Chapter 5 Trapping the mind IV: Fear
Trigger warning: this chapter will contain explicit details of violence and gore.
The riders regrouped with the twins and flew in diamond formation because of the addition of Eret. Coming against them was five ships, all made out of black wood. Five daggers cutting through the white foam and blue waves.
"Alright," Hiccup said "We have to make this quick, so let's cross-sweep them again. There is a fog coming down on us."
The rest of the group nodded, but Eret spoke up "we cross what?"
"Right "Hiccup replied "you don't know, just follow Fishleg's command."
The ex-trapped nodded in understanding.
"Hiccup wait" Astrid yelled, "there is no cloud cover, how are you going above them?"
"I'm not "Hiccup grinned while pulling out a helmet with an orange, transparent substance that created a line of sight.
"Wait, that's the helmet you wore during the Submareapper incident" Astrid identified the object.
"Exactly, but know, I adjusted it to hold some air within. I'm going below." Added Hiccup before diving into the water with Toothless. Taking his cue, the rest of the riders moved according to the plan.
•—0—•
The fight was short, as the ships were no match for the Dragon riders: the cross-sweep was a powerful strategy, utilizing the ships' clumsiness against them. Eret charged in first with Fishleg and the twins. The Gronckle and the Zippleback quickly took out the weaponry while the Rumblehorn ran through the mast, making collapsed on the deck. Just like last time, the rest of the ship tried to circle them around, but the trio quickly pulled out of the conflict to allow Snotlout and Astrid to strike the exposed sterns. The third one went down when Toothless blast it, emerging from the water, with a fully charged plasma blast. Panic started to rise within the Vikings, and the last two ships, taking calculated damages from the riders, painfully turned around and sailed into the fog that was starting to form. The six riders hovered in place, watching the two battered vessels leave. At this moment, Toothless' ear flap raised, drawing Hiccup's attention. "What's wrong, bud?"
The dragon cooed before gesturing the water. Hiccup took out his spyglass and saw a Viking in the water, struggling to stay afloat
"There is someone in the water, he's about to drown. I'm going after."
"Hiccup, are you crazy? That's our enemy!" yelled Snotlout.
"No, the Headless are, the majority are probably captured warrior, forced under their rules, forced to fight, to die for them." Hiccup replied. Nonetheless, his eyes trailed back to Fishleg and Astrid, seeking their decision. The husky Viking nodded while Astrid mouthed "Be safe."
"I'll be right back, stay right here" he instructed to the group before gesturing Toothless to fly towards the drowning Viking. The back dragon scooped up the almost unconscious form, and flew top speed towards the ships.
A whistle sounded in the sky. "Night Fury" someone yelled before they all ducked for cover. Toothless dropped his package on a pile of supplies before immediately turning around, and flew into the densifying fog.
Suddenly, a black form emerged from the fog, just next to the hovering dragons. Hiccup was able to see it, but his friend couldn't since it was coming just outside of their view. It was a small, one Viking vessel. On the deck stood a tall but slim figure, wearing a grey ensemble that blended in with the fog. It was crouched on one knee, a big crossbow in hand. The Viking adjusted the crossbow to his left shoulder, before aiming it at the group. As he flew past, Hiccup couldn't help to notice that everything in his gesture was calculated, rehearsed to not waste a single bit of strength. He saw the man flinch back slightly and a silver line dashed through the air. Calculating its trajectory, his eyes widened in fear.
"Top speed bud, now" he ordered Toothless, lying flat on his back. The dragon, sensing the distress in his rider's tone, accelerated by pumping his wing as hard as he can. A screeching sounded in the air while a trail of white smoke appeared around the dragon. Seeing that the arrow was approaching its target quicker than he did, Hiccup didn't think twice: he reached down and pulled the lever to lock Toothless tail in position. The dragon then bumped him off his back, the additional momentum made him crashing with the figure on top of the dragon.
As soon as he enveloped the arrow's target in his arm, Hiccup felt the burning pain of the arrow piercing his armor, but he didn't care. They were falling, the winds battered against his face, burning his eyes, but he didn't care. The angle by which he tackled the rider made them spinning quickly in the air, making him dizzy, but he didn't care. All that he cared was the arrow didn't hit its destined target, that Astrid was safe within his arm.
"Hiccup?" he heard her mutter against his chest "What in Odin's name is going on."
Before he got to answer, he felt the sharp pain of the piercing object being now coupled with a sensation of burning. He felt something work through. The arrow has to be poisoned he thought but quickly shut it off, only knowing that something worse was going to happen. On the corner of his eye, he saw Stormfly, diving with them. The Nadder let out a squawk, meaning that she couldn't get a good grip without hurting them. Thinking quickly, Hiccup locked Astrid limbs with his own.
"What are you doing Hiccup?" she asked, still shocked.
"Trust me." Hiccup replied before pushing her away. The push slowed her spinning and allowed Stormfly to grab her with her tails. Relief to see her safe, Hiccup pulled the leather straps on his ankles, deploying his flight suit. Falling turned into gliding, but the burning sensation was getting more intense. At its peak, he heard a small "pop" before being surrounded by a chocking, light blue mist. Coughing hard, he lost his balance and started falling again. He felt something pass between his leg, breaking his fall: it was Toothless, dorsal fin split in two that scooped him up. "Thanks, bud," he said to the dragon, scratching his jaw.
"He got away," Eret said when Hiccup and Astrid regrouped.
"It's fine" the leader replied in a tired tone.
"Hiccup, you're hit" Yelled Fishleg, seeing the wound on Hiccup's lower back. It was leaking red, but the wound was also presenting lines of light blue "and it's poisoned."
"I know, Fishleg, lets head back."
"Hiccup," said Astrid. "You saved me again, thank you." She smiled.
At the sight of her soft pink lips curved into a whole heartily smile, Hiccup couldn't help to smile as well.
"Always, Milady."
\/—•—\/
Back on the outpost, Fishleg immediately went into his hut to retrieve the Book of Herb, trying to identify the poison and find the correct cure. Doing a quick headcount, Hiccup realized that he was missing one.
"Where's Grim?" He said.
"Hum, I maybe think that I have left him on one of the Lures." Snotlout said quietly, at least, he was looking guilty.
Hiccup grunted, before immediately holding his head. Snotlout or the twins never failed to give him headaches, but this time, it was worse, way worse. "I'll go, you guys have some rest" and before anyone got to say a word, he and Toothless were already out of earshot.
Arrived on the Lures, Hiccup was met with a cocky grin on Grim's face.
"Told you that you should have let me stay back in camp. Would have saved you the trip." Said him cheekily. Hiccup grunted once more, the headache getting worse. He ordered Toothless to grab the Viking in his pawn and the trio headed back.
On the way back, his breathing was becoming shorter and quicker, and his perceptions changed. The air around him suddenly had an odor, odor of fear, and danger. The wind suddenly had a melody, melody of a funeral march. His whole body tensed up. The dragon below felt the grip on his neck tightened considerably, but he also felt the distress that his best friend radiated. So, he let out a soft croon, before pumping his wing harder, wanting to get back to the camp as quickly as possible. Little did he knew, flying faster only worsened Hiccup's sensations.
The Viking wanted to pass his hand on his face in order to whip these feelings away, but his hand came up much faster than he expected and he hit his face painfully. He groaned in pain and looked down at his hand in confusion. He tried other movements, and just like the first one, they all were faster than his normal ones. When the Outpost was in sight, Hiccup felt that his mind was started to physically heat up, processing a million thoughts at the same time.
Toothless announced his arrival by a roar and dropping Grim on the ground like a bag of flour. Hiccup stumbled off Toothless back and almost tripped himself. He was panting hard and had to put a hand on the black dragon to prevent him from falling again. He closed his eyes to try to control the overbearing sensations, but the darkness only made it worse. He heard the melody of everyone, smell the fragrance of 'all of them. And against his will, images started to play on the inside of his eyelid.
TW for the following scene(there will be short summary of what happened at the very end.)
He saw a much younger Snotlout facing a younger Viking, skinny, small, clumsy but with emerald, intelligent eyes. Hiccup realized that he was looking at a younger version of himself. He saw the already sturdy Snotlout hit Hiccup across the face with a sneer. 'Hello there, Useless?' he sneered. The jet haired Viking then proceed to beat him all over. And when he was whimpering on the ground, a tall and round shape with a fully-braided red beard stood over him. 'you're such a disgrace. I am ashamed to call you my son. Why can't you be like Snotlout." Why can't you be like Snotlout? These words resonated in his ears, he heard every single bit of deception, shame, vile, hate. The world twisted black in a shade of light.
The scene rapidly evolved through time: both boys grew up, forged a solid cousin relationship, and were now riding dragons, in fact, they were in the middle of a mission: they have successfully infiltrated a dragon hunter ship. Hiccup was in front, a lantern in his hand, Snotlout behind. He heard shuffling behind and a muffled scream. Hiccup spun on his ankle and faced Viggo behind Snotlout, his sword through the young Viking chest. The auburn Viking saw his cousin muttered his last word: I should never have agreed to come with you, it was written with pieces of guts and blood that dropped out of his mouth. Then his head changed to Stoick with an angry scowl "A chief protects his own, Hiccup, and you failed to protect your cousin. He followed you, and you lead him to his death.:" The tone was dark and hatred but was slowly fading away, and with it, faded the presence of Snotlout that he sensed.
Hiccup, eyes still closed, smelled two alike odors, and heard similar sounds: they were both intrepid but trustworthy, mischievous but playful. The twins appeared in front of him. He was chained into the wall, and in front of him, the twins were locked in a translucid turquoise ice block. Hiccup saw their eyelids still fluttering and their lips still twitching. 'Loki, here we come' Ruffnut mouth silently. But Hiccup heard it as clear as it was spoken directly to his mind. 'Where we shall finally loki free of every restrain.' Tuffnut said.
And together, the twins articulated 'Goodbye, our tyrannical leader.' It was a familiar phrase, but this time, the word 'tyrant' felt like a hot iron, braided him in his heart. Hiccup wanted to yell "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have" but all that came out was "Good riddance, that's what you two deserve after all those years, from treating me like dirt to all those pranks that you pulled.". Suddenly, he was watching himself from another perspective and he wanted to punch himself right away. The chained Hiccup was smiling with satisfaction. He prayed that the twins didn't hear the last comment, his last comment but the look in the eyes clearly indicated otherwise. And in front of their stare of disbelief and pain, the word faded abyssal blue.
Their smells were replaced by a herbal and rocky sent, the melody by a reliable one. Hiccup was back on that faithful ship that cost him his cousin. Only this time, Fishleg was behind him and they were on the deck, ready to head down.
"I'm scared Hiccup, maybe we should go back."
Listen to him, listen to him you muttonhead, Hiccup though, but his mouth said "Don't worry, Fishleg, we've won this battle, the ships are ours, think about all the dragon knowledge we would gather."
"Yeah, but doesn't this battle seem a bit easy to you? Viggo doesn't just sacrifice assets like that. And making us think we have won is just another of his strategy.
He is right, Viggo has outsmarted you in every way possible, this is just another one. Hiccup answered "Not this time. Come on Fishleg." And the duo headed down.
Hiccup lit a lantern and progressed through the belly of the ship. Opening a door, he was met with a storage room terminated by a small hallway, and at the end, the door he didn't have the chance to cross.
"Wait here "Hiccup ordered, before sneaking in behind the boxes and heading straight toward the back corner. When he was close enough and leaped. Sounds of punched resonated in the quiet room and soon after, a loud crack, before a tall figure was thrown out of the corner, quickly followed by a slender one. Viggo laid there on the ground, his right eyebrow arch broken, and the eye below it swelled. Hiccup was straddling him between his legs, both knees pinning the dragon hunter hands.
"How did you know that he was back there? "Fishleg asked, approaching.
"Just a feeling." Hiccup answered before turning back to Viggo "So, aren't you going to say something?", while reaching for his belt and pulled out a dagger.
Viggo eyed the dagger fearfully and said in a trembling voice "You aren't going to kill Hiccup? please, let me go and I promised to stop hunting dragons. I beg you to have mercy, Hiccup."
But Hiccup laughed at those words. "You damn right, I ain't going to kill you. I'm will just fulfill your wish" He leaned down and whispered in Viggo's ear "I'm going to make you beg for your death. And when you don't have enough the strength to beg, I will make you beg a little more." Viggo's eyes widened with fear. And just like last time, he saw himself from outside his own body.
Without warning, Hiccup cut Viggo's lips off. The cry of pain filled the entire room. Hiccup then moved the teeth, snapping them off one by one, with his bare hands. He licked the blood before while satisfying himself on Viggo's begs. The watching Hiccup was so disgusted with himself that he wanted to skin himself right now, but he couldn't act. Only watch. The acting Hiccup continued his sublime business with Viggo's body by popping one eye out of its socket. The torture didn't seem to end, and Viggo didn't seem to pass out from the pain. This isn't me, I'm not like this. This isn't me, I'm not like this the watching Hiccup said in loops, trying to tear his eyes off the scene but he couldn't. Finally, when the begging stop because the auburn-haired Viking accidentally sliced Viggo's vocal cord. The two Hiccup merged into one and he saw himself driving the dagger deep into the dragon hunter forehead. He raised his head and saw an equally terrified Fishleg. Hiccup reached a handover and the husky Viking screamed in fear.
"Hey, its alright, Viggo is dead," Hiccup said
"This isn't you, Hiccup, what happened," Fishleg said very quietly.
"Hel this isn't me, I just had enough, I want my revenge to everyone that harmed me, fouled me, or ignore me. Starting with him"
Fishleg, at these words, stiffen immediately and tried to turn heel and walk out.
"Follow along, Fishleg" Hiccup ordered. And the blonde Viking followed. What choice did he have?
In the hallway, the two Vikings were progressing preconsciously, calculating every step. Arrived at the door, Hiccup rested his hand on the handle, before pulling the door brusquely and dropping to the ground at the same time, to prevent every trap. Just like he expected, an arrow flew over him and a stud sound followed.
Standing up, Hiccup smirked "Not this time, Viggo, in fact, this is the last time." But when he turned around, reality crashed around him: Fishleg was lying on the ground, said arrow in his throat. Hiccup rushed and kneeled beside him. Seeing life already pouring as blood out of his friend's body. Hiccup, not knowing what to do, grabbed Fishleg's hand, and before he got to say anything, the dying Viking spoke
"Goodbye, Hiccup. I wished that I died with the memories of my best friend being a caring, gentle person, not an animal that is driven by bloodlust. But the aesir didn't grant me this wish." And Hiccup was swallowed by a wave of blood that had the face of Fishleg.
End of the TW
The next scent was leathery, the sound hissing, electric, but the presence conforting. Hiccup found himself on the benches up the top of the arena. In it were two living beings. His father, standing proud, axe in hand, and in front of him, a black, reptile shape, restrained with wooden blocks that were fighting furiously. Toothless.
"Today is a great day for Berk" The chief announced. "Today, we take down the Unholy Offspring of Lightning and Death itself. Today, we kill the Night Fury!" The crowd applauded. Stoick waited for the crowd to calm down. "Who would have thought, that, one day, this mighty beast would be a capture, and, on top of that, by my son. If I heard this before today, I'll have sent he who spoke off the island, tied to a mast for craziness." Laughter again from the crowd. All of them were cheering. All of them were excited. All of them. Except for Hiccup.
"And I grateful that my son allows me the honors to take down this beast." Stoick raised his axe "Before saying "This is for you, Hiccup" The dragon snapped his head up at the name, and his green eyes instantly locked on Hiccup amidst the crowd. The pupils were dilated, but this time out of sadness. The dragon let out a pleading croon. Hiccup yelled "No, dad, don't, please don't" but nothing came out. And the axe went down. The blunt, dark head, with its eyes, still opened fell onto the ground. Hiccup almost puked at the sight. He wanted to move away, but somehow; the green eyes were remaining locked on him wherever he was moving around the arena.
The night felt, and Hiccup snuck out of the obligatory celebration feast thrown in his honor. He went up in the cove, where he first met Toothless, sat down on a rock, and looked up in at night. A storm was forming, but there was no thunder, only lightning. He heard at shuffling beside him. The Viking snapped his head around and saw something moving towards him, something clothlike. Lightning shone twice, and the thing has arrived in front of him, the young boy somehow unable to move. It was like someone had cut out a piece of the night and laid it in front of him. Lightning shone thrice, and green eyes appeared from the fabric of night. Familiar green eyes.
"Bud? Toothless? "Hiccup whispered, before reaching hesitantly his hand out, head bowed down. But he felt his hand-battered aside.
"Don't "the night, or Toothless, spoke. "I've trusted you. I accepted you as my bonded. I even freed you from your conditions went you took you flying. But what did you do?"
"I'm sorry, Toothless" Hiccup said
"you PROMISED that you will keep me safe. That we will keep each other safe. I honored my part of the bargain by saving you from that Nightmare. Have you?"
"I'm sorry, but, my dad, just doesn't listen to me." Hiccup trailed off.
"He said that my execution was for you." Toothless replied.
Hiccup looked down.
"Look at me "Toothless ordered and Hiccup obeyed. "I honored my part of the bargain by saving you from that Nightmare. Have you?" The dragon asked again.
"Toothless, listen to me"
"Goodbye Hiccup. We shall not meet in Valhalla."
As the words faded, lightening shone one last time. Blinding the cove. When darkness fell again, the piece of the night disappeared. Hiccup looked down at his burning hand. On them, it read You didn't. And the world faded green.
The last scent was agreeable, flowery but fierce, and the melody, it had to come from Valhalla. It sounded like Valkyries charging into battle and at the same time, gentle and sweet. A brush with that ended golden painted the scene of Berk.
Hiccup had returned to his young age, and he was grinding a familiar axe on the stone. With precise movements, each one generating sparks, he sharpened the axe. Stopping from time to time to run his finger across the blade. He only stopped when a feathery touch was enough to draw blood from his finger. Sucking the blood on his finger, he gave the axe a final polish. Seeing his reflection in the head, he let out a satisfactory smile. He rushed out of the forge, yelling at Gobber that he was making a delivery. He ran across the village, seeing a specific color, the one of the demiurge's brush. He saw it on street, a golden halo on top of a blue tunic and brown leather skirt that enveloped a slim but athletic form, hitting a jet haired boy in the face. Hiccup ran towards it and yelled
"Astrid, your axe is ready"
But she ignored him and continued on her determined way. Hiccup followed her, yelling at each step, but she remained quiet. Finally, tired of this, he accelerated and stood in front of her.
"Astrid, euh, euh," he stammered, blushing "Your axe is ready" talking to her was always difficult. How to talk to someone when that someone took your breath away and monopolized your thoughts. But the blonde Viking girl continued on her way, and walk right through him. Hiccup froze in place, shocked by surprise and fear. "I don't exist?" he muttered.
"Only to her, Useless. Now, tell me, what are you saying with my princess." Snotlout came up to him and punched him hard that he blacked out.
The golden brush now painted a new scene. He founded himself on a different island, sitting on a wooden platform, looking at the pink sunset. He recognized that place: Dragon's edge.
"Hiccup, back in the wood, were you going to?" a soft voice sounded beside him.
Hiccup turned his head around and saw Astrid, more beautiful than ever sitting beside him and looking at him.
"Hum, yeah" He admitted while blushing.
Astrid smile before continuing asking "Then why you didn't?"
Hiccup felt his heart flutter. "Euh, I wanted it to be perfect "he managed to say.
Astrid glanced at the horizon, the golden disk almost fully immersed, casting a soft green light that matched the boy she loved eyes. "Well, this looks pretty perfect to me."
And now, Hiccup took a glance at the setting sun, last golden rays mimicking the girl of his dream's hair.
"Yeah, yeah, it does," he said.
They both leaned to each other, eyes closed. When their lips met. The whole world was reduced to the lips of the other one. Hiccup ears heard the soft sound of her whimpering, at the very back of her throat. His nose was filled with the fragrance of her hair. And his lips felt every single skin dent on her lips. He even felt the blood flow through them. He briefly wondered if she was feeling the things before losing himself again in the kiss.
Suddenly, the pressure left and Hiccup opened his eyes questionably. He saw Astrid with an unknown expression on her face, one that she never had. Her eyes were filled were narrowed and filled with it too. He then realized that it was fear. Astrid was fearing something. He looked behind him and saw nothing. He turned his gaze back towards the girl's face and saw her crying. Tears were forming on the corner of her eyes. Crystal drops on satin skin.
"Astrid, what's wrong." He asked
"You never could" she answered
And now, the crystal gems were swiftly dropping on her checks. Leaving a parallel trail behind them. When they reached just above her lips, diamonds turned into rubies. Hiccup eyes widened at the scene. Her tears were turning into blood. He tried to move, to hold her, ready to do anything to make sure she would be fine, but he was paralyzed. The two droplets continued their fatal way, leaving now a scarlet trail. They merged together at the tip of her chin, before falling down. His eyes followed the red droplet on its fall, and it landed on his hands.
"You never could," she said again
"I never could what?" Hiccup yelled and found out that he can move.
When he touched her arms, they turned red and like a flare, it propagated to the rest of her body. But it didn't stop here. She started to liquefy, her body turning into red droplets. Starting at the extremity of her hands and feet, the four paths merged together at her neck before continuing toward her face.
Hiccup, in desperate attempts, tried to stop the process, but he only felt the weight of blood and the scent of iron. The last thing of her that disappear were her eyes, blue orbs hanging from a phantom face, slowly turning red. They spelled out a very clear message: You never could. Before morphing into droplets as well.
"ASTRID!" Hiccup yelled; his hand still covered. And then, the sky and earth bent together where Astrid just was and reality exploded.
Hoped you like it.
During the Snotlout scene, Hiccup first saw that Stoick chose Snotlout over him. But they grew into friends and during the exploration of a Hunter ship, Snotlout got backstabbed by Viggo and Hiccup saw Stoick again, blaming him that he had failed his duty as chief.
For the twins, Hiccup was chained to a wall while the twins were encased in blocks of ice. The twins wished their last words but Hiccup replied with ill wishes.
For Fishleg, he and Hiccup were on the same ship as the scene with Snotlout, only this time Hiccup knew were Viggo was and found him, before murdering him in brutal fashion. He then dodged a trap, only for it to kill Fishleg, who died saying that he wished he didn't know that Hiccup changed into a murderous, brutal animal.
All of these scenes were the different fears of Hiccup have towards each of his friends.
