When Hiccup came to, he immediately felt a shock of pain rush from his kneecaps to the top of his head. He groaned and lifted his head off the ground, before pushing the upper half of his body up to rest on his elbows.
His eyes roamed around the area, and that was when he noticed the Dragon's Five. They all stared down at him in shock. Well, all except Astrid, that is, who only frowned disapprovingly at him.
Hiccup moved his head around and blinked a few times in an attempt to clear the dust from his eyes. He then saw the staff. The bottom end of it had been thrust a foot away from his face, and the hand that gripped it was shaking profusely.
"Umm..." he stuttered.
In that moment, like a hammer blow to the head, Hiccup realized where he was, and he scurried back onto his bottom, staring up at the man with the staff with wide eyes.
"Oh gods...I, uh, I...I'm so sorry...I just wanted to see, uh, who the Dragon Warrior was. I didn't mean any harm, or, um, d-disrespect, I promise!" Hiccup continued to scoot back, and his pale complexion turned into a deep red.
"So fascinating," the old man with the staff said, looking at Hiccup with a gleam in his eyes.
"Master, in all respect, can we continue?" Astrid asked. Hiccup glanced back at her and swallowed, hard.
"It's him," the old man said.
"Wha-?" Hiccup stood up on shaky legs, and the staff followed his movements.
"You."
"Me?" Hiccup squeaked out, pointing to himself.
The old man stepped forward, grabbed Hiccup's forearm, and held his hand up in the air. "The gods have presented us with the Dragon Warrior!" he announced to the astounded crowd.
"What?!" Hiccup shouted.
All of the Dragon's Five members' mouths flopped open in disbelief, and Viggo pushed past his students and shook his head at Old Wrinkly.
"No!" Gobber, who had forced his way in through the gate just in time to hear the announcement, called out.
One of the Viking guards blew the horn, and the crowd began to cheer. Hiccup watched, mouth hanging open and eyes wide, as his brain had a hard time contemplating what had just taken place.
He was forced out of his dream-like thoughts when he felt gentle hands grab his arms and lift him up onto a wooden throne, and four guards slowly lifted it up onto their shoulders, one at each corner, then began to walk towards the gate.
"Stop!" Viggo called out through the cheering of the crowd, as he elbowed his way to Old Wrinkly. "That little nobody can't possibly be the answer to our problem! You were about to point at Astrid before he fell in front of her!"
"Don't mess with fate, my friend," Old Wrinkly simply stated before hobbling away.
Viggo watched him leave with a scowl, then a sudden presence behind him made him turn around, and all his attention was trained on the Dragon's Five, his students, all bowing before him in respect.
"Forgive us, Master Grimborn. We have failed you," Astrid stated, lowly.
"No." Viggo spoke softly, in contrast to how he was feeling. He gestured for them to stand, and they did so. "If that accident isn't gone by morning, I will have failed you."
A/N: So, as of now, I don't have anymore written on the document that I had been writing this story on. I never thought I was going to post it when I started writing it, so I didn't think to continue further than this.
Because of that, it may take me longer than usual to post later chapters, because instead of simply editing (which I had been doing before), I will now be writing it, then going back and re-reading and editing it. I promise that I will finish this story though! So don't worry about that!
Thank you to all you who followed/favorited this story! It honestly really means a lot to me as an aspiring author!
Stay healthy and safe, and God bless!
-UnknownHTTYDFan