Chapter Two:
"Dad, please," I beg.
"No," Dad answers as he sets another failed test aside and begins grading another. "You are many things, Hiccup, but a huntsman is not one of them."
"That's because I haven't received training yet!"
"You'd be killed before you even met your first Grimm."
"You don't know that, besides I've killed Grimm before."
"Little ones. Not the big ones like you'd have to in the field."
"So, you trust me to train dangerous animals, friggin dragons! But not to fight Grimm and protect the world?" I question.
"That's different. You're more equipped to train animals because-"
"Because why?" I cut him off, bitterness in my voice. He finally looks up, a look of slight horror on his face.
"Go on," I challenge.
Dad sighs. "Not like that. You just have better personality for being an animal trainer than being a huntsman, that's all."
"And why do you say that?" I further prod, stepping closer to him.
"Not because of that!" Dad shouts, exasperated.
"You can say it, you know?" I continue.
"Ugh! Final answer is no! Now go to bed, you have school in the morning."
"Why can't you just trust me on this!" I shout.
"It's not that I don't trust you, son! I just don't think this is the best option for you."
"Why not!"
"It's dangerous."
"And training dragons and other combat animals isn't?"
"This is a different kind of dangerous."
"How so?"
"It just is."
"That's not an answer."
"Well, I don't know! It's just different!"
I rip my vest off. "Because of this!"
"No!" Dad runs his hands over his face. "No, it's not because of that."
"Yeah it is, your scared your dirty little secret will get out."
"It's not a dirty little secret-"
"Then why do you make me wear this?"
"To protect you! Honestly, how many times have we been through this!" Dad throws his hands in the air.
"Keep telling yourself that," I mutter as I throw my vest back on and head out the door.
"Where are you going!"
"Going to spend the night at Gobber's," I answer as I slam the door behind me. I shiver slightly at the cold night air as I make my way back to the shop, about a ten-minute walk from my house. As soon as I reach it I push the door open, surprised to find Merida already there, fuming as she sits on the counter. Gobber is busy hanging a kettle over the stove. He turns at the noise of me entering.
"You too, huh?" he says as he stands and sighs. "Don't worry, I'll talk to them."
"I think my dad's mind is pretty much made," I grumble as I sit next to Merida.
"Oh, don't worry about that," Gobber assures us as I stirs the contents in the kettle. "Ol'Gobber has a trick or two up his sleeve that'll get him to change his mind."
"You say that, but-" Merida begins, but Gobber cuts her off.
"Yes, I say it, so I'll do it. You two will get to Beacon, don't worry. I only have to convince them long enough to sign the papers, after all, then there's nothing they can do about it." He fishes two cups out from under the counter and pours the contents of the liquid from the kettle into them.
"Let's see, two sugars for Merida. One sugar, two cream for Hiccup, yes?" he asks. We both nod and he adds said ingredients to our teas before handing them to us.
"Only reason your parents are being difficult is because they care about you," Gobber continues.
"Maybe," I mutter under my breath.
"He does care about you Hiccup. He's just overly protective of you given what happened to your mom and your-"
"Dirty little secret?" I interrupt him.
"It's not a dirty little secret," Gobber swats me on the back of the head. "You're just a little different that's all. Different in a way folks around here just don't understand. And might be a little afraid of and…violent towards."
"Thank you, for summing that up."
"But in Vale, people are more accepting towards folks like you, hence why it's a good idea for your father to let you go to Beacon. You'd probably be safer there than here."
I look up at Gobber, who is grinning ear to ear. I hadn't thought of that.
"Ah? Ah? See, I told you I'd get you to Beacon!"
"What about me!?" Merida whines.
"Well, the more and more Elinor tries to force lady like qualities down your throat, the more you are going to reject them and run towards the rough and tumble life of a huntress. The best Elinor can do for you is let you go to Beacon and get a taste of how hard it really is. Once you realize how harsh huntress life really is, you'll start second guessing yourself."
"No I won't!" Merida insists.
"Yes, I know that," Gobber rolls his eyes. "But your mum doesn't have to know that, now doesn't she?"
Merida stares hard at him.
"You think that will work?"
Gobber shrugs. "If she doesn't sign, good chance you'll run off and go with Hiccup anyway. Your cousin is really the only friend you have. Would Elinor really want to rob her only daughter of her only friend."
"But we don't know if Hiccup's going yet. And that's not true! I do have other friends."
"Again, I know that, but your mum doesn't."
Merida blinks thoughtfully.
Gobber sighs as he shakes his head. "Like I said, ol'Gobber will see to it that you two get to Beacon. Now go upstairs and get some rest."
I wake up the next morning as the light from the cracks in Gobber's basement blind me. I sit up and stretch, only to find Dad sitting in a chair across from me.
"Um…Dad?" I ask.
Dad sighs as he rubs his hands together. "I've given our discussion last night some thought."
"Yes?" I stand up, excited.
Dad sighs. "I think it might not be a horrible idea to let you go to Beacon."
"Wha-Really?" Gobber actually did it.
"On one condition," Dad holds up an authoritative finger.
"I already know what you are going to say," I sigh. "And I'll keep my vest on at all times."
"Good boy," Dad nods in approval as he stands and claps his hands together. "Now, get ready. You still have to go to school this morning."
The summer passes by in an instant. Before I know it Merida and I are onboard an airship headed to Beacon. We practically have our faces plastered against the glass windows as we watch the sprawling cities of Vale pass under us. There are dozens of kids out age from all over the world surrounding us, including a girl with a blond braid down to her ankles dancing to the music playing on the overhead behind us.
"I can't believe how big it is!" Merida gasps as I turn back to watch the city sprawl out under us.
"Yeah, it's really something isn't it?"
"Not that," Merida ruffles my hair and turns my head to the left. "That!"
I gasp at the sight of…
…Beacon Academy! There it is! It's actually there!
"Oh, look!" the dancing girl with the long hair gasps as she runs to stand beside us. Pretty soon we're all squished against the class to try and catch a glimpse of our new school. Our new home.
Everyone is so excited that I'm practically trampled by the throng of students racing to be the first out, including my cousin.
"Hey, Merida! Wait up!" I call, but it's no use. She's gone. And I'm one of the last off the airship. Well, me and a set of two short brunette kids who look like twins, the girl dragging the boy behind her, not watching where she's going.
"Dipper, c'mon, let's!"
"Augh!"
They run right into me and we all go tumbling down the ramp, and right into some other kid.
"Ouch! Get off me!" Some girl cries.
I scramble to get to my feet, checking to make sure my vest is still in place. The girl we landed on, a blond dresses in really expensive, pristine white clothes, is glaring at us.
"Sorry," I mutter, red faced.
"You should be! How dare you! Do you even know who I am?" she screeches.
"The mayor?" the twin girl guesses.
The rich girl sniffs. "No! I'm-"
"A CEO?"
"No! I'm-"
"A chauffer?"
"No! I am-"
"Pacifica Elise Northwest Schnee," a new voice calls from the other side of the ramp. I turn and see a tall boy in a blue hoodie, nonchalantly twirling a staff curved at the top. "Heiress of the slimy Schnee Dust company."
"Pardon me, sir, but what do you mean slimy?" Pacifica crosses her arms angrily.
"Well, what else do you call a company that treats their workers like trash, doesn't insure 'accidental' deaths, covers up embezzler friends, and gives faunus workers lower pay and few opportunities for career growth."
"Are you accusing my famil-"
"Yes. Yes I am."
"How dare you!"
The boy shrugs, twirling his staff over his shoulder.
"Just stating the facts."
"Facts!? How do you-"
"I watch the news."
"And you believe it!"
"Don't have a reason not to."
"Do you-"
I choose to take this opportunity to slip off, readjusting my vest as I walk off, and right into someone else.
"Augh! Oh, I'm so sorry! Oh gosh, I'm really sorry, I'm not-"
"Watch where you're going."
I'm practically thrown up in the air by the person I ran into, a tall blond girl.
A tall, pretty…
…beautiful…
…gorgeous girl!
She has blue eyes, a slender but muscular figure, and wispy bangs covering the left side of her face. I stand and reach to help her up, but she stands on her own and stares me down.
"I really am sorry," I apologize again.
The girl checks behind me. "Running from that?" she points to the argument behind me.
"Yeah," I answer.
"Don't blame you for being in a hurry," she says with a nod and extends a hand towards me. "Astrid Hofferson."
I shake her hand. "Hiccup Haddock."
"Do you know where the opening assembly is supposed to be?" Astrid asks.
I shook her head. "Uh-uh."
She sighs and flips her bangs out of her face, and I feel myself growing hot all of a sudden. "Wanna help me look for it?"
"Uh-huh."
"Alright, let's go."
She walks off and I follow alongside her.
"So, where you coming from?" Astrid asks.
"Berk," I answer.
"Where?"
"Oh, it's a small island in between Anima and Menagerie," I explain.
"Got it," Astrid nods.
"Where did you come from?" I ask.
Astrid shrugs. "Both my parents are huntsmen, so we kind of just moved wherever they were needed at the time. Last place we were living was Vacuo, though, so if you want to consider that my home, you can."
"Do you consider that your home?" I ask.
Astrid shrugs. "I guess. So, what do you have to offer in a battle?"
"Huh?" I ask.
"You know, your semblance? Your weapons? I like to know a little something about my opponent before engaging them on the battle field."
"Who's to say I'll be an opponent. I…er…we might be on the same team."
"Perhaps," Astrid nods. "Still, what do you have going for you?"
"Oh, um, well, my semblance is telekinesis…"
"Nice," Astrid punches me in the shoulder.
"And, um my weapons are these," I pull out my sword and shield.
"Cool, so what else do they do?"
"Well," I show Astrid my hilt. "I can conduct dust through my sword, and my shield is also a lasso, cross bow, and mini catapult."
"Nice."
"What about you?"
"I've got an axe that's also a gun," Astrid takes said weapon off her back. "I also get stronger every time someone punches me."
"That…is actually pretty awesome."
"Don't get too intimidated," she punches me in the shoulder.
"Will all first year students make their way to the cafeteria!" the voice of Professor Bunnymund calls over an intercom.
"See you around," Astrid calls as she takes off.
"Hey, wait!" I call after her. "I don't know where the cafeteria is."