Disclaimer: I do know own any franchise, everything is the property of their respective owners (please see author's notes below).
Chapter: 14
Horrendous hid behind some barrels, staying as quiet as possible as the younger vikings called out for him. Ever since the lesson ended earlier due to Astrid's mishaps, the younger vikings were adamant in trying to get his personal attention. He spent the last hour or so simply trying to avoid them.
"Horrendous! Come on man! Don't let the cool vikings go without flaming swords!"
"Can you tell me how it works? Did you use Nightmare saliva or something? Because according to the book of dragons..."
"Ignore them, come with us and help us blow stuff up!"
"Then we can ditch my brother and get things real hot at my place!"
"I thought we agreed not to start fires in there anymore?"
Giving a shudder, Horrendous remained sitting there for a while until the voices faded into the distance. Sighing, he jumped out and made his way past the village and began the long climb up to Gothi's home at the top of the mountain. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon and the village was washed in the fading twilight.
Catching himself as he slipped on the small rocky path, he looked out to sea. The cold wind was slowly blowing in the direction towards dragon island. Feeling uncomfortable for some strange reason, Horrendous readjusted a loose buckle and continued up the path. Though his mind was still worried about his younger self and Astrid, he had to go and meet the village elder.
Knocking on the door, he was mildly shocked when the old woman opened it immediately. As she was the one who requested that he come, he figured it wasn't too surprising and entered the small hut. He took a seat in one of the only chairs in the room, the small wooden frame creaking slightly as he sat down. Meanwhile, Gothi mumbled to herself, peering along the shelves of her home until she found what she was looking for.
Horrendous watched in mild curiosity as she set a small wooden box on the table in front of him. It was painted in a dark blue though was otherwise undecorated.
"Have you met him?"
Startled, Horrendous looked up at the elderly woman.
"Say what? Gothi, did you just talk?"
Gothi rolled her eyes, giving a groan before looking at his in the face.
"Pull that ridiculous thing off your head."
Blinking, Horrendous did as he was told and pulled his mask off, setting it down on next to the chest.
"Gothi, I never knew you could talk! Everyone thought you were a mute!"
She laughed, leaning her staff against the wall and taking her seat across the small table.
"Spend years not being able to be understood by the villagers and eventually you give up trying to talk."
Confused, Horrendous looked down at the table for a moment then back up at the amused woman.
"Not understood? But I can understand you right now! Your Norse is pretty decent! How can the village not understand what you are saying?"
Gothi chuckled again, brushing her hand over the top of the wooden chest.
"Who ever said I am speaking Norse?"
Stunned, Horrendous froze for a moment as he took in what she just said.
"What...what are you talking about?"
For the third time the elder simply laughed at his confusion.
"You know, as amusing as it is for Gobber to misunderstand my scribbles, I will admit that your reactions to my speech are just as funny."
Shaking her head, she drummed her fingers over the box several times as she calmed down. Horrendous, not knowing what to say, simply stared at her until she could talk again.
"Now, could you tell me how long have you been traveling with him?
"What?"
"He must have at least given you a ride if you are now here in the past. That man was rarely able to get where he wanted to go."
"Gothi, I don't understand. Who are you talking about? Do you know how I got here in the past?"
It was the old woman's turn to get surprised, staring at him for a moment before turning to the box and opening it. Reaching in, she pulled out a small silver pendant attached to a leather cord. Gesturing to Horrendous, she placed the pendant in his open hand. The moment the metal touched his hand his mind went haywire...
-FB-
He had copied it perfectly as it looked the same, except in the book it was much clearer, the symbol was definitely the same, and next to that symbol was what he dreaded most.
Right there, in plain Norse was the title...Loki.
-HTTYD-
Gobber spat solemnly into the snow. "There are three parts to the Dragon Initiation Test. The first and most dangerous part is a test of your courage and skill at burglary. If you wish to enter the Hairy Hooligan Tribe, you must first catch your dragon. And that is WHY," continued Gobber, at full volume, "I have brought you to this scenic spot. Take a look at Wild Dragon Cliff itself"
-DW-
"I was already a museum piece when you were young, and the first time you touched my console, you said..."
"I said you were the most beautiful thing I'd ever known."
"Then you stole me, and I stole you."
-To Start Anew-
Horrendous flinched as he was snapped out of his visions, taking a look down at the pendant...or rather the key in his hand. How he knew that was beyond his understanding. It pulsed ever so slightly and was warm to the touch. Etched upon it, written in the script of the Romans was a single word. Yet he could read it as if it were in plain Norse:
"Yale"
Before he could even ask Gothi what was going on, the door to the hut slammed open, and in rushed Hiccup and Astrid, covered in scratches and bruises. Astrid was clutching her arm, a small stream of blood leaking between her fingers.
"Help us..."
Author's Notes: I could have uploaded this sooner but our campus network went down.
Anyway, apparently the Gothi meeting option won by a slim margin. Interesting chapter as you can tell. Please note that this story will NOT be moved to the crossover section given that this story is only taking place in the HTTYD-verse. While I may make major or minor references to other franchises that is all they will remain for now...just references. You should now have enough plot information to answer a few of those little questions now.
Due credit given to a certain Mr. DragonBow117 for a quick quote from his own fanfiction "Flashed Back". Please be aware I do not intend to claim that fic as my own nor affect it in anyway by its inclusion here. Although it was inspired by this story, it is sufficiently different in plot and has already overtaken "To Start Anew" by a wide margin. Please give him his due respect and credit.
Vision two is a quote from the original book. It remains the property of Cressida Cowell.
Credit for vision three is to the BBC and its affiliates.
Read and review both stories please!