Italics are flashbacks.
Author notes: Thank you all for reading and reviewing (if you reviewed.) This chapter and the next chapter will explain Hiccup's backstory a little bit. Thanks once again.
The day was bleak and the skies were dark and angry. It could rain at any moment. Hiccup was supposed to meet someone here, something about discussing some contracts for his invention. He paced back and forth, his foot making a dull clunk every time he put it down. His hands were clasped behind his back and inside his cloak; he had the blueprints to some of his inventions. He particularly liked his air convoy concept but it just needed the funding. He knew that air travel was possible, his Airship was proof of that but he had always lacked enough resources and money to build more. He heard the galloping of horses and he knew his clients had arrived. A smiled dawned on his face; he had been waiting for a while. His clients were two men, dressed in pristine white robes. Accompanying them was a small squad of soldiers, 6 men armed to the teeth. Hiccup extended his arms and gave a small bow. His clients were from the church, that much was clear as the cross was clearly seen on their necks and their robes, "Ahh, sirs. I hope you had a pleasant trip?"
"Yes yes, it was fine. You said you had some concepts? Blueprints for some sort of air machine?" One of the priests said.
"Yes of course!" Hiccup fumbled around in his coat and pulled out a scroll, "Here," He walked over to the priests, "I call it the Airship. With the proper materials and funding, these Airships can transport a large amount of cargo and travel for extremely long distances. They are faster than regular land convoys and with enough time, I can make an entire fleet. The engines will utilize coal en…"
"Yes, that's all very good." The other priest cut Hiccup off, "Can your Airships carry weaponry?"
"Um… W-well, these Airships aren't designed to carry weapon. They're just made for cargo." Hiccup didn't like where this was going.
"Can they transport men?"
"Uh yes! With ease! The cabin should be able to carry 200 men, with enough supplies for a month long trip."
"Excellent! What other designs do you have?"
"Umm… Ah, here." Hiccup fished around in his coat and pulled out an entire stack of blueprint. He didn't care what he sold, so long as he got some money. He needed that money, "I call this the canal cleaner, one man will row the boat while the other cranks a shaft that will in turn clean the bottom of the canal of sediment. Oh, and this, it is an advanced alloy or mixture of metals that will be extremely strong…"
"What is this?" The priest saw something interesting in Hiccup's pile of blueprints. He pulled out a sheet from the stack.
"Oh um, I call that the 'cannon'. It will be a heavy artillery piece, something like the Ballistae of Greece but instead of bolts, this will fire a heavy metal ball that could potentially devastate a castle." Hiccup didn't like this at all. Why were they so interested in weaponry and man transports, "Wait, are you from the Church? Is this for your campaign in the Near East? Is this for the Crusades?!"
"Why of course? Why else do you think we were here?"
"Well… This is wrong. I'm sorry gentlemen, I'm afraid I can't sell you any of my plans. My designs weren't designed as weapons of war. They're supposed to advance the greater good!"
"Look here whelp." One of the escorts spoke up, "Hand over the plans or we pry them from your cold dead body." Hiccup didn't have a choice. He wasn't going to let his plans fall into the wrong hands. He drew his sword and prepared for battle.
Hiccup woke, sucking in air. It was just a dream, it was just a dream, he was just remembering. He took a look to the left and could see that Astrid was still out cold. Hiccup swallowed and stood up, suddenly remembering his prosthetic wasn't strapped to him and he fell to the floor. He cursed and pulled himself up. He quickly strapped the prosthetic on and walked over to the control room. That was enough sleeping for him.