Wow two hours after posting a chapter and I already have some interesting reviews from you guys. Thank-you by the way it's helping me out a lot with building confidence in this story which I must say was knid of dwindling.
AlexJD2: I must say it's always pleasing to see another person click the follow button. Well that process will take a while you must understand, and he still has no idea what is actually happening with the 'Tattoo' which is honestly how I want to keep it. I have seen to many FanFictions that lose my interest because they try to explain things to early and quickly.
Centh: Thankyou for clearing that up, I got real confused when I first read your review. And I must say that it is an honour to be your 3rd or 2nd favourite writer and that I will strive to keep that title.
StorSpeaker: They have something planned don't you worry. As for Jem (Thanks for the nickname by the way) well I just needed a character to provide 'help' for are young hero (whilst being a friendly jerk about it) and I couldn't really be bothered coming up with a new character. And yes the Tattoo will start to reveal its some of its nature in this chapter. As for the campfire well…. Things will get interesting.
Thanks for the support by the way mate, Everyone I know is safe and sound, a little rattled up but there ok and I gave old bud a good send off as well.
Guest: No need to be sorry it was just nature being nature; I have grown to accept it.
Guest: How long have you been holding all that in? OK on to answering your many questions. First of The significance of the Tattoo is well… it's too early to explain it right now as to why the big J fears the Tattoo well… let's just say this isn't the first time he has seen a Tattoo like that before and the last time he did… it didn't end well. Hiccups destiny is very special…. For many reasons which is why the mist and the tree spoke to him In the first place. The mess and the couch… well that will be cleared later.
How is a talking tree hilarious?
Nice idea with the eyes by the way.
Klatuveratanectu1701: First of that is an amazing name how did you come up with it? Second of, Yeah it's hard but like I said before he was an old boy…. And it was just nature being nature. I will miss him vety much however….
Ok so here go Hiccup vs The Gronkle round 1…. Fight!
Hiccups POV.
For what most people around here call a flying ball of fat the Gronkle sure can move fast when it wanted too. The battle had barely even started and the Dragon had used its body weight to slam itself into the twins knocking them a good few feet away from where they were standing. The twins where stunned for a bit before quickly jumping to their feet and running of into two separate directions (not before bumping into each other of course). If I had been none the wiser I could have sworn the Gronkle appeared to be…. Satisfied with the results of its attack.
The satisfied looked soon disappeared as it turned its gaze upon me; its eyes began to scan me up and down. At that moment I recognized the look in its eyes, it was planning out its attack. That's interesting, I wasn't even aware that a dragon could show this much intelligence until I meet the Night Fury. Do not underestimate any dragon, there is a lot more to them than meets the eye… look out! I barely had time to process what the voice was saying before the blur form of the Gronkle that was charging towards me caught my attention. My muscles acted without my thought guiding my actions, unknowingly my body had somehow without me doing anything ducked and rolled itself out of the way of the Gronkles path. I could feel the rush of wind fly past me as the Gronkle zoomed past, one of is paws barely missing my head. Soon after I heard a good sturdy thud which if I had to guess was the sound of the Gronkle colliding into the wall behind me.
Some of my class members looked at me questionably for a moment before their attention once again turned towards the Gronkle who had managed to get to its feet and once again rose up into the air. Gobber gave me a sceptic look before bring his attention towards the Gronkle. "Today is all about survival, you get hit your dead." Gobber said bluntly as he made his way around the arena, most likely trying to get a better view of the carnage. The gronkle once again charged at the group missing a few of us by only a few centimetres, the gronkle once again collided into the wall. Strange one would think if it was smart enough to plan it wouldn't make the same mistake twice…. Unless it meant to do that. My or the voices suspicions where proven correct when the dragon seemed to consume several rocks that fell of the side of the wall. Careful now if it didn't before the Gronkle now has access to its shot. Wait what? I look around, no one else not even Fishlegs or Gobber have noticed the fact that the gronkle had managed to eat some rocks.
"It's got shots!" I cry earning a confused look from everyone else in the arena. "Not to burst your bubble Hiccup but a Gronkle needs to eat rocks before it can- AHHHH." Fishlegs never got to finish his sentence for the Gronkle to prove my point fired a shot at the group the explosive fire ball barely missing Fishlegs by a few centimetres. Gobber expression changed from a passive exception to that of a mix of surprise and shock. "This changes things…. Quickly what is the first thing you need when combating a dragon?" he ask quickly turning this drastic situation into another lessons. I've been Gobber assistant long enough to know that they don't put the students up against dragons with live fire until the start of weak 2, that's why they start off with the Gronkle and the Nadder who both need a certain substance for the fires to be accessible.
I was about to make a comment about needing a doctor when the voice returned into my skull Don't bother yourself with that… quickly grab a shield. Whatever this voice was it seemed to know what it was doing and I didn't and that alone was enough to convince me that my best choice of action was to follow its orders. As I ran towards the shield rack, as I ran I listened in on the groups attempt to answer Goobers question. "A weapon!" Snotlout yelled above the group, he sounds pleased with himself. "Plus 5 speed." Fishlegs said his voice sounded almost frantic. "A shield." I heard Astrid say out loud the confidence clear as daylight. "Yes! When it comes to fighting dragons a good defence is needed over a good offence. If you have a choice over a sword or a shield take the shield." Gobber said gesturing towards the shield rack. The rest of my group snapped into action charging towards the shield rack trying to be the first to grab a shield they liked all of them well aware that the shield they choose will be the one they were stuck with for the rest of dragon training.
Astrid led the mad rush a look of determination to be the first was clear on her face, that look of raw determination was replaced with one of shock at the sight of me already strapping a shield to my right arm. There was nothing special about the shield it was a simple a design with a red and grey four corner wave pattern over a light metal surface. I choose the shield because it was light and because I guess pride of work plays a part in it two. but something about that shield just felt… right, it wasn't like the other shields with complex warlike designs, it was just a shield, nothing more nothing less. I ran past the group of stunned teens keeping one eye on the gronkle and the other of Gobber and my fellow classmate, Gobber was giving me a rather impressed look.
A commotion from the shield rack caught both mine and the Gronkles attention. Most of my class had already picked their shields and where making they were making their way towards different areas of the Arena, all but two of them. The Twins where busy arguing again and this time it was over a shield. Those two will find the slightest thing for the strangest reason, this was no acceptation. I glimpsed over at the Gronkle who seemed to be just plain old confused and like me was just watching the argument as it took place, wow even The Dragons see their arguing as strange. Due to the fact that I have witness my fair share of twin arguments and if today was a normal day I would have just ignored them but something was of about this…. I was at least a good 15 meters away from the two, I should be able to hear them as clearly as I was at the moment, they should be muffled or like whispers with all the communication going on around me.
Well as long as the Dragon was preoccupied it couldn't hurt to listen in… "It's mine!", "No its mine!", "OH come on there like a million shields, pick another one because this one is MINE!" "Hey look that one has a flower on it, girls like flowers right?" at that moment Ruff ripped the Shield from Tuffs grasp and used the shield to smack him over the head. "Ohh look now this one has blood on it." Said Ruffnut as she waved the shield in Tuffnuts face. If he felt it at all or just didn't care was unknown for as soon as her sister did it he lunged for the shield once again beginning the sibling tug of war over the shield, Until the Gronkle got board of it that is.
With one well-aimed shot the shield was launched out of the twins grasp and at the same time launching the two a good meter away from where they were standing. "Reiana, Tristan you're both out." said Gobber to the still dazed twins his voice thick with seriousness. "Whoa What?" Was all Tuff could mutter as he rubbed the back of his head. Everyone's attention once again returned to the hovering dragon that was now in the centre of the arena. "Your shield aren't just for protection, you can use them to make noise to mess with a dragon hearing which in turn will throw of its aim." Said Gobber as he open the front gate so the twins can watch from the side lines. Armed with this new knowledge we formed a small circle around the gronkle smacking are weapons against are shields, to make it even more difficult for the dragon we began to move around the circle counter clockwise. This will only keep it distracted for a while, eventually the affect will wear off said the voice which I have decided to dub my instinct. Everything this voice has said was in a way instinct, everything it has said and everything I have done under its orders are warrior instinct.
And like before Instinct got it right again.
It did not take long for the shield bashing to become a minor ignorance for the boulder class dragon, it was however becoming a problem for me (It was giving me a major headache). The dragon charged out of our circle nearly taking of Snotlouts head with its foot. "Every Dragon has a limited amount of shots, How many does a Gronkle have?" asked Gobber, oh great he is in test mode now. "5?" I heard Snotlout shout in fear, his near decapitation by Gronkle foot must have affective him harder then I first thought. "No SIX!" cried FIshlegs his voice surprising wasn't as bad as one would expect.
"That's right, one for each of you!" said Gobber his normal cheery demeanour which in many ways was worse than his test mode. I watched silently as the Gronkle hovered over the battlefield eyeing fishlegs who was too busy spurting out dragon facts to notice the dragon was forming a lava ball in its mouth. "FISHLEGS LOOK OUT!" I cry breaking him from his existed trance, he turned around barely managing to raise his shield in his defence before being blown away by the Gronkles molten cannonball. Fishlegs was knocked over by the force of the blast his armour and shield absorbing most of the damage, he quickly jumped to his feet and ran as fast as his stubby legs could carry him towards the gate before Gobber could even tell him that he was out. Ok so now where down to half our original number and the dragon was down to half its shots, still trying to figure out if it's a good thing or a bad thing.
The dragon silently watched Fishlegs as he made a run for it, the Gronkle had an amused look on its face as it watched the boy try to squeeze under the gate. Whilst it was distracted I quickly made my way to the other side of the arena where Astrid and Snotlout where standing, you know safety in numbers and all that… It's not like I was trying to hide behind the more Viking-like teens or anything….Sigh, I can't lie if my life depended on it.
I stood nearby but not close enough for them to notice me, we may be in a life or death situation but right now I couldn't trust either of them as far as I could toss a Gronkle. making my way around the side I couldn't help but listen in on the almost one sided conversation they were having, and what I heard made me want to puke. "So… Astrid… I just moved in to my parents basement, it was real easy moving all my workout gear and all because you know I'm me…. but anyway, I was wondering if you and I can meet up at my place and workout…amongst other things if you know what I mean… Did I mention the place was sound proof? So we can make all the sound we want when we…." Said Snotlout making me want to hurl. Seriously it was bad enough he talked about doing 'it' while in class and free time but now of all times really? That is kind of an all-time low even for him. But the worse part of it all had to be the fact that I couldn't tune out of their conversation. Perverted child isn't he? My Instinct said within my skull and I couldn't help but agree.
Astrid was easily ignoring the large musclier teen, all her attention was upon the Gronkle who was now hovering overhead sizing up the two of them. Suddenly and without warning the Gronkle realised a shot at the two of them, Astrid who had been watching the Dragon was prepared and managed to dive out of the way….Snotlout on the other hand… not so lucky. He like Fishlegs was only able to raise his shield just in time to block the incoming blast and like Fishlegs was knocked over for his troubles. I couldn't help but smirk as I watched Snotlout fall flat on his ass his face wide with shock. "Scott your out!" I heard Gobber cry a little bit of joy in his voice, he must have enjoyed Snotlouts wipe-out nearly as much as I did.
Wait Snotlout was out… that means only me and Astrid was left…. Wow I got this far….I honestly thought I would be the first to be knocked out of the competition. Good work me, well now that I think about it the only reason I got this far was because of my instinct talking to me and telling me what to do. I wonder if that counts as cheating…
My thoughts where cut short by a sudden familiar pain taking a hold of me. it happened so fast I dropped my axe in utter shock, before I could pick it up again my left arm suddenly felt as if it had caught a flame, my skin felt as if it was on fire. I couldn't believe it know of all times did the Tattoo decided to spread. I lost control over my left arm, watching in horror as it fell limp at my side as the skin burning feeling climbed up my arm and onto my cheats. That's when the pain got worse. The Tattoo burnt its way across previously untouched flesh; I could feel the burning climbs its way up my neck, down my left side and across my cheats and back. The worst part was that the pain wasn't the only thing the Tattoo was affecting. My Vision was constantly changing conditions, at one point it was as clear as crystal the next it looked as if I was looking at the world from underwater at other times it felt like I was looking at the sun and then it would become as dark as night. The rapid change hurt my eyes greatly and I could feel salty tears forming under my eyes due to the combined pain of my body and my eyes. My ears where not spared either, they were bombarded with sounds my eardrums hissing in pain from all the sounds, a ringing sound eventually blocked out all sounds even my Instinct was muffled by the sound. I closed my eyes to try and stop the pain coming from them but it did not work even in total darkness my eyes still felt in pain.
All of this pain…. It…. It Hurt so much. I could taste blood….my own blood it was making its way up my throat… I used whatever will I could muster to keep the blood down…. The pain. My legs were like Jelly shaking viciously unable to keep supporting my weight, I would have fallen over then and there but something bet me to the punch. A sudden powerful force knocked me of my feet flinging my body through the air; I landed with a loud smack into something made of wood and metal. The blood I tried so hard to keep within my mouth spilled out. I opened my eyes to find myself laying in the ruined remains of the shield rack, blood dripping from my mouth and a Angry Gronkle speeding straight towards me.
Astrid POV.
I must admit it was quite shocking to see how well Hiccup was doing in the ring, In fact throughout the whole lesson he had shown to be somehow one step of everyone in the ring, even… me. As a warrior I was taught never to underestimate my opponents and so I never did, that was until Hiccup. I had thought he would be the first to be knocked out to be the weakest link but from what I have seen so far he has proven far more… skilful then I first thought he would be. Has he been training in secret? Was this why he did not fear us anymore? Thoughts like this ran through my head until I had a good look at him, he looked lost, confused and scared. He didn't look like he had any idea what he was doing and when he did do something he had a look of scepticism like he was questioning his own actions; he was guessing.
The realisation calmed me nerves a bit, he was simply guessing what to do and so far he was doing rather well, that was until Snotlout got blasted. Only a few minutes after Scott got out of the ring Hiccup Dropped his axe. I didn't think much of it first; the boy looked like he could barely carry it let alone use it but then something else happened. He began to cry out and release sounds of great pain, his head swayed as if it was getting light and his muscles appeared to have tightened up locking him in a statue like position. His legs shock violently and was that tears? The Gronkle eyed the boy suspiciously for a while before releasing a shot knocking the boy away and into the shield rack causing the structure to shatter under the force. "HENRY!" I heard Gobber yell his voice shocked and full of concern which was rare for the crippled man… wait why did he like Hiccup so much?
The thought was soon pushed aside when the Gronkle charged towards the ruined shield rack using its body weight to pin the boy it blasted into it. I was shocked, I had thought the dragon would come after me and ignore the defeated boy but know it went after him…. Why? He was defeated no longer a threat, did the dragon not see that? Suddenly The Gronkles mouth opened wide revealing a faint familiar glow…. The dragon was going to blast him…Point blank range.
My feet began to move by themselves towards the shield rack my axe ready to strike down the Gronkle if necessary. I willed myself to go faster, if Hiccup was to die… the last time someone died in dragon training it was cancelled for 5 years straight. I do not want to wait 5 years to finish Dragon Training. I was almost their when the Gronkle released the shot, I stopped in mid step gasping waiting in horror for the horrible sounds of a boy screaming…. But it never came.
Nothing not even a scream… was his death that quick that he did not even get to make a sound? Then I saw the Gronkles face… it was in utter shock. I took a moment to see what it was staring at only to find my jaw drop in surprise.
Hiccup was still alive.
He had somehow managed to move a shield in between him and the Gronkle in an attempt to protect himself, it was pointless even trying to in the first place. But he tried and it worked, there wasn't even a single scratch on him …. But that's ….impossible. I have seen firsthand what a long range shot could easily blast a shield right of its owner, yet Hiccup was at point-blank range and he still managed to keep the shield not just on his arm but from breaking in his face…. that's just not possible. Before the Gronkle or I could react, Gobber using his Hook hand grabbed the Dragon by the jaw and yanked it off Hiccup with easy. "Of him ye over Grown Sausage, ye'll get another crack at it don't ye worry." He said pulling the Gronkle back to its cage tossing it inside before closing the door large metal doors with the remote that he used to open the doors in the first place. If the whole point of that remote was to catch us of surprise I must admit it worked rather well.
As soon as he was done with the dragon Gobber quickly made his way over to the ruined remains of the shield rack where the heavily breathing Hiccup sat still who appeared to in be in as much if not more shock then the rest of us. In truth I couldn't blame him either. Gobber was about a meter away when Hiccup finally removed the now broken shield from his right arm hissing in pain the whole time; he then tried to lift himself from the Debary of the shield rack only for him to fall back down into it after trying to put some weight on his right arm.
That's when I realized that he wasn't totally unscratched. The blasts force must have done something to his arm, something that would give him a weakness that if needed could be exploited….No. I was not that type of person, maybe Scott was but I wasn't. When I wanted to fight someone I want to fight them at their best when they are most skilled, I was not the type of warrior who exploited weakness I was the type that would attack their strengths. Besides it's not like I would be combating that boy anytime soon, he may have proven himself a threat in Dragon training… but after the plan we came up with for how to teach him a lesson… well I doubt he will want to go anywhere near this class ever again.
I have to say I'm having mixed feelings about tomorrow.
Hiccup POV.
My body aced all over especially in my arms the worse of which was the right, but I guess that's normal considering what just happened. My left arm felt like it was on fire and from what I could tell it probably was, but I couldn't care less about it at the moment. All I wanted to do was lay down in the ruins of the shield rack and go to sleep, I didn't care if it was uncomfortable or if pieces of wood where sticking into my back I just couldn't care less. The combined might of the pain and a sudden wave of exhaustion was enough for me to want to go to sleep then and there.
But of course I could not have such a luxury.
Gobber lifted me clear from the ruined remains of the shield rack dropping me upon my still jelly like legs. I winced in pain but I was able to keep my balance barely managing to stop myself from falling over. Gobber placed his right arm upon my left shoulder, pain much like the type one would get from someone touching a very bad case of sunburn (Only 10 time's worse) swelled through my body making me release a sudden gasp out of Pain. Gobber immediately took his hand of my shoulder his face was apologetic but at the moment I didn't really care. All I wanted to do was get away from this place….
"You alright Henry? No broken bones? No cuts? What am I asking! Come on will take you to the Hospital.." "I'm fine." I said my voice full of bitterness snapping Gobber out of his concerned blabbering. I let lose a small sigh, "I'm fine Gobber…I just need to-" "It ok Hiccup… Take the rest of the day off… ye're going to need it after what you have been through…" said Gobber giving me a small reassuring look. Was he serious? Gobber never did that for anyone… but then again it's not every day a student gets shot by a Gronkle at point blank and lives to tell the tale. I gave Gobber a silent thankyou before making my way towards the exit. "As for the rest of ye, after witnessin' that little performance I have to say I'm… not impressed. All of you down and give me Twenty Double time!" Gobber yelled blowing his whistle, everyone let lose a moan. Some of the members of the class stared daggers at me as I walked past them and out of the arena, I could here there muttered insults and their complaints as clear as day but I didn't care. I noticed Jemiskneir was still sitting in the same spot he was when I first saw him on the bleachers, he gave me a slight nod before his eyes drifted back to the group of people in the arena.
I proceeded to make my way towards the changing room in hope to get out of the battle scarred armour and into something a lot more comfortable, and something a lot more suited for what I had in mind for the rest of my day. I stopped just at the edge of the arena for a moment to see how the rest of the class was going, even with the way they treated me I couldn't help but feel pity for them as I watched them do one of Gobbers Infamous drills. Well from the look of things at least Gobber had them doing one of his 'Easy' drills so I guess they were lucky for that one…
I was about to leave when Gobber said something that caught my attention. "-And let what Happened to Hiccup Remind ye, Dragons always, ALWAYS, go for the Kill…". The sentence repeated itself over and over again in my head. I have never heard him say that before…. Yet I can't help but feel the strangest sense of Déjà vu whenever the sentence repeats itself in my head.
He is wrong you know…said my instinct starling me, It had not uttered a word to me ever since getting knocked into the shield rack by the gronkle, to be truthful I nearly forgotten about it with all the commotion about the Gronkle nearly killing me. I took a moment to process what it had just told me, He is wrong you know…. Why would my instinct tell me that? Wouldn't it agree with Gobber on it instead of disagree with him? But the think that got me really confused was the fact that I wanted to agree with my Instinct, Me, the guy who nearly just died by the firepower on the Gronkle wanted to agree with a voice in my head that not all dragons wanted to kill you on sight! Maybe I am going crazy….
Now that I think about it I probably am, talking trees, voice in my head, weird Tattoos and 'Friendly' Dragons maybe these are just all illusions conjured up by my broken mind. No they couldn't be…. They all seemed so real….Was this what really drives people crazy? The inability to determine what it reality and what is in there head? If so how could I tell whether or not it was happening without involving anyone that did not already know…. I have one idea but I don't think I will like it very much.
I guess it's about time I visit and old friend….
Gobbers POV sometime later.
I did not let a single one of my new 'recruits' leave until the last one of them finished one of my lighter drills, unlucky for them Fishlegs wasn't exactly built for long endurance workout sessions. The boy sure had a lot of bulk behind him but he lacked the ability to use such muscle. He was unable to finish the workout until about halfway through their lunch time much to the groups annoyance. I myself only dreaded the fact that I might have just dug Hiccups hole a little deeper. I may be old but I am not death, I could hear what the other kids said of my young apprentice, how they bullied him and miss treated him and blamed him for everything that went wrong in their lives.
It made me sick.
But those kids where only following by ensample, the ensample we the adults set for them. True we might have done it unknowingly but we still caused this, and I wanted to end it. But now that I think about it may be giving Hiccup the rest of the day of was a bad idea, all I did was just give the kids a reason to hate him more…. But then again the boy just had a near death experience….
I let lose a sigh, how come nothing worked out the way I wanted it to when I tried to do something nice for that boy?
As the last of the teens left the arena I began my usual rounds checking to make sure everything was in order. No damaged wires or security, good. Dragons where all accounted for nicely locked up and secure, that's good. Only a few new scorch marks and blood stains, better than last year. The only thing that really needed fixing was the shield rack, Sigh more work for pour old Gobber…
"Well that was interesting." I heard a familiar voice utter from somewhere above me. I looked up to find myself staring at the Silhouette of a familiar glowing eyed man. I gave him a small smile. "What part? 'The random unnecessary acts of Violence' Against the Dragon or the teens." I said mocking my old friend. Jemiskneir was a sort of… what did he call himself? A conscientious objector? Whatever he was he has refused to fight against the Dragon menace ever since that argument With Stoick about a decade back. Some people called him weak for that, those who were brave enough to say it to his face often woke up with a large bruise on their face and missing half a dozen teeth. I personally didn't care about it, he was a good person… at times and only wanted what he considered best for others.
"Both." He mutters. "Strange really, how such things like violence can reveals one true nature, there true intentions, there true purpose." Jemiskneir Said to no one in particular. He did this often and it was something I have long since grown use too. I chuckled for a bit turning away to look at the broken shield rack my thought once again returning to Hiccup. Was he talking about him? I turned my head back round to face the other adult ready to question him about whether or not we were on the same wave length.
My eyes only found empty space where Jemiskneir had once stood, sigh, there is another annoying treat about him. His constant habit of disappearing like a puff of smoke could really get on an old mans nerves.
YAWNNNNN.
Gezz I've been having some late nights recently, well no matter at least I'm doing something I enjoy. The fires have cooled down to a maximum of one a day again and I'm also not suffocating from the smoke that has flooded the little Valley I live in, so I'm good. But I have to say I have had little to read over the last month, not many updates and some of my favourite stories have been put on hold for quite some time. I wonder…. Maybe I could as you lot if you know any good stories out there… NAHHH.
Sometimes you can't choose what you are given to work with, you just have to make do with what you got.
Thor-Born