The Ages of Hiccup
Age 1:
"Hiccup! Where is that boy?" Ever since Hiccup has learned how to walk, he has been getting into trouble. Turning to Cloudjumper, Valka asks,
"Would you mind looking for him from the air? We don't want the same incident as last week." Cloudjumper grumbles in reply and takes off.
Last week Hiccup was found playing around on a Timberjack. He decided that it would be a good idea to walk across the Timberjack's wing and grab a hold of the wing's edge. Luckily, Cloudjumper spotted Hiccup and grabbed him before he could injure himself.
"Hiccup!" Valka searches all of the nearby caves with no sign of the little boy. She comes out of the caves and into the main cavern. Hands on her hips, she looks around for a sign of Hiccup.
"Where could he be?" she wonders aloud. The beat of wings alerts Valka of Cloudjumper's presence. Turning, she sees Cloudjumper landing.
"Did you find him?" worry creeps into her voice. Cloudjumper grumbles a yes. A sigh of relief escapes her lips before she can stop it. Cloudjumper then lowers his right wing so that the edge is touching the ground. A young human face pops up over the edge of Cloudjumper's wing. A grin stretches across Hiccup's face and he slides down the wing before him. Once both feet are planted on the ground, Hiccup runs over to Valka on unsteady feet. Once he reaches her, she swings him up into her arms. They exchange a hug and Valka kisses the top of Hiccup's head and asks,
"Where were you? I was looking for you all over." Hiccup turns and points towards the king before stuffing his fist in his mouth. Valka turns toward Cloudjumper for conformation and he bobs his head in response.
A flock of Terrible Terror babies approach Valka and Hiccup. They stop at Valka's feet and look up at her expectantly. She places Hiccup down and gives him a small nudge towards the babies.
"Go on and play. But don't get into any trouble you hear me?" Valka cries as Hiccup runs off with the young Terrible Terrors. Hiccup looks back briefly with a wide smile on his face. After Valka returns the smile, he turns back to play with the dragons. The smile Hiccup gave eases Valka's heart, and the weight on her shoulders, about the decision she made a year ago.
Age 5:
Valka turns away from Hiccup for a moment to take the fish out of the fire. She sets the fish down on plates and yells over her shoulder,
"Fish is ready! Come eat your fish before a dragon does." Getting no response Valka turns around. A brief glance around her home shows it empty. "What is Hiccup getting into now?"
A little ways away, Hiccup is climbing over frozen rocks and boulders. His foot hits an icy patch and he slips. The fall has cut Hiccup's palms and knees. Tears come to the front of his eyes, but Hiccup pushes them back. Dragons don't cry and neither does he. Standing up, Hiccup wipe off his hands and keeps going.
Hiccup wonders around the main cavern going in no general direction. He watches the dragons carefully, studying them. He stops before a cave and peers in. Mother has never let Hiccup go into caves that she herself has not yet explored. But this cave seems to call to him. There is something about it that draws Hiccup into the vast darkness of the cave. Cautiously, Hiccup places one foot in, then another. He keeps going, making sure to keep a hand on the wall at all times.
As Hiccup explores the cave, a light brightens into existence far ahead of him. Curious, Hiccup picks up his pace until he reaches the light. The light is coming from glowing crystals imbedded in the cave walls. Each one is about the size of his thumb nail and is multi colored. They glow with every imaginable color and each one is different from the other. Hiccup becomes memorized by the crystals and he stands there for awhile.
It isn't until a shadow passes over the crystals that Hiccup looks away. The shadow moves along the wall and down the cave path. With nothing better to do, Hiccup follows the shadow though the cave. He follows it through twists and turns in the path and out of the glowing cave.
The cave has dead ended and it opens up unto a more natural lit cave. The cave is made out of solid ice, with an opening in the top; it's just wide enough for a dragon to fit through. To the right of the entrance, at the far wall, is a raised platform. On the platform is two solid black dragons. Hiccup approaches the dragons and notices two things. One, that the dragons are asleep. Two, they look sick.
Hiccup takes a step closer but is stopped by a small growl behind him. Hiccup turns to find a smaller version of the two larger dragons. The dragon is shorter than Hiccup and has yellow-green eyes.
"Back away human before I rip your through out and feed it to the whales." Fear makes Hiccup take a small step back. Hiccup stays silent for a moment studying the dragon. It is shorter than Hiccup himself and has yellow-green eyes. The black scales makes it easy for Hiccup to miss the ribs showing. But after looking at the dragon a moment longer, he notices it. Hiccups eyes widen in shock.
"What happened? Why can I see your ribs? Doesn't the king take good care of you? Are those your parents? Are they OK? They sure don't look OK to me. Are they sick? Can I help? Is this where you live?" Hiccup's mother always tells him that he rumbles on when he gets nervous or scared. But Hiccup has never noticed it till now. He adverts his gaze away and offers a sheepish smile.
"Sorry. I was rumbling on wasn't I?"
"Yes. Yes you were."
"I'm Hiccup by the way." Hiccup looks back up at the dragon hoping to become friends.
"Name's Xavros."
"I haven't seen you around the nest before. Are you new?"
"I guess you could say that. Though, I don't really go to your nest."
"Why not?"
"Well, my parents are sick and I have to care for them. Besides, the other dragons would just get in the way." Hiccup tilts his head in confusion.
"You could ask the king. I'm sure he would help."
"No! I don't want any help from the king!" Xavros snaps at Hiccup.
"OK. I'm sorry Xavros I just thought I'd offer."
"HICCUP!" Valka was heard screaming from the main cavern. Hiccup flinched.
"I have to go. See you tomorrow?"
"Sounds good. And, would you mind bringing some fish with you?"
"Sure!"
"Thanks."
Hiccup skipped all the way out of the cave and back to his mother.
"Where have you been, Hiccup! I have been looking for you for almost an hour now! Your dinner is cold and now I have you warm it up again." Hiccup couldn't erase the smile on his face.
"Sorry Mom. I was just exploring and I made a new friend!" Valka smiles down at him and his chipperness. She bends down to kiss him, then ushers Hiccup back to their cave.
Then next day Hiccup gets up early to take some fish to his new friend Xavros. He gets out of bed and changes quietly. Grabbing a basket of fish, Hiccup sneaks past Valka and to the exit.
"Where do you think you are going?" Cloudjumper's voice breaks the silence. Hiccup freezes and turns around to Cloudjumper who sits up waiting for an answer.
"I lost a bet and now I owe the Terrible Terrors breakfast in bed." Hiccup quickly comes up with an excuse. Cloudjumper lets out a laugh and lies back down.
"Well hurry up. You don't want to keep them waiting." Hiccup smiles at him, then heads out of the cave. Once Hiccup is out of sight, he sprints to the glowing cave and into the natural cave.
"Xavros! I'm here and I brought fish!" Hiccup shouts as he enters the cave. Xavros bounds over to Hiccup and pulls on his shirt.
"Hiccup, come here. I want you to meet someone." Hiccup allows himself to be pulled to the raised platform.
"Hiccup, this is my mother. Mom, Hiccup." One of the dragons raises their head. She looks exactly like Xavros only bigger and with yellow eyes. Hiccup dips his head in respect.
"Nice to meet you."
"The pleasure is all mine. Xavros told me all about you when I woke up yesterday."
"Mom!"
"OK. OK I'm sorry Xavros." She bends down and nuzzles her child. Then she pulls away and begins coughing. The fit rages on for a couple of seconds before dying down. Xavros brings over a piece of carved ice holding water. He gives it to his mother who drinks it greedily.
"Mom, Hiccup brought you and Dad some food."
"Ya. Here eat all you want. There is more at home."
"Thank you Hiccup. Xavros is lucky to have a friend like you."
"I should probably get going before my mom sends out a search and rescue mission. It was nice meeting you. I'll come by tomorrow with some more fish. See you later!"
"Bye Hiccup."
Hiccup went back to see Xavros each day for two weeks. Each day he was there, Hiccup tried to convince his friend to seek the king for help. Each day Xavros stuck his nose in the air and refused. Hiccup met Xavros dad who was always kind and gentle. Hiccup did what ever he could, but Xavros parents keep getting sicker and sicker. Hiccup never told his mother where he was going and today was no different.
"Hey Mom. Can I go to the hot springs with the Nadders?"
" Hmm, I don't see why not. Cloudjumper?"
"Its fine with me as long as you stay out of trouble." Hiccup smiles knowing that he has gotten away. Again.
"Thanks Mom. Thanks Cloudjumper. See you later!" Hiccup runs out of the cave, over rocks, through the glowing cave and into his friend's home.
"Hey! Xavros! Do you want to…" Hiccup stops as he sees Xavros crouched down, crying. "Xavros, what's wrong?" Tear stained eyes meet his and Hiccup knows that something is wrong.
"I-Its my parents. They're…they're g-gone." The room suddenly turns cold. Really cold. And there is pressure on Hiccups chest. Like 30 Gronkles are sitting on it. Hiccup walks to his friend and sits next to him.
"I'm so sorry." The two sit together while Xavros tears begin to dry out. It isn't until thirty minutes later that Xavros talks.
"I had just gotten up. The sun was shining; it seemed like a hopeful day. I went fishing and when I came back-" Tears burst forth and flow down Xavros face.
"Its OK you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." Xavros sniffles.
"I want to get away from here. Far away. Forget everything till I'm brave enough to face it. Take me away from here, Hiccup. Please. Help me start a new life. Under a new name. Take me to your king." Xavros looks up at Hiccup begging. Hiccup has to help his friend.
"So you want a new name?"
"Yes." Hiccup doesn't understand this request but knows his friend needs him so he complies.
"What do you want to be called?"
"I don't know." Hiccup thinks for a minute, before coming up with a couple names.
"How about Athest?"
"No."
"Farfang?" Xavros only scrunches his nose in reply. "Well I only have one other suggestion and I don't think you'll like it. Toothless." Xavros ponders this for a moment.
"Toothless. Toothless." Xavros rolls the name around on his tongue for a moment. "Toothless. I like it. From here on out, call me Toothless."
"Alright Toothless. Ready to meet the nest?"
"Ready as I'll ever be." Hiccup leads Toothless out of the caves and into the nest. Toothless stops and looks around. His jaw drops in shock.
"This is where you live?"
"Yep. Wait till you meet the king!"
"Hiccup! Come here right now. You are in so much trouble! Hiccup flinches as Cloudjumper lands right in front of him. Valka jumps off and storms up to Hiccup.
"You weren't at the hot springs with the Nadders were you?"
"No."
"Where were you?" Hiccup feels his leg being pushed and looks behind him. Toothless is hiding behind him.
"Toothless, what are you doing?"
"That lady is scary. How do you stand up to her like that?"
"She's my mother."
"She's your mother! I'm so sorry Hiccup."
"Hiccup." Valka warns Hiccup and he flinches at her tone of voice. "Where were you." To answer her question, he just simply steps aside. Toothless squawks and buries his head in his paws to hide. Valka looks at Hiccup questionly.
"Who's this?"
"This is Toothless. He wants to join our nest."
"Not if your crazy mother is around." Toothless lets out a small yelp as Hiccup elbows him in the side.
"That's still no reason to lie to me and Cloudjumper."
"You don't understand Mom! He needed my help! I couldn't leave him! Toothless is my friend and I will never abandon a friend when they need me! Come on Toothless. Let's go see the king. He will understand." Valka and Cloudjumper stand rooted in their spot as Hiccup and Toothless walk away.
"Oh Cloudjumper, what am I ever going to do with him?"
Ten minutes later Hiccup is showing Toothless around. The king easily accepted Toothless into the nest. Now the only problem is, where will Toothless stay? The only place Hiccup has had in mind is in the cave he shares with Valka and Cloudjumper.
"Come on you big baby. Mom doesn't bite."
"How do you know? After all, you guys do live with dragons."
"Well, if she does bite, then you have my permission to bite her back. Deal?"
"Deal." They arrive at Hiccup's home just as the deal is struck.
"Mom! I'm home and I need to ask you something." Valka stands up from the log she had been sitting on and walks over to Hiccup
"Ok. Ask away."
"Well Toothless doesn't have a home. And I thought that since we have some extra room here that maybe he could live here. With us. But only if that is OK with you and Cloudjumper. I-"
"Hiccup," Valka calmly interrupts Hiccup "You're ranting."
"Sorry." Hiccup sheepishly responds. Valka smiles and looks over at Toothless. Toothless, seeing her gaze turn towards him, hunkers down and drops his gaze.
"Of course Toothless can stay here. Toothless," gesturing around at the cave Valka says, "Welcome to the family."
Age 8:
Cling. Cling. Cling. Sstthhhh.
"Hiccup! Hiccup!" Toothless bounds in and drops into a playful bow, swinging his tail back and forth.
"Guess what."
"What."
"Cloudjumper says that I should be skilled enough soon. Only a couple more days. Then we both can take to the air!" Hiccup sets down what he has been working on and turns toward Toothless.
"That's awesome!" Toothless grins brightly and sits up. He tilts his head to the side.
"What are you working on Hiccup?"
"Nothing much. I'm just trying to perfect this dagger."
"Hiccup, you don't need to try and perfect anything. Everything is perfect on your first try. Doing what ever you call it-"
"Forging."
"-Comes naturally to you."
"Thanks bud that means a lot. I should get back to perfecting-but-I'm-really-not-perfecting this dagger." Toothless bounds out of the cave shouting back,
"Have fun." Hiccup works on the dagger till dark. It is almost finished. Just a few finishing touches and it is done. A yawn escapes his mouth as he heads back home. The cave where Hiccup forges isn't far from home, but Hiccup drags it out as long as possible. He finally arrives to find everyone waiting.
"It's about time Hiccup! I'm starving and your mother won't let me eat until you are here."
"Time to eat boys." Toothless leaps over to Valka watching her expectantly. Valka hands him his fair share and he grabs them. Taking the fish to a corner, Toothless plops down and eats the fish in one bite.
"Toothless! Manners next time!"
"Yes Ma'am." Toothless has always been terrified of Hiccup's mom. It entertains Hiccup to watch Toothless to become squeamish. Hiccup watches as Toothless and Cloudjumper engage in a conversation on what type of fish is the best. All too soon it is time for bed and Valka sends Hiccup and Toothless to clean up then to bed. They curl up next to each other with Hiccup's head on Toothless' wing.
"Night Toothless."
"Goodnight Hiccup."
Two days pass and Hiccup creates two beautiful daggers. One has a black handle and the other one has a blue handle. The black one has a carving of Toothless on the hilt. The carving is painted red to stand out amongst the black. The blue dagger has a carving of Cloudjumper which is painted black. It is going to be a gift for his mother.
Hiccup is in the forge when a loud crash rings through the cave.
"HICCUP! Get your lazy butt over here! Cloudjumper and your mom are taking us flying!" Toothless bounds into the cave and begins jumping from wall to wall.
"Toothless! That's awesome! Come on! Let's go!" They sprint out of the caves and outside where Cloudjumper and Valka are waiting. They run through some brief rules and instructions before mounting up.
"You ready Toothless?"
"Hiccup, I didn't wait three years to begin flying with you, for you to just hold us back now. So get on!" Flying is the best thing in the world to Hiccup. The thrill, wind, and the freedom it brings cannot be bested. It doesn't take long for Hiccup to provoke Toothless.
"Hey Toothless, bet you can't fly very fast."
"Is that a challenge?" Toothless snarls.
"You bet it is." Toothless bursts forwards, throwing Hiccup off balance. Hiccup quickly regains his balance and shouts into the wind. A distant roar and cry reaches their ears as they fly on.
"Hiccup! Toothless! You slow down this instant. Or so help me I'll-" the rest of her words are drowned out by the wind.
"Hiccup, maybe we should slow down."
"Toothless, we are not slowing down just because of your crazy fear of my mother. Besides, we haven't even seen if you could dive."
"I can dive."
"Prove it." Toothless suddenly plummets towards the sea. Hiccup is almost thrown off his back but Toothless flattens out. They climb into the sky and plummet again. They are making their way up for a third go when Toothless stops moving.
"Come on Toothless. Fly."
"I can't! Something's got me!" Hiccup turns to meet his mother's angry scowl. He waves at her.
"Hey Mom. What's up?" She doesn't reply. Cloudjumper turns around and flyns back to the sanctuary with Toothless in his claws. Hiccup grins at Toothless and says quietly,
"Bet you're no good at sneaking out and flying in the dark."
"You're on."
Age 10:
Hiccup sits at the edge of a cliff over looking the dragon sanctuary. He draws in a blank book the scenery around him. Glancing up, Hiccup sees a Deadly Nadder family. They get drawn in the book and Hiccup looks at it happily. He settles back against a bolder watching the family interact. Watching them brings back the question he has been asking his mom for years. Maybe she will answer him this time. With this in mind, Hiccup packs up the few belongings he brought along and heads home.
"Mom, we need to talk. I'm not taking no for an answer this time." Hiccup looks his mom directly in the eye and says,
"What was Dad like." Sighing, Valka sets down the knife she was using to cut vegetables and walks over to Hiccup.
"Mom, I'm ten years old. I deserve to know about my own father."
"Alright Hiccup, I'll tell you a little bit about him. Cloudjumper, could you leave us alone for a little while please." Once Cloudjumper is out of sight Hiccup pipes up,
"What was he like?"
"He's amazing Hiccup. He has a hard outer shell but once you get to know him. I mean really get to know him, he is sweet and kind. Brave. Strong. Stubborn…" Valka trails off and gets a dreamy look in her eye.
"What's his name?"
" Stoick. Stoick the Vast."
"Where does Dad live?"
"Hiccup." Valka's voice is heavy with warning.
"I'm not going too try anything Mom." Valka looks him dead in the eye. Once she is confident that he has told her the truth she says,
"Berk."
"I wish I could've meet him."
"Me too son. Me too." Valka pulls Hiccup in for a hug. "He would have been proud of you." Hiccup pulls back and looks at his mom, puzzled.
"I don't get Mom. Why couldn't you have told me this before?"
"Hiccup, you should sit down before I tell you this." Cautiously Hiccup sits down looking at his mom in bewilderment.
"Hiccup, your father is a dragon killer."
Author's note: I feel a lot better on how this is written. Just a warning the next chapter and the following ones are changing perspectives. It will be from Hiccup's POV unless I feel the need for someone else's perspective. I am typing this story up on a tablet and autocorrect thinks it knows everything. So if you see any mistakes please let me know. Thank you for reading and I will see you next chapter.