A/N: I do not own HTTYD or any of these characters.
Special thanks to HurryPollo for editing.
Reviews are always appreciated.
This is the second installment Of Dragons and Leviathansyou will need to read the first part Tales of Berkto understand the story.
EDIT: Hey guys! Guess who's back?! Summer's here and now I have time to actually continue the "of Leviathans and Dragons" story line. Instead of just leaving off where I left in "Tales of the Northlands" i'm revamping "Tales of the Beserker Isles" mostly just going through and fixing some things. I'll be updating a chapter dailyish so get ready for dragons! Sorry i've been away for so long; life is life. But don't think i've abandoned this! Enjoy~
Flying was an amazing feeling, the wind pushing through your clothes, the calming sound of the ocean far below. The occasional sweep of the wings. Hiccup, a human who had never even thought that he would get more than three feet away from the ground, relished in the feelings. He closed his eyes, and sat back in his saddle, just enjoying the peace of it all.
Because how many more peaceful days did he have left, really?
The Norseman's had cursed him, making him slowly change into change into a monster.
What kind of monster?
He didn't know.
But he was going to find out.
Hopefully.
This was why Hiccup, a Viking, was flying with the dragons- They were taking him to their Queen.
He knew from the moment he had left the island that evening, that his journey to lift his curse would not be easy.
So he enjoyed the peace while he could.
I think your human's falling asleep. One of the Zippleback heads said, breaking the silence.
"I'm not" Hiccup said, opening his eyes and looking off to his right at the two headed dragon, "I was just enjoying the peaceful night, is all"
Nothing peaceful about her singing. The same head, the one closest to him said, referring to the Nadder who was humming away a small tune like always.
"I don't mind it too much" Hiccup shrugged, because it didn't. He actually thought it was rather charming.
Try listening to it for ten years straight, then see if you still mind it. The other Zippleback head added.
Are you tired? Toothless asked, a small dot of worry coming up from the dragon below him. We can stop and rest if you need too.
"Nah, I'm good. We're going to be there soon, anyway."
Yes, The Gronckle confirmed, flying a tad closer, Oh look! The sun's rising!
All the dragons turned their attention to the east, small trickles of excitement bubbling up from them. Hiccup wasn't all that interested, but he could see how seeing the sun rise would be exiting when you hadn't seen anything but a cage for the last few years. This thought sent a pang of guilt through him. These dragons had suffered a lot at the hands of his Tribe. It was a wonder they didn't tear him up for revenge.
The eastern sky was starting to lighten up, and slowly light blue bled into the sky, ending the perpetual blackness that had been the night. The sun was just peaking over the water, when they began to approach the dragon Queen's island.
"Helheim's Gate" Hiccup said in awe under his breath, referring to the fog in front of them. The area was always shrouded in fog, and was said to mark and entrance to nether world itself, which was guarded by the dragon nest. The entire place was a perpetual maze of sea stacks and broken ships. Most who entered never came out. As Berk was the closest island to the gate, they got the brunt of most of the dragon raids, and thus they had made the most attempts at driving the dragons out. Most of Berk's ancestors had died within this hellish fog, and Hiccup was about to meet the leader of the nest itself.
None of the dragons seemed to be feeling the history buried in the waters, as they casually skirted the fog for a brief moment, and then flew right into the mist.
Hiccup laid down in the saddle, gripping onto the handles he had put there, his stomach flat on the leather. He couldn't see more than a few feet in front of Toothless' head, so he reached out, and connected with the dragons mind. The two clicked together like iron clogs, Hiccup let the black dragon's instinct guide his feet as they maneuvered through the fog. This way they wouldn't fly head first into a stone pillar.
He realized that the farther they flew into the fog, the more he could sense the Queen itself as they got closer to his nest, her presence was everywhere, almost as if it was the fog itself. Almost like a smell, but not quite. A mental smell, accompanied by the increasing hum of dragons.
The dragons and wove through the columns with ease, moving left and right, up and down, sticking close to the water. The air temperature curiously increasing the further they got into the dense fog. They passed under an overhang, and the source of the heat revealed itself to be a mountain, with red lava flowing down its sides.
The dragons flew up to the mountain, and landed on a flat cliff face, rocky and uneven, he was hanging practically perpendicular to the sheer droop. Hiccup could make out an entrance through to the center of the mountain ahead. Hiccup looked down at the cliff face as if it was a strange creature from another land. Sensing the Queen Dragon's mind, an ethereal, fluid presence down at the center of the mountain. It was a strange feeling, one that wasn't human. He shook off the feeling and looked up the sheer cliff face.
He blinked when he saw the other dragons all looking down at him, "is there a reason you're stopping?"
Isn't it customary to ask for permission to enter another's home, or do you humans not have such manors? The Monstrous Nightmare rumbled looking at him sideways.
"No, we have them." Hiccup admitted, shameful that he hadn't thought that dragons would have manors just as humans did, "I just thought… aren't you guy's part of this Queen's hive?"
Not anymore. The Gronckle said, and something about that statement made Hiccup's gut roll. But in the mental sense. He couldn't describe it, he was still new to the whole mental thing. The Gronckle shifted her weight, drawing his attention, Here comes a messenger.
Just as she said this, a Monstrous Nightmares climbed out of the entrance his hide washed with flames that no one else seemed to mind. He left an oozing trail of lava as he made his way over to them. State your business. The dragon said, hanging just under them on the rock wall, its skin dripping with heavy flames.
Hiccup paused, waiting for one of the other dragons to answer. Toothless turned his head, and gave Hiccup a pointed look, indicating that he should talk.
"Oh, sorry" Hiccup said, his hands starting to sweat nervously on his saddle grip, he looked up at the Monstrous Nightmare, "I... we wish to speak with your Queen." He said, wishing he had paid more attention to his father's speaking lectures when he was younger, "Is there perhaps a chance we- I could have an audience with her? Please."
The Monstrous Nightmare tilted its head to the side, and Hiccup held the side of his head when his head started buzzing. When he realized it was the dragon having a conversation with something else he felt even weirder. There blocked whispering increased, as if more dragons were joining in the conversation. The buzzing increased to an ear splitting level, and Hiccup shuddered when he realized the whole conversation had a… hostile feeling coming from it. The other dragons seemed to sense it to, tensing up.
The argument, however was ended, when a strong presence that Hiccup suspected was the Queen herself rip through the conversation, as well as the barrier that had kept him from hearing the argument.
Bring them forth.
The voice, though powerful in presence, spoke calmly.
Hiccup's mind rung with the mental silence that followed, and he had to blink to see clearly.
The Monstrous Nightmare moved, jumping into the air, Follow me. It said, and the seven of them took to the air. They entered into a warm large chamber, with many stone pillars rising up the heights, dragons perched on stone out cropping's and the walls. Hiccup could sense the Queen was below them, but a layer of fog blanketed the area.
What my dad wouldn't give to find this. Hiccup thought looking around the chamber in awe. The Messenger led them down through the magma chamber, the dragons making several loops around to descend safely without interfering with any of the other dragon's flight paths. They dived just below the fog cover, the heat increasing immensely as they did so. They landed on an outcropping, and the messenger left them there.
Human, The Queen's voice said, echoing from the area in front of them Step forward.
Hiccup dismounted, and looked back at the dragons he had entered with. They all gave him encouraging looks. Toothless stepped forward, pressing his nose to his arm, giving him a wave of reassurance.
Hiccup smiled, thanking him for the encouragement, then swallowed nervously. He stepped forward through the fog. The heat was intense this deep inside the fire mountain, the fog thick, with a foul smell. Hiccup walked forward cautiously, not wanting to walk strait off an edge. He felt beads of sweat role down the side of his neck, and he wasn't sure if it was from the heat or his nerves. He arrived at the ledge of the ground he was on, with nothing but fog surrounding him.
The hellish air smelled of sulfer, and the heat coming up from the pit below him was intense. Looked down the pit warrily and then took a step back, shuddering Oh, Gods. This is the entrance to Hel! What am I doing here?!
"H-hello?" Hiccup called, looking down at the reddish pit in front of him. He licked his lips and continued when he got no answer, "My name is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the III, and it's an honor to meet you." Hiccup kneeled down to one knee, placing one hand on the ground and the other on his knee; hoping that he wasn't making a fool of himself, and that the dragon would recognize the stance of respect, "I have been told of your wisdom, and wish to talk to you… about a curse that has befallen me."
Such would be the thinking of a human. The Queen's voice came from the pit in front of him, along with a deep dragonal rumble that made all of his hair stand on end instantly, What Night has given you is not a curse, child. Yet at the same time it is no blessing. It will be what you make it to be, such is the nature of fate.
"I have heard such words before," Hiccup admitted, thinking of his father, "but I have no idea what the Norn's have in store for me, so I am blind in what direction I should take."
I see. The Queen susurrated, sounding pleased, You come seeking to know what Night is turning into. You know nothing of anything.
"And am willing to learn" Hiccup said, looking up from the ground into the fog around him, oppressing and stifling.
I can see that, and have the knowledge to help you.
"Thank you" Hiccup said, relief and anticipation bubbling up in his stomach. He was finally going to get some answers.
Ask what questions you will, and I will answer them to the best of my ability.
"Thank you" Hiccup said, rising back up to his feet. There were so many questions bubbling in his head, he didn't know if he would be able to ask them all in one day. It was a good thing he knew where to start, "To ask my first question. What is it that Night is turning me into?"
What you were is a larva. Entering the stage of metamorphosis. Much like the cocoon of a butterfly- When the time is right, you will emerge as one of the most powerful creature on this planet, only less than the deities themselves.
You will become a Dragon Queen
Hiccup took a step back, almost as if struck, "A Dragon Queen" he whispered, more to himself, letting the news sink in, "you mean like you?" he asked, feeling his whole body go cold, even though the temperatures were stifling.
Yes, there are few of us in this world. I am the oldest of us all.
"S-so you were human once as well?"
No, I was born a dragon. You are not the first human to become a Dragon Queen, though. She lives far to the south east, in a land of three great rivers. Perhaps it would be beneficial for you to speak with her. Though I advise you to use precaution. She is not well favored.
Hiccup took a shaky breath at this, making a mental note. There were other human dragons, that was worth looking into. He took a deep breath and continued "so what does becoming a Dragon Queen mean? What is it that you- we do?"
That is a difficult question to answer. The Queen said, pausing, In general we keep a hive, composed of our hatchlings. You'll note that the wording is strange, such as you being a Queen when you are certainly male. The King, the leader of us all did not first speak Norse, so there are translation issues. Hatchlings refers to our followers, the dragons that we look after. Each Queen does what they will with their hatchlings. Some wage war with each other, or against peoples. Others merrily protect their own and live their lives as they may.
We have powers as well. Each of us can control our hives to some extent, as well as additional powers that vary between us. Your mental powers also change to fit your hive. For example, I have a range larger than most Queen can accomplish, thus my influence is quite strong. The Queen said rather proudly, So be aware that you will develop more powers as you grow older. Usually it is our powers that define what we do. I have a large hive to feed, thus I have a larger area I claim as home.
"So you raid all the islands in the archipelagoes?" Hiccup realized, he balled his fists in anger, "What are we to you- some kind of store house?"
Silence Child! I should kill you for your insolence! The Dragon Queen yelled angrily, and Hiccup took a few steps back from her physical roar, his heart beating in his throat as he pulled himself off the hot rocks. You are not part of the human's silly political boundaries! You are a Queen in the making! Your 'we' is not some human tribe, it is the dragons who are under you! Steeling the cattle and food from the humans is what I must do for my people. I protect my own.
"But we don't have to fight like this," Hiccup said, taking a step forward, holding out his hands, "don't you-"
Child I will warn you to stop now. The Dragon Queen growled, and Hiccup balked at the anger he could feel mentally, You came here asking for answers, which I will give you. But I am not going to sit here and let an unfledged one like you lecture me on my business. Ask another question or leave- before I swallow you whole for your insolence.
"Forgive me" Hiccup quaked. So much for vying for peace on Berk. He took a deep breath and asked his next question, "how long do I have before… before I change completely? Before I'm not human anymore?"
You were never human, The Queen stated bluntly, and Hiccup felt the hope inside him crack at her words, You were born a Queen, but the humans delayed your development. If you refer to how you appear physically; a decade at most. But if your hive is in danger, your instincts will kick into overdrive, and you will develop prematurely.
Hiccup fell into silence, taking in this information, he fell onto his knees and wrapped his arms around himself. He had never been human to begin with? Impossible. He ran the queen's words over in his head again and he looked back up, "Hive? What do you mean, the other dragons?" Hiccup asked, looking over his shoulder, feeling the minds faintly in the distance.
He realized that the Queen had probably been blocking them out of the conversation mentally, they had no idea what was happening.
Of course they have, you can feel their pain. Can't you? The dragon Queen snorted sounding angry again, if they had wanted to rejoin my hive, they wouldn't have waited outside with you. They are not part of my Hive, they are yours.
"My hive," Hiccup said, the realization bringing a small smile to his face unconsciously, something about the thought made his heart feel as if he was flying, "so wait, if dragons want to join my… hive. They just choose to? I don't have any choice in the matter- there isn't any ritual? Or any requirements?"
The Queen paused, and Hiccup shifted warrily in the silence.
You really know nothing. The Queen said quietly, as if realizing something.
"Yeah," Hiccup admitted, shifting on the hard rock to get comfortable, "That's why I came to you- the dragons said it would probably be best."
I see, The Queen said, Too answer your question; all you have to do is connect with their minds and let them connect to yours. But they have to meet your mind halfway, understand? Taking over minds forcefully will harm them mentally.
I will say this now. You are expected to lead your hive, keep them safe and well fed. To do not is irresponsible, and a crime. Your hatchlings rely on you. Not just for guidance, but because their minds need shelter, the kind only a queen can provide. Usually the dragons who seek to join your hive will be those whose minds are in tune with your own naturally. Or minds who need guidance. Harming your own hive will damage not just their minds, but their soul. Thus, being able to feel their pain it will back lash onto you tenfold. Do you understand? Being a Queen comes with burdens, as well as great power.
"I think I do" Hiccup said, wondering if he was even ready for such responsibility, "I think that's all the questions I have for now, I need to think about these things"
Then our business together is finished, The dragon Queen said, Do not expect to be welcomed so graciously next time you visit. I do not tolerate intruders in my territory. I recommend you drop your foolish dream to stop your transformation. Pursuing it will only cause your soul to feel pain. Accept what you are, Haddock.
"Thank you. For everything, I'll… try not to bug you again." Hiccup said, not commenting on the Queen's last statement. He was determined to get his humanity back, no matter the cost, "Is there anything I should know before me and my… hive head out?"
Yes, now that I think of it. Sea Serpents. The dragon hissed, and he could feel the dislike in her voice, They have been dragon's enemies for centuries, and the seas up north are laden with them. Like Day and Night we push at each other in a perpetual war. They are of the sea and we of the sky. If they catch you, they will show no mercy in killing you and your hatchlings. Don't fly low to the water unless you are near the coast. Only fish in shallow waters. They are terrible beasts, you can recognize them from their stench.
"Thank you" Hiccup said "for everything. I will be back if I need anything."
Farewell child, the next time we meet hopefully you will have found yourself.
"uh… yeah, hopefully," Hiccup bowed, and then turned around. He walked through the haze, the dragons standing or looking up as he approached. So this is the start of my hive. He smiled, that small tingling felling appearing in his chest again, I guess dad was right. I was meant to be a leader, just not the leader of Berk.