Uh... hi. It's been a while... ahem. Sorry about that. This chapter is kind of the climax of the story, so I needed it to be perfect. So I had a bunch of ideas, but it wasn't being executed properly and it took a long time. Eventually, writer's block just came along and yeah. Also, life stuff happened. I wanted to at least get this chapter done by Christmas, but that didn't happen because I was gone for a week. But hey, it's out by New Year's! One last thing, I have another story out on! It's called "Blue-Gray" so go check it out! Happy late holidays and happy new year!
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Thanks to the following people for reviewing:
KorrieChan: Yeah... Hiccup gets into some really unfortunate circumstances...
ShadowKompleXX: I'm sorry you found the other chapter boring. It was a bit lackluster, I know. I hope that this chapter is better for you!
Purple Master: Oh heck ye it's gonna be sad! Sorry, I'm weird. But yeah, it should hit you in the feels, if I did it right. (Emphasis on "if")
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He drags me to the Mead Hall, seething. He treats a sack of flour better, no doubt. His giant meaty fist is clenched around my collar. My lungs struggle to supply me with air, and I can't tell if it's from fear or from the pressing of my tunic against my throat.
"Hiccup!" Dad booms, slamming the giant door shut. His voice softens dangerously, "I should've known. I should've seen the signs." He's never that quiet. It's almost mesmerizing, but his glinting green eyes snap me back to reality. My own eyes must be wide with fear.
"Dad?"
"We had a deal!" He roars. He slings me to the side and manages to flip a table by slamming a fist down on it.
I force myself to my feet and sigh, "I know, but that was before I-"
"Silence!" Dad thunders, "So all that, that dragon training, a trick? A lie?"
He looms over me. I shrink back, petrified because I've never seen him this angry. He looks almost... maniacal. "I screwed up. I-I-I I should've told you before now, I just- take this out on me, be mad at me, just don't hurt Toothless. Please, Dad, I-"
Disgust spreads throughout his features. "That's what you're worried about? Your stupid dragon? Not the people it could've- and would've- killed?"
"He was only protecting me, Dad! He's not dangerous! If you'd left him alone, he would've left you alone!" Desperation edges into my voice. I can't lose. Not now. Grow a damn backbone, Hiccup.
"They killed hundreds of us, Hiccup! They took your mother from you!"
"We've killed thousands of them! We've torn apart more of their families than what they've done to us!" I'm almost shaking in fury by then. My patience is gone, and in its place is a vast dark bitterness that threatens to consume me. I take a deep breath and make eye contact with Dad. "Besides, our family was broken to begin with, so why should I care?" I answer softly. His guard is shattered by my words. When the shield is down, you attack, and that's exactly what I do. My chest is heaving as I spit out, "I mean, in your eyes, it's not even the dragons who did it. I ruined your life, I took your wife, and I took the mother of your precious daughter. Do you think it makes Hailey happy? Having to be the mediator between us? Coming home to a broken family that all of Berk knows about? News flash! She doesn't! She hates this and I wouldn't even be surprised if she hated me! Thor, they know I'm an idiot, but do they know why I'm an idiot? You've got zero faith in me. That's why. Not just that, you're straight up abusive. What if they found out? Would they respect you then, Chief?" Once the first sentence is out, I can't help but continue.
"Enough!"
I can't stop at this point, though. I've crossed the point of no return already so stopping wouldn't do anything anyway. "Besides, the dragons don't even attack because they want to! They have to, or they'll get eaten! You have no idea what they have to deal with, okay? There's something on their island, it's-"
Dad freezes and his eyes widen. Shit. "Their island? You've been to their nest?"
Suddenly, all my bravado is gone and I'm reduced back to a bumbling fool. My hands fidget without my permission. "Did I say nest? I don't recall mentioning a nest."
"How did you find it?" He demands.
"I didn't! Toothless did! As far as I can tell, only a dragon can find the- oh, no no no no. Dad!" I could almost see the gears turning in his head. The battle plan, the preparation, everything. "No, Dad, you can't! You have no idea what's there, it's not like anything you've ever seen before, it's the size of a mountain, Dad! You can't! I know I said really bad things just now, but Dad, you have to listen to me, please!"
Will he listen to me, just this once?
Dad shoves me to the side and marches towards the door, silent.
"I promise you, you can't win this one! It's suicide!"
Just this once, Dad! Please! Listen to me!
He continues to leave, not even looking back.
"Dad, no! Just once in your life will you please listen to me?" I grab onto his arm - a weak attempt to stop him. He shakes me off like a bug and I hit my arm against a nearby bench. Ouch. That's probably going to bruise.
"What makes you think I would trust you? You're thrown your lot in with them!"
"I'm- I'm your son, Dad, I-"
"You're not my son." He gives me one final glare and slams the door shut.
"I heard shouting in there, Hiccup, and then Dad came out looking really angry… what happened?"
It takes me a long time before I reply, "Don't let him see you talking to me, Hailey. I'm not your brother anymore."
She looks at me in confusion. "What do you mean?."
"He… he um, kind of disowned me. Yeah." I glance up to see her charging the direction of the docks. "Wait, where are you going?"
No answer. Fantastic.
Fifteen minutes later, Dad storms back into the Mead Hall with Hailey in hot pursuit. She pushes the door shut with a terrifying amount of strength. She's angry enough for me to hear everything she's yelling. Whoa.
"Dad, you can't go!"
"This will save all of us, Hailey, you have to understand. This will save Berk. Besides, we have been perfecting our dragon-fighting methods for generations. We will be fine, Hailey, don't worry." The first thing I notice is his change of tone. Dad's still angry, but he's being gentle.
"Hiccup says that it's something you can't win against!"
"I don't believe him. He's chosen his side, and it's not ours."
I hear the sound of something crashing. "But he's your son!"
Dad growls, "My son died with my wife many years ago. I no longer have a son."
"Well, I would probably be dead if it wasn't for my brother," Hailey retorts, "so if that's the case then your daughter died soon after the incident due to being neglected by her father."
Holy shit.
"I never meant to neglect you," Dad says lamely.
"Hiccup never meant to screw up either. You condemned him to be a failure, so he took it to heart and lived as one, I guess."
"Hailey-" Dad begins, enragement lining his voice.
However, she interrupts, "I'm surprised that you think this is worth it. You're risking the entire village just because you won't listen to your son! That's pretty immature of you. You probably owe him at least this, you know? You haven't listened to him since he was three! You stopped listening to him for something he couldn't control. You're always complaining about not knowing who he is. Maybe you would know if you actually took the time to make it happen."
Moments later, Hailey stalks out of the Mead Hall. Her face is bright red with fury.
"Everything okay?" I ask.
She freezes momentarily. "You didn't hear all of that… did you?"
"I… um… kind of did."
"Oh."
"Um, yeah. You were really loud. But also kind of cool."
Hailey rubs her left arm, embarrassed, "Thanks."
"You're welcome." I'm not sure what to say to her at this point. Apparently, she doesn't know either. I finally ask, "Do you think yelling at him like that would stop him from going?"
She's quick to answer and her voice is coated in bitterness, "No, but I can't stand him! He's infuriating, you know that!"
"True," I mutter. Right on cue, Dad bursts out of the Mead Hall and continues on towards the docks. His long red hair and beard swing wildly with his stubborn gait. The chains in his armor clinks with every step. His eyes are intense like he's facing his sworn enemy.
"Ready the ships!" He barks, "We leave at once!"
Hiccup, what are we going to do?" Hailey asks. "Dad's already gone, but we have to do something, right?"
I begin to fidget uncomfortably and I heave a sigh. "I… don't know if there's anything we can do, Hailey."
She stares at me and blurts, "You're kidding, right? So what you're saying is… you'll just leave everyone to die?"
"What are we supposed to do? We're just kids, Hailey. We have an even slimmer chance of beating that thing!" My hands gesture wildly as I speak.
Her face contorts with anger. "So you're really doing nothing, then. You're just going to leave Dad to die? You're just as bad as him, then!"
"What do you expect me to do, Hailey? You know I'm hardly a remarkable person, let alone a leader!"
"You could do… something! Anything!" She paces and throws up her hands.
I throw my hands up in defeat. "Hailey... whenever I try to help, it always goes wrong. You know that."
"We're... you're Berk's last hope, Hiccup! You have to try!"
"What can we do? If you have an idea, maybe you can tell me!"
"You know what, Hiccup?" Her eyes pierce mine with the most determination I've ever seen from her. "Even if you're not going to do anything, I will."
I can't seem to move as she pivots on her feet and stalks away. Even if I could, what would I say? Why is she going to the forest?
It hits me like a full charge from Dad.
Shit. She's going for Sitrin.
I have to do something. I can't lose Hailey. I-I can't. She's already suffered so much because of me. I should be moving right now! Chasing after her, probably. Yet I'm here, glued to the ground and helpless. Helpless and useless, again. It's always like this when it matters most.
When Mom died, I was helpless and useless.
When Toothless got captured, I was helpless and useless.
When Dad decided to leave, I was helpless and useless.
When Hailey left, I was helpless and useless.
Why? Why does it have to be this way? Why can't the gods let me do something right, just once?
I glare at the sky, "Is this some joke to you? My people are all about to die!"
"Hiccup? Are you okay? What happened? Where's Hailey?"
Astrid... how am I going to tell her?
"She's gone…" I gasp, shaking with fear, "she took Sitrin."
Hey guys! Thanks for being patient and waiting for this chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it as well as the holidays! If you did, please review, favorite, and/or follow! Don't forget to fill out the survey, and check out my other story too! See you in 2019!
- SoManyFandoms OwO
Hailey: Happy Snoggletog! We have an extra long... this thingy today!
Hiccup: I hope you all had a great time with all of those baby dragons!
Hailey: We have a special guest too!
Somi: We do? Ohh! Yeah, we do!
Hiccup: I wasn't told about this!
Astrid: I wasn't either!
Hiccup: Wait, what? Why are you-
Somi: Hailey, this is where we make our exit.
Hailey: Bye, here's some mistletoe!
Hiccup: This can't be good...
Astrid: This is a plant. What do we do with this?
Hiccup: No idea...
Somi: If two people are under a sprig of mistletoe, they have to kiss. And... wait. Hailey, push Hiccup this way!
Astrid: I'm going to kill Hailey!
Hailey: This was Somi's idea! Kill her! Wait, don't! Otherwise, I'll cease to exist! I'm not even real! Is this what an existential crisis is?
Hiccup: What are you talking about?
Somi: Er... this did not go as planned...