Something I've been sitting on since the season finale. (Quite a while, it seems.) Multi-chapter, and, for once, completely pre-written. Expect quick updates. :)
~ The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing ~
"Man the fort, Hiccup. They need me out there." Gobber stops at the door, adjusting the metal socket on his left arm and pointing at Hiccup. "Stay. Put. There. You know what I mean." And without another word, Gobber raises his axe-hand into the air and gives a truly terrifying battle yell and runs lopsidedly out of the shop.
Hiccup has no such intention of staying. put. there. He watches him go, and then wheels right back around to get the Mangler, ripping the tarp off with shaking fingers, praying to Odin that those wheels will work long enough to get it to the bluff behind his house.
Stomach jumping into his throat, Hiccup grabs the handles and steers it slowly around so it's facing out the door, and then takes off, dashing through the haphazard battle and trying not to get killed.
"Hiccup! What are you doing?"
Hiccup gives a tiny yell and ducks a Viking with an axe, running as hard as he can through the village.
"Get back inside!"
"Yeah, I know," he calls over a shoulder, and very narrowly misses running down one of his father's lieutenants, who has a unique type of scolding inflection of his name as well. "Be right back!"
The weight of the Mangler is lopsided, and Hiccup can't steer it straight. He wobbles from side to side, Vikings of every kind pausing in their tasks and various battles to leap out of his way.
It only gets harder when he finally makes it out of the slowly-burning-down village and onto the grass, which is hard to roll over, too thick and soft. His wheels aren't wide enough. Please. Please. Please.
He's panting by the time he gets to the bluff, grunting with effort as he pulls the protecting wooden case off of his contraption. After that, it requires yet more work to arm, but Hiccup has practiced this sequence so many times he's dreamed about it. He grabs the end of the cannon and pulls it down to eye level and flips a knob, setting the ropes to winding and tightening, ready for launch. Lastly, he takes the handles attached to the cords of the crossbow and drags them back until they click and stay.
Standing on the handles of the cart, Hiccup tries not to breathe and listens. He waits, hearing different types of dragon screams from several areas of the village behind him. He waits, and he listens, and he knows he's chosen his spot well. One of the catapults is just in front of him, close enough to count the stones but far enough to avoid the flaming shrapnel that's sure to come.
Sooner or later, a Night Fury is going to come and blast this last, unmanned catapult into smithereens. And that's when Hiccup will strike.
"Come on," he mutters into the darkness, gliding his own little catapult back and forth. "Gimme something to shoot at. Gimme something to shoot at…"
He doesn't have to wait long.
Hiccup cranes his neck, searching the stars for anything, absolutely anything, that will hint at the location of his target. He knows what he's looking for, and only seconds pass before he's found it.
Darkness.
It's black on black. The Night Fury blends so well with its backdrop that the only thing that distinguishes it from the sky itself is its lack of stars. It's moving so quickly. Hiccup's eyes widen and he brings his hands up closer to the sights. He lowers his face and squints through it, following his prey.
He knows for sure it's a Night Fury now – the scream sounds far off and distant, but all of a sudden it's present, right there in front of him, and the catapult explodes into stars, white and blue, so close he could run up and touch. It catches fire.
Hiccup sees one glimpse of the dragon – black wings outlined by the catastrophe – and screws up his eyes in preparation for the kick.
He shoots.
It throws him backward, off the Mangler, and he's on his back, legs attempting frantically to regain his standing position. He scrambles back up on hands and knees, hearing the ropes and rocks whistling through the silent air, and suddenly something so close and feral is shrieking, and he can see it fall in one long, unbroken arc.
It goes quickly, so much faster than he could have ever imagined. He's breathing so hard his lungs and his throat -Odin, even his teeth - hurt.
"I hit it," he gapes. It rushes over him in one big wave. "Yes! I actually hit it! Did anybody see that?" He crows, punching the air.
A horrible dragon noise comes from behind him. Hiccup whips back around just in time to see the biggest Monstrous Nightmare he's ever seen in his life – (only the best Vikings go after those) – crush his precious Mangler into splinters.
"Except for you."