AN: Thanks for all the nice reviews. I hope I won't disappoint you with this chapter. By the way, there is going to be love and that stuff und scenes that play in Berk. After all, we can't forget our dear Vikings, can we?
Have fun reading.
Chapter Eight: The not so normal bedtime story and a suicidal quest
Hiccup leaned forward and asked the god between clenched teeth: "What do you mean with that?"
"I mean that you are the key to our all survival." Loki said firmly.
"You don't even know me."
"I do know you." Loki said silently. "I watched you all your live. Because I knew who you where what you were and what you were to become. I watched over you for as long as you live."
Hiccup didn't say anything, just watched as the god stared at him intensively.
"You never felt as if you belonged there. You always searched for the bigger purpose, the reason why you were like you are. You never found a way to fit in no matter how hard you tried because deep down in your heart you knew being like them was not what was right for you. You've searched your whole live for that reason, sometimes wondering if there is one. I can tell you what it is."
Hiccups breath caught in his throat. His heart was beating really fast. Something in Loki words triggered his subconscious so badly it made him break out in sweat.
Loki leaned forward and said in a low voice:
"There is a reason why you feel like you don't belong on Berk anymore Hiccup. A reason why this Night Fury chose you as its rider. A reason why you chose to fight the Red Death."
Hiccup finally managed to get a grip on himself and interrupted the god.
"The only reason why I did it is because it was the right thing to do. I hate slavery and I hate war. I hate fighting. That's why I cheated in the ring. I couldn't stand hurting innocent souls, even tough they were keen on killing me. Because it wasn't their fault. The Red Death was to blame. I did it to stop all of those terrible things. That's the only reason and nothing more." Hiccup shouted. He didn't know why he was shouting. He felt as if he had to.
"And as soon as I am back on my legs again…ahm…leg…, Toothless and I will leave this miserable collection of islands and settle down somewhere nice and quiet. I don't fight in any wars." He added and put a hand no Toothless's wide head.
Loki looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Not even when innocent lives are at stake? When the survival of human kind is at stake? When dragons near and far are in danger?"
"How is any of that my concern? And why would you ask me to fight your battles?" Hiccup shouted desperately.
"They are not my battles Hiccup. They are yours as well." Loki said sternly.
Hiccup averted his gaze.
"What do you want from me?" he asked tiredly.
"You are the only one who can stop the world from falling apart. For years we have tried to bring humans and dragons together again. But we never succeeded. Then you came along and out of the kindness of your heart befriended the enemy because you looked beyond. That was when we dared to hope again."
"What does that have to do with the rest of the world and its doom?" Hiccup asked annoyed.
"Hiccup do you know what Darkness is?"
"It's what happened when eth sun goes down." Hiccup said, rolling with his eyes. "Duh." He added.
No it was Loki who rolled with his eyes.
"No, I mean Darkness with a capital 'D', as in Evil."
Hiccup frowned.
Loki sighed and continued.
"The world and all life on it is an act of balance. There are good things as there are evil things, there is light as well as there is darkness.
This balance is something fragile. Sometimes it sways. And when that happens there needs to be a counterstrike.
Where people are enslaved there are people needed that free those slaves. Where there are people killed there need to be people who bring the killers to justice so that this balance is cured again. Where people die, babies are born."
"Okay, I can understand that." Hiccup said at the questioning glance.
"Well, Darkness and Light are two real things. They are constantly fighting for the upper hand. But a thousand years ago the light side managed to subdue Darkness. He was bound in chains so that he may never rise again and try to take over the nine worlds."
"So where is the problem?" Hiccup asked. It was a naïve question but he really didn't see the point.
"There cannot be light without darkness. Darkness was never gone from the nine worlds. Bad things happen every day. Take the war between Vikings and dragons for example. Each time those dragons were forced to raid your village people got killed or injured. Dragons got killed and injured. Hate and Anger hardened your lives. Bitterness and pain became part of your everyday live. And Darkness fed from those feeling. From every injustice that happened here and elsewhere on the planet. He grew stronger and stronger. Strong enough to break some of his chains and gather his army again. He's preparing for another war and we can't stop him. At least not us gods can."
Loki looked at Hiccup.
"But you can."
Hiccup looked at him wearily. "What makes you think so?"
"Darkness main source of power are you humans. Your planet, Midgard or Earth as you call her, is where its forces are the strongest. You humans are divided. You fight wars and kill each other. The darkness is everywhere in your world. Think of it as an 'All-you-can-eat-power-buffet'. But if you were united and would stand against Darkness, it would unbalance the scales of good and bad so dramatically that all of Darkness's powers would be destroyed."
Loki took a deep breath and looked at him.
"I repeat my previous question. Why do you think I am the right man for the job? I'm the worst Viking in seven generations! I have spaghetti arms and can't even lift a hammer. And I shall fight an ancient evil force? Sorry, not so bloody likely." Hiccup said with clenched teeth.
"You combine intelligence and an open mind, courage and caution, diplomacy and straight forwardness in one person. We believe that if anyone can do it, it is you. You became friends with the most feared dragon your people know. You have a pure heart and know what is right and what is wrong. You said it yourself, you don't like the things that imbalance the world such as slavery, suppression and alike. Deep within yourself you felt that Toothless wasn't your enemy. You felt connected to him when you looked him in the eyes. You saw yourself. It is your destiny Hiccup, your destiny to unite the world once again."
"How can you know that?" Hiccup asked silently.
"Because it is what I chose to believe. On this journey you will find out that you are the one. You were born under fateful stars, that is true but that doesn't mean that your fate is bad as well. You have a grand future ahead."
"I don't know if I am ready for such things."
"Nobody is ever ready for the trials of life. But Hiccup, do you want to life in a world full of misery and bad things? War passes no one. We all play our roles. You just happen to have the main roll. You will defeat Darkness for the last time."
Hiccup bit his lip.
"I feel that what you say is true. There is no point in denying it. But how can I possibly….fight the personification of evil?"
"You alone cannot. That's why you need to unite your fellow humans."
Hiccup took a deep breath and looked at Toothless for advice.
"What do you think bud? Should we do it?"
Toothless looked Hiccup straight into the eyes. Green met green and Hiccup felt a tingling sensation down his spine.
He touched Toothless's nose softly.
"I'll need you with me." He whispered.
Toothless nudged his hand carefully.
"Together then." Hiccup said.