Hello, everyone! It has been a very long time, hasn't it? Almost a year. Well, the thing is that I haven't written anything for this story and the only reason I can put out new chapters is because they're already done. The ending is NOT done, unfortunately, but it won't be long and it's only a matter of laziness and lack of motivation on my part. I really need to get my current fics done and I want to. I gave myself until the end of the year to finish at least two out of three current projects.
So, unless I wasn't clear, which I'm pretty sure I wasn't, this story is a retelling of the second movie with the added bonus of Hiccup running away before he faced the Monstrous Nightmare in the ring, ending up in Earthland and becoming a Fairy Tail Wizard. He and Toothless have faced and killed the Green/Red Death. It was mostly an accident on their part, they just wanted to see it but they were spotted and things escalated. That was the flashback in the first chapter.
And yes, Berk has dragons now. How that came to be? You'll see. Did Valka returned? Who knows?
Now, knowledge of Fairy Tail is not necessary. There are mentions and nods but nothing big. Well… except the major end-of-the-series spoilers in future chapters. But I will warn you when it happens. The Midgard-Earthland connection will be explained later on… basically, a lot of things will make sense later on. I'm the kinda writer who doesn't like to have loose ends. If by the end, there are things that still confuse you it will be because either they escaped my notice or I didn't explain them well enough.
In any case, do enjoy this chapter!
EDIT: 5/10/2020 – More paragraphs; sentence structuring; smoother dialogue.
Chapter 4: Lacrima
Wisteria Town was a secluded settlement with a population that Hiccup estimated to be at least twice as large as Berk. Most people have lived there their whole lives but in the following month since Hiccup started to be 'trained' by Toothless, they made many trips there and noticed a constant flow of new people. Most of those crowds focused on the beach and the impressively build landscape along the cliffs with its wooden lodges and structures excavated into the stone massif. The village itself was built on the top with winding pathways dug into the rock that led to the beach below.
Hiccup was relieved that the place was as populated as it was since it reduced the chances of anyone recognizing him from his previous failed attempt at theft. And that thought was quite painful to swallow. Never in his wildest dreams had Hiccup ever considered himself in such a position. Sure the idea crossed his mind while running away with Toothless but the notion of a flying, fire breathing reptile always by his side has mostly cleared up the issue of supplies. He could go anywhere and constantly be protected and the woods have been a resource since Gods knew how long.
But in their current situation what they needed above all else was information. And said flying, fire breathing reptile was a hard no.
Toothless said he was getting better in his stealth training. Hiccup was quick to show him the new bruises. Maybe he was too harsh with himself, but Hiccup hardly thought that leaping on boulders or standing still would help him if he was caught. It was a moot point anyway, since the dragon insisted on a test drive. Which was why the two of them were hiding near the side of the only road leading to the town. (Beside the railway, a technological marvel that had Hiccup drooling the first time he saw it.)
The former heir had to freshen up a bit before coming. The sight of someone who obviously spent a lot of days in the wild would have drawn too much attention. Not that he could do much about it. He washed up as well as he could in the nearby river, put his hair in a low ponytail – he was afraid of losing his fingers if he tried to cut it – and for the first time, actually tried on new clothes.
That he grabbed from some houses that lived further away from the town.
He wasn't exactly proud of himself but Hiccup was infinitely grateful for not wearing the same things for months anymore, especially since they were getting smaller. He settled for something simple, a pair of dark brown pants, his old furry boots – which were getting tighter – and a long cream tunic with a 'v' collar. He had to bunch up the sleeves to his elbows since they were longer but his mood improved tenfold.
Until Toothless pushed him to go.
Hiccup tried to relax. He hiked the small bag up on his shoulder, thankful he had it on him just to dig his nails into. From Toothless' experience in the Nest, the more nervous you were, the more obvious you were hiding something. And that was one of the things that gave him away the last time. He hoped with everything he had that some of the stuff Toothless told him stuck in his brain.
He was walking down the main road, at evening. The small boulder fence flanked the entrance to Wisteria, nothing intimidating or defense worthy, just an indication that pointed out the limits of the town. Next to it was a stone carving depicting its name that was decorated with plentiful blue flowers. It was humble but pretty to look at and it made Hiccup smile at the care.
He tried to look as natural as possible. He was a simple traveler. Always on the road, he was there only to see the sights of the coastal town. The more he walked, the more crowded it got. The road changed to pavement, a nice, clean cubic pattern, and the small buildings became more elaborate. Flowers and leafy plants were hanging from windows with colorful shutters and people were watching and talking from small balconies. It was all very cozy and so different from the archipelago.
Hiccup slowly moved away from the area and towards a more tourist heavy side of the city. It was rather easy to spot the foreigners and, along with their large number, the various stalls with trinkets and curiosities displayed and in easy reach.
He felt his anxiety spike at the sight. He kept an easy, calm pace as he surveyed the street, eyes never staying for too long on something. He mentally checked his list again: map, first and most important; he wasn't very confident he could swipe food yet so he wasn't even going there, but some materials to improvise a bow could work, like twine; paper and something to write, Gods he needed that!
He still had some tools left, albeit bent or rusted from their travel there. But he made sure his dagger was at least in good condition. There was no way for him to make another saddle without a proper workspace and he wasn't familiar with this place to know if they had something like a blacksmith shop, so anything for that was another no.
His feet carried him for a few more minutes, pausing once in a while to check the booths. It wasn't until he was closer to the edge of the cliff when a man caught his attention. As well as everyone else's in the area.
He was huge, as tall as his father but slimmer, though the ragged black cloak hid his impressive physique, visible whenever he stumbled. He was giggling drunkenly and the crowd parted to let him through, giving him a wide berth due to his waving hands. Years of hanging around intoxicated, violent Vikings made Hiccup immune to such a sight, so he went on his way, ignoring the man's ramblings and missteps.
He passed by him and wanted to check a good map that caught his eye, when a boom shook the ground behind him. Hiccup jumped around to see the source of the explosion and found the man, scratching his head at the table laying pulverized at his feet. The street was stunned for a second before the whispering took over. And the seller began yelling at the man.
Hiccup blinked confused, and then moved closer. He wasn't sure what happened but from what he was hearing, the guy momentarily leaned on the stall and then it broke apart into tiny pieces. He looked closely at him. He was so smashed, his face was as red as his hair. And he also had no idea what was going on, judging by the blank stare he was giving the stallholder. The poor vender was getting just as red in the face when the cloaked man started laughing again, waving his hands as if brushing away the whole thing. Hiccup continued to watch the odd exchange.
"Honestly, who goes around wielding such dangerous magic while drunk?"
"I know, right? What if it was a person?"
"Think we should tell somebody?"
"I dunno, there aren't many wizards around this parts. A knight maybe?"
The constant mumble of the people swept Hiccup's attention away from the two. Magic? Wizards? What was everybody talking about? He fought to remain quiet and continued to listen. The man was now paying for the damage, eyes squinting at the paper notes and checking again and again if he had everything right, to the seller's annoyance.
In that moment, Hiccup forgot what he came to the town for. His focus was entirely on the man, the wizard, haggling for the broken table and making as much sense as an intoxicated person would. When he finally turned to leave, and the people opened a path for him, Hiccup followed. Why? He had no idea, but his curiosity was picked.
/\\\
Hiccup followed Drago, ignoring the ball of apprehension twisting in his gut. They left the docks and moved onto frozen land. The fort was built in the glacier and held only carved holes for supplies and storage from what Hiccup could tell. Chains and cages rattled endlessly as they passed. Drago didn't stop, instead leading him to a cavern near a humongous, metal ship where his quarters likely were.
He took a deep breath of chilly air and decided to dive right in. "So, what's with all the dragons?"
The man didn't give any indication that he heard but Hiccup knew better. They almost reached the ship when Drago spoke, soft and gravelly. "To bring peace, one must go to extremes sometimes."
"By using violence?"
The older slayer glanced back at him, blue eyes cold. "That is Viking custom, is it not?"
"Just because we celebrate the battle doesn't mean that everything revolves around it." Hiccup tried to keep his tone as polite as he could.
"True. But everyone tends to listen more intently with something hanging over their heads." They stepped inside the tunnel and Hiccup shook away the claustrophobic feeling setting in. "Being at war for centuries brought the tribes of the Archipelago to a non-aggression pact. A tentative peace that went away when the Queen of the nest was slayed."
He breathed sharply in.
"I am interested in your tale, son of Stoick." Drago stopped at a thick curtain, using his uncovered right hand to open the entrance. Hiccup watched him carefully for a second before going in. The room was cool, as with everything else. There were fur and scale rugs covering the walls and floors and a desk with a chair on the far side.
"So am I in yours." He said, pulling his attention back to the man and to a matter that was nagging him. "Do you happen to know my father?"
Drago smirked. "Not officially." He ambled around him to his desk. "I once tried to go about this differently, you see. A long time ago, I met with the Chieftains of the Barbaric Tribes. The dragons were a threat to them, but not to me." They looked at each other in understanding. "I offered my services, naturally not for free. They denied me. Ridiculed me. So I killed them all."
Hiccup held his breath. The air changed into a tense stalemate. "Not all of them."
"Apparently not."
"So why did you want to talk to me then?" Hiccup asked. His feet shifted to a ready stance, a move which did not go unnoticed.
"I have no intention of killing you, boy." The 'unless you push me' went unsaid. "I have some things to ask you."
Hiccup nodded obediently. "Likewise."
Drago regarded him coldly before returning the nod. "How long have you practiced dragon magic?"
Hiccup saw no reason to lie. "About six years." And somehow, that was the wrong thing to say. Drago's face darkened.
"Any… odd changes?"
Hiccup suddenly felt on edge. His instincts were flaring, and he learned to listen to them. "Except the motion sickness? No." Again, wrong answer. The man was visibly getting more bothered.
"The beast that taught you. Where is it?"
Screw his instincts. That was one step too far. "He is gone. Where are you going with this?"
Drago laughed. A hysteric, unamused laugh that sent ice trickling down his spine. "You are the only one I've ever come across." He hissed quietly. "And you're useless." The next thing Hiccup knew the table was crashing in the wall. "Nothing you say? There is nothing different?"
He stepped away. Drago was spitting mad. His jaw was clenched, veins popping along his neck, eyes shaded with such wrath and his magic. Hiccup was getting nauseous with every second of tasting that foul aura.
"This is NOT NOTHING!" He snarled, ripping the cloak off. Hiccup stopped dead in surprise. The left arm, Drago's left arm, was a mismatch of skin and dark-gray scales. The merging tissues continued down his shoulder until it completely shifted to scales, covering his hand and ending with black claws for fingers. "This was intentional! A curse from those vile monsters that Stoick loves so much!"
Hiccup was too stunned to make any sense of his words.
"And then you come here! Someone who could share this pain and say nothing's wrong!" Drago brandished his changed hand in front of Hiccup's face. "WHY? Six years was enough for me, why not you?" The man stopped, huffing with absolute rage. Hiccup retreated to the wall next to the entrance, his gaze never straying from the arm.
"I–I don't… I don't know – "
Drago growled. His claws grabbed Hiccup's shoulder and slammed him in the wall. The wizard couldn't do anything more than gasp and unconsciously clench his hand around the appendage.
"WHAT DID STOICK DO?"
"W-What?"
"What did Stoick do to stop you from changing?" Hiccup winced when cold magic started to seep into his clothes.
"Ngh! I-I've no idea – what you're, ugh, talking about!"
There was ice forming around the claws wrapped around his shoulder. Drago wasn't budging no matter how much pressure Hiccup put on him. He didn't want to start a fight there, in an enclosed space that might be coming down on them at one wrong move. He had to get out.
Drago wasn't somebody to take 'no' for an answer though. The rumbling growl echoed in the room and he pushed him further into the ice, the faint cracklings of the wall going ignored as Hiccup forced his own magic to fight back against the coldness in his arm.
"He sent you, didn't he?" Hiccup spared him a puzzled glance. "He sent you to kill me! He made you like me so you could kill me and have me out of the way!"
"W-Who are you talking – "
"STOICK! Why else would he be alive?"
He was mad. In every sense of the word. Hiccup tensed his arms and pulled down. Drago's claws slid off him with cracking ice and the younger wizard didn't stop until he was crouched and ready to leap, all the way on the other side of the room. The temperature plummeted. Every breath came with a puff of mist as both of them stopped to take in the other. Magic swirled invisibly around them, though the growing casing of ice on Drago's arm betrayed the shakiness of their standoff.
The lack of heat wasn't bothering Hiccup that much but he wasn't inclined to stay in it for long. The doorway was to Drago's right. No matter how fast he was, there was a high chance that Drago would draw the ice up and either impale him or cover the exit entirely. If he would use a shield to protect himself, he would still be covered by the small avalanche in the tunnel. He had to get Drago away from that spot and use the opening to run.
"I wasn't sent here by anyone!" He said clearly. Drago huffed, unimpressed. "I left Berk, I left my father seven years ago. I have nothing to do with them anymore."
"Then why?" He dropped the bull hook into the floor angrily. "Why isn't it affecting you? It's supposed to happen to all who learn dragon magic!"
Hiccup's eyed widened. "Who-Who told you that?"
"The monster that cursed me!" Drago spat. At his stunned silence, the man sneered. "What's wrong? Did your beast hide that from you?" He scoffed. "It doesn't matter anymore. Once all dragons are under my control the world will not have to live in fear of them." He eyed Hiccup, that spark of madness shining with a glint of cunning. "You could help me, boy! With your power and reach we could have the tribes bow to us with hardly any bloodshed. We are the true Dragon Masters, not those wannabes playing riders."
Hiccup leaned back on his heels. "We could. But I have the feeling you're not the sharing kind of guy." He smirked at Drago's grimace.
"You're right! I don't share with people that lie to my face. There is something you're not telling me. I'm not speaking about the changing! The masked man that was with you. I could smell the magic around him. Different, but still magic. Where is he from?"
Maybe Hiccup was growing tired of the conversation, or Drago's mood swings, or he just had problems with listening to strong, buff men in positions of authority. Nevertheless, he didn't feel sorry when he blurted out. "Did your beast hide that from you?"
/\\\
After Hiccup and Drago left the docks, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"What in the name of Hel was that?" Yelled Tuffnut.
"That was my boss." Eret winced, both from the pain and the close call.
The twins looked at each other. "Wicked."
Eret grumbled under his breath at them before turning to his crew. "Anyway – "
"How do you know Hiccup?"
The trapper groaned. The blonde was again all up in his face and demanding. Ignoring the 'Back off, Astrid', from the other girl, Eret sneered down at her. "I don't have to tell you anything. Alright boys, let's get these dragons aboard."
The sailors who didn't take a dip in the ocean moved to the carts of submissive looking dragons. Others grabbed the Vikings, hauling them without any patience left towards the fort. There were grunts and curses and far too slow of a progress for Eret's liking. Still frowning and with his mood diving, he stayed behind to wait for Mystogan.
"Any chance you'll explain that episode?" He griped.
The cloaked man shrugged. "It's not my story to tell."
"Oh, for the love of – I'm not familiar with the goings-on of the Archipelago, but I'm gonna take a wild guess and say that Hiccup is from the same tribe as those muttonheads."
It was a bit unnerving how there was no reaction from the man. He merely closed his eyes. "Hiccup willingly chose to leave his tribe a long time ago. He has no connection to them anymore."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! The only reason we came was to meet Drago Bludvist. That's all." They looked at each other for several long seconds.
Eret finally nodded. "Okay. I'm the one who brought you here, so if things go south the blame will fall on me. You get that, right?" Adding a bit of his cheerful charm, the tension begun to ease, although Mystogan averted his eyes briefly. "So I count on you to behave and not piss anyone off, okay?" The mysterious man wordlessly agreed after a beat.
They were approaching a large, metal battleship. Beside it, was the ever-present spot of bubbling water. Eret didn't know what could possibly be down there but few things were impossible for Drago Bludvist, he learned. The procession climbed the bridges to the wide deck and Eret was again giving orders.
Mystogan stayed behind, watching as the men worked. The Vikings were putting up a fight once more, so the wizard decided to stick close to them. He approached one of the steel domes where the sailors were pushing a dragon, and that was closest to where the group was.
"Do you think Hiccup is fine?" Rein asked quietly.
She was trying not to panic, and the laid-back talk they had after getting off of Eret's ship made her relax a bit. Of course, her peace of mind was shattered once Drago came into the picture but she really was trying not to melt into a panic attack, and Mystogan appreciated her resolve.
"Hiccup is a powerful wizard. And if there is one thing I trust him with is not to start a senseless battle."
"He seemed very agitated by that man." It spoke about Drago's presence that Hiccup took so long to compose himself that even Rein noticed.
"There is something odd about his magic, yes."
"He's evil." The haunted look in her dark green eyes looking up at him said it all. She was clearly reminded by something, something not very pleasant if Mystogan read her concerned demeanor correctly. As much as he wanted to ask, he refrained, and focused back on the men dragging the bound creature inside the dome and the Vikings in the hold.
"Whatever it is, I trust Hiccup to control himself."
"Do you?" She blinked dubiously at him, whatever was bothering her, forgotten.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know. But when you talked to Eret you were, uh, nervous?" Mystogan had to give the little cat some credit. Yes, he was nervous, but not for Hiccup's safety.
"It's just that… Fairy Tail wizards tend to be over the top." He wasn't the type of person to stumble on his words, but describing his magic guild to someone who barely knew what was going on in the world was difficult. Especially since she had no margin to compare to, and Fairy Tail was something one had to see in order to believe. "Fairy Tail wizards are recognizable, a lot more than others in fact, but for the wrong reasons. Kind of."
Rein blinked confused eyes at him. "You mean, for bad stuff?"
"No, nothing like that! Well, it depends on where you stand."
"I don't get it."
"Just you wait." Mystogan breathed. He hoped it wouldn't get to that. But no matter how little collateral damage Hiccup did on his missions compared to his fellow guild mates, it was still collateral damage. The prince might have done his best to stay away from the guild hall but he was still paying attention to the news.
Yes, Hiccup was just as reserved as he was. And he was very careful and intelligent. It was one of the reasons why he was so successful even working solo. But Mystogan was starting to call it the 'Fairy Tail effect', because no matter how well one does in the beginning, everyone succumbs to their guild's penchant for destruction. He, himself, wasn't an exception. And neither was Hiccup.
And as if the universe was proving him right, a cave further away from their ship exploded in a rain of ice and steam. Everybody stopped what they were doing. Eret was already at the railing and watching the glacier crack and fall apart in bewilderment.
Mystogan touched Rein's arm under the cloak, suddenly very alert.
"Do you think you can release those guys?"
The cat looked at him like he was crazy. "Now? Wasn't I supposed to stay hidden?"
Mystogan frowned. "I think we're beyond that."
"O-Okay then." With some reluctance, she jumped down, running as fast as she could to the door where the Vikings and the sailors stopped. With everyone's attention towards the glacier they missed the small figure darting underfoot.
"I will see your end with my own eyes! YOURS AND YOUR FATHER'S!" Drago's roar was like a shower of cold water for all of them. Mystogan joined Eret at the railing, along with the majority of his crew. The ground exploded in a white avalanche and their faces were assaulted by a freezing wind and bits of sharp, flying ice.
The wizard noticed, between shielding himself and watching the trappers gawk, that the Vikings were pretty much left alone and that Rein had already started untying them. And then he saw Hiccup. He was shooting out of the storm like a bullet, straight for the ship. As the snow settled, they could make out Drago's shape further back.
"DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!"
Mystogan grimaced. Eret turned to him incredulous.
"You said – "
"I'm sorry! You were very nice to us so don't take this the wrong way." His elbow snapped up, nailing Eret under the chin again. With a choking sound, the older boy fell back, his attack going unseen due to the much more frightening spectacle ahead. A shriek behind him cause him to turn in panic. It wasn't Rein, but the blonde woman with a helmet was rushing towards him – no wait, towards the unconscious man he just hit.
"Eret, son of Eret, have no fear, my dear! I am certified in the medicinal ways!"
Before he could blink, the short black haired boy was dragging her back. "Are you crazy, we gotta get our dragons!"
"Don't stand in the way of love!"
"What love, he's the enemy!"
"But oh, the tragedy of war is never ending!" The other helmeted blonde, which Mystogan now noticed was a male, probably siblings, appeared next to them, waving his hands dramatically. "For such is the fate of star-crossed lovers! Thy end!"
The girl heaved a melodramatic sob. "No, thine beginning!"
"We don't have time for this, you numbskulls!" The shorter boy screamed.
The ship suddenly lurched. The water at the front rolled all the way to the deck, splashing the domes, the crossbows and the cannons littering the space. Everybody tried to stay on their feet while the ship pitched, the chains holding it down grinding with the force of the movement.
"MYSTOGAN!" The wizard in question stumbled back to the railing. He had to suppress a smile at his friend's unwillingness to get on board. "GET EVERYBODY IN THE AIR!"
"Hiccup?" The black haired boy was next to him, looking down at Hiccup with a mixt of amazement, confusion and anger.
He could see the conflict in Hiccup's eyes before the collapsing ice caught his attention. "GO! NOW!"
The Viking gulped when Drago revealed himself, growling and swinging his bull-hook and sending more ice spears flying through the air.
"That would be a good idea." Mystogan said and he heard a squeak next to him which he chose to mean agreement.
The two took a hold of the twins who were fussing and/or poking at Eret and stumbled their way towards the rest of the group and Rein. The cat was clinging to the bigger Viking, who also clung to her and looked seconds away from a mental breakdown. As the vessel finally settled over the rowdy waves the other girl, who Mystogan assumed was the leader, released the last of their dragons.
"Hiccup said we should get in the air." She and him made eye contact and her face clouded over with too many emotions to identify on the spot.
The wizard didn't let anything betray his anxiety and instead stepped closer to the blond young man and stretched his arm for Rein. The boy yelped when the cat jumped out of his arms and perched on Mystogan's shoulder.
The fierce woman nodded. "Get in the saddle and shut your traps unless you want me to do it myself."
Mystogan couldn't say he disapproved of her tactic considering the speed at which everyone, including the twins, obeyed. The short young man from earlier told him to get on his dragon. Mystogan nodded and leaped on its back, behind the wings, and gripped one of the dorsal spines flowing into its tail. With another shout from the woman, all four dragons and their riders were safe in the embrace of the sky.
"Wait! What about Hiccup?" The plump young man on an even plumper dragon said.
The leader of the group scowled. "What about him?"
"Would you just give it a rest, Astrid?" The black haired rider glared at her.
The wizard decided to intervene. "This is not a good time for this. We need to get out of here before the whole cave collapses."
The falling bits of ceiling were immediately noticed and the group swerved around them, but remained in the same general spot. The blonde, Astrid, growled in a manner unbecoming of a woman, and then she dived back to the fort, calling over her shoulder. "Fine! Go ahead!"
/\\\
She was in a bad mood. There were no words to describe how much she wanted to turn Stormfly around and let that idiot die for good. Everything was such a mess, and to make it even more chaotic, as was his meaning in life, Hiccup had to reemerge from whatever rock he's been hiding under and tangle the situation even worse. Whatever sliver of hurt and happiness she felt when she first laid eyes on him was squashed, flattened, completely vaporized by the realization that he left! He abandoned them! His father, his tribe, his birthright! That was a coward's choice and she would never let him forget that. Ever!
She gritted her teeth as the wind blew ice powder in her face. Her eyes blinked the tears away but she urged her dragon to go faster, deeper into the raging storm beneath. She heard beastly snarls and shattering crashes but her view remained white and cold, until a sudden gust of air almost threw her off her saddle.
She swallowed the scream and her hands clutched the reins tighter. The snow was clearing a bit and that was all she needed. Stormfly might as well have read her mind because she pounced without any input from her. There was a fleeting spot of green on white and then they were going up. She took joy in that almost silent gasp.
It didn't even take two seconds for them to fly away from the fort, and away from the shade of the cavern. The rest of the group was waiting up ahead, in the clouds, and Astrid guided Stormfly in their direction but not before smirking viciously. She patted the dragon's neck and hummed as if asking for her opinion. The Nadder thrilled back.
A jerk of powerful legs and Hiccup was thrown up. The scream was beyond satisfying and if Astrid had less control over herself she might have doubled over in laughter. Stormfly kicked off below him and he landed behind Astrid. The sudden yank on her hood wasn't even enough to dull her grin.
"I sincerely hope you're in a better mood now." He complained.
"Marginally better."
She heard him shuffle behind her before one armored hand lightly held her shoulder. She guessed he wasn't doing more than that and rightfully so. As the dredges of her small revenge faded, they joined the others and she motioned for them to follow.