NFF-hiccup's encounter with the god of night part 5
In the morning Hiccup progressed over to the dragon ring to make good on his agreement with Fishlegs. He arrived to find the teens in the ring waiting for his arrival. Fishlegs was heavily excited.
"what can you show us? I'm so excited by your new abilities."
It was frankly puzzling to Hiccup when Fishlegs treated him like a new species of dragon. However, it was true that he was half god of night (and half night fury because of that) and so he was new for berk. Hiccup was careful not to get Fishlegs too excited as he stated a few more facts.
"You guys wanted to learn more about me. Well I'll tell you so listen closely. My eyes can magnify my vision and see heat. I have wings and a tail folded onto my back. I have fire proof scales. That's basically all I know for now and it freaks me out that I have these … these abilities."
Hiccup wallowed in shame at not knowing how far these changes went. Fishlegs was not appreciative of this and did frantic notes. Hiccup felt like an attraction in front of the teens, especially Fishlegs who was carefully studying him.
Fishlegs finished his notes and decided to probe further.
"so, with your eyes could you read a message on the far side of the ring?"
Hiccup sighed but was getting quite irritated.
"yes, I can but remember I. AM. NOT. AN. ATTRACTION."
Unfortunately, Fishlegs did not hear the last part in his excited run to the back of the arena. The other teens turned their attention to Hiccup to realise in horror that his face was shifting. Hiccup's normal face was gone for a moment to make way for the face of an enraged night fury. All the teens that were watching were frozen by instinctual fear of Hiccup while Fishlegs was tragically unaware of the situation.
Fishlegs was writing his message in purposefully small runes and then after he finished that he turned around back to Hiccup.
"So, Hiccup can you read thi- "
Although he was distracted by the look of anger in Hiccup's fury face Hiccup took back control long enough to complete the test.
"you wrote: "can you read this". first off, not very original. Second, don't make me have to do anything else. I am not an attraction."
Loki really had it in for Fishlegs and he was too distracted by the knowledge that Hiccup's first assurance was true to remember the second part.
"well what about heat vision. now how do I set up something for Hiccup to look for."
Hiccup was venting blue light from markings on his body and his mouth was forming smoke. The last straw was Fishlegs commenting on his newest test with wonder.
"well if I put a fire behind this metal panel then he should be able to see the heat with his weird abilities."
'weird'. It was a poor choice of words to describe Hiccup and Hiccup was already preparing multiple plasma blasts.
The first plasma blast hit the metal panel on the far side of Fishlegs. Fishlegs panicked and ran the other way only for his way to get blocked by three more plasma blasts. Hiccup unloaded plasma blast after plasma blast with the honing aim of his glowing blue eyes. It wasn't after Fishlegs looked scared to death that Hiccup let up on his barrage.
The teens were shocked but glad that Hiccup hadn't tried to hurt Fishlegs. Hiccup's glow subsided, and he walked over to Fishlegs.
"Sorry Fishlegs but I gave you two warnings and you didn't listen. I'm fine now but don't ever make me into an attraction again. I can't stand it"
Everyone in the ring could hear the lowering whistle as Hiccup literally cooled down. He patted Fishlegs on the back and tried to get him walking out the arena. Fishlegs stood scared stiff.
"why did you get so angry? You never get that angry usually, not with anyone."
Hiccup sighed in shame.
"You picked a topic that I am still quite sensitive on. I am wary of my changes and how they could get me exiled from the Village."
Astrid was confused.
"but you helped save everyone, why would they not accept you, even with this temper?"
Hiccup was ashamed that Astrid noticed his short temper. He nervously gave back his honest answer.
"because the entire time leading up to our victory over the red death I was aware of how resistant Viking's were to change. I still don't think that is any different now and they would not accept the original dragon rider as half night fury. Worse case scenario is they suspect everyone that has touched a dragon to be infected as well."
Astrid was quietened by this heavily logical answer. She then gave some more encouragement about Viking behaviour.
"but they all value a strong fighter. Surely you can see that your strengths may be considered an advantage."
Hiccup thought on this. Being a strong fighter had never got him out of any situations before because, well, he was not a strong fighter. Astrid's words had brought attention to his new condition and the advantages that came with it.
"I guess I could show the village I had prowess in fighting. Being stronger than other Vikings would certainly get their attention. Hopefully I can reveal that fight first before letting them know I am a night fury."
Snotlout heard 'stronger than other Vikings' and reacted against Hiccup for his own ego. Fishlegs noticed Snotlout getting a sneer but was too late as Snotlout started his arrogant comeback
"well you don't have anything on me. I am a Jorgenson and Jorgensons are the best!"
Everyone just looked at Snotlout with serious concern about how his ego would put him into trouble. It was only a sign of self control that Hiccup didn't react in anger again. Hiccup responded in a sarcastic voice.
"are you sure it is a good enough idea to challenge me?"
Snotlout really hadn't adjusted to the fact that Hiccup had scared Fishlegs to death with plasma blasts.
"oh, why yes! I'm stronger than you any day. Hiccup the useless."
Hiccup was all ready to give Snotlout hell, but he was wary of their spectators.
"I would start walking away now. This fight could be quite intense, 'Viking honour' and all that."
The other teens were receptive to his comments and started running out the arena. After Hiccup was sure that they were out of harm's way he turned back to Snotlout.
"well then, let's fight."
The first moments were simply intimidation. Snotlout bravely brandished his hammer while Hiccup trumped his display with a haze of blue light radiating off his markings. Snotlout decide to press the attack and charged full speed at Hiccup while getting his hammer ready to strike. Hiccup decided to mess around with Snotlout and shot his hammer out of his grasp. Snotlout struggled to put out the flames on his tunic while Hiccup laughed. Hiccup also gave another warning to Snotlout.
"we can stop the fight here. We don't need to go to the point of injury. Snotlout, just please accept that I am stronger than before."
Snotlout had had his family name insulted (from his point of view) and came in swinging again.
Hiccup sighed.
A few minutes later Snotlout finally got the message. He was courageous to have gone through multiple warnings from Hiccup but foolhardy to think he could win.
Hiccup left the dazed Snotlout in the ring to go chase down the rest of the spectators. He used his wings for added speed and soon could glide down to land behind Astrid. Astrid questioned what had happened while they were walking back. Hiccup explained.
"Snotlout got what he deserved, and I sincerely hope I don't have to fight him again."
Astrid nodded in agreement.
"I do respect fighting but sometimes it is basically pointless. Shame you couldn't have done it in the middle of the Village so we could've got the introduction of your strength out of the way."
Hiccup felt that her just saying strength was a bit ignorant of his full abilities.
"you do know I can do far more than use my upgraded muscles in battles."
Astrid agreed once again.
"I do know that, but you've got to remember this is all the other Vikings care about. It is something I hate as well. I am distinguished with my axe, honing my skills since I was a child, but all people want to see is how much strength I have. My strength is in grace and no one noticed that. I was only lucky that when dragons came, thanks to you, grace was more widely accepted as a fighting style."
Hiccup was surprised to hear this sincere explanation from Astrid. He wanted to give her his own version of what happened to himself.
"And with me my fighting style is almost completely draconic. I still use Human fighting styles, but I recognise that I am far more comfortable with dragon warfare tactics."
Astrid smirked at Hiccup's explanation that he was different from the other Vikings. She realised that he was basically the same as her. It was odd that she was connected by fighting style to what had been the Viking runt, but she decided to accept it.
"you know we could make a good team with our unconventional tactics."
Hiccup gave a warm smile and Astrid was a little confused at his sudden emotions.
"why are you smiling."
Hiccup replied
"because I was thinking of the fighting force we would be. One half god, one amazing shield maiden, one Nadder and two night furies."
Astrid was interested at the possibilities. It was a hopeful prospect, but they would have to worry about revealing Hiccup's changes to the rest of the village first.
Hiccup decided to leave the conversation soon after and left with a quick goodbye to Astrid. He wanted to get to the two night furies, so they could help him plan out his reveal.
He arrived where the two night furies and introduced his question to them.
"so somehow I've got to show the village I am a hybrid before I am forced to, and I have to do it so that nobody exiles me. Astrid suggested showing my strength beforehand, so I gain respect."
Both night furies mulled over Hiccup's statement. Toothless knew about how much the Village hated strange things. It was likely that they blamed Loki for Hiccup's transformation and exiled Hiccup from the island.
Hiccup continued his expression of worries.
"and after having to fight Snotlout and scare Fishlegs I can believe that no one will trust me to stay peaceful."
Toothless and Shadewrath were puzzled, Shadewrath stated his concern:
"why did you have to fight your fellow humans?"
Hiccup explained the matter to them:
"Fishlegs got too curious about me so I had to get him to stop. I warned him, but he still observed me like a new species of dragon. Snotlout got annoyed when I said I was the strongest Viking in berk, naturally he had to make me fight him."
This interrupted Toothless' s mulling when he got an idea.
"what about giving Snotlout a duel in the middle of the village, then everyone else can see your strength like you talked about."
Hiccup immediately turned down this idea.
"No, Snotlout doesn't want to fight me anymore."
Toothless did a bit more thinking before coming up with a solution.
"doesn't Snotlout have a father?"
Hiccup was still depressed about the whole solution and so only gave a weak reply
"yes, he does, why?"
Toothless grinned widely.
"then you could challenge his father to a duel!"
Toothless' s smile faltered.
"why do you need to have a duel. I know that you have to get yourself noticed but does it have to be Violent."
Hiccup was respectful of the perspective of Toothless.
"I guess in all my thinking I forgot that there's one person I know who could help me explain my change without the village exiling me: Stoick"
Toothless was happy that he had brought Hiccup from his violent path but the existence of it confused him.
"why did you decide on such a violent action in the first place? You're normally much calmer than this."
Hiccup was sure of that himself. 'Why am I so Violent today."
"I think that being different and Fishlegs making me into an attraction made me very protective of myself."
Toothless absorbed his confession and gave him a small loving embrace to celebrate him understanding his emotions. After Toothless had released Hiccup from the hug Hiccup walked towards his house.
He entered the house and was confronted immediately by the chief. He was a bit nervous that he had met the chief so easily, normally Stoick would be out doing his duties. He conveyed his nervous confusion.
"Oh, hi dad! Why aren't you in the village, you know, on Chiefly duties."
Stoick was a bit mystified why Hiccup was so nervous but explained.
"Well there isn't much to do currently, the village is running fine and there are no attacks to worry about."
Hiccup absorbed this information like Toothless had done for him. Eventually though he had to speak out with his concern.
"Dad, I have something I need for you to do."
Stoick was confused further.
"but why do you need me to do something. Can't you do it yourself? Especially considering your half night fury."
Hiccup was a bit worried that someone had heard Stoick, but no one was close to the Chiefs hut. Sighing in relief, Hiccup gave his reasoning.
"I need you to tell the other Vikings in the Village about my changes."
Stoick was struck with the realisation he had not told the rest of the village about Hiccup's transformation. He decided to go outside and give the important speech to the village.
Hiccup could only hope that things went smoothly.