Chapter 17 - The Rumored

Stiildus' POV - Academy Roof

::Why that no good, dirty Viking!::

I was absolutely livid when I heard Astrid tell Fierce-Eye about Alvin's latest ploy. I barely noticed when Fishlegs lost his match to an Outcast. 'How dare he try such a cheap strategy. I oughta give that human a piece of my mind!'

::Calm down Stiildus,:: Sharpshot instructed, ::You're shaking the whole net!::

::But that human Alpha is still messing with my partner,:: I complained. I stopped pacing, but I was still angry.

::Humans can't act against their Alphas any more than we can act against ours,:: Head observed, ::So we'll have to act up on their behalf.::

::What are you talking about?:: Iggy asked with concern in his voice, looking up from the current match, a Burglar fighting an Outcast.

::What do you say Sneaky?:: Butt asked, ignoring Iggy, ::Feel like pranking an Alpha?::

Stoick's POV - Chief's Platform

Camicazi easily won her match and Bertha gloated about every Burglar beating their Outcast when the two tribes faced each other. Alvin was trying to counter her arguments, but it was a lost cause the way the tournament was going. 'Just a minute of peace, please?' Now, Ruffnut was using a pole-blade against a fencing Bog Burglar.

Bertha seemed interested in the Thorston twin. "If she ever gets tired of being a Hooligan, send her my way Stoick."

"Fat chance of that Bertha," Alvin sneered, "She rides a Zippleback and the other rider is her twin brother! Asking her to leave would be like asking her to quit flyin'."

"GO SIS!" said twin screamed from the stands.

Bertha looked to the male Thorston and sighed. "Like you're any better, Alvin. You're practically harrassing that Fierce-Nose boy."

"Fierce-Eye," Alvin corrected, "And I takes what I want."

"Try to take what you want," I chided, remembering our previous scuffles.

Alvin huffed at the friendly jab. Ruffnut managed to beat her opponent by knocking her to the ground.

"Looks like the Burglars can't beat the Hooligans," Alvin teased.

The Chieftainess turned, anger on her face, only for it to disappear a moment later. "Where's your helmet?"

I turned to regard the Outcast Chief and saw that he was, indeed, missing his horned helmet. It wasn't on the ground either.

Alvin seemed to think it a joke. "Are you going blind in your old age Bertha? Me helmet is right here." Alvin knocked on his head, exactly where the helmet was not. The chief seemed perplexed and grabbed his head with both hands. He twisted in his seat to try and see where the helmet had gone. "It couldn't have grown legs and walked away."

"But it has grown wings," Spitelout chuckled, pointing over the arena.

I looked and sure enough, the missing helmet was balanced at the top of the chain roof. The Terrors seemed to be laughing at the Outcast Chief. 'How long ago did they steal it? Doesn't matter, they stole it.'

"HEY! Gimme back my helmet you little runts!"

The Terrors only cackled more at the angry chief. The next match was about to start, so Alvin stayed on the platform, shouting insults at the Terrible Thieves. Bertha was cracking up with laughter and every non-Outcast in the stands was stiffling their amusement with varying degrees of success.

Fierce-Eye's POV - Arena Floor

I was seriously conflicted about fighting Hiccup. He had called me his friend. 'From my reaction, I doubt I have many friends. Human friends anyway.' I felt guilty about hiding my wooden wakizashi from him. 'It seemed like such a clever tactic at first, now it just feels like a cheat. This tournament is just a time waster. Do I really want to put victory over a friend?'

My feet had taken me to the fighting space without me realizing it. Hiccup had his sword and shield at the ready. He gave a swordsman salute and I bowed in respect.

"Regardless of who wins," Hiccup repeated as he settled into a fighting stance.

'No.'

I take a half-step back and raise my formerly secret blade into a defensive position. My right hand moves to my back hip, pointing my katana at Hiccup's face. I can see his surprise that I have a second weapon ready. The crowd murmurs in shock. Only Gobber isn't surprised, smiling at my decision.

"Regardless of who wins," I echo back. Hiccup's shock fades into a boyish grin. He doesn't want to lose this fight, but I'm not going to make it easy for him.

"Hiccup of the Hooligans versus Fierce-Eye. BEGIN!"

Hiccup and I approach each other, prodding the other's defenses for weaknesses. Hiccup keeps his guard high again, but I'm not falling for it. Hiccup tries a couple feints, but I easily parry the follow-up with my smaller blade. 'He's definitely better than my last opponent.'

I try to circle around Hiccup's shield, but he keeps me in sight. He tries to strike my hands, and I spin with my deflection into a shoulder-rush against his shied. Hiccup stumbles back a step, but stays vertical. 'I weigh more.' The crowd is cheering, and I can't blame them. 'The hometown hero versus the mysertious dual wielder. They could sell tickets.'

Hiccup tries another thrust and I catch it with both blades...barely. Before he can retract his blade, I spin it around and pin it against his shield. I charge forward, keeping all of the blades pinned against the shield. Hiccup, with his false leg, can't keep my pace and falls onto his backside. His training blade bounces away from the impact and I tap the point of my katana against Hiccup's neck.

"I win," and a cheeky grin is my only gloating.

Hiccup chuckles at his own defeat. "Yeah, three times over!"

"Winner, FIERCE-EYE!"

The stands cheer at conclusion of an exciting match. I move both of my swords into my right hand and help Hiccup to his feet with my left.

"That was a good match," I complimented him, "We should have another sometime."

Hiccup scratched the back of his head. "Maybe, but not too soon, alright?"

I laughed as I walked him back towards the Hooligans.

::Get the helmet, get the helmet.::

'Helmet?'

A Viking fell from the sky and the Ember Claws laughed hysterically. I look up in confusion, knowing I'm not the only one.

Another Viking is creeping along the chains, climbing towards the top of the dome. The Ember Claws were buzzing the Viking and shaking the chains, trying to make him fall.

::Get the helmet! Get the helmet!:: chanted the Ember Claws.

"Gobber?" Hiccup sounded absolutely baffled by the sight.

"Well, that's a new one," observed the blacksmith.

The crowd was distracted by the Ember Claws' game, and it was simply too dangerous to continue the tournament while the Vikings were climbing over the roof. Every Bog Burglar was cracking up as Outcasts tried to reach the top of the dome. Some got close, but never reached them.

"DO I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHIN' MESELF?" Alvin started to climb the chains, noticeable helmetless.

::Bonus round! GET THE ALPHA!:: Butt shouted.

All of the Ember Claws turned on the Outcast Chief. Alvin squirmed as he tried to endure the 'flyin' pests', but eventually, he fell onto Ruffnut.

"Uh...Ow?" she whimpered. Tuffnut went into hysterics.

Alvin grumbled as he got to his feet. "Twenty silver to the one that gets me helmet back!"

Another round of Outcasts, this time with some Hooligans, began to climb towards the Ember Claws. More harrassment from the Ember Claws, more falling Vikings, more laughter from the crowd.

"Fifty silver!" Alvin shouted, growing thoroughly annoyed.

The raised bounty enticed some of the dragon-mounted Vikings to start seeking the helmet. The Ember Claws just laughed and started to weave among the roof chains, tossing Alvin's helmet to each other when their pursuers got too close.

The much larger dragons got tangled and their riders also fell into the arena. Some of the competitors had taken shelter in the former dragon pens to avoid getting hurt. The tangled dragons began to cry out in panic. 'They could seriously hurt someone.'

"A HUNDRED SILVER!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" I shouted at the Ember Claws. Everyone turned to look at me, but I didn't care at this point. "STIILDUS, you bring that helmet here right NOW!"

::But -::

"No buts! We can't continue the tournament while it's raining men!"

"Hallelujah!" Ruffnut cheered from somewhere, still sounding a little dizzy.

Pain tossed the helmet to Stiildus and he glided down. After dropping the helmet onto my head, Stiildus fluttered to a higher perch. 'Someone's earned the silent treatment for a while.' I removed the helmet and tossed it to Alvin without saying a word.

After a pause, Gobber announced, "There will be a brief intermission due to dragon-related difficulties."

A Flame Body let out a pitiful whine, wordlessly begging for help, his horns hooking his head through the chained roof. The sight and sound captured my attention. 'That sense of deja vu is back, but why?'

Astrid's POV - Arena Sidelines

'No buts.' Those two words filled my head while everyone helped free the tangled dragons. 'Fierce-Eye definitely said it. Strange...' For some reason, it chilled the base of my spine. The only other time that happened was when Hiccup was excelling at dragon training.

'That time, Hiccup had a really big secret named Toothless.' I looked over at Fierce-Eye chatting with Hiccup while Ox-Arm fought his opponent. 'Could Fierce have a secret of his own?'

"Winner, OX-ARM!"

I turned back to the fighting floor. The Burglar was groaning while she rubbed her ribs and rolled on the ground. 'Looks like Fierce-Eye isn't the only one who fights for keeps.'

I made my way to the ring, sizing up my opponent from the Outcasts. Just another musclehead.

"Hey baby, why don't we take a walk after this?" He seemed to think he was pretty smooth.

'Did you just call me baby!?'

"Astrid of the Hooligans versus Bob of the Outcasts. BEGIN!"

Camicazi's POV - Arena Sidelines

Astrid marched away from the crying heap of an Outcast, clearly furious. 'Too bad she's got a thing for Hiccup. She's definitely Bog Burglar material.'

"Cami." I turned to see Heather. She seemed really worried.

"What's wrong?"

"Be careful," she warned, "The semi-finalists are dangerous."

"Oh come on," I complained, "You know Astrid. That Outcast probably just stuck his foot in it." Said Outcast was being helped away by a teammate while the crowd laughed at him.

Heather shook her head. "I'm not talking about Astrid, or Ox-Arm."

"Fierce-Eye? He seems tough, but I wouldn't call him dangerous." I didn't understand this massive concern.

"Because you don't know..."

NOW I'm interested. "Know what? I thought you never met him."

Heather hesitated. "I haven't, but I've heard of him. He -"

"COME ON CAMI," Ruffnut called from the ring, "Quit gossiping and let's throw down!"

I looked back and forth between Ruffnut and Heather. "Tell me after this match."