When Hiccup finally woke up sun was already up beyond island. She get up from sand, already in hers normal form, dusting off sand from hers face and hair. She again looked at cliff, with feeling of lost. She tried. She always do, but there was no escape from what she become, whatever she would done. This was her real life nightmare. Gritting hers teeth, she stood up, went forward into forest now in sun light just in direction of village.
In a way she admitted beautiful view of forest she find herself in. Smell of grass, several flowers and trees from which's leaves sun was peeking. She wasn't scared, not at all. Maybe, few years ago she would, she used to be scared of attack of wild animal, or getting lost in big, almost trice size of village forest, not now. She understood that in this horrible world, death is just only happy thing that can happen to her now, she almost every night would walk in these forests so she knew every corner of it. What she would be scared of then?
Few minutes later she found herself in place she rather not to be close to. She stopped, just to inspect it again. Just in across from stone cove... place in which all of it began... place in which she last time saw that lokisbloody dragon... place in which she betrayed hers ancestors by freeing night fury. Same rock she hide behind didn't changed it's position... obviously. Ropes in which dragon was shackled, which she cut with same knife she had pinned to hers arm, now were covered in grass and few flowers from passing these years.
She stood there, not knowing of what to think about. Every time she stood there, she had same thoughts. She should kill it, with it's heart go to hers father, become true Viking... not the thing she is now. Anyway, why she didn't? Because she saw something into it's eyes? What even she could seen there? It was only odin's know. Dragon, that dragon, it's just machine to kill and destroy, it's life existence is to eat and kill! But... deep inside she knew it wasn't whole truth... if it was, dragon would kill her on first sign, when she let that go. That was the worst, that she didn't thought about dragon bad, she wasn't full of revenge, or something. No, she was actually... thankfully... and honoured.
When hers time there finally ended, hers way towards home continued. Again, another day in this unfair world... she could just wait for what future would bring... who knows, maybe today would something change, right? She could at least hope for so. About time, she placed hers foot in hers village, she didn't felt peaceful, that now she was home, she should. She thought she should, but she didn't. She just started to got even more anxious about being attacked, even more than in forest. Casual, everyday thing.
Stopping by hers house, which was the highest settled in whole village, except for theirs healer Gothi,umm second highest settled. She started climbing it's roof, which was reaching ground. When she get to window, she immediately jumped inside, landing at bed and instantly feeling asleep. Hers room was, in strange shape, if it could be say so. It was messy, but in tidy way, big, but because of laying paper small, just indescribable mess.
Hers moment of peaceful was disrupted by hers father, which like after kicking doors out, got in waking her up. "Good mornin'! Sun is shinin'!" Afterwards Hiccup just fell down from bed towards ground.
She lifted hers head. "Already? Ugh, dad please-"
"Today is important day! And, as woman in our household, ye're makin' breakfast." He pointed.
"I know." She slowly stood up, annoyed of hers duties. "Since when yer wakin' up that early?"
"As I said, todays important day, we have to prepare for trainin'"
"What?" She asked surprised "I never had them that early! Why now?"
"Because, it wouldn't be yers, I want yer to see other's, how they should look like Hiccup."
"Oh no." She hide herself behind hands. "Dad, I beg yer-"
"I'm doin' what the greatest for yers good! Believe me, it's goin' to help yer!" He said excited. "Now, breakfast." He pointed at doors.
Hiccup nodded and rushed towards stairs which was leading to theirs kitchen, or more likely rest of house. Haddock's house been created of one big room, just at the entrance, deeper in it was doors leading to Stoic's room and obviously Hiccup's room at the attic. Centre room was only included into big fire place, one table at the corner, big cauldron at the centre, few baskets with food and Stoic's throne, at least Hiccup named it so. She hated that thing.
She got herself to work, perpetrated few eggs which was taken from village shelter. Getting water boil in cauldron she got them in, went for bread and cut it into slices. Then, she was forced into going to local farmer, few miles from them, for the fresh goat milk as theirs supplies were running out of it.
Finally after finishing, she put three of eggs and 2 slices of bread at ones of wooden plates, and another but with only 1 egg and slice of bread. Hers and hers father breakfast. Both sat by table, and started to eat together. So, today he will be joinin'? Stoic, mostly because of his duties as chief, didn't joined her at eating, today he would now smile at her, excited as never, without word eat his meal. At last he won't say any lecture or any of his unnecessary remark.
Don't get her wrong. She loved hers father. She understood what he is doing, really is for hers good. It WOULD if it wasn't for... not now Hiccup, NOT NOW, he is here, DON'T CRY. And with that marriage? Same story. He is doing that for, maybe not hers good, but village's one. She is sure he knows what he is bringing at her, but same way he can't do otherwise. That's why they had deal. Deal in which she would show hers village she would be good chief, deal which would free her of hers terrible fate. He wouldn't propose that, if he hadn't loved her such much.
Ready, after eating, both of them had to hurry up as before noon another of young's training would be starting. That's right, Hiccup had training separately. Why? That's because she is chief daughter! At last that's why everyone says, truth is she is too weak for her father to join fights for better Vikings.
'Or I just DON'T want attempt in them!' Hiccup thought.
Two Haddocks found themselves by arena when trainings already started. She actually was rather happy about their lateness, because of hers frighten about hers fathers 'big motivational speech' in which not only everyone would have to look at her, gods please no, but then she would listen about another's teenagers greatness and theirs maturing, which she knew half of them didn't.
"Now Hiccup, take that new knowledge and pull into that brain of yers." With that Stoic pocked Hiccup's head and left her, probably to talk with parents of now in training.
She looked around it, thinking how much she would like to be there, with them. She never had friend in them actually. There weren't any of strong emotions towards them in her, but not knowing why she always wanted to be part of them. To be close to them, maybe it was just need of company or something? Maybe it was just loneliness? She never cared about having to talk with someone, but now... conversation with somebody she trust would be good change.
As she focused on what happened around her, she noticed lesson today was about Gronckle, one of most strongest, but at same one of smallest dragon they saw on theirs island. Only smaller was terrible terror, of course if we meant only these she saw on hers real eyes, not these she saw in books. As she looked, she noticed that one was nervous, and she couldn't find it strange. Hiccup started to feel understanding towards dragons, not in magical way, but in normal, as she saw them. They were... scared, all dragons, even that one she fought. They wanted to be free, she understood that. She wanted to be too... but it wasn't that easy.
"Hey, sis, isn't that our favourite fishbone?" One of blond twins at area pointed at her with his long spear.
"Heh, yeah. Yer came here to see what true Vikings can! Time has come princess!" Both laughed, almost getting hit by small, but giant for them body of Gronckle. Hiccup rolled eyes at them, staying quiet.
That's twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorstons, when I said that half of them didn't matured at all, they are that part. What can I tell? They just big, unorganised mess, or always fight somebody, or themselves. One day without teasing her, would be day lost for them. They love jokin' around, makin' traps and like that stuff. Now, even so they together fightin' dragons pretty well, they still are probably second? Third the biggest problem of village. Seconds are dragons, and first...me.
"If she is there, is that mean chief is there too?" Asked rather big body boy, but with nervousness in voice.
"Duh? Isn't that obvious?" Ruff rolled eyes on him.
"It's hers father, and it's sure he would want to see US in some great action" Tuff smiled and pointed at his muscles. Everyone in area just or facepalmed as his sister, or just ignored him like Hiccup.
Nervous one, with hammer in hand would be Fishlegs Ingerman, one of them, which actually has brain, and he is usin' it pretty well. As teenager he was really interested in dragons at all, in culture, in theirs habits, he already knows probably every of their weakness! Problem is even so, he don't actually uses them. Just as me he is scared to kill, probably there is difference between our scares, he is just unconfident about it. At last he become one of well-knowin' dragon person in our village. His work really helped continuin' Bork's dragon book and besides from day to day he is becomin' better and better fighter.
"What Fishlegs? Yer scared chief is goin' to banish yer from village because of yers like girl yellin'?" Joked Ruffnut.
Fishlegs focused on them "I would be proud to be yellin' girl alike lookin' at our's woman pride in village-"
"Expect Hiccup of course." Tuffnut added and laughed loudly with her sister, again almost getting knocked by dragons because of theirs lack of focus.
"Can yer pay attention finally! Yer gettin' just more annoyin' everyday! We need to attack with all we have!" Screamed at them another in area boy.
Tuffnut snapped. "Hey! Yer were like that not so long ago! Yer better-" His sister pocked him with hers arm, shutting him down. Both now focused with yelling attacked dragon.
The biggest surprise of our village, even I think what happened to him was much impressive. Snotlout, pride of Jorgensons, he weren't like that time ago. As child alike he was arrogant, he still is a bit, cocky and pushy boy, my cousin which loved bullin' me, flirtin' with every girl in village. Everything changed after death of his father, Spitelout. Everything. Spitelout was rather not the best father, too high expectations, pointin' out his mistakes. He died on one of dragons raid, leavin' behind two children Snotlout, his little sister Adelaide and his wife on theirs own. Afterwards Snotlout become family only male member, his duty was to take care of them, and he took it really deeply. Now, he is trainin' really hard, sometimes even overworkin' himself. He even changed his behaviour towards me! He still was showin' my weakness, but not in mean way, I was his family now, he wanted me to become better version of myself. Afterwards I really could only be proud to be part of that family.
After Snotlout lecture everyone focused much, running in direction of dragon, surprising it that much it started to run from them. Hiccup understood, she would too. It was ready to hide itself into its cage but was stopped by girl, no, young woman which jumped at it, knocking it to ground. She placed hers axe just above it's head, ready to attack.
Astrid, Astrid Hofferson. There isn't much to say about her, but that's because she didn't changed, she didn't had to. Since hers childhood it was sure she would become one of the greatest village fighters. She was confident, straight towards everything and everyone, she wasn't scared actually of anything. She was just everything Viking should be, and she hates me. She hates me such much, she wouldn't even look at me, she wouldn't talk to me, if I were on fire, and she would have only water, she would drink it! For sure. That's because of accident which happened 5 years ago. I would love to just, go in time, and fix it, I really would.
Astrid looked at dragon just under her, she smirked satisfied, she prepared axe to kill beast herself, fully proudly. Hiccup immediately closed hers eyes, she couldn't help it, she felt bad for poor dragon's fate. It was just alike looking at death of hers own. She didn't wanted that feel. She didn't wanted to feel dragons as hers own. She didn't, but she had it.
"Stop!" Stoic yelled, focusing all attention of all gathered "Astrid I'm full of proud girl, but yer can't kill that dragon. That's ours last ones, and we need them at trainin'. I'm sure there will be occasion for yer, but not today."
Astrid just lifted hers head. "Alright chief, thank you for approval."
"As always, it's honour at my side dear. Class is dismissed." Stoic informed and went towards Hiccup. "That's how it should be done." He whispered to her, making her much uncomfortable and embarrassed. "Gobber asked yer to forge, better go now." With that, he left her alone.
Hiccup looked last time at area, young ones compliment each other. She didn't noticed but now she was staring at them. If only...
Sky was now covered into beautiful orange colour as sunset came. Hiccup already was in forge at least all day, with Gobber both had to fix weapons from latest attack. There was ones which needed only sharping, ones which needed alignment, ones that now were only handle, and ones... which now only would fit into garbage, or used as metal for news ones. First Gobber rule : never throw any metal, for one-trash, for one-beautiful treasure. For him even broken spoon could be used as weapon creating material. And it's not so easy to create from spoon a whole knife! Again, for Gobber it isn't problem.
Hers now main focus was at one of axe needing sharping when she was disrupted by known by her voice. "Yer know what to do." Snotlout, with that he just left her and went towards his friend which stood at little distance from her.
She looked at table, there were theirs weapons from training, 2 spears, seems as 2 little sharping. Hammer almost without any stains, she will say she done work and throw it as done. One mace, not in bad shape, but sharping would be to little, she had to align it by handle. Axe, which belonged to of course to Astrid, as always no need of sharping, she really took care of it, as mace, only align.
Meanwhile she took care of weapons she had chance to listen in them without theirs notice, she always did. No surprise here, she wanted to know more about them, about theirs life, simply curiosity. She couldn't ask them, so what else she could.
"Ugh, we have to be here? Can't Gobber fix them?" Grumbled Ruff.
"It's smellin' here of cow shit" Tuffnut laughed and pointed at Hiccup working in forge. Enough loud for her to hear that and inside feel offended.
"First of all, yer don't have to like her, she just fixin' weapons" Snotlout acknowledged. "Second of all, that's my cousin AND yers future chief, better have some respect towards her." He warned, Hiccup felt bit honoured.
"If she is goin' to be our chief, that village would be burn in less than 2 days." Tuffnut laughed.
"We're not sure if Hiccup will be letted at chief's position, even if she would be like Astrid." Fishlegs informed. "Tradition says that only man can become chief, there were of course situations in which women would become-"
"But for sure not Hiccup." Ruffnut mumbled.
"Most probably she would just been forded into marriage, we would then had chief as hers husband." Fishlegs continued.
Tuffnut teasing continued "If there even would be found someone who would like her"
"For sure there would, everyone would like to become chief, even if he had to marry Hiccup. It's worth that." Snotlout informed. "That's why yer should become respectful towards her. Even so she won't be chief, her husband for sure." He threatened.
"Why yer protectin' her that much Snotlout?" He was disrupted by Astrid which by conversation was not really into it.
"I'm not. We both know I'm right, better for them to treat her right than be punished for insultin' chief." Explained Snotlout.
Ruffnut confused. "But Hiccup wouldn't-"
"Insultin' chiefness is synonymous to insultin' chief." Fishlegs immediately pointed.
"Still, I don't think she is worth protectin'" Astrid continued.
"Can't yer just give up on that old situation?" Snotlout asked, annoyed by hers words.
"Ahh right! Yer remember brother? Astrid won trainin', she could kill hers first dragon, Nightmare!" Ruffnut teased.
Tuffnut teased with her "Yes! Oh, but then Hiccup 'accidentally' let that think go, oh how sad. Astrid poor thing, didn't ever killed-" He was interrupted by Astrid knife just above his neck.
She snapped "It's so funny to yer?!" Hers threats was disrupted by explosion just mile ago. Everyone looked at sky above them, almost night... Dragons...
Immediately they all throw themselves for weapons, already fixed. Hiccup wasn't there as she hide behind doors so they wouldn't notice she heard that entire thing. They took what was theirs and went to help theirs people. Meanwhile Hiccup didn't exactly knew what to do, she knew she now will have hands full of work, by every new blow in village there will be much of weapons to fix, but then she was frozen.
So, these guys look at her just through the prism of hers future position? Did they already forgot she is living being? She is human? Not actually, but she had feelings! Hers thoughts were stopped by Gobber which just run through doors.
"Ah Hiccup! Good yer here! Attack began! We had work young lad!"
She focused. "Right..." That's how it always been. "I'm coming."
The sounds of explosions, roars of different types of dragons, smell of burn and yelling of angry vikings. Yep, typical dragons raid. She took herself to job, there were at least already 3 axes for fixing and sharping. She got herself to job, meanwhile doing that she occasionally looked outside, looking just at situation before hers eyes.
She saw the war of two armies, the biggest problem was she didn't knew at which side she should stand by. Truth is that dragons steal their food, sheep, cows, everything that was made of something they could it, but then why they even done that? Dragons were natural hunters, they could hunt outside theirs village, so why steal? Not even saying they actually barely taking Vikings, like our meat would be different from animal ones.
Then there was Viking side, one that for sure should be hers, but for reason it wasn't. She could just ignore hers nature, forgot that even she had that mobility to become one of them. But then, there was scare, what if someday she wouldn't control herself? Day when hers secret would came out? Not only they would name her as witch, or demon, she wouldn't have any possibilities of protecting herself. One, she didn't wanted hurt them. Second, she didn't even knew how to be dragon, she didn't even walk properly!
Then, immediately hers only focus went towards one sound. She dropped axe she was now taking care of. Sound of swish, loading, mighty roar and then explosion that loudly she was sure it was hearable in whole village. But, it couldn't be... it just couldn't... but then... she heard that. No. No, no, no... NO! It was hers biggest nightmare, hers biggest fear, hers curse...
"NIGHT FURY! Yer say me, yer heard that too?" Gobber yelled loudly as he went to her.
"Yes..." she said not hiding hers nervousness.
He looked at window before him. "My gods."
Hiccup rushed to see what he saw. In place in which stand one of catapult towers, or rather stood, was now biggest fire she saw. One of it's blast almost knocked whole stone construction! It was angry, she knew it was. She knew why. Unfortunately, she knew why!
"I have to help them. That one dragon can burn almost all village by itself!" He immediately changed his one of prosthetic forms hammer one into axe one and run out not even thinking of ordering her to stay, which he always done.
She looked at sky, as human she couldn't notice it at dark night sky, but she could now hear it perfectly. Again swish, load, roar, blow. 2 shots down, 4 left. At last she hoped so. She never actually used hers fire so she didn't knew what is Night Fury's limit. She wished she tried it now. Swish, load, roar, blow. 3 down. She actually didn't knew what she was doing now, but not long later she had sword in hers hand and rushed from forge.
She run just forward. Forward as fast as she could. She run into only direction, cliff. Cliff at which time ago she shot that's mysterious dragon. She ignored all yelling of another Vikings, actually she didn't even heard them, hers hearing was almost like hers ears turn off, just to turn on at sound of Fury. Swish, load, roar, blast. 2 lasted.
When she got at hers objective point, she waited. Waited for unavoidable. Waited for hers fate to come. Waited for Night Fury. She never was able to kill another dragon, mostly because she felt just like that poor thing. But, there won't be any easy on that one. It did it to her. She was in such mess because of it. Since it's last being here, everyone thought Night Fury already became extinct, there at sky was last of them. She is going to do something she should that 5 years ago. Today, was hers day.
She thighed grip of hers sword, stood confidently, but still shaky. She today or win or die. There wasn't any other option. Hers hopes was destroyed by giant dragon just behind hers back. Monstrous Nightmare. Pair of big wings, big claws and teeth with surprising ability. It roar loudly at her, getting ready to attack in any moment, then it stand in fire itself. She froze, what now?
When she was surely it's how she is going to end, without attempt of revenge, she heard something she didn't expect now. Swish, load, even loudly roar, but then shot which's target wasn't her, but said dragon. Immediately it was send away from her, knocking it down. But why? That's not making any sense?
Hers all questions were explained just seconds after mighty Night Fury emerged itself from darkness. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't. It was, same dragon, she noticed it by eyes, but it wasn't really. It was much bigger from last time! How would be she able defeat it in battle?! Even hers father wouldn't !? Now it was size of maybe even Death Nader! Last time she saw it, it was little bigger than big Gronckle!
One of answers explained itself, it didn't wanted to safe her, not at all. Night Fury, with eyes in slits, teeth showing dangerously, got only closer to her. It want to kill her itself. It want to revenge, clear revenge. It was hers fate all along. If it wanted hers death that badly couldn't it kill her back then!? It wanted her to suffer for these 5 years?! She slowly went backwards from it, just to trip over. Now she was directly at height of it's teeth. She still tried to go backward, but found herself at stone wall. It was end.
It looked at her, proudly of itself. In moment when hers time was counted she heard yelling of hers father, begging demon itself to let her go. It just roared afterwards. Hiccup knew it wouldn't shoot, just one lasted, one just for her. Stoic with his mans decided to attack, Night Fury was surrounded. There were too much of them, but dragon would just give up that easily. There wasn't no fight, dragon took Hiccup by hers cloth in hers claws and with that, both now was in air.
Stoic looked in direction of theirs flight, tears formed in eyes. "Demon went into forest. I'm looking for volunteers for search."
She was afraid. She was horrified. She was frighten as never. Claws of now carrying her dragon dig into hers flesh, but she didn't felt that. She actually didn't felt anything. Hers mind was racing, she didn't yelled, not at all. She was frozen. She was defenceless, while tripping she let go of sword, now only thing she could was- NO, no, there is no point! Don't even think about it. Just let that dragon kill, it should do it that 5 years ago, hers fate just happening. There is no point of fighting.
She felt grip of dragon lighten and before she knew anything she was at ones of branch, above her Night Fury still furious, ready to straight attack. She looked down, fall from that height could easily kill her. No point in running away, even so it was Nigh Fury, it would run out her in blink of eye. Just breathe, it's going to end in while, just a while.
"After all this time. Again in same situation, this time I won't hesitate." Hiccup could hear rather manly voice, but not from any random direction, but from dragons one. She wasn't surprised. She heard that clearly. She only could now close hers eyes.
"You're going to pay for what you have done." It opened month, deadly teeth in ready.
Hiccup confused. "Me?" She said nervously.
Night Fury looked at her. "You hear me? But-" It, or rather he shook his head "You're witch, of course you do!"
She continued on theme, now confidently. She wanted to find out what's going on! "What you meant by me? You have done that to me!"
"I never did anything to you! You destroyed my entire life!" Voice in Hiccup head get louder.
"Yer think I'm what? Witch?! Me?!" She pointed at herself "I'm just human! Or rather was. Ye're big demonic lizard! If one of us is here magical, it's yer!"
"So you aren't? But then...If you hear me, that only could mean..." To both of them realisation came, but then suddenly... branch broke.
