Waking up the next morning, Hiccup felt better than he did yesterday. His throat was normal, the cough was light, the headache and body aches gone. And he was sure the fever was gone, Hiccup got up and looked outside the skylight. It was still dark, but then again he was always up before the sun. He liked his early morning flight with Toothless and checking in on everything, but he didn't want to leave Sylvi in the house with the Hooligans. He didn't trust them, well he trusted Gobber of course but not the others. Hiccup made his way downstairs and saw Toothless in his spot sleeping but then opening his eyes when Hiccup came beside him. "Morning bud. How was it last night, quiet?" I asked him, he purred and let me rub his head before he got up and stretched with a yawn. "Good to know." I smile.
I heard a door open and looked behind me to see Stoick and Gobber, not more than a moment later the other two doors opening revealing Astrid, Ruffnut, Snotlout, Fishlegs, and Tuffnut. "You're actually awake?" Astrid asked.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" Hiccup arched a brow.
"Well back on Berk you always slept in...Unless it was a raid. We're up because we're used to be up." Stoick mentioned. Hiccup stood straight now and faced them.
"Since I became chief, I'm up every day before the sun rises. Keep your voices down, my girls and wife are still sleeping as is the entire village. Myself and the guards are the only ones up right now..." Hiccup stated.
"Sorry...So what do we do until everyone gets up? You just sit around or something?" Ruffnut asked curiously.
"Odin no. This is when I start my day...Since you're all up, you might as well tag along with me while I make my rounds before breakfast." Hiccup sighed as he went into his office near the stairs and pulled out Toothless's saddle gear, the dragon came over and stood still as Hiccup began to assemble it on him. "Alright bud, ya ready?" Hiccup smiled, Toothless licked his cheek and Hiccup scratched under his chin making him purr.
"I've never seen a Night Fury so close up...Or any dragon be so docile..." Fishlegs stated. Hiccup stood up now as he opened the house door and let Toothless out first, then himself and the others followed closely. Hiccup closed the door and got on Toothless's back checking the tail was moving properly.
"Because you don't know dragons like I do. You only see them raiding, destroying things. You don't see this side of them." Hiccup replied. "Come on bud, to center tower." Hiccup said, Toothless began walking towards the center of the village and the Hooligans followed quietly. They couldn't see much as it was last night too when they arrived, so they had yet to see all these dragons Hiccup mentioned about. Sure they saw a flock of them before it got super dark but, Hiccup mentioned their island was full of dragons so where were they hall.
"How can you see where you're going?" Tuffnut asked.
"The road lanterns, that and Toothless can see fine." Hiccup replied.
"This is good work lad, I always knew you had it in yew." Gobber smiled now.
"Honestly, I couldn't of done all this without dad teaching me how. When I became chief, I was terrified to mess something up and have them riot to throw me off the island...But to my own surprise, I did alright and got better after the first year. It helps that I'm a quick thinker, inventive, and ride the fasted dragon known to man." Hiccup chuckled.
"And you said he'd never be chief." Gobber elbowed Stoick a bit.
"I meant chief of Berk..." Stoick mumbled.
"Well clearly he had what it takes to be chief if only he'd been guided properly." Gobber huffed.
"Alright knock it off. What is done is done. I put the past behind me and moved on..." Hiccup stated as he came to a pole and atop it was a guard with his Nightmare. "Ryker, morning to you my friend." Hiccup smiled, Ryker looked down and saw Hiccup there. He climbed down the ladder while his Nightmare, Blazewing stayed put. Reaching ground level, Ryker put a hand over his chest and offered a bow to Hiccup.
"Aye, morning chief. Slept well I trust?" Ryker asked.
"Eh. I slept, not sure if it was well. Anyway, report?" Hiccup asked firmer.
"Quiet as usual." Ryker stated.
"No unannounced ships pulled past the sea markers?" Ryker shook his head. "Weather?" Hiccup asked next.
"Hard to tell, clouds rolled in when I took over 2 hours ago, little snowfall then it stopped 30 minutes later." Ryker informed, Hiccup put his hand to his chin thinking now.
"Could mean the start of another winter storm. Guess I better prepare for it then...Alright, thanks Ryker. You warm enough up there?" Hiccup asked.
"I got a blanket and Blazewing, I'm good sir." Ryker nodded.
"Good to hear. Resume post." Hiccup said, Ryker gave a single nod before climbing the stairs back to his tower post with his dragon. Hiccup walked along side Toothless now along the path.
"So where to now?" Astrid asked curiously.
"Ground patrol." Hiccup replied.
"Isn't...that the same thing that Ryker guy was doing?" Snotlout blinked.
"Ryker was on aerial patrol. Eret is ground patrol." Hiccup stated.
"What's the difference lad?" Gobber asked.
"Aerial patrol is done on the backs of their dragons, 8 miles out in each direction. Ground patrol is the beaches, cliffs, and through out the village. Its the system I use to make sure the island has eyes everywhere at all times." Hiccup stated.
"Seems confusin." Stoick retorted.
"To have eyes on everything?" Hiccup questioned.
"Yer system." Gobber added.
"Nah its easy. Viggo or Ryker are my aerial team leaders. When one of them is guarding, they stay at center post where we were. Around the island facing each direction is another watch tower that 5 men share with their dragons. So I have 20 at all times and every hour two of them set off to search 8 miles out for ships, drifters, enemies not that we have any since we keep to ourselves here. The guards switch every 4 hours. Ground patrol does the same thing. And I check through out the day that there aren't any problems, aerial patrol also watches the weather for me. We're in bad winter right now. Which just makes my job all the harder." Hiccup sighed, reaching Eret's post he saw the Hooligans and put his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"No one is supposed to be out until 7..." Eret said to them.
"Its okay, they are with me. Stand down." Hiccup ordered.
"Sorry chief. Just enforcing your rules." Eret released his sword now.
"And you do a great job. Hows it been?" Hiccup asked him.
Eret shrugged with a sigh, "Same as always. Had some snow earlier and tremors." Hiccup looked at him seriously.
"Tremors? I didn't feel nothing." Hiccup said.
"They were on the South side of the island and not very strong. I had a team check it out, we have a hunch its whispering deaths." Eret said.
"Oh that's promising. They won't be out during the day then, since they hate sunlight..." Hiccup stated.
"Yeah but its still dark right now and been cloudy..." Eret added.
"Eret...Trying to look on the bright side here." Hiccup mumbled.
"Aye chief. We'll keep a watch on it." Eret saluted.
"That's what I like to hear." Hiccup then nodded and turned with Toothless and continued walking.
"So what did he mean by your rules?" Gobber questioned.
"Rules on the island that I made. Pretty simple ones too. No one is allowed out of their home between 11pm and 7am. Those are quiet hours. Breakfast at 7:30-8, lunch at 12:30-1, dinner served at 5:30-6. Don't hurt the dragons. No one under 14 can join the academy. Kids from 6-14 can own a terrible terror." Hiccup stated.
"That's it?" They asked.
"What, you thought I'd have more?" They nodded, "We're pretty laid back here. Standard rules are always in effect like no drinking unless you're 18, we don't do marriage contracts here either. Dad and I both believed you should marry for love, not status or convenience. Oh and guests can't wander without myself or Sylvi. Generally when we have visitors, the dragons go into hiding until its safe that way we appear to be a normal village like any other. But since you will be here a while, I couldn't very well make the dragons hide for two weeks so I said screw it. I know you won't betray me because the punishment for that here is death. And I've done it before." Hiccup said.
"You've...killed before?" Fishlegs asked a little surprised.
"When I was 15...One person betrayed the tribe, and I had no choice. He tried to kill Toothless...And the rules here are don't hurt the dragons." Hiccup explained quietly.
"How did...you do it?" Tuffnut asked, Hiccup looked back.
"Kill the guy?" They nodded again, "Execution decapitation. I've never had to do it since." Hiccup replied lowly. The others just stopped and stared at him in shock. "Look, I'm not proud of it but as chief...You make the sacrifices necessary to protect your tribe. If it means killing one to save many...Then so be it." Hiccup continued walking with Toothless now. "Keep moving..." Hiccup said, they began to follow him again quietly.
(Hours Later)
The Hooligans had been pretty quiet since hearing that Hiccup had beheaded someone execution style when he was 15, they saw him differently now. They hadn't wanted to believe it but when they spoke to Sylvi, she confirmed it. Also that Hiccup had nightmares for weeks about it, and to this day it still bothers him. Hiccup didn't like to fight, or kill but he understood it was sometimes not an option. Hiccup took a vow to protect the island and the villagers, and he stood by that vow regardless of personal feelings on a matter. After breakfast, the Hooligans were with Hiccup the until lunch. They were amazed too at how well he ran things so well, though so far they'd only see him on patrols and yet to see some action.
"Man, all this walking is awful..." Snotlout groaned.
"If you rode dragons, this would have been a breeze." Hiccup chucked a bit, "Dragon rider humor for ya because you're flying and feel the breeze your dragon flies on. I'd be done with rounds by now if I were flying." Hiccup said.
"So why aren't you flying." Stoick asked.
"Because I'm escorting you lot. I can't let you wander." Hiccup added.
"We could of stayed at your house...Or with your wife." Astrid remarked.
"She's resting. And I'm not leaving you alone in the house all day." Hiccup chuckled out. There was some yelling and Toothless perked his ears up to listen, "What's up Toothless?" One of the villagers came rushing up to Hiccup panting.
"Chief Hiccup! Dragon brawl in the academy!"
"Gods damn it!..." Hiccup jumped on Toothless's back and opened the tail. "Lead them to the academy...I'll take care of this." Hiccup ordered and flew off. The Hooligans looked at the villager.
"Dragon brawl?" Stoick asked.
"Group of dragons just start fighting one another, chief will handle it." The villager said leading them towards the academy. When they arrived, they say Hiccup sneaking his way into the ring. The dragons fighting were Nadders, Nightmares, Zipplebacks, and a Changewing. 1 Nadder, 2 Nightmares, 1 Zippleback, and 3 Changewings.
"He's going to get himself killed!" Gobber gasped.
"Don't you worry about the chief. He knows what he's doing...He's stopped many a dragon brawl before." Iris stated coming to the ring now. Hiccup removed his cloak and belt as they would only weigh him down, he took a breath charged in the middle of them all. The nadder shot first as he dodged right and used his hand to flip and avoid more. Hiccup moved in the nadder's blind spot and scratched under its chin, it froze and collapsed to the ground seemingly paralyzed. Hiccup put his hand ups to the Zipplebacks as they calmed and pressed their heads to his palms before sitting down with a hand command from Hiccup.
"Woah..."
"Did you see that!" The Thorston twins exclaimed. Hiccup used the wall to push off of as he pulled its horns to the ground and it relaxed laying there with its tongue out, the other nightmare snarled trying to snap at Hiccup who waited for his moment, he reached his hand in the nightmares mouth and then yanked out a bad tooth. The nightmare bit a few times before purring and nuzzling its face to Hiccup's cheek.
"And now for the changewings..." Hiccup sighed, a dragon that could blend in with its surroundings. He got an idea as he pulled out Inferno and pressed a button releasing a green gas, Hiccup watched while it moved around the changewings. He grinned and pressed the button as the gas ignited, the changewings were spooked and hustled to him. Hiccup put his hands up and rubbed their faces. "See, no reason to fight..." Hiccup smiled. Now with the dragons calm, the people who had been watching clapped for him.
Hiccup opened the ring as the dragons flew out calmly and moved towards the forests without fighting. Hiccup made his way out of the ring as people patted his back and cheered him on for what he'd done. "Dragonborn! Dragonborn! Dragonborn!"
Hiccup chuckled a bit as they changed. "Alright your thrill-seekers. Get back to work. Show is over." They nodded and began to clear out, Hiccup moved back to Toothless and the Hooligans just stared in shock. "That's why I was named Hiccup the Dragonborn when I Because of what I can do with them." Hiccup smiled.
"You could of gotten yerself killed in there." Gobber bopped him on the head.
"Could have, but didn't. Settling dragon fights is easy, just gotta know the dragon, the problem, and how to solve it." Hiccup replied.
"Those were changewings, a formidable dragon because it can blend in..." Astrid said.
"True but then you figure they can't stand zippleback gas which reveals where they are. I only sparked it to scare them." Hiccup said.
"What did you do to the nadder, the nightmares, and zippleback?" Stoick asked.
"Those are trade secrets. I won't reveal those until I know I can trust you not to use them for bad." Hiccup stated firmly. "Now lets go. I got things to do." Hiccup remarked, he headed off as the Hooligans followed. They watched him make his way around checking on things, especially the inn repair. "Hows it looked Balder?" He called to him.
"Walls fixed, working on the roof now. Inside tomorrow. Should be done by the end of the week chief." Balder replied.
"Good work, keep it up. I want it fixed before the next storm hits." Hiccup said then continued moving along the path. The Hooligans followed quietly not sure what to say, they just saw Hiccup...Hiccup the Useless to them take on 7 dragon all at once and get out without even breaking a sweat. And all this, the village, riding a Night Fury...They just couldn't believe any of it if not the fact it was right there in front of them. They followed Hiccup towards the food storage house off the great hall.
"Hey chief." The man greeted.
"Hey. Hows the food counts?" Hiccup asked him.
"Not sure chief. Still working on organizing everything from the last time trader Johann was here..." The male said.
"This was supposed to be done last month after the storm. How much more is there to go, we have a another storm coming and I don't want to have to do what we did last month again. That was hell...I got enough going on as it is." Hiccup sighed.
"Everything is in crates, its not labeled at all so we have to break them open one by one to see and then make room for them, as well as tally it up to add to the final number." The man said sighing. Hiccup moved over to one of the crates and inspected it, the Hooligan's watched closely as he ran his finger over one of them and face-palmed.
"Bjorn..." Hiccup said.
"Yes chief?" He asked. Hiccup flipped the crate over revealing a label. Bjorn blinked and chuckled nervously. "Eh...hehehe...Sorry."
"I want this done by the end of the day. Meats on the left, vegetables on the back, fruits on the right. We've done it this way for years, don't make it harder than it needs to be." Hiccup sighed.
"Yes sir. Its just a lot to get through and 3 of my helpers are sick today...We're short handed." Bjorn said.
"I noticed that. Alright, I'll help. Mark it down as I call it out. Then you and the others can put it away." Hiccup said, Bjorn nodded with the coal pencil and paper out. Hiccup moved inside the store house and began counting different crates, separating some of them.
"Need a hand lad?" Gobber asked.
"I got it, thanks though. Alright Bjorn...15 crates of meats." He said, he began counting again. "13 fruits...And...14 vegetables. We also have...26 barrels of fish." Hiccup said, Bjorn wrote it down with a nod. "Stock is low...We're down quite a bit here. Lets get 3 fishing boats in the water, have them scrounge up 10 barrels each, 5 at best. I want to be ready for the next storm, especially because we have 14 extras." Hiccup said.
"Aye sir, I'll send them out right now. Anything more we need from the hunters?" Bjorn asked.
"Might as well, tell them to go out and catch what they can. Back back nightfall and start again after breakfast tomorrow. Now get this organized and sealed up." Hiccup ordered.
"Aye sir. I'll have it done by dinner." Bjorn said firmly with a nod.
"Make it happen then. I'll expect those reports before quiet hours tonight." Hiccup said as he left the food store house.
"That was some good chiefing, 'Iccup..." Gobber smiled.
"And to think some people thought I could never be chief...Its funny how much you find your capable of doing when you get away from what held you back and live your own life according to your own choices." Hiccup remarked getting on Toothless's back keeping his head turned from them. "Lets check the tunnels and make sure they are set bud." Hiccup patted his friend's neck, Toothless warbled and headed inside the great hall. It was huge now that the Hooligans could see how empty it was. Hiccup moved to center of the room and stopped as he got off Toothless then he walked to a circle stone that looked like a two headed dragon carved into it.
"Why is it the only stone with a carving?" Astrid asked. Hiccup pulled out Inferno now and knelt down, he placed Inferno in the carving as it fit perfectly. Hiccup gripped the handle and turned it so one head faced the hall doors and the other faced the back wall. The stone that Inferno was placed in turned as well, as Hiccup turned to see the floor adjusting and opening a large square hole behind him. The Hooligans mouths dropped open as Hiccup removed Inferno and grabbed a lantern, Toothless lit before jumping down, Hiccup right behind him.
"Its...a secret passage under the hall isn't it?" Fishlegs squeaked.
"Sure is. Come on down, I'll show you my greatest invention since coming here. Mind the drop." Hiccup informed them. One by one they all came down and stood close to Hiccup since it was dark and he was the only one with a lantern. "Alright Toothless, do it." Hiccup smiled. Toothless let out a fireball down the dark hall. It disappeared but soon after they saw little lit dragons scurrying across the floor and up into lanterns to light it up.
"What...are those?" Tuffnut asked.
"Fireworm dragons...and I wouldn't touch if I were you. Their skin burns with the heat of the sun. Welcome to the underground bunkers." Hiccup grinned, he saw their faces go to shock seeing all the caves. Oh what a feeling a satisfaction he got showing them this.