HAPPY HAPPY (KIND OF) BIRTHDAY TO HICCUP HADDOCK!
Hey y'all!
I love love loved to write this one. It was so much fun!
Sorry if chapters start to get shorter and/or lower quality. I have track every day, I just got hired at a new job, and I have skating every day I don't have work! XD I'm quite busy. But I'll get chapters up every week! That's a promise.
Review responses:
giselemaciel446: Thanks for reading! I'm so glad you like it. I understand how you feel about Astrid in the beginning. I was still testing the waters with my writing.
Me: Yep, still a chapter every week! I'm glad you're excited xD That's from the Suite Life of Zack and Cody, isn't it? London Tipton xD
jackie016: AAAH sorry about the cliffhanger! I hope this satisfies you a bit
Silver Blue Eyed Wolf: Aww thank you
Nina: *hugs*
theskrillrider: muchos gracias!
Anonymous Noob the 2nd: thank you, as always x (:
Tussey: yeah boiii
Guests: Thank you so much!
A Potato: it's about to go down my dude (thx v much (: )
harrypanther: thank you! Stoick is one tough cookie to figure out
RedLegoManiac: Thank you for pointing that out xD I corrected it as fast as I could.
Streams of guards left the castle, rushing out to greet the supposed "army" of hybrids. Fun fact, there was no army there.
Ruff and Tuff were cackling under their breaths as we crept along the edge of the castle walls. Fishlegs was tip-toeing as quietly as he could, but sticks still snapped and rocks ricocheted off each other with almost every step that he took.
Shouts from the soldiers echoed off the large stone walls that we crept against. We peered from afar at them hastily climb the hill that led up to the big oak tree at the top. They were still at least a half mile away, but we still needed to get moving fast or we'd be caught.
We scoured the walls of the castle, looking for any balcony with any sign of a dragon crest. There were stained glass windows with beautiful depictions of dragons and knights that had several crests on them, but no balcony. I was starting to worry that Valka wasn't on our side and sent us to our capture.
I shook those thoughts out of my head. There was no way she would do that, after what she told us. She wanted to save Hiccup, her son.
I broke into a jog, as my mind got the best of me. I wanted to find this dungeon and get off of the castle grounds as quickly as I could. There was an off-feeling to this, and I wanted to get Hiccup before anything could go wrong.
The others followed from a short distance, making sure that no one was following from behind us. I scouted ahead, peering around every corner and nook and cranny there was to see.
I led my small ensemble to a patch of bushes which was blocking our path. I unsheathed the small machete I was armed with and slashed the foliage out of our way to create a path for us. I quickly stopped when I heard shuffling on the other side of the bushes, around the corner of the wall.
I motioned for the others to quiet down as I leaned forward to listen closely.
"Come on, men!" a male voice shouted. I sucked in a breath. It was just a pod of soldiers that was passing by to get to the oak hill.
As they hustled out, one stopped to retie his boot. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the actions of this soldier. Now, if I were that soldier…
My thoughts halted, along with my heartbeat, when the guard stopped moving. His brow was furrowed as if he were puzzled by something. He then slowly turned to the bushes where we were hiding behind. I took a small back, careful not to make any sound as my heart leaped up to my throat.
The guard stood slowly and took a few cautious steps toward us. I turned to look at my hybrid companions. Their faces, washed in dim light, were panic-stricken as they saw the guard approach faster. Surely, he wasn't able to see us from this position?
I gritted my teeth. This one, stupid soldier was not going to ruin my mission and keep me from Hiccup. Not today.
As I heard the boot of the guard very near to the plants, I leaped to my feet and reared back, punching him right in the nose and knocking him out cold.
I hissed as my knuckles cracked and my fist stung. The adrenaline zooming through my veins really did make me hit him hard, it looked as if he were going to be out for quite a while.
"Damn," Tuffnut said. I turned back to my friends, and their eyes were all wide open in awe. The male twin turned to his sister. "Why don't you ever hit me like that?"
I rolled my eyes and shook my hand out, easing away the faint pain that throbbed in my knuckles. I slashed the rest of the bushes aside and stepped through, motioning for the others to follow when I scouted the coast to be clear.
I nearly sobbed with relief when I spotted a balcony with a barely visible dragon carved into the marble. I sprinted over to the massive pillars that held the structure up, facing the thorn-infested bushes that were as tall as Fishlegs.
This wouldn't be easy.
I started to hack away at the plants, the sharp points grazing my arms and drawing blood even standing a foot away from it. I clenched my jaw, trying to ignore the pain. Hiccup could be right below me. My damsel in distress needed me.
"Hold on, A-Hoff," Tuffnut said, holding his arms out. A-Hoff? Was that my new nickname? "Let me do it. Sharp things are my forte."
Sure enough, when I reluctantly handed him my machete, he plowed through the bushes as is there was no tomorrow.
I took my weapon back as soon as I could, seeing Tuff's mischievous grin plastered on his face. He made a small path, just wide enough to get through so we weren't impaled by the plants. Fishlegs wasn't as fortunate, so he told us he'd stay up and keep watch.
We came across a set of metal storm cellar doors with a large lock bolted to the handles. "02-29-98," I muttered as I crouched down over the doors. I was barely able to see the numbers on the circular lock, as the sun had already shone its last rays of light that evening. The moon wasn't much of a help, and the windows around us provided next to no light.
"Do you guys have anything that could give me a little more light?" I asked, looking to the twins.
Tuffnut dug around his pockets and shrugged, coming up empty handed. Ruffnut pawed something in the small satchel at her side, pulling out a small cardboard box.
"I dunno if these'll help," she said. "But I have some matches."
I snatched the box from her hands and struck one aflame. "02-29-98," I murmured again, spinning the lock to match each of the numbers. I had never seen a lock that went up to the number 100, before. I guess it was just a royals thing. Had to have fancy everything, including the locks on the storm cellar doors to your dungeons.
Tuff and I hauled one of the heavy doors open, revealing damp cement steps that were coated in thick sheets of cobwebs. Years of water dripping from the entry above caused the floor to erode and crumble under too much weight, making it very unstable. It was clear, shown by the mold and moss growing around the cramped passageway, that no one had used this entry in years.
Seeing the darkness of the passage, I groaned internally. How I wished to have a flashlight.
Instead, I equipped myself with a moderately sized stick. I then ripped off a chunk of my tunic that was underneath the armor and wrapped it around the front end of the stick. Taking Ruff's matches, I managed to light a weak torch that wouldn't last long, but had just enough life to get us to Hiccup. At least, I hoped.
I held my makeshift torch in one hand and pressed my other against the sodden wall to keep my balance. I stepped lightly on the steep stairs, trying my hardest not to let them collapse. The last thing we wanted was not being able to have a way out of these chambers.
Ruff and Tuff followed me closely, unusually quiet for their natural state. Whenever I was around them, they were cheery or snickering, never with concerned looks on their faces and examining the walls with close precision. It almost made the hairs on my neck stand up.
Large spiders nested in and around the walls and corners of the stone bricks. Blocks that had come loose and fallen from their place on the wall were now homes for mice that scuttled around our feet. The air was muggy and humid, it felt as if there were no room to breathe. Along with the webs we kept walking into, I just wanted to leave.
Though an old, moldy wooden door, the halls opened up. Thankfully, before Tuffnut had picked a rat up off of the ground and plopped it atop his sister's head. The twins were a great help, but they were hard to control. I could only handle so much Thorston.
The ceilings in the new rooms were still low, but they didn't remind me of climbing through the vents above the king's head. The walls weren't scattered with insects and webs, there weren't rodents skittering at our feet. People had been there, people were using that area.
The torch's flame was burning low, so we didn't have much time. I scanned the room, squinting my eyes to try to focus on any objects that could be used as another source of light. I was about to examine what looked to be a branch in the corner of the room when Tuffnut called out.
"Hey, this'll help!" he said from behind me. The room was washed in a white light coming from a lantern that he was holding.
"Where did you get that?" I asked, stepping toward him and looking at the light. I didn't want to fall into any trap or anything that would get us caught.
"On the desk," the male twin responded, pointing to a desk nestled in a corner. I took the lantern from his hands and stepped toward the desk, looking over the contents strewn across the surface. I set the light down and studied what was left.
There were a few forms, with information that looked to be regarding the prisoners kept in the cells. Sifting through the documents, I didn't find anything with Hiccup on it, or his name, or anything related to him. I pursed my lips, wondering where they'd be keeping him.
Glancing down once more, I noticed what looked to be a sketch of something underneath one of the manila folders. I pulled the folder aside to look at the picture more clearly, holding it under the light from the bulb inside the lantern.
"A map," I breathed. There were cells with numbers that were also labeled with names. Names of prisoners.
I almost bounced up and down with excitement. We were going to find him. I was going to get Hiccup back.
Boxes and rectangles were printed in faded ink on the yellow paper. There looked to be about a dozen or so cells down one of the main hallways, which seemed not to be far from where we were standing. There was a handful of smaller cells by what looked to be another exit that led to the outdoors, leading to one of the courtyards.
Something told me that Hiccup was there, in one of the cells right outside of the execution square.
"I'll check these cells over here," I said, pointing to the ones I believed Hiccup to be in. "You two scan these cells in the main passage."
The twins agreed, and we set down the winding passages of the palace dungeons. As I tiptoed ahead of our small group, looking for any signs of stray guards, I accidentally kicked an object that skittered loudly across the floor.
I cursed under my breath, staying still to listen for any movement. I stood at a standstill for a minute before shining the light on the ground. A black cylinder lay on the ground a few feet from where I was standing.
"How convenient," I said, crouching down to pick up the dusty flashlight I had kicked. Pressing the button on the end of it, a dim bulb flickered on and cast a small amount light on the wall it was pointed at. I smiled triumphantly. That way I could see while I went to find Hiccup, otherwise, I'd have to give the twins my lantern.
The halls opened up again, the air much more fresh and crisp. At least, for being a dungeon. Luckily for us, the lantern illuminated the walls so that shiny silver reflected back at us. Going over to the source of the glinting metal, we find a few different key rings. One for each wing of cells.
"How many prisoners do they need to keep down here?" I murmured as I looked at the rows of keys.
Tuff and Ruff took the lantern and the ring to their passage, while I was stuck with the half-dead flashlight. It was worth it for Hiccup, though.
I didn't have a doubt in my mind that there were bigger, overhead lights lit up the room like any other. But we couldn't take the risk of someone seeing lights in the dungeons when no one was supposed to be down there. I was willing to compromise, leaving visibility and keeping our free lives.
I prided myself on being fearless, though I had to admit, the dungeon was a bit creepy.
Dripping water echoed throughout the cells, water from the rain that week. There were a few squeaks and scuttles from stray rodents that made it into the main corridors of the prison. The last thing I wanted on my mind was the thought of someone lurking in the shadows… watching me…
A chill ran up my spine and I shivered. I hurried over to the hall where I was to scan. It seemed eerily quiet, so I shined my light around hesitantly.
There were three small cells with thick metal bars pressed up against the concrete block wall. They were a dull metal, rusted over and old, but looked strong. Weirdly strong.
Why would they keep these three thicker cells away from the rest? I wondered. I thought hard, reasons piling around my brain.
It clicked. They were cells meant for hybrids.
I traced the pad of my finger over the surface of the metal. Of course it was extremely strong- it had to withstand their super strength or else they'd break out. They needed special metal to contain them.
I pointed my flashlight through the cage of the one I was tracing, and it landed on a form that was hurdling toward me at an alarming rate.
I shrieked and leaped back away from the bars. Glowing green eyes with slitted pupils narrowed at me, teeth bared and hands swiping through the bars. Breathing hard, I recollected my flashlight and shined it on the prisoner.
I covered my mouth. It was Hiccup.
His mane of auburn hair was matted and covered in dirt, unwashed for days. He was shirtless, only wearing rags for pants. His underweight torso was covered in dirt and bruises and slashes. I couldn't tell if he acquired them just recently or over time.
His eyes were savage. I had never seen anything so purely wild come from a human before. It was very alarming.
Why was he hissing at me? How did he not recognize me?
I pulled the mask off of my face and stood up, mustering up every last drop of courage that I had in my body. I took a step toward the uncontrolled hybrid, and shined the flashlight on my own face. I hoped to God that he recognized me so that I could get him out of this hellhole.
"Hiccup, it's me," I coaxed, still unsure what his problem was. "It's Astrid. It's okay."
With the light in my face, I couldn't see anything but his glowing eyes. To my relief, his pupils expanded back into their oval shape. I set the flashlight down, pointed at the ceiling, so I could see him as well as me.
Hiccup's features relaxed as he listened to my voice and looked at my face. He stopped spazzing and started to regain his composure.
"Astrid," his nasal voice croaked. I wanted to melt into the floor with the way he said my name. "They're turning me into a monster. They're bringing out this beast."
"Shh." I stepped forward, stroking his dirtied cheeks with my hands. He looked absolutely pained and distraught, emotions boiling in his eyes. Not to mention he was disgustingly filthy, but I kept touching his skin anyway. "I'm going to get you out of here, babe."
"They're going to kill me," he mumbled, leaning against the bars with a dazed look. What the hell was wrong with him?
I snatched his bony shoulders and made him face me. "No, they're not," I said firmly. "We're gonna get out of here, you hear me? You and I, together."
I grabbed his nasty face, pulling his head toward mine and kissed his nasty lips. Though it was a desperate kiss, with his terrible breath and gnashing teeth, it was perfect. I would not let the castle or the guards take that away from me.
"Stay with me," I whispered as I pulled away and rested my forehead on his. Remembering that the guards could be on their way back any second, I got to work. I sifted through the keys on the ring, trying to find the right one that would fit his lock. It did at my second attempt, a click of the gate releasing most of my anxiety.
He fell into my arms. I couldn't tell if it was the fact that he was hardly strong enough to stand or he was glad to see me, but I didn't have time to ask. I swung his arm around my shoulders and assisted his walking (or should I say, stumbling) calling out for the twins to come back.
"Holy shit, dude," Tuffnut said breathlessly as he and Ruff ran into the room. "You look terrible."
Hiccup, in the process of recovering his normal mental state, rolled his eyes and wiped his nose, trying to stand up a little taller. "T-thanks Tuff."
I clutched him tight to my side as we hurried out of the dungeon, passing through the rooms we came in. It was difficult when we got to the really tiny passage. Hiccup, being tall, had to duck in a position that looked quite uncomfortable. We had to shuffle sideways so I could still hold him up and support him.
I hauled him up the stairs, helping him back into the fresh air. I could see him tilt his head back and suck in as much fresh oxygen as possible. I would have done the same if I was cooped up in such a muggy place for that long.
"Thank God you're back!" cried Fishlegs. "They're coming back!"
"What?" I slid through the bushes and grabbed the binoculars that he had brought right out of his hands. Bringing them to my eyes, I saw floods of soldiers making their way back down the hill, charging back to the castle with their weapons drawn. They looked ready to kill.
I shoved the binoculars back into Fish's hands and sprinted back through the bushes and pulled Hiccup. "C'mon, they're coming!" I shouted. Hiccups stumbled after me, eyes wide and afraid. We started to run back to where we came in, which was the closest exit to the woods there was.
It also, conveniently, was over a half-mile away.
"We can't outrun them!" Fishlegs shouted from behind me, his breath coming in short gasps. I couldn't listen to him. I had to believe that we'd make it. My brow furrowed in determination as I pumped my free arm as I ran.
"We have to!" I yelled back. "We can't stay here, they'll catch us!"
Running down the large hill to the castle, I let out a shrill whistle that was so loud it made my ears ring. Unfortunately, it drew a lot of attention our way. Guards atop horses started galloping our way with crossbows aimed at us.
"Run!" I screamed.
Arrows whistled past our ears with the occasional bullet ripping through the air near us. My legs were so tired, they almost gave out, but I pushed on. I had to get Hiccup back to safety.
A large black mass soared over the fence and started charging toward us. I almost laughed with relief when Toothless came sprinting toward Hiccup.
I didn't have time to react to it, though. One of the officers aimed their crossbow right at Hiccup.
"Get the prisoner!" they yelled. "The hybrid has escaped!"
I shoved Hiccup toward his Night Fury as I saw his finger move to the trigger. I saw Toothless haul his partner onto his saddle. Unfortunately, it was the last thing I saw that night.
Right after that, I started to turn my body back to face the guards. I couldn't observe anything, though, all I could focus on was the arrow that planted itself deep into my shoulder, knocking me back.
Uh oh…
sorry bout that kids! XD (not really)
I'm still updating every Wednesday!
It's still utterly amazing to me how many people enjoy this story. Thank you so much for all of your support!
This is easily the happiest I've been my entire life, and you guys contribute to that so much, with your reviews and comments on my writing that I receive every week. I'm insecure about my writing abilities, but you all push me to new heights every time I sit in front of a keyboard!
Hearts hearts hearts,
cheddarpenguin (: