A grand tour
Hiccups POV:
I looked out towards my island past Scaulders head as we made our way there with my father and Gobber behind me. I closed my eyes to enjoy the smell of the ocean air and the sound of the waves hitting the hull of my ship as I often did when sailing. As I listened to the waves crash against the hull I heard the sound of a foot and wood hitting wood behind me. I knew this meant it was Gobber since he was the only one on the ship who could make the sound of wood hitting wood as he walked. I turned to face him as I asked.
"What is it Gobber?"
"Well lad I was just wondering where the first stop on our tour will be."
"The first stop will be my ship shed since that's where I park my ships."
"Okay now but when should we get to this ship shed of yours." I turned around to look ahead and saw the shed in sight.
"We're almost there Gobber." It was then my father stepped forward.
"Hiccup why does it look like we are heading towards that large dragon statue?"
"Because we are! That statue is the entrance to the ship shed." Gobber then asked.
"Well lad it doesn't look like much of an entrance." I smiled at him.
"Oh Gobber! Do you really think I would have an entrance that just anyone can use?"
I then put my fingers to my mouth before I whistled towards the shed where Sharpshot was waiting. I smiled as the Bewilderbeasts mouth opened allowing us entrance as Scaulder pulled us in. As we were pulled through the mouth I turned back to my father and Gobber to see them looking around the mouth of the Bewilderbeast statue before Gobber said.
"Okay lad I admit that this is an impressive piece of blacksmithing."
"Thanks, Gobber but trust me when I say you haven't seen anything yet." It was then we were pulled out of the head and into the shed. "Alright gentlemen and I use the term loosely. Do you have any questions about the shed." My father looked at me.
"Why did you build this ship shed?"
"Well I wanted to keep my ships safe and have easy access to them."
"What's wrong with a normal dock?"
"If a storm comes then it would mean possible damage to my ships that have been left out in the storm. Like when Berk went through the storm of Odin." Gobber rubbed his head.
"I remember that storm. Nasty one it was! It wound up sinking four of our ships and damaging five of them."
"And with my ship shed I don't have to worry about those kinds of storms." It was then we docked. "Well let's get on with this tour." They nodded before we got off the ship as I turned to Maelstrom. "Why don't you head back into the forest pal and we'll come by later." He just barked with both heads and ran off as I walked over to a barrel and pulled out a fish before I tossed it to Sharpshot who was looking down from a ledge. "Thanks for opening the gate for us pal." He just warbled before grabbing the fish and flying off while I turned back to my father and Gobber. "Okay now what would you like to see first?" Gobber stepped forward.
"How's about we take a look at this forge you say you have followed by the armory."
"Sure, Gobber that sounds good but first do either of you have any questions." My father stepped forward.
"Where did that Scauldren of yours head off to after we docked?"
"He probably went back to his nest using the underwater tunnel leading out of the ship shed." He just nodded before I lead them out of the ship shed.
It didn't take us long to get to the forge before I unlocked the cage like door and allowed them access to it. My father walked over to the lava pit and looked down at it while Gobber was examining the billows that were being kept warm by the pumping of air into them. I walked up to Gobber and said.
"Yeah I know my forge isn't exactly traditional but it helps get the job done." He turned to me.
"Lad this is amazing. One of the biggest forges I've ever seen in all my years but what's with the lava pit?"
"I use the lava to help melt down the heavier metals more easily." He smiled.
"Clever!" I just smiled back. "Do you use that pit of yours often?"
"I use it whenever I'm forging so yeah I use it a lot since I have to keep the skills sharp." Gobber gave me a pat on the shoulder.
"It's good to hear you haven't forgotten what old Gobber taught ya."
"Of course, not Gobber! The time I spent in the forge was where most of the good memories of my childhood are." He smiled and put an arm around me.
"Once a blacksmith always a blacksmith." I shrugged.
"Too true Gobber! Now why don't we move onto the armory?"
"Sounds good to me lad. I want to see if you've really been keeping those skills of yours sharp as you claim." I chuckled before I lead him and my father out of the forge.
It didn't take us long to reach the house after we walked through the forest using the highway I built. As the house came into view my dad asked.
"Odin's ghost is that where you live?" I turned to face him.
"Yeah but I do a lot more than just sleep there."
"Really now?"
"Yeah but please save all questions about the house for when we reach the house." Gobber then walked up.
"Well lad would it be alright if I asked questions about where we are right now."
"Sure."
"Well my first question is how big is this forest we're walking through?"
"Hard to say but it does take up most of the island so it's got plenty of room for my wolves to run and hunt the boar I let loose for them."
"Got it."
"Well if that is all let's get on with this tour."
It didn't take us long to reach the house after that and when I pushed the doors open to let them in I could see their eyes widen at the sight of the entrance hall. I looked to face them before I decided to mess with them a bit and said.
"First floor! Library, training room, food store room, cold room, armory, store room, trophy room, private study and indoor pool." This shook them out of their shock before they both asked.
"WHAT?!"
"I was just giving a list of things that can be found on this floor." My dad stepped up.
"We got that Hiccup but it's just well hard to believe." I shrugged.
"Well seeing is believing so come on let's go for a tour of the house."
I then lead them to the armory and the second they lay eyes upon it I had to hold back my laughter at the looks on their faces. Both their jaws were dropped farther then I thought possible, their eyes were popping so far out of their heads I feared they would fall out and their arms just dangled at their sides like the meat I hang up to dry. I watched them for a few seconds but decided I should try and snap them out of their shock when I noticed Gobber beginning to drool a bit. I clapped my hands in front of their faces before they each shook their heads and looked back at me with wide eyes as Gobber said.
"Odin's undies lad you've been busy!"
"Well when devastating winter came along there really wasn't that much I could do except work in my forge." My dad then asked.
"What do you do with all these weapons?"
"Well I keep some of them around as extras but I mostly take some on my trips to sell to foreigners." Gobber then asked.
"So you make any decent money lad?"
"Gobber my friend! You have absolutely no idea! Well feel free to explore the armory but do not touch anything."
They each gave me a nod before they went browsing the shelves and examining the weapons. I did have to answer a few of their questions about the more foreign weapons like my Egyptian khopesh swords. Also, in some cases I had to demonstrate how the weapons I invented worked like my bola launchers or my mini arrow launchers. Not surprisingly we ended up spending an hour in there going over the different forms of weapons I had either forged or created. By the time we were done Gobber was drooling at all the weapons as my father said.
"Odin's ghost Hiccup you have more weapons in here then we have in Berk." I shrugged.
"Well I have a lot of free time on my hands so I have to keep myself busy." Gobber walked up.
"At least you're using your free time wisely. Now what's with the lion head in the back wall?"
"That's where I keep my star sword."
"I don't suppose you'd let old Gobber take a look at it would ya?"
"Next time I'm on Berk I'll bring it with me since I don't have the key to open up the lions head now."
"Okay lad but don't forget."
"I won't forget. Now let's continue the tour." He nodded before we continued with the tour.
We were now approaching the library and I have to say I was curious about how they would react to it. The reason being despite there not being many readers on Berk we did have our own library and I admit it was pretty big but in comparison it was just a small room with a small stack of books. I knew the sight of all the books would most likely bring up some jokes at my expense by Gobber but I had been the butt of his jokes for most of my life so I was used to it.
"Welcome to my library gentlemen and I use the term loosely." They walked in and looked around at all the shelves before Gobber said.
"Lad, have you read all of these books?"
"Of course, not Gobber! Despite what you may think my life doesn't revolve around just dragons and studying."
"I know that lad if the weapons in the armory were anything to go by."
"What can I say? I like to learn new things." He smiled and nodded.
"So where do you go to practice your skills for battle."
"My training room."
"Can we go there next?"
"Sure!"
I lead them out before heading towards the training room. Once we made it into the training room and I could tell they were confused by the use of this room. I smiled at them as I walked across the black marble floors towards the wall across from the entrance and took a spear off the hook it was hung up on. I twirled it around my body a few times before I stopped and held the spear at my side as I said.
"Welcome to my training room gents." Gobber walked up.
"I admit lad that spear work was impressive but why do you have so much open space in this room?" I walked back to the wall and hung the spear back up before taking a bow and arrow.
"It gives me more room to practice and when I want to practice archery" I paused before shooting the arrow into one of the targets on the other side of the room. "I can get some distance between me and the target."
"Clever!"
We then left the room as I realized I was getting a little hungry so the next place I lead them to the food storeroom. We entered the room where I store the majority of my food. I picked up two apples and tossed them to my dad and Gobber before picking one up for myself. I took a bight out of my own before I said.
"This is where I keep the food that doesn't perish so easily like fruits and dried meat." Gobber took a bite out of his apple while my father asked.
"This is a lot of food for just one person." I looked around and could understand what he was saying since I had enough to feed an army.
"Not really when you also have multiple dragons and animals to feed. Let's get on with our tour then shall we."
Once we were done I lead them out of the food storage room towards a gronkle iron door that lead to the cold storage room. I walked up to the gronkle iron door, which was locked tight to keep the cold in and warmth out as Gobber asked.
"What you got behind that door lad? Some vicious beast you can't control?"
"No just cold storage to keep my more perishable food like fish or leftovers fresh and the door keeps the cold air in."
I then unlocked it before pulling it open as I allowed the cold mist come out onto the floor. My father and Gobber looked inside and saw all the frozen fish and meat hanging up along with the leftovers on the gronkle iron shelves. Gobber walked in and examined the fish and meat before turning back to me.
"We could use one of these things in Berk. Think you can make one for us?"
"I'll consider it Gobber but let's get out before all the cold air escapes." He nodded before walking out allowing me to close the door tight to trap the cold air.
We then proceeded to the storeroom where my father and Gobber got busy examining the items I had in storage. The items were mostly rolls of material, flasks, animal skins etc. Gobber was examining a few sharkskins I had before he turned back to me and asked.
"What do you do with all this stuff Hiccup?" I shrugged.
"Well I mostly just keep the material around in case I need to make some stuff with it while I sell the skins and use the flasks to stock up on clean water for long trips."
"We could use some of this stuff in the village. I don't suppose you could donate some of the stuff to Berk."
"Once again I will think about it."
He nodded but I kept an eye on my father who hadn't said anything since the armory, which was surprising since I figured he'd at least have something to say about all my hard work. Seriously you'd at least expect him to say he was impressed with all my hard work. He was probably just taking everything in since even I'll admit this was a lot of stuff to take in. I figured he'd speak when he wanted to. I figured it was best to just focus on the tour for now. I decided the next best place for them to see was the indoor pool. I took them out of the storeroom before showing them the way into the room holding the pool and I had to say I enjoyed the look on their faces when they saw the size of the room. Gobber looked around at the room and around the pool before he turned back to me and said.
"Odin's beard lad do you really need this much room just to take a bath." I chuckled at his assumption.
"Gobber this isn't a bath it's a pool I built for swimming on winter days."
"Wouldn't the water still be cold then?"
"No, I have system using fireworms heat to warm the pool along with the entire compound."
"Clever lad. We could use one of those for the Great hall during devastating winter."
"I doubt Mildew will allow a dragon powered heating system Gobber."
"Oh, come on everyone would love it except him."
"Which is exactly why he'd spend the entire winter complaining about it to everyone."
"Good point."
"Well let's move onto something less annoying then Mildew."
"How's about seeing what you did with all the helmets you take from the Vikings you beat."
"Oh so you want to see my trophy room."
"I guess so if that's where you keep them."
I nodded before I lead them out of the room so we could go to my regular Trophy room. I had to admit I found it rather funny the way they looked at some of my trophies like the manticore amulet. It was as my father was examining the uraeus of the Sphinx while Gobber was looking over the Viking helmets. Gobber turned back to me as he said.
"I wondered what you did with all the helmets you collected from your opponents."
"Well I like to keep mementos of my fights."
"I get that but what's through that door?" He pointed to the door leading to my Greek trophy room.
"That's where I keep my trophies from Greece."
"You give those trophies their own room."
"I have to since there are so many of them." I lead them both into the room before holding my arms out. "Welcome to the place where all my trophies from past victories in Greece go." They looked around as they muttered to themselves before Gobber asked.
"You got all these from fights in Greece?"
"Yep!"
"They must have some really bizarre creatures living there."
"Gobber I have been all over Greece and seen so much so trust me when I say this. You have no idea!" He chuckled before going to examine the pelt of the Nemean lion.
Not surprisingly we wound up spending nearly an hour in my trophy rooms going over how I got the majority of them and why I took them as a trophy. I could tell they were having hard times believing me when I told them about my accomplishments and victories over the monster of Greece. After we were done going through my trophies I took them to the invention room to see all the first working models of my inventions some of which I had first built in the village. I noticed both Gobber and my father had realized this if their faces going pale at the sight of some of them. I smiled at them before I walked up to the bola launcher I used to shoot down Toothless and said.
"Don't worry none of them will go off as long as you don't touch them." They nodded before going through my inventions with Gobber asking what each did. Halfway through the more agricultural inventions he turned to me.
"We could definitely use these on Berk Hiccup."
"Sorry Gobber but everyone made it perfectly clear on how they feel about my inventions."
"Lad I'm sure they'll accept them now when they see what they can do."
"Yeah but it won't be long before either Mildew or the twins sabotage them and I get blamed for it like I always did."
"Lad I'm sure we can work something out."
"No Gobber! The village made it clear a long time ago that they want nothing to do with my inventions."
"I understand lad but don't think I won't try to get them to give them a chance." I simply nodded before we left.
I decided we should move onto the art gallery. I lead them to the room but kept an eye on them since I didn't want them wondering away. When we arrived I turned to them and said.
"Touch nothing because if you break it you buy it and it would take all of Berks gold to pay for a quarter of some of this stuffs value." They nodded before we walked in where Gobber took a look at a painting of a winter landscape. I walked up to him as he asked.
"Where did you get these paintings?"
"On an old abandoned ship and other places."
"Well I have to say they are pretty good. You have to admire the suttle brush strokes as the colors blend into each other so well." I cocked an eyebrow at him. "Oh, what just because I'm a blacksmith means I can't know art?"
"You just never seemed the type." He chuckled.
"There's a whole lot you don't know about me lad."
"Just like there's a lot you don't know about me."
"I'll say if this building is anything to go by. Do you mind if we take a break from all the walking lad?"
"Sure, we can take a break in the garden." He nodded before I lead them out.
Getting to the garden didn't take long since I was now lounging on a bench I put in while Gobber walked through the flowers. I looked at my dad who was looking up at the statue of Odin. I couldn't help but smile at the memories of the looks on their faces when they saw my house. I still couldn't help but laugh at the looks on their faces when they saw my trophy room. I still had to show them the Griffins roost, Phlegons stable, the dragon stables, the desert and jungle, model room, map room, the bell tower and dungeon, Fireworm nest, the garden where I grow my crops. I decided to talk to my dad and find out why he hadn't said anything so I walked up behind him and asked.
"Admiring my handy work?" He looked back at me.
"Yes, it's quite a piece of work this statue and I'm sure Odin appreciates it."
"Thanks." We kept quiet for a few seconds before I asked. "So would you mind telling me why you haven't spoken a word since the armory." He sighed.
"It's just a lot to take in Hiccup."
"Well I do have a lot of rooms and buildings so I can understand the issue."
"Not just the buildings Hiccup! I'm also having trouble taking in all of your achievements since you left Berk." He let out another sigh. "I guess you were right about us holding you back all this time."
"Dad I know you've been having your doubts about me possessing everything I claim to have and how you're feeling guilty about not taking me to any big chieftain meetings on other islands."
"What makes you think that?"
"I heard you and Gobber discussing it in the Great hall while I was in Egypt."
"While you were in Egypt?"
"I'll tell you later but dad what's really bothering you?"
"It's just well-" He paused for a moment. "Look around you Hiccup! All of your inventions could have helped Berk in so many ways but we turned them down and spat on them and now that I see how wrong we were I'm just feeling a lot of regret."
"I get it dad but we can't change the past."
"I know but I don't suppose there's any way I could convince you to at least let us borrow the designs."
"Sorry dad but the majority of these things are run by either dragons or my animals so they wouldn't be of much use to Berk."
"Then are you sure you won't open up a dragon academy?"
"Dad how do you suppose the other tribes would take it?" He sighed.
"You raise a good point Hiccup but still."
"Dad I am not going to open up a dragon academy unless I absolutely have to."
"Alright Hiccup I understand." He then looked at Gobber before he leaned towards me. "I don't suppose any of your inventions could help give Gobber a bath?" I smiled at him.
"It just so happens I do but I'll save it as the last stop on our tour." He nodded before we left the garden with Gobber following.
We enjoyed the rest of the tour with my father asking more questions and the both of us talking a bit more as we walked. As we walked we mostly discussed possible business between my island and Berk in the future. In between our talks I got to enjoy their reactions to the other rooms and buildings on my island. They were amazed when they saw my jungle and I got a good laugh when we were walking through it and Maya jumped out of the tree to greet me but she landed on Gobber which in turn made him fall face first into mud. Both my dad and me had a good laugh at that only for each of us to receive a glare from Gobber, which I just, ignored as I rubbed Maya's head. They were both impressed by the model of Berk I had in the model room and dad asked if I could make one for the Great hall but just told him it took too much time and I'd see about it. When they met Phlegon at the stable they thought he was a new species of dragon but once I cleared it up and told them what he was for Gobber asked.
"Hiccup if you have flying dragons then why in the world would you need a chariot?"
"It's a faster way to see the island from the ground and spot things I can't see from the sky and besides- "I turned to Phlegon and gave him a pat on the neck. "Phlegon enjoys a run on the highway."
He just nodded before we continued with the tour with the dragon stables. I had a pretty good laugh when Gobber and my father went into the tidal class stables and took a turn resulting in them falling into the water. After Scaulder picked them both up, out of the water and back onto the path I told them how each stable was built for each class of dragon to suit their needs. They both just spat out the water before Gobber told me how they got that. We had a quick view of the stables but we did have a little trouble with the smothering smokebreaths when some of them stole my dad's helmet and Gobbers hook. Fortunatley Smoky got them in line and got them to let go of the helmet and hook but that didn't stop Gobber from muttering about how angry he was under his breath. After that we went onto the desert where Gobber and my dad proceeded to sweat like a boar before a feast. They were surprised when I showed them my map room and asked if I had been to all the places the maps showed but I just told them I was still working on it. Then came the bell tower which my father requested I use to warn Berk of any threats like raiders or storms. I told him I would try and see if I could find a way to make the bell loud enough to reach Berk. When they saw my dungeon Gobber asked for advice to help improve the Berks jailhouse since mine was a bit more secure. It was as we were walking down the trails Gobber took notice of a large sand storm coming our way so he grabbed my arm and asked.
"Uh Hiccup! What is that coming our way?" I turned to face the sandstorm before turning back to Gobber.
"Oh, that's just my sand phantom Heatwave." My dad looked at me confused and asked.
"Sand phantom?"
"A species of dragon given to me by the Egyptian gods." Before they could ask anything else the sand storm had arrived before Heatwave took form in front of me as I did my best to hold back my laughter at the looks on their faces as I rubbed his head. "Heatwave here is a dragon made completely out of sand and as such can turn into a sandstorm." They didn't reply but just kept staring at Heatwave with their mouths opened to the point where I didn't think it was possible for their jaws to be so low before I rolled my eyes. "Heatwave! Why don't you keep on patrolling the desert and I'll see you later okay?" He gave a growl before crumbling into sand that flew away into the wind. Once he was gone my father walked up.
"Are there any other strange creatures we can expect to see on your island besides that dragon and the horse with the flaming wings?"
"Well there's my hippocampus Kal, my serpopard Nylene and my griffin Plutarach." Gobber then walked up.
"What's a hippocampus, serpopard and griffin?"
"You'll know when you see them since which in Nylenes case might be soon since she is probably at the oasis relaxing."
"Please tell me there's water there because I am sweating buckets here."
"Gobber an oasis is literally a part of the desert where water comes out from the ground."
"Oh, good cause I could use a drink of some nice cold water."
"Then just follow the trail."
We continued walking for five more minutes at which point Gobber was drenched in sweat. When we arrived Gobber ran faster than I thought he could ever move and dropped to his knees before he dunked his head into the water. My dad turned to me and asked.
"Doesn't this heat bother you?" I shrugged.
"Not really! I got used to the heat of the desert with the time I've spent in Egypt." Gobber then asked as he rubbed the sweat off his forehead.
"Is it this hot there?"
"Hotter!" I heard him gulp at this before I saw the oasis ahead. "Gobber if you're thirsty the oasis is just ahead of us." The second Gobber saw the water he ran so fast I said. "I didn't think he could move that fast!" My dad just put a hand on my shoulder and said.
"You should see him when we try give him a good scrub."
"Don't worry! On our last stop just be ready to grab a broom and start scrubbing."
"You sure it will work?"
"I know it will."
It was then the area was filled with the sound of a loud roar followed by a scream coming from the oasis. Me and my father ran to see what was going on but I had a feeling it was Nylene restraining Gobber since she never liked strangers and her eyes Gobber was most definitely a stranger. When we arrived at the oasis I was proven to be right since we found Gobber with Nylene wrapping her neck around his chest which kept his arms at his side as she growled at his face that was quickly going blue. I ran up to them and said.
"Nylene calm down. He's a friend!" She looked to face me before she uncurled her neck from around Gobber who took a huge gulp of breath as I ran up to him. "You alright Gobber?" He took another breath.
"I think so." I turned to Nylene.
"Gobber's a friend girl so don't try to kill him when he comes for a drink okay."
She just wrapped her neck around me and rubbed her head against my chest. I let out a sigh knowing I couldn't stay mad at her when she put on this cute act so I just rubbed her head before leading my father and Gobber with Nylene at my side to the gazebo where I kept some flasks of water. I tossed them each one and as soon as Gobber had a flask in his hand he took it to his mouth and drank it as if he hadn't had a drink in days. It was actually pretty funny to see him drink so much in just a few seconds before he asked me for another one. Surprisingly we spent half an hour under the gazebo so Gobber could catch his breath and cool down from such a long walk. We spent that time with Nylene lounging on the bench with her head in my lap which I gently stroked. We mostly passed the time with me telling them what I did in Egypt to gain the respect of their gods. I'd say they were impressed with what I told them but even more impressed with all I had accomplished on my island.
After we left the desert which we had to keep stopping in order for Gobber to catch his breath after every twenty steps. I rolled my eyes whenever he stopped at his inability to take the heat. When we finally made it out of the desert my father asked me where I grew all my food so I took them to my crop garden. When they saw the rows of crops I had the looks on their faces was priceless before they looked around at the walls I had surrounded the garden with before turning their attention back to the food. They walked down the rows of trees each barring a set of trees with different types of fruit but when Gobber reached out to pick a peach I walked up and grabbed his arm.
"They're not quite ripe yet Gobber so you may have to wait another week or two."
"Well when they are ripe let me know lad."
"Don't worry Gobber! I know how much you love fresh peaches." He chuckled before patting my shoulder as my father walked up.
"How do you water all these plants?"
"I have my Scauldren come up through an underwater tunnel and spray his water into the air so it lands on the crops like rain." He stroked his beard.
"We could use something like that on the farms."
"I have been working on something like that but it's still in the testing stages."
"Let me know how it goes." I just nodded before we left the crop garden.
The next stop on our trip was the Griffins roost, which I admit I was looking forward to since I could not wait to see the looks on their faces. As we made our way through the woods towards the griffins roost we had a run in with my wolf pack. After I ended up getting a few licks from my wolves we continued on our way to the griffin's roost. When we arrived, I watched as my dad and Gobber looked up at the tower in shock before Gobber said.
"Odins beard lad what in the world is this thing?"
"This is the Griffins roost."
"And why exactly did you build it?" I just smiled.
"You'll see when we get to the top."
"Please tell me we don't have to walk upstairs." I chuckled.
"Although I highly doubt it would kill you to climb a few stairs I prefer to use the platform." They both cocked an eyebrow at this before I lead them into the tower and onto the platform. "Please keep your arms and legs inside the platform at all times until the platform comes to a complete stop."
They looked at me confused before I pulled the lever that activated the platform taking us up. I let out a short laugh as my father and Gobber stumbled a bit as the platform began rising up. As we ascended towards the top I walked around the platform looking at the statues I had put up for both decoration and to hold the torches. I turned to look back at my dad and Gobber to see them looking up at the mechanisms which controlled the platform. I walked up to them and asked.
"Impressed?" My father looked at me.
"I have to say Hiccup this is quite impressive but how high is this thing and what do you use it for?"
"The Griffins Roost is fifty feet tall. As for what I use it for, well you'll see when we reach the top." He nodded.
"Do you think you could make one of these for Gothi's hut? It would save a lot of Vikings a lot of time." Gobber then walked up beside him.
"It would also help poor old Gothi since she sometimes complains about how the walk down is tough on her poor aching legs."
"I'll draw up plans for one as soon as I can since growing up Gothi was one of the only people to help me." They nodded before I noticed we were about to reach the top floor. "And here we are."
They looked up as we came through the slot and I had to hold back my laughter at the looks on their faces. I had to say today I had seen so many things today that I thought I'd never see. I saw my father shocked, both him and Gobber with their jaws down and most importantly I saw my father impressed with my inventions. I never thought I would ever see my father actually be impressed with my work or actually ask me to build some of them for the village. The sad thing was however that this wasn't the strangest thing to ever happen to me if my adventures in Egypt, Greece and Rome were anything to go by. Heck if I know my luck then the next time I visit the Mayans I would not be surprised if I wound up fighting some monster for my life or the protection of others. Once we were completely through the slot and the platform had stopped I opened the gate and walked out.
"Welcome to the Griffins Roost!" My dad and Gobber looked around before Gobber asked.
"What do you use this room for?"
"I use it to hold and target one of the most destructive weapons I have ever seen in my life." They both looked at me with unreadable looks before my father asked.
"What is this weapon Hiccup and how powerful is it?" I just walked over to the chest that held the statues before opening it and gestured my father and Gobber towards them.
"These statues are the weapons and trust me they could easily destroy a fortress in minutes." Gobber looked at me and cocked an eyebrow.
"Lad you do realize these are just pretty statues, right?" I took the statues before I positioned them to target a sea stack before I asked.
"Or are they?"
I positioned the mirror that reflects the light onto the statues. We then watched the statues activate with the light filling the statue of Sekhmet before the light shot out of the eyes into the statue of Ra. Once the light filled Ra's statue the beam shot out of the statue and headed straight towards the sea stack. When it hit the sea stack we watched as it began to crack up with the light shooting out of said cracks. It was then the sea stack exploded causing rubble to fly around into the ocean while the remains of the sea stack that was still standing was pretty much melted. I turned the mirror away from the statues to avoid another blast before I turned back to my dad and Gobber to see them with their jaws lower than I thought possible and their eyes so wide I thought they'd pop out of their heads any second. I picked up the statues and made my way over to the box where I stored them as I said.
"Now you know why I keep these locked up in a tower instead of in my home." This seemed to snap them out of their shock before my dad said.
"Odins ghost son! Where in the world did you get those things?"
"They were a gift from the Egyptian gods." Gobber walked up next to my father.
"Lad those things could possibly level an armada and you just leave them up here in a tower unguarded?"
"They aren't unguarded!"
"Oh really now? Then where's the one guarding them?" I pointed towards the ceiling.
"Top floor!" I walked up to the stairs that leads to the top floor. "Just remember to treat him with nothing but respect or he might just toss you off the tower." My father walked up behind me.
"Who or what is he?" I turned back to him.
"His name is Plutarach and he is a griffin." I then opened up the trap door to find said griffin looking down at me as I smiled and climbed out. "Hey Plutarach! Keeping a close eye on things with your usual vigilance I see." He just screeched as I got out of the trap door to rub his head before he quickly turned back to the trap door to let out another screech as my father came out. "Easy there Plutarach he's not going to hurt us or steal anything."
He just kept his eyes on my father while I rubbed the back of his neck. My dad slowly climbed out of the trap door never taking his eyes off Plutarach. Gobber followed but when he took one look at Plutarach before he let out a startled yelp and fell back down the trapdoor and stairs. I would have laughed if I weren't worried he might have hurt himself in the fall. I walked over to the trap door and looked down before I asked.
"Gobber! Are you alright?" I then heard him coming up the stairs followed by him coming through while rubbing the back of his head.
"I'm fine lad but what in the name of Midgard is that?" He pointed to Plutarach.
"That is Plutarach and as I said before he is a griffin." He just cocked an eyebrow.
"And why do you have one of those?"
"Once again as I said before he keeps guard over the tower and he has a nest up here because griffins prefer high places."
"Okay and does he bite?"
"As long as you don't bother him and treat him with respect he won't hurt you."
"Okay then." He came out fully before looking around and from the look on his face I could tell he was impressed as was my dad. It wasn't till we were on our way down did my father ask me another question.
"Hiccup I've been wondering this for a while and it's alright if you lied but do you really have a fortune?" I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Why do you think I might have lied?" He held up his hands.
"No son it's just the village is wondering if you're stories about making a fortune were just made up and used to gain more respect." I crossed my arms.
"Gee I wonder who could have started these rumors." Sarcasm was practically dripping from my words as I thought of Mildew before Gobber stepped up.
"Well lad we have seen your entire house and we know it must have cost a pretty penny so some people might think you spent all your gold on it."
"I did not spend my gold on my house. Me, my dragons and animals did all the work ourselves and harvested the minerals from nearby islands." My dad then stepped forward.
"Well then where's this big fortune?"
"Safely locked away in the vault where nobody can get their hands on it." Gobber then asked.
"Well can we see this vault lad?"
"If it'll prove to the both of you that I'm no liar then you can see it when we get back to my home."
They nodded before we spent the journey back to the house in silence. As soon as we arrived back I took them straight to the statue of Odin in the garden and had them stand in front of it while I walked up to the statue. I smirked at them as I reached for a secret lever I installed in the statue to open up the slot that lead to the vault. I saw my father open his mouth to ask something but I held up my hand to silence him before I said.
"Please save all your questions for when I see you next fall!"
Before they could say anything, I pulled the lever that opened the slot underneath them so they fell right through. The last thing I heard before I closed the slot up was my father yelling my name. I chuckled as I made my way to the other entrance through my private study. I made my way into my private study and walked up to the bookcase that held the key to getting to my vaults level. The bookshelf like the other ones in the room was built out of marble and into the wall except this one was connected to a large circle pattern in the on the floor in the middle of the room. This pattern was one large black circle in the center and multiple black triangles were pointing into it. These were the hidden stairs to my vault that went down using the two bookends on the fifth shelf. One bookend was made of black marble and shaped like toothless while the other was white marble and shaped like a bewilderbeast.
The trick is to twist the nightfury to face the right and the bewilderbast to the left so they would be facing each other. This would open up a hole in the wall in the middle between them, which held three levers. The trick is to pull them in a specific order and if the order were done wrong a trapdoor would open underneath you that took you down a slide to a dungeon cell. I had to say this was my most complicated secret passage but I like to think it was worth it. I went through the motions before I turned towards the center of the room where the triangles of the pattern were sinking into the ground with each sinking a foot deeper than the last creating a small spiral staircase which connected to a longer one beneath it. I walked down the staircase to a black marble passageway with torches hanging on the walls using nightmare gel to keep the flames going with a large gronkle iron door at the end of the passage. I walked up to the door before pulling out my stone of good fortune and unlocking the door before I walked into see my fortune. There were piles of gold and jewels everywhere. I made a mental note to take stock of this stuff at some point and organize the different types of gold coins, arrange the jewels, set up the different statues and possibly make things to display the jewelry. I decided to make that one of my newest projects but for now I needed to focus on the two large Viking men standing in the middle of my vault and looking as if they had broken their jaws. I chuckled at the sight before I walked up to them and said.
"I take it this proves to you both that I am not a liar?" They both turned to me before Gobber tried to say something but it sounded like all he could do was breath air out before my dad walked.
"Son how in the name of Odin did you gather all this?"
"Mostly looting sunken ships, selling my extra stuff in foreign markets, winning competitions, saving the lives of royals and there is the fact that I don't spend that much stuff since I gather or grow the things I need myself." It was at that moment Gobber found his voice.
"Great Odins ghost when you said you had gold and jewels I expected to see two chests of them, not an entire great hall worth of gold, jewels and treasures I've never even heard of before."
"What can I say? I've been looting sunken ships for a long time, the stuff I sell allows me to make a good amount of money and saving royals is good money and gains me favor with the people."
"How did you get down here though?"
"The stairs."
"And why couldn't we come down the same way?" I just smiled.
"Now where's the fun in that?" My father then stepped in.
"Hiccup I admit I had my doubts about your claims but this more than proves me wrong but one thing still bothers me."
"And what would that be?"
"You said you heard our conversation while in Egypt! How could you have heard us when we never left Berk?"
"I'll show you once we're out of the vault." He nodded before Gobber asked.
"So how much do you have down here lad?"
"I'm going to be completely honest with you Gobber. I have no idea!"
"You should figure it out then lad because I'm pretty sure you're richer then the Hamish's and they were our wealthiest chiefs."
"Don't worry Gobber I plan to take inventory on the vault soon but in the meantime let's get out of here." They nodded before we left the vault and made our way back up to my private study where I pointed to my golden falcons on my desk. "These are how I heard your conversation." Gobber walked up and examined them before turning back to me.
"Well lad I admit they're pretty and all but how do you use them to see things?" I pointed to the one with the sunstone.
"First you look at this one and say 'Take flight my eyes of Horus and fly to' then name the place you want to see before telling the other 'Show me what your brother sees' and then you can see what's happening." They looked at me for a moment before my dad stepped forward.
"Think we can get a demonstration?" I shrugged.
"Sure! Why don't we check on what Mildew is up to while you two are out of town?" I turned back to my falcons and looked at the one with the sunstone. "Take flight my eyes of Horus and fly to the Berkian Mildew!" The falcon spread his wings and took flight before disappearing in a flash as I turned to the other falcon. "Show me what your brother sees!" As usual the falcon projected what his brother saw. "And that's how it works." They nodded before Gobber looked at me.
"Impressive lad! This could come in handy for keeping eyes on our enemies." I nodded but my eyes were on Mildew or to be more precise the shoes he was wearing and the staff he had in his hand.
"What is he doing?" I had the falcon get a closer look as he looked at Fungus and said.
"I'm telling you Fungus this is sure to get those dragons off the island and get back at that boy for ever bringing them." We all leaned in to listen to what he was planning. "All I have to do is where these boots while I steal everyone's shoes and rip them up one night and the next I use this cane to frame a monstrous nightmare for tearing up the tapestries in the great hall." I heard my father begin to growl. "Then to finish it off when everyone's already suspecting the dragons I blow up the armory and ruin all the weapons. That's sure to get everyone angry enough to take the boys island and kill his dragons." By that point I had heard enough.
"Return to me my falcon." The falcon returned before I turned to my father and Gobber. "Dad I have put up with a lot of Mildews complaining, blame and other things over the years but this is going too far."
"I couldn't agree with you more son. Don't worry I'll deal with it by catching him in the act and punishing him for it." I nodded.
"Well he's most likely going to do it tonight so we might as well finish off the tour but rest assured that if anyone tries to attack my island then I will show no mercy!" As I said that the thought of releasing Glacia on the Viking ships coming to my island came to mind.
"Don't worry Hiccup I won't let it happen so let's just finish the tour." I nodded before I lead them out of my private study.
As we made our way out of the study I leaned towards my dad and told him to be ready to start scrubbing. He nodded towards me before we moved into the bathhouse where I had a special surprise for Gobber. I saw Gobber look around the building before he asked.
"Okay lad I admit this place is nice but what's it for?" I smiled at him.
"Well Gobber before I tell you I just need you to move into the middle of that pit with the night fury in the middle."
"Alright but why?"
"Just stand there and you'll know." He moved into the middle as I reached for the lever to let the water come out. "Alright Gobber. IT'S BATH TIME!" He looked at me wide eyed as he whispered.
"What?"
I pulled the lever and water began to fill the tub as he tried to make it to the stairs where my father cut him off. I tossed my father a broom before we began scrubbing Gobber down as he screamed in false pain and begged for mercy. We just ignored his screams as my father told me not to forget to scrub behind the ears and after seeing what was coming out I was not surprised. After seeing the things that came out from in between his toes I knew I would have to give my entire tub a nice long scrubbing just to be sure it was all off and possibly scrubbing out the pipes which let the water out into the ocean. I was not looking forward to it but for now I was enjoying giving Gobber his much-needed bath as he begged us to stop.
When we had finally finished giving Gobber his bath it had been half an hour and I had seen things that would make yak dung look like a wild rose. I meant smelling like a wild rose literally because I put some bath oils I got from Rome in the water to help fight the stench. Long story short he was not the least bit happy and promised that when he got his normal smell back he would be coming to give me a big long hug. I knew this would be considered payback since I would be forced to inhale his smell and I knew it was going to be rough on my nostrils but I could always hold my breath for a long time thanks to my practice when looting sunken ships. Presently I was dropping my dad and Gobber off on one of the docks that the villages harbor had before I went home. My dad looked down at me from the dock and said.
"Thank you for the tour son."
"It was my pleasure to prove to you wrong about me not being able to take care of myself." He chuckled.
"You most did and I doubt I will ever doubt you again and don't worry about Mildew, we'll take care of him."
"Thanks dad but be sure to make it look like an accident or else he'll know something is up."
"Good call son and the next time you're in town I think we should talk business since let's face it you do have a lot of stuff Berk could use."
"I'll think about it." He put a hand on my shoulder.
"That's all I ask." I nodded before I set sail for home to get started on sorting out my vault.
AN: Hey all I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and review to it since in the next chapter we have a bit more action and to answer the questions of Guest. The flightmare will make an appearance later and no Hiccup will not learn Dragonese. As always review but keep them nice please.