Chapter 2, Map to the lost Empire
Hiccup was sitting quietly in his desk, reading his copy of the Maiden Knights of Opara. The whole classroom was silent for a change. Everyone else was in the middle of finishing their math final. It almost felt as if he was in one of the other classrooms in the school. Usually the entire class would talk constantly, even when they were in the middle of a lesson.
He was seventeen years old with long brown spiky hair. He wore a pair of glasses and was wearing a plaid shirt and a pair of Jeans.
He had just finished his math final and summer was just moment away. He couldn't wait. This summer was going to be the start of his career as a writer. After months of writing, he had finished his novel and had sent it to the same publisher his mother used. He was bit nervous of what he would think. But at the same time, he was excited.
Hiccup looked up from his book and glanced to the clock over the classroom door. It was forty minutes passed twelve. Anyone finished their test by then was allowed to leave early for the Summer.
Hiccup turned and looked across the room to Astrid, who was writing the last question on the test. After finishing writing her answer, she looked up and glanced over to Hiccup. They both anticipated this summer and had plans after class. They were both volunteering at the town Museum later today with their friend Fishlegs.
"That's time!" the Teacher said from the front of the classroom.
"Anyone who still needs time, you have until three to finish your test."
Hiccup took the book mark on his desk and placed it in between the pages of his book. He then stood up, taking his bag from his chair and placed it over his shoulder. Hiccup then walked down between the rows of desks and turned to the classroom door. He then turned to Astrid and Fishlegs as they came up behind him.
He then opened the door and walked out into the hallway.
The three friends stormed outside the front doors of the school. They raced down the stairway and came up to the bike rake where their bikes were chanced along side one another. After unchaining their bikes, they got on and started peddling down the street. They then rode along the sidewalk, passing by many of the shops and restaurants. Many of which were old and had been here for as long as they could remember. But there had been may shops that had opened over the years like the Dairy queen and that Walmart up on Fourth.
Ever since Hiccup's father, Stoick Haddock won the last Election for Mayer, Berk had been changing. Although he couldn't take all the credit for it. His Mother, Valka Haddock was the one who had really put the Berk on the Map. Velka was the Author of the Best Selling Series, The Maidens of Opara. It was a series consisting of four Books about three Woman who must save their Realm from a wicked sorceress and her growing Empire. Hiccup had grown up reading her books since she gave him a copy of her first book when he turned five. As did most of the kids in town like Astrid and Fishlegs. And people from all around had often come to berk to visits. Tourism for the town had increased because of Valka's book series.
In sort, The Haddocks had made a name for themselves.
The three biked to the end of town, where they came to their local park. After stopping along the crosswalk and waited for traffic to pass, they then rod across the cross walk and came along the path along the column of trees.
Hiccup was leaning up against the tree, reading his novel. He heard a screech from above. Hiccup looked up from his book and saw a hawk perched in the tree above. It spouted it's wings and leaped from the branch and few toward the town.
Hiccup looked out over berk. The view from the top of the hill, he could see all for miles around the hills park was said to have the greatest view of all of Berk. You could see all for miles around the was Hiccup, Astrid and Fishlegs favorite place to hangout. They had been coming here since they were kids. They used to play in the woods and in the nearby river. Often they used to reenact scenes from his mothers book.
Astrid sighed in relief.
"This is the life." She said, putting her hands over the back of her head.
Hiccup smirked.
"Yeah." he said.
"Sure is nice to finally be done with those tests."
"No kidding." Astrid said.
"I'm so gonna need a day at the lake."
Astrid glanced to Hiccup.
"Hey, did you ask your dad if we can spend the weekend at the cabin?"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet." Hiccup said.
"We still haven't heard back from the editor."
"Come on, Hiccup." Astrid said.
"Don't you think our weeks of studying are enough to warrant a trip to your family's lodge?"
"Yeah." Fishlegs said.
"Besides, your mom can just call us up with the results."
Hiccup thought for a moment. They did go through weeks of studying for their finals. Afters nights of coffee and looking over their text books and notes, it would be nice to have some time to relax at the lake.
"Well, I guess it would be good to have some down time." He said.
There was a low rumble coming from Fishlegs stomach.
"Man, I'm starving." Fishlegs said.
"You guys wanna go out for some lunch."
"Well, we still has some time to kill before our shift." Hiccup said.
"We could stop by Francisco's and Louisa's?"
Astrid sighed in relief.
"You read my mind." she said.
"I could so use some of Louisa's coffee right now."
"Yeah." Fishlegs said.
"And her Tamales."
Fishlegs moaned as he imagined the sweet taste of her Tamales.
Francisco and Louisa were the elderly couple that owned the Cafe next to the Town hotel on Fourth Avenue. They first moved to town in the summer of 98 and had opened their cafe the following year. Hiccup, Astrid and Fishlegs have been going there since it first open. It was one of their favorite places to hang out.
"Come on." Hiccup said as he got up and went to their bikes.
The three friends biked through the town, riding along the sidewalks. They then turned and came up to the Cafe next to the town hotel. It was a small building with an almost Latino feel. There was a glowing sign over the roof that said
Francisco's and Louisa's Cafe.
The three pulled up in front of the Cafe. They got off their bikes and pulled them over to the bike rack. They then walked in through the front doors and were greeted by the music of a Mariachi band playing over the speakers. The inside of the cafe was lined with Latino decorations. Over several pictures of their home back in Mexico lined the walls.
Back behind the counter were the owners, Francisco and Louisa. Francisco turned and saw the three friends standing at the door.
"Ah, well look who it is." he said.
The three friends walked up to the counter and sat down over the stools.
"Hey, Francisco." Astrid said.
"Could use some coffee right now."
"Finished school already?" He asked, curiously.
"Uh... yeah." Hiccup said.
"We just finished our math final. Now were getting ready to go to the Museum."
"Oh, I hear their opening their new Exhibit for the Ancient City of Maru soon." Francisco said.
"Hows that coming along?"
"We're almost done setting up." Fishlegs said.
"We just have to finish putting the rest of the artifacts on display."
"Well it sounds like you three are going to need some of Tamales." Louisa said.
Fishlegs grinned eagerly.
"Oh, yes please." He said.
"Coming right up." Louisa said.
Hiccup reached into his bag and pulled out his book. He opened up the page where he had placed the book mark.
"Still reading that book, Hiccup?" Francisco said.
"Actually, it's my mom's new novel." Hiccup said, showing him the cover.
Louisa turned and gasped.
"Is that the next book in her series?" She asked.
"Yeah." Hiccup said.
"She just published it a few weeks ago. They just sent us some of the printed copies."
Though Hiccup was the most influenced by his mothers work, wishing to pursue the same career path.
Louisa came up to the counter with three plates of Tamales.
"Here we are." she said, setting down the plates in front of them.
Fishlegs narrowed his head and sniffed the tamales. He sighed in relief at the smell of Louisa's cooking.
"Smells good." He said.
"Speaking of books, have you heard anything back from the publisher yet?" Francisco said.
"Not yet." Hiccup said.
"I hoping to hear back from him soon."
"Well, I'll be sure to pick up a copy when it gets published." Louisa said.
Hiccup smiled and nodded his head.
"Thanks Louisa."
(I hope you all enjoyed the start of this second chapter. If there's any critiques, I would like to hear them. And as always please comment and review!)