Chapter 99
Hiccups POV:
It's been four weeks since Snoggletog and my little trip to Valhalla and in that a whole lot has happened with both my animals and me. For starters the winters wing has settled in but mostly sticks to himself in the ice nest he has to constantly create since it has a habit of breaking apart into the ocean. I have however given his three heads the separate names with the one launches ice lightning Freezer, Hailstorm launches ice shards and Tundra for the head that fires ice fire. They seemed to like the names well enough but still preferred to be alone and after spending so much time with the frost giants as pretty much their slave I couldn't blame him but he did seem to be warming up to my ice dragons including the Bewilderbeasts. As for Adal, he seemed happy but for the first week he refused to leave my side no matter what but after that he was comfortable enough to left alone with the wolf pack. Maelstrom had taken a major liking to the cub and had pretty much adopted Adal as his own cub, which I thought, was adorable. Then come the gifts I received from the trip, which I had now been able to properly examine, test out and find a place in my home for all of them.
The dagger I received from the elves now rested safely in my vault on a white marble pedestal in the room where I kept my bejeweled items. As for the seeds I received from the elven land, they were all planted after I did a fly over the land with the bags before I let the seeds fly down into the land. After that it didn't take long for all of the plants to begin growing giving a feeling of true peace and beauty to my forest. I know my wolves liked it since they would often lounge around or play in the new flowerbeds. I found it sweet how they were enjoying themselves but I also felt my heart break slightly since the pups weren't pups anymore meaning it was time to let them go and find mates for themselves. That is what they're doing now after I took them to the island where their parents met each other and let them know it was time to find themselves mates. It was heartbreaking how they whined at me as I boarded my ship with their parents looking down at them giving barks of farewell. That was two weeks ago and I hope they're all right since Mother Nature could be a truly cruel mistress. As for the barrel containing so many drinks it now rested in my food storage room in a room I built in it with a locked gronkle iron bar door. The reason I built this room is after I took it away many of the Berkians tried to buy it from me and I couldn't really blame them since the mead was delicious and there was no chance of getting drunk.
That small room however wasn't the only room I had constructed however since I had also one more room but this one was hidden from the world with the reason being the room was built strictly to hold my desk from Odin. Now when it comes to the desk I was absolutely amazed by not only the raven but the books as well. When I opened up the book with giant eye I found it held the information on the monsters I've faced with images that literally came off the page like statues made of colored mist and moved around as if they were alive. When I was done with it I put it back on the desk before picking up the other book and discovered it was a journal telling everything about my life on Berk starting from the night I shot Toothless down and ended when I left Berk to move into my cave. When I went to put it back there was another book in its place but I saw the difference was this one had the number two colored in gold on the spine while the first had a number one. I picked it up and found it continued my story concerning what happened after I moved into the cave and when I looked back there was once again another book in its place with the number three.
The entrance to the room I made was in my library that now had a large white marble fireplace at the back with a metal portrait of the ocean between pines with clouds covering the moon. The parts however didn't touch however since it was one sheet of metal placed in front of the other and below this on the fireplaces mantle that I had shaped like a pointed hill were six metal wolves all standing on the mountain with three on each side. In the center of the mantle was the head of a nightfury while two black marble wolves howling while facing the fire on either side with white marble collars circling their necks held up the mantle. This fireplace wasn't just for decoration however as it was the secret door to a secret room. All I had to do was press down on the tag on the right wolves collar making the nightfury head split in two and open up revealing a key shaped like my stone of good fortune. Once my stone of good fortune was inserted it had to be twisted three times to the right and then three times to the left activating a mechanism. Then the clouds on the portrait would move to the sides revealing a full moon with Toothless painted on it before the metal wolves on top of the mantle would raise their heads two at a time from top to bottom, while opening their mouths as air flows through the pipes making howling sounds. When they are done the firebox pushes back into the wall to reveal a secret stairway leading to a hidden passageway.
At the end there was a simple door leading to one room that was in the shape of and octagon with the walls being pure white marble shelves that were separated by large white marble pillars. In this room against the wall across from the door was the desk along with the raven while hanging from the middle of the roof was a hanging torch shaped like a monstrous nightmare that was curled up around a bowl while on the pillars were stone dragons facing into the room with their wings held behind them cupping fires. The shelves behind the desk were covered by glass and sitting on them were the books depicting my life's story that currently reached twenty books in total. At the top was a vent opening leading to a secret vent to the library so the raven could carry new books into the library without any trouble. I once stayed and watched the raven set it all up when he flew in. He just stood on the paper in the middle of the desk and glowed above it, the paper then glowed before there's a bright flash and when it fades there's a new book where the paper once was. Once the book was completely built the raven then carried it into my library and shelved it. I know the secrecy was a bit extreme but I didn't want anyone to know my life's story until I'm a retired old man sitting in a rocking chair with my grandchild on my knee. As for the book of monsters I've faced, that also rested in the same room behind its own glass case since there's no telling what would happen if that book fell into the wrong hands since for all I know they might use it to form an army of them or make a deal with some of the more intelligent monsters or demigods.
Besides that I had spent a lot of time mastering my new axe and learning its abilities in my training mirror and I was amazed with what it could do. When I tossed it I was able to summon it back to my hand by just holding out my hand and it'd return to me no matter what the distance plus if I threw it so it rotates then it spins rapidly like a rotating blade cutting down anything in its path. Along with that ability I learnt that when I held it up to the sky storm clouds begin to form before lighting shoots down into the axe that crackles with power making it all that more powerful since with a single swing I send out a single blast of lightning. Also when I slam my axe into the ground it sends a shockwave through the ground throwing back those in its path and if metal weapons hits it the ones holding the other weapons are shocked into unconsciousness. Another ability is should it touch water then the water begins flowing with lightning shocking anyone touching it. Among all these powers the main ability is how sharp it is to the point that if I slashed a rock with it then the blade slices cleanly through. I knew this axe would aid me in battle in the future against stronger opponents but like my other weapons I felt it could do more than the capabilities I had already discovered.
As for my prosthetic's modifications I had to say they were definitely handy for both my mining operation on Dragon Island and working in the forge. On my first trip to the mines after my return to Midgard I immediately put my digging arm to the test and was amazed when it dug through solid rock as if it were nothing and as I did my hand actually spread out more and extended to the point where I was able to dig out a hole big enough for me to lean into. When I pulled my arm out however my hand pushed out showing a tube full of diamonds meaning this new attachment was definitely going to help in my mining. Besides this its new ability to identify minerals has helped me out in the forge when I've had some trouble sorting minerals that looked similar so there weren't any incidents when it came to forging.
Finally there was the ship I was given that I feel is the most amazing one of the gifts I received and for good reasons to. When I put the ship into the water the first time it grew to three times the size of a normal Viking ship but the major shock was it was a whole lot bigger on the inside of every room. On the outside the hull was black as night with a large deck that had tall sails that sparkled as if they had diamonds sown into them with a golden nightfury figurehead out at the front with its wings spread out. On the deck there's two trapdoors but the one in the center had a crane to lower things into the lower decks but when it wasn't in use the neck of it lowers down till the head is in the deck with a lid that falls over it so it's out of the way. Also at the front and back of the ship were two small towers that on closer inspection I realized were closed turrets with two levels that had catapults on the top levels that launched flaming rocks before falling back and reloading themselves. Beneath them on the second floor of the turrets were these ballistae could launch bolts with ropes attached to them that would then reel the ships in allowing me to board the ships or have an easier time hitting them and that was just the outside. (AN: If you're having trouble imagining this ship then picture the 'Silent Mary' from pirates of the Caribbean before it was sunk and without the cannons on the sides and replace the head of the ship with a golden nightury.) Behind the head of the ship is a small pedestal for my statues of Sekhmet and Ra with the wings of the nightfury able to lift up and reflect the light onto the statue of Sekhmet activating them before the beam blasts out through the mouth of the nightfury and towards its target destroying whatever waits in its path. The head of the nightfury is also able to turn and aim the beam through it so whichever way the head is facing that is the direction in which the beam will fire so the ship doesn't have to turn to fire.
At the back of the top deck between two sets of stairs was a door that leads to a room for my maps with a special table in the center where my crystal map no lay. Up against the walls were box shelves to hold my maps that were on scrolls but the most amazing thing about this room however was the ceiling that looked as if it were the night sky with stars shining in it and in the center was a full moon lighting the room. At the back of this room was a single door leading to my bedchamber, which was a truly comfortable place for me to rest. At the back against the wall was a queen size bed with a frame shaped like a golden Viking ship with a red silk blanket along with feather pillows in golden colored pillow cases, behind the bed was a stain glass window that had Toothless at the top, at the foot of the bed were beds for my animals to sleep in, on the left side of the room was a dresser that is now filled with clothes while on the right side up against the wall is a small hand carved desk with a simple chair along with an ink pot with black quill and a jug of water with cup, while next to the desk was a small bookshelf that now had some of my favorite books I liked to read for pleasure. There are also the guest quarters that could be accessed through a door in the left side of the map room. This room wasn't like my bedroom since it had a simple bed against the right side and a desk and dresser against the left side with a small window against the back wall.
On the lower deck that was accessed by a set of rectangular spiral stairs that were through a trap door on the deck is a large room with another trap door through the roof above the center where the crane could lower things down and one door on three of the walls. Through the door on the right was a very large storage room for food with multiple barrels, shelves and cabinets around the room. Then through the door on the left was a large room full of ice that never melted and kept the room ice cold with shelves for meat and hooks to hold the large chunks of meat. Finally the room at the back facing the stairs was a large storage room to hold regular items with shelves lining the walls and hooks in the ground to tie items down like chests or statues. The truly amazing thing about these rooms though was how large they were since I had done the measurements and knew they shouldn't have fit in there making this ship all the more remarkable since below there are three other levels that could be accessed by the stairs.
The floor below the storage rooms only had two rooms but one of those rooms was something that I didn't think could be built on a ship since it could start a fire. Inside that room through the door opposite to the stairs was a fully functional forge with everything I needed to work on new items. There was an actual forge at the back of the room opposite of the door, a shining anvil in the middle of the room with a barrel of water on the left of it while on the right was a sharpening wheel, on the left wall hung forging tools and against the opposite wall was a desk for designing things with a shelf next to it holding boxes of materials that surprisingly automatically refilled after a day. The other room was through a door on the left wall that leads to a large armory full of weapon racks and hooks on the walls all to hold weapons.
Below these rooms were two rooms that reached two stories in height and with what they were for their sizes were understandable. The first one was a barn room with multiple pens reaching to the back. These pens were made for animals like yaks, goats, pigs, boars, horses and other forms of livestock with self-filling troughs. At the back against the wall there was a large cage for exotic birds I catch, a large glass case for frogs and one glass case filled with water for exotic fish. Next to them on the left side was a drawbridge leading outside so I'd be bale to lead up the live stock from the docks or wherever I docked and to the right side there was a ladder leading up to the second level that looked down on the pens with railing to prevent me from falling down. Up on this part there were multiple bales of hay on the right side making it a hayloft while on the left side were multiple chicken coops with each able to hold up to five chickens so I'd have fresh eggs. A single bridge in the middle connected these two sections so I'd easily be able to get hay for the animals or tend to my chickens. The other room on this level was a two-story dungeon with bared cells that each held two wooden beds built into the cell walls. These cells covered the walls of the room with a square spiral staircase leading up to the second floors pathway that circled the walls that had built in cells. Each of these cells had a lock on them that would only be unlocked by my stone of good fortune. I just hoped the day to use these cells was a long time away but some of them might be used if I decided to try my hand at bounty hunting.
Then came the final level below this and it was without a doubt the most impressive part of the ship and where my dragons would stay. I could describe this single room as simply one large open area the size of Tephra with plenty of room for my dragons to fly around, nest and more. There's even a large pool at the back connecting to the ocean and when I swam in it I learnt there was actually an entire under water level beneath it for my tidal classes to nest in. With all this the ship was incredible but the most amazing thing about it all was what happened when I first boarded it. I walked onto the top deck and looked around before a glowing white orb floated out of the deck and flew towards me. Figuring the dwarves wouldn't give me a gift that would kill me I gently touched the orb and felt like a blade stabbed into my hand before my blood flowed into the orb turning it red in color before it sank back into the deck. After the orb had fully sunk in it felt as if I was being ripped apart from the inside for a few seconds before the pain stopped as quickly as it came. After that it felt as if I was connected to the ship somehow as if it were an extension of my own body and then I realized I could control it with my will making it do whatever I wanted including restraining any borders who hopped aboard with ropes on deck. It was truly remarkable and I felt like I was just scratching the surface of what my ship could do and this was after I discovered the ship could fold up into the orb which would then sunk into my prosthetic palm. The orb was only let out when I held my hand in the water and said 'Time to set sail my golden fury' before the orb came out and sunk into the water before the ship burst from the for the armor I got from the gods it now rests on an armor rack in the armory next to the others but I would bring it out for ceremonies.
Now I was walking through my Mayan jungle looking around at the jungle while enjoying the sound of the birds echo against the trees. I looked up and saw Diego walking on one of the branches looking down at me as I smiled up at him and continued to walk. It was then I looked to the side and saw Chac and Kisa staring at me from their little hole in a tree as I gave them a wave and continued on my way. I stopped along the path to grab a mango from a nearby tree and smiled as the juice burst into my mouth when I took a bite out of it. It was then I arrived at the temple and began my long walk up to the top as I enjoyed my mango and stopped from time to time to turn back and enjoy the view of the jungle. As I ascended the stairs I listened to the sound of the birds and the peace that I was currently enjoying but it was these times of peace that made me worry. It was these times that made me nervous about what was coming since when things are peaceful they come to an end with a major issue, normally in the form of a monster for me to do battle with. I reached the top and turned to face the jungle and smiled at the view as the suns light shone down on the lush green trees. I turned back into the room and made my way inside before collapsing on the couch letting out a sigh as I said.
"I've got to savor the times like these since there's no telling when I'll be dealing with some sort of monster or crazed mad person bent on domination." I chuckled at the memories until a voice behind me said.
"That time may come sooner than you may think Hiccup." I quickly jumped up from the couch as I released my star sword while turning around to point it at the owner of the voice. "Easy there Hiccup I'm not here to cause trouble." When I saw who it was I lowered my sword and bowed since it was none other than the Greek god Hermes.
"To what do I owe the honor of a visit from the messenger of the Greek gods?"
"Okay first of all stand up and face me because this talk is going to take a while and if you keep bowing like that it's going to really do some damage to your back." I stood up facing him and then noticed the look in his eyes making me sigh.
"I take it this isn't a pleasure visit."
"You're sharp as ever Hiccup which is good because you're going to need it with what's happened." I had a feeling this wasn't good so I poured myself some nectar I had in a jug on the table and lifted the glass to my lips as I asked.
"What's going on that's so bad you had come and get me?" I began sipping my drink when he screamed.
"CRONUS HAS ESCAPED FROM TARTARUS!" Hearing this i spat out my drink in shock and began coughing. "Yeah Zeus did the same thing when I told him."
"Can you blame him?" I coughed once more. "Not only is Tatarus meant to be inescapable but Cronus is said to be one of its most powerful and cruel inmates."
"Yeah, I know."
"How the in Midgard did this happen?"
"He made a deal with the furies who've grown tired of just being the gods assassins, so in return for helping Cronus escape they were promised power, knowledge, prestige and anything they desire whatsoever."
"Alright that explains how he got out but why haven't the gods done anything to stop them?"
"We can't, they've gotten their hands on an ancient jewel that prevents us from getting near them and if we try then we'll be captured and enslaved." He sighed. "That's why I was sent to let you know what's happening and get your help." I put my cup down.
"But what could I do against a titan?"
"Hiccup you think the only modification to your star sword was the ability to sink the blade into the hilt?" I raised an eyebrow. "That sword is imbued with some of the power of all the Greek gods and might be the only thing capable of defeating Cronus and besides you've gone up against massive threats before so you've got more experience than the amazons did." I looked up hearing this.
"The Amazons?"
"Yeah, Cronus and his army attacked them first and they fought back hard but it ended badly for the amazons." I stared at him.
"Define badly!"
"Well they put up a good fight but they ended up losing with only a few of them managing to escape the same fate as their sisters."
"What was their fate?" I raised my hands. "Please tell me they haven't been-"
"No they're still alive but sadly imprisoned till he decides what to do with them." I put my cup down
"Alright Hermes could you tell me what I'll be up against if I fight?"
"Oh Kronos and the furies aren't holding back in their plans for conquest and have gathered some pretty powerful creatures for their army." I gestured for him to go on. "We're talking Cyclops and giants trampling the soldiers, Sirens patrolling the waters to prevent help from coming in, harpies soaring and swooping down on victims, undead soldiers marching across the field and minotaur's charging in." He sighed. "And if that's not bad enough this old group that worships kronos has joined his forces."
"Sound like he's really pulled out all the stops but how will I be able to stop him?"
"As I said before that starsword of yours will be able to hurt him but it'll also transfer his remains to a chest Hephaestus is forging as we speak but until then we need you to help the people hold back his forces."
I sat down and looked at the ground as I went over what I've just been told since it really was a lot to take in. The titan cronus has being released, the furies are helping him, they had some jewel that prevents the gods from facing them, they have an army of monsters under his command, he's already taken care of the amazons who were some of the most fiercest warriors I had ever met, the gods wanted me to take Cronus and his army on and from what I could tell this could be the toughest fight of my life. I mean I have been up against some powerful opponents in the past but I've never been up against a titan let alone an army of monsters and although I had my own army of Anubis warriors, dragons and the skeleton warriors I could grow from Damen's teeth would it be enough. All in all I didn't know if I'd be able to do this but if I didn't all of Greece was doomed and so would everyone in it. I was broken out of my thoughts when Hermes said.
"It's a lot to take in I know but we really do need your help."
"Hermes I admit I've gone up against some tough odds in the past but this time I'm not so sure I can do this since Cronus might be too powerful for me to face."
"Yeah but with you there the people have something that Cronus has been destroying the second he broke out." I raised an eyebrow. "Hope that they'll live to see a Greece that's free from the control of monsters." I looked down at my lap.
"I just don't think me and my dragons will be able to do this alone." Hermes sighed.
"Who says you'll fight alone?" I looked up at him. "Hiccup in Greece you are a symbol of strength and a hero to boot." He placed a hand on my shoulder. "In other words you are an inspiration to the people and I know you can inspire them to fight back and with you leading the charge those beasts won't stand a chance."
"Alright Hermes but I'm going to need information on what's happened in Greece with Cronus." He smiled.
"What do you need to know?"
Nightfall
I had spent over an hour questioning Hermes about everything I needed to know about Cronus and the forces he commanded. So far only the Amazons and Sparta had fallen along with every small town, farm, trading post and traveler that crossed their paths. He was able to show me images of what they'd done and I was most definitely going to be having nightmares about the carnage they've left behind but the thing that worried me was that there were no human bodies. I shudder at the thought to what those beasts may have done with the bodies but it made me all the more determined to stop Cronus and his forces. Hermes informed me the chest that would capture Cronus's remains would be completed within ten days but until then the people of Greece needed a hero to give them hope and I was that hero. Once I got all the information I needed I immediately began preparing for my travels. At first I wanted to use my portal door to go through immediately and begin fighting but Hermes held me back telling me that Cronus could sense when the portals are being used so he'd know I was there and advised me to sail there with supplies to help out the people so I'd be able to help and catch Cronus by surprise. I agreed with him and immediately got to work on preparing my ship from the dwarves by loading it with materials, food and barrels of water along with so much more items I'd more than likely need in this fight.
The toughest part however was explaining everything to my dad who was as I suspected beyond against it but I made him his favorite meal and told him the news when he was most comfortable. Sitting down in his chair after dinner while rubbing his then full belly with one hand and drinking a goblet of mead with his other and I made sure this mead was from Valhalla or else he might have yelled so loud they could hear him in Valhalla. I tried explaining that if I didn't do it then chances are Cronus would eventually come to Berk and we'd all be doomed. When that didn't work I just grabbed him by the beard and pulled him down to my face before yelling that he couldn't stop me and if he tried I personally castrate him with my bare hands. That got my point across since he told me to just be careful and that at that moment he could have sworn my mother was back since she was the sweetest woman on Berk but when she was angry then Odin help the one she was mad at. He once tried to train me when I first opened and she did something that made it impossible to walk normal for three weeks which he spent sleeping outside and at least twenty feet away from my crib. It took him a ten foot written apology, three flower bouquets, a jeweled necklace with matching bracelet, cleaning the hut from top to bottom along with stomaching three plates of her meat balls before he was allowed near me again. I would've paid my entire fortune to see my father brought to his knees like that by a single woman but then again I would happily trade it all in to just get the opportunity to meet my mother. I know I could've met her in Valhalla but for some reason I was told I couldn't meet her there but I was never told why since when I asked all I was told is I'd know when the times right, but it still bothered me. Now I was standing on the top of my ships deck with the armory full of weapons including a quiver full of hydra blood arrows and multiple bags of Damen's teeth, the storage holds filled to the brim with food, water and other supplies and a few of the dragons that were coming with me. These dragons consisted of Sear along with a small group of five other singetails who had the best aim with their shots in the air, Bellow and my shadow wings, Boulder, Reaper, Coral, Bones, Angel, Phantom, Heatwave, Sahara, Saber, Lightning, Thora, Slasher, Greta, Zap and Ray. All of them were wearing their armor and were all ready to fight to the bitter end but I prayed it wouldn't come to that.
I also decided to bring Plutarch as well since I had the feeling I'd need him for this battle if there were harpies. I informed my animals about what was happening and didn't want me to go while the dragons who were staying behind were the same but I told them that if I didn't then chances are we'd all be doomed in a matter of days. After this they tried to board but I stopped them before I told them that I needed them to stay and look after the island if I didn't come back but if I was successful in taking Cronus down I'd come straight back to the island using the portal door to let them know. When I finished telling them this I boarded my ship covered in slobber from both my dragons and animals. I looked at the fading form of my island for what might be the last time and sighed as I said.
"May every god I've ever known watch over me in this coming battle." And with that I looked towards the summit for what be my greatest challenge.
AN: Hey all I'm sorry the chapter is so short but I'm saving up for the next chapter and as you can tell the next few are going to be pretty action packed with some major battles. I hope you like them and keep in mind I'm doing the best I can with these battles and these chapters. If you have any requests for what you want to see in future chapters just let me know through a PM.
