Author's Note: As the summary states, this story takes place in the Modern Day. No names have been changed because it would just get to confusing for me, the writer. I have also never written a modern-day story. Well, I've tried, but they never made it to the posting stage. Let's hope this is different.

An explosion shook the quiet beach town of Berk awake in the early hours of March 21, 2024. Sirens blared to life as people began filing out of their homes to figure out what had happened.

"What happened?" "Sounded like it came from Gobber's Workshop." "I hope no one is hurt." were the statements everyone voiced to each other as they watched smoke fill the dawn sky.

"HICCUP!" A voice filled with fear shouted. "HICCUP! ARE YOU IN THERE?"

"Sir," a fireman said. "You need to step back. If he's in there, we'll get him out. But right now, Mayor Haddock, you need to stay back and let us work."

"He didn't come home last night," the mayor said as he unwillingly stepped back. "Said he had a project that couldn't wait. I didn't want him to go."

"I understand," the fireman consoled. "We will find him."

Hiccup looked around at the flames that were surrounding him. He looked over at the unmoving figure of his uncle. "Gobber," he coughed as smoke filled his lungs. "Come on, Uncle Gobber. I-I can't move."

In his attempt to escape the pipe that hung above his workstation collapsed, trapping him. He looked at his left leg which was pinned under the pipe. He tried again to push it off, but it was useless. It would take several people to move it.

Just as he was about to accept his fate, he heard voices. People shouting his name.

"HICCUP!" the voices called out. "If you're in here, make some noise."

Hiccup reached for one of the wrenches that had fallen near him, picked it up, and banged it against the pipe that had him trapped. He hit it as hard as he could, but he was quickly growing tired and weak.

"I'm in here!" Hiccup rasped. "Help!"

After what felt like an eternity three firefighters burst in and rushed to his aid. A fourth firefighter went to check on his uncle, but Hiccup knew it was pointless.

One of the firefighters quickly placed an oxygen mask over his face. "It's going to be okay, just focus on breathing. We'll get you out of here."

Hiccup just weakly nodded. He was too tired to even try speaking.

"Sven," one of the firefighters shouted over the roaring flames. "Help us get this pipe off oh him."

Sven left Gobber's side and rushed over to help. He stood in the middle while two of the firefighters took opposite ends of the pipe.

"One the count of three, we lift the pipe," one of them instructed. "Mala, you drag him out from under it. After that, we can carry him out of here."

"One. Two. Three," Sven counted. The three of them lifted the pipe while Mala quickly pulled Hiccup away from it. She glanced over at his leg to try and assess the damage and nearly threw up at the sight of what remained of the limb.

"Guys," she managed as she lifted the teenager. "Radio ahead and tell the ambulance that it needs to leave as soon as we hand him over."

As Hiccup felt the weight of the pipe disappear a wave of pain crashed into him with such force, he couldn't handle it and let the darkness that had been seeping in claim him. His last thoughts were those of hours prior to the explosion.

Hiccup was sitting in the back working on his latest school project, a robot that could help tutor kids in math. He had been tinkering with the wires when he heard shouting from the front of the store.

"Come on, old man," a familiar voice taunted. "It's not that hard to say yes. You value your life don't you?"

Hiccup got up from his seat and walked over to the door to get a better listen.

"Doesn't matter what I value," Gobber replied. "I don't need your so-called protection. I've been running this shop for almost 30 years. Long before you and your little gang showed up on this island. I think I'll be fine"

"Well if you won't let us protect you," the voice taunted. "At least give us a discount on some of your stuff"

Gobber laughed. "I don't even give my brothers a discount. Everyone pays in full unless they are an employee, and they only get five percent off. And before you ask, no, I'm not hiring. None of you don't understand what hard work and dedication even mean."

"Oh, I think you'll find out just how dedicated we can be," another voice threatened. "We'll be back."

The bell to the store rang as the unwanted customers left. Hiccup knew exactly who they were. Everyone on Berk did. Hiccup even had the misfortune of knowing a few of them by name.

As he was sitting back down at his workbench, Gobber walked into the back room. "You okay, lad?"

"Yeah," Hiccup answered. "Red Deaths again?"

The Red Deaths had become quite a notorious gang that everyone knew about. They took pleasure in bullying people into getting what they wanted never taking no for an answer. Hiccup had the misfortune of knowing a few of them by name since they regularly came by the shop whether his uncle was here or not

"They don't give up easily," Gobber stated. "Especially that Viggo and Ryker. Quite the persistent dou. Always trying to impress that Drago fellow."

"Aren't you worried about what they might do, if you keep telling them, no?" Hiccup asked.

"Not really," Gobber shrugged as he picked up two gears and tried piecing them together. "They aren't capable of hurting people. At best, they'll give up. At worst, they'll break in and rob the store. But that's just stuff, all of which is replaceable."

"You know, you would have stayed off their radar if you hadn't told Uncle Spitelout about the robberies," Hiccup pointed out.

Gobber shrugged, remembering when he witnessed a couple of the Red Deaths sneaking out of a house one night. The house belonged to a family he knew quite well. "Stealing from me is one thing, I can replace what I've lost. Stealing from struggling families that can't replace their stuff is where I cross the line. It was the right thing to do. Remember that Hiccup." He set the gears down and stared his nephew in the eyes. "No matter what, always do what's right even if there are consequences you don't like. It'll be worth it in the long run."

The mayor stood behind the tape, pacing nervously watching the flames continued to engulf his brother's workshop. He felt helpless, just waiting. None of the firefighters were telling him anything. He had heard some radio chatter but could not make it out. He also saw the EMTs scrambling to get a stretcher as close as they could without risking their own lives, but he couldn't see what was happening. The smoke was too thick. Something had happened and no one was saying anything.

"Stoick," he heard someone call out. He looked over and saw that it was the police station's Chief, running over to him, also affectionately known as his other brother.

"What's going on, Spitelout?" Stoick asked. "Is Hiccup okay? What about Gobber?"

Spitelout bit his quivering lip before speaking. "You need to start driving toward the hospital."

"What happened?" Stoick asked, fear rising once again in his chest.

"Hiccup... Hiccup is alive, but he's sustained some serious injuries," Spitelout managed. "And Gobber..." He couldn't finish his sentence. Wouldn't finish his sentence.

Stoick understood all too well what his brother was saying. Words weren't needed. Gobber was gone.

"Head to the hospital," Spitelout said, straightening his posture. "I'll be by shortly, once things are under control here."

"Aye," Stoick said, feeling a numbness take over as his autopilot kicked in. He walked back to his car, got in, and drove to the hospital.

Author's Note: Apologies for such a short first chapter. This story is a work in progress, so more might get added to the chapter later on. I don't know when I'll have the next chapter up so feel free to bookmark this story so you can be notified of any updates.

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Until next time