Unintentional Hero

Author: Nightstar Fury of Nightstar Productions

Rated: M for a variety of things that will happen

Pairing: Hiccup/Astrid

Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD

16; Lead Trainer

The new recruits suddenly gulped as their Drill Sergeant said their asses belonged to him for the next ten weeks while he turned them from civilians to soldiers. They saw Hayden's men staring from the windows, and of course Hayden heard then snickering as they watched Hayden go full DS mode on these poor recruits. Hayden wanted to roll his eyes but this was serious, then again maybe he could use his nosy friends to teach these recruits a lesson about the military: that it was certainly no joke. "Holgerson. Lennox. Ritka. Tarelto. Matthews. Fall in!" Hayden shouted. Instantly the five men ran in and stood at attention in line behind him. "These five men right here are my unit, we just got back an eighteen month tour in Afghanistan. This is Strike One of the the 1st Alpha Fire Squadron to the Dragonfire Platoon and all part of the 33rd Fury Fighters Division based in Afghanistan." Hayden introduced. "In ten weeks, this is what I will I will turn you into. Soldiers of the Barbaric Archipelago Army who are ready for anything."

"Yes Drill Sergeant!" The group replied. One of them put their hands up as Hayden only moved his eyes towards him and gave a nod to go ahead.

"Can I...just ask how old are you? You look our age." he said.

"I am eighteen years old and joined the army myself about two years ago. Two in October actually." Hayden responded firmly. "I get I'm young. I worked my ass off to get where I am right now. I tell you now that I won't tolerate disrespect so I'd watch it if I were you. Age don't matter, I'm still your commanding officer."

"You're...the one who trained a Night Fury. I heard my dad talk about it when he watching the news." Said one girl smiling.

"That would be correct, yes. My dragon is right outside the A barrack and don't get any bright ideas..." Hayden warned them. "Now, enough interruptions. We got work to do. Dinner is in an hour at the mess hall, you want to eat on time you best pick your bunk buddy and unpack your things. There will be an inspection ten minutes of. Girls on the right, boys on the left." Hayden ordered them. There was a knock on the door as Hayden turned heel and saw Corporal Milstead there with another recruit.

"Sorry to bother you, Lieutenant Haddock. Seems there was a late arrival, she just finished getting registered and the other barracks are full due to a miscount. All barracks have twenty-six recruits. Do you have room in yours?" Milstead asked softly, Hayden saw the girl and she couldn't of been older than sixteen. She looked utterly terrified too.

"I have one extra bed, Milstead." Hayden nodded to her, Milstead nodded as she stepped back with a salute and left the new recruit with Hayden. "What's your name?" Hayden asked.

"Jasmine Flinvor..." She said quietly, Hayden froze hearing the last name.

"Flin...vor?" Theo asked quickly, "Hayden that's..." He began, Hayden put his hand up to stop him from continuing and Jasmine's facial expressions changed quickly seeing Hayden now.

"You're...Hayden Haddock, you were my brother's best friend before he died. He talked about you in his letters to me." Jasmine said now.

"Oivind was a very good friend of mine and one of the bravest soldiers I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know." Hayden responded calmer. This girl was Oivind's little sister, what he wanted to know was why she was here if she looked so scared.

"My dad forced me to join, said to do the family proud...since my brother didn't." Jasmine mumbled closing her eyes looking down. Hayden was beside himself, her dad forced her to join the military to make the family proud since Oivind hadn't? Oivind died saving fifteen other people! Hayden was actually pissed off right now, Oivind mentioned having a sister who he missed a lot but never mentioned her name and now that sister was standing before him having been forced to join the military. The Flinvor father was making his own look like a saint. "Am...I gonna die?" Jasmine suddenly asked slowly.

Hayden was surprised by the question but he knew she was referring to if they got deployed after Basic, if she'd died like her brother had. "No. No you won't, Jasmine. I promise you won't die." Hayden told her firmly.

"How can you promise something like that?" Jasmine asked.

"Because I can. Trust me, okay?" Jasmine nodded to him as he took a breath, "Good. Now why don't you take this bunk right here alright and start unpacking." Hayden told her, she offered a small smile before taking her bag and putting it on the bed and starting to unpacking her things as Hayden stepped back with his unit. He couldn't believe this girl was Oivind's little sister and had been forced into being a soldier.

"Haddock? You alright?" Matthews asked.

"Keep an eye on them..." Hayden ordered as he left the barrack and walked outside and over to the A barrack, reaching his bunk that he still shared with Theo he pulled his wallet out and found the picture of Oivind, Theo, and himself. His friends were about to ask him if he was alright but they saw him just staring down at the picture in his hands. He closed his eyes as a single tear rolled down his cheek from his right eye. His friends stopped laughing instantly as they saw Hayden raise his head and look up. "I'll keep her safe my friend, my brother." Hayden vowed. Hayden didn't leave his bed the rest of the hour while the B barrack was unpacking, he put the picture away and jumped down to return B barrack to check on them. Walking in he saw all of them standing around their bunks. "Attention!" Hayden called out.

He watched as they all quickly stood still at their bunks quietly. Hayden walked through going over both sides, male and female. Thankfully he didn't have to be the asshole tonight and they all seemed to have things in order. "Good work." Hayden nodded approvingly.

"Lieutenant, perhaps time to give them their schedule and the rules of the barrack?" Lennox offered.

"Was getting to that, Lennox. Just because you've graduated Basic doesn't mean you talk while at attention." Hayden reminded.

"My apologies, sir." Lennox then kept his mouth shut.

"This will be your schedule for the next ten weeks so best pay attention. 5am: Wake up. 5:30am: Physical Training. 6:30am: Breakfast. 8:30am: Training. Noon: Lunch. 1pm: Training. 5pm: Dinner. 6pm: Drill Sergeant Time. 8:30pm: Personal Time. 9:30pm: Lights Out." Hayden informed them. "As for rules. I realized this barrack is coed, and I just assume you all behave yourselves because not doing so will result in immediate disciplinary action. Personal time is the only time you are allowed to lounge about, do your laundry, take a shower, and what not. Hence why its called personal time. As for showers because this is a coed barrack...Men will shower in the morning, and women at night. I suggest you use your personal time to do this with. Don't worry, I'll be here until showers are done for night and day. No cell phones usage unless its personal time. No snacks. You are mainly in here to sleep, change, and shower. Are your orders clear?"

"Yes, Drill Sergeant!" They replied. Hayden checked his watch now, ten of 5pm.

"Good. The next ten weeks here will be you learning how to become soldiers. The weeks are split into phases of one, two, and three. You will learn more about this tomorrow morning, for now get in your greens and get ready for dinner. We will be moving together as a squad to the mess hall. Fair warning, this will be the only night you get to eat slowly. The rest of the time, meals are kept short as to prepare you for war when you could have to rush out at a moments notice to fight the enemy. Are there any questions?" Hayden asked firmly. He saw Jasmine raise her hand a little and nodded to her.

"Are...we going to get deployed right after graduation like you did?" Jasmine asked nervously.

"That is not something I have the answer too, you won't be sent for deployment until you've graduated to privates." Hayden stated, she nodded stepping back. "Oh one last thing...Let's do a quick drill of your basic commands, I'll have my squad demonstrate. Follow outside." Hayden said as he moved to the door, his unit behind him, then the recruits. Once everyone was outside he stood before A barrack. "Expect to be doing the very same starting tomorrow..." Hayden warned. "Squad, Fall in!" Hayden ordered firmly. In about fifteen seconds all of the Alpha Fire squad rushed out in their BDU's and stood in a six by four square. "Aten-SHUN!" They snapped their feet together, hands at their sides and look straight ahead in silence. "Right, face!" They turned right, still at attention. "Left, face!" They turned left now. "Front, face!" They returned to facing front. "At ease." In this they saw the soldiers could move slightly as long as their right foot didn't leave the ground and they didn't talk. "At rest." It was the same position only light conversation was permitted and the right foot didn't leave the ground. "Parade Rest." They moved their legs shoulder width apart, arms being their back with the right in the left hand and palms out with no talking. "As you were." Hayden said, now they were moving and talking freely again.

"Don't look so scared, it's real easy once you do it a few times." Theo assured the recruits.

"Time for dinner. Lets see how much you remember..." Hayden grinned a bit. "Nightwave Squadron...Fall in!" Hayden ordered, the recruits quickly scrambled to get together in a square like the others had. Hayden walked around it for inspection. "Not bad at all...Alright, good. Now...Aten-SHUN!" They stood still, feet together and hands at their sides in silence. "Very good, lets try something new...Forward...March!" Hayden said.

"Left foot first!" Theo called to them, Hayden glared at him as he quickly shut his mouth and looked the other way.

"Maybe we let them figure it out so they can learn, Holgerson!" Hayden yelled at him. "In forward march, you move together as a group, left foot first and step at thirty inches a part." Hayden added. "Left, right, left, right. One. Two. Three. Four. Keep that in mind and your marching will be fine." The recruits followed it and eventually by the time they reached the half way to the mess hall they had it down and were marching in perfect formation. At the mess hall doors, "HALT" They stopped and remained still at attention. "Well done. Very impressed now go on and eat. Stay with your squad...Fall out!" Hayden ordered, they broke apart smiling and entered the mess hall. Hayden chuckled, such fun memories of DS Ramirez making them march until they couldn't walk. He'd have to call him one of these days and tell him that he got his wish, Hayden ending up a DS himself to handle squadron of unruly recruits.

"You good, Lieutenant?" Matthews asked coming beside him now.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's get inside..." Hayden answered as the Alpha Fire squadron entered next, got their food and finally sat down together to eat peacefully, first meal they'd had together since leaving Afghanistan so it was actually a good feeling to be able to do. After dinner, Hayden led Nightwave and Alpha Fire back to their barracks to enjoy what was their last night of easy. Starting in the morning, Hayden would be training them the same way DS Ramirez trained him. In all the ways to become a soldier.

(Four Weeks Later)

A month in to Basic and the Nightwave squadron was actually a little ahead of the others because when Hayden taught them how he'd been taught. He taught them to push themselves to success and they were all doing a great job too. Hayden was proud of them. His squadron was split up helping him and the others but they always came together for meals and at night before lights out which they never followed since they weren't trainees anymore. Currently they were working on target practice with their guns and grenades but were having trouble staying put when the gun fired. Hayden remembered his first time firing one, it pushed him on his back and landed him some push ups, sit ups, and a half mile run. Since then he never let it push him back again. His phone rang as he answered it without checking who was calling, nor did he realized it was Skype.

"Lieutenant Haddock here." He said.

"HAYDEN! What the hell is all that noise, you didn't deploy and not tell anyone did you?!" Camille screeched instantly.

Of course she'd call during gun practice, "No, Cami. Gun practice. What's up, I'm a little busy." Hayden told her.

"We haven't heard from you, got worried." Avery said softly.

"Sorry, been busy with the new recruits...Hold on," He looked to the recruits. "Come on, Nightwave! We ain't leaving this field until everyone hits the bulls eye at least once!" Hayden called to them.

"It's too hard, Drill Sergeant!" Yelled on of the girls, Hayden sighed closing his eyes and tossed his phone to Theo.

"Hold that..." Hayden said, "Cease fire!" He ordered, they did and began panting a little.

"What's he doing, Theo?" Avery asked now.

"About to show them how it's done...Watch." Theo said turning the camera so they could see him grab one of the left over guns, loaded it and stood in the middle of the group. From his standing position he held it up and tilted his head slightly closing on eye now and aiming. Finger on the trigger he fired at the target to the far right and hit the bulls eye. He went right down the line hitting all of them then looked at them.

"It's all stance and control. Lets go, everyone up!" Hayden told them. Slowly they all got up and watched him, they adjusted themselves like he was. "The gun isn't the weapon, you are. You are in control, not the gun. Don't let it control you, you control it. Now, line up and take control." Hayden stated stepping back.

"Yes, Drill Sergeant!" They replied firmly to him and took their stances again.

"FIRE!" Hayden called, and sure enough just about all of them hit their target that time and he smiled and saw Jasmine struggling with hers still so he walked over to her. "Hold it steady, can't fire when you're shakin like a leaf." He told her.

"I-I can't...I can't do it..." She cried lowering the gun. "Guns...killed my brother...I can't do it, Drill Sergeant...I'm sorry." she then fell to her knees crying harder.

"Cease fire." Hayden told the squad, they stopped and stepped back. Hayden crouched down in front of her, "Jasmine, listen to me alright? It's true a gun killed your brother, but the gun doesn't fire itself. Enemies fired those guns, enemies killed your brother. And he died saving a handful of others. You can't fear the gun because as much as it was used to harm...It can be used to protect. So take this gun, and aim for the target and protect." Hayden said calmly as he offered his hand to her and pulled her up with himself.

Jasmine held the gun up and aimed for the target but she was still shaking still and trying not to cry. "I-I can't..."

"Yes you can. Stop saying you can't and tell yourself you can! Come on now, you've made it this far. This gun is the only thing you have between protecting your family and friends and the enemies killing them. You are the only one who can keep them safe, Jasmine. That target is your enemy, that enemy who killed your brother. Stop letting the enemy win! Aim and fire, right now!" Hayden encouraged her. Jasmine had tears in her eyes but she narrowed them and lifted the gun again, this time no longer shaking she pulled the trigger and she hit the bulls eye perfectly. "And that one shot just protected Odin knows how many people. Remember that every time you hold and fire that gun, you're protecting the people you love."

Jasmine wiped her eyes as she nodded and smiled to him then out of the blue she hugged him around the waist, "Thank you, Drill Sergeant." She told him, Hayden hugged her with one arm, gave a nod and stepped back.

"Good work, all of you." Hayden said proudly as he took the phone back from Theo. "Guns down, clean up for lunch."

"Yes, Drill Sergeant!" The recruits calls as they put their guns to safety then placed them down in the crate before heading back to the barrack to get ready for lunch.

"Hayden...What gives you huggin another girl?" Rachel asked quickly.

"She was just thanking me." Hayden remarked as he took his gun off and set it down. He saw their unsure faces, and Avery's specifically looking really upset about it. "Do you all remember, Oivind?" He asked, they nodded. "That girl is his little sister, forced into the military by her father because he said since Oivind died that it's up to her to make the family proud. She's terrified to be here, and I made a promise to keep her safe."

"That's terrible..." Camille frowned some.

"Yeah, she's...like a little sister to me. I promised Oivind I'd keep her safe and I promised her that she wouldn't die. I protect her as I'd protect you, Cami..." Hayden sighed.

"We understand...So do you have time to talk, we're on lunch right now." Avery asked. Just as he was about to answer there was a lot of screaming and running. He looked closer to see wild dragons flying over. "What's going on?"

"Dragons...Those are all new recruits who aren't trained. Here, talk to my friends for a mine or two. I'll take care of this..." Hayden said handing the phone to Ritka and rushing off and then the guys followed him. "TOOTHLESS" Hayden called out then whistled for him. There was a slight screech as Toothless bolted out from behind A barrack and run along side Hayden-who jumped on his back and the took to the air where the wild ones were.

"What the hell is he doing?!" Seth said now.

"Don't you worry about, Haddock...He's got this." Lennox chuckled. They saw Hayden using Toothless to wrangle them flying in a circle overhead, after two minutes or so they saw Hayden fly straight up and the dragon followed him but one got to close and knocked Toothless which caused Hayden to fall off from a very high point in the sky.

"TOOTHLESS! Dive bomb!" Hayden called in the air, Toothless adjusted himself and whipped around as he tucked his wings and shot past Hayden and got under him then opened his wings slights to slow down as Hayden landing on him when Toothless was under him and the two glided in a quick turn upwards to avoid hitting the ground at such a strong force. "YEAH!" Hayden cheered as Toothless fired a blast of joy. "Now lets finish this..." Hayden smiled as he and Toothless landed under the circling dragons, he cupped his hands over his mouth as Toothless opened his own mouth and the two of them let out a very loud roar together. The dragons stopped and landed before him, bowing their heads to Toothless and Hayden-who got off Toothless and approached a Nadder who pressed it's nose to his open palm which was up because his hand was.

"Lieutenant! We brought-," The Major began but saw all the dragons calm near Hayden and blinked, "back up..." he finished.

"No need, it's handled." Hayden smiled to them.

"What that...You were never trained to take on dragon wrangling of that size..." Masons stated.

"I just went with what works...Just got show them who is in charge." Hayden stated while the Nadder nuzzled his face, then a Nightmare did the same. One of the Zipplebacks began snarling and growling but Toothless growled back baring his fangs at the two headed dragon. It expelled some gas as the second head sparked to light it, this time Toothless's back spines split into two making it look like a line of small V's while his back, top of the head, nostrils and inside the back of his throat was glowing blue. Toothless roared loudly again as the Zippleback stepped back and bowed it's head to Toothless in submission almost.

"I didn't know you could do that, Toothless..." Hayden blinked in surprise, he honestly didn't know his dragon could glow blue! It was unheard of at that. Toothless huffed a bit as he stomped his foot down and the other dragons took to the sky, with a wave to left of Toothless's head the dragons flew back into the forest. The blue faded as Hayden just stared at his friend. "What was that bud?"

"I've heard that dragons are known to be pack and will follow one leader. But that's normally with their own species of dragon, it's not like them to all listen to just one. Toothless must be different." Said another DS.

"No...The dragons must bow to one superior dragon who leads them all. Toothless is the only Night Fury known, and their entire race is unknown. No other dragon can...split it's spines and...glow. Toothless must be...something like an Alpha to them. And everyone bows to the Alpha and follows his orders." Hayden stated calmer now, Toothless seemed to nod to Hayden-who assumed he was right now.

"So what you're saying is that...Toothless, because he's the only Night Fury around, is the...king of all the dragon species?" Major Masons asked.

"It appears that way." Hayden shrugged.

"And they...listen to you because you and him are bonded?" Asked Masons again.

"I guess so? I mean he roared and I copied it so maybe they assume I'm in charge too. How should I know? Dragons are complex creatures, they probably have thousands of secrets we don't know about..." Hayden stated.

"Well then, Lieutenant...It appears you just became the lead dragon trainer." Major Masons grinned.

"Sorry, come again?" Hayden blinked.

"You just became the lead dragon trainer. If they listen to you and your dragon, then we can train more riders. You can still be DS of Nightwave squadron too. You can't say no, you're perfect for this job." Masons smiled. Hayden felt Toothless nudge him and croon. How could he say no, he did excel with dragons-after all he bonded with a Night Fury.

"Alright fine, I'll do it." Hayden sighed then added, "But I make the rules about dragon training and riding, fair enough?"

"Absolutely. You're lead dragon trainer now, however you want to do it." Masons nodded. Hayden nodded is response. And suddenly he was lead dragon trainer with his Night Fury, Toothless of Fort Titanwing. Now having a second position at the base, his time became incredibly constricted. He finished talking to his sister, girlfriend, and friends before hanging up then eating lunch and worked with his recruits more. After that all went down and after dinner was over, he was working on how to handle being DS to Nightwave and lead dragon trainer because it was going to be anything but easy.