I decided to post this earlier than I should. So my friend helped me edit this for me a bit better than what I did. Anyways, here's the revised chapter, Chapter 5 will be an unknown date since I have found a job and plan to actually keep it for a bit.
Chapter 4: Perspectives and Purpose
Tuffnut's POV:
"Man it's getting cold here!" I yelled out obnoxiously, trying to get on the nerves of my sister. I was shivering from head to toe and I needed something to distract me. I wasn't use to this; it was much colder than how it usually gets in Berk. I was focused on my freezing toes until I noticed something glowing in the Arena. Blue flames were surrounding Hiccup, but they weren't hurting him. He just stood there- inside the flames- just taking it all in!
I felt my hands begin to shake, not from the cold but from some pressure. It was coming from Hiccup too. I kept thinking "What is he?" "Is he some sort of monster?" "Is this all a dream?" I couldn't find any way to explain what was going on. Everyone else seemed to have noticed what was going on too. Then realizing the most shocking- and probably the scariest- thing of all, I bellowed "I'M GOING TO LOSE TWO WEEKS OF MUTTON!"
Fishlegs' POV:
That wasn't the Hiccup we knew, that was someone- -something- completely different. What he did to Snotlout shouldn't have even happened. Stuff like that only happens in dreams or even just told about in old stories, but with my very own eyes I saw it happen before me.
A confident Hiccup, and Snotlout cowering with a raw look of fear on his face, that was really something... I didn't make it through to witness the rest of the fight. That scene was the last thing I saw before I felt myself losing balance and everything went black.
Gobber's POV:
"Aye, wouldja look at that! A legend believed to be of Myth coming true in me own two eyes." I said chuckling. I honestly couldn't believe Hiccup of all people would make up a story like that but there he was, making one of the toughest, youngest Vikings cower in fear and wet his trousers! That day just kept getting more and more interesting.
Snotlout's POV:
"I'm so dead." that was the thought racing through my mind. I even started praying! "Dear whatever-god-that-can-hear-me, I want you to know that I'm sorry for whatever I did in the past." And then... Oh gods, I-.. I... crapped my pants!
Ruffnut POV:
Not only did Hiccup get a bit hotter, he also became some all-powerful something! I could feel everyone else tense up, especially me. It was a weird feeling.. I still can't seem to shake it off. I looked over to my left to see my brother's hands shaking as he desperately tried to stop them by sitting on them- but it only got worse. I sat up slightly, to get a better view of Hiccup as more and more people from our village gathered near the Arena to watch the spectacle.
Stoick's POV:
I stood there with my mouth and my eyes wide open in surprise. I thought, "This is my son?" He finally came back and he was showing us things that were pretty much shaking up the whole archipelago. He was beyond everything I could ever comprehend and more. I looked up at the sky and gave a nod to my wife, Hiccup's mother. "Oh Valhallarama, wouldn't you be so proud."
Astrid's POV:
I had to get my thoughts straight. "Okay so ..Hiccup is a Sentinel; he's more powerful than any of us- even more powerful than the strongest Vikings in Berk." I couldn't help but grin at that. "He fought those Outcasts like he was just playing around," I continued, but I was forced to stop when I caught sight of Hiccup. He was already engulfed in the blue flames that had blown in moments before and the air felt like lead. I could barely even sit normally. It was getting harder to breathe.
When I looked over again I saw that it was finally over and the pressure that had been pushing down on us was gone. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Normal POV:
Snotlout grabbed Hiccup's hand and slowly stood up with his help. "You really are something Hiccup. I really feel weird for saying this but... I'm glad you came back." Snotlout said reluctantly and clearly embarrassed. Hiccup just chuckled and nodded in agreement.
"I'm just glad to be back, Snot." Hiccup beamed. They started walking out of the Arena to be greeted by the others who had made their way there. Hiccup, however, was greeted instead by a bolt of flame that threw him into the ground on impact. The force of it pushed Snotlout out of the way and sent him colliding into a wall. A choking pressure once again filled the air. One much stronger than before. Everyone was rendered unconscious or struggling to stand up. Hiccup stood slowly, taken by surprise by the sudden bolt of flame. Toothless joined him, jumping into the cage and landing next to him. His teeth were bared and he was growling as he positioned himself into a fighting stance.
"I see that you told them, eh Hiccup!?" Boomed a mysterious voice, "You broke one of the rules of the Sentinels! You know the consequences..."
Hiccup took a stance and prepared himself, only to be greeted with a wooden staff to the head, "OW!" He yelled out before he looked up to see a familiar face.
"You didn't expect to see me here eh?" The mysterious figure now stood in front of Hiccup. He was recognized instantly. "KHRAL!" Hiccup yelled out before greeting him with a hug.
"Aye, it's me lad, how ya been?" Khral said proudly. He stood four heads taller than Hiccup, his clothing consisting of a robe with a bandolier of potions.
"Oh, I've been fine... I guess I did break the rules and all..." Hiccup guiltily looked down.
"Oh don't worry about it lad! It's nothin' too serious anyways, it's not like this whole Archipelago is a threat to the balance if ya told all of em!" Khral heartily spews out, "Anyways before I kill your friends by accident..."
The veil of pressure disappeared from the air as quickly from the air as it had come and every Viking affected by it began to stand up as others steadily regained consciousness. Astrid slowly got up along with Fishlegs who seemed to have almost fainted. Tuffnut and Ruffnut, both of whom had fainted, showed no signs of revival. Snotlout, as well, remained unconscious from the impact to the wall. Hiccup ran over to them, "You guys alright? Anybody hurt badly?" He looked over to Astrid with a twinge of concern showing. She shook her head and smiled, "We're fine Hiccup, none of us are hurt- maybe Snotlout but no one important was hurt."
They both laughed slightly, "Oh you know, don't mind me just slightly traumatized by what happened here." Fishlegs interrupted.
"Sorry about that Fish." Hiccup smiled, "Khral just doesn't know how to hold back when it comes to showing his power."
"Who's Khral?" Astrid questioned.
"Well, he's the most powerful of all Sentinels and one of the founders for this whole thing, also he's my Mentor." Hiccup answered proudly.
"That's right and don't you forget it!" Khral boomed, "Took me a bit to find you, but I'm glad to see you're finally home. Though your reunion with Toothless was more touching than this." Hiccup glared at him, but sighed and slapped his hand to his face. After hearing a low groan, he looked up and noticed his father was up and about.
Stoick walked over, still dazed, but puffed his chest up in an attempt to make himself look intimidating. "I am Stoick, the Chief of Berk, who might you be?" Hiccup laughed at his father's display and shook his head.
"I am Khral, one of the founders for the Sentinels and Hiccup's mentor. Forgive my sudden intrusion; I just wanted to give Hiccup here a good scare." Khral laughed, "Anyways, got any mead? I'm rather thirsty from all that."
"Righ' this way!" Gobber popped in, out of nowhere and began leading him towards the mess hall.
"It's pretty late out; I think you're all in for a well deserved rest. So off ya go." Stoick said shooing them away, "We'll find out his story in the morning."
Everyone went off in all directions to their individual houses. Barf and Belch came back to pick up their riders who still seemed to be unconscious. Snotlout was left in the arena. Hiccup, however, decided to stay up to sit by a cliff and stare out at the ocean. He was shortly joined by Toothless, who snuggled by his side. "Y'know bud? I'm really glad we decided to come back here, but I gotta tell someone about the heart thing quick..." Hiccup murmured looking down only to be nudged by Toothless who let out a comforting warble."You're right... Maybe I shouldn't worry about it too much, I'll get to sleep, and I just want to look out into the ocean." Toothless nodded and trotted off back towards the village.
Next Morning:
Hiccup woke up in the grass with Toothless already awake next to him. "Mornin' bud. Where is everyone?" Toothless pointed his head in the direction of the mess hall, "Ah alright, thanks, and we'll go flying later alright?" He's replied to with a huff and a warble.
As Hiccup made his way to the mess hall, he heard Vikings screaming and the unmistakable sound of tables breaking. He quickly rushed in to see Khral asleep on the table surrounded by six empty kegs. Everyone else around him seemed to be thinking of a way to get him awake. Another Viking made his way over to touch Khral's shoulder and shake him awake only to be flung across the hall with a scream, "I'm okay!"
Hiccup made his way over to the group, "Having a hard time waking him up?" He laughed.
They all stared at Hiccup in visible frustration and yelled out in unison "YES!"
"Well give me a second." Hiccup said before he made his way over casually to touch Khral. He wasn't flung as he made contact with Khral and whispered something in his ear. This instantly made Khral wake up and begin to panic until he caught sight of Hiccup laughing.
"Do'h Hiccup, you shouldn't do that to an old man like me, I could have a heart attack!" Khral said worriedly.
"Oh, you'll be fine ya big crybaby, now sit back down like a normal person would." Hiccup replied back, obviously not caring the man's "health." He sat down at the ruined table followed by everyone else except Stoick and Gobber, who had other things to do.
"So Hiccup..." Astrid asked, "How was it? Training under Khral?"
Khral slammed his hand down onto the table and smiled, "So, ye want to know how Hiccup became a Sentinel huh!?" He laughed a little too loudly, and grabbed the attention of the other Vikings sitting nearby. "I'll tell ya what it was like trainin' under me and how sweet Hiccup is now the man he is today."
Everyone looked over, eager to hear the tale.
Khral let out a deep breath and began to speak...
"So, there I was standing around, running a few errands here and there until I saw a magnificent beast fall down from the sky! Its roar was the loudest any creature of that size would produce, I stood in amazement at the sheer size of it all and wondering who would be stupid enough to take on this beast and actually win against it was beyond me... Until I saw a boy falling down with it and a black dragon grabbing for him, but it was too late."
"The distance between them was too great and the boy fell into the inferno. After a few hours, it all cleared and all I saw was you lot pulling that black dragon, I didn't notice the boy on it or anybody carrying him, so I assumed he was 'dead'."
Astrid interrupted, "We would've been able to search more if we didn't have a-lot of injured Vikings to bring back to Berk." She looked over to Hiccup, "We really did try looking for you..." Hiccup nodded and put a hand on her fist; he looked over to Khral, "Continue."
"It was perfect! The leasing of his 'body' and the amount of carnage there was, it was like a Phoenix rising above the ashes, ashes being the burned remains of a dragon. After searching for any signs of life in all that mess, I sensed his faint heartbeat and immediately find him impaled by shattered pieces of bone. Gods, picking them out was sooo time consuming, I almost thought he bled out on me! But alas, he lived and through that he had woken up questioning, fearful, and confused, so I posed to him with a question followed by the one that changed his life forever. And he hesitantly said 'Yes.' There is the chance he gave me; I killed him right where he sat."
They all looked at Khral dumbfounded by his story; Hiccup looked like he heard this story a million times before looking away. "What? It's not like he's dead right now, or would be ever anyways."
"Ok then." Tuffnut replied, "How did you kill him anyways? I'm pretty sure anything would of killed him when he was an… err Fishbone." Hiccup gave a small glare when he heard that, but brushed it off.
"I Impaled him with me staff right through his chest, gave me a chance to pull out his heart and replace it with something better, a power something that's beyond a Sentinel that only someone like him-" Krahl gestured towards Hiccup, "-can only master it and will bring peace to this world. I know what you're wonderin'. 'Where is his heart?' You say." Khral looked over to Astrid and winked, noticing she looked over at Hiccup who hadn't seen. "Why just ask him yourself. Every Sentinel, Dreadnought, and Vanguard have to carry it themselves and give it to the one they truly want to spend the rest of their lives with."
"But screw that soppy, lovey-dovey crap eh? How I trained Hiccup is what ye really wonderin' eh? Well let's say his training should've killed him if he didn't become infused with ancient energy. He's lost his arm so many times I lost count! First time he lost it though- oh had me laughin' way too hard, even Loki would've told me to shut up or whatever Gods you Vikings decide to worship."
Khral finally breathed out, "So I've told you most of the story, Hiccup'll tell you the rest, just not today!" He got up from the table and announced, "Anyways, I'll be in the Arena if any of you want some 'training'. And I am off!" He disappeared with a smokescreen. Everyone averted their eyes to Hiccup, "Okay… Well then, so you lost your arm? LOST. YOUR. ARM!?" Fishlegs blurted out and kept repeating it until he was silenced by Snotlout.
"We get it Fish; Hiccup lost his arm, so what? It's not like he-"And then it hit him, "WAIT! Why in Thor's name do you still have it then!? Was he lying to us?"
Hiccup chuckled a bit and held his hand up silencing everyone, "No no, it's true what Khral said, I did lose my arms. Sewing it back on is a hassle and all." Everyone looked at him dumbstruck. "Well I am sort of immortal-ish. I still feel pain and all that, but y'know it's nothing too serious."
"Nothing too serious!?" Astrid said in sort of a panic. "Your organs don't work, you lost your arms in so many ways that-" Hiccup put up his hands to have her stop and reluctantly she complied.
"Look, its all fine. I don't need you guys breathing down my neck for that. I know what I'm capable of as of now." Hiccup tried to reassure everyone, but only received unsure looks. He sighed and almost surrendered to their stares. "I'm fine, and it's nothing I can't handle."
"And what if you can't handle it? Oh great and powerful peacekeeper? Huh?" Ruffnut huffed angrily, "I mean we're here just trying to understand all this and help you with whatever you need us to do, but you just keep pouring more of it onto us! Just let us cope with you just being here, we don't know need to more about what you did until we're good and ready!" Everyone stared in shock at Ruffnut's sudden outburst.
Hiccup sat there silently until he stood up and walked away from them. "Sorry." Is all he could say, as he made his way out of the mess hall. Toothless was waiting outside, as if he knew something went down in there. Hiccup got on his back and flew up into the air and over Berk multiple times. He looked down occasionally then back at Toothless, "Maybe, I shouldn't have come back here bud." Toothless' ear flap slapped him "What was that for?"
Toothless let out a noise as if he were trying to say to Hiccup, "You can't get that one little thing get you down Hiccup, they're just stressed out and worried about you. They are your friends you know. Just give them time."
"You're right bud, I should." He eyed the small box hanging from the saddle, grabbed it, and held it close enough to him while still having enough arm room to rest his hand on it. "Maybe I shouldn't show them this until they're ready." From inside the box a small beating sound rose, sounding close to a heartbeat.