Disclaimer: I do not own How to Train Your Dragon, Rise of the Guardians, Brave, Tangled or any other movie characters seen in this story. No copyright infringement intended. All rights reserved to Cressida Cowell, William Joyce, DreamWorks, Pixar, Disney etc.
Warnings: AU, OOC, language, underage drinking, domestic violence, abuse in general, slight gore and blood, underage drug use, bullying, suggestive themes [more warnings will be taken off/added as the story progresses] [Before I forget, let me add this: my story may/may not contain triggers, it all depends on your personal experience in life and how it affected you.] THERE MAY BE A TRIGGER IN THIS CHAPTER FOR SOME PEOPLE. A SLIGHT HINT AT SEXUAL ABUSE – I REPEAT, THIS MAY BE A TRIGGER FOR SOME PEOPLE.
Notes: I hope you all enjoy this story, and please review, favorite, and follow! Thanks for all of the favorites and follows! Thanks so much for all of the positively wonderful reviews! Guys, thus far this is my favorite chapter in this entire story.
This chapter is Beta'd by GirlFromGa11ifrey.
Please look at the NOTES at the bottom of the chapter; it is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that you read it. Please and thank you.
To Brickgirl101: Yes, i did. I love Kingdom Hearts, and I can't wait for the third game to come out. I haven't either, unless it's in the Kingdom Hearts category. Uh...Sora was Kairi's first love and best friend who, unfortunately, got killed while trying to protect Kairi and Yuffie.
To Smaugfan1 (Guest): Thanks so much! If you loved last chapter, you'll love this one (hopefully). Haha, that's a suitable revenge unless she's like me and only goes on Netflix once in a blue moon. Thanks for reading and reviewing! it means a lot to me.
To jessLpfy: Yeah, same here. My mind would be on other things other than telling people I was out of the hospital. Well, they all, coincidentally, live near one another either in Burgess or in the towns next over so it's a small town (s), and news does travel fast especially when it involves four popular kids in Thaddeus High (the Annoying Four), a well-known troublemaker/maniac (Dagur), and the Police Cheif's son (i.e., Hiccup). So, Kairi was referring to both of those events. And thanks!
To kitty.0: Ikr. It happens to me a lot sometimes. Yes, she was. Her daughter, Melanie, was a few months old when it happened.
:: The Land of the Dragons ::
{Ten}
"Er – no." Hiccup replied, blushing furiously. "I forgot."
Heather and the others burst into laughter. Although Melanie didn't quite know what was going on, she was only three or four currently, she giggled with the rest of them. "You should tell them," Kairi said softly. "They're probably getting really worried." Kairi's expression dropped slightly before she smiled at him. "It's great that you have friends, Hiccup."
Hiccup's heart ached for Kairi because her best friend, besides her twin Yuffie, had been killed while trying to protect them from getting kidnapped. Kairi witnessed the death of the boy she had fallen in love with and she was stolen cruelly from the only home she'd ever known a mere moment later.
Hiccup looks at the brunette girl, her electric blue eyes glinting with melancholy. It made sorrow grip his heart with tightness he'd never know was possible. He was always sensitive – he remembers a woman whispering that to him in the dead of the night, thinking he was deep in slumber, as she softly ran her fingers through his hair. "So brave, my little Hiccup, and yet so frail," she'd whisper in the moonlight. "Such a gentle heart you have, my little love."
"What was his name?" inquires Hiccup. "If you don't mind me asking."
They were currently in the process of cutting ingredients for some dinner Hiccup had never heard of before.
Kairi's eyes darkened for a split moment before the darkness disappeared and a façade slipped over her features, a light happiness Hiccup didn't believe in at all. "Sora," She whispered. "His name was Sora."
"Yeah," Hiccup murmured, grinning back at Kairi, and ignoring the way his heart trembled and cried within him. "It is great, Kairi."
The grin he received was worth it, absolutely.
The Annoying Four, Camicazi, and Astrid were at Rapunzel's house, which was located in the upscale neighborhood Wynter Borne. It was a gated community filled with three to four story houses, some even had more floors. They were clean-cut and appeared to be the same. It reminded Hiccup of a book he once read, Candor by Pam something. As long as there aren't any brainwashing activity here, I'll be fine, Hiccup thought to himself, amused, because in the book there was a community much like this one where the teenagers and adults were all brainwashed into being "perfect citizens/children", and the main character was the only one who knew how to fight it off, and he helped people that came into the community that he knew had the will of the heart to fight. The ending was horrible though, absolutely maddening to the point where Hiccup actually threw the book across his room once he was finished with it because he was so furious at how the author chose to end it [1].
Thankfully, Hiccup could walk into the community and he didn't have to punch in a code. Rapunzel lived in 429 Violet Dr. There was a map outlining Wynter Borne, and Hiccup was relieved that Violet Dr. was a short walk from the front gates. He made it to Rapunzel's four story home and rang the doorbell, shouldering his bag. After he'd left Sweet Stars, he'd called his dad telling him he was taking the bus to Rapunzel's house. [2]
A tall, beautiful, brunette woman answered the door. She was wearing a pink striped apron and was holding a bowl of batter, still stirring with a wooden ladle. "Hello," the woman smiled at him before her eyes brightened. "Oh! You must be Hiccup, Punzie's newest friend she's been speaking of. I'm Maria Corona, her mother. Come in, come in," she greeted, bustling him inside with surprising strength. "Make yourself at home, honey, I'll be in the kitchen making some cookies if you need me. Punzie and the others are in the game room in the third room, to the right, on the third floor."
"Th-thanks, Mrs. Corona." Hiccup stammered, slightly overwhelmed by her hospitality.
She grinned at him. "Oh, sweetie, call me Maria. Mrs. Corona makes me feel like my mother."
Hiccup made his way to the game room where Camicazi, Jack, Merida, and Astrid were engaged in Mario Kart for the Wii, Rapunzel and Eugene were concentrating over a game of chess, and Hiccup saw Anna curled up on a large chair reading a book, and he took note of a white-blonde girl, who looked to be around twenty or so years of age, sitting at the only desk in the rather large game room, chewing her bottom lip over a textbook. He was in the doorway, silent and observing, for quite a while before Anna stood, stretched, and noticed him standing awkwardly in the doorway.
She stepped back, startled a bit, her hand fluttering to her chest. "Gee, Hiccup! Hi! Hey! You scared me!"
"Er – s-sorry, Anna."
"It's no problem."
"What?" Merida turned around, catching sight of their "favorite freshman". "Hiccup!"
An explosion erupted from the room.
"Hiccup, you're okay!"
"Hiccup!"
"Hey, Hiccup!" Eugene waved from his seat.
Camicazi peered at him, muttering about spoons and other utensils.
"HICCUP!" Jack screeched as he tackled Hiccup into a boisterous hug. "YOU'RE ALIVE – YOU'RE OKAY! WHY WEREN'T YOU ANSWERING MY CALLS!?"
Hiccup blinked, his ears ringing. "Jack…you're going to make me go deaf."
"Oh," He let go of Hiccup, blushing lightly. "Sorry, you know I worry."
Understatement of the century…
Hiccup walked into the room and the girl with the textbook introduced herself. "Hello. I'm Elsa. I assume you're Hiccup?" her lips twitched and her eyes shined with amusement.
Hiccup nodded and softly greeted, "Hi, Elsa. It's nice to meet you."
"Same," Elsa gave him a polite nod and smile back.
Hiccup found himself shoved onto one of the many couches in the room as Jack, Merida, Astrid, and Camicazi resumed their game, as did Eugene and Rapunzel. Anna settled herself on the same couch as he. Once everyone else was consumed with their activities, Hiccup was poked by Anna's toe. He turned his head and blinked at her. She gave him a nervous smile, though it looked more like a grimace. Hiccup noticed then, almost immediately now that he was up close, that one side of her face looked off, as if it was covered by a poor makeup job. But what did he know about cosmetics except for lipstick and eyeliner and those Cover Girl commercials?
"Yeah?" asked Hiccup.
"Um," Anna started, almost whispering. "Sorry if I've been acting rude to you, Hiccup. It's just…." She chewed lightly on her bottom lip. Hiccup was blinking at her. Almost no one apologized when they made fun of or laughed at his name – or, well, just in general really.
"Just what?"
"I know my…boyfriend…harasses you somewhat and I didn't want him bothering you – or anyone else, really – so I was convincing him to leave you alone, you know?" Anna explained. "Except…I didn't know it was you that he was targeting. He always said your name, of course, but I hadn't met you until that day that Punzie introduced us so I was a little taken aback. So, I'm really sorry."
"I-It's alright," Hiccup placated. Hans hadn't bothered him in weeks. He supposed he knew why, now. "You didn't have to apologize."
"I wanted to." Anna told him, serious, as they locked eyes.
Hiccup was surprised. Whenever someone apologized to him, there was no feeling behind the words, no sincerity, and most of the time it was because they were told to and it was expected of them to do it. No one did it out of their free will. His eyes began to water with unshed tears of…what? Happiness? Gratefulness? Hiccup didn't know but he gave Anna a beaming smile, a smile he once thought he'd never smile again. "Thank you," He whispered. Anna gave him a relieved smile back before turning to some book by Sarah Dessen. Anna might never know how that simple action made Hiccup feel a little lighter, a little happier, a little loved—and that was okay.
It was alright.
Because, in a way, at least to Hiccup, it meant she cared. Cared enough to apologize. Cared enough not to laugh.
That small action with Hans and her words, whether she understood or not, meant the world to someone as broken and twisted as Hiccup.
Rapunzel's father, Rhys Corona, was a tall, broad shouldered man of thirty years of age. He had tousled brunette hair, green eyes much like Rapunzel's, and a constant smile on his face. He was a detective and he worked, almost religiously, with cases that dealt with kidnappings and missing persons. Hiccup met the man when he'd stumbled downstairs and offered his help to Maria, who gladly accepted and handed him a different bowl of batter to stir and mix, etc. Just like Maria, Rhys vehemently protested Hiccup calling him Mr. Corona.
"With what this family has been through," Rhys said, sighing. "I just want other families to have the happy ending we did, though that isn't always the case."
Rhys was helping his wife with the delicious goods and dinner, even though he'd had an exhausted day at work, apparently. Hiccup, however, momentarily froze. "…what you've been through?"
No…no…
"Punzie never shared?" Maria asked softly. "I suppose we could tell you, so you won't be terribly surprised later on."
Hiccup stared at the pair, horror creeping inside of him. Such a familiar emotion.
…no…not Punzie…please, no….
"Punzie and our nieces – Elsa and Anna – were kidnapped when they were young. About seven or eight, I think, but I know that Elsa was at least ten. Elsa and Anna's parents were killed as they tried to protect their daughters', and the girls were missing for three years, almost four." Maria explained as she chopped some spices, a faraway look on her face.
"Who…?" Hiccup couldn't even ask.
"It was a woman, her name was Gothel. Crazy bitch—,"
"Rhys! Language around the little one!" scolded his wife.
Hiccup didn't even bother bristling over being called little. The horror had grown to paralyze him.
"Sorry babe, sorry Hiccup." Rhys apologized before plowing onwards. "Anyway, she called herself Mother Gothel, and made our little girls think she was their true mother. Of course, Elsa knew the truth but played along for the safety of their lives. When the woman left to go to the store, it was Punzie who gathered the courage to escape. They lived in a cottage in the middle of nowhere. Apparently, Elsa and Anna were sleeping and Punzie wanted to go outside to play."
"She strayed too far, though," continued Maria. "And wandered into the nearest town, where she found pictures of herself, Anna, and Elsa on missing poster signs. A police officer nearby found her crying on the sidewalk as she clutched the picture. After that, it was all history and they were in our arms once more."
Hiccup swallowed but there was a ball in his throat. "W-Where were they found?"
"Desert Hills, Arizona." [3]
His heart froze as did his thoughts.
"Do you know where we are?" the little boy questions. He's new, Hiccup notes. He probably won't last the week. Probably, his heart rationalizes. Don't lose hope just yet.
He shrugs as to answer the question.
"We're in Arizona," Roxas supplies from where he sits, cradling his broken arm. He hadn't even shed a tear, not even when one of the men broke it for being too slow with the alcohol. Hiccup's heart ached and his instincts urged him to offer Roxas comfort but Hiccup viciously slaughtered those urges. They weren't safe. They would never be safe, not until he got out. But days had spiraled into weeks and then into months and Hiccup has lost all of his innocent hope of being set free.
He was a slave, now.
And he would continue to be one until the day he died.
How soon Death would come to whisper in his ears at night, he did not know. He did not have the power to know. He never would, unless he actively pursued Death. He was miserable, yes, and tortured but he didn't want to die. Not yet, at least.
Not yet, whispers his thoughts, his heart.
"Do you know the town?" the child asks, face so hopeful it burns Hiccup's eyes.
So he looks away. He cannot, and will not, perceive such an innocuous expression ever again. All it brought was pain, and suffering, and screams, and blood. He shuddered, slightly.
"Hill something," shrugs Roxas. "I really don't know, kid."
Hiccup would learn from Heather that his name is Gustav Larson, a small child taken from Berk, a place so familiar he can sense it, as if he is there. The smell of dirt and rain cling to his nose, a memory too far to relive.
The week flies by as Hiccup teaches Gustav the ropes and tricks and ways to stay out of trouble. He bandages the eight-year-olds' cuts and bruises, and sometimes gets the chance to whisper a lullaby to him underneath the stars. Covertly, he helps Gustav survive even though his traitorous mind tells him that he should give up.
Even though he loathes to admit it, Gustav gives him a floundering hope.
Gustav is carried out gently by Riku, like a babe, eyes open, and lifeless body. Hiccup knew he wouldn't last the week, and he watches them go through the back door. His heart wept and his hope crashed and burned. He cries to himself in the darkness of the night, and he doesn't stop; not even when Heathers' father creeps into his room. He is numb again for another little life has been turned into the soul of an ethereal angel. Another life he couldn't save.
His clothes slowly shed from his skin.
Gustav's hopeful eyes haunt his dreams as he blacks out from the pain.
The taste of grass and coppery blood grows strong in his mouth.
Maria gently touches his shoulder, her maternal voice pulling him out of his memories. "Hey, Hiccup, do you want us to take you home?" she asks, concerned. "I'm sorry if we scared you with this—,"
"No, no, it's fine," Hiccup responded automatically as he forced himself to continue to move. "I'm fine."
The lie is obvious.
"Are you sure?" Rhys inquired. "You're looking a touch pale." The bowl is taken from his small hands. "How about you relax a bit, eh?"
Gently but firmly, he's pushed onto the bar stool. His limbs move robotically, instinctively, but his thoughts don't follow. His friends, Anna, and Elsa start climbing into the kitchen with clamor. "Smells good, ma," grins Rapunzel.
With a closeness he would never flinch at, Camicazi wraps her arms comfortingly, protectively around his shoulder as she leans into him and he leans into her. "You 'kay?" she questioned, her breath hot against his ear.
The rain drizzles lightly. There are children playing in their lawns, with childhood friends, but they pause and watch the government cars as they drive by, on the dirt and gravel roads, before following with curiosity. It makes Hiccup's stomach curl and churn for a life he could've had but didn't remember.
"Selective amnesia," said the professional doctor when he'd awoken to find himself in a hospital room, two days after his rescue. "For some reason, you just couldn't bear to remember your past before you were kidnapped. So, your subconscious made you forget. The memories are still there, of course, but it's just blocked because your mind understands that you aren't ready to remember just yet."
They pull into the largest house – it looks like the oldest and it seems like majority of the town is here. Hiccup sees a blonde girl push her way to the front, hair pulled into pigtails. His heart wrenches as it whispers, Camicazi…
"Alright, Hiccup?" says Eva. "Welcome home."
Slowly, as if it pains him to do so, Hiccup opens the door. One of the men from the car has walked to the front door and knocked. A familiar woman answers with green eyes so much like his. His heart beats furiously, sobbing, mommy…
As Hiccup climbs out of the car, clutching the small cat that was given to him as a gift, Toothless, he'd named it, as if he were a lifeline, and gasps erupted from around him as he closes the door. Toothless growls lightly in annoyance of the rain. A woman screams, then, a heartbreaking cry.
"Hiccup! My little boy!"
The woman hugs him tightly, and he cries into her shirt. Maybe it's because she's touching the latest bruise on his back or maybe it's because it's been so long since someone hugged him like she was or maybe it was because she smelt like cinnamon and chocolate cookies and reminded him of a place he once called home, a place he cannot remember except for slippery memories and vacant scents and the smell of dirt and rain and the taste of grass and blood and metal in his mouth, and the sound of screams, of "we're just kids!" ringing in his ears in a poignant cry.
And then there are swarms of people surrounding him, hugging him, crying, sobbing, as they touch his shoulders, his fingers, his hair, his face, his nose, breathing out his name through weeping lips and eyes, as if he'd disappear once more. The crowds thin, somewhat, as they listen to the men and Eva explain everything, and it is a group of teens who approach him next. Hiccup doesn't speak.
"Hey baby cousin," whispers the burly black-haired one. The twins on his right gives him a nod, their eyes speaking of the sorrow and grief they currently feel. There are two other blondes, both girls. They look related to one another – sisters, maybe.
"Hey Hiccup," says the blonde girl wearing a headband, her hair in a single braid.
The other blonde, who looks a little younger than he, stares at him. He stares back.
And whispers, "Spoons,"
She smiles, such a disconsolate smile on her lips. "I prefer forks." [4]
They stand there for a silent moment when a memory pings in his mind and he remembers another face, another boy. "Fishlegs?" he murmurs.
"You don't remember, do you?" says the blonde, Camicazi, his mind supplies helpfully. "He's gone."
"Gone?" repeats Hiccup, numbly.
The black-haired boy took a step forward, gently touching Hiccups' shoulder. He remembers the boy looking at him with such softness, tenderness, before. He was sick, he recalls, and the boy had gotten terrified and saw that Hiccup truly was smaller and weaker than any other in the town. It was a far cry from stealing his lunch money or giving him bruises during recess in their preschool days.
A tear slides down the boys' – Snotlout's, murmurs his heart – cheek, but Hiccup wonders if it was the rain, instead.
"He's dead, Hiccup." [5]
"Hiccup?" prompted Camicazi.
"I'm fine," Hiccup lied. "I'm fine."
"I don't believe you," bluntly, she responded. "But – okay. I won't push you. Just know that I will always be there for you, to the best of my ability. Okay?"
"Okay." Hiccup breathes out before closing his eyes, leaning his head onto her shoulder, hiding the tears that slide down his face. "Spoons?" he whispers against her clothed shoulder.
Even though all he sees is darkness and all he feels is her scratchy sweater and the tears he sheds, he knows Cami is smiling.
And he knows that it will be okay, somehow.
"I prefer forks," she responds, like she always does and always will.
IMPERATIVE NOTE
I apologize now for the longness of this but this really is important to read and if I publish it in a separate chapter, it could get flagged and reported since it "technically" wouldn't be a chapter
Okay, guys, this is it. The ball is rolling. Even though you may've not known it, the prologues and intros to THE LAND OF DRAGONS is complete. It is time for the plot to thicken and the main antagonists to be brought in for a chance to play. If you think the absurdity of these chapters are bad — you just wait. I am ready to write everything I have planned for the story (though there are still many ideas in my head) and it may have a sequel if it starts to exceed the twenty-thirty chapters I vaguely planned to write. Anyway, I hope I won't lose your interests so please buckle down in the roller coaster of insanity that I will dump onto you. Thank you for reading my story!
There will be many breakdowns and breaking points in this story with many characters. You've been warned.
[1] – Candor by Pam Bachorz. What Hiccup did, I did to the book when I reached the ending. It was really screwed up and it ruined my childhood. Ruined, I say! However, her book Drought (the first book I've read from her) is amazing and beautiful and you should read it!
[2] – the neighborhood Wynter Borne and 429 Violet Dr. is made up, fictional, and if this happens to be a real neighborhood…well…I must have psychic abilities or something. Lol.
[3] – Desert Hills, AZ is a real place. Population is about 2K+ (2,000+ for those who don't know what the K stands for), and there is a lot of desert. It was a bit of word play I used, the desert referring to the fact that Punzie, Elsa, and Anna really were in the middle of nowhere, and it was with pure luck that Punzie was able to find a town – and before anyone asks, yes, Hiccup and the others were held captive in the same area. It was why he had such a violent reaction.
[4] – the whole "spoons" and "I prefer forks" DOES NOT AND WILL NEVER refer to the Twilight Saga, kay? Comprende? Don't even bring it up. It Cami's and Hiccup's safe password of some sort, you know? Like the whole "okay, okay" thing with Hazel and Gus in The Fault in Our Stars? Except they aren't in love. Get it? No? Okay…
[5] – Yes, *le sobs* Fishlegs is dead. There is a reason for this. He didn't die a pointless death. And, just a pointer, I don't do happy background stories. I tried. I screwed it up horribly. I just can't do it. Really, all of my love stories somehow turned into musicals and even then, those "happy endings" had some sort of abuse in them or tragedy. I've never been able to write a happy ending so please don't ask me to do it. Every character has a story whether it deals with being kidnapped or getting harmed in some way or watching a loved one get killed in front of you – all of my characters are broken in some way but they all help one another, in the end.
If you don't like how I write my stories, just an F.Y.I., your opinion doesn't really matter to me, though I would love some criticism but not pointless cruelty and bullying – just no. I get bullied enough at school, I don't need it online as well.
And onto other important things…
PAIRINGS: a lot of people are asking me about this but to be honest, I really don't know if this is going to be hetero or homo (male/female or male/male). I don't know and I probably won't until I complete my haphazard folder of notes or I get to a pivotal part in the story that deals with romance. Right now, Hiccup's thirteen. The only person in the story (thus far) that is near his age is Camicazi, whom he sees as a sister. Everyone else is older than him (look at ages/birthdays). Right now, romance is not that important to me. And to be honest, with the whole Hiccstrid – I love it but I absolutely loathe it because Astrid ignored Hiccup and was practically rude to him because he was the village runt and was a jealous little chit when Hiccup improved and bypassed her in Dragon training (even though, technically, Hiccup kind of, sort of, was cheating…but whatever…technicalities…blegh) so, to be honest, Hiccup only had a crush on her because the only option would've been Ruffnut.
BACKGROUNDS: I'm warning you readers thrice (or was it twice?), their personal backgrounds will not be pretty and sunshine and daisies—no. Maybe one or two characters will have a background like that but other than those odd ducklings? It ain't happening. You should brace yourself now or stop reading at this chapter if this alarms you. There will also be many triggers to some people. As my story progresses, so will detail, so will the slight gore Hiccup has tinted on, and so will the extensive use of underage drinking and underage drug use, and other things. You have been warned extensively.
HICCUP'S MOTHER: We will touch on Valka soon. I haven't decided yet but remember that Hiccup was told his mother was dead when he was in captivity, but then he sees her alive when he gets recued and taken home – but keep in mind, she lied to the government and police about Hiccup's kidnapping. Do we know why yet? No, we do not. (TBH, I don't even know what I'm going to do to this woman…)
THE KIDNAPPERS: RECAP: the only kidnappers we know of, at this moment, is Heathers' father (who is nameless) and Gothel from Tangled. There is an entire… "organization" (and I use that word lightly) that deals with this and it will be revealed as soon as I figure out the name and who the main members are in it. Oh, F.Y.I., Gothel was not apprehended. They never found her. She's still out there ~creepy singing voice~
CHARACTERS: Any suggestions for some new characters to come in? I'm all ears for ideas.
AGES/BIRTHDAYS: Ok, some of you might be confused a bit on ages and birthdays so I'll tell you before someone asks. Hiccup: 13-14 : March (dunno when, around the first to the tenth). Camicazi: 12-13: June 9th. Astrid: 15: September 3rd. Snotlout & The Twins: 16 : May 12th & October 15th. Punzie: 17: April 14th. Jack: 15-16: December 21st. Merida: 16 : July 9th. Eugene: 18 : November 7th. Anna: 17: January 19th. Elsa: 21: February 12th.
That's everything for now. Sorry for the overload of information. I'm all hyped, now, I've wrote two chapters in the span of five hours.
Sora [Kingdom Hearts]
Gustav Larson [Riders/Defenders of Berk/DreamWorks/Cartoon Network]
Gothel [Tangled]
Rhys & Maria Corona *I don't know their real names* [Tangled]