In the dark tunnels under Berk, a ship has sail into a cave no Berkian realize is there. When the ship enters it, the rocky walls close behind it, the Berserkers turn around to find out what caused it. All but their leader, Dagur the Deranged. He stands as proud as any chief and scans the area around him.
Two rows of flames light onto the ground in a parallel line formation, hovering above it by a few centimeters. They glow a bright purple color and walking down the row is the witch in robe, the lower half of her face only visible to reveal a small, secretive smile.
"Ah…I see you didn't miss your way to get here and crash into the depths of the ocean. Not as stupid as I thought then."
The ship docks next to the rocky land and Dagur jumps off of it to bare his blade, glaring right at her. "You watch your mouth, witch. I'm-"
"Dagur the Deranged, yes, yes, I heard it all. The chief of the Berserkers, the hunter of dragons and…hm…what else?" The witch taps her chin before grinning wickedly. "Ah yes…The boy who has been defeated by a dragon and his mate. The hunter who has been beaten by his own prey. How humiliating. And worse, you even lost your 'Queen'."
He grabs her by the collar of her cloak and aims the tip of the metal blade at the witch's neck. "You don't know who you're dealing with." Dagur threaten, his sneer evil and cruel. "I can just slice you right here and now."
"And clearly, you don't know who you're dealing with either." The witch's eyes glow a dark shade of purple. The blade in Dagur's hand begins to grow hot and Dagur yelps, releasing it. The blade releases a small smoke, sizzling against the wet, rocky floor before it stops into its cold, steel temperature.
Dagur rubs his slightly brunt hand and gives a sour look towards the witch, who gives him a pleased, amused smile.
"Let's get back to business before I burn the rest of your arm, shall we?"
Dagur can only grit his teeth together and let out a stubborn grunt.
~With Toothless and Hiccup~
Toothless has been with Hiccup. A lot.
Stoick can tell Toothless has been with Hiccup so much, he wouldn't be surprise if his boy knows Toothless is pampering at this moment too.
The chief eyes his sharpened sword and then trails his eyes up to the door of his son's room, sadness and grief filling him immensely…
He won't deny it. He will always regret the day he made that horrible choice, the regrettable decision of what he did to his own son and that would be denying Hiccup as his heir when he found out about Dragon Island.
Stoick stands with sword in his hand, placing his sharpening tool on the table and steps out of the house to head for the Viking meeting in the Great Hall. He will protect his people. He will protect his village. That's what the Chief does…
"Valka," He said, looking up at the thundering clouds in the sky like a bad omen. "I know I have broken this promise before but…but I will protect our son. Up to my dying breath."
But even as a Chief, he's a father first. Even if his role as one would soon come to an end…
As Stoick takes his first steps up to the Great Hall, he resists the tears from streaming down his cheeks when he remembers Hiccup as a young babe, cradled with love by his dear late wife, Valka. His heart wretches terribly but he knows his only son will die.
Yet, he knows his pain is miniscule compare to the one who is suffering the most out of all this. Stoick still has his village, his people and if he can't protect his son, he can protect the birthplace of where his son's life began.
But Toothless…Toothless has no one.
And that made Stoick wonder whether the Night Fury can handle such pain…
Seeing his house from the top of the stairs, he can imagine Toothless franticly pamper Hiccup, giving him everything…Everything the boy would desire.
No. The dragon wouldn't be able to handle it.
~^.^~
"Hey, Hiccup. I brought some water. I know staying in bed is tiring and I know you're thirsty but don't worry, I'm here."
Toothless places the bucket of water next to the bed and sits on the side of the wooden furniture, cupping some water to let his hands be filled with liquid delight.
"Gothi said this magic illness you have isn't contagious…So I won't get infected if I let you drink from my mouth."
No response.
Toothless resists the urge to cringe and pours the liquid into his mouth. He leans towards his brunette and cups the young boy's cheeks, placing his lips against Hiccup's to allow the water to flow down Hiccup's tongue and into his throat. To ensure the boy doesn't choke, Toothless angles his head to let the water flow easier and less deadly.
But this illness, this…curse. Nothing can make it deadlier than it already is to Hiccup's lifeline.
Toothless pulls back and brushes a brown lock of hair away from the brunette's shut eyes. The hybrid's eyes begin to tear up and he slowly lay Hiccup back onto the bed.
"I…I-I know you can hear me. You're always a good listener, aren't you? That's how you caught me, right? You're smart. Very smart, compare to your villagers." Toothless caresses both the freckled cheeks and smiles shakily, his eyes soft and nearly broken. "I saw the other Dragon Riders just now, when I was getting the water. They're getting their dragons ready for Dagur…" He never like talking about that Berserker chief. Dagur has always been a dangerous suitor of Hiccup (Yes, Dagur's a suitor and Toothless knows that just by looking at him on that day when Dagur came to Berk for that damn treaty! He's purely sadistic and he looks as if he can do some sexual damage on Hiccup).
But knowing Hiccup, his little mate would want to hear every detail of the current situation. That's just how much his mate would want to know in order to protect the village. "Your dad is getting ready for battle plans, sending out a search troop and such. But don't worry, everything will be fine. If they enter the village, your dad, Gobber and the dragon riders will take care of them. They're strong warriors after all. And…And if they come here, searching for you…" Toothless moves one of his hands down to grasp Hiccup's, lifting it to place a small kiss on his pale, limp hand. "I'll be here…I'm always here…I love you…I love you so much, Hiccup…I'll protect you. I won't let them take you away." Toothless places a small kiss on Hiccup's nose and smiles weakly, waiting, hoping, for a single sign of Hiccup moving in his comatose-like state.
The boy did nothing but breath, like a sleeping angel instead of a dying prince.
Toothless closes his eyes and his head begins to pull away but he keeps his hands where they are. His eyes begin to sting and he takes in a deep breath, his throat shaking just from the rumbling cries he's threatening to bring out.
"No. No more crying." Toothless thought. "You're done crying. You need to be strong again. You can't show weakness." His ears raise from the sound of soft footsteps and he turns to the door, finding himself face to face with Astrid Hofferson. His eyes narrow lightly and turns them to Hiccup's fixed expression.
"Toothless-"
"Don't, Astrid." Toothless growls out, his eyes slowly turning to slits. "Just don't. I'm not going to leave Hiccup here alone…"
"That's not what I mean." Astrid places a comforting hand on one of the hybrid's shoulder. "I'm here to let you know we're ready to fight against the Berserkers. All I'm asking you to do is protect Hiccup. Even if…" The blonde trails off and her eyes sadden at the sight of her good friend, lying on the bed at Death's door. She straightens her back and inhales. "I still remember how he protected you back then, when you got caged in…"
"Hah…Yeah, what fun." Toothless sarcastically replies but no bite is visible through his voice.
"He was broken when you were taken to Dragon Island." Toothless looks at Astrid's hand from the corner of his eyes. "He looks so conflicted, lost. Like he lost another part of himself. But he still has enough sanity to get you back and save his dad. Even if he knows you two will go to your own death sentence."
"…Why do I get the feeling you're telling me to man up and grow some balls?" Astrid lets out a small laugh at the chosen vocabulary Toothless has picked. She pats on his back a bit strongly but nothing the hybrid can't handle.
"Because I am. I know what's it like to lose someone precious but that shouldn't stop you from finding your own way. If Hiccup…pass on," The atmosphere in the room grows tense, "then it would be your right to either leave Berk and never return to ignore the pain this place caused you…or, you can stay here to carry on what Hiccup would do if he continues to live on…Protecting the things you two love. Your home."
A pregnant silence fills the air and Toothless turns back to Hiccup, a solemn expression on his face. He grasps Hiccup's hand.
"My home is Hiccup," He states, "who is dying right before my eyes…He is all I have left. I have no home within this village, only him…but," He gives Hiccup's hand a loving gesture, placing a small kiss on the back of the weak hand, "Berk is his home. Even if it isn't mine, I will protect what's his."
"Hiccup is truly lucky to have you." Astrid removes her hand from his shoulder and turns around to walk out of the room. Toothless turns to her.
"Astrid," The female warrior turns to him with a quizzical look, "did you…ever wonder what would happen if you and Hiccup got together? If you're the one who's mated with Hiccup instead of me?"
Astrid gives him a soft, sisterly smile and shakes her head. "I may have once or twice…But Stormfly always make me feel the happiest. I don't think Hiccup and I will end up well in the end."
As Astrid leaves the room, Toothless turns to his Hiccup and places a feathery kiss on his forehead, hearing the sound of Astrid leaving the house. The couple continue their moment, Toothless waiting and praying to every god, every immortal being he can think of, to let Hiccup continue living…
And if he doesn't…Gods, please…Give Toothless the strength to overcome the pain.
A knock stops Toothless's mind from entering further into depression and he turns to the stairs down to the ground floor. He turns to Hiccup and places a small kiss on the brunette's lips.
"I'll be right back…I love you." He stands up and with a reluctant release of the teen's hand, he walks down the stairs with questions on what Astrid would want. He only reach the bottom of the stairs when the door swings open, revealing the person who makes his blood run cold.
"Ahh, if it isn't the little Night Fury!"
"DAGUR!" Toothless snarls in an instant and prepares a plasma blast. One of the Berserkers charges for him, only to be blasted out of the house by a purple-glowing ball. Toothless snarls at the incoming soldiers from the bottom of the stairs. One attempted to climb by the side and Toothless, using his tail, knocks him off of the stairs and have that soldier be thrown to a nearby wall, knocking him unconscious.
No one, no one, can ever get his Hiccup! Not even a spoiled, deranged sicko!
"I'm warning you, Dagur. If you dare come a step closer, I'll blast you!"
"Very wise words, dragon. However…I think I have the upper hand here." Dagur raises his right hand and with a sickening smirk, he snaps his fingers and Toothless finds his torso caught in a lasso made of chains. He growls at the Berserker on in front of him, standing at the corner of the house next to Dagur with two more holding down on the chain line.
"Tie him up! I don't want him to interrupt my grand greeting with my brother." Dagur says with a small sneer. "I'll be getting the pleasure to see you bawling your eyes out when I put a hand on little Hiccup."
"Like hell I'll let you without a fight!" Toothless prepares another plasma blast and shoots it at the three men. They got blasted out of the house like the first one and Toothless shakes the chain off before grabbing it himself to throw the Viking over his shoulder.
But as if they were expecting him to do so, they try to target his back but the tail saves his hind by smacking the weapon away from the enemy. Readying his bolt, he blasts another towards the soldier.
Dagur watches the battle unfold, his smile a wicked grin. It's necessary. Required. Just four more to go.
Toothless finds himself surrounded with his back to the rest of the stairs leading to Hiccup's room. He blasts another plasma on the guard who has step forward to the bottom of the stairs and then elbows another from climbing the stairs at the side.
Shouts of battle cries roar in the house and Toothless was fending off quite well. But by the time he tries to shoot another plasma blast, his shot stops halfway. He has run out of shots!
"Seize him!"
Dagur sneers down at the slightly bloody hand on his feet, disgusted to be touch by a mere hybrid.
"Let go!"
"Over my dead body!"
Dagur grins evilly and snaps his fingers, giving a silent command to the Berserkers who have reach towards Hiccup's home. They grab Toothless by the arms and before Toothless can try swiping them with his tail, a sucker punch on his gut made him cough out blood, rendering his muscles weak from the throbbing pain he's receiving.
"I'll make sure to mount your head on the wall, Night Fury. You'll make the best face ever when I kill poor, little Hiccup right in front of your eyes." Dagur throws his head back and lets out a maniacal laugh, making the fury in Toothless's eyes burn.
"Leave him alone!"
Dagur grabs onto the doorknob. "Watch me. Bring him in with us. He'll have the front row seat in watching how I, Dagur the Deranged, kill his precious little Hiccup!"
Toothless snarls and tries to make an attempt to free himself by using his teeth but Dagur must have thought he would do something like that because he end up punching his gut again, this time, it's much harder.
"Urk!" Toothless grunts and grinds his teeth together, staggering a bit but he couldn't get to recover because the soldiers drag him into the house and up the stairs to face the door that leads to the sick prince. "D-Don't…you…dare…"
Dagur scowls at the hybrid, annoyed by the fact the hybrid can still hold his ground. He steps towards him and grabs his face, almost growling. "You are such an annoying pest. You're dragons! Having you look even a bit like us Vikings disgusts me!"
"Then be glad…I look m-more like Hiccup…someone…who has a potential to earn their position. Unlike a spoiled brat like you!" He spits at Dagur's face at the last word and the Deranged Viking lets out a sound of disgust before his eyes blaze with anger and he lifts his foot to drive it down onto the gut, making Toothless cough out even more blood, his legs nearly buckling.
Dagur chuckles darkly and grabs the doorknob. "Make sure he has his eyes on the show…"
Toothless's eyes widen in fear when the door open to reveal Hiccup on his bed, defenseless and unarmed. He looks weaker than before…So much weaker. His skin has gone deadly pale and his lips are close shut as if he's already dead in his sleep…
No. No. He's still alive. Toothless can still hear him breathing, even if it's faint. He tries to step into the room but the Berserkers have held him back. Dagur steps forward until he's at the front of the bed, grinning evilly down on the lifeless body where the blanket cover him from his feet to under his chin.
"Aw…he looks so peaceful when he's sleeping…" Dagur pulls out a small dagger from his belt, the blade shining in the darkness of the room with the storm blocking the light. Lightning flashes into the room and the light from it shows half of Dagur's face, giving him a mad serial killer effect. He moves on top of the bed, his legs at Hiccup's sides and he raises his dagger… "But not for long…"
"NO! HICCUP!" Toothless thrashes against the Berserker's grip with all his remaining might and strength. "DAGUR, STOP! He struggles again but it brought nothing to work as the grips on his limbs only tighten around the wounds, making the dragon cry out in pain and bend his head. One of the soldiers grabs Toothless's hair and pulls it up to have his eyes stare at the horrible scene.
Dagur grips the handle of his dagger and lets the lightning flash, shining the blade a little with the tip as sharp as a spike. "So long, Hiccup!"
He brought the blade down.
"HICCUP!"
Ba-dump!
Hiccup can feel his heart beating slowly in his ribcage…His life is ending…It is…
"NO! HICCUP!" Toothless is here…He came back, like he promised…He's so loyal…He's always there for him… "DAGUR, STOP!"
Ba-dump!
Dagur…Dagur…that name…it brought him nothing but horrible memories of torture…all those times as a kid, being a knife-throwing target for that deranged guy…almost getting drowned…Trying to kill his Toothless…
He kidnapped Stoick…
Ba-dump!
He tried to kill Toothless…
Ba-dump!
He…He doesn't deserve!
Ba-dump!
Suffer…Suffer!
"So long, Hiccup!"
"HICCUP!"
HISSSSSS!
A hand stops the blade from going down any further.
The Berserker chief's eyes grow wide as he watches Hiccup's upper body rises, letting the blanket fall to the small lap, revealing his skin. His paleness slowly disappears and regains the original skin color, his blood pumping as regularly as his heartbeat. His body begins to grow back to its full strength and his hand squeezes around Dagur's wrist, making the older male grunt at the abnormal strength and release the blade to let it fall on the bed with its handle and bounce off onto the floor.
Ba-dump!
The black tattoo vines on Hiccup's skin, what was only around Hiccup's stomach, has now reach out of his collarbone and up to his neck with the sound of what could only be described as hot branding iron pressing against a human's skin. The vines continue to grow, letting it split into two at the center of the collarbone, have each one slowly 'grow' on the sides of his face and the tips of the vines curls just above the back corners of the eyebrows in thorny spirals. Appearing on his head are two, auburn ear-like appendages, making Toothless need to try blinking three times to make sure he isn't imagining. Something slithers out of the bed covers and crawls up Dagur's leg, making the lunatic yelp when it instantly curls around his ankle and hoist him in the air, dangling him upside down like a doll. Holding him in the air is an auburn tail with two fins at the end of it, leading to under the covers and, most likely, connected to Hiccup's body.
Ba-dump!
The vines on Hiccup's face curls its final touches and when a snap sound fills the room, the vines suddenly glow a dark shade of red, illuminating like angry lights. Hiccup's eyes open and Toothless couldn't believe the vision in front of him. Instead of those emerald eyes glowing with shy brilliance, Hiccup's eyes are red and his pupils are silted with unimaginable fury, bent on placing retribution onto his victim. A slow, evil grin that's so un-Hiccup-like spreads on the freckled boy's lips and his eyes glow with pure malicious intent that when lightning strike down, Dagur nearly peed his pants when he saw just how frightening the lightning effect brought to Hiccup's new look.
"H-Hiccup?" Dagur asks shakily, unable to believe the wimpy kid he has hunted for is this…beast! Hiccup tilts his head back a bit and a chilly laughter echoes through the little room. When he speaks, it's a darker but younger version of the distinct, high-pitched voice he owns.
"Hahaha! You sound so afraid!" Hiccup stares eagerly at Dagur with that same, sadistic grin, a grin that just made Dagur's sane. "Dagur's scared, huh? Who's the tough guy now?!" Hiccup flicks his tail to throw Dagur onto the other side of the room, letting the audience hear the sound of a body colliding the wooden wall, a crack visible on it. Hiccup throws the covers away and reveals the more vines appearing on his arms, forming like snakes coiling around its prey. Hiccup lets himself stand and walk dangerously slow like a panther ready to pounce. Dagur struggles to get up from the stone rock, Toothless's bed, but he didn't get to when he felt that same tail coiling around his neck and pinning him to the wall with a slam.
"Ugh!" Dagur tries to pry the tail off of his neck but it continues to tighten, making him gasp in need of air. Hiccup stares up at Dagur, standing on the rock with smile-less lips.
"You think you can push me around, Dagur? Don't you like violence? You're a Berserker, aren't you? You're their chief! You're deranged! Yes, I can't forget! I can't forget what you try to do to Toothless and I! You thought I was a little wimp, right? All skin and bones and no strength to be dangerous! Like a berserker!" Hiccup growls and lifts Dagur higher. "You are such an arrogant fool! I'll show you! I'll show you just how berserk I can BE!" Red eyes flare with hot anger and with a cry resembling a roar, Hiccup flings Dagur towards one of his men, freeing Toothless's left arm. Before the other soldier can rush to help his leader and comrade, a feared cry escapes him when a blur pounce him, attacking him with angry scratches and dangerous blows.
"Help! Someone, help!"
Toothless scrambles to his feet but he couldn't bring himself to move. How could he? His mate is right in front of him, his personality so different from his original one, the Hiccup he knew.
This Hiccup…he's practically mauling a Berserker like a cat mauling a mouse.
Dagur, maybe thinking he has a chance to end this, decided to bring a death blow to Hiccup but Hiccup turns to him in the last minute and plants a hard bite on one of Dagur's wrist with speed so fast, only Toothless seem to see it. Dagur lets out a cry of pain while his wrist spills red liquid onto the floor.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
Dagur and his men run away, leaving trails of blood in their wake. Hiccup, with a large, scary grin and blood at the side of his mouth, lets out a loud, roaring laugh to let it echo through the village, making the Berserkers flee for their lives.
"RUN! RUN, YOU BERSERKER COWARDS! I WILL ENJOY HUNTING DOWN YOUR BLOOD LIKE THE PREYS YOU ARE! HAHAHAHAHA! RUN NOW WHILE YOU CAN BECAUSE I, HICCUP HORRENDOUS HADDOCK III, WILL HUNT YOU DOWN IN SECONDS! THREE!"
Hiccup prepares his pouncing stance, ready to run out of the door. He can just feel his nails sharpening and his instincts calling him to hunt. The adrenaline has run through his body and it's pumping so erratically, filling him to the brim with excitement.
"TWO!"
Hiccup feels his blood running wildly with an itch he hopes to heal with the feeling of his enemies injured in his hands, their blood on his taste buds and their screams filling his ears. His nails scratches along the floorboards and his tail sways in a slow, predator-like movement of a crouching tiger.
"ONE!"
The screams…He can hear it all from afar and even their blood has covered his smell for the rest. But it doesn't matter. He'll find them.
He'll make them suffer! Like how they tortured him!
Zero
Like a gunshot within a race, Hiccup begins to run.
Run to hunt down the people who have scarred his heart.
Toothless wastes no time in chasing after his beloved, determine to find out what's going on…
And, adding the bitter taste in his tongue, prevent Hiccup from killing the Berserkers.
Here is the next chapter! XD Oh god, I haven't updated this in a long while. But this chapter went longer than I expected. I was planning on finishing it with 6k+ words but seeing as how you all are being left hanging for a year now, I thought it's best to cut it down to this :3
And remember! Every 10 chapters are request chapters! Meaning, if you have a berry you want the victims –Yes, I do mean the casts-, then don't be afraid to suggest them XD
Kuro: AND STOP WITH THE M!PREGNANCY BERRIES! WE GET IT ALREADY! SHEESH!
Mii-kun: We're still shoveling through them amongst the pile.
Me: Right. . . ^^" Anyways, you guys know what to do.