Hey! Before the story, i just wanted to say thanks for reading. I have been writing for a little bit now, and deciding whether I should I publish this or not. But I guess I finally gained the confidence to do so. I really so hope you enjoy my story, and maybe leave a comment or like! So without further ado, on with part 1!
"Gentle flame, Toothless," Hiccup said to his dragon. Toothless opened his mouth and breathed a short flame into the forge to keep the fire going.
"Hey, twig! Did you get the forge going?" The smithy, Valor, shouted at Hiccup.
Hiccup winced. "Y-yes sir," Hiccup said. "The fire is going again."
"About time! Now muzzle that animal!" Valor said, looking at Toothless with disgust. Toothless snarled at Valor and Hiccup froze. He grabbed Toothless's snout and clamped it shut.
"Toothless, no," Hiccup whispered to the dragon. He felt pain against the right side of his head and was thrown to the ground as Valor slapped him across the head hard.
"You keep that vermin under control or so help me I will gut him alive and then throw him off the cliffs!" Valor yelled at Hiccup and stormed off to the front room of the forge.
Hiccup sighed as he brought his right hand to his ear, and felt thick liquid. He pulled his hand back and sighed when he saw blood on his hand. He pressed his hand against his ear again and felt blood gush up against it. Toothless dashed to his side and crooned worriedly.
Hiccup gave the night fury a look. "What's gotten into you, Bud? This is the third time you've snarled at Valor this week!" Hiccup scolded Toothless. "He'll have my head next time you do that."
Hiccup got to his feet and walked over to the table where Toothless's muzzle lay. He lowered his right hand briefly to pick the muzzle up and walked back over to the night fury and after giving him a stern look, Toothless allowed Hiccup to put on the muzzle without a struggle.
"Thanks, bud," he said and patted the dragon's nose. After he picked up a small piece of cloth and stuffed it into his bleeding ear, he went back to work.
He grabbed a dented sword off the counter and threw it into the burning coals to heat up the blade. Once the iron was red hot, he used a pair of iron tongs to transfer the sword to the anvil. Placing the tongs down he picked up a mallet and then looked over to Toothless.
"Bud, hold it down for me, will you?" Hiccup asked and Toothless trotted over placed his forepaws on either end of the sword. Since Toothless was a dragon, his scales were fireproof and able to hold a red hot iron sword.
As Toothless held the sword down, Hiccup hammered the softened metal, and it soon began to take the shape it once had. Once the was sword was straightened, Toothless let go of the sword. Hiccup picked the sword up in the tongs again but this time dunked it into a bucket filled with cool water. While the sword cooled, Hiccup moved over to the sharpening wheel. It was a large stone wheel with a crank to get it running. Hiccup spun the crank for a good ten seconds, then grabbed a dull ax of the counter and placed it on the wheel. Sparks flew from the wheel as Hiccup sharpened the ax. Once he was satisfied with his work, he put on the finished counter where it would be it would be taken out to the Patron who owned the ax. Hiccup the moved on to sharpening the sword the had been cooling in the water bucket. After he was done and if he placed it on the finished counter as well.
Hiccup had gotten through repairing another ten weapons, before a voice called to him, "Break time, twig!"
Hiccup smiled to himself and turned to see his best friend, Hutch. "You know I hate that nickname, right?"
"I know, which is why it's so fun to call you that," Hutch laughed, smacking Hiccup on the back.
Hiccup stumbled forward and gave him a look. "Careful, my back still hurts from yesterday."
"Oh yeah, sorry," Hutch said, then pointed at Hiccup's ear. "Ouch. What happened?"
"Toothless snarled at Valor. Again."
"Well, I guess that's why I don't have a big dragon," Hutch stated proudly. "A smaller dragon is much easier to manage."
"Speaking of which, where is Hazel anyway? I haven't seen her with you all morning," Hiccup inquired. Hazel was Hutch's dragon, a beautiful green-black night terror with hazel highlights.
"Oh. She's out delivering a message. Though she should be back soon," Hutch shrugged and grabbed one of Hiccup's wrists, pulling him towards the door. "C' mon! Let's get you out of this stuffy room and get some lunch."
"W-wait. I haven't finished my work yet," Hiccup protested. "Valor will have my head if I don't finish!"
"Calm down Hiccup," Hutch said reassuringly. "I talked with Valor, He said since you have been working hard all week, you have the afternoon off."
"Really?"
"Yes really! Now come on!" Hutch exclaimed, pulling Hiccup so hard he nearly fell over.
"Can you let go of me I'm coming!" Once Hutch let go, Hiccup took off his apron and disposed of the bloody cloth that was in his ear and then looked over to Toothless. "C' mon bud!"
Toothless looked up at Hiccup and walked over to him. Hiccup patted his dragon's snout and followed Hutch outside. Hiccup blinked as his eyes adjusted to the bright sun shining overhead, warming his skin. Toothless walked up next to him and nudged his leg. Hiccup looked up at the sky longingly. He and Toothless hadn't flown in the sky together for a long time.
"What, miss the skies?" Hutch asked and Hiccup nodded. "I know the feeling. But you're a contract is stricter than mine right?"
"Yea," Hiccup said, lowering his head and stared at the ground.
Hiccup, aged 24, has lived in this torturous land called Blackwood isle for 4 ½ years. It was outside of the archipelago. At least a two weeks flight by a dragon from Berk.
It had been about four months after Drago's defeat, and Hiccup was the new chief of Berk. He had just perfected his new dragon scale armor and glider wings and Toothless's new saddle and wanted to take it for a spin. They had been flying around all afternoon and didn't even realize that it was night. As they two tried to fly back, they got caught in a storm, and tried to fly around to avoid it but got caught in the storm. They were picked up by a boat and taken as hostages. After about another three weeks of traveling, the boat finally docked at the docks of Blackwood Isle. With Toothless muzzled and Hiccup confiscated of all his weapons and gear, the two were tied up and marched to the great hall. The chief, Hallvard, recognized Hiccup as the chief of berk and Toothless, alpha of dragons. As Hallvard ordered to have Toothless executed, Hiccup pleaded with the chief, telling him he'd do anything if it meant Toothless's life was spared. Hallvard said there was something he could do. He explained how He had bitter ties with Hiccup's father Stoick from many years back. After Hiccup continued to plead for his dragon's life, Hallvard finally proposed an offer. He would spare both his and Toothless's lives, but Hiccup would have to sign a contract called the rider pact. Hiccup would serve Hallvard as an indentured servant for five years, but be allowed to keep his dragon under strict rules. Toothless would have to do work as well, like helping around in the forge or pulling a plow in the fields. Whenever he was anywhere except the forge or in his and Hiccup's shared sleeping quarters he had to wear a muzzle. Toothless was allowed to wear his saddle but there were strict rules about flying and he and Hiccup rarely flew. Hiccup also had no access to his dragon scale armor, his fire-sword Inferno, or his gronckle iron shield. Even with all these strict rules and precautions, that wasn't the worst part that kept Hiccup here. In the beginning, Toothless had been fed a poison, and Hallvard was the only one who knew the antidote. It was a virus that if it went untreated for three days, Toothless would die. There were two types of antidotes to cure the poison, and temporary antidote and a permanent antidote. The temporary antidote stalled the poison for a day, and if Toothless is fed it daily, he'd be fine. But the permanent antidote would get rid of the poison forever. So every morning Toothless is fed the temporary antidote with his breakfast. And at the end of Hiccup's sentence, Toothless would be given the permanent antidote.
Hutch had been here for three years when Hiccup had arrived. He had an 8-year sentence, and would be finishing his sentence around the same time Hiccup's sentence was to end.
"Um… Hiccup? You ok?" Hutch asked, bringing Hiccup back to reality. Hiccup looked up and then over at Hutch with a confused look. "Hello? Earth to Hiccup?"
"Oh sorry, I got lost in thought. What were you saying?" Hiccup asked, finally attentive again.
"I was asking you, what do you want to do?" Hutch repeated.
"Well, I wanted to go back to my sleeping quarters," Hiccup answered, rubbing the back of his neck.
"No!" Hutch yelped and looked at him confused. "You spend every minute in that cave! No, we gotta go somewhere. How about the tavern?"
"Sure," Hiccup shrugged. "But what about Toothless? He isn't allowed inside."
"He can just wait outside."
"I don't like him leaving my side," Hiccup said as Toothless leaned against his rider's leg.
"Fine, I'll go in and get the food. You can wait outside with Toothless," Hutch said. There were loud squeak and fluttering of wings. Hutch looked up and smiled as a small night terror descended down from the sky. "Hazel!"
Hazel flew down and landed on Hutch's shoulder. Hutch reached up and scratched the dragon's chin and Hazel purred. Hutch then reached into his pocket and pulled out a band. Hazel growled at the leather band but allowed Hutch to tie the band around her chest, binding her wings shut so she couldn't fly.
"Sorry girl," Hutch said, scratching her cheek in compensation.
"Hey Hazel," Hiccup greeted the night terror and Hazel squeaked happily.
"Ok. Wanna go now?" Hutch asked.
"Yea sure," Hiccup nodded and the two set off down the path toward the tavern.
Hazel squeaked to Toothless. Toothless tilted his head. Hazel leaped off Hutch's shoulder and onto Hiccup's shoulder. She then leaped off his shoulder and onto Toothless's back. Hiccup and Hutch chuckled as Hazel settled down on Toothless's saddle, much to Toothless annoyance.
Once the arrived, Hutch, asked. "Hiccup, what do you want?"
"A cup of mead and a mutton leg. Oh, and a salmon for Toothless," Hiccup replied.
"You know the only have cooked salmon, right? Is Toothless okay with eating cooked food?" Hutch inquired.
"Yes, it's fine," Hiccup assured his friend. "Toothless likes cooked salmon just as much as raw salmon."
"Okay," Hutch shrugged and went inside.
Once Hutch was inside, Hiccup herded Toothless and Hazel to the side on a patch of grass out of the way of other Vikings and to wait for Hutch. Hiccup sighed and plopped down in the grass beside Toothless. Toothless laid his head in Hiccup's lap and wrapped his long tail around them. Hiccup leaned against Toothless's warm scales and watched people walk by.
The real reason he didn't go to the Tavern was that he wasn't very liked amongst the people of Blackmist. Many people hated him just for being former chief of Berk, and others hated him because he had a dragon and a night fury at that. So with him being practically a slave here, people liked to take advantage of him. Many people called him names or sometimes even tried to attack him, but most were stopped by Toothless. Hiccup always kept Toothless by his side, in fear someone would try to take his beloved dragon away from him.
Toothless crooned softly as Hiccup rubbed his head. "Don't worry bud. I won't let anything happen to you or let anything take you away from me as long as I can help it," Hiccup promised.
Toothless's head perked up as the tavern door opened and Hutch emerged, arms full with food. Hiccup got up and walked over to Hutch and took his food. Toothless sat up and Hazel nearly tumbled off his back. Growling indignantly, Hazel jumped off Toothless's back and trotted over and sat down at Hutch's feet. Once Hiccup got his food, he looked at Toothless, who sneezed and shook himself.
"Uh... um... Y-ya You know what, me and Toothless are gonna head back now. I need to get his muzzle off for him to eat anyway and I'm feeling kinda tired. Sorry Hutch," Hiccup apologized, feeling guilty on leaving his friend.
Hutch smiled and nodded understandingly. "I know. I am tired too and Hazel needs to rest after that long flight she just made. I'll see you around Hiccup."
"See ya," Hiccup replied and then headed off with Toothless back to their sleeping quarters.
Their sleeping quarters was a large cave split into two sides. One side was almost set up like a small abode inside the cave which acted as Hiccup's sleeping area. The was a wooden shack-like frame built with furs hanging on the top. Inside the area were Hiccup's bed, a small side table, and a wardrobe that held both Hiccup's clothes and what little possessions he had. On the other side, there was a large stone platform for Toothless to sleep on. Beside the platform was a large wooden platter that Hiccup served Toothless his meals on. In another corner, there was a wash basin. In the back of the cave ran a small creek that Hiccup and Toothless used for bathing and drinking water. The entrance to the cave was covered by a heavy iron door.
Hiccup arrived at the door of the doorstep of Thorst Hemmingsson. Hiccup absolutely loathe him. Thorst was what was called a "Slave-master" as he owned and housed a bunch of other real slaves. Though Hiccup wasn't one of Thorst's slaves, Thorst had been assigned to house and feed Hiccup and Toothless. Since Hiccup had a dragon, Thorst had a cave specially made to accommodate Toothless while the rest of Thorst's slaves were crammed into small wooden cabins known as the "slave quarters". Many of the slaves were jealous of Hiccup as he got his own sleeping quarters, but that was about as far as the special treatment went. Hiccup still got bossed around by Thorst and had to wake up at the same time as the slaves and worked around the same hours. He received bigger rations, but most of it ended up going to Toothless because a dragon as big as he needed a lot of food to stay healthy. And worst of all and what Hiccup hated the most about Thorst, was that he made Hiccup refer to him as "Master" and bow whenever Thorst came by.
I'm not even his slave! He is just supposed to house me but he apparently takes this as I'm his slave! Hiccup thought to himself as he knocked on Thorst's door.
Hiccup had to check in every morning when he was leaving for work, and every afternoon when he got back. He would then be escorted to his sleeping quarters where he would be housebound till morning.
The door opened, and Hiccup bowed awkwardly as he tried not to spill the food he was still holding. Thorst stood at the doorway and smirked as Hiccup straightened back up.
"Hiccup! What brings you back so early? Shouldn't you still be at work?" Thorst inquired.
"M-master, Sir Valor let me out early so I decided to come back to my house," Hiccup explained.
"What's that you got in yer hands?"
"I picked up dinner for me and Toothless on the way back," Hiccup answered.
Thorst looked the food over and then saw the single fish. "Only got one fish for Toothless?"
"I-it's all I could afford Master," Hiccup said sheepishly, slightly embarrassed and guilty he didn't ask Hutch to get more than one fish for Toothless.
Hiccup supposed Thorst was either feeling generous or just in a good mood that day because Thorst then said. "Well, I'll take you back to your house then have a servant fetch more salmon for yer night fury."
Hiccup dipped his head because he didn't want to risk bowing again. "T-thank you, master."
Thorst took the lead as they walked down the short path that took them to Hiccup's sleeping quarters. Once they arrived, Thorst pulled out a ring of keys and began flipping through them till he came to the key to Hiccup's house. He put the key in the keyhole and turned to a key. There was a small click and the door unlocked. Thorst pushed the door open and held it open to allow Hiccup and Toothless to enter. Once inside, Hiccup quickly put the food down on the table in the center of the cave.
Once they were both inside, Thorst stepped back and closed the door. Hiccup waited until there was a small click and the door locked. As soon as it was locked, Hiccup knelt down to Toothless and pulled the muzzle off and threw it on his bed. Toothless walked over to one of the torches that were mounted on the wall and puffed a small flame and lit the torch up. The cave lit up with a warm glow as Toothless lit up the other two torches in the cave.
Toothless decided to take a quick nap before dinner. Toothless slipped onto the slab curled around in a circle and breathing fire on the slab so it heated up. Toothless patted the slab with his paws and laid down, quickly falling asleep.
Hiccup went over to his wardrobe and changed out of his work clothes, which consisted of a leather tunic, leggings, and a basic prosthetic leg similar to the one he had when he first lost his left leg, into his normal attire, the one had been wearing when he first arrived. He first put his leggings and shirt on, then the leather padding and tied all the buckles in place. He then snapped his mechanical prosthetic leg on. And finally tied his shoulder guards on. Hiccup rolled his shoulders and sighed with relief.
He walked back out of his little abode area and over to the table. The food was still warm, thankfully. He went over and picked up Toothless's platter and brought it back to the table. He put the fish on the platter and also slipped some sliced sage fruit on the side. After setting it back down next to Toothless's bed, Hiccup then began the laboring work of filling the water trough back up. Using a bucket, he transferred water from the steam and dumped it into the trough. It probably took around ten trips before the trough was full again.
Hiccup went over and prepared his own meal. He then picked up the plate of mutton and mug of mead and went to sit down beside Toothless. Placing his food down on the floor, he walked over to Toothless and shook his shoulder gently. The dragon growled and rolled over.
"C' mon bud," Hiccup said softly. "Let me take off your saddle."
Since it was extremely rare for Toothless and Hiccup to be allowed to fly together, Hiccup had long since stowed away his old saddle and since made Toothless a new one, because the old saddle was bulky and Toothless had no use wearing it if it couldn't be used.
Hiccup made a basic saddle similar to his original design nearly 10 years ago. The saddle was separate from the tailfin Toothless also wore. It was a strong black tailfin coated in a paste made from Toothless's shed scales and saliva. The tailfin had a retractable bar that could be attached to Toothless's right tailfin. Attaching the bar and flipping a switch would enable the tailfin to become automatic and allow Toothless to fly alone. When the bar was retracted and flip switched, a cable could be attached to the saddle and then Hiccup could steer the tailfin in the saddle. Toothless normally wore the saddle without the cables connecting to the tailfin and the tail fin was not on the automatic setting because Toothless wasn't normally allowed to fly, even by himself. Hiccup normally just rode on Toothless's back like a horse and the tailfin was mostly worn for anesthetic.
Hiccup got the saddle off and placed it on the ground. Toothless swept his tail around and placed it on Hiccup's lap. Hiccup unbuckled the tailfin and slid it off, placing it down next to the saddle. Toothless then sat up and opened his mouth and yawned, flashing his sharp teeth. Hiccup walked around and sat down to eat his food. Toothless stretched and stepped off the slab and laid down next to Hiccup and sniffed his fish. He snatched up the fish between his teeth and swallowed it whole. Hiccup ate his mutton and sipped his mead while Toothless wolfed down all the sagefruit. Once Hiccup finished his meal, he got up and placed the empty plate and mug back on the table.
Toothless licked the platter clean and gave Hiccup a look that said: "Give me more please".
Hiccup gave Toothless a defeated look. "Sorry, bud. I don't anymore. But I think more fish is on its way."
Toothless grumbled and clamored back onto the slab and curled up. Hiccup went over and picked up the platter Toothless was finished with and put it on the table as well. He'd wash it later. Right now, all he wanted was to get some shut-eye. He plopped down on his bed and picked up the muzzle that had been laying on the bed. It was a basic leather band that was fastened around Toothless's head and prevented him from being able to fire. It was a simple thing, yet so effective as it was impossible for Toothless not able to get it off by himself.
He growled and looked over at the peacefully sleeping dragon. He hated how a ferocious night fury and alpha of all dragons had been reduced to a lowly servant. Though Hiccup knew even though they were forced to act docile on the inside, the two of them were ticking timebombs of pent-up anger. Five years ago, Hiccup would have always spared somebody even if that person killed dragons, but now, Hiccup was different. From the harsh years they spent here, Hiccup and Toothless would not hesitate to kill. They had actually killed a man a little while back and threw his body in a bear den so when the body was finally discovered, it looked like the man had been mauled to death by bears.
As he thought about this, Hiccup shocked even himself about how ruthless he had become. A brief flashback to when he was nineteen. When Hiccup had been forced to work the dragon hunter Viggo Grimborn. At first the Viggo said he wasn't at all ruthless, but in the end, when Viggo sacrificed himself so Hiccup and Toothless could escape Johann's base, he told he was more ruthless than he could ever imagine. Hiccup now knew he agreed with the statement, seeing the person he had become.
Hiccup dropped the muzzle on the floor and reached under his pillow and withdrew a small folded piece of paper. He slowly unfolded the paper and read its contents slowly. It was a letter, that Astrid had given to him before he left on his trip. There was also a small note each from the twins, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Valka, Gobber, and Eret. They were all small notes either saying good luck, you're a yak-brain(Snotlout and the twins wrote this), or just saying how proud they are of him and that he needs to record and rescue each new dragon he finds. Hiccup had gotten a lead about an Island at least a few days flight away but it had a large port for selling imprisoned dragons. Though Hiccup knew it would be best it would be best if just him and Toothless went.
Now it took days to convince everyone, especially Valka and Astrid. But Hiccup assured that after he freed all the dragons, they were certain to fight with him because Toothless was there to command them.
But before he left, Astrid had given him this note and told him not to read it until he arrived at his destination. Hiccup then packed a small bag of things and left on Toothless, disappearing quickly disappearing into and not knowing that would the last time he'd ever see Berk or his beloved Astrid.
Hiccup read the note sadly, praying that he could see his family and tribe one more time before he passed to Valhalla. Hiccup was on the verge of tears when there was a loud knock on the door. Hiccup bolted upright and rubbed his eyes quickly. He folded the letter up and shoved it back under his pillow and walked then called, "You can come in!"
The door creaked open and a woman appeared in the doorway, lugging a large basket. Hiccup got up and walked over to the lady. Toothless, now interested in the new person, walked over. Hiccup placed his hand on the dragon's snout and told him to calm down. Toothless made a low grumble and sat down and watched the woman.
"Who are you?" Hiccup asked the woman, giving her a wary look.
The woman placed the basket down and bowed. "I am Dalla Ufidottir. I am one of Master Thorst's housemaids. I have brought the fish I was ordered to bring," There was a distinct shakiness in Dalla's voice that Hiccup recognized as fear. He knew many people, especially the servants, were afraid of Toothless. He looked at his friend and Toothless glanced back at him and yawned, unsheathing his sharp teeth. Hiccup then looked at Dalla and feared she'd have a heart attack.
Hiccup rubbed Toothless's nose and the dragon crooned softly. "See? He won't hurt you. He is just tired," Hiccup reassured Dalla though he could tell she was still terrified of him. Hiccup figured he should wrap it up. "The fish?"
Dalla snapped out of the fearful trance she'd been in and looked down at the fish basket. She bowed again. "Sorry, sir. I forgot about that. I was just… er… admiring your d-dragon."
"Oh, Toothless? Yea, he is quite the sight to behold," Hiccup said and Toothless beamed.
"T-toothless? Is that his name?" Dalla asked.
"Yea," Hiccup replied. "What of it?"
"W-well… I just thought well… he is such a ferocious looking dragon though and…" She caught sight of Hiccup's confused look. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to offend you or your dragon. I just didn't expect a dragon like him to be called Toothless."
"None taken. To be honest, I used to get that a lot. People wondering why I would name a night fury Toothless," Hiccup chuckled and looked over at Toothless and smiled.
Dalla looked confused for a moment until Toothless retracted his teeth and gave a toothless smile. She marveled at how cute Toothless now looked. "He can retract his teeth?"
"Yup. One of the many abilities of the night fury, right bud?" Toothless crooned loudly in agreement.
Dalla looked very interested, though Hiccup knew they had been talking for too long. "I don't want to keep you here as you might get in trouble."
Dalla nodded."Right. I should get going. Here are the fish for your dragon."
Hiccup grabbed the basket and slid it out of the way. Dalla bowed again and slowly pulled the door shut. Once he heard the click of the door locking, Toothless stepped toward the basket and sniffed it. Hiccup leaned down a opened it up, revealing a basket full of fish. As soon as he caught sight of the salmon, Toothless tackled the basket over and the fish fell all over the floor. As he lunged for a fish, his tail whipped around and slapped Hiccup square in the face, knocking him over. Hiccup's back hit the ground hard, and his body erupted in pain. He laid on the ground, not being able to move. He suddenly felt something wet on his face. Toothless was licking his face, concerned. After Toothless's licks began to be more vigorous, Hiccup sat up and pushed the dragon's snout.
"Yuck, Toothless," Hiccup laughed, as his face was covered in dragon slobber. His back was still raw from yesterday where a hot iron had fallen on his back. He only had mild second-degree burns because the iron hadn't been on his back for more than three seconds after Toothless removed it and vigorously licked his back. The burn was healing nicely but still hurt pretty bad whenever he put pressure on it.
With Toothless's help, Hiccup got to his feet again. He walked over to the stream and washed his face. Once finished, he walked back over to his bed and collapsed with a huff. He rolled on his side avoid his back from erupting in pain again. Hiccup closed his eyes. The cave was nearly silent besides the sound of Toothless wolfing down fish and the soft rush of the stream in the back of the cave. Hiccup grabbed the blanket and pulled it up around him. As he settled down comfortably, sleep quickly overtook him.