Hello lads and lasses, sorry for the wait, been a busy month for me, went away for a few days in York.
Drinking mead.
Yes yes Wade, I was drinking mead, when in Jorvik, why not?
And the other thing?
Sigh ok I was concentrating on a workout, ready for Tough Mudder.
Dressed up as me ¦-3
Hey! The volunteers were impressed the face paint stayed on!
It was fun to watch, you grabbed so much booty
I was helping them over the wall!
Riiiight, we saw the smile.
Urgh! No winning with you! Anyway, for this chapter, sorry not so long, the warm weather fries my brain sometimes.
Chapter 17- The training plan
It was a very quiet afternoon in the forest after Astrid had left Hiccup in a bliss state of unconsciousness. The dragons that weren't controlled by the Red Death had come out of their hiding spots, knowing full well the Vikings from the nearby village wouldn't adventure this far so made the perfect the spot to grab a drink from a nearby lake or spend time letting their hatchlings and younglings play amongst the woodland area with no sign of fear.
Until...
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME!"
All the dragons scattered and flew away from the area as the shouting echoed through the trees, scaring them off.
All except a certain Night Fury who was hiding in the shadows with a worried look on his face as he watches his human brother pace up and down in anger, hitting anything inanimate while the large two limbed Viking stood there sighing with his head down after he what he said to him.
"HE NEVER FUCKING LISTENS!"
"Lad I did tell him it was a bad idea but he insisted it was the only way te get ye back in the tribe" Gobber reassured him that he didn't want to go with it, but couldn't disobey his chief, but it didn't help Hiccup convince a nearby rock was an enemy as he slams his fist into the centre of it.
He stood there for a good minute or two as the repercussions of flesh and bone hitting a very solid object finally caught up to him as he cursed every god under the sun as he cradle his damaged hand.
"Fuckfuckfuck! Twatting bride of Grendel's hairy balls!" from this even Gobber, who's known for having a foul mouth, blushed at Hiccups colourful vocabulary.
In honesty he couldn't blame the lad, Stoick keeps saying he wants his son back but his actions keep pushing him away.
After a good few minutes of swearing, hitting things and general yelling, Hiccup panted heavily as he got it out of his system and slumped to the ground exhausted while the old blacksmith watched on.
"Feel better lad?"
Hiccup could slowly nod in reply even though he was still pissed but was to tired to lash out even more.
Gobber, meanwhile, decided to hobble over to the boy and sit down next to him, admiring the lake before a smile crept onto his face and decided to change the subject.
"So I spotted something very interesting as I was heading towards the cove lad" Hiccup lifted up his head, despite how tired he was, Gobbers words had him at full attention, wondering if he meant that he saw Toothless.
"Go on?" he watched as Gobbers smiled widened.
"Well as I was about te head off into the forest, I spotted a familiar blond shield-maiden walking back from there with the biggest smile upon her face, an' not just a 'I killed a good few good trees and I'm happy' sort of smile..." he watched as Hiccups whole face turned red which made Gobber chuckle "...ah ye know what I'm on about lad"
"Well...er...I...I don't..."Hiccup stutters, trying to come up with a good excuse, unfortunately for him, he couldn't come up with anything and even Gobber held his hand up to silence him.
"Lad, ye can't make an excuse from this, she, visited ye didn't she?" Hiccup sighed as he nodded, knowing he won't win this round as Gobber carried on.
"An' since yer still alive with no physical injuries, an' the fact I found ye unconscious with a smile on yer face, I'm guessing it went well?"
At this point Hiccup looked up at his with an raised eyebrow.
"What are you? Heimdalls drinking buddy?" Gobber chuckled at Hiccups expression but kept his eyes glued to the young man, staring him out before Hiccup finally cracked and gave in.
"Fine! She kissed me okay! Not a kiss on the cheek but a full blown smack on the lips! Now stop giving me the dead eyes, they're creepy as hel!"
At this Gobbers chuckling turned into a full blown laughter as he smacked Hiccup on the back, nearly causing him to topple over before stopping as he sigh.
"Shite! Tha' means I lost the bet"
"What bet?!"
"The bet me and Agusto made a year back, we bet which one of yew would make the first move"
At this Hiccup pinch the bridge of his nose and sighed. He should have guessed this would happen, Vikings would bet on anything.
"Sometimes Gobber I wonder about how far your level of bluntness can go, but here we are, talking about your bet with Mr Hofferson on whether me or Astrid would make the first move..." he then smirked as he remembered something "..besides didn't she already make the first move year ago?"
Gobber simply shrugged at that as he had his own reply.
"Meh it doesn' count otherwise I'd have won over a decade ago"
"What do you mean?" Hiccup didn't understand what he meant as he saw the old blacksmith smirking now as he replied.
"You kissed her ten years ago on Valisblot" Hiccup blinked in surprise.
He kissed her?
He, Hiccup, kissed Astrid?
Then how come he didn't remember?
Did she remember?
He was about to ask those questions when Gobber beat him to it.
"Understandable that ya don't remember, after she hit ye over the head with the base of her uncles axe" Gobber chuckled remembering an unconscious Hiccup and a blushing Astrid holding her axe as he carried on "she must have repressed it of never wanted to think about it again"
Hiccup groaned as he slumped to the ground, hoping for it to swallow him whole. But when he thought about it, that was about the same time she started throwing herself into her training and avoiding him.
Most, including himself, thought it was because of her uncles failed attempt at taking down the Flightmare and besmirching the Hofferson family name, hanging out with the runt and embarrassment of the tribe would only make it worse.
Now Hiccup's thinking that she avoided him because she didn't know what to think.
'Maybe it was both' he thought to himself as he come to realise something else.
Training.
Dragon training to be precise.
How can he even think of harming dragons to be accepted, he spent years discovering the amazing side of dragons, especially those in the arena.
And his thoughts turned to Astrid again. She saw the truth, she rode the most deadliest dragon known to Berk and he was like an over grown cat with wings.
She wouldn't harm them either.
He sighs as he knows he has no choice.
"Gobber, what am I gonna do?"
"With Astrid? Well I suppose some Hiccup charm, show her what ye got and also ask her fathers permission te court her..." Hiccup fell back at his bluntness before standing to look at the blacksmith with a flustered face.
"Not that you one track mind twit!" Gobber only laughed at his expression, Hiccup was easy to wind up sometimes anything to lighten the mood as the lad needed it.
"I know what ye meant lad, in truth I would have said try to be a Viking but we both know ye not one"
"Thanks Gobber, that helped a lot" he replied sarcastically, he and everyone in the village knew he wasn't Viking material. He wasn't bulking buff, he can't smash his on a rock until it breaks, he rather use his brain to take on situations if they can be resolved without fighting and most importantly he can't kill a dragon.
He sighed as he listened to Gobber carry on.
"What I mean lad is ye survived here jus' being Hiccup, so maybe it's time te show those muttonheads in the arena" Gobber finished off with a wink, surprising the auburn haired teen.
Did Gobber know something more about him than letting on?
Did he know about Toothless?
Or did he mean about how I handle the dragons in the arena?
As Hiccup thought on, any one of those things could be right, so instead of asking what he knew and give him information he didn't know about, he sighed and nodded in agreement.
"Okay Gobber..." he then pointed his index finger at the blacksmith "...but be it upon your head if something unexpected happens!"
"I'll take the chance lad" Gobber chuckled as he looked towards the cove exit and sighed "well better get back te the village and see yer dad off and the rest" Hiccup only groaned at this knowing what that meant.
"Another spectacular and successful trip to Helheims gate I'm guessing" he replied sarcastically as they both knew that Stoick still had a life long mission to find the nest and get rid of it once and for all.
'thank Thor that he can't otherwise the tribe is screwed' Hiccup thought to himself knowing that if his dad did get to the nest the Red Death would make quick work of them and may not even stop there. He should tell him about the situation but there was one big drawback.
He never listens.
He'll press on for how to get there until he finds out only dragon can get there and then that's it, off he goes with an innocent creature tied to his ship, most likely disowning Hiccup fully and even exiling him off the island entirely.
So for now he has to come up with a plan to end the monster forever, besides taking all it's slaves away until it's too weak to control them and let nature handle the rest is proving too slow for his liking.
With that on top of dragon training, feeding the dragons in the arena and secretly protecting the village from hostile threats while a large portion of the warriors set sail on a fruitless mission, Hiccup always wondered what it would be like as a normal boy, working in the forge with friends and people genuinely greeting him without the threat looming over everyone, human and dragon alike.
'maybe one day'
But as he sees Gobber hobbling out toward the exit he decides to follow him.
"Wait up Gobber, I'll come with you and see the others off!" this surprised the blacksmith. Normally when he told him about the latest raid to the nest, Hiccup wasn't bothered about seeing them off.
So why now?
"Yer do?"
"Well I got to see how many want to sail to their dooms then be anywhere near me" Gobber was about to reply until Hiccup stopped him by carrying on "I've known all along that most of the tribe still look at me as a disaster, thanks to a few certain people reminding them" Hiccup sighed having heard it all during his many hidden trips to the village.
After that the two fell silent for most of it journey through the forest only to talk about their similar interest, blacksmithing, ranging from different methods on how to sharpen a blade to wondering how so many villagers manage to break their tools so easily.
Eventually they made it to the entrance of the village to see most of the people carrying large sacks towards the docks.
As the two walked towards the docks, most of the passer-bys greeted Gobber, but only him.
When Hiccup was younger and still in the village, he was always ignored or scalded which would have upset him and felt alone.
Nowadays, having survived by himself practically, he didn't give a damn if they ignored him, as far as he was concerned, he didn't need to impress anyone but himself.
The two eventually made it to the docks to see that the preparations for the voyage were complete and the only activity there itself was the farewells from the families of those warriors sailing off.
Hiccup watched the likes of the Jorgensons and Thorston were there, saying their goodbyes and how those his age brag about doing well in dragon training while they're away.
What Hiccup did notice was that the Hoffersons and Ingermans weren't among the others.
In fact neither Agusto or Mooselegs were dressed for battle like the others which meant they won't be going either.
As the young auburn haired teen thought about it, it would make sense if he would have been in charge that a few would stay behind but he suspected that this was done on his fathers orders.
Gobber however saw the look on his face and decided to tell him.
"They...opted to stay behind" he hoped he didn't have to explain the reason why but it was like Hiccup could read his mind as he butted in.
"He told them they either go or they have to watch over me didn't he?" his deadpan look at the blacksmith said it all as he slowly nodded while Hiccup carried on.
"And they didn't like the way he forced a decision by using me as a weapon" again Gobber nodded while Hiccup sighed knowing Stoicks tactics very easily.
"Get ready to sail upon my command!"
And speak of the bushy devil himself.
Stoick waited for his command to be acknowledge as he made his way toward Hiccup and Gobber before speaking to the latter.
"Train them well Gobber, and hopefully we'll have a big celebration when we get back, I can feel it, we'll get there this time and end it"
'yeah right dad, you've said that since I was a toddler' Hiccup thought to himself while rolling his eyes until he saw his father looking towards him.
"I suppose Gobber told you that you'll be training too" he grumbled as he looked at his son hoping this'll change him for the better.
"Oh yeah and I was over the bifrost about it" Hiccup replied sarcastically with the chief not catching onto it.
He was caught unaware by the huge battleaxe shoved into his arms, nearly knocking him off balance.
"Try not to get yourself killed" these words stung Hiccup, hearing those words coming from his father as the said man turned to walk away.
Hiccup however didn't want him to have the last word after that sentence.
"And you try to make it back with at least half a boat back this time!" this made Stoick stop in his tracks as he turned around to look at Hiccup with frustration in his face.
"Someone has to take action"
"With the same plan that never works and less ships each time!"
"We're Vikings, it's an..."
"Occupational hazard I know! A thousand times I've heard that along with grandpa Haddock telling you to smash your head against a rock"
"It broke! And taught me that Vikings can do anything when they persevered!" Stoick looked at Hiccup thinking he had the upper hand. That was until he saw the smirk on the boys face.
"Yeah but not before you started singing 'I'm a little goblin' for six hours straight!" Stoick was taken aback.
How did he know about that?
Only person who knew that was Valka and she couldn't now that she was dead.
But without any time to think about it he walked away without another word as he jumped on the lead boat and gave the orders to set sail.
Gobber meanwhile looked at the boy confusingly on how Hiccup knew something he didn't know. He didn't want to anger the lad knowing Stoick has already emotionally exhausted him so changed the subject as Hiccup sighed before speaking.
"Well Gobber, best get to the forge, I'll help with repairs and whatnot, save your old bones" and there was the cheeky side Gobber come to love as he smacked him over the head.
"Less of the old lad! I'm in me prime" he retorted while Hiccup rolled his eyes at that as he headed towards the forge, not bothering to wave off the ships.
Most won't be coming back anyway, he just hoped no lives are lost this time.
Several hours later
Hiccup was slowly fixing every weapon and tool that was in the forge, wondering how he would be able to end this war.
He was so much thought that he didn't see Astrid sneaking up behind as she grabbed his arms, scaring the living daylights out of him, dropping his hammer, with luck it didn't hit him this time.
"Thor almighty Astrid! I'm not even in my twenties yet before you're trying to give me a heart attack!" Astrid tried to hold in her laughter seeing Hiccup clutching his hand to his chest.
"Sorry Hiccup, you looked so spaced out in you head that I couldn't resist" she then looked at him as he sighed, from this she looked more concerned.
"What exactly were you thinking about?" Hiccup looked up at her as he replied truthfully, after all she'd seen one of her big secrets and trusted her not to rat him out.
"How am I gonna stop that thing at the nest?"
"How are WE gonna stop it Hiccup" she corrected him as he looked into her face once more to see a smile "I'm not gonna let you get hurt all by yourself, I lost you once as a friend I'll not be losing again a second time!"
Hiccup was lost for words, there was no hesitation in her voice, she was willing to stand by him and face this head on. Held held her hands, noticing a slight blush creep up on her face by didn't point it out as not to embarrass her.
"Thank you Astrid,I truly mean it" he then sighed as he carried on "now all we have to do is survive dragon training"
Astrid shook her head as she was thinking of Hiccups word before he said his last sentence.
"Wait, you're in dragon training too?"
Sighing, he nodded slowly at her question.
"Well I know you won't hurt them, and after seeing Toothless for how he is, I don't think I could either"
It was a dilemma, if Hiccup had never been exiled from the village, would she still be excited to be able to fight dragons or would it play out like this?
She came out of her thoughts to see Hiccup in deep thought once again. To tell you the truth, he wasn't thinking about how to survive dragon training without hurting them.
Suddenly he smiled, confusing Astrid, as he put away the tools to the forge and dousing out the fire before shutting up shop and grabbing her as he leading her through the village towards the forest.
Astrid, if it been anyone else she'd have twisted their arm off, but strangely not him as she followed him like he had an idea.
It was only until they reached a clearing that she finally decided to speak up.
"Okay Hiccup, you dragged me here, so I take it you have a plan?" she watched as his smile grew wider before cupping his hands and roaring.
A few seconds passed before the familiar shape of a Night Fury landed in the clearing next to Hiccup, giving the overgrown lizard a scratch.
She watched as Toothless was getting into it with sheer bliss across his face as Hiccup travelled down the until he reached the base of the neck.
Suddenly Toothless froze one second before collapsing to the ground, shocking Astrid, thinking if Hiccup could kill a dragon after all he had done.
But as she looked closer at the ebony dragon, she noticed, he was asleep, with a big smile on his face and purring madly.
She looked up at Hiccup who had his arms folded, smiling as he spoke before she could ask him what he did.
"A certain pressure point dragons have whereby upon being touched send them into sheer bliss like state just like this" he gestured to the mound of black blissful putty that being Toothless.
She then looked at him again as she finally got to speak.
"So is this part of your plan?"
He smiled before nodding as he replied to her question.
"Yes milady, I'm gonna teach you how to take down a dragon, the non-aggressive way"
Warning- next scene contains lemons
One lemon
Two lemons
Three lemons
Fo...
*Whack!*
Idiot! Sorry readers, no lemons, just Wade taking the piss
Ouch...