*I own nothing, and nobody. Unless described otherwise assume people are dressed in their outfits from the movie. In this Hiccup just left after he and Toothless became friends, tired and angry at being treated the way he was by all of Berk. Rated M for future violence and language.
It had been four years since Hiccup had disappeared, and while many in the village had silently rejoiced none had ever had the courage to do so in front of their Chief. Stoick the Vast had been frantic in searching for his son, and any who had tried to stop him had incurred his wrath. Then things began to go downhill, Gobber the Belch was not the black smith he once was, and it was showing. Time catches all men, and while he was still a top-notch smith, still one of the best in any of the Archipelago he was starting to lose his touch. He simply could not keep up with the demand for weapons and tools, creation, or repair that the Hairy Hooligans tribe needed. This was why they were here, at the mainland. Stoick had sent a group, led by Astrid Hofferson, to buy new weapons and tool, and to try and woo a blacksmith or a capable apprentice to come work with or for Gobber. She was accompanied by Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut and Tuffnut. All had failed at being any sort of smith, or even assisting Gobber in any capacity other than extremely basic. After arriving a little before noon, the Berkians had quickly ate a little food on their boat and paid the docking tax for their ship and departed. Leaving Tuffnut to guard the ship. All day long they had wandered the great market, looking at blacksmiths and their wares. Fishlegs, while failing at actual blacksmithing, was a very astute appraiser. None of the goods they had found nor the smiths themselves would make it long in the cold heart of Berk. It took a hard type of people to live in the Archipelago, the hardest of which lived in Berk. Their weapons had to be able to withstand not only the harsh cold of Berk, but the intense heat of dragon fire, and still be able to cut down those, like the Outcasts, who tried to raid the Hooligans. They were about to call it a day and head back to their ship for the night, when they overheard a conversation about and incredible blacksmith. A freelancer, a man of no tribe. It was a longshot, but at worst they left no stone unturned. It's why they were standing here outside of The Crooked Fang, a low key but popular tavern. As they walked in, the heavy smells of smoke, food, and drink hit their noses. Deep inhales caused them all to almost relax, reminding them of home. They took one of the many circular wooden tables, sitting around it and signaling that they needed to be served. A girl around their age quickly approached them, in the crowded tavern.
"Never seen you all here before," the girl said looking closely at them, "Well the rules are simple, no fighting or killing or the city guard will be called after the owner and his friends get through with you. Food is five coins, you get a tankard of mead or ale, a piece of mutton, potatoes, greens and a chunk of bread. For six coins you can get the same thing but with beef. Every tankard of ale or mead is a coin. We also have wine, if that's your fancy, for three coins a bottle."
"And how much for ya" Snotlout had started lecherously, before a look from Astrid and a punch from Ruffnut shut him up real quick.
"We'll each have a tankard of mead." Astrid spoke, sliding six coins on the table, "And a little information."
The girl picked up the coins, feeling them, and biting down on one to check it authenticity.
"What do you want to know?" she asked out after eying them and the coins carefully.
"We are from Berk and are in need of a Blacksmith. We heard that there is a good one that frequents here. All we want to know is if he is here tonight? And who is he?" Astrid spoke evenly.
"Only one I can think of that anyone would talk about, would be Fury." The girl snorted, "The rest of the smiths that come in here aren't even close to worth looking for. Be warned girl, you may seek out Fury, but if you try anything against him, he'll kill all of you. And if he don't, almost half the warriors in here will. Not to mention his friends in the city guard."
"Consider us warned." Astrid growled back. The Berkians were both shocked at the amount of people willing to fight for this "Fury" and insulted anyone would think that low of a Hairy Hooligan. They would challenge the bastard into a fair fight before they would jump him.
"Well he's currently eating in that corner over there near the bar, ya can't miss him." The girl said with a smirk, making her way back to the bar to retrieve their tankards of mead, which she brought back over.
"Snotlout, don't even think of talking to him when we get over there, you piss him off and we'll never have a chance to get him to come to Berk, if were even able to make it back." Astrid spoke, glaring at her companion.
"We'd make it back Babe, we could fight our way out of here easy." Snotlout grinned.
"Doubtful." Fishlegs said, "No matter how you overrate your abilities, we cannot fight off half this place, plus however many city guards that would attack us. And when we got back, Stoick would be forced to either exile us for causing the situation or no one from Berk would be allowed back here at the least."
"Fine." Snotlout grumbled as he grit his teeth.
"Let's knock these back and walk over there, at worst maybe we can purchase some weapons from him, or he can point us in the direction of another smith of high quality." Astrid sighed, already tired of dealing with Snotlout for the day.
The group quickly threw back the mead, surprised at its high quality, slamming the tankards down. Astrid stood first, the others following. Making their way through the crowded hall until they reached the indicated table, where two men sat eating. One was a buff man, hair pulled back and chin tattooed. The other was very familiar to them.
"Hiccup!" gaped the entire group at once, causing said male to look up from his dinner, just in time too.
Three men from the crowd threw themselves at Hiccup, knives flashing in the dim light. Hiccup quickly drew himself up from the table, catching one of the men and using him as a shield against the other two. He broke the man's arm who he held, taking the man's knife, first gutting him and then slitting his throat, before dropping him to the ground. He flipped the knife around in a reverse grip, glaring at the other two men.
"Viggo sends his regards" one of the men growled out, before he and his comrade lunged at Hiccup.
Hiccup did not falter, ducking under one knife blade from the man who spoke, and kicking his fellow in the knee, and a sharp crack rang out as the man fell. Hiccup followed up by bring the blade forward slashing at the man who had spoken. Hiccups slash was barely dodged, the man leaping back. Hiccup then threw his knife at the man and leaped after it when he dodged, wrestling the man to the ground. They tussled on the ground for a few moments before Hiccup was able to gain the advantage, lifting the man's head off the ground and slamming it on the ground, stunning him. Hiccup did it a few more times, blood leaked out of the back of the man's head. Hiccup stood, dragging the stunned man of the ground. Hiccup got behind the man, one hand to the front of his head, the other hand behind. With a sudden twist and a sharp crack, Hiccup let go as the man fell down dead, his neck broken. He then stalked over to the last man, who was struggling to stand up, he leg clearly mangled to the he was struggling to stand. Good news for him, he was being held up by the buff man. Bad news for him, he was being held up with a knife against his throat. Everyone watched as Hiccup walked up to the men.
"I assume he's been disarmed." Hiccup spoke.
"Of course." The buff man spoke back, slightly haughtily.
"Well then cur, here's the deal." Hiccup snarled at the man, towering over him, "We will let you live, but you're to return to your master and tell him you failed."
"You'll regret this boy. I'll return to him and tell him of your new interesting companions." The man snarled.
"See that you do." Hiccup responded with a smirk, nodding to the buff man to release his captive.
The man once released, collapsed, barely catching himself on a table and struggling to make his way out. Hiccup and the buff man sat back down after searching the two dead men quickly.
"Another round of food for the both of us with another bottle of wine." Hiccup said to the man at the bar, hefting one of the bags of coins they had removed from the dead men, "And a round of mead for everyone as well."
A loud cheer erupted from the patrons of the tavern, many of the warriors raising their glasses in a toast to Hiccup, finishing their drinks ready for their new free one.
"No problem sir, just be aware, the City Guard was alerted and is on their way." The bartender said carefully, signaling to one of his girls to get Hiccups order and another to start serving out the mead.
"I expected as much." Hiccup sighed shaking his head, "Now, what can we do for you lot."
"What are you doing here?" Astrid growled slamming her hands on the table, "We have searched for you for years! And you just appear where were looking for someone and ask what you can do for us?"
Fishlegs put a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back, motioning for her to look around. In doing so she noticed that almost everyone around them, had their hand on a weapon, ready to draw it. The Hooligans were surrounded and easily outnumbered.
"First of all, what I am doing here is eating and making plans. Second, why would you all look for me, I always assumed my presence was unwanted, so I left. Now I repeat, what do you want." Hiccup spoke pleasantly and calmly.
"Well Useless, we were here looking for a new blacksmith. But now that we've found your runt ass, you can just come back with us and we don't have to deal with this Fury fellow." Snotlout spoke arrogantly.
Laughter and giggles erupted all around them.
"That's funny Snotlout, very funny. Two problems. One, which one of you is going to make me?" Hiccup stood up, letting the Berkians truly get a look at him, He towered above them all, standing at six foot four, and while still skinny, it was all clean lean muscle. He was dressed in a tight-fitting green tunic and dark pants. Over the tunic and pants was thick leather armor that had black metal embedded in it. He had twin sword handles coming up from behind his shoulders, two hatchets hanging of his belt at his hips, along with two long daggers sheathed in the same place just inside the hatchets. A dark bow and a quiver full of arrows hung off the back of his chair. His hair was longer and was braided in several places, but he was still clean shaven. Much had changed, but he was still most definitely Hiccup.
"The second problem is that I now go by-" Hiccup started to say, before the door slammed open and a large burley Viking walked in the door.
"Hiccup the Furious aka Hiccup the Fury, aka Fury." The burly Viking said walking in their direction, five more burley fellows followed him, all similarly dressed, "Why is it when you're around there is always trouble?"
"I would say it's never my fault, but we both know that would be a lie." Hiccup laughed.
"Well how many bodies this time?" the burly Viking sighed.
"Three attackers, two bodies." Hiccup spoke seriously, reaching his right-hand hand forward clasping the burly Viking on the forearm, a gesture that was reciprocated.
"Good to see you still in good health my friend." The burley Viking laughed, shaking his head, bringing Hiccup in for a hug.
"And you as well my friend." Hiccup said returning the hug, followed by them both releasing and stepping back, "Care for a drink? Apparently, the price for my death has gone up again."
"I probably shouldn't but what the Hel. I'll have a cup of that damn fancy wine you enjoy so much." The burly Viking laughed taking a seat beside the buff Viking.
"Another cup my dear." Hiccup said as he returned to his seat, a plate food being sat down in front of him and the buff Viking, a large bottle being sat on the table.
"Two of you go stand outside of the door, you other three stand watch in here." The burly Viking said as he sat down, a cup quickly being sat down in front of him.
Hiccup grabbed the bottle, used his teeth to pull out the stopper and poured his glass full of the red liquid. He then passed it to the buff Viking, who did the same before passing it to the burly Viking who finished the bottle in his cup.
"Who are these fools." The burly Viking said gesturing to the Berkians, "They gonna make a try n your life too."
"Allow me to introduce you to the latest generation of the Hairy Hooligans." Hiccup said gesturing to the group, "And while they are not her to kill me, I'm pretty sure they are here to coerce me into working for them as a blacksmith."
"Hairy Hooligans, that's Berk, right?" the burly Viking said, and with a nod from Hiccup continued "Pretty sure ole Stoic the Vast is in charge over there. He wouldn't be happy with you lot if you managed to start a war over a blacksmith."
"And just who the hell are you to involve yourself in our business?" Snotlout growled, stepping forward.
"Who am I? Boy, allow me to introduce myself to you pathetic lot!" the burly Viking roared, "I am known as Bjørn the Shield, head of the city guard. So, boy any business that happens in the great city of Fagrknǫttr (Beautiful Sphere) is my business, especially when it concerns one of my friends. So, boy who do you think you ae to come in my city and attempt to cause trouble?"
"We apologize for our rudeness." Astrid grit her teeth, smacking Snotlout in the head and silencing him with a glare, "But, though we may be in your city, this is a matter of Berk. We were looking for a blacksmith, that is true, but what we found was the son of Stoick the Vast who has been missing for four years, and he will be coming home with us."
"And who exactly is Stoick's son, I see none that claim the Haddock name here." Bjørn said challengingly.
"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third or as you know him, Hiccup the Furious, is the one and only son of Stoick the Vast." Fishlegs spoke factually.
"Well that's a surprise," Bjørn laughed, "Never knew you were the son of Stoick."
"So, as you can see, since he is the son of Stoick, this makes it a tribe matter, and Hiccup will be returning with us." Astrid growled to all present.
"As if." Hiccup laughed mirthlessly, "I am no son of Stoick the Vast. Many a time I heard him make the comment he never understood how I could have come from him. More than once he talked about how I was no son of his. More than once he and every single one of you Hairy Hooligans called me useless. Well guess what? It's my turn, I do not claim him or anyone from Berk, I am not Hiccup Haddock. I am Hiccup the Furious, son of no man. So, no I will not be returning with you to Berk."
"You, you can't do that?" Fishlegs gaped at him.
"He can and has." Bjørn said, "I will back him if you try and force him."
"I will always back my Jarl." The buff man growled, "so me and all my men will back him in any way we can, especially if someone tries to force him to do anything."
"So, you betray all of Berk over a few insults in your childhood." Astrid growled, barely holding herself back.
"I betray no one. Berk never considered me a part of it, until apparently, it's convenient. And my entire childhood was an insult, so let Berk struggle, let Berk suffer, I care not. Now leave us, we have much to discuss."
"You are Hiccup the Useless; don't you dare try and dismiss us. I don't care how big and bad you think you are; your scrawny useless ass will be coming with us and that's that." Snotlout basically roared, slamming his fists on the table.
Snotlout without realizing it made a huge mistake. Almost every warrior in the tavern had risen and drawn a weapon of some sort.
"I think it's time you lot leave." Bjørn growled, "You three escort them out, to their ship and make sure it leaves as soon as they get there."
"You three do the same." The buff man spoke pointing at three of his men.
"Wait a damn minute." Snotlout growled, before being grabbed by Astrid.
"Shut up before you get us killed." She growled, indicating for Snotlout to look around them.
"Or don't. It's fine, my men haven't blooded their blades in a few days." Bjørn grin did not inspire anything but a small bit of fear in the hearts of the Hooligans.
"Sir is there any way we cannot get thrown out of the city, we still have to buy some tool and weapons or convince a blacksmith to go with us. We cannot continue to survive the way we are; we are struggling between the dragons and raids." Astrid did not beg, but this is the closest she had ever come.
"Struggle and die for all I care. You thought you could come into my city and have your way. To come here thinking you could force a man well respected and feared to go where you willed him. You are lucky you are leaving with your lives, much less getting what you came for. Make sure you tell Stoick the Vast that maybe the next time he sends a crew for a job, he should send one with more between their ears." Bjørn said finally, indicating to his and the buff man's men to get the Hooligans moving.
"Watch yourself Hiccup. We will be informing Stoick that you live and have abandoned us." spat Snotlout over his shoulder.
"See that you do, Snot." Hiccup laughed, "What can he or any of the rest of you do?"
His response caused Snotlout to trip over his feet, barely staying upright, and Astrid to flat out stop in her tracks in shock, only to be shoved forward out the door by one of her escorts. Hiccup then motioned over two of the men still in the bar and whispered to them for a few minutes, before handing them a bag of silver. The two looked at him strangely, before shrugging their shoulders and taking off out of the tavern at a full sprint. The buff man gave him a questioning look that Hiccup waved off, the man shrugged his shoulders, he trusted his jarl.
"So, Hiccup, ya never did say why you let that one man go. Not like you." Bjørn said curiously.
"I needed him to deliver a message." Hiccup shrugged before grinning, "Plus I assume Eret here pricked him."
"Of course." The buff man, Eret grinned, producing a small needle he handled very carefully, sheathing it wherever he had it hidden.
"Pray tell, what is on that little needle that is so dangerous." Bjørn questioned, leaning forward.
"Oh, just a little something we distilled from Triple Stryke venom and Deathgripper venom," Hiccup grinned.
"Damn, I almost don't want to know what it does. Almost." Bjørn said admiringly.
"Let's just say he's on a very short clock. He'll make it back to his master spill the beans and then it will hopefully kick in. And when it does, he will not be in for a good time." Hiccup said seriously.
"Do you really think it was Viggo who sent him?" Eret questioned.
"No, Viggo wouldn't do it like that. He's much craftier and cleverer than that. I have a feeling it was our old pal Drago who sent them, trying to set up Viggo." Hiccup said thoughtfully.
"Truthfully Hiccup, what have you gotten yourself into?" Bjørn said with worry, "Because the only Drago I know of is Drago Bludvist, and if you've started something with him, I am actually worried for you my friend."
"It's more than that." Eret sighed, turning up his cup, draining it and signaling for more.
"How bad Hiccup?" Bjørn said gravely.
"At this moment myself and Drago are at war." Hiccup sighed, "We've only had a few skirmishes, but neither of us wants to give up ground, literally or figuratively."
"Gods damn it." Bjørn sighed.
"It gets worse." Eret said, filling his and Hiccup's now empty glasses with more wine, passing it to Bjørn last.
"I also am at war with the House Grimborn and their Dragon Hunters." Hiccup sighed, taking a big drink of his wine.
"Damn, when you choose enemies, you go right for the top don't ya?" Bjørn laughed mirthlessly.
"Apparently I do," Hiccup said, running his hand's through his hair.
"A war on two fronts, best of luck my friend. You will need it." Bjørn sighed.
"More than that. Viggo is essentially on one side, Drago another. At my back is the Archipelago, and now Berk will probably not hesitate to attack me, not to mention the Outcasts or the Berserkers now that Dagur in charge. None of the rest will give aid, not wanting to get involved. Then you have the Sanctuary, and its guardian will not hesitate to eliminate me if she thinks I am dragging this war in her direction." Hiccup said looking at the table as if studying a map, taking another large drink.
"My friend you need more than luck at this point, you may need Thor himself to show up to help you in battle." Bjørn groaned, "I wish I could help, but I cannot guarantee that the city would back you, or even give you shelter."
"I would never ask you or Fagrknǫttr to aid me. Hel, if Eret and his men weren't so stubborn I wouldn't be involving them in this." Hiccup said leaning back in his chair.
"Too late for that my Jarl, you have us by your side to the ends of the earth." Eret grinned at him, several of the men around them that heard that raised a glass to show they agreed.
"I know, besides while we may not have Thor himself on our side, we do have one of his unholy offspring on our side." Hiccup grinned at Eret, who grinned back, "Plus, I think this was the break we needed. If Drago wants us to think Viggo attacked, their little alliance may be souring. After all Drago doesn't want to pay for his dragon's and will expect Viggo to just bend his knee eventually. Viggo of course will not, he'd rather die."
"What do you mean?" Eret said curiously.
"Well, think about it. If we truly go to war with Viggo, and I mean war, not these little skirmishes where no one really suffers any losses. Then we are both weakened, no matter who wins. If Viggo wins, Drago's biggest enemy is slain. No one to stop him. And, Viggo will be weakened to the point Drago can just slit his throat, sit Ryker as a puppet head and absorb the hunters into his own men. If we win, there are other, capable hunters out there, that easily be bought, he can absorb what survives of Viggo's men into his army, and we will be unable to attack or defend against him and his army. He strikes a decisive blow, all for the price of three hefty purses of silver." Hiccup said stroking his chin in thought.
"True, but how is that to our advantage?" Eret said seriously.
"It's simple, we ask for a meeting with Viggo on neutral territory. If he agrees we can assume it wasn't him that hired those idiots, or it's an ambush. We prepare for an ambush but meet with him. If it isn't an ambush, we offer an alliance. Us together to defeat Drago." Hiccup said, once again looking at the table as if it were a battle map, "Of course, we need to prepare to be double crossed at some point and be able to quickly respond and eliminate them."
"That actually could work, of course there is a lot of big ifs in there. Could easily turn out like trying to hold onto a snake. Seems easy enough, until he whips around and sinks his teeth in you." Bjørn said thoughtfully.
"Eret, can you have a message sent right away. We need to jump on this quickly, use a Terror." Hiccup grinned, Eret nodded, standing and signaling two men to come with him, "My friend, that is why if you ever must hold a snake, you hold it very tight. Right at its neck, fingers on its head. So, if it ever does try to whip around and bite you, you can crush its head in your hand before it ever has the chance.
*The name for the city was created using a viking city name generator. Fagrknǫttr, which means Beautiful Sphere, appropriate for a Trade City, or one built on its goods. Bjørn was also chosen at random, and means Bear. Links for any dragon types mentioned for the first time:
wiki/Triple_Stryke
wiki/Deathgripper