So Much More
By: Selim
Summary: As future king, Toothless was entitled to the wealth, power, and women that came with the job. A chance meeting with a creature from another world teaches him that there's so much more outside his world and only he can protect it. Antro-Toothless x Hiccup
Warnings: AU-AR, Antro-Character, sug. human sacrifice, sug. dragon slavery
Pairing: Toothless x Hiccup
Disclaimer: I do not own How to Train Your Dragon. This is a piece of fiction and the author is not making any money off its creation.
Drowsy and still drunk, Toothless leaned against the palace walls trying to hold the laughter threatening to bubble over. The night had been spent with Fishhook, at the pub in the city receiving good luck drinks while complaining about the injustice of it all. As the dearest friend he'd ever had, the nightmare had remained sober and kept the drinks coming, offering a friendly ear while coxing Toothless on - about his sister-in-law (a favored topic between the two), his upcoming mating, and especially the human problem.
The priceless vase, circa King Warfury reign, fell from its perch. Staring at the shards on the ground, Toothless reached his arm out while trying to maintain unsteady legs. Making it to the other side made him laugh jovially.
"Toothless."
"Hiccup!" Toothless reached for one of the two Hiccups in front of him. He missed the real one and slammed face first into the wall on the other side. Not the least bit embarrassed, the night fury laughed again. Firm arms wrapped around his ribcage, trying to pull him upwards. Looking under his arm at the short human, Toothless joyously tightened his grip around the tiny figure, letting most of his weight on the other. "Fi-Fishie told me the greatest joke ever! Want to hear it?"
"Toothless, help!" Hiccup struggled under the heavier weight.
"What do you do with a green dragon?" Toothless flung his arm up, swaying on his feet. "Y-you wait for it to ripen!" He rolled into himself with laughter, nearly knocking the little human over. For the life of him he couldn't find the strength to stand up straight, helping the human carry him to his bed. "I-I gotta better one! W, what's the difference between you and an egg?" Toothless threw his arm over Hiccup's shoulder. The human's knees buckled. "The egg gets laid!"
Hiccup stumbled under the dragon's heavy weight, his knees buckling as he moved through the corridors, trying to keep Toothless on track. The dragon, busy reaching for fancy draperies and cracks in the wall, kept rambling, from a few other choice jokes only funny to his ear until he touched base on the problem that had been bothering him since the night earlier.
"'M not like Ripper- not a human-fucker, better taste than that. Never fuck a lesser creature." Toothless pulled away from Hiccup, leaning against the wall. "Never want to touch you again- never want to see that look again. Y-you deserve better than that." The world even! Hiccup deserved...any dragon that would take the boy and give him a new life. Or maybe his mother could adopt Hiccup, so long as the Royal Family stayed in power Hiccup would receive the care he would need until the end of the human lifespan (however long that may be).
Standing small in the grand hall made to fit the tallest of dragons, Hiccup's arms dropped to his sides. "Toothless." The boy numbly played with the rope holding his trousers tight around his small hips. Stomping his foot, the boy rambled out his human tongue, ending with a growl of, "Bad Toothless!"
"I am bad! Roar! Go away!" Toothless swung his fist. His claw clipped the stone ground, and he stumbled into Hiccup's smaller frame. With a squeak, Hiccup caught him with buckling knees, ranting and raving in his confusing tongue. "...Why didn't you run when you had the chance?" He still imagined the human terrain, fresh snow covering hidden slave trader tracks. "Get away from me and all this..." Toothless rubbed his face into Hiccup's chest, enjoying the smell of lilac that only came from his mother's skin cream.
"What in the world are you doing?"
Toothless flinched as his brother's smooth voice came across the corridors.
"Molesting just wasn't good enough; just have to go for the real prize: his virtue. I'm sure there's plenty of that for you." Massclaws crossed his arms, head tilted to the side. Toothless hissed low, trying to straighten his hunch and hide how drunk he looked. In the end, he swayed trying to figure out which brother was the real brother he was supposed to be looking at. Hiccup straightened up next to him, smiling brightly at the younger dragon. Toothless sheathed some more, flashing his tooth. "Put those flashy pebbles away, you're only looking like a monster."
"Maybe it was you who kidnapped Hiccup!" Toothless stomped over. Massclaws flashed his own fangs.
"What are you saying?"
"Why were you in such a hurry to leave, trying to cover up your crimes you rotten, no good-"
Massclaws jumped him. Both men tumbled through the grand hall, claws extended and teeth biting. Toothless grunted as his slower responses gave his younger brother enough time to slam him into the ground, cheek grazing the cold ground. "Stand down!" Massclaws hissed, heavy knee digging into Toothless' wings. He only moved when guards touched his shoulders, alerting the second prince of their presence.
Toothless struggled as he was raised off the ground. "Let go of me!" He shouted, pushing off one of the guards with an indigent huff. "I know it was you, it had to be you-!"
"He's drunk, take him to his bed, maybe he'll be thinking clearer once he's sobered up." Massclaws placed a hand on the small of Hiccup's back, giving the boy a reassuring smile he often gave his daughters when they were frightened. Toothless shifted in his place but let the guards lead him away. "Mother was requesting you, Hiccup." Massclaws whispered.
Toothless felt Hiccup's stare even after he was tucked into bed.
Queen Raincloud put her glass of wine down when Hiccup was brought into the study, her youngest son at his elbow. "There's my Little One." She kissed the top of the human's head. Hiccup gave her a forced smile. "What happened?" She looked up at Massclaws.
"Toothless and I...may have exchange a few blows in front of him." Massclaws ran his hand down his face, pulling at his chin in frustration. "He accused me of kidnapping the human."
"This is stressful times, Massclaws. Don't take his words to heart. He'll regret them in a few hours. Please, sit." She waved an elegant hand to the comfy blue chair in the corner. Taking it, the youngest night fury put his foot on the ottoman, watching with a tired expression as Hiccup moved around the library with a sense of awe. Every little thing seemed to strike the human, from the simplest of foods to the grandest of buildings. It was as if the creature had lived under a rock. "I'm sure Maybar told you of last night."
Nodding, the queen reached for her wine again. "Briefly, or at least what she had seen when she collected Hiccup from the baths. I will talk with Toothless when he is more composed. Hiccup, would you like to sit?" She patted the seat next to her.
Paused at a row of script, Hiccup looked at the seat with some suspicion before moving over. "Mother." He smiled at the dragon before glancing at her drink, nearly empty and pressed to her mouth. With a wide smile, Hiccup reached for the pitcher containing the fine drink, offering it for refill. The queen let him with the smallest of smiles.
"Hiccup," She whispered. The boy, setting the pitcher on the table, looked up at her. "We brought someone to the castle just for you." She tapped his nose and Hiccup winkled away with a real smile. "His human tongue isn't the greatest but he might shed us some light on what happened in the two days he was up in those mountains. Our fastest fliers can make it from the mountains within three hours." She explained to Massclaws. "We have reason to suspect he put up quite a fight."
"Good." Massclaws smiled, reaching for a glass. Hiccup pushed his hand away, filling up a glass and offering it up. "Thank you, Little One."
"He would have been such a better princess than that awful Flaremoth." The Queen sniffed.
"Mother, give the girl a chance. Toothless seems to like her. You cannot judge someone you haven't even met." Massclaws sipped his drink. Behind him, the wide doors were opened and his wife stepped inside. She gave Hiccup a calculating look before settling against her husband's side.
"The girls are at flying school." Maybar touched her husband's knee. "Mother." She nodded at the queen. Raincloud straightened up, her smile returning at full force.
"And how is our newest addition?" She nodded at the nadder's belly, slightly protruding with the forming egg.
"Healer believes it'll be a night fury this time, the egg is so big." Maybar proudly touched her belly. Her smile disappeared when she caught Hiccup staring at her center and she subconsciously shifted into her husband. "What are we going to do with him?" She finally asked.
Raincloud chuckled into her drink. "I want to keep him but Clawless says he doesn't know how long humans live, much less how old little Hiccup is. We're not young hatchlings anymore. Ripper is our human expert. He hid one away for so long, we are kind of hoping he might offer sanctuary for the boy, at least until Hiccup can better take care of himself."
"For the best," Maybar eyed the boy.
Hiccup eyed her back, owlishly.
"I wonder what has him intrigued this time." The nadder frowned.
The conversation was ended when Clawless entered the room, Ripper at his elbow. The dishonored commander stopped in his tracks as his eyes fell on the human and Hiccup shifted in his spot, tucking himself into the queen. Massclaws and Maybar stood, offering the comfy chair to the King, who declined it to settle on his wife's right side. He laced their fingers together with a glance around the room.
"Will Toothless not be joining us?"
"He has drunk himself under the table." Massclaws supplied. Maybar, sitting in a fine chair off to the side, stifled an undignified sound. "I will inform him of all this later, when he has had time to...come to terms with some things better left unsaid."
Maybar frowned. "As well as undid." She looked at Hiccup. Hiccup shifted nervously. "Please, Commander Ripper. Sit." She nodded towards the lower chair for the gronckle. The old man thanked her politely, settling into it. His attention focused on the floor for a second before he spoke.
"Good morning, Hiccup. I am here to learn what has happened to you in the mountains."
And all of Hiccup's nervousness died away into excited energy.
Five years ago, Hiccup stood quietly with his father, holding the older man's hand tightly even though it was a very unmanly thing to do. To be honest, he would realize later, his father was holding on just as tightly and was only a step behind some of the parents and clinging to his son like it would be their last moments together.
"Why must we do this again? We've changed! Are the gods never going to be happy?"
There was an echo of agreement amongst the people. From his spot, Hiccup heard the low rumble of his father suggesting agreement but knowledge that this tradition could not be changed at the moment. Things were good but there was superstition that if the tradition of sacrifice stopped as would Berk's recent good fortune.
Holding up a wrinkled hand, the elder silenced the room without a world as she moved across the table she'd used to add some height. "The gods came to me, as they did my predecessor. They fear we will lose focus and become weak. They have given us much, is one person to them too much to give in exchange?"
A mother started crying. "We are to let our child die for uncertain consequence?" There was a voice of agreement, including an elderly man who was witness to more than six of these lotteries, two of which were followed by struggle.
"And those that fail did not represent our society as pure examples. Our children standing today, you may not be selected to go but you must learn to behave as a gift from the gods. They give us food and water and air, but if we take and do not give they will remove their offerings. Pray to the gods daily, accept these gifts with modesty. Perhaps one day we will not have to meet like this." The Elder took a deep breath. "For the child chosen by the gods today, to serve them; it is an honor to be one with the gods. Your existence is to represent our people, but beyond that you are given the chance to coexist with them."
It was something that Hiccup had heard before: the honor. It was an honor no one really wanted but the one chosen accepted this life without conflict. The one that was chosen, the child ranging from newborn to fifteen summers would leave the village after five years of reeducation to join the gods in their realm.
Silence fell across the village center as a familiar sack was carried into the room. Such an ordinary bag held a power to part the people and Hiccup tucked himself into his father, just as afraid of that bag. Someone's life was going to end in five years.
"Our people will change and the gods will protect us unconditionally. I am proud of the person selected today and know that no matter what happens you will be cherished." The Elder shook the bag containing the names of every child in Berk.
Breaths were caught when her hand reached inside, pulling the scrap of paper with the named sacrifice. Parents grasped their child and Stoick stood in front of Hiccup, to shield those final seconds of who would be chosen.
The Elder turned and started toward Stoick. The leader's breath caught but the Elder walked past him and stopped at the Hofferson family, standing three rows back. She took Astrid's hands, kissing the palms. "You are a worthy child and will make the gods proud."
Vahi, Astrid's mother, cried and dropped to her knees to cling to her daughter's center. Hofferson touched his daughter's shoulder and cried into her blond hair. "I understand." Astrid whispered, tightening her hold on the Elder's hand.
"Dad..." Hiccup whispered, watching.
Stoick breathed. "You are safe."
Hiccup chewed his lip. It still didn't feel right. Astrid was beautiful, she would make the gods very happy indeed, but Berk needed her more. She was their best fighter and would likely be married off very early to a noble man to produce strong little warriors. She had a very bright future. "The gods had to have made a mistake."
"Quiet," Stoick hissed. "Do not speak ill of the gods when they have given you a future."
"No, dad!" Hiccup pulled away from the man, startling the family behind him. Even the Hofferson Family glanced up from their daughter. "Send me instead, Elder! I will beg the gods to end this! We have learned our lesson and no longer need their gifts! We will strive without handouts!"
"Hiccup!" Stoick grabbed Hiccup's shoulder but was shrugged off.
Pushing through the crowds, the brunet stood in front of the Elder, his back straight. "Don't send Astrid. I'll go."
Hofferson stared up at Hiccup with something akin to respect. "You weren't chosen by the gods, son."
"It doesn't matter who actually goes, does it? It's just a random selection. The gods just want to see someone represent Berk. I'm of the right age, I can do this- just don't send Astrid! Berk needs her!"
His father grabbed at his arm again, but Hiccup pulled his arm again. Back straight, eyes forward. "Send me, Elder. We all know I'm not going to be next chief and I still haven't learned my trade at the smithy."
Vahi looked ready to accept but Astrid stepped away from her parents, hugging Hiccup. "Don't, my parents can have another but your dad...you're all he has left." She whispered in his ear. The wetness of his cheeks did not go unnoticed.
"Please let me do this, Astrid. I know you'll watch my father for me but I don't have a place in this village, not like you." He pecked her cheek before stepping back. "I will go. It is my duty, as the son of Stoick the Vast, to protect my village in any way possible." The last part was said to the crowd with pride. Hiccup turned his attention back to the girl and nodded. Behind his daughter, Hofferson nodded, accepting the proxy.
The Elder lowered her head and took Hiccup's hand. "Very well, my child. Chief." She nodded at Stoick. "Are you ready to go to training?"
"I'd like to say goodbye to family first."
"Of course, my child. You are very brave."
"Thank you, Elder." Hiccup took his father's hand, allowing the man to walk him out of the village center.
Hiccup had been trained for just about everything during his relocation time in Berk. He'd been taught to serve humbly while being an advocate for human needs. There were subtle warnings of what might happen the moment he walked through that cave, including death.
And then he met Toothless.
To be perfectly honest, Hiccup didn't have a clear picture of a god until the moment a dragon-like man stared at him in those caves. Monster was the first thought that had crossed his mind and he voiced that fear. Monsters ate their sacrifices, without an inkling of remorse. This one brushed through his hair back and tried to soothe his worries with a low foreign sound. Hiccup hadn't even realized he'd been crying until the rope tied around him to stop him from changing his mind last second was cut away.
The creature waved him away.
"I can't go; I promised my people I would end this."
The creature - no, the god - walked away. Hiccup followed close behind, even after the god yelled at him again, flaring his wings threateningly. Taking a deep, steadying breath, the human followed after the giant. It might not be what you had expected, but this is the god you promised to serve.
"Payment, for your work. No labor is free." Toothless strange language embraced Hiccup's ear. A knitted sack, probably made with the same fine material as the clothes on his back, was handed over to him. Hoping for some more of the strange sugar-based treats Mother always had with her, Hiccup stared into the bag, only to see gems and other rocks more valuable than three Berks.
He tried to hand them back. "I'm your servant, I can't accept this."
Toothless pushed them back at him, thumb brushing Hiccup's cheekbones. Was he crying? Hiccup didn't care, tossing the bag of gems to the ground. He always spoke better with Toothless through body language. The god was speaking in his low voice and Hiccup realized the sadness in the god's glowing green eyes.
He was being sent away.
"Stay!" He grabbed Toothless' arm. "Hiccup stay! Toothless! Hiccup stay!" He couldn't go home. This was all for Astrid, beautiful Astrid. Just married Astrid. His honor as a man was on the line. People had respectedhim when he said he would go into the cave for the girl.
The bag was placed back into his hands and Toothless started towards the open cave on Hiccup's world. Fighting the god's hold, Hiccup screamed and cussed until he noticed that Massclaws was also in the cavern. Reaching over, Hiccup grabbed the slightly bigger god, tucking himself behind the man.
Massclaws pushed Hiccup forward. "Toothless will walk you to your world. Won't you, Toothless?" His words were so quiet and reassuring, the same tone Stoick used to have when Hiccup was a little boy, waking in the middle of the night.
"No! Don't make me go! I'm sorry!" Hiccup scratched at the rocky cavern walls, digging his toes into the dirt. The rocks underfoot hardened into ice cold snow, suggesting it hadn't even been that long since he moved into the Realm of Gods."Stay," He tried again in the gods tongue, unable to meet the god's eye, "Toothless!"
Toothless shook the bag of gems. "I have to go, Hiccup."
"Toothless!"
"I'm going to miss you." Toothless pressed the bag into Hiccup's hand and started back towards the cave. Letting the heavy item drop to the ground, Hiccup stood stationary for seconds before following after, but the god was faster. In seconds, Hiccup was plunged into the darkness of the caverns, surrounded by the howling tunnels and soft rumbles of voices from further within.
He couldn't go back, why didn't Toothless understand? This was the gods' wishes: a human sacrifice - to return the services rendered to the humans. I have to find Mother. Mother would talk sense into the other god, she seemed to have an authority that Toothless did not possess.
Around him, the caverns rumbled and Hiccup grasped the wall, moving faster. It was then he realized it was getting warmer and the caverns, further behind him were lit up with fire. Above head, the ceiling of the cave began to crumble around him. I'm going to die!
Picking up pace, Hiccup ran further through the caverns until he saw light. It was not as inflamed as the light behind him, suggesting freedom. Moving towards the softer light, Hiccup covered his eyes as he escaped the cavern, into a small valley within the mountains. Snow under his feet crackled. Was this the human world, or the gods' world? Hiccup pushed forward, further away from the mountain as the roar became louder. The cavern entrance collapsed into nothing and the knob of rock dropped, leaving a pillow of dust around it.
Trapped in the area, Hiccup let the tears fall.
I've failed, dad. I'm so sorry.
There was no going back the way he came. Hiccup realized he had to swallow his pride and start moving up the mountain if he intended to return back to Toothless and return to his work, for the god of Berk. If Toothless did not want him, then surely Mother or Clawless would take the human sacrifice. They would know how important it was for Hiccup to serve them.
Reaching for one particularly jagged rock slicked into his hand, another rock bit at his hips. Each second he went higher into the mountains, an additional scratch was added to his already dirty body. Hungry, tired, and cold he almost called it quits until he saw the circling forms of gods above him, bigger than birds and far more welcoming than one.
Tossing his arms in the air, Hiccup shouted. A tall, red one flew in closer, its big wings causing the ground under his feet to shake. Shielding his eye from the dust, Hiccup smiled. He knew that blue formal coat anywhere, he'd seen countless in Toothless' armoire and on the multiple gods roaming the grand castle.
"Thank you for coming," said the human, reaching for his savior's hand. "I need to go back to Mother. Toothless and Massclaws left me here and then the mountain caved in." The red god tugged his hand away, head tilted back. A sharp tooth shined under the settling sun. A sense of unease rose in his belly.
Two other men, one in a similar uniform as the red god, dropped behind their companion. One loosened the rope from his belt loop.
Without a second thought, Hiccup took off down the mountain, using the slope to pick up speed otherwise lost going up. He slipped on a few loose rocks but kept up pace. There's nowhere to run, idiot! His brain was moving a mile a second, telling him what to do. If only he had a weapon, no matter how primitive.
Wing slipped past him. A god moved around him, its large green and blue wing slapping him. Knocked over, Hiccup rolled away. Grasping a rock, Hiccup tossed it at the human-like creature, directly between the eyes. It screamed out, momentarily stunned.
The red God rushed past its comrade, grabbing Hiccup before the boy could run again. Its other companion, a man with two torsos, roughly pushed him into the dirt.
Biting hard, Hiccup growled and hissed while crawling to get away from the rope being wrapped around him. The big red god knocked him in the head. Vision white, Hiccup released his grip, trying to orient himself once more. Above him, the red god finished securing the rope until Hiccup's shoulders were drawn in, arms down his front. His arms were then securely locked with heavy metal shackles. Using his legs, Hiccup slid across the ground but didn't make it far.
It all seemed to move so quickly. The shortest of the three gods wrapped his arms under Hiccup, picking the boy up and they flew over the mountain. Struggling in the god's hold, Hiccup craned his neck, trying to bite the clawed hand digging into the rope around his chest. Clapping onto the creature's wrist, the human struggled under, his legs kicking up.
Above him, the short god made a loud, surprised noise and let go. The Viking gasped as the ground came towards him but the big red creature grabbed him seconds from slamming into the ground. Eyes wide, Hiccup took a deep, scared breath as the gods fought amongst one another. It was finally decided to fly lower, where if Hiccup actually struggled free, he could drop to the ground without threat of death. By the third time he'd been dropped, Hiccup could no longer find the strength to struggle and the sun was starting to rise.
The trio of gods met up with a caravan of wagons near a rocky plateau in the middle of nowhere. Several gods of various sizes and forms stepped around, none of them a reassuring person for the human, nearly asleep on his feet.
Big Red (as Hiccup had taken to calling him when the sun first started peaking from the horizon behind them) roughly tossed the smaller creature into another red god, this one with gleaming yellow eyes and a faint blue chest. A bland sack was exchanged between the two and Hiccup was handed to the new strangers.
Placed in the back of a covered cart, Hiccup finally let sleep take over.
When he came to, it was loud. Thousands of voices surrounded around him but Hiccup remained still. A stranger stepped into the back of the cart, holding a bucket of water, showing the starry night behind him. Greedily accepting an offered drink, Hiccup stared up at the new stranger, the same features as the female usually with Massclaws.
"Please," Hiccup whispered, struggling with the rope around him. "Don't do this. Don't kill me."
The god pulled the pail over, nimble fingers working on the ropes knot. Watching the man, Hiccup evened his breathing as he watched the creature remove the rope around him. Immediately, Hiccup used the heavy bands around his wrist as a weapon. Slamming his joined hands into the creature's head, the Vikings relished the cracking of bone that came. Jumping the creature, Hiccup frisked the unconscious being, coming across a chain with a single key. It unlocked his cuffs, which he carried with him.
It took every ounce of Viking in him to rush out the cart. He didn't know where the gods had taken him or if they were standing outside armed to the tooth. Anything was better than just lying there, waiting for his final moments.
As he expected, there was one god outside the cart, but it hadn't expected him to jump out. Swinging the cuffs, he knocked them into the creature's face, stunning it long enough to rush past.
The shouting after him was ignored as he stormed away from the beach, using the darkness to his advantage. He had to lie low in a drainage unit at one point, watching as the creatures moved through the city after him. Moving through the sewage drain, Hiccup was carried out of the city. Above him, gods flew wild and Hiccup stuck low to the ground, like a rodent hiding from prey.
The mountains had been in the east, where the sun had risen. As far as his sense of direction during the struggle could say, they hadn't changed direction at any point. There had been no bodies of water but he hadn't seen the castle either.
They'll be expecting you to either go to the castle or the mountains. Just go south and come back a few days.
Instead, after walking all day and into the late night, he stumbled on a beautiful big house that looked just like the place Toothless resided.
"Oh my," Raincloud whispered, grasping Hiccup's hand as Ripper finished translating everything.
"That is," Clawless frowned, "Quite the tale. A tall, red god? Are you sure that's the word he really meant?"
Ripper nodded. "Eirick used to use the same word often, until he realized we weren't gods. Dreki - that's the word for dragons." Ripper leaned in, repeating the word for Hiccup's benefit. The human straightened. "It's not any better, still god-like in the human sense."
Sitting back, Massclaws rubbed his eyes. "And he literally sacrificed everything to save his people. It'll devastate him to know he left his home for nothing." He smiled at Hiccup, weakly. "Father." He glanced at the king. "I am certain that if Toothless were standing here, he'd agree. Tell Hiccup the other humans are safe, no more sacrifices."
With an unsteady breath, Ripper leaned in and relayed the message. Hiccup's cheeks paled. Looking up at the king and queen, he gave them a questioning look. "You're people are safe now." Clawless swallowed. "We cannot afford to dig for a passage to return Hiccup to his world. I wish to discuss living accommodations with you, Ripper."
"I couldn't sire."
"Yes you could, you're the only one that speaks his language. You kept Eirick safe for years and you can keep Hiccup away from the slave traders. Raincloud will prepare a stead on your property to house Hiccup and I will set an expense account for him."
Ripper glowered, grip tight on his trousers. "I'll do this, but not for you, my king. I can't let your reign hurt another human." He stood up, touching Hiccup's shoulder. "We're going to go where it's safe."
"Toothless..." Hiccup looked at the queen. "Mother?"
The queen touched her husband's hand. Standing up, Maybar reached for Hiccup's hand. "I'll take him to say his goodbye's to Toothless."
"Hun," Massclaws reached for his wife, "He's still drunk."
"And I know Toothless all too well. If he wakes up and Hiccup is gone, he'll tear the walls down looking for imaginary slave traders amongst the ranks and then will blame you for everything under the sun. Let him have a drunken tantrum now. He'll wake up and know it was all for the best. Come with me, Hiccup." Maybar encouraged Hiccup forward. "We're going to see Toothless."
"Toothless bad." Hiccup pouted.
"I know, so we're going to go wake him up." She winked at her husband, who shook his head.
When Hiccup was gone, Massclaws turned back towards his parents and Ripper. "So... a tall, red dragon wearing the house uniform. How many nightmares do we have on staff?"
Outside, Hiccup was watching Maybar with more understanding. Not gods but dragons. The realization of the situation was echoing in his mind. His people were wrong, there weren't gods on the other side of the mountain but dragons. Everything he'd ever learned seemed to flash before his eyes. Dragons were a step beneath gods, immortal beings that could destroy the world.
It wasn't hard to believe that every bad thing that had happened to Berk was caused by dragons.
"We've been rewarding our attackers." Hiccup whispered.
Maybar, a few paces ahead of him, stopped and turned with her head tilted to the side. "Let's go speak withToothless."
Hiccup took a step back. He'd been letting these people uses the services meant only for the gods. And no one had bothered telling him the truth, even the dragons he'd trusted. "I want to go home." Hiccup whispered.
"Hiccup?" Maybar stepped up.
Around the corner, a tall dragon stepped from the gardens. Hiccup's attention turned to the dragon, his breathing stopping. Big Red. "Lady Maybar? Do you need something?" The dragon stopped short of the two. Hiccup took another step back but his hand was grabbed by Maybar, who pulled him forward.
"We're going to go see Toothless, before Hiccup leaves, Fishhook."
"The human is leaving?" The dragon asked, surprise written across his face.
Maybar smiled. "Not a moment too soon. He's going somewhere safe."
"Where?"
Hiccup tugged at Maybar's hand, trying to go back. "Bad! Bad!" The human cried out. Maybar turned to face him. "Bad!" He pointed at Fishhook.
"Hiccup!" Maybar gasped. "I am so sorry, Fishhook. He's a little strung out. Quiet Hiccup!" She tugged at his arm.
Fishhook shook his head, the tug of a smile on his face. "My lady, why don't I take him up to see the prince? In such a state, you shouldn't be dealing with Toothless."
"I've dealt with him in worse conditions." Maybar smiled cheerily. "Don't worry, I'll watch out for him."
Fishhook grumbled. "My lady, go back to your mate. I will handle the human now."
"He's safe with me, Fishhook!" Maybar stumbled back under the weight of Hiccup's pulls. "Hiccup! " She bent to one knee, placing her hands on the human's shoulders. Understanding crossed her face within seconds, her body twisting to look at Fishhook, from head to foot. "It was you. The traitor of the house."
"Just go back to your mate and forget about this, my lady."
Maybar, with Hiccup at hand, ran.