A/N: So, some information about this story for anyone who cares: It will be very long. By all rights, I should be breaking it up into multiple stories, but I want all my stats in one place so I'm not gonna do that :) I said a long time ago that this story would be separated into arcs. There will be four, each serving its own main plot. The first follows the introduction of Hiccup's life, his first visit to Berk, and his battle with the Red Queen, very loosely tying in with events from the first movie. The second arc will be Hiccup and Toothless' discovery of more Night Furies. The third arc will showcase a lot of the plot lines from the second movie: Hiccstrid; Stoick and Valka reuniting; dealing with Drago and his Bewilderbeast, etc. The fourth arc is still mostly undecided and not really important right now, so I'll save info about that for another day. Seeing as I'm over 100,000 words already and I'm not nearly finished with the first arc, you can understand why I tell you this will be a long story. Just thought I'd share some of my intentions for those who are curious to where the heck this story is heading.
Anyway, enjoy the new chapter! :))
NobodyHimOrMe - Thanks so much! Sorry that you have to reread it. If it's any consolation, I also have to reread a lot of it every time I start a new chapter so I can remember what's happened so far. Irritating, indeed.
Lucasdiaz9000 - You basically guessed all the points on my outline, very well done lol ;))
galahsrock - Thank you! I always love seeing your reviews! They make me feel like a decent writer.
malachib871 - Happy New Year! I need to make a resolution to update more often. At this rate, my story won't be finished until I'm 80.
HICCUP'S POV
Toothless must've felt the sudden influx of rage that coiled my muscles like a spring, since he immediately reacted to the change. He pressed closer to me, lowering his head as if preparing for a fight right there. His teeth flashed at Gobber threateningly, mistaking him for the target of my anger, but his gaze flickered to me every few seconds, waiting for my command. I had no doubt that if I asked him to attack, he'd find a way to break free of his chains to do so. Tempting as it might've been to unleash him upon our captors, I didn't want to risk any harm befalling him.
With that in mind, I breathed in deeply, attempting to rein in my emotions and think through my next steps strategically. Despite my epiphany, it was quite clear that Gobber was completely dumbfounded by the last few minutes. As he was my only apparent ally on the ship, it was prudent to keep him on my side. Having a panic attack in front of him didn't exactly help to accomplish anything useful.
*It's okay, Toothless. Stand down.* I told him, pressing a light hand to his nose. His posture relaxed immediately, though he remained glued to my side. Gobber mirrored his actions with a relieved exhale, lowering the hands—hand—he'd raised defensively.
"You alright there, laddie?" He inquired hesitantly, glancing over my form like he expected me to collapse at any moment. It would've been a fair assessment just a few seconds ago.
Now I stood tall, determined. "I'm fine," I insisted, proud when my voice came out even.
Gobber was unconvinced. "Really? I thought I was gonna have to catch you for a second there," he said pointedly.
"You said I was your only hope," I recalled, glossing over his statement like he hadn't spoken at all. "Did you mean it?"
Gobber frowned. "Yes…but you've made it quite clear that you don't intend to tell us where the nest is, so it's quite a foolish hope, I suppose," he remarked with a tinge of bitterness, but his words were quickly followed by a regretful wince. "Not that…I mean…" He sighed, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to put all our troubles on you. You're just a boy, after all. I know Stoick can be a little…" He trailed off, waving his hand around as he searched for the right description. "Well, you know." I held back a snort. I do indeed. "He's just always done his best to protect the tribe, and he can be a bit bull-headed in that regard."
"A bit?" I returned with a raised eyebrow.
Gobber's smile was almost sheepish. "Yes, well…I've always tried to look at things with a more clear mind…more objective mind. Sometimes that's what he needs. And I think this is one of those times. We can't force you to help us, Hiccup. This is our war, not yours." There was a calm resignation in his expression, but it was obvious how much the words pained him to admit. He didn't want to give up on the chance of ending the war any more than Stoick did.
I watched him silently for a few moments, unable to conceal my shock at his declaration, which wildly veered away from his Alpha's. It wasn't often I felt sympathy for a viking, but Gobber was simply too sincere to cast off as another violent brute. In the back of my mind, it occurred to me that we probably would've gotten along quite well in another life.
"I…I'll help," I said quietly, surprising myself even as my tongue formed the words.
It took Gobber so long to react that I began to wonder if I'd accidentally used thought-speak, and I opened my mouth to try again.
"What?" He blurted abruptly, practically gaping.
"I'll help," I repeated with a bit more confidence. "I'll help you find the dragon nest."
Gobber blinked. "You—But—I thought—" He spluttered, restless now; he shifted like he was torn between jumping for joy and lifting me into a bear hug. "You haven't been cooperative at all! Why the sudden change of heart?" He questioned. I scowled at his comment, but decided to let it slide. It was the truth, after all.
I hadn't wanted to do anything that would benefit them. They were vikings; they were the enemy. It only made sense to deny their demands. I'd spent my entire life fighting against them and their flawed beliefs regarding dragons. Why should I assist them in any way?
But now, knowing that monster was out there…that dragons and humans alike were suffering because of it… Surely it was my duty to try my best to put an end to it, for the sake of the dragons in its thrall, and the vikings that had been raided for hundreds of years because of it. Whatever my feelings toward humans, it wasn't in me to simply leave them to their fate when I had the opportunity to help end the war.
Besides, there was no chance in hell I was going to let it keep control of all those dragons, war or not. Toothless and I would have to face it again. And when that time came, it would be essential to have others fighting at my side. Even if that meant resorting to aligning with the vikings.
"I've just realized that we share the same goal, that's all," I answered with a shrug, crossing my arms.
"And what goal is that?" Gobber asked warily.
"Ending the war."
Gobber nodded slowly, considering my words. "Aye…'tis a noble cause, but you seemed quite adamant on keeping us away from the nest," he pointed out, somehow managing to prevent an ounce of suspicion from entering his tone, though I knew he must've felt it in some capacity.
"I don't trust you," I said bluntly, ignoring his slightly affronted yet highly amused expression as I continued, "I'd rather be anywhere than on a ship with a bunch of vikings, all of whom would love nothing more than to see my dragon dead, but I'm not stupid enough to deny the facts. We share a common enemy, and it is sitting in that nest. And it's too big and too powerful to defeat alone. We don't need to be friends. But we do need to work together. It's the only way we all get what we want," I finished firmly, lifting my chin.
Gobber seemed impressed by my conviction and was appraising me with new eyes. "Quite right," he noted thoughtfully. "Earlier…you said something about the 'Alpha.' Is that the enemy we share?" He asked curiously.
I nodded grimly, glancing at Toothless and remembering our very narrow escape from the Alpha's clutches. I hadn't had a chance to look him over properly for any injuries, but he didn't seem to be impeded in any way physically, other than the damned shackles.
Toothless tilted his head in silent question, and I couldn't resist pressing my forehead to his in a brief display of affection. He purred at the contact, closing his eyes. I let the vibrations roll through my body and calm my nerves before lifting my head to look at Gobber again. The viking was staring at us with a mixture of awe and bewilderment, but he quickly schooled his features when my attention returned to him.
"The Alpha lives in the nest and controls the dragons there. It's stronger than anything you've ever faced, I promise you," I told him without a trace of doubt. "Toothless and I stumbled across the nest by accident, but the Alpha sent the flock after us. We barely escaped," I explained, suppressing a shudder.
"And that's when we found you?" Gobber guessed, his face a little more pale at the revelation.
I nodded. "Toothless and I got separated in the air. That's how I hurt my leg. You saw what happened after that." The irritated edge that entered my voice toward the end did not go unnoticed, and Gobber cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"To be fair, you would've drowned without our help," he said lightly.
"Help? Is that what they're calling imprisonment these days?" I retorted.
"You were let out of the cell," he objected.
"And my dragon remains in chains. I don't care about me. I care about him," I stated with a hint of a growl.
"So you've made quite clear." Gobber sighed, then glanced past me toward the captain's quarters. "I don't suppose you'll simply tell me where the nest is now?" He assumed.
I gave him a wry smile. "I'd hardly give up my only leverage so easily," I chided.
His answering frown bordered on a petulant pout. "What is it you want, then?" He asked in an acquiescent fashion.
"I need to talk to your Alpha," I claimed. Toothless tensed and began to protest as Gobber's eyebrows furrowed.
*You want to talk to the human Alpha? Are you crazy?*
"My Alpha? What are you talking about?"
Despite the concurrent voices, I managed to make out what both of them said and, naturally, prioritized Toothless' concerns. I brushed a hand over his scales, meeting his worried gaze. *I'm going to have to talk to him eventually, bud. Might as well do it now.* I bit my lip, slightly hesitant with my next words. *I'm going to try to convince him to release you, but we still have to stay with these vikings.* I told him regretfully.
He practically balked at my statement. *Stay? Hiccup!*
"Uh, Hiccup?"
I held up a hand to Gobber to silence him, not breaking eye contact with a now-belligerent Toothless. *The situation isn't ideal, but we need them.* I insisted, earning a derisive snort from the Night-wing. *We can't take on the Alpha alone. We need their help.* I pressed.
*Who said we're fighting the Alpha at all?!* He exclaimed, looking horrified at the very idea. *We barely got out of there alive! You think I'd ever take you back there?* He was standing at his full height now, towering over me subconsciously. It was a protective stance, rather than one meant to intimidate, but I could feel Gobber's rising unease a few feet away.
"Hiccup…"
*The Alpha is the reason the dragons and the vikings have been fighting all these years! We came down here to stop the raids. That means defeating that monster!* I argued, not even acknowledging Gobber's attempt to capture my attention.
*I won't risk you just for the sake of these humans!* Toothless snapped.
*It's not just for them! You saw the dragons in the nest! They had no minds of their own! I won't let them be used as puppets. They deserve to be free.* I rested my hands on either side of his jaw and pulled his head down to my level, and he let me do so without protest. *It's going to be the hardest and possibly most dangerous thing we've ever done, but it'll be worth it. Do you know how many lives will be saved if we succeed?*
Toothless huffed, his ire giving way to irritated defeat. *A lot, I'm guessing. Though you're worth more to me than all of them combined.* He admitted shamelessly.
I smiled softly, petting his nose in slow, feather-light strokes. *I love you, too, bud, but this is what we do. What we've always done. If we don't fight for them, no one else will.*
Toothless grumbled, still not totally on board, but no longer feeling the urge to protest my decision. *I don't like it.*
*But you're with me?*
He rolled his eyes, but there was no mistaking the fondness in the gesture. *I'm always with you, silly human.* He replied, nudging my cheek. Normally he'd lick me, but his current predicament made it impossible.
"Hiccup, are you going to keep standing there in silence forever? Because I have other things I could be doing with my time," Gobber griped, looking thoroughly displeased at being ignored for so long.
My cheeks tinged red, and I let go of Toothless to face the grumpy viking. "Sorry… What was your question?"
Gobber's ensuing sigh was a tad dramatic in my opinion. "I asked what you meant about my Alpha," he repeated expectantly.
My face twisted in confusion for a moment before I remembered that vikings used different terminology. "Oh, right, sorry. I just meant Stoick. Your chief," I elaborated.
My answer did little to smooth the furrow between the man's brows. "I thought you said the Alpha was a dragon that lived in the nest."
"That's a different Alpha. Most nests have one. It's the leader, the one who protects and commands the rest. Stoick is your leader, right? He's the Alpha," I said, trying not to let my contempt for the man shine through too much.
Gobber once again scratched at his beard, his gaze flicking between me and Toothless like we were a puzzle to solve. "Where are you from, Hiccup?" He asked after an uncomfortable amount of time had passed in silence.
My jaw clenched nervously. Questions like that were not ones I was willing to answer under any circumstances. "Are you going to take me to Stoick or not?" I questioned, a little harsher than I meant.
Gobber shrugged noncommittally, like it didn't matter much to him either way, even though I knew he was eager to hear what I had to say. "Come on, then, lad." He gestured for me to follow as he hobbled past. "You can speak with Stoick while I get you something to eat. You must be as hungry as a bear by now."
I automatically took a step after him, then hesitated, still wary to leave Toothless chained in the midst of vikings. He sensed my reluctance, and nudged me between my shoulder blades, making sure to keep the touch light so I didn't lose my already precarious balance. The stupid boot might have lessened the pain of my injury, but it certainly didn't make walking any easier.
*I'll be fine, Hiccup.* Toothless assured me when I finally raised my eyes from glaring at my leg to meet his gaze. *These humans couldn't hurt me even if they tried.*
I raised an eyebrow. *A bit cocky, don't you think?* I remarked.
*No.* He responded immediately, the picture of calm. He said nothing else, but I decided to take his word for it. I was perfectly aware of his capabilities. I'd been on enough missions with him to see the mixture of stealth, power, and grace his species was naturally imbued with, and I couldn't help but wonder what an entire group of Night-wings could accomplish.
*Don't kill anyone while I'm gone.* I ordered as I moved away on awkward footing, only half-teasing.
*Only if they hurt you.* He agreed wholeheartedly, and I glared at him over my shoulder without stopping. Gobber looked patient enough right now, but that might not last for much longer.
I ignored the stares of suspicion and pity as I limped my way across the deck to Gobber. He was standing in front of the double doors of the captain's quarters, hand on the knob while he waited for me to approach. The knot of anxiety that had formed in my stomach the second I landed on the ship tightened considerably, and I suddenly had no appetite whatsoever. I didn't want to be trapped in a room with the Alpha, but he seemed like the type to demand everything be on his terms. He wouldn't have accepted a discussion out on the deck while I was still in Toothless' reach.
"Ready?" Gobber murmured, clearly aware of my stiffness. I nodded grimly, flexing my fingers as if in preparation for a fight. Gobber put on an easy smile and whipped the door open, striding inside without a care and halting before the large desk, behind which sat my father. He'd been looking over some papers prior to our entrance and merely glanced upward at his second-in-command with an exasperated frown. I paused just inside the doorway, hoping to go unnoticed for as long as possible.
Gobber had no such concerns. "Chief! Good news! Hiccup here has agreed to have a nice, friendly chat," he announced, clapping his hands together once.
Stoick's piercing gaze shot over to me, and I did my best not to wilt under it. The man was freaking scary when he wanted to be—which, apparently, was all the time.
"Finally come to your senses, boy?" He prodded in a deceptively quiet voice, and I could tell he was just trying to get under my skin. I forcefully swallowed the growl that was itching to escape and raised my head defiantly.
"I've come to offer my assistance," I answered, poking at his pride in retaliation. He probably never asked for help, only demanded it.
His eyes narrowed. "You're a child. You haven't got much to offer," he replied.
"Only the location of the nest you're so desperate to find." I shrugged, leaning back against the wall. It was partly to effect an air of nonchalance, partly to keep weight off my leg.
Stoick shared a glance with Gobber, who nodded in response to his chief's silent question and turned towards the door. "I'll just leave you to it. I'll get you some lunch, Hiccup," he added before closing the door on his way out. The silence left in his wake was horribly uncomfortable, but I refused to be the one to break it. I eyed the small gap in one of the doors that had aided in my escape the previous day, briefly wondering if I'd have to resort to such measures to get out of this room again once this conversation was finished. I'd been let out of my cell, but I didn't exactly have free reign.
"Why would you want to help us?" Stoick's deep voice startled me out of my thoughts, and my nails scratched at the wood paneling behind me in a meager attempt to soothe. He was resting his chin in his hand contemplatively, and I feared his stare would penetrate to my very soul and see all the secrets I kept hidden away. He couldn't know I was his son, but did he suspect? A name alone wasn't enough to go on, but was there something else? My age, perhaps? Or a certain expression or gesture that reminded him of his believed-to-be dead wife? I barely restrained the shudder at the idea of him learning the full truth, but continued to meet his gaze unflinchingly.
"I don't want to help you," I corrected, crossing my arms. "I want to help the dragons. It just so happens that helping you coincides with that goal," I elaborated, figuring he'd appreciate honesty more than boot-licking.
Stoick snorted at my blunt explanation, leaning back in his chair. He left one hand on the desk, tracing the patterns of the wood absentmindedly. "Right, of course. This is for the dragons' benefit," he drawled. "You say you're not a hunter…" He trailed off, giving me an expectant look; I shook my head roughly, unable to suppress a grimace at the very idea. "So tell me: how have you managed to control a Night Fury of all creatures? I saw the saddle. You ride upon its back like it's a tamed horse—"
"Toothless is not some mindless animal!" I spat, my temper getting the best of me for a moment. Night-wings, as far as I could tell, were the most intelligent species of dragon. If nothing else, they at least deserved not to be disrespected so blatantly.
Stoick's jaw twitched as he held back a retort, but his narrowed gaze stilled my tongue from any further outbursts. "Answer the question," he demanded curtly.
I huffed quietly, irritated that his command held a similar effect over me as my own Alpha's. Stoick might be human, but his tone didn't lack power. "I don't control him. We share a bond. He listens to me out of loyalty," I told him firmly.
His resultant laugh was clipped and disbelieving. "Dragons are loyal to no one but themselves," he claimed bitterly.
"You've never given them a chance to be otherwise," I argued.
His eyebrows lifted sky high, like he truly couldn't believe his ears. "You act as though you haven't witnessed the carnage of the Dragon War. Excuse me if I'm not going to play nice with the beasts while they tear my village apart," he said, the mocking edge to his words grinding on my nerves.
"The violence has hardly been one-sided," I pointed out coldly. Stoick regarded me with tightly-closed lips, unable to deny my statement, but unwilling to verbally concede the argument. The impasse stretched on uncomfortably for a few seconds before I exhaled heavily, wondering how he managed to rile me so easily. "But that's beside the point," I said much more calmly. "We both want this war to end. Maybe not for the same reasons, but that hardly matters."
"Exactly how does telling me where the nest is help your little dragon friends?" He questioned deprecatingly.
I didn't bother holding back my triumphant smirk. "Oh, you won't be hurting the innocent dragons."
He seemed to have plenty to say to that, but he settled on, "And the dragons who aren't innocent?" He sounded genuinely curious, likely due to the fact that I'd been quite obviously pro-dragon up until that point.
My expression hardened. "The Alpha. The one responsible for the war. That one must die." It was a loss I wouldn't mourn in the slightest, dragon or not.
"Alpha?" He repeated sharply, losing the air of haughtiness he'd been exuding since my entrance. He finally looked like a battle-ready warrior, the man that was willing to lay down his life to protect his people. I was grudgingly impressed.
"I saw it. A dragon the size of a mountain. It has the ability to take over the minds of other dragons to make them do its bidding. It's the reason the dragons attack the villages," I explained.
Stoick, for his part, took the information in stride, leaning forward so his elbows rested on the desk while he stroked his beard thoughtfully. "And you think simply killing this beast will stop the war?" He asked doubtfully.
I snorted softly. "There's no 'simple' about it. But yes. Once it's dead, the other dragons will be free, and there will be peace," I stated confidently.
"Pretty lofty expectations," he commented, but his gaze had drifted as he thought over my words. I remained silent, shifting my weight and casting a longing glance toward the spare chair. As much as I wanted to sit, the idea of being so close to the red-haired viking kept me rooted in place against the far wall. When he spoke again, I straightened, pretending like I wasn't hurting. "I assume you're not going to tell me where the nest is out of the goodness of your heart, so what's your price for such information?" His tone was formal, and a bit resigned as well.
"I'm not going to tell you where the nest is at all," I responded with excess cheer, grinning even as he scowled.
"Well then what—"
"I'm going to show you," I cut him off.
He paused, shock and frustration warring for dominance. "Show me," he said slowly, as if not quite understanding their meaning.
"Yep! You'll need my help. And Toothless', of course. So we'll be coming with you," I declared.
"Absolutely not," Stoick protested instantly.
"Did you not hear me before? Dragon the size of a mountain? Ringing any bells?" I gestured vaguely in the air. "You can't fight it without our help. Toothless is the only dragon strong enough to defeat it." And a Bewilderbeast, of course, but I wasn't about to drag him into this mess. He had his own nest to protect, and he couldn't afford to leave it vulnerable. Besides, I didn't want the southern vikings to become aware of his presence. Not if it wasn't necessary.
Stoick's chair scraped against the floor as he stood up, fury etched into every facet of his being. I swallowed, glancing toward the door nervously and wishing that Gobber would return already. I was reminded all at once of my current situation. I was still technically a prisoner, at the mercy of hot-headed, dragon-hating vikings.
"You really think I'd be stupid enough to release the Night Fury?" Stoick hissed, fists clenching until his knuckles turned white.
Despite my fear, I latched onto my one chance to free Toothless, preferably with no blood spilled. "It's not stupidity, it's strategy," I snapped, just as fierce. "The Alpha can't be killed with your petty human weapons. They won't even tickle the damn thing," I sneered, my words dripping with contempt that I allowed to boil to the surface. Perhaps he'd hear the truth in my anger more effectively than any placations I could hope to give.
"As if you're an expert in such matters," he scoffed. "You're just a child."
"A child who rides a Night Fury," I countered darkly, lowering my chin as I glared up at him through my windswept bangs. "This is your only opportunity to end the war and save your village. I suggest you take it."
Stoick shook his head, more in disbelief at my sudden vehemence than denial of my help. "We can kill this Alpha you speak of without your help," he muttered, his wrath giving way to something calmer but no less unpleasant.
"You can't," I objected flatly, thinking of the broken ships I'd seen before entering the Alpha's nest.
Stoick rolled his eyes, slumping back into his chair with a muffled thump. "If your dragon is so mighty and powerful, why haven't you killed the Alpha already, then?" He challenged.
I faltered a bit at the unexpected question. "It…caught us off guard," I replied hesitantly. "I didn't even know it existed until yesterday."
"And that interaction clearly went as well as could be expected," he said blandly, clearly recalling the predicament they'd found me in the previous day. I flushed in embarrassment, hating that that was the first impression they had of me: a soaked-to-the-bone, crippled boy.
"Which is exactly why we need to work together," I mumbled, sounding more petulant than I'd intended.
"I don't work with dragons. They're unpredictable and dangerous. Your Night Fury has already tried to kill us—"
"Protecting me—"
"And I would not release it upon my people while simply hoping it decides to behave in a docile manner," he finished, ignoring my interruption.
I sighed gustily, shrugging exaggeratedly and pursing my lips. "Well," I started lightly, "It's either deal with my dragon, who obeys my every command—" a complete lie, but Stoick hardly needed to know that— "or you can keep dealing with hundreds of dragons, all of whom would just love to wreak all sorts of havoc on your precious village. Your choice."
I looked away, pretending to inspect my nails, until the silence in the room grew oppressive. I risked a peek at the chief; he was rubbing his forehead like a headache was starting to set in. I hid a smirk, not wanting him to notice and start yelling again.
When I seriously began to question whether I'd actually broken his ability to function, he finally looked up at me, dragging his hand down his face before dropping it onto the table in defeat.
"I'm listening," he grumbled reluctantly.
