Life for the Haddocks
Life can have many humiliating things in it and depending on who you are will depend on what will be what you consider the most humiliating thing in your life.
Though clearly for Hiccup, Boden and Una Haddock being the children of the Chief of Berk and having to be made an example of in front of your whole tribe was the most humiliating as it got.
It was always the worst part of their double lives of when a Dragon Rescue Mission ended like this. If somehow they ended up doing some type of harm that made them seem like the three village disappointments and that made their father have to play the role of "Chief' instead of just being their 'Dad'.
Therefore with the whole village glaring at the three of them hatefully for screwing things up yet again. Along with the collective feeling of shame that all three of Stoick the Vast's children looked well the way they did. It only added to what was utter humiliation.
Stoick was angry at the destruction that his children had caused as he was voicing it quite clearly at the moment. "I don't understand why you three yet again didn't do what you've been told a thousand times to do. You three are under strict orders to stay out of danger for a good reason!" he berated them as they hung their heads so low so no-one see the tears they're trying to hide.
Shaking his head disappointedly as his whole enormous body trembled with fear and anger in kind he carried on with, "One is for your protection but it seems the village needs protection as well! Now we not only lost some of the livestock but now this is gonna put us in some danger for the coming winter if this keeps up!
Why can't you three just do what you're told? I mean…"
"Stoick! Please?" cut in a beautiful kind voice as their mother emerged through crowd as she gently put her small hand on his wrist at once he stop trembling.
She gazed her light blue eyes into his green ones then whispered softly, "Please, please don't do this. Please don't be the "Chief" with your own children. Don't make an example of them by humiliating them in front of the village. We can deal with this at home later tonight in private. Please not here not with everyone watching," she pleaded softly.
Sighing he nodded for truthfully in his heart he never liked it when he was forced to be a chief instead of a father. He and Valka long ago vowed when they wed and started their family that they never let the fact Stoick was the Chief get in the way of their family.
That their family and their duties to the village would always be kept separate from one another no matter what. Under the guise of kissing her forehead replied back to her in a calmer tone "Okay, Valka, we'll finish this at home later tonight. I still have the mess they accidently caused to clean up though."
"I know you do. Also I suspect you'll no doubt have to have another meeting that going to take up most of your afternoon as well? Once you've spent the morning cleaning up the aftermath of this battle and the slight mess?" she murmured thankfully back and he nodded once again.
"You know the dance pretty well, don't you, Val?" which was said half-heartily and she gave him a tired smile before replying back kindly.
"I know it as well as our own dance and song, Stoick," as she played with his massive red beard, " I'll get the children home and look after them for a couple of hours and then come join you at the Great Hall," as they both glanced over at the children for a second.
She took her husband face into her hands caressing his face tenderly as she whispered even more gently into his ears, "Please try and calm down, my love. Also try and remember patience is needed when dealing with children and don't let your temper get the better of you." Looking him straight in the eye she told him straightforwardly something else he really needed to remember.
"Let your anger out where it needs to go and please stop taking it out on the children. I know they accidently caused problems but they aren't the source of your true anger so don't take it out on them, alright, Stoick?"
Smiling warmly at his beloved beautiful wife who knew him better than he knew himself he kissed her hand and whispered into her right ear, "You are as wise as your beautiful, Val."
Blushing faintly pink and tossing her long auburn braids over her back she replied back, "And you're as strong as you're brave, my love, still try and calm down some, alright? Before you talk to the children tonight? Get your head together and we'll talk this out calmly and nicely?"
Fidgeting with his bright beard he gave one last nod in conformation "Yes, I promise to get my anger out of my system by dinner and we'll have a calm discussion."
"Alright."
Whilst their parents were conversing to each in low tones followed by their father addressing the rest of their tribe on the intended course of the kids had gotten out of everyone else sight.
They'd drifted off to the side to hopefully avoid any more attention being focused on them. Though they'd moved that didn't meant they were free of being made the joke of the day.
The same teens who had been putting out the fires earlier? They're sitting on nearby wine barrels laughing at the three with a lot smirks and sneers. And it took all the self-control Hiccup had to not turn around and look at them.
"You three are such a disappointment to Berk. Who'd ever believe you three are the heirs to the tribe when your such scrawny screw-ups losers?" jeered the one called Snotlout who had dark hair matching his dark clothing, his helmet had ram horns that made sense; as he butt heads with everyone since he was such an arrogant jerk.
"Never knew one person could mess up so badly but seeing three? That was such a fun show to watch! It's even more entertaining than watching everything go up in flames," taunted Tuffnut the boy twin and his sister Ruffnut snickered before adding cruelly.
"It's hard to imagine your last name is Haddock at all. Like why did the gods give someone named Stoick the Vast such untalented, weak, pathetic, runts for kids? That's the biggest joke in all the Nine Realms! If I were your dad I'd go ask Odin himself why did he curse him with you three being his offspring?"
Hiccup's small fists were clenched in anger from the taunts. He'd heard them all before and lived with them as far back as he could remember. Being told he was too weak, too small, or not worthy at all. All this shit before and there were so many times he want to just shut them up.
Though right now he was trying to be the bigger person and not engage in violence or show that their bullying was bothering him. He was trying to set an example for his brother and sister but that attempt failed.
Boden and Una also had taken much bullying as well in their short lives. On the other hand, they also had a grudge against the Twins and Snotlout, for something personal they'd done to them by these three. For they'd done something to each of them that had caused them to develop their greatest fears. Fears that would never leave them or ever get over.
Furthermore Hiccup knew in his heart that neither the Twins nor Snotlout remember the cruel pranks they'd done to his brother or sister that had resulted them in developing phobias that last a lifetime.
Although he'd under no circumstances ever fail to recall what they'd done and his fury at both incidents still burn hotter than a dragon's fire inside him. Boden had developed claustrophobia as a result when they'd locked him in a tool shed for an hour when he was five.
They'd been outside playing so their mom who'd been expecting Una at the time could get a nap in. The three of them had beaten him up till he was knocked out and then proceeded to lock Boden in the shed. So by the time he'd woke up and freed him he'd been in there for an hour! Ever since then Boden didn't like being in any space he didn't have a way out of.
The other cruel prank they'd done was when Una was two and he'd taken his brother and sister out to a meadow for a picnic so his parents could have an afternoon to themselves. They'd been playing hide and seek.
They'd been unaware of the three of them had followed them on their picnic. So when they're playing their game of hide and seek the brothers didn't realize that Snotlout and Twins had purposely gotten Una lost for 20 minutes because they thought it was 'funny'.
As a result by the time they'd finally located their two year old sister she was in a panic crying hysterically and now she suffered from monophobia or fearing being alone.
The true lasting result from this 'joke' of being separated from her brothers was Una never liked being apart from her "BBBFF or Big Brothers Best Friends Forever". Furthermore she absolutely went into a full-blown panic if she was left alone for more than ten minutes.
There only two good things gained from his brother and sister getting their phobias. One was Boden had become a master escape artist and lock picker and Una learned to hide better than anyone else.
The other good thing was their father had severely punished the three offenders for messing with his children. Although given the fact of how they're deliberately provoking a fight right now and a special secret about Hiccup himself. It was clear as day that not one of them remember their crimes from before or how painful those punishments had been.
Consequently all their blood was boiling to the point it was about to be spilled to the point Hiccup was straining desperately to prevent his brother and sister from being killed by Snotlout and the Twins who looked more than capable of doing them more harm.
Help came from an unexpected source just as it looked like a brawl was about to erupt and there be even more beating up on the three Haddocks. A battleax was thrown between them in a quick flash someone had cartwheeled between them as well.
This someone smashed the Twins' heads together easily before grabbing the ax from behind them and twirling it expertly and then bringing it an inch from Snotlout's face. Then a beautiful voice spoke in a calm but still furious tone with their bright blue eyes blazing.
"Snotlout why don't you for once do the village a favor and silence that tongue of yours? Because you and those idiots over there cause enough damage as it is. They do damage just standing in an empty room and your mouth causes more problems than the both of them!" the flaxen ponytail was whipping wildly about as Astrid continued to press her battle-axe closer to Snotlout's jugular vein and his eyes were wide in fear it was likely he was wetting his pants.
She continued to advance as the reprimand assault continued from the warrior beauty, "Accident happen and a true warrior with honor doesn't mock others even if they make mistakes nor do they show disrespect to their comrades. Besides one way or another the dragons are gonna leave damage in their wake and the village is gonna blame whoever happens to be standing where the last beam falls.
She was right next to him now and gripped his shirt and pulled him close enough to hiss so furiously at him you think she was now one of Odin's chosen winged maidens she was undoubtedly furious about Snotlout and the Twins' behavior. "So why don't you guys get a new hobby that doesn't involve picking on those you think are weak? Since only those are weak beat up on others. Only the weak are cruel. The strong have no need to be!
So you really want to be real warrior? One of true honor and someone to be respected? Start really acting like it!" she snapped wrathfully and then hit him with the flat side of her ax knocking him out before glaring at Fishlegs who hadn't said or done anything but he got the message just the same.
Hiccup, Boden and Una didn't say anything as they watched Astrid muttered how now her ax was covered in Snotlout's sweat and she needed to clean it thoroughly. It was almost like she didn't notice them as she took out a piece of cloth and was trying to clean the ax.
Boden and Una looked at their brother and gesture at him. So he walked over to Astrid and opened his mouth to speak and got as far as saying "Hey Astrid…" who barely looked up when another voice caught their attention.
"Hiccup, Boden, Una?" it was their mother coming over to get them and she hadn't seen how Astrid had just defend her children from bullies.
"Hello, Astrid," as she approached the small group. "How is training going?"
"I need to work on my somersaults more. They're still a bit sloppy. Need to be ready for Dragon Training Classes. They start tomorrow and after what happen to my uncle when I was a kid? I'm gonna be the best warrior in that class!"
Valka seemed a bit uneasy for a moment but simply smiled and said, "To each his own, though I'm sure your uncle be pleased with your dedication and the strong young woman you've become, Astrid. Nevertheless Astrid there are plenty of ways to be a warrior or strong that don't involve killing or weapons. Merely what already inside one heart and soul."
"I'll take that into some consideration, but a good battleax never hurt either, Valka. Have a nice day. Hope you have a nice day too, Hiccup. Hope you along with your brother and sister have lots of fun even if you have to be lectured tonight. Though you seem tough enough to deal with it.
I've got to go train now. Well I guess I'll see you all around the village later! Bye!" and with that she was gone.
Hiccup was blushing and mumbled "Thank you for your help."
Valka looked at her eldest son as he followed Astrid's retreating back before saying. "Hiccup don't feel so bad. Love is never straightforward and it's the biggest game of risk and chance. More importantly you don't find love it finds you and you've just got to trust in it and let it take its own course."
Hiccup let out a long breath before looking at his mother with a bit of sadness to his eyes and sighed. "Mom I know you're trying to help and I know your right but it still hurts nonetheless.
I'm the one whose gifts are derived from the powers of love itself! And yet I can't even get the girl I love to talk to me long enough to have an actual conversation!" he vent in frustration as he looked at his mom once more as she gave him a small smile as the four them walked.
Looking and listening to the four them it was becoming quickly apparent that the children really took a lot after their mother. True enough all the children really looked more like their mother then their father. The only thing physically that either Hiccup or Boden had gotten from their father was his eyes and nose.
Una looked exactly like her mother other than she was blond. No-one had been expecting when Una was born the blond hair. on the other hand given the number of blonds on Berk it wouldn't be hard to imagine somewhere on the Haddock family tree there had to be a distant blond relative that gave Una her blond hair.
It was also clearly their personalities were more like their mother's over their father's given also how the kids were talking as they slowly walked up the step winding path.
"Mom it's just not fair that this happens so often! It's like Dad never listens to us! And he just gets so angry lately. He's getting even moodier then I get! And I'm the one whose moods are supposed to be like a flip of the coin!" Boden pouted a bit as he kicked a rock in front them in frustration.
"It's getting impossible to live like this, Mommy! How we have to pretend to be one way in the public eye and with Daddy and then do what we do in secret! I mean you know our gifts are getting stronger every day!"
"I know your blessings are getting stronger as I also know you don't have control over them or full knowledge of what you can do or what you might be able to do one day.
I've know that since the first start emerging shortly after each of your births and the day you all spoke your first words. When you became bonded with your best friends it was like that somehow unlocked whatever blessing was a part of you," their mother mused.
"Though Mom, we don't know if we're naturally born with these gifts or they're given to us by the gods for some reason. All I know is Stoick the Vast wouldn't be happy if he knew what his children could do. He be just like this.
"Excuse me, barmaid, I'm afraid you brought me the wrong offspring. I ordered extra-large children. Who are beefy strong with extra guts and glory on the side. Not talking fish bones with freaky powers that makes them traitors who I have to burn to a crisp!"
Boden and Una laughed at their brother's sarcastic but accurate portrayal of how they all figured their father react if he ever found out about what they could do. Valka laughed too but also frowned.
They'd reached their house but turning to glance behind them no-one was around or watching them. So they quickly took another path into the forest and she spoke again to her children.
"Hiccup I have always enjoyed your rather unusual sense of humor and how you taught it to Boden and Una. Though I think you three really are underestimating your father.
"Mommy trust us. One thing we aren't mistaken is how Daddy would act if he knew what we do. Even you said it yourself he wouldn't take it well."
"Even I can be mistaken. I'm human and I can be wrong. No-one is perfect and neither are the gods, Una. I've know your father a long time and I've been married to him for 16 years now. You think I don't know him well?"
"Mom we know Dad loves us but you can't deny the fact he well does seem a little disappoint in us. I can feel it even if I'm more in tune with dragon emotions," Boden expressed sadly and his mother got down to his eye level and looked him in the eye and spoke softly to him.
"Boden I know you have trouble with your own emotions and yet your gift is to feel those of others but don't ever think ill of your own father and don't ever doubt your father couldn't accept you," as she stood up she looked at her other two children. "That goes for all of you. You may have the powers of love or being a bridge between worlds but I've no doubt in my heart that your father would accept you.
It would just really be about the right time and opportunity to explain the truth to him. That all it would really be about. It is true he wouldn't take it well at first that I know for sure but he's your father and he'll love you all you no matter what."
The three of them looked doubtful about whatever this discussion had been about and they didn't talk about it further because they'd come to a small knoll in clearing deep in the woods.
There were a bunch of strange rocks in front of it. The group didn't step out immediately into the clearing. They all closed their eyes and seemed to be in deep concentration as if really focusing and trying to see and hear without using their normal senses.
Whatever they'd done passed in a few moments before it was safe to approach the knoll. Hiccup walked up to it and began pressing different colored stones in a particular pattern. As soon as he was done with the pattern the largest rock in the center rolled away and revealed a concealed doorway. Again making sure no-one was around they quickly went inside and the rock rolled back in place once they're inside leaving no trace of anything amiss.
They're on a staircase already lit by a series of torches as the family slowly descended the twisting staircase till they came down to what would be consider the ground floor.
They'd reached what appeared to be a large network of caverns all brightly lit by both fires and glowing crystals. There was plenty of fresh clean air as well as an underground stream of pure water.
And resting in the caverns in some comfy bedding were a couple hundred dragons! Nadders, Nightmares, Gronckles and Zipplebacks are sleeping contently at the moment in there caverns.
A few other caverns seemed to being used to keep food, supplies and books. All was quiet and then as soon as the Haddocks arrived bounding out of three special caverns came three special dragons who knocked the kids to the ground.
These three dragons were unlike any other dragons in this underground location that obviously stretched for miles under the island.
The dragon that was licking Hiccup was a male jet black dragon who seemed to be able to retract his teeth. The beautiful almost angelic silver female was cuddling Boden and the young male who had all the colors of the rainbow singing beautiful to Una.
"Toothless it's good to see you too. Now get off me."
"You too, Stardust."
"Come on, Nightrainbow, you weigh a lot more than I do!"
The three dragons slowly got off their best friends who dusted themselves off hugged their best friends and then slowly raised their left hands and the dragons touched their muzzles to their hands.
This was how symbol of trust with dragons was when they pressed their muzzle against your hand and you felt this bond that had no real words to describe. It was a true indescribable feeling.
There were many things that bonded the three Haddock siblings. One odd thing that was just shown was the fact they were all left handed which was an odd thing in and of itself.
But the thing they truly shared was really remarkable about them that no-one outside their mother and the two young ladies approaching them with another dragon knew was just really what they're truly gifted with.
"Hey! Thought you would never get down here!" said the older of the two girls who looked about twenty two. She'd medium length blond hair, two different color eyes, one was blue the other green and wore a green and gold outfit.
The other girl was about 13 and had long sandy blond hair with scarlet tips, earthy brown eyes and a scar down the right side of her face and wore a maroon tunic dress.
They wore matching helmets though each with a ring of gold holding a gemstone in the center the older girl was green and the younger red.
"Sorry, the rescue plan hit a snag at the end and well we're delayed in making it to the Sanctuary," Valka informed the two young girls.
"Say no more, Valka. You had to calm down your husband again by the looks of it. We're sorry you three have to go through that when the rescues don't go flawlessly," the older girl apologized looking at Hiccup who gave her a half smile.
"It's alright, Skullette. We've been doing these rescues since basically the time I was able to take my first step and it's what I and my siblings do. It's not like it's the first time a rescue went awry."
"Still your dad shouldn't be so mad at you three. Even if you are rescuing dragons right under his nose or if he doesn't know about your special gifts," pointed out the younger girl in a sympathy voice.
"We know that as that's what we're speaking about on our way here, Firefang. Though we at least have you and your cousin and family to help us with our work in this Underground Dragon Sanctuary. Thank the gods for that!" Boden breathed in a sigh of relief.
"That and your family as your own secret gifts as well so we bonded over that too. Though before you say it again we know you two don't see each other as cousin but sisters. After all we know you two have been raised together since your parents passed, Firefang," Una cut in before the girls could speak again.
"It's alright and yeah we bear no ill will to the dragons for my parents dying in a fire started by dragons. Our family is enlighten and knows they are just doing what all living things do to survive," Firefang assured the little girl whom she saw as family.
"That's right and yeah we've our spiritual gifts and you all have your gifts as well. Though we've long since learned as I'm sure you said on your way here we still haven't figure them all out or what you're all truly capable of." Skullette quickly said and the Haddocks nodded.
Firefang went over to the cavern where the kept the books and brought a few back with her. "Well, you'll be pleased to know I've still be keeping the books up to date.
The true Book of Dragons. With the real facts and knowledge of everything we've learned over the years since your family started rescuing and training dragons. So we have the real knowledge about who they truly are and not that book of falsehood that Gobber has in the Great Hall."
"Well, you do have the best penmanship on all of Berk, Firefang. So when your family did show we could trust you with our secret of our Underground Dragon Sanctuary that's why we let you start keeping the books down here." Valka remind her.
"And I thank you for the job and I still love all the poetry ideas I get inspired by working down here."
Suddenly Hiccup's green eyes flashed again and all of them both his family, their friends all their dragons were viewing the memories of how this Sanctuary came to be.
These memories were being pulled from the precious memories of his family starting with his mother as she was the one to find this place thanks to her own dragon Cloudjumper.
Her memories which all were seeing flash before their mind's eye in a golden light played so beautiful. How it was a dragon raid and Valka was protesting and saw Cloudjumper break into the house and she gone to defend Hiccup who was a baby at the time.
But Cloudjumper been merely curious of Hiccup and tried to soothe him by rocking him, though he got startled and accidently nicked his chin giving him his scar. That's when Valka and Cloudjumper eyes met and they made a connection.
Valka also because she wasn't attacking or harming Cloudjumper he didn't hurt her. Though Stoick came in by throwing an ax that startled Cloudjumper who start breathing fire out fright and the house was coming down.
He grabbed her to and flown out of the burning house and Stoick feared Valka was lost and Hiccup had cried some after his father gotten him. But all Cloudjumper had done was fly to safety of the forest where he'd dropped Valka was they're far enough away from the chaotic battle of Berk.
She had passed out from fright for two hours and came too none the worse from the wear and realize the dragon had saved her from being hurt realize all she ever thought about dragons was true.
She was ready to thank him and go home but the ground gave out from under them and they'd landed in these caves. It took them a few hours of exploring and bonding more to find their way out. But by then they'd become one and she'd named him Cloudjumper and Valka knew this now part of her life.
So Cloudjumper stayed in the caves and thus begun the start of their secret work. She managed to get back to village by the wee morning hours battered and bruised and told Stoick some of the truth but not all of it.
That the dragon had flown over the forest and she'd managed to get free landed in woods and was unconscious for a couple hours and it took some time to figure out the way home from the experience.
Now Hiccup, Boden and Una all had the same memories all bubbling around in this origin story of how they too knew it was their destiny to help dragons and how their special gifts had emerged.
Their mother had brought them each to this underground cavern with her with some of the dragons she'd rescued in secret with Cloudjumper's help and each of them when they'd been about six months old been in the caverns with their mother while their father been away at chief meeting.
Somehow each of them had found a mysterious egg that shown up out of nowhere like it was just there meant for them. And when they hugged it had hatched and in each of those eggs had been their dragons and each of their first words had been their dragons' names.
Or what they'd tried to say their dragon names being babies at the time they couldn't say it properly but Valka nonetheless knew what her children were trying to say and thus begun her children lives as dragon trainers.
Though something else had emerged about the time they'd all could talk properly and were working with their dragons. It seemed as their memories were showing they discovered they could do things no-one else could do.
Some of their earliest memories of training and rescue quickly showed this. Like somehow Hiccup could always feel in his heart when and where someone didn't matter if it was human or dragon they're in trouble he just knew they were and where to go help them.
Or if he was in trouble he could summon people to him. Then of course was this freaky thing he seemed to be able to do with memories share his own memories or help others recall precious memories to their heart.
Because all this seem to come from the fact he'd so much love in him they deemed his powers The Powers of Love.
Boden may have problems with his sometimes controlling his own moods and emotions but his own powers shown in these memories that Hiccup was showing that Boden's powers were of empathy.
Hiccup had nicknamed him "Dragon Whisperer" because of what they'd at least figured out what Boden could do already. As an empath for dragons he was able to hear and feel their thoughts and emotions, sometimes see their memories, sense their presence and speak to their souls.
As for their little sister? She had a most special gift for she was a bridge between worlds and this was quite an amazing gift but not any easier for her to see sometimes the past or future in her dreams, talk to the spirits of Valhalla, able to sense danger or occasionally touch an object and get a vision from it.
The memories faded and they all buckled and their dragons had to catch them. "Thanks, buddy. I hated when that happens and I don't willing do it. It so draining on my energy," Hiccup replied tiredly as Toothless threw him on his back as did the others.
Valka looked a bit troubled for a moment as did Skullette and Firefang as they quickly got some cold berry juice which was Una's favorite made them drink it.
"Thank you," they all managed weakly. They looked almost corpse like and it was clear they needed to rest.
"Perhaps before you try training the dragons you just rescued or finding out more information about the mystery you've been trying to solve you all should lie down?" Skullette suggested tentatively gesturing to the beds they had ready for them.
"You really should rest. You'll need all your strength for training and besides you know your abilities don't work on command and again as far we can tell you've only begun to scratch the tip of what you're all capable of doing.
Still at least take a short nap. You're not gonna end this war peacefully or help either of your people if your drained before the work begun." Firefang agreed with her older cousin/sister.
"They both have a point, my children. It seems when your stressed and come down here it does seem to spark up the your abilities. And you've been up all night because of dragon raid. At least get a few hours of sleep."
"Alright, Mom/Mommy we're so tired anyway," as their dragons took them over to their beds. Their dragons tucked them in and curled up around them and the six siblings fell into a peaceful slumber.
"You'll watch over them while they rest for me?" Valka asked anxiously to the sisters who nodded.
"Don't fret at all, Valka. We'll make sure they get a few hours of shuteye and still get at least an hour of dragon training in and attempt to unravel the mystery of why the raids have gotten worse." Skullette promised.
"Alright just make sure they get back home at least by four clock that should be at least two hours before Stoick and I return since we always have dinner at six. Also make sure you two get back before the rest of the village notice you're missing for long too."
"We're good at living our own double lives too you know. We and the rest of the Anquetils clan does fairly well at this for as long as we've been doing this, Valka. Go everything will be fine and don't worry no-one will ever discover the Underground Dragon Sanctuary.
No-one's found it yet and we'll continue to make sure of it. Now go!" Firefang hurried her and Valka nodded pausing only long enough to kiss each of her sleeping children brow and hurried up another flight of stairs and coming out from a hollow oak tree and heading towards the village wondering what her husband was up too.
Whilst the rest of his family were up to secrets that were literally going on underneath his very feet Stoick had finished with getting the village back in order at last.
Therefore now the order of business was to actually solve the real problem. Getting rid of the dragons once and for all. Stoick completely unaware of what his children or wife did or the special gifts his children had been bestowed with was making a big and angry speech about dragons being a demonic plague that was gonna end them any day now.
"Either we finish them or they'll finish us! If we find the Nest and destroy it the dragons will finally leave! They go find another home! One more search before the ice sets in!" as he slammed a dagger into a map of the unknown.
The other villagers were less than enthusiastic and a few said things like, "Those ships never come back." Or "Haven't we tried this a thousand times before and nothing ever comes from it?" and "Is there really any point? What's gonna stop them from coming back even if we do destroy the Nest if by Odin's grace we even find it?"
Stoick's anger was quickly returning upon hearing his people talking in such a manner. Valka had told him to deal with his anger before coming home and dealing with the children so he dealt it in the only way he knew how and how best to get people to fall in line.
"We are Vikings! It's an occupational hazard! Now either we go find the Nest first thing in the morning or if you all wish to shirk your duties to both your families and village I suppose you could always stay here and try and take care of my kids instead."
Well that was all it took to get everyone in line as they screamed they're willing to go first thing in the morning to find the Dragon Nest and rid their island of this dragon scourge once and for all.
"That's better you are dismissed as he waved his hand and everyone bolt. Gobber was laughing a bit as he took a long swing of a drink from one of his many attachments.
"Well, well, Stoick you're pretty clever when getting people to do what you want them to do. So I better go get my best skivvies packed for the trip."
"No, you're to stay here and train up the new recruits. That was already decided, remember? Dragon Training Classes are your job to teach. Or did you forget that too?" Stoick asked his best friend as he sat down with a large sigh looking very tired.
"You look like you've something on your mind, Stoick. Why don't you have a drink and tell your old buddy Gobber what it is?"
"You know Valka never approve of me having a drink before having to talk to the children. You know how she feels about drinking to begin with, Gobber."
"I don't understand your wife sometimes, Stoick. She's so different from everyone else on the island. I don't get what kind of woman gets angry that a man enjoys having a drink with his buddies or bets occasionally?"
"Valka doesn't like poison in the house or in the lives of our children. So that's why there none of it allowed in the house."
"I don't get her idea of poison. What's wrong with a good stiff drink every now and then?"
Stoick gave him a hard stare before choosing his words carefully to his best friend, "Gobber your my best friend and a good friend to the family, but I do agree with my wife that you can get a bit too overindulgent when it comes to drinks or gambling."
"She's filling your head with nonsense," he said dismissively as he had to fish his fake tooth out his beer mug and Stoick decided to bring up the reason Valka really didn't approve of Gobber two unhealthy habits.
"Gobber maybe you can't recall this, but Valka and I do since it was our wedding ceremony. But you got so drunk at the event you did some well not that I would ever speak them out loud to any of my children. But that's how inappropriate your behavior was because you got that drunk. So please don't think my wife's viewpoint on what she finds poisonous and evil to be kept away from kids as wrong, okay?"
"Well, you raise your kids the way you see fit and you're the one married. All I know about marriage is you pick your battles carefully. That's all I ever learned about folks who tied the knot choose your battles wisely."
"I'm worried about the next battle for sure."
"What battle is that? What's really on your mind, Stoick? The fact you've once again to discipline your kids for causing destruction? They're a strange bunch those three," he said only to be glared at by Stoick so he shut up.
Stoick seemed to be lost in his mind as he was in deep thought thinking very carefully before saying what had been on his mind for a long time. What had made him a little angry and partly been brought on by fear.
"Gobber I've never told anyone else this and I've never even really told Val this but I'm really scared for my children. They're all so different. I've know who and what I was since I was child," as he got up and start pacing and seemed to be trying to say something and was struggling to find the words.
"When I was a child my own father told me to bang my head against a rock and I did it without questioning him and it split in two. I knew from that that's what a Viking could do. A Viking could tame seas, level seas and I knew what I was and I had to become. But my own children?" again he seemed to pausing as if struggling to find the words.
Sighing he seemed again to be unable to word this the way he wanted without saying it hurtful for himself or his beloved children. "Don't misunderstand me, Gobber. I do love all my children and they are my most precious treasure. I tell that to Valka every night before we got to bed.
The day each was born I could've happier or prouder. But they are just so…different. Ever since all they could crawl they just been different! They just don't listen and all have the attention span of sparrows!
I love it that they possess their mother's spirit. Still I worry at the same time about each of them for different reasons for each of them as any parent would. But the thing I worry most about is what am I do if something were to happen to me and Valka?
I know I won't be around to protect them forever and neither will Valka and it just seems since the dragon raids increased they seem more and more eager to show me they can take care of themselves.
Though all they do is the exact opposite and scare me even more. I don't care about the damage they caused I'm more frighten what's gonna happen to them if I don't stop these dragons soon.
Because again if either us were to die then Hiccup would become chief and have to watch over Boden and Una. He's always kept his promise well to look after him. He done that better than I ever dreamed he would though after last night?" he sank to the ground and his mind flashed to his memory of the night with Cloudjumper and he didn't see it the same way Valka saw it.
He saw it as night he almost lost his wife and his son almost lost his mother. That his wife was almost was killed and that he'd never be able to enjoy having his second son or that Una the only daughter ever to be born into the Haddock line never would exist.
How helpless and terrified he'd been all night and that he'd been overjoyed when Valka reappeared the next morning battered and bruised but otherwise fine. Her first order of business had been to nurse Hiccup and calm him down.
Valka always told him not to worry about that night. That nothing bad had happened other then she'd had a mild concussion. Plus they'd to spent a while rebuilding their house of course. Nevertheless ever since that terrible night he'd been worried about what could happen if he wasn't able to protect his family.
Now that fear was really driving him to end the dragon threat for good as he couldn't stand that memory of seeing Valka being snatched and Hiccup crying even if Valka had come home a few hours later with nothing worse than a mild concussion.
Seeing his friend reliving that terrible memory that no-one was allowed to bring up which was an unspoken law of Berk Gobber more or less got what Stoick was trying to say.
"Well, if you're worried about Hiccup being unable to properly protect Boden and Una why not put him in Dragon Training as well?"
Stoick came out of his sea of memories and looked shocked at the suggestion as Gobber hurried on, "Look, Stoick, I know Hiccup due to his size isn't able to really even pick up a weapon, but if he was in Dragon Training he'd at least finally learn how to fight properly and know how to defend himself as well as brother and sister from dragons.
So learning to properly defend himself and his younger siblings wouldn't be a bad idea. Also he might finally learn to be a real Viking and whatever oddness is in him might be smoothed out and then it could be smoothed out of Boden and Una as well?
You spoke the truth yourself. Neither you nor Valka gonna live forever. And well sooner or later Hiccup gonna have to take over as Chief. He might as well know something useful, shouldn't he?" Gobber finished speaking as he took one last swing of a drink.
Stoick seemed to be really considering his words when the doors of the Great Hall swung open and Valka entered and spoke in a humorous way.
"Stoick, I know you need people to follow your orders as chief and you only wish the best for the people of Berk. Though I don't think you needed to use your own children as a threat to make others behave. It's our job to make sure they behave not their job to make the village behave!" she laughed gaily as she came up to her husband and kissed him passionately on his lips.
Though when he didn't return her kiss with any romantic affections of his own she knew something was still troubling him. "Stoick? What is wrong? Did something go wrong at the meeting? What's on your mind?" she asked concerningly.
Swallowing hard and bracing himself for what he knew was coming he looked at Valka's light blue eyes the same as their daughters and almost couldn't bring himself to say the words he was about to say.
Stoick wasn't one to be a coward, but he also knew again in marriage you pick your battles wisely. He and Valka always had a three things they didn't exactly see to eye on. They'd different opinions on dragons, slightly different parenting styles and the fact Valka was often pointing out he didn't seem to listen when he should.
However despite like any married couple who had their disagreement or minor spats there of course was the one thing they did agree on wholeheartedly. They agreed the wellbeing of their children always came first. Though what he was about to suggest was about to bring that into question for sure.
"Val could you please sit down? There is something I want to talk to you about."
Growing suspicious because he was asking her to sit that told her he was worried she either be very angry or possibly pass out. Still she did as request of her and they went a little ways from Gobber who was occupied with drinking some more beer.
"Alright, Stoick, now what is it? What's going on? And please don't beat around the bush. I don't want to play any games I just want the truth."
Sighing he took her hands into his and began as calmly as he could to trying to use the right words, "You know how we agreed we'd never intentionally do anything to harm our children?"
"Yes, we love them, protect them and I think we've so far raised them well. I know you do feel a little disappointed at times that they don't exactly fit into the mold of the proper Vikings. But haven't I said to you it's more important to be true to yourself then being someone you're not?"
"You have many times and every time you bring that point up you always asked if I really want them to be like everyone else does that mean I want you to be like every other woman on Berk."
"And what do you always say?"
"That the reason I love you so much is because you're different. Your beauty comes from within because you're different. You're strength comes from your spirit and you're one of a kind.
I've never know another woman like you and that's the reason I fell so deeply in love with you and I never chose another woman to be my wife of be the mother of my children other than you."
"Exactly my point I've only made a thousand times, Stoick. Whenever you feel that your children should be like everyone else's children. Difference should be celebrate not treated like a crime that should be punished," she yet again had to remind him of when he let the villager's words get into his head.
"It's just I know our children are not only different in a special way. I have no doubt they are special, but I'm still worried for their safety and with the dragon raids getting increasingly worse. Or what almost that night…"
"Stoick! I know you've forbidden anyone from talking about that night to spare Hiccup of knowing how he got that scar or Boden and Una knowing what almost happen to me. Or because you don't want to think about it.
Nevertheless we've been over this enough times! I'm FINE! And I told you again and again. The dragon wasn't trying to harm Hiccup at all. It was merely curious about him and when I came in I startled it and so it accidently nicked him.
Though because I wasn't being aggressive it didn't respond with aggression. You frighten it and that's why it responded instinctively by trying to protect itself. Then it grabbed me to get me out of danger because the house was coming down.
It dropped me over the forest once it judge me to be out the danger of the chaotic battle and fire. And other than being knocked out for 2 hours, getting a mild concussion and being banged up I did come home once I found my way out of the forest.
The worst of that night was it took us a month to rebuild the house and I was order bed rest for two weeks to recover from my minor injuries. It should've been one week according to Gothi but you insisted on two weeks.
But neither Hiccup nor I had any lasting damage. But I learned that night if you don't respond violently with a dragon they won't respond back with violence either."
"Valka you could've been killed! I could've been without a wife or Hiccup without a mother and neither Boden nor Una would've been born."
"Though that night just revealed the simple truth that you just keep refusing to see! Don't you get it even now? Dragons are just like any living creature of this world. They do what they must to survive same as you or I. They need food and water to provide for their families and only fight to protect themselves and their loved ones!
It's as simple as water and rain. Why do you refuse to see that?"
"Val, let's not talk about this and get to what I want to talk about with you?"
"Fine let's drop one argument and get ready for another that I know is coming. I can never with that one with you anyway. So what are you about to drop on me anyway?"
"Given what happened that night and that things only seemed to be getting more dangerous around here because the dragons are stepping up their attacks…I'm thinking its time Hiccup learn to properly defend himself."
She cocked an eyebrow crossing her arms and said in a low voice. "What do you mean by that?"
"I think it's time Hiccup learned to fight dragons so I want to put him in Dragon Training Classes in the morning."
"You want to do WHAT?! GOBBER!" she rounded on the old blacksmith at the seething mother who came over so fast she was a blur and he didn't have time to think as she haled him up with strength she shouldn't possess but she was a raging mother.
"What cockamamie ideas have you been filling in my husband's head you drunken ass?! I know this is your doing! Answer me!" as she was trying to wring his neck and Stoick had to pry his wife off him.
Gobber was gasping for breath and was still quite blue looking at the Chief with his wife battling it out.
"Stoick you cannot be serious! Trusting our son's life with that crazy fool! I've seen how he teaches! Are you crazy?!"
"He did make a few good points Val. Hiccup is getting old enough that he should be treated like a man, not a small child anymore. And he needs to learn some basic fighting!"
"Fighting?! Why is it all you men thinking about is how to fight and die before your even born?! I told you I fed you to wild boars for that ax you tried to make for Hiccup before his birth!"
"Valka, he is the eldest and he should know by now how to fight in some capacity! How is he going to become chief if he doesn't know at least some battle skills, or how can he protect Boden and Una, if something was to happen to us, if he's never been taught anything?"
"You truly think putting him in arena run by a drunk gambling fool is gonna man him up?! And hasn't Hiccup kept his promise well enough to protect his brother and sister without ever needing to lift so much as blade? There are other ways to fight and protect someone that don't involve spilling someone guts in a bloody battle, Stoick!"
Gobber who had gotten his breath back came hobbling over and tried to interject. "You know Val, Dragon Training can be a good thing. It helps teach all kinds of important things. Not just how to fight thins unholy beasts but things a boy Hiccup age should know like for example…" and Valka smacked him before he finished.
"Stay out of this Gobber! You've already caused enough problems! And don't you dare say what you think any of my children need!" she snapped at him venomously.
"Val please calm down! Let's not bring your anger home tonight! Can't we come to some type of compromise here?"
"Like what? You want to willing and knowingly put our eldest child, who may I remind you was born two and half months early, in a death trap! How do you think we could reach a compromise?!" she was still seething as she was thinking about the scariest night of her life.
The night she'd gone into preterm labor at seven and half months and seeing Hiccup for the first time. How weak and frail he was and her ultimate fear he wouldn't make. Stoick promised her he'd lived and become the best of them all and the fact he'd lived and thrived was a blessing. But the very idea of putting him willingly in danger went against every fiber in her body.
Stoick knew this was what Valka was thinking about and why she'd been so nervous and scared when she'd been expecting both Boden and Una despite their plan to always have three children. And why they'd promised to make sure their children were always protected but still allowed to live.
"Alright how is this for a deal, Val? If you allow me to place Hiccup in Dragon Training Class you and the other children can watch. And if you feel he's in danger you can bust in and rescue him. I know Hiccup won't care what the village or other teenagers think."
"And you know I'll be in there faster than we can only guess the Three Dragons of Legend can go, and don't think I won't! I'm not gonna watch our child be murdered because of that idiot," she pointed at Gobber who now was backed wisely away from the couple.
"Fine. Is that a good enough deal? Is this a compromise we can live with?"
She looked like she was debating and finally sighed before grudgingly saying, "Well I know this is the only deal I'm getting fine. But we better not be setting a ship aflame with Hiccup's body in it! That's all I'm saying when you get back from trying to find the Nest! We better still have all five us alive!"
"Alright, we better get going home. You still have to make dinner and we need to check on the children."
"Fine. I'll meet you outside, I need to calm myself before we get home." And she started to the door almost not hearing Gobber whispering to Stoick he married one hell of a woman even if she's the lousy cook on the island.
Valka paused in her step before turning around and punching Gobber in the gut once then continued on to wait for Stoick outside. Stoick just laughed as Gobber was really starting to nurse his wounds from a very enraged mother.
"Gobber, you really don't know much about being married and certainly know nothing about a mother who cares for her children. But I didn't marry Valka for her cooking that's for sure. Though I married her for many of the reasons you just saw and any woman who willing to speak her mind as well stand up to me and for her children to the point she is more than a match for me.
Not to mention she's truly the most beautiful woman in all the Nine Realms next our daughter. Not even Odin's wife Frigga or any of the 38 Valkyries could match Valka or Una's beauty! Now excuse me I've to get home. See you and put some ice on those wounds. You've a job to do in the morning," and with that Stoick went outside to join his wife who'd been counting to try and calm herself down.
When both Stoick and Valka returned home it was 4:00 and Hiccup, Boden and Una had long since gotten back from their secret work at the secret Underground Dragon Sanctuary.
As they'd slept their dreams had all been troubled. Hiccup was somehow intercepting memories of the ghost of the dragon and human souls that were in contact with Boden and Una who'd been tryin to provide small clues and hints to unraveling's the mystery they'd been trying to solve.
They'd slept for about 4 hours and spent two and half hours making little progress with the training with the new dragons they'd rescued last night. Though their training skills had been honed well after all these years, their special gifts still were unpredictable and didn't work on command.
All they'd been able to really gather over the course of the last two years with their abilities from the dragons they'd rescued was they seemed to be under a mind control that once rescued was broken. All of them were still extremely scared about whoever had controlled them and they'd only been given an incredibly vague directions plus images of a fiery mountain island they'd never be able to find at this point.
At this point they're not thinking about their secret lives. Instead they're just focusing on playing in their backyard. Just running around chasing each other and a ball whilst laughing. Then they all fell down on top of each other and were hugging and kissing. Just happy having fun and being together.
Stoick sat down on his favorite chair outside to watch his children antics while whittling a duck and his wife went to cook dinner which ready at a quarter to six when she called them all in to eat.
Everyone raced in from the back door and Valka curtly reminded them to wash their hands before they got to eat and that went for Stoick too. So going over to the wash basin they thoroughly washed their hands and held them out to Valka who said they passed inspection.
It was a typical Viking dinner of fish, cabbage with some bread and yak milk. Una made face and let out a whine. "Why do we have to eat the same thing over and over again? Why can't we have anything new? I've eaten so much fish I could grow gills!"
"Honey we can only eat what is available to us to eat and sadly that means, fish, chicken, bread, cabbage and yak. Please try and eat your cabbage tonight. You need some veggies in you," her mother replied in weary voice as they'd this conversation many times before. It didn't help Una was going through her 'picky eater phase" either.
"But, Mom, this cabbage is gross! If you expect us to eat our veggies couldn't you at least have gotten good cabbage?" Boden complained as he looked at what was gross looking cabbage and his father swiftly told him.
"Boden, mind your manners. You know perfectly well the best cabbage fields got burned two months ago by a flock of Nightmares, so unfortunately we've had to get cabbage from the rotten field by the most disgusting man on Berk. It can't be helped. So please just eat your dinner without complaining about it."
"Okay, Dad, understood," he grumbled as he started on his dinner and so did Una who still wasn't happy about the menu. Hiccup wasn't really looking at his dinner but merely lost in thought.
None of the children or Stoick ever complained about Valka's bad cooking skills. It may never taste the best, on the other hand they knew it was made with love, plus it was either eat it or got hungry. In addition for them at least it never tasted as bad as it did for others because they loved Valka and one way or another love improved the taste just enough for them.
After a short time eating in silence Stoick and Valka eyes met and knew they'd have to break the news to the kids so Valka started by doing what she did once week anyway.
"You all remember that you've do your chores right? And that means doing them right the first time? Cause if you don't I'll have to embarrass you all."
"We know, Mom/Mommy and we know you'll tell us what chores are to be done on Monday," they replied.
"We also know your father doesn't get out of doing his share of the chores either, looking him dead in the eye as she said this. "In fact I'm charging him with washing tonight dishes as punishment for the mistakes he's made today. So you better to them right tonight, Stoick or your sleeping with the dogs," she informed him with a glare.
"Val, I know you're still steamed, but do you really want to punish me before I set sail in the morning?"
"I feel if I don't punish you now I won't get the chance later, and you know I've no qualms about carrying out embarrassing you, if don't do your own share correctly. So do them right, Stoick! It's the least you can do for what your about to do!" she snapped angrily at him.
Well that was all the kids needed to hear to know their parents were heated about something so it fell on Hiccup to find out what it was. "Um Dad? What got Mom's blood running so hot? Is this about last night?"
Stoick sat down his silverware and shook his head and with his wife glaring at him he knew she wanted him to be quick and to the point and get it over with. "Kids I'll be leaving with first light to try and find the Dragon's Nest.
You're mother as you know will be in charge while I'm gone, but while I'm gone there will be something different this time."
"Different?" they all jumped at this for every time their father left they're just told to stay out of everyone's way and it gave them time to do more secret dragon work.
Stoick looked Hiccup square in the eye and told him. "Hiccup you'll be starting Dragon Training Classes first thing in the morning," and Hiccup had lost his voice as did everyone else at the table.
"I feel it's time you learn to fight and it will help prepare you for your duties when it comes your time to lead. Not to mention it will help you better protect Boden and Una and you'll grow stronger in ways you never imagined.
Don't worry your mother will be watching with Boden and Una to make sure everything is alright. So I can't wait to see how things turn out when I get back in a couple of weeks hopefully."
There was stunned silence before a lot of anger, tears and fury was heard. Boden shot up from his seat and screamed at his father. "You want to have our big brother killed so he can be more like you, Dad?! Are you out of your mind?! This is insane and so are you!" and he ran angrily from the room upstairs.
Una was looking at her daddy with tears flowing from her blue eyes like waterfalls. "I don't want to watch one of my BBBFF be murdered! You've just given him a death sentence, Daddy! We might as well get the flaming arrows ready!" and she left crying loudly.
Hiccup in all this time hadn't said anything or even seemed to absorb the fact of what was to happen to him in the morning. He just shot up from the table and ran up the stairs knowing it was his job to comfort and calm his brother and sister down.
Stoick hung his head shamefully as Valka just sat there with her arms crossed before saying, "How did you expect them to react?"
"A lot like this."
Sighing they began working together to clean up dinner and Stoick started to do his punishment of doing the mountain of dishes while Valka went to work sewing. "We at least should be thankful for the miracle that is our eldest son. He's the only one who'd can comfort or calm down Boden and Una when they're this upset. Even you and I can't do that miracle."
It was true as they listen to loud voices up on the second floor where the children bedrooms all were they couldn't make out what was being said or how Hiccup did it, but he was the only one whenever Boden and Una got upset he could calm them down.
Whether it had to do with Boden's mood swings or Una's mental social problems or just everyday life he could calm them down and make them happy. And they're able to do that for him when he'd the same problem.
Stoick often wonder how Hiccup was able to do this when he and Valka couldn't and Valka's answer was because Hiccup just had so much love inside him.
Later that night after everyone had calm down Valka did what she did every night. She tucked all three kids into bed while singing the Dragon Lullaby kissing them goodnight while Stoick watched from the doorway of each bedroom.
Then they climbed into their bed downstairs kissing each other goodnight whispering that they loved each other and their most precious treasures where the three sleeping souls above them.
Stoick whispered to Valka while he couldn't see the future he'd a feeling something was coming and that something would soon change their family lives forever and Valka only hoped it would be a good change and they fell all contently asleep.