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Dare suggested by The Prime Writer.

A Concoction of Nasty Proportions

Hiccup managed to linger in his abode up until one in the afternoon the following day. But the hunger pains in his stomach were too much to ignore, and there was little food stocked in their cupboards. He also knew his father would get suspicious at his reluctance to venture outside.

Heaving a sigh, Hiccup stepped out the front door and into the sunlight. He went straight for the Great Hall, eyes darting to and fro in paranoia. While he knew Mildew did not get a clear view of him, the old Viking was always quick to pin any sort of blame on the lanky dragon rider.

He entered the Great Hall and found the twins and Fishlegs sitting at a wooden table in the back of the hall. He made a beeline for them and dropped down beside Fishlegs, who looked up from his plate of meat to look at him in sympathy.

"Ruffnut told us what happened. You okay?"

"I'm still breathing, so yeah," replied Hiccup.

Ruffnut grinned. "I was wondering if you would cower in your house all day. Good to see you have some backbone."

Hiccup shot her a withering glare. "Shut up. Has Mildew shown his face yet?"

"You didn't hear him screaming at your father?" asked Ruffnut in amusement. "The old geezer was throwing a fit. Fungus still had some paint left on him-apparently, it's not easy to clean the stuff out of wool."

Hiccup gulped nervously. "Does my dad suspect me?"

Fishlegs shook his head. "Someone took the blame."

"Who?" asked Hiccup in astonishment.

"Who's the stupidest one here right now?" asked Ruffnut with a smirk.

The brunette swivelled his head to stare at Tuffnut in disbelief. The male Thorston tilted his helmet up slightly, revealing a decent-sized bump. "I figured I might as well help out by taking the blame of some of these dares," he explained.

"It's also really suspicious for Tuffnut not to be getting in trouble," added Fishlegs. "So we have a scapegoat if we need someone to be blamed for a dare."

Hiccup placed a hand over his heart. "Tuff, you are a true, brave man."

Tuffnut grinned, despite the pain he was currently experiencing in his noggin. "I've taken enough hits from Chief to be used to them."

"Dad normally doles out a punishment along with his correctional smacks," Hiccup said with a slight frown. "Is it a bad one?"

"I gotta help out the old geezer for a few days. It's gonna suck, but we've been through worse punishments."

"Boo!"

Hiccup jolted, a rather unmanly yelp leaving his lips as something heavy clamped onto his shoulders. He whipped around and his frightened eyes immediately turned into a glare at the sight of his cousin. "Snotlout!"

The teen cackled. "The one and only."

"Yo, dorko. We haven't seen you all day." Ruffnut rested her chin in her hand.

"I've been helping Astrid out."

There was something about the way he said, with a smug smile and mischievous tone that caused his friends to stare at him. Hiccup and Ruffnut exchanged glances. "From the way you say it, it seems as if Astrid is going to give one of us a dare," said Hiccup slowly. "And since you helped her do whatever, the dare obviously isn't for you."

"Nope." Snotlout crossed his arms. "It's for her."

Ruffnut scowled. "Wait a minute! Shouldn't it be your turn?"

"There's only the three of us left. We can't give dare-backs. But Astrid, Tuffnut and Fishlegs can."

"This is bull. Where's the rulebook?"

Fishlegs snorted. "Like there's really any rules to this crazy contest."

Ruffnut huffed. "Fine. Whatever. What does Miss Priss dare me to do?"

"Go ask her yourself. She's waiting for you outside of her house."

"This doesn't sound so good," muttered Fishlegs nervously.

"What are you worrying about?" Ruffnut leaned over and punched the husky boy in the arm. "You've been out of this thing for a while."

"And I'm so grateful for that," said Fishlegs feelingly.

The teens got up and filed out of the Great Hall. As they made the walk to the Hofferson household, Ruffnut pursed her lips and tried to think of what the blonde bombshell had in mind. But there were too many possibilities, most of which she didn't want to dwell on.

They reached Astrid's home and the girl was waiting on her front steps. A silver pot rested beside her, a lid firmly on top. "Alright, I'm here," said Ruffnut. "What's the dare?"

Astrid smiled deviously. "I dare you to eat everything in this pot. If you don't succeed or you puke, you lose a pass."

Immediately dread filled the pit of Ruffnut's stomach. She approached the pot and slowly lifted the lid. "Ugh!"

Fishlegs clamped a hand over his nose as a disgusting stench permeated the air. "What the heck is that?"

"I'm gonna vomit," gagged Hiccup.

Snotlout rolled his eyes. After spending most of the day helping Astrid make the concoction, he had grown used to the smell. "Don't be a wuss."

Tuffnut grinned. "That's so nasty. You're gonna vomit everywhere."

"What's in there?" demanded Ruffnut, leaning away from the pot, lid hanging loosely from her fingers.

"A dozen rotten eggs, some slabs of meat I left in the sun for a few days and then undercooked, some of the scrap intestines that the butcher keeps in the waste barrels and half a dozen fish that Toothless regurgitated for me," listed Astrid.

"You're evil."

"I try."

Hiccup and the others (with the exception of Snotlout) moved as far back as they could, trying to get away from the smell of the mixed rotten foods. Ruffnut stared at the stew with narrowed eyes. "I hate you."

"No you don't."

With a sigh, Ruffnut accepted the spoon Astrid offered to her and scooped some out. The stew resembled dark brown sludge, with large chunks half-smothered in gravy that did not look to be fresh. Taking a breath, she screwed her eyes shut and shoved the spoon into her mouth.

"Ooh, she's turning green," snickered Tuffnut.

His sister's face had indeed turned a sickly green as her taste buds absorbed the far from appetizing flavour of the food.

"What's it taste like?" asked Astrid in genuine curiosity.

"Like Tuffnut's mouldy socks mixed with Pop's shoes that have been left out in the rain for a week," Ruffnut rasped before taking another bite. Her stomach screamed in protest but she managed to keep control. She hoped her iron stomach would be enough to get her through this.

She kept a rapid pace, shovelling the stew into her mouth and swallowing it as quickly as she could. She was at least grateful that Astrid had only filled the pot halfway. Her hand clutched at her stomach, which started bubbling in protest at her twenty-fifth spoonful.

She could see the bottom of the pot and her trembling hand went to take another scoop. But her stomach turned so violently that she could not ignore it and dropped to her knees. The spoon clattered to the ground as everything she had just eaten came flying back up in a harsh, messy manner.

"Ew, it's coming up in chunks," groaned Fishlegs, closing his eyes.

"Well, maybe she won't get sick if she pukes it up now," said Hiccup, feeling sorry for the pink-haired girl.

"I admire your effort," said Astrid sincerely. "You almost had it."

"I don't think anyone would be able to finish this mess," said Snotlout.

Tuffnut moved over to his sister and took hold of her hair, moving all stray strands out of her face. "Ooh, your face is really green. I don't think it's supposed to be that colour."

Ruffnut could not offer a retort. Her throat burned, her stomach felt like it was melting and her eyes watered as she was forced to expel the rotten food from her system.

"You guys bring her to Gothi. We'll get rid of the evidence," said Astrid, handing the soiled pot to Snotlout, who took it with a wrinkled nose.

Hiccup went over and helped Tuffnut support the ill Ruffnut. Fishlegs followed after them as they started slowly to Gothi's residence, having to pause frequently to let Ruffnut throw up.

"Hey, wait," said Hiccup suddenly over Ruffnut's retching noises. "Does that mean I'm winning?"

Fishlegs nodded. "Yeah. You haven't lost a pass yet."

The lanky teen grinned widely. "Well. How about that?"

Enjoy it while you can, thought Ruffnut determinedly. You are not winning this thing that easily.

Next chapter: In which Ruffnut dares Snotlout.