Authors Note: Sorry! I seriously dont mean to take this long to update!
Disclaimer: I won nothing!
Sorry for any spelling errors I missed. :)
Chapter 3: Welcome To Dragon Training
(Hiccup POV)
Why?
The question's been running through my head for hours on end. Why did the dragon spare me. Why didn't it kill on sight like it should have. Why, why, why, why?
I'm starting to despise the word.
With a heavy sigh, I sit up staring at the grayed light filtering through the skylight. Great.
First day of dragon training and I'm late. Not like I'm overly enthusiastic about it anyway. Giving a soft roll of my eyes I swing my legs over the right side of my bed and grab my boots and shoving them on my feet. The axe lays against the foot of my bed the glinting metal staring at me mockenling. It looks a lot lighter than it is.
Grumbling a heavy curse under my breath, I grab the axe and drag it across the room before heaving it off the ground and with a tight grip wound around the hilt I stumble down the stairs taking careful caution to skip the fifth step.
It squeaks.
Like it's being murdered.
When I hit the ground floor I quickly scramble towards the kitchen grabbing the first thing I can see, a apple and shoving down a few bites. I toss the core into the waste basket before re-balancing the axe on my shoulder and shove open the door staring at the thick overcast sky.
Either heavy rain or a small blizzard is in store. Yay.
I tear across the village ignoring the stares and looks I recieve from the other Berkians struggling to reach up with the other teens. Elsa is in the back of the group as Snotlout leads it forward the twins behind him then Fishlegs standing awkwardly to the side and Elsa in the back her hands rigidly still.
A sword is strapped to her waist and her hands are clasped together in front of her as she moves. I skid my run into a walk nearly crashing into Fishlegs. Elsa gives me a half glance before returning her attention forward.
Yup, if I she was on fire and I had the only bucket of fire in town she would rather stay on fire.
I release a long breath but look down at my feet studying them. After several long minutes The arena comes into view. It's a large circular hole in the ground with concrete walls and floor and a chained linked ceiling.
Gobber already there greets us with a small nod before moving towards the front a small smirk twitching on his lips. The gate is thrown open with a squeak and Gobber looks back at us a wild grin on his face, "Welcome to Dragon Training." He says stepping to the side and the other teens in front of me walk forward.
Elsa takes in a deep breath and Snotlout steps into the ring.
"No turning back." He declares. The other teens follow in after him and Elsa and the others take several spins as they scan every corner of the Arena.
"I'm hoping to get some serious burns." Tuffnut says grinning and spins his spear the blade gleaming in the few rays of sun shining down on us. Ruffnut smirks.
"I'm hoping for some mauling, like on my shoulder or lower back." Ruffnut says.
"It's only fun if you get a scar out of it, I guess." Elsa agrees. I roll my eyes walking forward the heavy axe dragging my arms down. These guys are ridiculous.
"Yeah, no kidding right? Pain: Love it." I say sarcastically and all heads, except for Elsa's whip around looking at me faces clearly shocked I'm here. Tuffnut recovers quickly and groans.
"Oh great, who let him in?" Tuffnut demands and Gobber walks forward, and I glare at Tuffnut and Ruffnut's hand meets her forehead.
"Let's get started. The recruit who does best will get the honor of killing his first dragon in front of the entire village." Gobber says and twists his prosthetic in a killing motion. My eyes widen slightly and I look up at Gobber, it's a good thing I'm not going to win. The mention of killing a dragon makes my stomach plummet several dozen feet.
"Um, Hiccup already killed a Night Fury so does that disqualify him or...?" Snotlout asks trailing off before the twins burst out laughing and I snap my jaw shut in frustration. Elsa sends me a slight pitying look but doesn't do anything else beyond that. Gobber swings an arm around my shoulders supportively and I flinch slightly before he starts to half drag me forward.
"Don't worry, you're small and weak." Gobber assures and starts to lead me forward to where the other teens are in a line, "They'll see you as sick or insane and go after the more Viking-like teens instead." Gobber assures and pushes me the final distance to the teens and Fishlegs scoots to the side a little and I scowl.
Berk already treats me like that.
I don't need the dragons thinking it too.
I look forward as Gobber comes to a halt in front of the door and looks at us.
"Behind these doors are a few of the many species you will learn to fight." Gobber begins. Probably the most "teaching" were going to get for all of Dragon Training. Gobber believes solely on learning on the job. Fishlegs's head perks up and his face breaks out in a happy wide smile. "The Deadly Nadder." Gobber starts listing and Fishlegs starts to spit out information as if it's his life goal.
"Speed eight, armor sixteen."
Gobber ignores the boy and continues, "The Hideous Zippleback," But Fishlegs is on a roll.
"Plus eleven stealth times two-"
"-The Monstrous Nightmare-"
"Fire power fifteen-" Did he swallow the text book whole?
"-The Terrible Terror-"
"Attack eight, venom twelve!" He shouts eyes wide with excitement.
"Will you stop that!" Gobber yells before gripping the handle to the door, "And the Gronkle." He finishes.
Fishlegs leans over to me and whispers from the corner of his mouth: "Jaw strength eight."
I shoot him a bewildered look before returning my gaze forward gripping my axe tighter. Gobber is never one for making sure you know what you're doing before he throws you into something. I want to be at least a little bit prepared, or survive the first training session.
"Whoa, whoa, wait! Aren't you going to teach us first?" Snotlout demands his eyes wide and Gobber smirks.
"I believe on learning on the job." He says and I, completely used to this teaching method mouth the words to myself as Gobber slams the handle down. The Gronckle bursts out of the cage in full fury and we scatter quickly.
"Today is about survival. If you get blasted you're dead." Gobber says and we all tense in running positions and Gobber looking cheery stops his smile and looks at us, "Quick! What's the first thing you're going to need?" He asks.
"A doctor?" I shout, my heart picking up speed.
"A bucket of honey covered ants!?" Tuffnut's profound blurt sounds.
"Plus five speed?" Fishlegs guesses.
"A shield." Elsa shouts and Gobber nods.
"Shields! GO!" He shouts. I tear across the arena and having no preference grab the first shield my fingers touch. The twins however don't have the same opinion as me. They both grab on end of a shield and I lift up my heavy shield watching them slightly.
"Get your hands of my shield." Ruffnut commands.
"There's like a million shields." Tuffnut responds, "Take that one, it has flowers on it. Girls like flowers." Tuffnut says and Ruffnut rips the shield from his grasp and slams it down on his head looking satisfied with herself as she does so.
"Oops. Now this one has blood on it." Ruffnut says and the Gronckle flies forward and blasts the shield apart. The two spin in mid air for a moment before crumpling in a heap over the splinters of the wood.
"Ruffnut, Tuffnut out!" Gobber calls and I race forward as the Gronckle races forward to me. The shield slips from my grasp and I stop, trying to pick it up again. Oh you have got to be kidding me! I was holding it perfectly a few seconds ago.
Gobber walks forward and picks up the shield shoving it into my hands and pushing me back, "If there's a choice between the sword or the shield, take the shield." Gobber says and I mentally memorize that for later and race forward.
"Those shields are good for another thing: Noise. Make lots of it, to throw off a dragon's aim." Gobber commands and I, Elsa, Fishlegs, and Snotlout start to whack our weapons against the shield and the Gronckle's eyes glaze over.
"Every dragon has a limited number of shots, how many does a Gronckle have?" Gobber asks and Snotlout lifts up his sword.
"Five?" He asks and Fishlegs shakes his head.
"No six!" He corrects and the Gronckle fires at his shield and Fishlegs shouts something intransalbilte before screaming and rushing out of the arena joining the twins. Snotlout dives next to Elsa and looks at her.
"So I just got my axe sharpened. You should join me for a training session in the woods sometime, I'll show you how to use a weapon properly." Snotlout says and Elsa tightens her grip on her sword before she dives to the side; the Gronckle fires at Snotlout blasting his shield apart.
I duck as the shield splinter's fly over my head.
I run forward and look to the side as a blur comes to a halt on my left. Elsa. When she comes to a halt a blast of cold air smacks into me and the grip on my axe falters slightly in surprise. What the!? Did the weather just feel like taking an unexpected drop because!?
"Hiccup!" Elsa shouts and I turn my attention to her my eyes widening with surprise as she shoves me out of the way. A blast smashes in between both of us and would have gone through me had she not reacted.
Her shove causes me to stumble forward off balance the shield and axe slipping from my grip. Heavy wing beats ring up behind me and I twist around my eyes widening with surprise as I spot the Gronckle coming towards me.
Rainbows that have been enchanted. This is great.
Shield, shield, shield! I need a shield!
I race forward towards my shield and try and reach for it but it rolls away from my grasp taking a sudden hard right. I leap left, slipping and my back smacks against the wall.
I shove into the wall and see the Gronckle over me and I bite my inner lip. This is not how I imagined my death. Truly I'll probably just trip over some imaginary dirt and hit my head incredibly hard, -coordination and I have been battling sense I could walk- but this is a lot worse than any senro I could come up with.
The Gronckle opens its mouth ready to blast me out existence. I take in a few panicked breaths. Would it hurt? Or would I just feel heat than nothing?
The spark lights and Gobber pulls up the dragons at the last second. I duck inwards anyway, covering my head with my arms and burying it into my knees. THe blast of heat sails over my head and I blink before looking up.
"Go back to bed you overgrown sausage!" Gobber commands and swings the Gronckle around with his hook before throwing it into the cage. The Gronckle whacks against the doors several times, "You'll get another chance, don't you worry." Gobber assures and pulls up the lever and I stand shakily and Gobber turns to us. I almost died.
"Remember: A dragon will always, always go for the kill." Gobber says turning to me at the last part and I take in another breath before I pause and my eyebrows knit together.
No…
The concrete smokes the ashes gleaming merrily.
What about the Night Fury?
(Elsa POV)
Get it together.
Control it.
My lip remains firmly under my teeth's death grip as I stare up at the sky. It's starting to snow softly and it's my fault. The training ring rattled me more than I'd like to admit. Hiccup almost died. Died. I know he faces death every other day and for the most part is a nuisance but I can't help but feel slightly related to him. I am an Outcast like he is.
Just not in the same way.
I slip into the village clenching my fists and staring down at the gloves. Their frosting over. I need to find Anna, she'll distract me long enough for the curse to contain itself. Ingrid is going to have quite a tongue lashing for me when I get back. I made it snow when winter isn't due for another few weeks.
Conceal, don't feel. Conceal-
A light snowfall starts to fall and the panic racing through me increases.
Control it, control it, control it!
I'm thrown from my racing thoughts as I smack into someone. Ow! I draw back immediately taking a few steps back for good measure rubbing my nose before looking up. What if the ice slipped off of me? It's happened more than once. No one should touch me for a few hours.
Hiccup does the same and we meet eyes. His are distant and stares at me for a moment before looking down, "Sorry." He mutters before moving past me. I turn watching him move through the village towards the forest. What is he doing?
The forest really isn't any place to be with this weather. Then again he is Hiccup.
I let out a long breath steam rising towards the clouds from the air.
Conceal.
Don't feel.
Authors Note: Elsa will be getting longer POV's in later chapters. :)
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