"This. Is Berk. Twelve days north of Hopeless and several degrees south of Freezing to Death. Located on the Meridian of Misery. It's inhabitants, are well, stubborn to say the least. You see, we have this little pest problem. And when I say little, I mean massively out of control pest problem. While other places have rats or rabbits. We have large fire breathing lizards that can fly. Dragons are the lest of our. When I say our, I mean the village's worries when I'm out there, cause I end up in the wrong place, at the wrong time. They call me useless. Gobber say's I can't lift a sword, a hammer or even an axe. But that's far from the truth. Useless is but an understatement about me. I screw up everything. EVERYTHING. And when I get out there, I become something more then useless, I become, a terror. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Terror. That is what they SHOULD be calling me. But nope, stubborn Vikings stick to the same title for years on end. Instead, I'm Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Useless. Off course, I do attempt to fit in with everyone else. But whenever I attempt to do something, I end up messing it up. Infact, the only two people who never take pity on me, never say hateful or hurtful things to me, or speak with anger towards me are Dagmar(1) and Birger(2) Hofferson. The parents of my crush, Astrid Hofferson. They often say encouraging things to me behind the backs of others. They are in part why Astrid does not verbally or physically abuse me like the other teens do. Because she fears the punishments. But this is Berk, this is how life is around here. Fight dragons, drink, kill dragons, abuse and verbally depress Hiccup the Useless."
Hiccup groaned as he leapt outside his hut. Dragons, everywhere, swarming the village. Fire all over the place. Hiccup as fast as his thin, nimble legs could carry him. Moving fast, avoiding charging Viking's as he ran along. Tripping down, Hiccup mentally abused himself for being so clumsy. Getting up, He saw Dagmar Hofferson run by. "Get to Gobber's Hiccup, we need you up there fast." Hiccup was pleased that she wasn't some other Viking. They would've verbally abused him and told him to get inside quicker.
Struggling by some yaks. Hiccup managed to slip between a gap between two huts. Walking fast, he almost got incinerated by a Deadly Nadder. A large hand grabbed him by the back of his collar. "What is he doing out... Why is he out?" Hiccup was placed back upon the ground as Stoick the Vast stood tall. Hiccup quickly ran away.
Stoick turned round to see the same Nadder holding a yak. Grabbing the nearby cart. Stoick threw it. Hitting the sharp class dragon out of the sky. Birger Hofferson was at his side in seconds. "What've we got?" Birger blinked before he replied quickly "Nadders, Zipplebacks, Gronckles, Spitelout said he saw a Nightmare down near the docks." Stoick brushed a few flaming ashes from his shoulder before he turned. "Any Night Furies?" Birger glanced round just to make sure he was counting right. "No sir" Stoick smiled, it was going to be a good night. "Have the men move down towards the docks. We'll defend from there."
Hiccup stumbled into the forge, Gobber turned quick. "Thought you wouldn't join the party" Gobber stated. "Nar, what would they do with all my Viking body?" Hiccup joked. Gobber shrugged "They'll need toothpicks wouldn't they?" Gobber responded. Hiccup rolled his eyes as he started to sharpen a sword. "You know Hiccup, you should really get your father to enroll you in dragon training. It'll do you some good" Hiccup bit his lower lip "I don't know..." Hiccup paused as he grabbed the next sword "He never listens to me. He'd just outright refuse before I even got the chance to speak." Gobber shook his head. "Well then..." Gobber shifted himself as he began to hand back out weapons. "You might want to consider listening to him more often. He might listen to you then." Hiccup sighed. This was going nowhere. "Yeah, no."
Stoick stood upon a catapult tower. Eyeing the battlefield. "Aim for the lower levels, hit any dragon you see." Stoick ordered. "Yes chief." A flame started to swirl around the bottom of the tower. A Nightmare burst through the wooden boardwalk. Stoick rolled his hammer in his hands. "Keep firing, I'll handle this." He spoke with a deadly flame in his eyes. Smashing the Nightmare with his hammer several times.
Hiccup stood by the window, a whirring noise soon came across. "NIGHT FURY, GET DOWN" Hiccup watched as the catapult tower was hit.
Stoick looked side to side as the Nightmare fled. "NIGHT FURY, GET DOWN" Stoick widen his eyes as the first shot hit the tower. "Everybody, jump!"
Hiccup watched as a second shot annihilated the tower. "They need my help out there, Don't do anything. Stay put. I mean it." Hiccup watched as Gobber moved out with his axe hand. Hiccup grumbled as he sat down on the chair. "Don't move he said, stay out he said, don't do anything he said." Hiccup sighed. He hated his life so much. He was Berk's disappointment. The Embarrassment of Berk. His father, his tribe, his uncle and cousin(3). They all hated him. Why he hadn't died yet was beyond him.
Stoick stood tall. Watching over the battlefield. A Nadder lay upon the ground behind him. Unmoving. By it's side was another Nadder. Gobber quickly hobbled over to him. "Chief, I'm surprised Hiccup's decided to remain inside tonight." Stoick nodded in agreement "Indeed Gobber. Let's hope it stays that way." Gobber saw the look in his eyes. "Ay, Stoick, I was just thinkin. Have you ever considered putting the lad through dragon training. It might, you know..." Stoick quickly faced Gobber. "No, I won't let him. He wouldn't survive the first few seconds. Once he enters that arena, his classmates would tear him to shreds."
Gobber thought long and hard. Reveal a secret about the Hoffersons. "You know, it might be a good idea if you, you know, speak with him, listen to him for once. Give him a sign that he's loved by his own father still." Stoick put a hand up to silence him. "I said no, and that's final!" They were interrupted when some yelled. "NIGHT FURY HEADED TOWARDS THE FORGE!" All previous talk was lost in those few seconds. "HICCUP!"
Hiccup heard a clang. "What was that?" Standing up, Hiccup froze at the sight before him. Reaching back, Hiccup moved feeling for something that might be able to defend him. Anything. "Come on, Come on. Where is it?" Hiccup grumbled under his breath in panic. "HICCUP!" The dragon froze, looking back, Hiccup allowed a small sigh of relief to escape his mouth. In seconds he was thrown across the room as the dragon turned, using it's tail to send him flying.
Stoick watched as Hiccup was sent flying out of the forge. Widening his eyes, he watched as the Night Fury leapt out after him. "GET THAT DRAGON!"
Hiccup groaned as he hit a pot. Glancing up, he saw the dragon moving in closer towards him. Widening his eyes, Hiccup felt for something still. His hands soon fell upon a kitchen knife. "Great, the one thing you found to defend yourself with and all it can do is cut through cooked food. Well, great job Hiccup, you screwed up again by staying still." Hiccup held the knife before him, the dragon growled, the purple in it's mouth letting Hiccup know that his life was over. "GET THAT DRAGON!" Hiccup watched as Stoick leapt in the way, using his shield to take the blast(4). "DAD!" The dragon stepped back, the sound of village coming closer caused the dragon to look between the two and then take to the air.
Stoick sighed as he stood up. Looking at Hiccup, he spoke. "What were you thinking, challenging a dragon like that!" Hiccup rolled his eyes. "Dad, I did nothing, I just sat in th..." Stoick walked towards Gobber "No, you were up against the deadliest dragon there is known to Viking, and you did it all with a kitchen knife. Are you brave or stupid?" Hiccup let his shoulders fall. "Dad, I sat in the forge the whole, doing what Gobber said, nothing." Gobber entered. "The boy speaks the truth, I did ask him to stay in the forge, and he listened to me for once." Stoick quickly eyed Hiccup. "Well then don't listen, the Night Fury never came down when you didn't listen. Take him home."
Astrid was over the top when she heard what had happened. "Hiccup the Useless faced a Night Fury by himself with nothing but a kitchen knife. He is stupid." Dagmar was quick to turn. "ASTRID MAGNHILD(5) HOFFERSON. If I ever hear you speak about Hiccup like that again. I swear to Odin there will be punishment." Astrid froze at hearing her mothers voice. If there was one thing she feared, it was her parents. "But I just called him by his ti.." Dagmar interrupted Astrid. "No, you called him stupid. And Hiccup is far from stupid. So if I hear you call him stupid one more time, I will not be light in the punishment... daughter"
Astrid stiffened. When her mother called her daughter, then she wasn't joking around, her voice was threatening, and serious. No sense of humour or sarcasm in it at all. "Do I make myself clear?" Astrid remained frozen. "DO I MAKE MY SELF CLEAR?" Astrid slowly stepped back in fear. "Yes mother" Dagmar resumed her previous task beforehand. Birger shook his head. "Astrid, dear, can you bring me my axe." Astrid gave a small nod. "Yes dad." Birger smiled as he sat down at the table. "You're planning something dear, what it is?" Birger smirked at Dagmar's question. "I'm going to give her something to think about." Astrid soon entered the room once more. "Here's your axe dad." Birger grinned. "Oh, I don't want it. I want you to look at it and tell me who made it." Astrid was extremely confused. "Gobber made it" Birger shook his head. "No darling, he didn't make it. The design is far too delicate for his large rough hands to manage. Look closer at the handle."
Astrid did as she was told. She gasped before she dropped the axe. "Is this some kind of sick joke dad?" Birger raised an eyebrow in amusement. "No Astrid, it's no joke." Astrid took a step back. "There is no way you took something he made." Dagmar was quick to turn, a deadly fire burned in her eyes. "THAT'S IT." Birger stood fast and stepped back. Dagmar moved fast, stepping before her daughter. Astrid quickly shook in fear. "I TOLD YOU THERE WOULD BE PUNSIHMENT. AND I THINK I KNOW JUST THE ONE. BUT FIRST, YOU'RE GOING TO BED" Astrid widen her eyes and spoke. Fear was clear in her voice. "But" Dagmar had none of it "No buts daughter. To bed. NOW!" Astrid hurried up the stairs quickly. Not wanting to anger her parents any further.
"Birger, dear, I'm going to go find Gobber. Please make sure she stays up there. If she does attempt to escape, stop her." Birger turned to face Dagmar. "And if she does still manage to escape?" Dagmar smirked "Bring her back. And hold her if you have to. She will not escape her punishment." Birger nodded, stepping to the side as Dagmar left the house.
Stoick walked back and fourth. "What am I going to do with you?" Hiccup sat in a chair, he had already given up fighting back. "Trouble follows you everywhere. There hasn't been a moments peace since you arrived in this world. First Valka. Then your aunt. Who next?" Hiccup finally found the courage to speak. "You think mum's death's was my fault? I was a baby, I could hardly do anything?" Stoick turned fast. "It is your fault. Your fault for not being the son I wanted. If I were a baby then, I would've done something. But you. You didn't. You cried in that crib of yours. Too stubborn to defend your own mother." Hiccup was quick to stand up and head to the stairs. "Where do you think you're going." Stoick asked. "Away from you...Dad." Stoick watched as Hiccup went up stairs before coming back down with a bag. "Where are you.." Hiccup interrupted "To Gobber's where I'll feel welcome. Unlike here where I don't belong." Hiccup left.
"Look, Gobber, Hiccup and you aren't enough to keep the forge going for a while. And well." Gobber sighed. "What? Do you think I need a new apprentice? How do you think he'll handle it?" The two were quiet. Hiccup slept soundly on the floor nearby. Dagmar and Gobber had only started talking not long after he fell asleep. "I know, but Astrid. I need to punish her for how she treats Hiccup, and she believes that his weapon forging skills are nothing compared to yours." Gobber snorted "I'll be the judge of that. the lads weapons are far better then my own by a longshot." Dagmar nodded in agreement. "But she doesn't know or believe that. I want you to take her in for a day. Make her appreciate Hiccup for who he is." Gobber rubbed his chin. "I guess I could, I don't know how the lad will handle it. But I could. If it means one less person to hate Hiccup, then sure." Gobber finished as he sat down. "Thank you Gobber, I'll inform Astrid in the morning. Goodnight." Dagmar responded. "Night Dagmar" Gobber faced Hiccup. "You have no idea how lucky you are lad. No idea"
1) Dagmar in Old Norse means 'Maid of the day' I decided to choose this name for Astrid's mother based upon her role in this story.
2) Birger in Old Norse means 'One who helps' Like Dagmar, I decided upon it based upon his role in this story.
3) Within the book series. Snoutlout is Hiccup's cousin. I have carried that over to here as it's intriguing to see how family can be so complicated.
4) In the HTTYD Book of Dragons mini thingy. Hiccup is seen blocking one of Toothless' blasts with his shield. It was shown there to be a plain wooden shield thus it shouldn't matter whether it's Gronckle Iron or not here.
5) Magnhild in Old Norse means 'Powerful in battle' A fitting name for Astrid who trains hard to join the fight against the dragons.