Please please review and enjoy!
I am sorry this update took so long! I had a jam packed weekend and couldn't write :(
But here we are now! Please review! Those little comments always brighten up my day :)
And special shout outs to Zoroarkhunter and Rogue Deity Master!
Thank you both so much for all the ideas, suggestions, and etc. :) You are both super awesome!
Hiccups POV
I found Klint near the watchtower.
"Ironclad said you wanted to see me?" I said.
"Yes. Three things, one I scouted around and it looks like the Berserker tribe is bulking up for something big" Klint said.
"Thats not good" I said "Do you think Dagur is planning something against us?"
"Maybe, I wasn't able to get much intelligence, just an overview of the island on Blaze. I'll be heading to a couple tribes tomorrow to see if I can get anything else" Klint said.
"Ok" I said "What were the other things?"
"Are you really fighting Snotlout?" he said.
I groaned and gripped the bridge of my nose "Yes" I said.
"Ohh man I have got to see this" Klint said rubbing his hands together, obviously excited.
"And the other thing?" I said.
"Oh yeah! I wanted to see if it would be ok If I asked Ari...um...out?" he said.
"Its fine with me." I said "And why are you asking me? Shouldn't she be the one you should ask?" I said.
"I know, but I didn't want to do it if you would be uncomfortable" he said.
"And why would I be?" I said.
"Hey I just wanted to check" Klint said shrugging.
I laughed "Ok"
"Thank Hiccup! I can't wait to see you beat the crap out of Snotlout!" he said running off.
I rolled my eyes and saw Toothless standing by the tower. He walked over and nudged me.
"Ok bud. One quick flight around the island and then we need to get to the arena" I said hopping on Toothless.
We flew high and around Berk. I took us up to the clouds and extended my hands, feeling the cold air pass through my fingertips.
Nothing in the world beat flying. The feeling of complete freedom and excitement it gave you.
I could spend my entire life in the clouds.
"Come on bud, lets do something really crazy" I said, leaning into Toothless's ear.
He grinned and took us into a spiraling dive, getting us pretty close to the ocean before I pulled us up. We then soared high, climbing straight up into the sky before we dove down. Toothless tucked his wings in as we speed towards the water.
I clicked the stirrup right at the last moment, pulling us up and to a normal height.
I sighed and clicked the stirrup and we descended back to Berk.
"I overheard your conversation." Toothless said.
"And?" I said.
"Are you fighting the Monstorous Nightmare rider, Snotlout I believe?"
"Yes" I said "Your point?"
"I remember you telling me how he teased you. Your own blood bullied you. He deserves the utmost punishment. You never turn your back on family. "
"Yeah..." I said looking down.
"I hope you defeat him in battle. I have seen your skills and I know you can do it"
"Thanks" I said patting his head. Toothless crooned and we landed shortly.
Toothless then ran off saying something about the other dragons. I smiled and started walking to the arena. The sun was high in the sky and it was almost time for the duel.
Astrid's POv
We reached the arena and I saw almost every person had turned out to see this and more people were still coming.
"Astrid! Ironclad!" I heard someone yell. I turned and saw Helga waving like mad. She was standing on one side of the arena with Ari, Klint, Heith, Kol, Fishlegs, and Ruff and Tuff.
I smiled and we walked over.
"Hey Helga" I said.
"Its so good to see you! Are you feeling better?" Helga asked.
"I feel much better to be out and walking" I said.
"Well thats good. Ironclad? How are you liking Berk?" Helga asked. But before he could answer Ruff and Tuff started shouting and walking around.
"Bets! Place your bets!" Ruff yelled.
"We will take weapons, yaks, chickens, armor!" Tuff yelled.
"Place them now" Ruff said.
"All bets are open! Tuff said "Who will win? Snotlout Jorgenson or Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III!"
"Ruff! Tuff!" I yelled "What in Thor's name are you doing?!"
"Taking bets on the duel!" Tuff said.
"Uhh duh!" Ruff said.
I groaned and gripped the bridge of my nose "And WHY are you doing that exactly?"
"There is money to be made here!" Tuff said.
"Yeah! We get a portion of the winnings either way! We already collected enough bets to get a yak, a shield, 3 swords and an axe!" Ruff said.
I took a deep breath "Ok" I said trying to steady myself.
"I'll put a sword on Hiccup!" Kol said.
"I got a shield for Hiccup too!" Klint said.
"I can put down an axe on Hiccup for the win!" Heith said.
"Yes!" Tuffnut said "Care to enter our sub bets? Who will draw blood first? Or maybe if the winner will knock the other unconscious?"
"Are you guys really doing this?!" I said.
"Uhh yeah!" Ari said "I think Hiccup will win for sure and draw first blood, so I'll wager an axe and a shield"
I groaned "I'm just going to ignore all of this"
Ironclad just laughed.
We all then turned to the arena. Snotlout was in there flexing his muscles.
I rolled my eyes and turned to Ironclad.
"I can't handle this right now" I said.
"And?" he said.
"Tell me another story" I whined.
He laughed "Ok, what do you want to here?"
"How did you and Calypso end up together?" I asked.
Ironclad's POV
I sighed "I had fallen head over heels the moment I saw her. She was a goddess, but barely noticed me. So I was desperate to see her, even if it was for only a few moments each day"
*FLASHBACK*
I took a deep breath and entered the forge.
'Don't act like and idiot. Don't mess this up' I told myself.
"Coming!" I heard her call from the back. She walked up wiping some grease off her hands with a rage. My body felt like it might float away but her sparkling hazel eyes held me to the earth.
"Ironclad right?" she said.
"Yes. Ironclad...thats...thats my name" I said, looking down and cursing myself.
"Anything I can do for you?" Calypso asked.
"Yes!" I said. I then pulled out a medium sized knife. The blade had split from the hilt.
"Can you fix this?" I asked.
"Sure, it should be a quick fix. I can do it for you now if you don't mind waiting a bit" she said.
"Thanks" I said handing her the broken knife.
"Come on back" Calypso said waving me along.
I smiled wide and followed her to a workbench. She took out some tools and began working on the knife.
"So how did you break it?" Calypso asked, still looking at the knife.
"Oh...I was...It was an old knife I guess" I said, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Hm... it looks like a clean break. So that's good" she said, working on the knife.
She then fixed the knife, placing the blade back in the right place and handed it back to me.
"How much do I owe you?" I asked.
"No charge" Calypso said "Your a friend of Hiccup's and it was nothing to fix that little blade"
"Are you sure?" I said.
"Its fine" she said rolling her eyes.
"Oh ok" I said "Thanks"
"No problem" she said smiling.
I then walked out of the forge with a smile on my face. Her smile was like sunlight and I was a blind man who could finally see.
*END FLASHBACK*
"So that still doesn't answer my question" Astrid said.
"Well...I wanted to see her again so badly.." I said.
*FLASHBACK*
I strode into the forge excited.
"Ironclad? Back again?" Calypso said.
"Yeah..." I said.
"Don't tell me that knife is broken again!" Calypso said "Its been broken every day this week and the last week!"
I sheepishly pulled out the broken knife.
Calypso sighed and laughed.
"You must be doing something really bad that is stressing the poor blade out so much!" she said.
"Sorry?" I said.
"You're just lucky I am determined to see this blade live for more than one day. We have gotten quite attached over the past few weeks" Calypso sad.
"Attached?" I said laughing.
"Yes" Calypso said confidently.
I laughed and we walked to her workbench.
"So how has your stay been?" Calypso said getting to work.
"Good. I like this tribe. Its nice" I said, leaning against the wall.
"We are known for being one of the most hospitable tribes around" she said.
"Do you like it here?" I said.
"I love my home, but I won't say I wouldn't like to explore some of the other tribes and islands" Calypso said.
"It is nice to travel and see new things" I said.
"What places have you been?" she asked.
"I've been all over the archipelago, and even to the continent and far beyond where many Viking's have ever been." I said.
"Really?!" Calypso said looking up.
"Yeah, me and Black Ice, we like to travel a lot" I said.
"Sounds nice, but I guess I like my little village a little too much to leave." Calypso said, turning back to her work.
"There. It should be fine for now" Calypso said standing up and handing me the newly fixed knife.
"Thanks" I said.
"No problem" Calypso said smiling. I felt my legs go weak every time she flashed that smile.
I walked out with a happy grin on my face. I was so lost in my own world I bumped into Hiccup.
"Oh! Sorry Ironclad" he said.
"Back from your island?" I said.
"Yeah. I need some more tools. I'm surprised to see you here...wait...did you not leave?" Hiccup said.
"Ummm" I said, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Its because of Calypso isn't it!" he said a little too loud. I shushed him "Just...shut up!"
"You really like her." Hiccup said "I've NEVER seen you stay in one place for this long."
"Well...I..." I said.
"You should ask her out on a date" Hiccup said.
"What!" I said.
"You like her, so go on and ask her out!" Hiccup said.
"I..can't just ask her out..I mean...she barley knows me and.." I said.
"Ask her" Hiccup said.
"What if she says no?" I said.
"Well then, you will have to take that chance" Hiccup said.
I looked down then a feeling of determination swept over me.
"Yeah..yeah! I think I will!" I said.
"Thats the spirit!" Hiccup said patting my back.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
"So you broke your knife over 15 times!" Astrid said.
"Yes...I was hopelessly in love with her and wanted to see her everyday." I said, shaking my head.
"So what happened next?" Astrid said.
"Well I went to the forge the next day.." I said.
*FLASHBACK*
I was walking to the forge when I saw Hiccup standing outside.
"What are you doing here?" I said.
"Making sure you don't chicken out" he said.
"I'm not going to!" I said "Then again..maybe this isn't such a good idea"
"You are doing this now!" Hiccup said "No ifs, ands, or buts!"
"But!" I said.
"I said no!" Hiccup said.
"Ok...I can do this" I said, trying to reassure myself.
We walked in and I saw Calypso was wrapping her hair up in her hair cloth.
"Hello boys" she said seeing us.
"Hey Calypso. Do you have those parts I asked for yesterday?" Hiccup asked.
"Sure thing, they are all over by the table" Caplyso said pointing to a table with some smithing tools.
"Thanks" Hiccup said grabbing the tools and putting them in his satchel and grabbing a small bag of coins.
"Here's the payment for the tools and the metal I used last time" he said.
"Thanks Hiccup!" Calypso said taking the coins and putting them in a box.
"Ironclad!" Calypso said "Need that knife fixed again?"
"Oh... no" I said, looking down "Its still in one piece this time"
"Really!" Calypso said shocked "That knife made it through the whole day! Its a miracle!" she said laughing.
"Ironclad actually wanted to ask you something." Hiccup said smiling at Calypso and glaring at me.
"Yes, Ironclad?" Calypso said, smiling softly.
"Oh! Well...I...Well I was..um...wondering" I said rubbing the back of my neck, nervous.
Hiccup sighed and hit my back, forcing the words out of me.
"Will you goon a date with me!" I said, rather fast.
Calypso looked shocked and blinked a couple of times.
"I mean, if you want to..." I said "You don't want to. Its fine, we'll go now" I said moving to get out of that forge as soon as possible.
"Wait!" Calypso yelled.
I couldn't breath.
I turned around and saw her arm extended.
"Wait! Please, don't go" she said, her arms dropping to her side.
"I...I would like to go on a date with you" she said "I would very much like to do that" she looked a little nervous, excited, and shy.
"You would?" I said, my hope was rising in my chest so fast I though I would explode.
"Yes." Calypso said smiling.
I couldn't speak or think straight for that matter. Hiccup was smiling wide.
"He will see you tomorrow night and pick you up at your home" Hiccup said.
"Great!" Calypso said, smiling wide.
"Come on lover boy" Hiccup said tugging me out of the forge.
"See you tomorrow Ironclad!" Calypso called out to us.
"She said yes...she actually said yes" I said, while Hiccup was dragging me.
"Yeah, yeah. Now can you please try and function like a normal human being? My arms can't keep this up much longer" Hiccup said.
"Oh sorry" I said, shaking my head and standing up straight.
*END FLASHBACK*
"So Hiccup was the reason you got a date?"Astrid said.
"He was" I said nodding my head "And I always was grateful to him for that"
"So what happened on your date?" Astrid asked.
Before I could answer there was a loud horn sound.
"The fights starting!" Ari yelled. I laughed and we stood at the edge of the ring, looking down at Snotlout.
"Where is Hiccup?" Astrid said.
I scanned the ring and saw Snotout and Gobber in the ring but no Hiccup.
"He isn't skipping out is he?" Helga said.
"He wouldn't" Ari said.
"Then where is he?" Heith said.
"I don't know!" Ari yelled back.
"Wait! There he is!" Helga said pointing down. We all looked and saw Hiccup enter the ring.
Hiccup's POV
I saw the crowd gathering at the ring and sighed. The last time I was here things didn't go so well.
I could faintly hear the screech in the air Toothless produces and the explosion he caused to get to me and save me from the Monstrous Nightmare.
I didn't know how I felt about this fight.
Part of me didn't care. Another wanted to show Snotlout how good I had gotten. Another part didn't want me to humiliate him to bad, then I would be just like him and what he did to me.
I took a deep breath and headed into the arena.
I saw the cheering crowd. I looked up and saw all the Riders along with the Berk Teens. Astrid was smiling wide and many of the Riders gave me a thumbs up.
I laughed and turned back to see Snotlout and Gobber.
"Ready to have your butt kicked Hiccup?" Snotlout jeered.
Ok, so maybe fighting him wasn't going to be so difficult after all.
"Ehh, save the trash talking for later" Gobber said.
He then cleared his throat.
"Attention!" Gobber yelled and the crowd went quiet.
"Snotlout Jorgenson has challenged Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III to a duel" Gobber said "Do you accept?"
"Yes" I said loudly
"Very well! Then chose your weapons" Gobber said.
"I choose my swords" I said.
"The opponent chooses the duel swords!" Gobber said and the crowd cheered.
"I choose a sword too" Snotlout said, sneering and grabbing a large sword off the wall of weapons.
"The challenger chooses the sword!" Gobbeer said and the crowd cheered again.
"Now the only rule is there are no rules" Gobber said grinning.
He then hobbled away and I looked up at Stoick.
"Let the duel commense!" he said and the crowd cheered even louder than before. I tried tuning them out and focused on Snotlout.
"Ready fishbone?" Snotlout sneered.
"Ready" I said, smirking and Snotlout charged, yelling the entire way.
MUHAHAHAHA! Sorry to not really have the fight in this chapter! (please forgive me!)
But I really wanted to have this chapter be the final buildup.
And some of you were worried about an Ironclad, Hiccup, and Astrid love triangle? I can confirm that will NOT happen.
Ironclad wants to look out for Astrid, because she reminds him of his dear Calypso.
Astrid is interested in Ironclad because he is a mystery to her.
So don't fret my ducklings!
Please please review! What do you think will happen in the fight?
And another amazing shout out to a couple of amazing people!
Thank you again Zoroarkhunter and Rogue Deity Master!
You two are awesome!
Please review! :)