CHAPTER 11
Looking out the window the town was getting ready for the final match of dragon training. All the shops were closed; no one had errands to run that day, no chores to be done. A big feast was being made for Hiccup and the village in celebration of completing dragon training. The whole village was going to be watching him, his every move.
"All eyes on me." Hiccup mumbled grabbing his helmet from his bed side post. Walking out his door, Hiccups head exploded with pain from the bright sun. *GRAON* My whole body hurts, oh this is going to be fun. Rubbing his eyes to the back of his head, all of his senses being supersensitive to every little thing. His head felt like he had drunk a barrel of rum the night before and suffering the hangover from hell.
Hiccup wandered over to his father's house, not far from his own. Knocking on the door, Hiccup got no response, opening the door Hiccup let himself in. "Dad? Dad, are you home!?" Yelling into the house only to get his own echo in response. "Must be down at the arena already, there goes that idea." Hiccup was planning on talking to Stoick in private about letting the dragons go free after his match.
Reaching the outskirts of the ring Hiccup spotted Stoick telling other villagers were what should go. "Hey dad." walking up to Stoick.
"Hiccup, you're just on time! I was just about to have to send someone to get you." Gesturing towards the set up ring.
"Heh, thanks dad. Uh could I talk to you for a moment, in private." Hiccup trying to push his dad away from the crowd.
"In private, why not right here? It's not like you have anything to hide." Stoick again gesturing to the village "You're going to be in charge of all of this one day."
"Yeah but I need to talk to you about something away from everyone." Hiccup looking into the eyes of his father.
Stoick starting into the eyes of his son, "Alright Hiccup we'll have this. . ."
"Stoick!" Gobber came up running up to them. "The ring is ready for the fight."
"Good, well let's not keep everyone waiting. Hiccup, well save this talk for after your battle." Stoick walking off with Gobber.
"Dad, but dad I need to. . ." Hiccup watched as Stoick called for every ones attention FUCK!
Hiccup wandered over to the entrance of the ring, surprised to find Astrid waiting for him. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to wish you luck." Astrid embracing Hiccup holding him tight.
"Thanks Astrid." Holding her tight Hiccup kissed her forehead.
"Don't get yourself killed out there." trying to threaten Hiccup to not loose.
"Heh. . . yeah, killed . . . like that would happen." Hiccup trying to sound confident.
"You sound like you're unsure you're going to win. Which you are."
"I'm just nervous, everyone's going to be watching me." Looking up hearing Stoick announce how proud he is of him, making him smile.
"You'll do fine, don't worry. Now go your dad is done with announcements." Hiccup turned around to see Stoick walk to his chair.
"*Sigh* Here goes nothing." kissing Astrid before he walked into the ring with Gobber standing against the wall hearing everything they were talking about.
"Well ther' ready fo' ya Hiccup, knock em' dead." Closing the gate behind him.
Putting on his helmet Hiccup, walked out towards the weapon selection on a wooden plank. None of the weapons were made by him, all made by Gobber meant for killing whatever they hit. Damnit, Hiccup chose a shield and looked for a weapon that wouldn't hurt Nightmare if anything did happen. He chose the smallest weapon, a dagger.
Looking up to Stoick who whispered to Gobber next to him "I would have gone for the hammer." also seemed to just study his every move smiled at him. Taking in a deep breath to calm himself and the mass amount of pain going through his body Hiccup readied himself. "I'm ready."
Slowly the locks for the Nightmares cage unlocked, the doors squeaking in response. After what seemed liked hours the doors bust open with fire and liquid metal. Nightmare running around the arena putting on a show for all the vikings, blasting fireballs towards them, The villagers dodging out of the way.
The Nightmare finally stopped above Hiccup, hanging from the guard rails like a giant bat. Slowly he lowered himself in front of Hiccup, with a look of anger he had never seen from Nightmare slightly scaring him.
"So, what are we going to do?" Nightmare asked Hiccup.
"I don't know. But just go with it." Hiccup said towards Nightmare.
Stoick just stared oddly at Hiccup, who was grunting and growling at Nightmare. "HAHAHA. That's my boy! He's mocking em' right in front of em'." leaning over to Gobber.
"Do you want me to attack. . . Are you sure you're all right? You look like you're in pain?" Nightmare lowered out of defence.
"No, don't attack me, I'm going to end this." Hiccup standing up straight in front of Nightmare showing he was no threat. The crowed stared silently at them. Hiccup dropped his shield and dagger beside him, getting gasps and "What's he doing?" from the crowd. Taking off his helmet with his right hand staring his dad in the eyes dropped it to the ground.
"What is he doing?" Stoick whispered to himself.
"We don't have to kill dragons!" Hiccup raisin his hands into the air.
"Stop the fight."
"NO! You have to see this, you all have to see this!"
"Stop the fight!" Stoick said louder.
"Look, he's not attacking me, they are no threat to us!"
"I SAID STOP THE FIGHT!" Slamming his hammer into the metal guard railing letting out a loud bang.
Hiccup covered his ears in pain, Nightmare was stunned from the noise, he went back on guard but still didn't attack. A loud painful ringing still going through his head,
Stoick jumped down from his chair into the ring. "Get away from that thing Hiccup. NOW!" Starting to run towards them with his hammer drawn.
Hiccup recovered enough to fight back. "DAD! Look. . . he's still not attacking me!"
"MOVE!" Stoick running towards with his hammer high above his head aiming to hit the skull of Nightmare.
"DAD! NO!" Hiccup jumping in front of Nightmare not having enough time to grab the hammer Hiccup took the full swing from his fathers hammer into his skull. *CRACK and *CHRUNCH* Hiccup still standing on his feet breathing heavily spoke to his father frozen from shock at what just happened. "He . . . won't . . . hurt. . . YOU!" Hiccup sent his fist into Stoick sending him flying across the ring, landing with a loud crash.
Hiccup breathing heavily and huffing for a few seconds finally came back to himself hearing all the gasping and silence from everyone, and seeing his dad motionless on the other side of the ring. "Oh, Oden, no. Dad, DA . . ." Hiccup froze in place after taking a few steps towards his father. Hiccup was frozen in place like a statue. Raising his right hand up he started to shake violently.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Hiccup started screaming in pain as his whole body felt like he was going to explode. Grabbing his head Hiccup screamed into the sky letting out a scream so loud all the villagers we covering their ears and in too much pain to move.
*POP* *SNAP* *CRACK* Hiccup felt and heard his bones one after another dislocate from his joints, break at every point and heal back into a new position. "AAAAHHHHH" collapsing to his knees Hiccup felt tears and sweat run down his face. Looking down at his arms the sleeves of his shirt become stained with red. His hands were covered in blood, slowly and shakingly Hiccup lifted his bloodied sleeve.
Black Scales were coming out of his skin, tearing and shredding his skin with every new scale. Hiccup was in unimaginable pain, the worst he was has ever felt. Staying still after a few seconds the snapping of his bones seemed to stop and his arms now black with scales. I . . . need . . . to . . . get out of here. Trying to stand up sent Hiccup back to the ground from what seemed like spikes shooting out of his calfs. Sending him into another pain filled scream.
This lower pant legs exploded into shreds from the spikes now forming on his legs. Hiccup on his knees grabbing a hold of his head as his back now had spikes growing out from his spine tearing through his vest and shirt.
"AAAAHHHHHH!" Hiccups lower back started to feel like it was being stretched back. *POP* after *POP* Hiccup screamed his heart and lungs out, looking back Hiccup let out another excruciating scream at what he was witnessing. A black scaly tail slowly making its way out of his back with each *POP*. Please, stop, make it stop! Anyone please just make it STOP!
After what seemed like hours the pain slowly subsided, to let Hiccup take control again. Looking down at the ground, he was leaning in his own puddle of blood. "Hiccup?" a voice said in the distance, it was Stoicks voice. Looking up Hiccup saw the look of shock and horror to what he and the village just witnessed.
Hiccup looked around to everyone staring at him dumbfounded written with horror on everyone. "GET HIM!" A villager yelled out snapping everyone out of their trance. Hiccup panicked with villagers jumping into the ring to get him, Hiccup ran to the wall of ring and jumped over the 20+ foot wall and 10 feet of villagers clearing them all. Upon landing Hiccup took off running to a random wooden walkway built along with the mountain side.
"What's happening to me?" Throwing off his vest because of how tight it was dropping it behind him. Hiccup reached a dead end on the plank walkway. Looking up the 200 foot wall, the wall was to smooth and hard for him to climb, turning his gaze down laid a rocky shore meaning certain death if he jumped. Hearing the stomping and commotion from the villagers Hiccup turned to face them as they approached with Stoick leading the mob.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH HICCUP!?" Stoick yelled to the dragon shaped being that was Hiccup.
"Dad, I am Hiccup." Gesturing to himself.
"NO! You're not! My boy is a proud viking not a demon!" Stoick swinging this hammer in front of the mob behind him. Astrid pushed her way through the crowd standing by Stoick who blocked her from going any farther.
"Dad, please! You have to believe me I AM Hiccup, I am your son!" turning his sight to Astrid who had tears running down her face.
"Son? No, you are not my son. You're a devil!" Stoick took a step closer to Hiccup.
". . . Dad. . ." Hiccup feeling like he has just lost everything he ever had. Taking a step back to the last board of the walk way, slowly leaning back to fall into the rocky shore bellow. The feeling of air flying past him as the walkway got farther and farther away from him. Closing his eyes waiting for the impact to take him away from all his pain.
Astrid ran past Stoick who followed her to the edge of the walkway to see what became of the devilised Hiccup. Reaching the edge both Astrid and Stoick were blown down by a gust of wind brought by a black blur shooting straight up from below.
Astrid regained her balance on her knees, hearing the whooshing of air blowing past her. Looking up to the sky, Hiccup was flying. He was shirtless with gigantic bat wings coming out of his back. The remains from his green tunic in his left hand. Hiccup lipped to her 'I'm sorry."
Astrid stared on as Hiccup turned around and flew away with speed. Feeling her tears run down her face. Stoick yelling to Hiccup "COME BACK HERE, COWARD! GIVE ME MY SON!" turning to the villagers behind him, still not believing what they just witnessed. "Form search parties! We're going to find that devil and make him tell us where the real Hiccup is!"
Slowly the crowd dispersed, Astrid was left were she was. On her knees at the end of the walkway staring into the sky, not moving at all. She felt the wind chill the tear trails that ran down her face. Feeling as if she lost another person she loved has died. "Hiccup . . . what happen to you?"
