Chapter 12

Turning the Tables

A/N- Yo! Long time no see! Well, technically I haven't "seen" any of you, but I mean it in a figurative sense.

So I just started college classes and from the looks of my schedule, I won't be doing much (if any) posting during the week. Even the weekends seem like they'll be filled with work since I'm insane and I decided to take a painting class and an animation class… at the same time. *Grins Maniacally* So yeah, basically both those classes require a ton of work both during the week and on the weekends. But, of course I'll be writing when I can. I don't want to overwork myself and I consider my fan fiction a nice break from the usual book reading and painting (even though that's not really "work" to me).

Anyhoozles, I'm happy to finally present this chapter, which is close to the end of this series. It's been fun while it lasted and I'm happy to say this story has over 6,000 hits (the highest of any of my stories). So it gives me great pride and pleasure to post these chapters because I know that you guys are reading and (I hope) enjoying them. =)

I also took a while to get this chapter up since I wanted to take the time to make sure it was exactly right (I'm meticulous about the weirdest things).

Enough of my babbling, here's the next chappie and I would appreciate any feedback you guys have to offer (if it isn't flaming of course).

-Don ^_^


The tension before a battle, or so Astrid had learned, was always the worst part of the battle. Now Astrid was beginning to believe that. She couldn't help but feel some amount of apprehension despite the lengths that everyone had gone to ensure success in their assault. Nothing, at least in Astrid's memory of things, ever went smoothly or according to plan.

After all, she'd thought that she'd become the top trainee in dragon training and make her family proud. But she hadn't done either of those things. She'd lost in dragon training and in the end she and the rest of the village had to be rescued by the boy they'd all despised and looked down upon.

The most worrisome part of the plan was that Hiccup had a key role, that is, he was the bait to bring out the King's forces and distract them with several of the other Night Furies.

It was suicide in Astrid's eyes and even though she had to hand it to Hiccup for being so brave and offering to put his life on the line once more, she couldn't help but feel like her feeling of dread would only grow steadily worse as the day went on.

She hefted her axe in her hands and glanced over to see Hiccup securing his armor and his green eyes turned to rest on Astrid. For a few minutes, neither one of them spoke and then Astrid crossed over and broke the silence.

"Here, your chest plate is lopsided," Astrid straightened his plate and then looked up only to see that his armor wasn't the only thing that was lopsided. He had once more fixated her with his intoxicating lopsided and dopey grin. It was the same one had convinced her more or less that Hiccup was more than he appeared on the surface. It was also the same strange smile that Toothless had attempted to mimic countless times. "I think." His brow went up.

"Is it or isn't it?" Hiccup grinned and before she could readjust it again, he caught her hand and fixated her with a scrutinizing stare. "Focus, Astrid." He said, punching her in the arm lightly before throwing his bag over his should and mounting Toothless. It was the same thing that Gobber had said to Hiccup during dragon training, but now it was the difference between the failure and success of their battle and not just whether or not they got burned.

"Same to you," Astrid whispered and then turned around to join the rest of the knights gathering to leave.


Ruffnut took a few slashes with the sword that the knights had given her and then returned it to the sheath attached to her belt. She sighed and then nearly jumped as a hand touched her shoulder.

"Odin, Fish, don't do that!" Ruff said, turning around and glaring at the larger Viking behind her. He backed away, nervously casting a glance behind him at Astrid and Hiccup, who were similarly talking, though, Fishlegs noted, they weren't glaring at each other like Ruff seemed to want to.

"I just…" Fishlegs said in a quiet voice, "I just wanted to say-" He swallowed, "Be careful."

Ruff opened her mouth, her eyes flaring and her confusion at not having to make up a retort for his statement overwhelming her beyond words. Fishlegs at this point was already walking away.

"Fish, wait!" Ruff called finally. He turned. "You too." Fishlegs' eyes went a little wide and then he smiled, giving her a nod, before he went to join his attack group.

Ruffnut was confused, she hadn't meant to show any sign of vulnerability. She wasn't supposed to be sentimental. That made her, in Ruffnut's mind, weaker than Astrid. Ruffnut had wanted to prove to Hiccup that she was just as strong, if not stronger, than Astrid Hofferson. Instead, she'd shown her weakness to Fishlegs and wished to Thor that she could somehow turn back time so that she'd be the one that Hiccup was standing so close to.

But she wasn't. She would never be Astrid and some part of her already knew that because she wasn't, she would never have Hiccup's heart. She watched Hiccup as he mounted his dragon, his eyes briefly resting on Astrid, who would never see the gentle compassion he had in his eyes at that moment because her back was turned. If they made it through this fight, Ruffnut would make sure that Astrid understood what a privilege it was to have Hiccup love her and Ruffnut knew he did.

Only a fool wouldn't. Ruffnut looked up at the sky. She hoped to the gods that she'd live to see the day when she'd be able to admit her feelings to the one she loved like Fishlegs had.


Hiccup furrowed his brow as he sailed through the clouds, the water splashing onto his face and soaking his hair until it was sleeked against his face. Toothless let out a low growl and Hiccup's eyes went to the fast approaching castle visible through the clouds.

"This is where I leave you, Hiccup," Kuuwaay said, inclining his head, "Ki'shna," the larger dragon sang, "Your way to the stars is paved, do not stray."

Toothless let out a low humming sound and Hiccup felt a strange vibration in his own chest. They really did feel everything the other did now. Kuuwaay then dove, followed by two other Night Furies and immediately the castle erupted in chaos as the knights scrambled to their battle positions.

"Ready, Buddy?" Hiccup questioned. The dragon let out a determined bellow and Hiccup then angled himself. "Go!" The two then spiraled down and Toothless let out a roar as a jet of purple-blue flame struck the battlements. The knights immediately jumped out of the way as Toothless landed on the battlements and Hiccup straightened, fixating the nearest soldier with a hard stare.

"Tell your king that Hiccup Haddock is alive," Hiccup stated. He'd spent hours trying to build up enough confidence to say those words and he was proud that he hadn't stammered when he'd said them. "And tell him that I challenge him to a duel on dragons."

At those words, Toothless let out another roar and shot flames into the sky. Hiccup frowned. "That was overkill, Buddy." Toothless grumbled, casting a glare back at his rider. Hiccup gave a shrug. "But, hey, it worked." The soldiers were now running down the stairs leading into the castle and shouting the message down the halls.

"I just hope we can pull this off," Hiccup said under his breath. Toothless let out a concerned growl. "Yeah, you're right. We have to try." He turned his head as the out of breath king staggered out onto the battlements.

"You!" He rasped, "How are you alive?" Hiccup grinned.

"Eternal Heart," Hiccup replied, patting Toothless on the side of his neck. "Sound familiar?"

The king moved his mouth silently and then clenched his jaw, "So it does exist," The king laughed. "I knew my father was lying."

"Your father?" Hiccup questioned.

"The man who discovered the true secrets of the Eternal Heart," Hidaiyo continued, "Was someone my father knew. He asked a favor of the woman who knew the secrets," the king looked right at Hiccup now. "Your mother."


Ruffnut grunted as she once again set about trying to get her opponent to show an opening. But there was no such luck with these warriors. It was either to kill quickly or be killed, or left to die, though Ruffnut really wasn't in the mood to give in to any of those fates.

She was frankly left with a confusing plethora of thoughts and emotions that she couldn't, for the life of her, place. It was aggravating and it was proving to be a useful tool for bashing aside her opponents. At a certain point, few wanted to come near the moody teenager because she was through playing nice. Not that Ruffnut played "nice." In fact, she wasn't even sure she knew what the word meant anymore if at all.

She couldn't get Fishlegs' words before the battle out of her head. She wasn't entirely sure why, but she had a feeling that if something went wrong, it would have something to do with one of the Vikings. She sincerely hoped that it wouldn't be Hiccup, but she knew as well as anyone that trouble seemed to revolve around Hiccup.

After all, he was the village's brilliantly idiotic hero.


Hiccup froze, letting the words sink in. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. It was a little surreal, even for Hiccup, who had gone through the wringer in terms of the unbelievable and surreal.

"So that makes us cousins?" Hiccup questioned. Hidaiyo smiled wryly.

"If only the truth were that simple," He glanced back as knights pushed forward a catapult and archers began to line the battlements. "Your mother was the second human to ever share a heart with a dragon."

Hiccup frowned, "Second?"

"The first, Hiccup," Hidaiyo stated, "Was you."

Hiccup shook his head, "That's impossible. Toothless just shared his heart with me just now."

Hidaiyo laughed, "Wrong, Hiccup," He gestured to himself. "The favor my father asked was because his two sons, twins, died in childbirth," Hidaiyo stared hard at Hiccup, "Didn't you wonder why you were so weak all your life?"

Hiccup opened his mouth and then shut it. He did think it was odd that he'd been so small despite the fact that his mother and father were both huge as far as Vikings went. "What are you saying?"

"That your heart was already split before now," Hidaiyo stated, "To save the life of myself and my twin brother. Your heart, Hiccup," the king said, "Wasn't ordinary."

Hiccup frowned, "Meaning what? My heart's the same as anyone else's."

"Again, wrong," Hidaiyo said with a snort, "You really are slow." The King said, giving Hiccup a frown.

"Thank you," Hiccup said dryly, "For summing that up."

"You're welcome," Hidaiyo returned the dry tone, "My point is that your mother found out that her sharing of a heart had affected you, Hiccup. You had a dragon's heart."

"But she didn't have the Eternal Heart until after I was born," Hiccup said, frowning dubiously.

"She didn't," Hidaiyo said, nodding, "But you did."

Hiccup blinked. "You lost me."

Hidaiyo heaved a sigh. It wasn't his usual nature to be this patient when explaining something he already knew a good deal about. But since this was a complex matter that Hiccup had been left in the dark about his entire life, Hidaiyo couldn't blame the Viking for not understanding anything.

"You said my mother had an eternal heart, how did she transfer it to me if I was already born at that point?"

"I never said she had to transfer it to make your heart that of a dragon, Hiccup," Hidaiyo said with a stern look. "Your mother gained the Eternal Heart because of her own situation. Because she had been weakened because of you."

Hiccup scowled, "Because of me? Are you accusing me of killing my own mother?" His fists clenched, "Because even for you, that's low."

Hidaiyo smirked, "It seems I touched a nerve. No, Dear Hiccup, you didn't kill her," He nodded sympathetically, "At least not on purpose."

Hiccup's eyes flared, "Give me one good reason why I should believe you."

"Because you're here, Hiccup," Hidaiyo stated, "That's proof enough. You had an unusual heart. One, I might add, was the result of familial ties to the origin of the first Eternal Heart."

Hiccup frowned, "You mean that the first Eternal Heart wasn't that of a dragon."

"Correct," Hidaiyo said with an approving nod. Hiccup wasn't as slow as he let on. In fact, Hiccup was every bit the leader his father was and more. Hiccup had a warrior's instincts, but he never used his skills. It was a shame, really, in Hidaiyo's mind that such a strong witted warrior existed but refused to fight.

"Then how come I had the heart and my mother didn't?" Hiccup asked.

"I imagine that it was simply chance that you got the heart and no one else in your family got the heart. But, I do know that those who have the Eternal Heart as humans have a cursed gift," Hidaiyo looked right at Hiccup, "Because those who have it need a dragon to divide the heart or they'll die."

"So that's why my mother agreed to give you and your brother pieces of the heart?" Hiccup said, thinking out loud. Hidaiyo nodded once more.

"Exactly," Hidaiyo replied, "So, in a way, you're the reason why I'm alive and trying to kill you."

"How charmingly ironic," Hiccup said with his usual dry tone and a wry smile.

"I think so," Hidaiyo said. "You also realize, then, why your mother could give use pieces of your heart," Hidaiyo didn't wait for an answer this time. "Because we are all part of the same ancient clan: Haddock. Do you know what the name means, Hiccup?"

Hiccup turned his head as shouts tore through the air. The archers began to let loose their arrows down on the charging figures on the ground below. The Night Furies were breathing fire onto the catapults and the knights on the battlements were leaping off, only to drop to their deaths on the battlements. The crunching of the bodies as they fell caused Hiccup's insides to churn.

"Hiccup," Hidaiyo stepped in front of Hiccup, his hand resting on his scrimtar. "Do you know what the name Haddock means?"

"No!" Hiccup said, not really understanding what was making him so angry, but the sounds of the battle around him had caused something in him to snap. "No, I don't and you know what? I don't care!"

Hidaiyo's lip twitched, "Oh, Dear, it seems Hiccup has finally joined the reality he lives in," The king's mocking tone only served to make Hiccup angrier and thus Toothless nostrils began to smoke, his emotions were now completely tied to those of Hiccup.

"Haddock is the third clan that can draw its roots back to that of the ancient clan of the Eternal Heart," Hidaiyo stated, "And it is the most direct because the original clan's name was Haddoairi," He paused as Hiccup's hand reflexively drew his blade and pointed it at Hidaiyo's throat, "Meaning 'Dragon Hearted'."


Astrid rushed forward with the rest of the knights led by Korenth, cutting down the black armored warriors that came down to meet the combined Viking and knight forces. Gormath tore the warriors to pieces as he bore down on them. His teeth sunk into their torsos and then his immense jaws shook them from side to side and then cast them aside like broken rag dolls.

The lion roared and then the Night Furies let out their own battlecries in kind. Astrid let out her own yell and then set about, cutting down the warriors with a sense of righteous determination. This was to help save Berk and to destroy the evil that was the king. She was doing the right thing.

The cries from the battlements did nothing to settle Astrid's mind on that matter. She couldn't help but feel pangs of guilt when she felt the give in each of her intended opponents as their bodies were crushed by her axe as it sliced through layer after layer.

Okay, She thought, That was a not-so pleasant image. She shivered a little. It was odd that she no longer took pleasure in fighting like she used to. It was stranger that she even almost thought of killing as wrong at this point.

An ear piercing screech thundered through the sky as two large objects spiraled upwards in an almost dance-like struggle. It took Astrid a moment to realize that the two objects were dragons and that one of them was-

"Toothless!" She yelled. The Night Fury roared and scratched at the eyes of the other dragon. The two riders held their swords aloft and brought them down on each other's dragons. The cries that emitted from Toothless echoed from Hiccup's lips. The two were bound now in everything and there wasn't a blessed thing that Astrid could do to help either of them.

Except hope that Hiccup had enough sense to pull out while he still had the chance.

Fat chance of that, Astrid thought grimly. If there was anything Hiccup wasn't, it was a quitter.


The two dragons pulled out of their struggle and began to dive towards the ground, remaining parallel to one another as they flew. The air whipped against Hiccup's face and it stung. His lungs burned but he was determined to keep Hidaiyo's attention on Hiccup alone. He only had a small amount of time before the siege forces arrived and he would need to have cleared the way for the attack.

Hiccup glanced toward the castle and then back at his opponent. Then he touched Toothless lightly on his neck and the Night Fury eyed Hiccup, a knowing look passed between them as Hiccup nodded.

Toothless then abruptly pulled out of the dive only to angle himself to head on a direct path for the castle's battlements.

"Hang in there, Toothless," Hiccup said as Hidaiyo turned his dragon around and shot toward the other dragon and rider. The king's eyes never left Hiccup, but Hiccup was already focused on something else.

Hidaiyo turned into a dive, following the suit of the other dragon and both sped up as the battlements came closer and closer. Hiccup could almost feel the wind cutting into his skin and chilling him to the bone. He gritted his teeth. Hold on, Hiccup, he told himself.

"Now!" He yelled and Toothless opened his mouth and shot a jet of fire into the battlements right before both dragons smashed straight through the stone, shattering it on impact.

A/N- Keh, heh, heh. Cliffhanger. =) I'll see you guys at the next one.

Thanks to the following people for favoriting, alerting, and/or reviewing this story:

AltonHammen

Digizane

Dotm9168

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Ramen knight