Darkness. That's the first thing I remember. It was dark and hot, and I was scared. I felt the red heat searing into my soul, burning away at my flesh and bones. I felt my body being gently lifted out of the scorching liquid, and then then i saw the moon. It was so big and it was so bright it seemed to chase the darkness away, and when it did, i wasn't scared anymore. My name is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock. How do I know that? The moon told me.
I stood on the dried, crusted magma that had once held me captive in its searing grasp. Looking around at my surroundings I deduced that I was in the heart of a volcano. But how I got there and how I would get out were the two big questions. It was dark, but the moon still shone brightly from the hole at the top of the burning mass of earth around me. The heated crust I was standing on also seemed to cast a strange glow around me, causing unearthly shadows to dance around me as the dim light flickered. The environment was deadly hot, obviously, but I wasn't sweating. The temperature didn't bother me whatsoever.
Something stirred behind me and I spun around, yelping as i tripped over the finned tail that sprouted from my backside and getting tangled in a pair of large, black wings I had not noticed until now. I fell backwards, cursing as I skinned my elbows on the rough crust. Well that answers the question on how I would get out of the volcano. If only I knew how to use them…
I tested my muscles, looking for the ones that would activate these new limbs, and found them when the wings lifted and opened to a magnificent size. I gave them a few test flaps before focusing on the tail, testing how that flicked side to side and how the fins at the end opened and closed like my wings. I pushed off the hot ground, fully expecting to be carried out of the burning hole in the earth by my powerful wings, and I managed to fly for a few seconds, before I crashed back to the ground.
I skidded painfully across the ground, and feeling pieces of gravel and debris dig its way under my already skinned elbows and now into the skin of my arms and legs. I felt a pull in my gut and suddenly brightly coloured flames burst from my hands, quickly spreading to the rest of my body in a red-hot blaze. Letting out a yelp, I began patting at the flames encasing my body, trying to extinguish myself before realizing the licking fire wasn't hurting me. In fact, it felt natural. Great even.
I found myself testing out these new abilities, first by focusing the flames onto my hands and other parts of me. Then I concentrated on the magma around me, feeling the force of its power and relishing in the energy that flowed through me as a result. I thrust out my left hand with my palm face down and felt the tug in my gut again, letting out an excited whoop as the first geyser of blazing liquid erupted a few meters from where I was standing. I raised my right hand and then a second burst to the surface. A third flared up behind me without my command, but I wasn't scared of it. In fact I revelled in its rebellious power. More geysers spewed around me, breaking off chunks of crust and tossing them into the air.
All of a sudden the ground gave way as the volcano, started by my playing, began to fully erupt. Smoke and ash bellowed out the mouth as burning rocks began to fly, causing mass destruction to the island around it. The ocean began to boil and great waves hit the shores as hardened lava rocks crashed into the water, generating vast clouds of salty steam that mixed in with the smoke and ash. The different fauna and brush caught on fire as the sluggish lava passed, which spread and amounted to unstoppable forest fires. The creatures all began to run away, or in some cases, fly away. But most were unable to escape the volcano's devastating wrath.
Without a concern in the world, I leapt into the air, allowing the hot air and exploding lava to carry me out in a dramatic fashion. The night sky was lit up by my great entrance, and the once cold, crisp autumn air was now an inferno as lava lethargically spilled down the mountain, quickly gaining speed as channels were formed, destroying everything in its path. Oblivious to this, I continued to play with my new fire powers by shooting various types of flames from my hands from liquid flames not much different from the magma to radiant sparks that lit up my face in wonder.
Once I was finished playing with my fire, I began playing with the fins of my tail, seeing how each movement affected my flying. I soared into the night sky, thinking of flying into the stars, maybe even touching the moon. But I never got that far as distant lights caught my attention. Curiosity over took me and I began flying toward these lights. I will touch the moon later, I decided as the wind whistled past me, my wings keeping me aloft and my tail directing me.
The village of Berk was in chaos. There was smoke and ash raining down everywhere, making seeing and breathing next to impossible. People coughed relentlessly and crashed into eachother, adding to the fear and confusion. But there was no fire. The villagers were running around in a panic, believing Ragnarök was upon them. They were agitated and lost after the death of their chief, and there wasn't anyone to direct them.
That was the case until a woman named Astrid Hofferson took charge. She was tall with blond hair weaved into a braid that fell over her shoulder. She wore thick furs over her hands and in her hood, her skirt was decorated with small metal spikes. Despite her grievance over the loss of her husband. She stood bravely in the middle of the crowd and began yelling commands: look for the source of the fire, evacuate the elderly and children to the Great Hall, account for the dragons. This began to ease the panic and some organization was established as villagers began carrying out these orders.
Suddenly, the dragons around her took off, abandoning their humans.
"Stormfly!" she cried as her best friend, a friendly blue Deadly Nadder, joined the other dragons in their retreat. Questions began floating around, wondering what was happening, why the gods were angry, where the dragons had gone. A renewed sense of doom was instilled in the crowd. Astrid knew they would have to carry on with out the dragons if they were to figure any of this out.
Just then, some friends of hers came up from behind her, the twins: Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston. Each had long blond hair, but his was styled into dread locks while hers was in three big braids with two small ones that stuck out of the side of her head. They both wore fur vests and long tunics that reached their knees. Oh great, she thought expecting some sort of destructive prank gone wrong. Or right, it was sometimes hard to tell with the twins. Either way this was going to be good.
Instead, Ruffnut pointed off in the direction of Dragon Island. It seemed to be on fire. Smoke spewed from the great volcano that used to be the home of the Red Death, a monstrous beast the size of a mountain, and was still the home of many dragons.
"The volcano is erupting," she explained darkly, "Valka and Eret just got back from their scouting mission on Dragon Island and reported it. It sounds like they was lucky to make it out alive, what with all the flying rock and ash." Astrid observed the far-off island with a growing sense of dread. If the volcano is erupting… gods help us.
"Yeah!" Tuffnut exclaimed, interrupting Astrid's thoughts and punching Ruffnut in the arm. "It's awesome!" Noticing his sister's lack of enthusiasm, he added more seriously, "but scary."
Great Woden's ghost how could this be happening, Astrid asked to herself. What had she or any of the villagers done to deserve this? After losing Snotlout to the hands of Alvin the Treacherous, as well as Gobber and Fishlegs to a sickness that had struck the village not long after, Astrid didn't think things could get much worse, but then Hiccup… No. She had to carry on and be strong. As acting chief, she had to save her grieving for another time. She absently touched her stomach, praying to the gods for a safer, happier time.
"We have to evacuate the island," she declare with a heavy heart. Everyone had grown up here, this had been our home for over seven generations, but there was no way the village was going to survive a volcanic eruption and if the dragons have already fled, the humans must do the same.
"The Hairy Hooligans have to leave Berk."
When I finally reached the village, I was surprised to find everyone running around in a panic. They seemed to be packing their things into ships, as if preparing to leave.
"Hey," I called out to no one in particular, "where's everyone going?" No one seemed to notice me as I weaved through the scrambling villagers, looking for someone to give me answers. But they all just continued on their way as if I wasn't there. That's strange, I thought. Why won't anyone answer me? What's going on here?
I looked over to a mother hustling her small child into the flow of the crowd, but she wasn't too keen on leaving.
"I don't want to go," she declared.
"We have to, Hildegard," her mother explained, "the volcano on Dragon Island is erupting and if we aren't killed by the fire, then we will choke to death on the smoke."
I laughed and shook his head. "Don't worry about that," I tried to console the small villager, "I won't let any fire touch this place." I struck what I thought was a heroic pose, but in that moment, a villager carrying an armful of sheep walked right through me. "What?" I gasped as I patted myself to make sure I was still there. I walked right up to Hildegard and began waving my hand in front of her face. She made no movement or any recognition I was there. Shock over came me, sending chills through my veins. I stumbled back and was once again walked through by a mass of villagers heading to the docks.
888
There was nothing I could do. No one could see me. I watched from the hill top as the ships carrying the villagers disappeared onto the horizon. The flames from the volcano were still visible in the distance as the morning sun began to rise, lighting up the now abandoned village.
It wasn't your fault, a deep, rough voice said morosely. I spun around, looking for the source of this voice, but there was no one was around me. I was the only soul on this island now… Or was I?
Don't be afraid, the voice continued, disproving any idea that I was alone.
"Who are you? Where are you?" I asked, starting to think I was completely losing it. There was no way the voice was in my head… Right?
I'm part of you, the voice explained. We are one. Remember? You named me Toothless.
"I don't remember anything," I said, my voice wavering with apprehension. How had I not noticed that I had no memory before waking up in the volcano? This 'Toothless' person seemed to believe I was, in fact, someone before. Who was I then? I don't understand anything! I thought, getting frustrated with forcefully trying to jog any memory.
Don't worry, I will explain everything. For now, we must find the dragons. I was told that they would be waiting for us. I nodded, starting to get used to the voice, lulled by the feelings of love and companionship he was sending to me. Don't be sad. You're one of us now. I nodded, feeling calm and reassured.
Let's go.
