They all sat there shocked to see Hiccup up and standing before them at the bottom of the stairs with Toothless close as always, the look in his eyes wasn't calm or happy. It was stern and demanding, just as it had been before he blacked out. How was he even up right now. Hadn't he just passed out from being sick and overworked? He was only out about 30 minutes, now he was up again and standing fine. Sylvi was up first slowly to get to him. "Hiccup, you shouldn't be up..." Sylvi said.
"I'm fine..." Hiccup coughed a bit.
"Yew are not lad...You blacked out from stress and bein sick..." Gobber said now worried.
"I will be fine, I've survived worse. Someone has to run the village. There is to much to do before the next storm..." Hiccup retorted walking forward a bit.
"Hiccup you need to rest! You scared the Odin's ghost out of me earlier when you blacked out...Please just stay in bed tonight..." Sylvi pleaded now, Hiccup's eyes fell on her as he sighed.
"I'm not staying in bed. I'll agree to take it easy, but that is it...I'm sorry, Syl...When bad winter is over, I can rest more but for the next two months...I can't take the chance of letting up. You heard what I said to those two guys fighting in the square. Food stock is low, you're giving birth soon...There's just too much and as chief I have to be the one who takes care of it. Its my job, the one I took 6 years ago...I promised dad that I would not let this place fall, and I won't...I can't. Not after all he did for me..." Hiccup replied.
"Why are you so stubborn! Hiccup you blacked out holding your chest, you fell to your knees in a coughing fit and your fever was way too high...If it wasn't for Toothless catching you..." Sylvi whimpered, Hiccup pulled her into his arms and she cried against his chest.
"I'm a lot tougher than I look babe. I promise in two months, I'll rest more. Because I'll have you and the baby to take care of, I'll be home more...But for now, these are things I have to do." Hiccup kissed her forehead, Sylvi nodded to him. "Now you relax, you know stress isn't good for the baby." Hiccup smiled a bit as Sylvi faced the others while still keeping her head on Hiccup's chest, his arms around her.
"Iris said you'd be out a few hours..." Astrid mentioned.
"She always says that, she forgets I've got a fast heal time..." Hiccup said.
"Can...I ask why...you won't teach us to be riders?" Fishlegs asked quietly.
"Because I said so. None of you have what it takes to be dragon riders." Hiccup stated.
"Can't you give us a chance?...I mean this is...amazing, Hiccup. You...ride a Night Fury! You're the chief of a village that rides dragon, works with them. That's incredible." Fishlegs said.
"Appreciated that you think its amazing, incredible or whatever but it still doesn't change my mind. There are rules to riding dragons, intense training, and its nothing something I have time to do. Especially with all that is going on right now, I really don't have time." Hiccup replied.
"Didn't you say someone else does the training?" Astrid asked.
"I do all the training. I teach how to earn and gain trust, proper care and how to fly. Again, rules to follow. Its time consuming, there are rules I'm sure you can't follow, not to mention you don't have time to learn either." Hiccup retorted.
"Why not? Just put us...in the class?" Snotlout said.
"Because it takes 6 months to a year to complete." They backed up at his sudden anger. "My training to become a dragon rider takes 6 months to a year, alright? I'm not letting outsiders who have spent their entire lives killing dragons, searching for the nest to make the dragons leave, who got shipwrecked because of one man's terrible decisions, also ignored his own son's existence for years become dragon riders. No way, not a chance in Valhalla. I have to much to do to take time out of my schedule to teach you, more on that. I don't want to. You can't handle it. I'm not giving you a chance...Just like you never gave me a chance. You thought I was your disaster on Berk...Now I think you're all disasters on Fury Isle." Hiccup snapped.
"Hiccup...relax..." Sylvi said softly, Hiccup took a breath now.
"You are only here for a week, two at most. Normally, anyone who comes here never even sees the dragons because I put them in hiding. But I couldn't this time because you'll be here so long, and that isn't fair to them. I'm actually worried you people are going to screw me as usual and wage war because you know we work with and ride dragons. I'm not going to waste my time teaching you a skill you care nothing about. I've worked hard to build this and I'm not risking it all to entertain my past who suddenly see what I'm actually capable of. I am not making you dragon riders. End of discussion."
{Hiccup's {POV}
When I'd begun to wake up, Toothless was the first one beside me with worry. I rubbed his head as he crooned, I laid there a few minutes waiting for the feeling to return to my body since I felt numb and weak still. I swallowed hard, my throat didn't hurt as much anymore and the urge to cough was gone for the most part. I felt a cool rag on my forehead as I tried to relax, I only guessed I passed out after feeling all that pain. I could hear talking downstairs, I could tell Sylvi's voice, then the Hooligans. She was telling them the story of how they became a couple, I smiled softly. Things fell silent and then I heard Fishlegs ask if I'd teach them how to be dragon riders, I'd never moved so fast by sitting up. WHAT!? Then I heard Gobber second it, then the twins and Snotlout. Oh no. Hell no.
I forced myself up and down the stairs silently, before Sylvi could say something. I jumped in with, "Not a chance in Valhalla. Absolutely not." They all turned to see me now, Sylvi of course came rushing as fast as she could to hug me, and scold me for overworking myself and now being up after blacking out. I told her I'd be okay and held her close. I couldn't believe these guys wanted me to teach them how to be dragon riders, no way. It wasn't even practical to suggest. A part of me was inwardly grinning, they saw something amazing. They saw what I saw when I bonded with Toothless, they saw the truth but also. I couldn't trust these people, Gobber yes. The rest no way. In order for them to be riders, they would have to be on the island close to a year and even then...I couldn't risk them being able to ride dragons on Berk.
We kept Fury Isle secret, sure people knew of it but the secret was the dragons. If anyone knew, it could start war and I didn't want that. I couldn't risk that, not for people who gave me hell for years. This argument went back and forth a few times before I firmly stated that it wasn't happening. I saw them all sigh heavily, what choice did I have. The only way I'd even consider making them riders was if they gave up their life on Berk and chose to remain on Fury Isle. I couldn't risk the dragon riding getting out. That wasn't a risk I was willing to take. These people knew about my island, the dragon riding...I already had reservations about letting them leave in a week or two knowing the truth. And now that they knew where I was, I had no doubts Gobber would be wanting to visit often or keep in contact.
My headache was returning now, I checked the window. The wind was picking up and it was getting colder, that wasn't good. I saw Viggo flying towards the house on Sparkburn, oh that couldn't be good at all. I moved to the door and opened it as Viggo landed before me. "What's going on?" I asked.
"There's a major storm headed this way coming from the West..." Viggo panted, hands on his knees.
"How bad." I asked.
"Snow and hail the size of a head or fist, its moving fast too...Sky patrol saw it at the 4 mile markers...Orders sir." Ryker jumped in now.
Oh I didn't need this right now. Seriously, the Hooligans show up and every single bad thing that could happen was happening. Further proving my point that they didn't belong here, my eyes darted left and right trying to decide what I should do. Evacuate to the hall or tell everyone to get inside their homes. "Toothless, lets go bud. Ryker, Viggo...Follow me." I got on Toothless's back and took to the sky. Viggo and Ryker following on their Nightmares. We made it to the markers as I checked the storm. Oh yeah, this was going to be really bad. I turned Toothless around and returned to the village seeing Sylvi, and the Hooligans outside, a few others gathering. Someone screamed as a large piece of hail fell from the sky, "Toothless! Plasma blast!" I ordered.
Toothless shot the hail as it burst and flurried to smaller pieces, yeah no choice. That hail could destroy houses, and it was way to cold. "What do we do chief!?" Eret asked coming up.
"Sound the alarm, mandatory evacuation to the hall! Right now." I state, Eret nodded as he gave the signal to the center tower guard who pulled out his horn and blew it hard. Toothless let out a loud roar as everyone gathered to the village square and I stayed hovering above, people looked up at me wondering what was going on. "This storm is going to be a bad one, I'm not taking the chance of moving people in the heart of it...Everyone to the great hall right now. Viggo, Ryker, Eret...Use your men to help them get their safely. Sylvi, go with them." I state.
"What about you?!" Sylvi asked.
"I'm securing the island! Now go! I'll be there soon." I yell back and fly off.
{Regular POV}
After Hiccup gave the order, everyone began making their way to the hall. The Hooligans watched as Hiccup flew around on Toothless, securing different things. They lost sight of them when they got pushed into the hall and against the wall while others filed in. It took a good 20 minutes to get everyone inside, the guards closed tried to get the doors closed but the wind was strong and pushing against them, they grunted as Hiccup and Toothless flew in last minute. Hiccup jumped off Toothless and helped them close it. He lowered the lock to keep them shut, he lowered his head before slamming his fist into the wall angrily. "Damn it..." He sighed closing his eyes.
"What's the matter..." Astrid asked.
"This, the storm. Its exactly what I was afraid of happening when we're so unprepared! " Hiccup growled almost.
"Son...Its alright...You did what you could. No one can predict these storm..." Stoick offered, Hiccup glared.
"Don't call me that. I am not your son, never was...and I never will be. Maybe on Berk you can handle being unprepared, but here on my island I can't. Being unprepared means someone could get hurt or killed and that is not a loss I'm willing to just accept. A chief does everything to protect his people, and even then...If the situation calls for it, that chief gives his life for his people." With that he moved towards his people leaving Stoick in a bit of shock and Gobber chuckled a bit following Hiccup.
"I'll do anything I can ta help lad." Gobber said.
"Alright people, listen up! You know the drill with storms. Away from the walls, and huddle close to use your body heat to stay warm. I'll watch the storm...We'll make it through another storm like always." Hiccup announced.
"Aye chief." They replied. It was going to be a long night. Viggo, Eret, and Ryker approached him in a bow.
"Orders sir." They asked.
"We're going to be here through the night. Lets get into the tunnel to the store house and bring up the bedrolls, blankets, and pillows. Make a chain and get them up here, stand back everyone." Hiccup said, the others moved away as Hiccup pulled Inferno and positioned it on the circle piece and turned it as the floor opened up.
"Can we help at all?" Ruffnut asked.
"Pass things out as they come out. Help the guards." Hiccup said as he grabbed one of the torches and jumping down the men began following as Hiccup got the wooden ladders and they made a chain of people from the hatch. Hiccup opened the hatch to the store house then let the guards in to start working on bringing up the things Hiccup told them too. The guards, Gobber, Tuffnut, Ruffnut, and Astrid helped make sure everyone got one. Hiccup had men move the tables and benches against the walls to keep everything out of the way. They'd eat at the tables then sleep on the floor, the hall held a lot of people and right now it was 364 people inside to avoid the storm. A majority of the dragons were hiding out in the caves. Some were inside the hall to act as heaters, mainly the nightmares.
(3 Hours Later)
Finally everyone had blankets, pillows, and a bedroll. While they were down there, Hiccup also hand them round up dinner for the night which was chicken and bread, then a fruit of some sort. It wasn't much but it was enough for the night. Everyone was just sitting around, light talking around the room between tribe members. Hiccup was going around and checking on everyone, Sylvi was sitting with the kids. It was getting later now, it was close to 7pm a lot of kids were getting tired. Hiccup sighed making his way towards his wife now, he plopped beside her and she rubbed his back.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
"Tired..." Hiccup stated rubbing both his daughter's heads.
"Why don't you check on the storm then come back and get some sleep. We're not going anywhere tonight, that hail sounds pretty strong." Sylvi offered.
"I can't sleep, you know I stay up for storms." Hiccup replied.
"But you're sick...And haven't been sleeping as it is. If you want to lead these people then we need a healthy chief babe, just rest for an hour or so...Things will be okay here. We're all in one place." Sylvi said to him, he sighed knowing she was right.
"Okay...You win. I'll rest for a bit." Hiccup smiled to her, she beamed happily that she got him to agree. Hiccup got up and moved to the door taking the board off and peeking his head out. Blizzard, bad too. Hail and snow everywhere and it was dark but Hiccup could see the snow was already ankle height. He groaned almost and closed the door with a sigh.
"How's it looking chief?" Asked Ryker.
"Snow is ankle deep, car hardly see a thing. Strong winds. We might be in here more than just a day...If the temperature drops anymore, we're moving into the bunkers. I'll check again in the morning, everyone get some sleep. Nothing left to do tonight." Hiccup said.
They nodded as Hiccup made his way to his girls and Toothless laid behind them all. Sylvi laid against Toothless and the girls curled up between Sylvi and Hiccup who pulled the cover over them. "We're scared daddy...We can't sleep." Selena said. Hiccup thought a moment wondering how to calm them.
"Will you tell us a story about papa?" Solana asked.
"I don't know that many about him...I only knew him a short time." Hiccup replied.
"Babe, sing them the song that Thurmond showed you when he told you how scared he was to become chief..." Sylvi offered.
"I suppose I could. Alright, settle down and relax." Hiccup smiled as he kissed each of their foreheads and sat up a bit. The Hooligans who weren't very far away sort of tuned in to listen closely to this song that Thurmond taught Hiccup. "Lately I've been noticing I say the same things he used to say. And I even find myself acting the very same way. I tap my fingers on the table, To the rhythm in my soul. And I jingle the keys when I'm ready to go. When I look in the mirror, He's right there in my eyes. Starin' back at me and I realize..." Hiccup smiled
"The older I get. The more I can see. How much he loved my mother and my brother and me. And he did the best that he could. And I only hope when I have my own family...That everyday I see...A little more of my father in me." Stoick actually looked down a bit and Gobber noticed but otherwise kept his eyes on Hiccup as did the others.
"There were times I thought he was bein' just a little bit hard on me. But now I understand he was makin' me become the man he knew that I could be. In everything he ever did, he always did with love. And I'm proud today to say I'm his son. When somebody says I hope I get to meet your dad, I just smile and say you already have." Hiccup saw his girls smile happily.
"The older I get. The more I can see. How much he loved my mother and my brother and me. And he did the best that he could. And I only hope when I have my own family...That everyday I see...A little more of my father in me..." Hiccup softened as he looked up at the wall seeing a shield panting of him and Thurmond. It was when Hiccup was 15, the day Thurmond said he wanted him to become chief of Fury Island. Thurmond was standing behind Hiccup with his hands on his shoulders while Hiccup held a shield and sword. One of Hiccup's proudest moments.
"He's in my eyes. My heart, my soul. My hands, my pride. And when I feel alone, and I think I can't go on. I hear him sayin' 'Son you'll be alright...Everything's gonna be alright'. Yes it is..." Hiccup stood up now as he put his hand on the shield smiling. "The older I get. The more I can see...That he loved my mother and my brother and me. And he did the best that he could. And I only hope when I have my own family...That everyday I see. Oh I hope I see...I hope everyday I see. A little more of my father in me. A little more of my father in me. I hope everyday I see in me...In me...In me. I hope everyday I see...A little more of my father in me." Hiccup finished as he looked down to see the girls just about asleep.
The room clapped lightly as Hiccup sat back down. "Now rest well my little ones." Sylvi smiled as the girls began to fall asleep and Hiccup laid against Toothless closing his eyes.
"I miss you old man..." Hiccup sighed quietly as fell asleep not long after. Gobber smiled seeing him asleep peacefully.
"Thurmond was good to him, wasn't he?" Gobber asked.
"Hiccup always refers to Thurmond as the father he never got to have growing up." Sylvi smiled a bit.
"I really did let him down...I was terrible to him and I forced him to make a choice to exile himself just to get away from me and Berk..." Stoick sighed.
"Its not that you let him down, Stoick...You acted as his chief, instead of his father. There were ways to handle things without making him feel like ya didn't care...You neva let him be himself, and now you have seen with your own two eyes what he was capable of if you'd just let him be himself. You could have taught instead of ordered. You could have guided instead of forced. You could of paid attention, took an interest instead of ignoring him...Most of all, you could have supported him, loved him...instead of degraded and hated him." Gobber said firmly.
Stoick looked over Hiccup who was fast asleep now with one arm was at his side while the over was over his stomach, his breathing was easy and soft. He looked peaceful and happy to be sleeping against his dragon, and kids beside him. "And I don't blame him if he never forgives me." Stoick sighed closing his eyes and stepping back. Little by little people began to lay down with their kids or near dragons for warmth. The guards were taking shifts as always, while the hall fell silent from sleeping Vikings around 10pm. All in high hopes that tomorrow would be better.