Word Count: 3k aprox. (Extra long chapter ftw)
Warning: Swear words. Mentions of character deaths.
Recap: Hiccup reunites briefly with an injured Toothless, is invited by the twins to their house, and has another clash with his father before he leaves Hiccup in search of the nest.
Chapter 04 – Dragon Training
"Toothless. There you are! I missed you!" Hiccup exclaimed and hurried to hug his best friend, his slim arms going around the dragon's neck. Toothless cooed and licked his rider's cheek.
Hiccup chuckled beyond relieved and scratched the dragon on his favorite spot "I was going insane. Being back in the past is touch on a guy, you know?"
Toothless rubbed his head against Hiccup's chest with a happy purr. But the dragon suddenly flinched and took a step away from Hiccup, taking on a more threatening position.
"Toothless? You…okay…" Hiccup asked hesitancy, when he reached with his hand Toothless growled and took another step back. It was then that Hiccup noticed the slit pupils of the dragon, something Toothless only did when angry or felt threatened. Hiccup unconsciously put more distance between them.
"Hey calm down bud, it's just me" Hiccup said with a reassuring smile trying to calm the Night Fury. On the inside Hiccup was feeling anxious and was staring at Toothless's threatening posture with wary eyes.
When Toothless didn't make any sudden moves Hiccup slowly reached out and offered his hand to the dragon, closing his eyes and turning his head away, like the first time they bonded.
Hiccup heard the dragon come closer but instead of the feeling of scales under his fingertips, it was that of sharp teeth crushing his arm-
Green eyes snapped open as they stared at the wooden ceiling in shock, trying to make sense of their owner's surroundings. The only sound in the room was that of Hiccup's ragged breathing. The young man groaned and sat up on the bed, leaning back on his arms.
"It was only a dream" His throat felt parched and sweat ran down his brow. Hiccup groaned and fell back down, throwing an arm over his eyes "Not a dream, a nightmare"
Hiccup lifted his left arm and inspected it, the one dream-Toothless bit, as if to make sure he still had it. Hiccup let it fall down to his side with a sigh and looked to his closed window, grunting he threw the cover off him and went to open it.
Shivering at the cold air he looked at the still dark sky with tired eyes. It was too early to be on and about but there was no way he was going back to sleep after that.
Instead of just standing around, moping, he went to his desk. Hiccup sat down heavily and reached for a notebook, he didn't care with one, and got to work on the latest version of his shield made from Gronkle Iron. Trying to convince himself that what happened in the dream would not happen when he reunited with Toothless.
"HICCUP!"
Hiccup grumbled and tried to burrow further into his folded arms. The young man had fallen asleep on the desk over an hour or so ago. Hiccup didn't react when he heard the main door being opened.
"Time to wake up lad!" Gobber yelled, the older man climbed the stairs with only some stumbling.
"Gobber…good morning" Hiccup mumbled as if it was totally normal to have the other burst into his house. That said he turned his head the other way, still resting on his arms, eyes closed. He should have locked the door last night.
"No time for that! You know what day it is?!"
"The one after yesterday" Hiccup replied, trying and failing to go back to sleep.
Gobber took on his thinking pose "That too, but is something else. I will give you a hint, is something you have always wanted"
"I get to befriend a Night Fury?" Hiccup asked finally looking up at Gobber with sleepy eyes.
"Bah! Don't say crazy things like that!" Gobber exclaimed and put Hiccup on his feet by the back of his tunic "Today you start dragon training! So get ready"
"Joy" Hiccup deadpanned but did as told. He had barely managed to put on his vest when Gobber grabbed him by the back of it and dragged him downstairs. Hiccup suppressed the urge to get free and let the other man do as he pleased, not like it would help if he escaped.
"I knew you would see it my way" Gobber said proudly "You guys will love it!"
"I'm sure"
They were the first on the arena and Hiccup didn't waste time and stormed to the side so he could sit leaning against the wall. Maybe get some more shuteye.
"You didn't have to go looking for me Gobber" Hiccup commented from his place, looking at Gobber with narrowed eyes.
Gobber sighed and rubbed the back of his head with his good hand "You know Stoick, he wanted to make sure you would show up"
"I was afraid you were going to say that"
"Anyway, I will be right back!" Gobber prepared to go but took one last look at Hiccup over his shoulder "You stay put, right there"
"Not moving" Hiccup singsonged, Gobber narrowed his eyes and made the, I'm watching you, sign with his hand. Hiccup's laugh followed him out, much to Gobber's satisfaction. The lad had been too tense lately.
Hiccup in the meantime drifted, avoiding the temptation of setting the dragons free. He watched the clouds as he wondered where Toothless could be or what could he be doing. So lost in thought he didn't notice the others arrival until Gobber yelled.
"Welcome to Dragon Training!" Gobber announced, he looked around for his apprentice and almost missed him. Hiccup was in the same place but the shadows hid him at first glance. Gobber sighed in relief; at least the lad didn't run off to who knows where.
"No turning back" Astrid said, Hiccup closed his eyes trying to keep the image of her dead body out of his mind.
"I'm hoping to get some serious burns" Tuffnut continued.
"I'm hoping for some mauling. Like on my shoulder, or lower back."
"Yeah" Astrid agreed with Ruffnut "It's no fun unless you get a scar out of it."
"Yeah, fights against dragons" Hiccup deadpanned from his place on the ground "Love it."
"Hiccup! Good to see you made it" Tuffnut called loudly, receiving weird looks from the others. Except Tuffnut who was waving a greeting at Hiccup as well.
"Stop the chitchatting, let's get started! The recruit who does the best at dragon training will win the honor of killing his first dragon in front of the entire village."
"Hiccup destroyed the entire village, in multiple occasions" said Snotlout mockingly, not resisting taking a quip at his cousin "Does that count?" A muffled laugh was heard, but it came from an unexpected source, Hiccup himself. Couching the lanky teen stood up, ignoring the glare Snotlout was throwing his way.
"Eh, gather around then" said Gobber as he looked worriedly at his apprentice. With uneven steps he walked closer to him and put a hand on Hiccup's shoulder.
"Don't worry, you'll do fine" Gobber reassured "You're small, and weak, so you have an advantage! They'll see you as sick or insane, and go after the more Viking-like teens" Gobber laughed and continued on his way, Hiccup smiled fondly at his back before getting into position besides the others on the center of the arena.
"Hi there, Fishlegs" Hiccup greeted giving the larger boy a nod. Fishlegs replied in kind with uncertainty, looking immediately forward when the older man called for their attention.
"Now, inside these doors are only a few of the dragons you'll get to meet" Gobber started, easily ignoring the way the doors rattled, the more inexperienced Vikings took a step back "The Deadly Nadder—"
"Speed, 8. Armor, 16"
"—the Hideous Zippleback—"
"Plus eleven stealth, times two"
"—the Monstrous Nightmare—"
"Firepower fifteen..."
"—the Terrible Terror—"
"Attack eight, venom twelve..."
"WILL YOU STOP THAT?" Gobber yelled at Fishlegs, he took a deep breath before continuing "And the Gronkle"
"Jaw strength eight" Fishlegs whispered much to Hiccup's amusement. Gobber placed a hand on the lever that would open the door.
"Wait, aren't you going to teach us something first?" Snotlout asked panicked.
"I believe in learning on the job" replied Gobber smugly.
Gobber didn't wait a second longer and the door was thrown open. Immediately the Gronkle shot out, growling deep in its throat. Hiccup was reminded of his nightmare but he quickly got his mind back on the task at hand. Survive this training with his sanity intact.
"Today is about survival" Gobber explained, expertly ignoring the panicked whines of his students "If you get blasted, you're dead. Quick, what's the first thing you'll need?"
"Dragon Nip" Hiccup mumbled and the twins, who wanted to sneak on him and were close enough, snickered when they heard it.
"Plus five speed?" pleaded Fishlegs.
"A shield!" Astrid exclaimed, not taking her eyes off the hovering Gronkle.
"Shields! Go!" yelled Gobber, sending an approving glance in Astrid's direction. Hiccup felt a pang in his chest, he thought he was over that, his need to be acknowledged by the people around him. At this point in time it would be impossible, he was only something to be avoided at the village.
The teens oblivious to Hiccup's inner demons ran to get their shields. The twins were about to fight for a shield when they stopped to look at Hiccup who was just standing there, a troubled look on his face. They looked at each other and shrugged.
Hiccup sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose "I'm too old for this" he mumbled but his eyes widened when an object was thrown his way by no other than Tuffnut. Reflex saved him and he managed to grab the shield before it hit him in the face. Hiccup really didn't know what was going on with the twins.
"The most important piece of equipment is your shield! If you must make a choice between a sword and a shield, take the shield."
"So about that dragon nip thing, it sounds like fun" Ruffnut said inspecting her nails as she walked to stand next to Hiccup "Where do you get it? 'cuz I want some"
"Hey I want some too!" Tuffnut yelled head-butting his sister.
"I asked first!" Ruffnut yelled back, smashing their helmets together.
"Guys..?"
"What?!" Both twins snapped and looked at Hiccup, their helmet still grinding against each other.
Hiccup pointed somewhere behind them and both twins looked in that direction, they were so busy arguing that they didn't notice the Gronkle's shot heading toward them until Hiccup pointed it out to them. They raised their shields hastily just in time to fend off the worst of the attack but their shields were still taken from their hands when the force blasted them to the side of the arena.
"Tuffnut, Ruffnut! You are out!" Gobber called out, sounding amused.
Hiccup run to their side as the Gronkle went for its next victim "You two okay?"
"Yeah, I think" "That was nothing" Both replied dazedly, Hiccup shook his head in mock exasperation. The twins pouted.
"Those shields are good for another thing, noise! Make lots of it! Throw off a dragon's aim." Hiccup just stared as the rest knocked their axes against their shields, joining halfheartedly when Gobber urged him.
The noise dazed the Gronkle, Hiccup saw from the corner of his eyes as Astrid backed away from the dragon. He decided to follow Fishlegs while Snotlout went after Astrid, everyone but the twins still making noise.
"Every dragon has a limited amount of fuel" Gobber said. "Can anybody tell me how many shots the Gronkle has?"
"Five?" guessed Snotlout, running with his shield above his head.
"No, I know! It's six!" Fishlegs yelled. The Gronkle hovered behind the larger boy and shot, Hiccup moved Fishlegs out of the way in time "Careful Fishlegs!"
"Correct! Six! That's one for each of you!"
"It's actually seven" Hiccup mumbled. Meatlug fired a seventh shot to protect her rider but it caused the Gronkle to get sick and die soon after. She saved Fishlegs but part of the teen died with his dragon, he followed his dragon in death but not before taking a lot of Dagur's men with him.
Gobber laughed when Fishlegs panicked and dropped his shield. He took off running screaming his head off with his arms in the air. The Gronkle went after him, firing once more "Fishlegs, out"
Hiccup sighed and looked in the direction of the remaining two, just in time to see Snotlout be blasted out of his feet by the Gronkle as he tried to woo Astrid.
"Snotlout, you're done," Gobber deadpanned.
Astrid executed another cartwheel and landed with a grunt beside Hiccup "Just you and me"
"Nope, just you," Astrid replied, jumping away.
Hiccup smiled amusedly as he ducked under the Gronkle when it took a shot at him. He barely felt the heat as it passed over his head.
"One shot left!" Gobber called. The Gronkle seemed to be mad at the fact Hiccup easily dodged the shot and chased after teen.
Hiccup dodged all of the dragon's tackles and Tail-Bludgeon attacks. The twins cheered from the side while the rest watched in growing disbelief.
"Beginner's luck" Snotlout grumbled.
"Ugh" Hiccup grunted, jumping back and avoiding the Gronkle's tail again, it hit the floor where he just stood and easily broke the stone. Hiccup gulped and tried to put distance between them. He was so focused on the dragon he didn't notice how Snotlout threw his shield at Hiccup's feet with the intention of tripping him.
"What the…" Hiccup lost his balance and the Gronkle didn't waste the opportunity, the dragon knocked Hiccup harshly against the wall of the arena with its own body. Hiccup felt pain in his side and hopped he didn't break a rib.
"HICCUP!" Gobber cried from his place, sounding genuinely scared for him and part of Hiccup was glad to hear it, if only it didn't require such extreme circumstances to bring it out.
Hiccup didn't feel fear even when a ball of fire welled up in the back of the Gronkle's throat. Maybe it was because he knew enough about dragons to calm this one down in seconds, Hiccup raised his hand to do just that when Gobber suddenly appeared by his side and knocked the Gronkle's head away.
The shot exploded uncomfortably close to Hiccup's head "And that's six" Gobber stated, trying to bring his heart back under control now that his apprentice was out of danger.
Gobber grabbed the Gronkle by the lower jaw with his hook and wrestled it away "Back to your cage, you overgrown sausage!"
"You still alive?" Asked Ruffnut worriedly, followed by her brother who quickly helped Hiccup back to his feet. Astrid and Fishlegs stood a bit behind the twins, shaken by the fact one of them was almost killed, even if Astrid didn't show it as much as Fishlegs.
"Yeah, no worries" Hiccup replied, chuckling at Tuffnut's awe filled eyes "I'm fine"
"But Snotlout won't be" Hiccup turned to look at Gobber who was walking calmly back to the group after locking the dragon away, there was a dangerous glint in his eyes, one that Hiccup hadn't seen much of, even in the war. The Blacksmith was pissed.
"Gobber-" "Not now Hiccup"
Even the twins kept their mouths shut as Gobber gobbled to stand before Snotlout, looking down at the boy who was quickly losing his smug smirk.
"What were you thinking?!" Gobber finally yelled "You could have killed him!"
Gobber pointed at Hiccup, the latter wanted to defend himself. But he was too touched by Gobber's ire on behalf of his wellbeing that he didn't do so.
"Do you think it would be funny? To be the killer of the chief's son?!" Gobber growled and started pacing. The wooden leg's tapping loud in the followed silence. "There is something you lads need to get into your thick heads now. I don't care what you do on your free time but when there is a dragon, a threat to this village, you will forget your difference and fight like a team! Am I clear?"
Everyone stood a little straighter after that, even Hiccup was surprised by his reaction.
"CLEAR?!"
"Yes sir!" They all replied hastily.
"Good! I won't repeat this again" Gobber said with narrowed eyes before turning back to his usual self "You'll get another chance, don't you worry"
"And remember, you are a team now" Gobber locked eyes with all of them, taking longer with Snotlout, the boy gulped "I will be watching"
The class walked away, talking excitedly or scared in Snotlout's case. Gobber did a number on the boy's nerves, they wouldn't take Gobber lightly after that. Hiccup slowed and looked over his shoulder at the smoldering crater in the wall where the Gronkle had fired.
-Toothless and I are team- he thought resolutely –I need to see him-
Hiccup walked in direction of Raven's point. He was feeling nostalgic and he wanted to visit the cove where he started to understand Toothless. And part of him hoped the dragon would be there.
It was easy to navigate the familiar path, and before he knew it hiccup found the entrance. Even if he was carrying a pack with supplies, he easily passed through a gap in the rocks.
The wide lake greeted him and Hiccup took a moment to enjoy the peaceful feeling of the place from his place on a boulder. Unfortunately the Night Fury was nowhere to be seen.
"I thought he would be here" Hiccup murmured, getting ready to go down and enjoy the afternoon near the lake when something shiny caught the corner of his eye. Hiccup bent down and was surprised to find black scales on the ground.
They obviously belong to only one dragon. Hiccup picked one up and looked carefully back up at the lake. Something suddenly shot up in front of him with a growl, Hiccup in his surprise almost fell from the boulder.
Toothless was scrabbling at the rocks, trying to get himself out like the first time. It seemed the injury in his tailfin, even if not as severe still didn't let him fly but he did glide better. The dragon still had the bandages and from there Hiccup could see it was damp with blood.
Hiccup slid down the rocks with his heart pounding in his chest to finally reunite with his friend. The Night Fury fell down to the ground and shot a ball of flame in front of him in frustration.
"Toothless" Hiccup whispered, it wasn't that loud, but it was enough to make the dragon look up and see him.
Dragon and human's eyes clashed and neither did anything for what seemed like an eternity. Hiccup felt a heavy pressure settle on his chest when he didn't see any recognition in Toothless eyes.
Thanks for the wonderful reviews! And I will take all of your suggestion to heart.