A/N: Has anyone ever noticed how well the song Perfect by Simple Plan fits Hiccup and Stoick? I kind of use that a little in this chapter. But, just a little, tiny bit. Un poco.
Ooh, we're getting very near the end. How exciting!
Chapter 13
The Arena
You could practically feel excitement in the air the next morning. I knew everyone would be at the arena to watch Astrid kill the dragon. The whole village – minus me – would be there. Dad left after breakfast. I didn't leave immediately. Instead, I ripped a page out of my journal and grabbed my coal pencil.
I decided the night before, as I turned in my bed, unable to sleep because the queen dragon reappeared behind my eyelids every time I tried, that I couldn't just tell my dad I was leaving with my pet dragon. There were so many things that could go wrong with that if I tried, it was almost painful to think about. No, the only way would be to find out after I was already.
I decided to write him a letter.
I would be gone before Astrid killed the Monstrous Nightmare Dad had been going on about, so what harm would there be in me telling him I had turned against Viking kind and ran away on the back of a dragon?
But as I sat there, willing the right words to come, they refused. It was harder than I imagined to tell my dad that I was running away. Why should it have been? Berk was hardly a home. But, still, it was the only home I knew.
It took nearly an hour before I found the words.
After that, I went to get Toothless. I didn't want to try and carry everything I would need into the forest, so I brought Toothless to my- er, Dad's house while I packed. When I was done, I looked around, the realization that it was the last time I would ever see the home I'd spent fourteen years trapped inside hitting me like a boulder from a catapult. I glanced wistfully out the window.
Just once, I wanted to walk the streets of Berk properly. In the full light of day, the way it was meant to be seen. Still, I threw my cloak over myself and led Toothless along with me. If I needed a quick getaway, no one would be able to catch a Night Fury.
~OoO~
P.O.V.
Astrid
I thought a lot about what Hiccup said. That he wanted me to show everyone that dragons could be trained, that we didn't have to kill them. And after seeing the Night Fury, the most dangerous dragon we – until the night before – knew lurked around our home, curled up like a puppy, leaned in with closed eyes as someone rubbed its neck in just the right way, flying happily through the clouds...
But Vikings killed dragons. Dragons killed Vikings. It had always been that way. Hiccup and Toothless? They were the exception. Not the rule.
But rules are made to be broken.
Standing, ready to enter the arena and kill the Monstrous Nightmare in front of everyone, my nerves ignited like the dragon waiting for its chance to burn me alive no doubt would.
Hoffersons aren't afraid of anything
Hoffersons aren't afraid of anything
Hoffersons aren't afraid of anything
I could do it. But, Gods, did I wish Hiccup was there. And as soon as I thought it, I brushed it away. Hiccup was gone. I would never see him again. Forget about Hiccup.
It was time. I walked in slowly, grabbing a shield and battle axe from the weapons rack. I licked my lips. They were dry. My breath was coming in short pants. I had to do it.
I had to do it.
The dragon was released.
It stalked toward me slowly. I stood up straight, staring it down. I could do it. I had to. Hoffersons aren't afraid of anything. I could do it. I drew in a deep breath.
My shield and axe hit the ground with a loud clang.
I could hear the intake of breath even far below the crowd. I ignored the whispers that surrounded me, pressed against me like walls and swallowed down the lump in my throat. It was the moment of truth. I could do it. Hoffersons weren't afraid of anything, right?
I held out my hand.
It was just like Hiccup showed me. I spoke firmly as I inched toward the dragon. "Two days ago, I met a boy. A boy none of you have ever seen." You could have heard a pin drop. "This boy taught me that... that we are wrong about dragons." I was less than a foot away from the Nightmare.
"We don't have to fight them."
My hand was inches away.
"This boy's name is Hiccup-"
"That is enough!" the chief shouted, pounding on the metal bars before him. My eyes snapped back toward the Nightmare. It didn't look too happy. I snatched my hand away just before its teeth could rip it off.
It breathed fire. I ducked, scooping up my shield and axe. The crowd was frantic. The Nightmare breathed fire again. It was close, so close, and it was murderous. I was trapped.
I'll admit it; I screamed.
~OoO~
P.O.V.
Hiccup
I heard the scream, and I knew immediately who it was. Astrid. "Come on, bud!" I had to save her. Finding the arena was no challenge. It's where the crowd of shouting Vikings was gathered. Toothless landed well away. I couldn't be seen.
I dismounted Toothless, and thought, heart racing. The other Vikings... if something was really, really wrong, if she was going to die, they would jump in, right? Honestly, I didn't know. I had no idea how those things worked.
Astrid shrieked again.
I didn't have time to figure out what the other Vikings would do because Toothless bounded away toward her with a fierce growl. "Toothless, no!" But it was useless.
The crowd parted before him, screaming and scrambling away. He blasted through the metal bars like they were made of paper. I raced forward toward the mass of bodies. Secrets be damned.
Toothless was fighting the Nightmare. Astrid looked on in confusion and horror. She looked up, scanning the crowd. I knew the instant she saw me; her eyes grew infinitely wider.
The arena was filling with Vikings. I guess that answers that question. Toothless had already done a number on the Nightmare. The Vikings moved to capture Toothless. They pinned him to the ground. Astrid tried to stop them. "Stop! He's not dangerous. He was just trying to protect me!" A man held her back; I assumed he was her father. She fought against him and he drug her out of the arena.
My heart was full of lead, tears filling my eyes. I couldn't do anything. "Put it with the others," my father ordered. "I'll be back soon."
"Hiccup!" Astrid cried, racing over to me. She looked shaken and more scared than I had ever seen her. "I'm sorry-"
I shook my head. "We don't have time for that. We have to get back to my house before he does." I grabbed her hand, running in the opposite direction.
"Before who?"
"My dad. Didn't you hear him? 'Put it with the others. I'll be back soon,'" I imitated, right down to the accent. Astrid stopped dead, and I nearly faceplanted. "What are you doing?"
"Your dad... is Stoick the Vast?" I stared at her, not understanding what she was getting at. "Your father... is the chief." Ah, that explained it. I could see the dots connecting in her head.
"Did I not mention that?" I asked grabbing her hand again. She pulled it out of mine. I sighed in frustration, running a hand through my hair. "Astrid, Toothless is in a lot of trouble. We have to go."
She nodded, eyes refocusing as if she had come out of a trance. "Right. Come on, what are you waiting for?" She practically drug me behind her.
I didn't know how far behind or ahead of my father we were, but we ran like we were being chased by Hel herself. We burst through the door, and I tripped, sprawling over the wooden floor.
The house was empty.
For now.
I had no doubt my father was on his way up, though I wasn't sure how exactly we beat him without running into him. Maybe he made a detour. I stood, brushing myself off, and closed the door before pulling the cloak over my head.
Astrid stood by the table, looking intently at what I figured was my letter to my father.
"Dad," she read slowly, "I'm sorry to tell you like this, but I'm leaving. You told me yourself you expected this some day, I'm just doing it sooner than you planned. We both know there's nothing left for me on Berk, but there are a few things you need to know.
"I wasn't lying or joking about the pet dragon the other night. Dragons aren't dangerous, like we've always thought. They're just animals. And they can be trained, just like animals can. I saved the life of a Night Fury. It was the first friend I ever had.
"I did lie about not being seen. I met someone in the forest, and, after I'm gone, she is going to tell you something very important. I need you to listen to her. Please, as the last request I ever make of you, listen to her. And don't go." I could feel her looking at me, but I studied the floor.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be the son you wanted. And I love you; don't doubt that.
"Hiccup." Without a word, and without a single glance at Astrid, I crossed the room, crushed the letter in my fist, and threw it in the fire pit. It caught on the embers that still glowed orange and was gone before either of us could blink.
"Don't think I'll be needing that anymore." Finally, I met her eyes. "What happened?"
She recounted the events that transpired in the arena, how she attempted to show them that dragons could be trained, how she told them of a boy the had never seen. I sighed, rubbing my hand against my cheek mindlessly. It was all so messed up.
The door opened.
Let's just say, my dad was not happy.
"Dad!" He looked between us, livid. I thought he might explode. Or I would. Whichever came first. "Look, please, just let me explain-"
"You lied to me," he growled. "Every step of the way. You said no one saw you."
"I also told you I introduced my... friend to my pet dragon, remember?" That might have been the wrong thing to say. "What Astrid said, she was right! Everything we know about dragons is wrong! I know, I should have told you sooner, should have showed you for myself, but... I was trying to protect-"
"You were trying to protect the dragon," he spat. I cringed. "And look what happened. Look how many people could have died."
"He wasn't going to hurt anyone," Astrid argued, stepping forward. She was a lot braver than I was, standing up to my father when he was on a lever of anger I had never even seen before. "He was trying to protect me."
"You have no business here," Dad growled at her. To her credit, she didn't so much as flinch. "You shouldn't even know my son exists."
"Why? Because you think anyone who saw him would try and kill him? Because that's what you would have done?" My breath caught in my lungs. Did she really just say that? "Hiccup is my friend, scales or no scales. It was wrong of you to treat him like he didn't exist, like he shouldn't exist. And it's wrong to kill the dragons when they only attack us so they don't get killed themselves."
Dad and I froze, eyes locked on her.
"What did you just say?"
"Er..." Dad looked between the two of us.
"You've been to their nest?" Astrid and I shared a look. Well, that escalated quickly... "How did you find it?!"
"We didn't," I sighed, "only a dragon can find it. That's not the point-"
"A dragon..." He stopped listening to me. "The Night Fury..."
"Dad, no! You have no idea what you're up against-" He was muttering to himself, eyes far away.
"Sir," Astrid said, stepping forward to block his path to the door, "with all due respect, you need to listen to Hiccup-" He pushed her out of the way and walked out of the house. We followed.
"Dad!" He turned, eyes weary.
"I'll deal with you later," he said, voice empty. He turned to Astrid. "Go home, and forget about my son. You won't be seeing him again." And he walked away.
"Well, that went great," I huffed, leaning heavily against the door, hanging my head.
"What now?"
"I have to save Toothless."
"What are you gonna do?"
I sighed. "Something very, very stupid."
A/N: And before anyone asks: No, that was NOT a death threat! Nor was it threat of any kind of bodily harm. It might have sounded like it, but that is not how I, er, Stocik, meant it. I already implied abuse before in this story without meaning to, let's not do it again, hmm?