not just allowing his death. They were now actually encouraging his death and seemed to be happy to do so! They were united behind the Dragon! It was a completely sick perversion of what he wanted.
The strange feeling in his chest had been building as this was going on. It had been building along with the realisation that he was truthfully and completely alone and had been all of his life.
And the only too creatures that seemed to be even happy at his existence were a black Night Fury, who was to his knowledge still in the natural prison that was the cove and a Blonde Shield-Maiden who was still struggling to get him on the other side of the gate.
The Monstrous Nightmare that had been stalking across the arena even took a moment to pause at this bizarre turn of events. The normal chaotic shouting with various hollers and shrieks it expected the humans to make were all replaced by a single unifying voice.
A single voice that called for death to be delivered.
But not his death as he expected. He looked into the eyes of the baying crowd, heard the sound they made and realised their fury was directed at the one he had been hunting. One of their own kind. They wanted him, a dragon, to kill it. He had only seen such behaviour before in the great nest where weaker dragons were expected to be killed when they lost duels with other dragons, either over a nesting site or mating rights to a female.
The Monstrous Nightmare looked from one side to the next, taking in the small creatures that he had been raised to hate and fight. He looked at them and he saw himself and his own kind.
The chant saw no signs of abating and the Nightmare returned to the task at hand, a steady, almost gleeful growl growing in the back of its throat. He would end this hatchling's life if it prolonged his own. Anything to live another day.
The thoughts of happiness and purpose that filled the Nightmare's mind were totally opposite to what was now boiling over in Hiccup's.
Having finally realised what was about to happen, Hiccup was transforming before the dragon's eyes. His body had started shaking, his fists balled up till his knuckles were white and his palms bleeding red, his breath haggard and his eyes narrowed as if surveying the arena in an entirely different light. The feeling that was now overcoming the boy was nothing short of rage.
Pure. Unadulterated. RAGE.
The dragon was now only a few feet away and rose up to its full height, ready to crash its jaws down and rip the child in two. He would end this quickly and spare the hatchling any pain. A small mercy for the strange bravery it was showing on its face. Row upon row of teeth glinted as the giant maw opened, ready to be stained red with blood.
Hiccup stared unflinchingly up at the beast and was ready for the strike that would come. His ears were pounding so hard from the combination of his accelerated heartbeat and the continuing chants of the crowd. His breathing still heavy to the point it sounded like a feral type of growling.
He was ready.
The Nightmare slammed its head down and the crowd, still chanting, recoiled at the anticipated gore-fest.
But the jaws met solid rock. What was meant to be soft, juicy flesh was replaced by the arena floor and an eruption of thick nasty dust. The nightmare darted its head around to see what had happened.
Just before the dragon struck, Hiccup had dived between the large dragon's legs and was making a beeline for the wrecked weapons rack.
The Nightmare was puzzled. He had already crushed anything of use, having realised what weapons looked like and ensured the Viking couldn't use them. But he was puzzled even further when the boy ignored the pile of smouldering weapons and headed straight for a barrel that held the stinking leftover fish the dragons were fed after the Vikings had taken the best for themselves. It was then he noticed that sticking out of the barrel was a wooden pole.
As the nightmare realised the pole could be a potential weapon, Hiccup had already reached it and prepared to draw it out of its slimy sheath and from behind the barrel had produced another shield.
Perhaps this hatchling is not as helpless as he first thought and so the Nightmare advanced yet again.
The duel was lasting longer than anyone had anticipated. At first it was believed that Hiccup, the miracle champion of dragon training would make short work of the nightmare, only for everyone to wish the boy a swift death at the dragon's jaws and now the playing field was level once again. Gobber, who had been looking on with mixtures of horror, disbelief and concern for the boy, who was essentially like a son to him, now saw in the lad's face and body language something truly akin to a look of madness.
A terrifying combination of Stoic's fury and Valka's intelligence! Something that he knew no-one would be ready for.
He looked out of the corner of his eye toward Stoic who was watching intently. Though the chieftain gave nothing away, only Gobber noticed the white knuckles in Stoic's hands as he gripped the stone arms of his throne. Stone arms that were starting crumble in Stoics vice-like grip. He focused fully again on hiccup and the weapons he was collecting. How did that extra shield get into the ring? And how would Hiccup fight with a mere feeding stick? Perhaps this would end the Viking way after all?
The Nightmare was done messing around. It decided it would charge and then incinerate the prey that was proving more trouble than it was worth, but not before scaring it with its mighty roar. It stalked towards the boy not knowing the questions that were currently tearing him apart on the inside.
So this is what it means to be a Viking? To be bullied and scorned your entire life all because you are different? To be unloved by your father because he can't cope with the loss of your mother. To walk through life breaking yourself into pieces so even one person might like one small part of you? To work silently in the shadows on the best weapons on the island and not be allowed to claim credit, lest the weapon be thrown back with demands for a different blacksmith to fix any 'Hiccup' mistakes? To go unheard, instantly turned upon and left for dead when you try to share something world changing?
They have not listened then and they will not listen now. But I will make them listen. I will MAKE THEM LISTEN!
The nightmare opened its mouth and a fierce wind whipped up as its roar threated to deafen Hiccup and the crowd behind him.
Hiccup winced as the roar passed through him, rattling his bones.
As he recovered from the wave of sound, with a swift pull upwards Hiccup yanked the pole out of the barrel of fish to reveal it was no mere fishing stick.
Brandishing it in the air and then snapping it down to point straight at the dragon, the pole turned out be tipped with a brutal looking bull horn spike. Shaped like an 'h' the spear's deadly looking point went straight forward while beneath it another spike curved back towards its wielder, obviously so it could do more damage coming out after going in to an opponent. The design of the spear head now glinting in the sun was one some had seen before, but not in the context of fighting dragons with. It was looked upon as a simple fishing tool.
But it had been forged differently, obviously with someone of Hiccup's height and stature in mind.
Hiccup began to swing the spear around his head and began advancing towards the dragon. Amazingly the dragon took a step backwards to analyse this foreign object. The spear made a strange high pitched whizzing noise as Hiccup continued to spin it faster and faster. The dragon regained its senses and inhaled to roar again but it was suddenly cut off by…
"RRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!"
15 years of crawling had been bottled up inside him. He wasn't holding anything back, he would let them have it all!
From some bottomless pit of bitterness, pain and despair, a terrifying sound erupted from the tiny fishbone Viking that was Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third. It was more than just any mere Viking battle cry that called to men. It could only be described as a powerful dragon roar that called to beasts and even the Gods themselves. It was the roar of a very particular dragon no-one had heard before. It was the roar of a Night Fury!
At the sound, both the furious dragon and the crowd of chanting Vikings were stunned in silence and stillness.
The dragon went to roar again only to be interrupted by the boy roaring back even more aggressively.
Could this hatchling be a Night Fury? The Nightmare thought as the sound rocked his ears." Impossible! Only one Night Fury remains and this is not it". I will keep to the plan and burn it just to be sure.
The nightmare's neck convulsed showing the signs of an oncoming fire blast. A big one. One that was being kept in reserve for only the worst of opponents or an escape attempt, but the dragon was taking no chances now.
All knew what was about to happen but Hiccup did not falter or show fear. Instead Hiccup ran forward and as the fire spewed forth from the dragon, he planted his shield firmly into the ground leaning into it, while driving the spear into the ground behind him to support the force of the blast. The people witnessed the madness of the now constantly roaring Hiccup as the flames engulfed him.
It was over. Surely this was the end of Hiccup the Useless, the curse of Berk.
The air rippled with the heat and smoke and hearts all around the arena stopped.
From her viewpoint at the gate Astrid slumped her head in defeat, believing that her remarkable boy had finally begun his journey to Valhalla. She hoped he would find the peace that had been denied him in life.
But as the flames died, from the smoke there came a loud ragged breathing.
A breathing that filled the silence in the arena.
A breathing suggesting the presence of a beast far more dangerous than an army of monstrous nightmares.
Against all the odds Hiccup slowly rose up, the roasting air shimmering around him, the wide metal rim of his shield slightly deforming as it neared its melting point. His clothes were giving off smoke where they had been burnt or singed. Sweat poured down his face and arms from the heat. His hair was locked in messy waves giving him what could be described as a charred and twisted crown like hair style. Quite fitting for what Astrid would see next.
Hiccup took a step forward, his eyes not leaving those of the dragon.
The dragon in response took a step back.
He took another step forward.
The dragon took another step back.
Soon the dragon was backed against the arena wall and had begun to emit pitiful whines toward the Viking child that was now stalking it!
The boy had survived his most powerful attack! What does this mean? His roar demands my obedience! He does not fear me! Is he a new type of alpha? What is that scent?... I cannot resist. He is…..the dominant.
Hiccup did not let the dragon's eyes leave his gaze and kept screaming at it until the dragon flopped its head onto the ground.
A universal sign of surrender!
The Nightmare's eyes displayed nothing but confusion and defeat and it expected a swift end from a superior being. But Hiccup did not stop coming towards it. He kept walking closer until he slammed his foot down onto the middle of the Nightmare's snout, forcing the dragon to emit a whimper of pain making the once fearsome beast seem almost…pathetic.
With his boots so close to his nose now, the Nightmare finally confirmed the scent that was coming off the boy.
He does bear the scent of a Night Fury. He….is….one of the alpha line. He is my king now.
With a twisted angry smile on his face, Hiccup looked right at the dragon and his words held the attention of every Viking and dragon in the arena as he hissed.
"You belong to me now!"
Astrid was horrified. This was not the gentle and caring boy that had opened her eyes to the wonder of dragons. He had never claimed to possess any 'thing' in his life, let alone another living creature. Though Toothless was dependent on him for flight, she figured their relationship was more one of equals rather than master and servant. So to hear him utter such domineering words shook her to her core and she began to silently pray to Odin that this madness would end soon.
The shock of these events had greatly affected the guards that had been holding her as well. So struck were they, they started to forget the shield-maiden in their grip and Astrid was slowly able to slide out of their arms and gently to the ground. She pressed her face through the bars of the gate and watched transfixed to the events unfolding in front of her.
As if remembering he was being watched Hiccup looked up from his quivering opponent and scanned the wide eyes of his fellow tribesmen. Jaws collectively lay on the floor, voices had died in throats as they met the eyes of the beast that was not a dragon.
Hiccup had dominated another dragon as if by magic. The word 'witchcraft' made it's whispered way through the crowd.
Without waiting for a response, using his bull hook as leverage, Hiccup vaulted onto the Nightmare's neck and gestured upwards to the dragon which complied without hesitation. Hiccup directed the beast with more barks and roars and drew the Nightmare's attention to the pens that held the other dragons which had started to become more agitated. In seconds the Nightmare realised what his new master wanted and (seeing it was all out of fire) used its brutal claws to break open the gates that held them prisoner.
The flurry of reptilian activity seemed to break the villagers out of their stupor who gasped and screamed. The Dragons leapt around excitedly at being freed until they came to rest in front of Hiccup who stood defiantly atop the fully raised Nightmare's head glaring down at them and spinning his spear in the air raring at them. The Nightmare uttered some guttural whimpers at the Nadder, Gronkle, Zippleback and Terror and amazingly, the entire assembly of dragons grew still, making a collective bowing motion.
To command one dragon was shocking but to automatically command a small flock in the space of 15 minutes was completely horrifying to the assembled Vikings who started to shift uneasily. Some started to grip their weapons while others looked about, calculating the easiest and fastest route of escape.
The distraction that all this caused had given Astrid the opening she was looking for. Taking more care she finally slipped under the still propped open gate and into the arena. She crept up behind the Nightmare and tried to wave at Hiccup to get his attention. When that didn't work she loudly whispered his name hoping to go unnoticed as the unleashed dragon's focus seemed to be drawn to their new leader.
Again there was no response so Astrid growled and yelled "Hiccup!"
Hiccup looked over his shoulder and it seemed to take him a few moments to realise both who and where she was. His eyes began to widen. But once the other dragons turned and saw her, they reacted with blinding speed. Astrid froze and remembered all of her previous encounters in this arena. The dragons in front her suddenly raced over and surrounded her, cutting her off from the doorway.
All Astrid could mutter was "Not good!"
The Nadder, Gronkle, Zippleback and Terror closed in around Astrid giving her close eyeballs and aggressive growls. She knew that each dragon remembered her for a different malicious reason.
The Gronkle bumped her for nearly slicing her open with her axe.
The Zippleback snapped both heads as she had tried to douse them with water.
The Terrible Terror nipped around her ankles for her trying to smash it with her shield.
But it was the Blue Deadly Nadder that was the most aggressive and Astrid knew the reason was painfully clear. Beneath the Nadder's left eye was a huge festering bruise where Astrid had struck it with a shield embedded in her axe. The shield had been shattered by the impact while the dragon's jaw had been fractured. But what was seemingly unforgiveable was that Astrid had severely wounded this Nadder's pride and that was a crime the Dragon seemed unwilling to forgive.
Astrid tried to mimic what she had seen from Hiccup and raised her arms up in a placating gesture as the Nadder stomped toward her. However she realised too late, as her shoulders rotated, she felt them rub against the familiar shape of her axe which still holstered on her back. The Nadder ruffled its wings in aggression and its tail spines began to click outwards for its trademark spine shot attack.
Hiccup now fully turned to face her calling out in warning "Astrid!"
Astrid snapped up to look at him as the Nadder closed in to strike by whipping its tail around. Hiccup bellowed a roar at the Nadder who seemed to respond immediately. But not quickly enough. In the fast rotation of her attack the Nadder had time to sheath its poisonous tail quills but not time to stop its movement. The last thing Astrid saw as she turned back to face the dragon was the tail of the Nadder filling her vision before everything went black.
Fishlegs, the twins and Snotlout all yelled in shock as the Nadder's strike knocked Astrid out cold. Some Vikings made to jump down into the Arena to save the girl but were stopped by Hiccup who screamed a resounding .
"NNNNOOOOOOO!"
Manoeuvring the Nightmare to beside the body of the stricken Shield-Maiden, Hiccup could see she was still breathing and merely unconscious. He ran the back of his hand tenderly across her cheek, noting that around her right eye a thick black bruise was starting to form. For a moment Hiccup was silent and the crowd waited to see if he would confirm their worst fears. A small chuckle began to fill the arena. It grew to an audible laugh and as Hiccup stood back up he reared his head to sky in a maniacal cackle.
"HA ha ha ha! So it looks like dragons do have a sense of humour! Ha Ha ha!"
"What is he laughing at? Fishlegs whispered to the other teens, scared at the once docile boy's mad laughter.
It seemed that Hiccup heard him as he rode the Nightmare right over to where Fishlegs was standing and looked down on the chubby Viking.
"Don't you remember? Astrid gave that Nadder the scar on its face a few weeks ago and now the Nadder has given her a black eye. Nadders are very vain creatures so it wanted to give Astrid a mark to match! It seems Dragons hold grudges just as much as we Vikings do! All this time we thought they had no memory, well not only do they have a memory it seems they have a sense of irony! Now I don't know about you but I find that hysterical! HA ha ha ha!"
Fishlegs' brows furrowed deeply in bewilderment. He was seeing the darkest side of the old Hiccup's sarcasm given form. Pain was just a casual sardonic joke to Hiccup before. Now it was a viscous gag he was playing on the entire town with Astrid as the unwitting literal punch line.
"Hiccup…."Fishlegs began pleadingly, only to be cut off by another voice from the other side of the arena.
"HICCUP!"
Hiccup turned to see that Stoic had finally stood up from his throne and was at the edge of the Kill ring's barrier looking straight at him. Giving one last smirk to a thoroughly disturbed Fishlegs, Hiccup rode the Nightmare over to Stoic and had himself raised up so he was held at Stoic's eye level. As the boy came close to him Stoic took in the face of his son properly for the first time that day. And what he saw shocked him to his very core.
Looking through the bars it seemed the dragon had grown an extra set of limbs, body and face. To Stoic it was difficult see where the boy ended and the dragon began…in every sense of the word.
Gone was the thin sarcastic smile, the innocent curious eyes, the ever gesticulating hands and the fresh face that was always so open and welcoming. Now before him, to the old Chiefs horror, was a dark parody of his son, consisting of a grotesque snarl of disgust, rage filled eyes, hands that savagely clutched brutal weapons and a dark face marked and pitted with burn scars and soot.
Stoic stared at Hiccup long and hard searching for any trace of the son that had entered the arena only a short time ago and was shaken to consider that he may not find him, now or ever. But he had to protect one of his people and saw he might be able to talk Hiccup down as well.
Steadily Stoic began, being sure to keep his own shock and rage in check.
"Hiccup, Astrid is hurt. We need to get her to the healers to make sure she is alright. Let us come in and get her then I will …make sure …no-one harms you or ….the dragons and we can discuss the rest of this safely…please…son…come on out".
Hiccup continued to stare at his father, not uttering a word, the only sound being his still heavy breathing. Stoic could feel his discomfort rising as the boy's eyes kept boring into his soul.
"Hiccup?..." Stoic asked again, louder this time to get through to him.
For a while it seemed Hiccup would do nothing but stare at his father and Stoic went to speak again but this time Hiccup beat him to the punch.
"Why should you care about the life of one young Viking?"
The question itself rocked Stoic back on his feet but more was the cold way in which Hiccup asked it.
"Because she's hurt and we need to look after each other, it's the Viking way son".
"The Viking way huh?"
"Yes"
Hiccup seemed to smile warmly, his old warm smile when he was about crack joke and Stoic thought he was indeed getting through to him. But in an instant the smile was gone replaced by his scornful snarl once more as Hiccup growled loudly.
"Damn the Viking way! Damn the Viking way to Hel!"
The outburst provoked many in the crowd to holler cries of 'blasphemy' and 'traitor' much to Hiccup's apparent amusement.
"The Viking way never did me any good so far, so why should I let it start now."
Still with calls of heresy in the air Hiccup turned the Nightmare's head to Astrid's prone form and whispered something in its ear. The dragon slowly and delicately proceeded to wrap its long sinuous tail around the young girl's body and lifted it so she now rested securely in the centre of the Nightmare's back between its wings. The dragon adjusted its stance to accommodate the new cargo and soon it was hard to see where Astrid was at all.
"Astrid Hofferson is now under the protection of me and my brotherhood of dragons!" Hiccup announced as he turned back to Stoic. "I will ensure she is treated for her injuries. Anyone who comes near her will have to come through me and my dragons! The Viking way will not betray her as it has betrayed me!"
Stoic was bewildered now. First his son broke and claimed a monstrous nightmare for himself, now he wondered if Hiccup was, in some round-about way, claiming the young shield maiden as well like some prize of war? Stoic knew Hiccup had had a crush on her since early childhood and not done anything about it, but he never dreamed he would go this far. Perhaps something may have happened further down the line but this was just bizarre.
"What are your intentions with the girl Hiccup?" Stoic demanded like he was reprimanding him for staying out too late.
As if sensing his father's suspicions Hiccup replied "My intentions are strictly honourable!" looking genuinely offended at the insinuation of his father's question. "But that is not why you really called me over here is it…Chief?"
Even Gobber flinched at Hiccup addressing Stoic by his tribal title. Stoic leaned closer to the railings and looked at his son with desperate eyes.
"What happened Hiccup?"
Again Hiccup sounded like he was his old self again as he shuddered to get his words out to Stoic and everyone was desperate to hear whatever the boy had to say.
"It's so messed up isn't it...I tried to tell you…but you wouldn't listen. ….None…none of you would listen. You…. Never… listened! It… seemed like the only way to try and put a stop to all …this."
"You just gestured to all of us!" Gobber replied stepping forward as Hiccup used his spear and shield to point at the crowd gathered around the arena.
Again Hiccup laughed his maniacal cackle, unnerving the blacksmith.
"By Gods, that what I always liked about you Gobber! You always got me and knew how to make me laugh…even though I was the biggest joke in these parts! I'm going to miss that most of all!"
"What do you mean?" Stoic asked snapping back his attention from Gobber to the boy.
"Really Chief?...You really think I'm gonna be allowed to just… stay around here after to-day? Even I'm not so stupid to think you'll let this pass…What was you said? (in a dead-on impersonation of Stoic) "This fight is to the Death and there can be only one victor!" Well guess what? There is one victor and that victor is me!"
"Hiccup please!..." Stoic begged "just come out of there and we can help you. You've been hurt…a lot… I know that but we can help you…. you're…. confused. We can take you to Gothi, she can help you, she can fix it. Get out of that cage right now!"
'He still didn't get It' Hiccup thought. Still none of them got what he was trying to tell them. They thought he was just ill and some time in Gothi's hut with her herbs and remedies would make his dragon insanity go away. He saw the hopeful expressions in the Vikings around Gobber and Stoic that they agreed with Stoic's analysis of the situation. Just another Hiccup delusion. Despite everything he had done this day, they still just didn't get it.
Anger rose as Hiccup yelled "I don't want to fix it!"
Stoic reached through the bars and tried to grab Hiccup by the front of his charred tunic. If he could get the boy out of the ring then maybe the dragons would go back to their undisciplined selves and he could retrieve the Hofferson girl in the confusion with help from the others.
But Hiccup was too fast for that. He ducked out of reach of his father's massive hands and the dragon took a full step back to ensure his safety. Hiccup growled and looked to the sky speaking out in barely unrestrained frustration.
As he stared up at the cliffs above the arena he noticed a familiar glint in the shadows.
"You can't fix this with some herbs and the shaking of animal bones. I'm trying to show you a way to end 300 years of war and you just think I'm delirious with fever! Is there any tribe out there stupider than this one!?"
'That can't be good' Hiccup immediately thought as he heard the entire village groan in offense. Maybe not the best way to win over his people. But then, was he ever going succeed in the first place? Probably not. In fact? He knew now for certain he would never have convinced them, even if he went to the nest and killed the Queen Dragon by himself and brought back it's decapitated head on a longboat sized silver platter.
He had been fighting a battle doomed to failure from the start.
And that failure was clear in the face of Stoic as he angrily tried to claw his way through the bars of the ring to grab him.
"That's it Hiccup!" Stoic roared angrily. "I gave you a chance to see sense and you rejected it. You have rejected your people and the ones who cared for you. You have betrayed your tribe and so you leave me with no choice. From this moment onwards you are no longer a member of this tribe. You've thrown your lot in with them. You're no Viking and you're not one of us!"
To be banished under any circumstances is a terrible thing. But to be cast out in front of your entire community and to look into the mocking faces of those who hate and despise you as it happens is the most heart wrenching and soul destroying thing any living creature could experience. Despite seeing it coming, The torrent of rage in Hiccup was momentarily replaced with unimaginable pain and sorrow. His own father no less had just ended his life culturally, leaving him with nothing. The devastation on Hiccups face was clear to see.
The spear and shield started to feel heavy in his arms and he felt tired now. The weight of the day was beginning to press down him as his shoulders slumped.
Seeing this defeated body language. Stoic nodded in approval and turned to leave speaking over his shoulder "I'll give you a choice: either stay and face your execution like the man you'll never be or leave now like the coward and traitor you are. Either way I don't care."
As he started to walk away Stoic muttered "Your mother would be ashamed."
"GET BACK HERE YOU FAT SON OF A HALF-TROLL!"
The rage filled roar from Hiccup froze Stoic in his tracks and he slowly turned to see the wild, frantic look back his son's eyes again.
The crowd was frenetic with worry and thought Stoic was going to rip through the barrier to tear his only son apart regardless of the reptilian company he kept. The last man to publicly ridicule Stoic the Vast's weight returned to his tribe in several unrecognizable pieces so for his own son to insult him such a way was tantamount to calling down the wrath of Thor himself.
But Hiccup would not be deterred as he yelled again, his voice renewed with defiance.
"WE ARE NOT DONE HERE AND WE WILL NOT BE DONE UNTIL I SAY WE ARE!"
Stoic begrudgingly returned to his throne.
Would he ever get away from this damned arena? All Stoic wanted was to climb into the nearest barrel of mead and drink himself into forgetting this nightmarish day had ever happened. But his damned son had pressed the only button that guaranteed to get a rise out of him in front of the entire village and he couldn't walk away from such an insult even if it was from some filthy little traitor. From his throne he stared at Hiccup and tried to look as stoic as possible but both men knew it was a losing battle.
Hiccup spoke first this time.
"Don't you dare speak about my mother that way! I may not have known her but I least know for a fact she would have loved me for who I am, which is a damn site more than you ever did!"
"I like to think I knew my own wife, Hiccup." Stoic said trying to appear nonchalant.
He knew Hiccup had issues regarding not having Valka in his life and if Hiccup was prepared to push Stoic's buttons then Stoic was now more than willing to return the favour and then some.
"Your mother would have been ashamed to see who you are now. Even more so than me I wager."
"I dare you to look me in the eye and say that again!" Hiccup growled with barely repressed anger, his aggressive posture back again.
"I don't see how that can be possible seeing we are out here and all of you are locked in there."
Stoic had been insulted so he took pleasure in reminding Hiccup just who was in charge here. With any luck he would convince Hiccup to either surrender or leave if he belittled him enough to realise just how hopeless the situation he was in.
"Consider your position Hiccup. You're locked in an arena designed to imprison dragons. You're outnumbered over 50 to one. We hold the high ground. The dragons around you haven't been fed in days so they can't breathe fire to attack or escape and your current 'steed' has used all of its flame. So, please if you think you can get any closer to me than what you are now. Then by all means, I dare you to try!"
The Chief's confident break down of the situation was met by many cheers and whoops of support from the villagers. They saw their chief back to his old formidable self against a challenger who should by now be realising he was being outclassed. Cries of "You tell him Stoic!", "Drive them into the sea!" and "That's the way to do it!" drew Hiccups attention as he saw the old Berk vitality return to his former tribe. It seemed as if the young man had been beaten…again.
The crowds rabble-rousing started to lift but calmed when Hiccup raised his arms to gesture for silence. Though they didn't want to give the traitor an inch, they were curious now to see what he would do in response.
Before he could speak Stoic again shot at him "Face it Hiccup! Your situation is hopeless!...HOPELESS!"
Hiccup simply gazed at Stoic with a confidence the chief had not seen before. A confidence that unnerved him.
"Hopeless?" Hiccup muttered.
Stoic nodded.
Hopeless? Hiccup said again louder.
Again Stoic nodded though somewhat less assured.
"Hopeless!?" Hiccup yelled.
"Yes Hiccup! That's what I said! It's hopeless!" Stoic yelled back, desperate not to lose the momentum he had built up.
"No!" Hiccup yelled back with equal ferocity "Not Hopeless! More like…TOOOOTTTHHHLLLEEEEEESSSS!"
The eyebrows of everyone shot up in confusion at the word Hiccup yelled at the sky wondering how changing the 'hope' part of the word to 'tooth' would make any difference.
But that was all it would take to tip the scales in the Hiccups favour.
He had no idea how or when the Nightfury had escaped the cove to its current position but he thanked Odin for his friend being there.
From the shadows of the cliffs a wind started to build. First it was a slight breeze then it grew to a strong gust and then a raging gale as the blowing gave way to the familiar banshee like scream that struck terror into the hearts of every Viking that had ever lived.
From somewhere in the sky a ferocious purple beam of light struck down, completely obliterating the barrier in front of Stoic's throne. The resulting shockwave caused Stoic to stumble back into his chair and the Vikings around him to be cast to the ground. Rocks, metal, dust and debris spread out from the impact zone to reveal a new sight. Not only was there a huge gaping hole in the arena barrier – big enough for any sized dragon to crawl through – there was a terrifying black dragon now perched on top of the centre of the arena cage ceiling, it's huge acid green eyes fixated on the chief who was paralysed with shock and fear at the sight he now beheld.
As the crowd gazed at the beast, Gobber found his tongue first and in a whispered breath he recognized the creature and let loose its name.
"NIGHT FURY!"
Before Stoic could react, a new terror came to his eyes. From out of the smoke came the long jagged face of the Monstrous Nightmare with his son on top of it. It was like witnessing a fire daemon of Surtur rising from the pits of Hel. A sum of all the years of rage and hate that dwelt within Hiccup Haddock was now glaring at him and it seemed to want to burn away Stoic's very soul.
The Chief was truly afraid.
The Nightmare pushed Stoic so he couldn't get up from his throne and he could feel the breath of both Dragon and boy brush against his face. Hiccup brought his spear and held it just in front of his beard. Through slightly crossed eyes Stoic could see the spear had been freshly forged and had been sharpened to a lethal razor sharp edge. It wouldn't take much force at all for it to penetrate his flesh and slash his throat to ribbons. He looked past the three 'H's carved on the blade (Hiccup's forging signature), up the shaft of the spear and could now see the extant of Hiccup's injuries properly for the first time. The smouldering and charred remnants of his tunic and vest had been partially disintegrated. Beneath where the cloth had burnt into Hiccup's skin, Stoic grimaced at the blistered and welted flesh on the left side of his son's face and body where the dragon fire had scarred him. His little boy was gone.
The Vikings around the throne had started to edge closer, weapons ready to defend their chief when Hiccup glanced at them.
"Take another step and I will end him! You may be able to kill me in a rush but not before I turn Stoic the Vast's head into a canoe!"
The Vikings faltered at Hiccup's threat as the boy flexed the muscles in his hands ensuring he had a tight grip and good position for a killer lunge if necessary.
Hiccup looked down in his father's eyes.
"It looks like you were mistaken Stoic. About a great many things. Your prison is open, You outnumber us less and if I fly out, the dragons will hold the ultimate high ground."
Stoic could say nothing as his position was deconstructed in front of him
"And by the way, I fed the dragons last night. They are fully armed and prepared for battle… fire breath included. True the Nightmare is all out but as you can see, I do not need fire! I figured an extra set of weaponry might be needed so I left this spear and shield here after I forged them last night."
Still Stoic could not speak as his attention was drawn to the shadow which was casting itself over them all now. Behind Hiccup the black dragon had come forward and reared itself up to stare down at them, it's hellish eyes glaring and its bright white teeth glistening in the sun. The power the beast exuded was overwhelming.
Stoic shook his head to regain his senses somewhat.
Shaking he uttered "You…..you have a Nightfury?"
"We finally have something to talk about" Hiccup replied, his eyes flashing with energy.
Stoic cringed.
Gobber piped up trying to disperse the tension "so you….actually hit it….and then you…what…tamed it?"
"THIS IS THE UNHOLY OFFSPRING OF LIGHTENING AND DEATH IT SELF!" Hiccup loudly announced as if insulted by Gobber's remark.
"He is not some pet that fawns at my feet! He is the most powerful dragon in the known world. He is the dragon that men run in fear and hide from."
Toothless fully extended his wings to their widest, casting his shadow over more of the assembled crowd, uttering a guttural roar of power which was echoed by Hiccup and then the dragons below in the arena. The noise this bestial choir made rumbled through the ground and up the crowd's shuddering frames. As the roar died down Hiccup continued.
"But above all this he is so much more than anything any Viking here has ever been to me!"
"And what is that?" Stoic asked desperately.
A smile of elation lit up Hiccup's face as he looked at the Nightfury. Toothless dropped his eyes and gave the boy a smile in return.
It was a smile that showed that the dragon was immensely proud of the boy showing such courage in face of his tormentors.
A smile that Hiccup had always wanted to see on is father's face but never had.
A smile of eternal gratitude for giving him his flight back.
A smile that reassured he would never leave Hiccup's side.
They both turned back to Stoic, still smiling.
"He is my best friend"
If it was possible for a whole village to die of shock at one phrase then the entire tribe of the Hairy Hooligans of Berk would all be lifeless bags of bones right now. Such was their reaction to Hiccups simple yet mind bending words.
"Your best friend?" Stoic's face contorted in a look of confusion and disgust. To simply tame the beast was one thing but to call it something as close as 'friendship' was so absurd it was laughable.
But no-one was laughing.
"But how?... Why?" Stoic asked.
"Because I did shoot him down like I told you", Hiccup replied, "Like I told all of you! I found him trapped in my bolas. And I was 'this close' to cutting out his heart and bringing it back to you when I realised he and I were the same. I looked into his eyes and I saw myself."
"You let him go?" Stoic asked getting angrier as he began to realise the consequences of his son's actions
"And in return he helped me learn things about dragons you couldn't even imagine."
"So everything in the arena? A trick? A lie?"
"At first I was just testing out what I learned. I never meant for it go this far. I could say I'm sorry but really …..I'm not."
Whenever Hiccup screwed up, nine times out ten, the first words from his mouth would be 'I'm sorry'. This time, not only was Hiccup unapologetic about betraying his race but he seemed completely at ease with it, perhaps even smug. This was too much for Stoic and he raged from his confinement.
"I can't believe you would turn your back own your own kind Hiccup! It's disgraceful, you are a disgrace. You're no longer worthy to even call yourself my son!"
There it was. The final straw had been reached. Being made an outcast was one thing, but now, being fully and publically disowned, disinherited by his own blood, Title and birthright? That was something Hiccup did not think Stoic would do even in the deepest fits of his vast rage.
Stoic watched Hiccups reaction carefully. The boy's breathing was haggard and Stoic saw his jaw was clenched so tight, he actually hear teeth being ground together. The Nightfury behind him, as if sensing the importance his disownment shuffled closer and was keeping his glared fixed on the chief. Hiccup stared at Stoic for a few moments before a look of epiphany crossed the boy's eyes. It was gone as soon as it came and Stoic once again saw the furious glare of his sons righteous indignation. With a shaking throat Hiccup asked.
"What does say over the door?"
"What?"….'Where did that come from?' Stoic thought. 'Which door? Gobber's forge? The mead hall? The kill ring? There were lots of doors on Berk with Viking Runes over them. What did he mean?'
"Your doorway!" Hiccup urged impatiently.
Stoic rapidly pictured the inside of his house trying to grasp what Hiccup was getting at. The mental image came instantly and Stoic's eyes fell upon the runes carved deep into the beam over the entrance of his home, the chief's home, his wife's, his son's former home.
Yet still he was confused "I don't understand…"
Hiccup lost his patience and fired out his questions.
"What is inscribed over your doorway at home? What is your personal motto that you intone every time you make a decision? What ancient slip of Viking wisdom have you constantly shoved down my throat since the day I was born?"
Hiccups questions bore down heavily on Stoic as they carried such passion and yet literally oozed with his trademark bitter sarcasm.
Stoic slowly began to reply. His voice breaking with sorrow and doubt.
"A chief…."
"…Protects his own!" Hiccup finished loudly for him.
Stoic had always taken great pride in using that phrase to justify his most noble and difficult actions. Every time he had said it to Hiccup, Stoic remembered feeling as wise as the All-father himself, like he was passing on the secrets of the ancients as his father had done to him in years gone by. He figured it would inspire Hiccup to become more Viking-like if he repeated it enough to the boy. It was phrase that sustained him and was a constant comfort. But not anymore when Hiccup bitterly spat the phrase back at him.
"Yes…." Stoic began confused "…..and what does that have to do with anything?"
Through heavy breaths and eyes that swam with a life-time of neglect and betrayal Hiccup continued, his voice becoming more and more strained, desperate for Stoic to understand him.
"I am your son!"
Hiccup slammed his shield arm to his chest wincing in pain as he did so.
"Who am I if not your own?"
Stoic dropped his eyes
"And when have you ever protected me?"
Throwing his arm out, Hiccup cast his gaze across the crowd daring them to make eye contact. No-one did.
"From the taunts, the beatings, the mockery, the constant disciplining, the looks of disapproval all because I tried to do something different".
Turning his gaze back to Stoic, Hiccup's momentum was as unstoppable as it was fierce.
"Not even a day ago you told me how relieved you were that I was no longer the worst Viking Berk had ever seen AND THAT YOU ALMOST GAVE UP ON ME!"
"WHAT KIND OF A FATHER TELLS HIS CHILD HE ALMOST GAVE UP ON HIM?"
Stoic was silent.
"SO WHEN WERE YOU PLANNING TO GIVE UP ON ME?
HOW MUCH LONGER DID I HAVE LEFT BEFORE I WAS CAST OFF FOR GOOD?
WHERE YOU EVEN GOING TO GIVE ME ANY WARNING BEFORE YOU SHIPPED ME OFF TO SOME OTHER ISLAND THROUGH MARRAGE OR EXILE?
OR WOULD YOU HAVE JUST COME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND DRAGGED ME TO THE DOCKS TO BE SOLD OFF TO SOME PASSING SLAVE TRADERS?"
At this Stoic perked up and spoke "How can you think that Hiccup? I would never…
But again Hiccup interrupted, this time with an arrogant smile laced with venom.
"Don't tell me those things haven't passed through your mind. We Haddocks have a tendency to consider all possibilities. I've spoken with the captains of passing ships. They say it happens all the time when high powered Viking families wish to see certain relatives removed for political reasons. One day they are here, then one day they are not, a new leader in line for the throne and Berk has been no stranger to such things in the past."
Though slavery did happen like the way Hiccup described such practices hadn't occurred on Berk for a long time. Though there was a glint in Stoic's eye that indicated he had, in his darkest, quietest moments of despair for his son considered removing him from the equation of heir in such a manner, he quickly dismissed such thoughts, thinking he could mould Hiccup more effectively to avoid such an unsavoury fate. Those dark moments did happen and knowing how Valka would have reacted to them made him feel sick to his stomach.
Stoic saw the looks on his fellow Viking's faces as his own words were turned against him. Though he thought it a bit hypocritical of them to be looking at him with shock and disapproval (considering how many casually joked about sending the boy away over the years), he noticed that many of the parents in the crowd were now holding their children very tightly to them. Typical body language to signal to their own young ones that they would never be treated so. Stoic couldn't blame them, yet he figured similar treatment went on behind closed doors.
Didn't it? Weren't all parents tough on their children to make them independent and strong? Planned and strategized for the varying paths their children might choose to take as they grew? Weighed the consequences of those choices and interfered if necessary? Why did he feel he was the only one who had made bad decisions in the parenting department?
Oh right…he was the only one with an irate son screaming at him from the top of a ferocious dragon.
When would this tirade end?
Stoic hoped it would soon. He could see the face of his beloved Valka echoed in his son's features: his hair was her hair, his chin was her chin, his eyes were her eyes.
Her beautiful eyes, his terrifying eyes.
From somewhere in Valhalla, Stoic was sure he could feel Valka's rage being channelled through his son at him for his neglect. It made his heart tremble with sorrow and remorse.
Valka would never forgive him for being the father he was.
But still Hiccup was not done.
"And not even half an hour ago you said to everyone here how you could show your face in public again and would call it 'madness' to suggest that I could do well in Dragon training!"
Again he looked at the villagers, no-one daring to meet his gaze muttering.
"And you all laughed in agreement, still you all laughed at me!"
Snapping back to Stoic he went on.
"Well is this the 'madness' you were expecting?!"
Silence.
"IS IT!?"
Stoic could not respond, could not say anything but just cast his gaze at the surreal scenario that was playing out in front of him: The charred arena, the emotionally scarred crowd, the unconscious Astrid in the Nightmare's grip, the glare of the Night Fury's acid green eyes, the burning rage behind his son's forest green eyes. Stoic tried to find an answer but was brought back by Hiccup's voice which had started to choke with an angry sob as tears rolled down his freckled cheeks.
"All my life I have searched the faces of the Gods for ways to please you! To make you proud! One kind word! One full hug! All I ever wanted was to live up to you….Chief!
Stoic and the crowd were stunned. Behind all the rage and hate he exuded, the core of matter was being laid bare for even the stupidest, thick-headed Viking to realise. Despite having become a roaring dragon conqueror Hiccup was still at heart a boy who just wanted his father's, his tribe's acceptance which had never been given. And that lack of acceptance had led them all to this point.
This moment.
This tense and painful moment.
This would be the moment when Hiccup Haddock would murder his father Stoic the Vast and take over Berk with his private army of dragons. In his tumultuous mind Stoic would be strangely fine with that. At least he would die in a Viking fashion, if a little unconventional. So long as he didn't have to live any more with his son's heart wrenching words ringing in his ears. He was ready to die and closed his eyes to accept it.
"But now I see that all has been in vain. The past fifteen years have been a waste of life for all concerned….. But fear not. No more life shall be wasted this day."
Stoic's eyes shot open to see the conflicted look in his son's face. He could see how desperate his son desired his vengeance, how much he deserved to take it.
Yet Hiccup was shaking so badly, trying not to lose the last traces of humanity he had left. He was physically struggling not to become a monster and stoic could feel the vibrations through the spear still held near his throat.
Slowly, Stoic tried to reach his arm up to touch the face of his son. To try and form any kind of contact with the young man that was tearing his heart and soul apart. Hiccup watched the arm come forward but did nothing, knowing their position stopped it from getting anywhere near him. All Stoic could do was paw feebly at empty air without endangering his arm on the monstrous nightmare's vicious, hooked fangs. Eventually the arm dropped and Stoic sighed audibly and slumped in his throne.
After a few moments he gazed at the chief still struggling to remain calm.
"You will live, but only because I allow it and in the knowledge you no longer have to carry the burden you tried so hard to rid yourself of…..Bet you don't feel so comfortable in that throne anymore" Hiccup urged.
"What do you want?" Stoic asked, his voice now extremely weary and strained.
Hiccup seemed to consider this request as if he hadn't thought about it before.
What did he want? He had travelled so far down this path and it had run off in to a terrifying place he had only envisioned in his darkest nightmares. And here he was, with his chief and his entire tribe trembling at his mercy. The power he felt was scary but at the same time wildly intoxicating and Hiccup shivered with pleasure at finally being able to be heard for once in his life without fear of being shouted down, over ruled or ridiculed.
Hiccup leaned toward Stoic speaking in a low tone "Will you….for once in your life just listen to me and do as I ask?"
Stoic knew the consequences of his answer to his son's request but he was beyond fighting at this point. With the sigh of a broken hearted man, he simply nodded his head.
Hiccup raised himself up quickly and spoke, his voice raised and laced with authority.
"Your Chief has accepted defeat at my hands, yet I choose to spare both him and all of you."
The village audibly sighed with relief and bewilderment.
"But make no mistake, this is not an act of mercy. I don't have time or reason to kill every single one of you, though many do have it coming."
Raging eyes met downcast and guilty faces.
"So here is what will happen. You will all enter this arena and stay here for one hour and stay out of my way. Do that and you will live. Do it not and Berk will be reduced to ash this day."
Hiccup looked at the puzzled faces of Stoic and Gobber who were desperately trying to wrap their heads around this bizarre order. Nudging the nightmare he pulled the dragon back to let Stoic up. With a voice thick with mockery Hiccup said to his father.
"A chief protects his own Stoic! So protect your people and lead them down or their blood will be on your hands."
Stoic rose from his chair and slowly walked to the edge of the arena. He looked out at his people with pained eyes as he felt the burden of leadership press heavily on his shoulders. He felt he was being crushed to dust. Standing as tall as he could he hoarsely spoke.
"People of Berk, for the safety of the tribe, I order you into the arena. We will not do anything to deter Hiccup."
They were heart rending words to utter. Stoic had accepted defeat on the entire tribe's behalf and so now a cloud of shame hung over everyone.
Then using what little strength he had, he slid over the edge of the arena and dropped to the arena floor. He landed with a heavy but solid thud, the arena walls not being too high to hurt if you landed right. Following his lead, the rest of the tribe began to climb down, the able bodied first who in turn helped down the old, young and infirm. As the Vikings climbed down, Hiccup silently ordered the dragons out of the hole Toothless had blasted. Within minutes the entire tribe of Berk stood in the arena with their once dragon prisoners standing watch over them. The villagers darted worried glances at the dragons which barked and snarled from their various vantage points around them. During their exit Hiccup had jumped off the Monstrous Nightmare and mounted his saddle on Toothless' back which now sat proudly on top of Stoic's crumbling throne.
The irony was not lost on Gobber who muttered to Stoic "Now I know how the beasts felt when they were being watched by us!"
Stoic was going to glare at Gobber but Hiccup spoke up.
"Congratulations Stoic! You just saved the people of Berk! Funny…. you all stood up here to judge me and now you are down there to be judged….Now the dragons here will make sure you stay put while I take care of some business in town. When the hour has passed, you can leave. I'm sure you'll be able to get the gate open. Astrid has already given you head start."
Hiccup motioned to the curved axe that was still propping up the gate by only a few inches then turned to leave on Toothless, the monstrous nightmare following obediently behind. Stoic knew that was all they needed to get the door open.
But the mention of the young shield-maiden reminded him of her current plight as he caught the eyes of Astrid's parents swapping looks between Hiccup and himself.
"Hiccup! What about Astrid? What are you going to do with her?"
Hiccup turned on his Nightfury and had it climb over the kill ring ceiling so he could look straight down at his father.
"Astrid was injured because of me. Once I am certain she is healed, she will be returned to you. After that I have no more interest in her…..or you!"
With that Hiccup flicked the stirrups of his saddle and Toothless' tail opened. The boy and his two dragons then lifted off like a shot, blowing some Vikings off their feet. The Nadder, Gronkle, Zippleback and Terror all stayed and guarded the arena, casting deadly looks at the tribe below them. Though many Vikings fidgeted with their weapons, none dared draw them for fear of disobeying the chief or starting a panic that would incur the wrath of the dragons.
In the distance the faint sounds of wing beats, roaring and screaming could be heard from the village. But they were short and snappy and did not indicate anything too terrifying. The time they spent in the arena drew out like a knife and many wondered if Hiccup was telling the truth or not. Spitelout even went so far to suggest they should all camp out in the arena over night to ensure they wouldn't encounter Hiccup by accident. As ludicrous an idea as it was, Stoic even considered it.
After what seemed like an age, a faint dragon roar was heard. The dragons around the arena suddenly looked in the direction the roar came from, spread their wings and darted off into the sky towards it. In the cramped silence, no-one dared make a sound or move a muscle.
Figuring their hour was up, Stoic pushed his way through the crowd to the gate and started to lift it. He was quickly and silently joined by others and true enough, the purchase granted by the axe made it easy for them to push the gate open and lock it into place. Stoic slowly led the mass of people back to the town to find it completely untouched. The houses still stood, the docks and boats were unscathed. But despite the Vikings presence, it felt like something was now missing. A part of the town's soul had been ripped out and every Berkian felt it in the desolate quiet of their own streets.
Soon they made it to the town plaza, no-one wanting to be separated or alone right now. Just as they were starting to relax Gobber gasped and pointed. He drew everyone's attention to the rider and Nightfury that was now perched on top of Stoic's house. The other dragons were nowhere to be seen but Stoic noticed a large pack on the Nightfury's back.
Seeing the approaching crowd Hiccup stood up in his saddle. His voice cold and it chilled all those who heard him.
"Thank you for staying in the arena as I asked. I have relieved Berk of all that is mine and some extra supplies for my journey. You will be happy to know that am leaving now. Never again will Berk have to deal with the curse of Hiccup the….useless. All I have to say is that you should not look for me because you will not find me and if you do I will kill you!"
As if to emphasize the point Toothless growled angrily at the crowd which shivered at the threat.
However, Stoic stepped forward to address his son.
"Hiccup, it didn't have to be like this…it could have been…."he trailed off, lost in his own overwhelmed emotions.
"…different? Hiccup finished for him sounding almost sympathetically.
Stoic nodded, not taking his eyes off his son.
Hiccup nodded as well but then clenched his eyes shut before throwing them open and raising his voice so all could hear him.
"All my life I wanted things to be different…But this is what our lives have made us! You may all may curse and mock me when I am gone, turn me into some sort of villain to pour more hate and scorn upon and frankly I do not care anymore. But above all those things remember this one simple truth."
The village as one leaned forward to take this new information in
"At the end of the day…..
…..I ALONE CONTROL THE DRAGONS!"
And with that Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third launched into the sky, leaving behind an entire tribe of stunned…angry…relieved…terrified….ashamed Vikings.
There you have it guys! A different take on my favourite scene in the movie. There will be an epilogue to this story but if you like where it is going or want to throw some ideas this way then by all means drop a review or PM me and I'll see what I can do. Many thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope you all enjoyed it.
Till next time, take care of yourselves and each other!