"So you decided to deny important information and endanger my son, all because you wanted to tickle his cheek?!" Stoick says outraged at Astrid.
Hours after Hiccup had departed with Alvin, Toothless saw them and ran to Stoick and Gobber frantically. Astrid and the others landed by them not long after. When Stoick asked what had happened, it's easy to see he wasn't too pleased with the news.
It was late in the afternoon and Astrid now stands in front of an infuriated chief. Her cheeks pink, and feet shuffling back and forth uncomfortably. Along with that, she practically handed Alvin Hiccup while he was in his weakest state.
"Astrid, I'm very disappointed in you. I thought you knew better than this." Stoick said.
"Sir, I'm sorry but I -"
"And as result of your careless behavior, Hiccup is now in the hands of Alvin." He goes on, bluntly cutting her off. "And with his memory gone, there's no telling what could happen!"
Gobber places a hand on Stoick's shoulder in an attempt to calm him. Even if she was the top of her Dragon class, next to Hiccup, she's still a teenager. And teenagers make stupid mistakes now and then.
Stoick walks over to the head of the fire pit, slamming his fist so hard on the wooden border, it brakes and causes Astrid to shudder. Gobber walks to his side.
"It's alright Stoick. We'll get him back." he hollowly promises.
"He's in Alvin's clutches, Gobber. He's in the hands of the enemy, and he has no idea who I am, or ever who he is!" Stoick yells in fury.
"We'll get him back, Stoick. All we have to do is help him regain his old memory back." Gobber says, but the doubt in his voice unsettled everyone.
"We had better!" Stoick said. "I've already lost Valhallarama, I am not going to lose my son too!" he says, and immediately after, his face softens and contorts. Tears sting his eyes and he lowers his head.
Everyone is shocked in silence. Stoick rarely ever mentions his wife. And why would he? The loss is still too painful to bare, even after all these years. Gobber loosens his muscles and his face morphs to mourn for a brief second.
He swallows hard before he speaks again, and in a more gentle tone. "Stoick, you're my best friend. And I mean this in the nicest way, but what happened with Val, there was nothing you could do."
The Viking children take a few steps back in case Stoick explodes on Gobber. But he doesn't. He merely speaks in a hushed tone.
"I know. But I can do something now. For Hiccup." He states.
"Sir," a voice chimes in behind them. They turn and see Fishlegs. "What are we going to do?"
Stoick stares into the pile of burning wood for what feels like forever before he replies. "We can't just go and invade Outcast Island, Alvin could use Hiccup as a hostage."
"What else can we do?" Gobber asks.
"I, I'm not sure. Usually Hiccup comes up with the better plans." Stoick says with a breathy chuckle.
Everyone awkwardly shifts in the room. Palpable silence took the place of voices and seemed to condense the air between everyone. Finally, Stoick speaks.
"I need time to think."
As if a switch had been flipped inside Gobber, he immediately tells everyone to leave. No one argues. He probably knows Stoick better than anyone. As he helps file everyone out, Astrid takes a quick glance back and swears she sees drops fall from the chief's pink cheeks.
Back on Outcast Island, Alvin and Mildew gather around their own fire pit in the active volcano on the island. Both are evilly laughing and clinking heavy mugs together in a victory toast.
"I must admit, Mildew. I never knew that Vikings could be so, cold." Alvin says before taking a swing at his drink.
"Oh, of course Alvin. It was my pleasure. I've been meaning to get at that brat forever since he bought home those putrid reptiles." He replies and Fungus bah's.
Alvin finishes chugging down his drink, then slamming it onto the wooden table. "Speaking of which, let me go see how the boy's doing."
He then gets up, the bench squeaking along the stone floor before settling. Alvin and Mildew had left Hiccup in the arena with the dragons for the rest of the day once they arrived back to Outcast Island.
Alvin managed to come up with a story on the fly, and now Hiccup thinks he's his son. He thinks he's the most bloodthirsty man in the world. The Hadrian of Hell. The Donovan of Death. And Alvin had no problem in letting him believe that.
Mildew follows Alvin into the arena where they had Savage "babysit" Hiccup. But now he only responds to Hadrian. As Alvin walks through the gates, he's surprised at what he finds.
Savage was huddled in the corner with the two other me he ordered to watch Hiccup. Shields block them from any sudden attacks that were in their direction. Alvin and Mildew look to the epicenter of the ring. Hiccup was armed with two swords, one in each hand, and he was battling a very hurt and bleeding Nadder.
Hiccup slashes his sword, and Mildew and Alvin dodge out of the way as blood splatters on the cold stone. The dragon backs up, blood slipping its way into the Nadder's eyes. Hiccup stands tall, not a single scratch, a hideous smile adorning his lips. The fear swimming around in the dragon's eyes made him hungry for more.
He charged for the dragon as it shook its head. Expecting the blood to just drop out. Hiccup spins his sword and slams the hilt into the side of its head, rendering the dragon nearly dazzed. He grabs it by the horns and slams its head into the stone, wrenching its neck for good measure. He laughs a taunting laugh as he pulls out his knife, and lightly ran the blade across the pathetic dragon's skin, not pushing hard enough to form a wound.
The dragon whimpers and wines. He loved to do this. He loved to kill. He loved to hold that kind of power over people and dragons alike. He liked how when he looked at others, they quickly turned away, fearing eye contact with him. He loved that other people seen him just as he was, a cold blooded killer.
A monster.
"So, where do I start with you?" he asked, a wicked tone in his whispering voice.
The Nadder whined from under him, and he pressed the knife against its neck, causing it to cry in pain. The dragon looked at him with pleading eyes.
"Oh, you want me to make it quick do you?" he asked, and suddenly a small pool of hope flashed into the Nadder's eyes, but it quickly disappeared when Hiccup began chuckling. "Well, you're lucky that I don't have time to deal with you right now." He said looking down.
And then suddenly, all in one quick motion, he sliced right through the dragon's neck.
Alvin and Mildew stare in shock at what they had created. Hiccup appeared to have no sanity. As if he just let go of it.
His sanity being what made him human. That feeling of regret, every time he made a kill, he forgot about it. And instead now only felt victory, pure victory. He decided, to no longer care. To not care about how his victims felt.
Instead he now fed on that pain, and that fear that he ever so often saw in their eyes.
He decided to let himself go. And in turn, darkness stained him. Cold blood flowed through his veins.
Hiccup places his foot on the dragon's neck, grabs the hilt of his weapon with two hands, and tugs. The blade comes free with a damp, sucking sound, flinging stray droplets of blood into the air. Blood pools into his palm and slides along the silver in a single, sinuous streak as the Nadder slowly crumples to the floor.
Alvin and Mildew stare, seeming to have forgotten how to move. Hiccup casually wipes his blade on the dry skin of the Nadder, slings it back into its sheath, and walks over to Alvin.
"How did I do, father?" he asks. A smile of hope on his face. Like a child that just did something right and is waiting for his parents praise. Alvin stares at the body of the Nadder. "Dad?"
Alvin shakes his head before answering. "Well, that was unexpected, son." He smiles evilly. "I like it."
Savage comes out from behind the shields and hustles over to Alvin, making sure to avoid Hiccup. "Uh, he-he insisted we let the dragon loose sir. I tried to tell him no but-"
"Well good!" Alvin snaps, and Savage flinches back. "There's no need to hold my boy back. If he needs to train, let him train."
"B-but Alvin, what about the dragons? We need them to destroy Berk." Savage reminds.
"Not anymore. With my son on our side, there's no way we can lose." Alvin says as he turns to Hiccup.
The boy had changed. Dramatically.
Shreds of inky locks curtain his forehead, as if the brown had melted away. His wrists lined in black leather bands specked with hostile silver studs. Well-worn, tightly strapped boots, studded on the toes. His pants covered with buckles and dull silver chains. The occasional straps of his weapons.
Eyes the cold and remorseless color of pale jade. All wrapped together with several plates of armor covering his vital organs, chest and shoulders.
He was a long line of black leather and chains, contrasting his porcelain white skin.
"I'm proud of you ma' boy," Alvin says as he places a hand on Hiccup's shoulder. "Soon, the people of Berk will know of your cruelty. My dear, Hadrian of Hell."
"Hadrian." Hiccup repeats. "Not bad."
"Savage!" Alvin calls, and Savage hustles to his side.
"Yes sir,"
"Bring Hadrian more dragons. The more prepared he feels, the better." Alvin instructs.
"What weapon can I use?" Hiccup asks.
Alvin pauses. "Whatever one you want my boy. You deserve nothing but the best." He says before turning and leaving them in the arena.
"You'd make a well father, Alvin." Mildew says as he follows him out.
Hiccup turns to Savage and the other Outcasts, they take a few steps back in fear. "Bring me your weapons! I need to train."
Later that evening, Mildew and Alvin gather in their Hall and propose a toast. "Ha-ha! There is plenty evil in the air! And the Dragon Conqueror in my grasp!"
"Here's to the Changewing Dragon!" Mildew adds. "It helped us turn Stoick's sweet little Hiccup, into-"
Suddenly a whip lashes out and wraps around Mildew's mug, yanking it back. "Hey!"
It lands in a soft, smooth hand, blood kicked underneath its fingernails. With two steps out, Hiccup's face is revealed.
"Sorry to interrupt your tea time boys." He mocks as he takes a swig from the drink.
After two gulps, he wipes his mouth and chucks both the mug and the whip into the fire pit. The fire explodes and blossoms like a blooming daisy for a few seconds, knocking Alvin and Mildew across the room in the process.
Huddled at Hiccup's feet, Alvin and Mildew look up. Hiccup's eyes wide with excitement and insanity as he yanks his sword free. "Party's over!" he holds the tip of the blade a few centimeters from Alvin's nose.
"We conquer Berk at dawn."