Duel

The entire village of Berk was abuzz the next day. Hiccup had challenged Ulrik to a fight. They eagerly and anxiously awaited above the kill ring for the match to begin. Ulrik was already in the ring. Long sword at his hip and calm and cool. Ulrik hadn't been impressed by the fishbone that was the chief's son. He chuckled at his name. How fitting for a runt.

Snotlout and Tuffnut were collecting bets on who they thought would win. And so far the people were going with Ulrik. He was called the Unbeatable after all.

Astrid sat in a spectator stand as she bounced her leg up and down nervously. She wondered why Hiccup wasn't there yet. She feared that maybe he wasn't going to show up. That maybe he thought she wasn't worth the trouble. She'd been so angry at her father for doing this. She'd refused to talk to him. Agmund was against this fight. He tried to convince Ulrik that he had nothing to gain from it. But Ulrik was too proud. He was determined to beat Hiccup.

"It's alright Astrid, Hiccup will come," Ruffnut said beside her. Astrid looked at her and gave her a small smile. "Gods I hate you," Ruffnut said with a scowl.

Astrid furrowed her brows in confusion.

"You have two guys fighting for you. That's like every girl's dream."

Astrid rolled her eyes. She was not at all liking this fight for her future. Suddenly a murmur went through the crowd. Everyone looked to see Hiccup walk into the kill ring. He had no armor and was dressed in his Viking attire. At his hip were both his swords. He looked calm and collected as he locked eyes with Ulrik.

"So you came then Samurai?" Ulrik said with a sneer. "For a minute I thought you'd turn tail and ran like you did for all those years."

Hiccup let the jab roll over him. He wasn't going to let his words get to him.

"Alright, everyone settle down!" Stoick shouted from above the ring. Everyone went silent as they looked to the chief. "This match will be between these two young men. It is to be a sword duel. No shields or armor. The loser will be the one who submits or cannot continue," he said loudly. Then he looked down into the ring.

"Do you both understand the rules?"

Both men nodded.

"Then let the fight begin," Stoick called out. With that he settled back in his chair as he watched his son.

Ulrik smiled before drawing his long sword. He gave it a twirl before pointing it at Hiccup. Inviting a challenge.

Hiccup took a breath before placing his right hand on the hilt of his katana. Then slowly, he drew it. He held it firmly in his right hand before giving it a swing. He pointed it downward as he kept his gaze on Ulrik.

"May the best man win," Hiccup said in an attempt to be sporting.

"Oh I intend to," Ulrik replied haughtily. With a war cry Ulrik charged, his sword arm cocked back. Hiccup waited only a moment before rushing to meet him.

Everyone held their breath as they advanced on each other. Within a few steps they met. And with a swing their swords collided, creating sparks and ringing through the air.

The fight had officially begun.

Metal clanged against metal as Hiccup and Ulrik fought. They slashed and stabbed at each other relentlessly. Neither landing a strike. The crowd was amazed to see them so evenly matched. Especially because they'd yet to see Hiccup fight someone so equally.

Astrid watched nervously. She could see Hiccup was on the defensive. He seemed to be getting pushed back. She was scared. What if he lost? But more importantly, what if he got hurt and it was all her fault?

Hiccup dodged and parried Ulrik's powerful attacks as he assessed him. As he had seen, Ulrik was very skilled. Much better than the average raider or villager he'd been fighting.

His advantages: Strength, reach, and experience, Hiccup thought as he sidestepped a slash. He lashed out with his own sword but Ulrik parried it before he came at him.

Typical Viking tactics and style. Aggressive and direct.

My advantages: Speed, unfamiliar style, better quality sword, and patience, Hiccup thought as he compared the two of them. He noticed Ulrik breathing a little hard. Indication that he was giving it his all. Hiccup was biding his time. Defending and blocking. But it was close. Ulrik had more fighting experience.

He sort of wanted to use his Aoi steel sword. Then he could simply break Ulrik's and be done with it. But he wanted it to be as fair as possible.

Ulrik came at him and swung at his right. Hiccup held his sword up vertically as he blocked. Ulrik's sword met his and rattled his arm from the impact. Then Ulrik pressed down, forcing Hiccup back with his superior strength. Hiccup grit his teeth as he planted his feet.

"What's the matter runt? Too weak?" Ulrik spat at him lowly. Hiccup just narrowed his eyes. He took a jump back and parried a slash to get some breathing room.

Ulrik advanced. He lunged forward and thrust his blade forward for stab. Hiccup side stepped to the right and with a quick slash, he made a shallow cut on Ulrik's shoulder. Ulrik hissed in slight pain as he saw blood stain his tunic. He turned to Hiccup with a glare. Hiccup gave him a small smile.

Ulrik charged with a cry, Hiccup stood at the ready as he waited for his attack. But before he reached Hiccup, he suddenly dug his blade into the dirt. Then with a flick of his wrist he kicked up some sand and flung it into Hiccup's face.

Hiccup hissed as dust and dirt flew into his eyes. Blinding him. He managed to rub some of is out just in time to peek open an eye and see Ulrik attack. He leapt back but received a shallow cut across his chest. Hiccup quickly raised his sword up to parry a stab, but then Ulrik lashed out with his fist, catching him across the face. Hiccup was spun by the force and stumbled back.

Above the ring, Stoick and Astrid narrowed their eyes at Ulrik's low blow. But unfortunately while it was frowned upon, it was allowed. The rules were simply no armor or shields. It was pretty much anything goes.

Still blinded, Hiccup side stepped another stab, but he received a shallow cut on his upper arm. The dirt in his eyes still impairing his vision an Ulrik wasn't affording him anytime to rub them free. He peeked an eye open to block a strike but couldn't stop Ulrik driving his knee into his stomach, he doubled over in pain before Ulrik punched him hard across the side of his face. He stumbled back and dropped to one knee as he tried to clear the ringing.

"So, this is the best you can do samurai?" Ulrik said haughtily. "Oh how disappointed I am. I thought for sure you'd be a decent challenge."

That's right, keep talking, Hiccup thought as he rubbed at his eyes.

"Well your sword will make for a nice trophy. And Astrid will be a fine wife. I guess this is over," Ulrik said with dark smile. Then he rushed forward. He swung at Hiccup's back.

And then Hiccup reacted. He quickly slung his katana over his back. Halting Ulrik's slash before he whirled around, rising up in the process he slashed Ulrik across the chest, leaving a shallow, but seeping wound.

Ulrik cried out. He stood at the ready as Hiccup suddenly went on the offensive. And suddenly, and too his amazement, he was having trouble keeping up. Not only that, the force of Hiccup's attacks were rattling his arms and hands.

In a flash, Ulrik was slashed across the cheek. He hissed and leapt back. He wiped at the seeping wound before looking at Hiccup in bafflement. He looked at his stance and his sword. And then he noticed something.

The whole time they'd fought. Hiccup had only kept his right hand on the sword when he attacked. But now he was using two of them.

Everyone watched as Hiccup took a breath. He kept both hands on his sword before he splayed his feet. He kept his sword pointed outwards towards his opponent. Dropping into a battle stance with his right foot forward. His eyes were narrowed in determination and glinting with focus and concentration.

"The way of the sword," Ulrik heard him mutter.

"What?"

"Kendo," Hiccup said as he pointed the sword downward at Ulrik's waist. Ulrik raised an eyebrow at Hiccup's lowered guard. Hiccup simply held his gaze. "Come." Ulrik glared and charged. If he wanted to make it easier for him then fine. He got within striking distance and thrust his sword, aiming for Hiccup's heart.

Astrid gasped in worry as it looked like Hiccup would be run through. She was about to call out for him to move. But she found it unnecessary.

In a flash Hiccup deflected the thrust while advancing. Brushing passed Ulrik he slashed him in the side. Ulrik winced in pain as Hiccup's sword opened a bleeding wound. He brought his free hand to dab at the wound and found his tunic wet with his own blood.

"Gedan," Hiccup said from behind him. Ulrik turned around with a glare. "One of the five stances. Often mistaken for a defensive posture it actually invites an attack to create an opening to counter," he explained.

Hiccup smiled as he dropped his stance to rub his own wounds. They stung as he felt blood on his chest. But he found them refreshing. A reminder too never get overconfident.

Hiccup held Ulrik's gaze as he assumed his battle stance. He kept his sword up this time, pointing it at Ulrik's throat. He placed his right foot in front of his left as he raised the left heel. He automatically corrected his body position as he'd down countless times before. He could almost hear Daichi's instructions in his ear.

"Chūdan. The stance that balances both attack and defense. You're very good Ulrik. You do whatever it takes to win. And I can respect that."

Ulrik raised an eyebrow.

"But I'm fighting for someone who is very important to me." Astrid blushed a little. She assumed he meant her.

"So unfortunately…I can't let you win. You're going home alone," Hiccup said firmly. He narrowed his eyes in determination. He took a breath to ready himself.

"Koi."