Chapter 270

Hiccups POV:

It's been two weeks since my adventure on the floating fortress, known as 'The sea Masters fort' and in that time, a lot has happened, starting with a whole lot of work, cleaning up the mess Sea Master and his men had made. I spent three days on Tephra's ship going from island to island, where the slaves had been taken from after dropping off the crooks I captured on Outcast island until the end of Winter when I could send them in for the rewards. I did of course pay the Outcasts for allowing me to keep them there for the time being though in the form of a share of the food supplies I'd looted from the place. As for the people who needed to be returned to their homes, I kept them on the floating fortress which was the only thing big enough to hold them all but I did bring Will and Thuggory to stay with me on Tephra while I delivered the people home. I admit, there were a few people who were uneasy and unsure if they could trust me but they softened up after I healed their wounds and fed them full meals.

Then came delivering them home and they were all understandably overjoyed to see their loved ones again while their villages offered me many gifts as thanks, but I turned them all down since they needed them to survive the winter. Besides, I was getting a little bit of relief when I unloaded the people since a lot of them were afraid that I'd kill them and the women hoped to save themselves by offering me the use of their bodies in exchange for their safety. Sadly, even after I returned a handful of the people to their homes, the women still made the offer but not for their safety but as thanks for saving them.

I admit, it wasn't all bad since Thuggory helped me keep some of the more eccentric people under control and didn't mind when I told him that returning him, and Will would have to wait till after the others. Will on the other hand, understandably wasn't as accepting since he wanted his parents after being taken from them at such a young age but he calmed down when I pointed out that the other captives hadn't seen their families in a much longer time. I was also able to keep him calm by taking him on regular flights on Toothless where we'd enjoy being up in the air and through the clouds while he giggled in joy. This made things harder for us when we finally arrived at the Meathead tribes island since although Will was happy to be back with his parents, he was upset that me and my dragons had to leave. Still though, it didn't stop my Aunt Hildegard from dragging me back to her hut for a celebratory meal in my honor and a good night's rest in a bed on dry land.

I didn't complain though since nobody could make a yak butter parfait like Aunt Hildegard and it gave me a chance to check out the tidal classes that had been pulling the floating fortress which served as the thing that carried the captives while Thuggory and Will remained with me. I admit that the tidal classes were in bad shape with multiple cuts and wounds along with being underfed by their captors and this gave me the chance to heal them up and give them a proper meal. I was able to go through all the items I'd looted from the various ships and houses which consisted of food supplies, books, maps, livestock, treasures, artwork and furniture and I knew when I got home it was going to be a headache.

When I got home though, I was welcomed warmly by my family with my wives insisting I come and enjoy a bit of down time after going through so much trouble. I agreed with them but saved my down time for after I freed the dragons from the harness' and had Tephra take them to the Bewilderbeast nest to settle in with the other tidal classes. Following this I enjoyed a little quiet while having some of the dragons help unload the items from Tephra's ship and leave them in storage to be sorted the next day except the livestock that I took to join my own in their pens before going to enjoy a little down time with my family. The following day though, the treasures and jewels made a sizable addition to my vault, the art pieces enhanced my homes décor, Sea Masters shark outfit looked good on a stand in my trophy room, the food supplies were welcomed on Berk as was some of the furniture. When I came to drop it off though, my parents had me sit down in the middle of the Great Hall and show everyone my adventures on that floating fortress since everyone was curious to know what happened and after being stuck inside for so long, they needed some entertainment.

At the end I received many pats on the back and congrats on bringing down such a large crime base while also receiving thanks from some of the people who were relatives of those I saved. Then Gobber brought up a question that I'd been wondering the answer to myself and that question was, what was I going to do with 'The sea master's fort'. I admit, I only took it since it was the easiest way to carry all the people who had been kidnapped and enslaved and brought it back figuring I'd find some use for it but that use had yet to come to me. It was then my dad came up with the idea that I give it to berk in the meantime so it could be used as a place to store the extra fish brought in to be sorted, dried and other such things while also docking the boats there along with all the equipment. I agreed to this but would only allow it, after I'd finished going through the base completely for traps and hidden doors.

Doing that took me another day since there were a lot of traps that needed to be disarmed and a lot of secret places to raid but afterwards, I built a few anchors with gronkle iron chains that I used to anchor the fortress to one spot before building a bridge towards it. After that I let the fisherman of Berk take care of the rest of the work before returning home to enjoy a little down time in my private study with a good book and a all that, things quieted down and I was sadly, thrown back into my endless spiral of boredom and anticipation of the birth of my child but I found I could fill those times with hard training since it was at least something to do.

Now I was in the snake guardians' forest, wearing my ninja attire that the Ancient One had given me, training my speed under my ninja who were having me leap from tree branch to tree branch as fast as I could with weights on my arms, legs and waist that were locked onto my body with the ninja holding the only keys, while also dodging wooden shuriken thrown at me. It was not the least bit easy since every time I was hit by one of the shuriken, I had to restart from the beginning and dodging the shuriken since in addition to the weights, my ninja were hiding their locations in the trees so I had no idea where they were or where the shuriken would come from. Along with this, the environment didn't help me with this issue as the leaves made it harder to see not only the coming shuriken but also see where I'm going since they fly into my eyes. It was then a branch was swung into my face, knocking me back and out of the tree as I came to land on my back and making me groan as my ninja surrounded me before I sighed and said.

"I know, I need to open up all my senses and be prepared to face whatever's launched at me as my foes will most likely not play fair and use whatever they can to snatch victory from me." I groaned and stood up. "Alright, let's start again from the beginning." Before they could do anything to show their agreement though a voice, I hadn't heard in a long time said.

"I'm afraid your game may have to wait old friend."

I turned and stood there shocked as standing there was a man with a dark blond beard, shorter than my fathers, long dark blond hair that reached above the middle of his back, wearing fine silver chain mail armor with black fur cape, metal wristbands above brown leather gloves and a helmet that had no horns. This man was none other than Modi, youngest son of Thor, god of bravery, brotherhood, combat, and fighting ability and in his right hand was his mighty hammer, Svartvedir. I immediately dropped to my knee and lowered my head, bowing to him as I said.

"Lord Modi, Predator of the Disir, you honor me with your presence here on my humble island." He chuckled.

"Come now Hiccup, we've shared meals and tales of hard-won battles against impossible foes, during our time together in the halls of Vallhala so you may stand in my presence." I nodded and stood up. "Now I believe you wonder what it is that has brought me here to Midgard and I will tell you." I tensed up in fear wondering if another beast has come to threaten Midgard or the world tree. "The reason I have come here is to request that you form a hunting party with me for the Grand Hunt." I raised an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?"

"Once a year, the finest hunters in Asgard come together to form a hunting party and hunt down a prized boar to roast in the halls of Valhalla." I nodded.

"Alright but why are you asking me to form a separate one with you?" He sighed.

"Every year they have formed a party they have invited my elder brother Magni but have never once extended a hand to me and when my brother saw the pain it has caused me he tried to offer me a place in the party, only for the other members to shut me out and claim they had no use for me." He growled and balled his fists. "This year, I had enough of it that they had no place in their party for angry little kids who throw temper tantrums." I could feel the anger coming off him as he said this and understood why he was the god the Berserkers worshipped the most and prayed to in battle. "I was enraged by this and challenged them to a hunt against me and one other member who I choose."

"And you chose me?" He nodded.

"If you are willing, I would be honored to have you as my partner in this coming hunt to help prove myself to those hunters who believe themselves to be better than I." I bowed.

"The honor is mine Lord Modi, but I will need to inform my family of what is happening." He nodded.

"Then let us not waist anymore time and go inform them of the hunt that is to begin tomorrow at dawn." I nodded.

"Where are we going to hunt down the boar though?"

"It shall be in a forest near Asgard but lord Odin will wish to speak with you before the hunt can begin, most likely to explain the rules of the hunt to you and to ensure a fair hunt." I nodded before there was a bright flash and he was gone, leaving me alone with my ninja who I turned to.

"I'm guessing we can take a short break while I go let my family know what's going on?" They nodded making me smile before I held out my arms. "So, can you guys give me the keys to undo the weights?" They shook their heads and then disappeared making me sigh. "I had feeling that would be the answer." I then began walking towards the lair of the snake guardians where I knew Blanca was helping to supervise the training of the lower level guardians.

Morning

Yesterday had been crazy since I had to walk all over my island to talk to my wives about the great honor, I'd received from the god Modi and doing so with heavy weights on my arms, legs and waist. Along with this I also had to go to my parents on Berk and let them know what had happened and to say my father was happy would be an understatement since the hunt was well known by us Vikings as a mere legend as was the honor of being selected for it. To be honest, I hadn't seen him this happy since the day me and Blanca told him about her pregnancy, but I couldn't blame him though since it was a big honor to receive an invitation to join the gods in a sport reserved for Asgardians.

Now I had been picked up for the hunt by some Valkyries and was presently in the throne room of Odin who sat upon his throne while I kneeled before him. For the past few seconds, the room had been filled with a tense silence that made me feel as if I'd done something to anger the king of the Norse gods which is the last thing I wanted since he was the god I worship the most, being norse myself. It was then he finally spoke in a voice that echoed through the room.

"Hiccup Haddock, once again you have been brought before me but this time, not to be rewarded for an amazing deed but because you have been offered a place in the Grand Hunt." I nodded. "I have no problems with you doing so but in your travels you have gained many items such as gear and weapons from the gods of those lands which shall give you an unfair advantage over your opponents and it is for this reason, I must ask that you only select one weapon to take with you into battle but you may keep your eye and arm." I nodded.

"Mighty Lord Odin, I had a feeling that I would not be allowed the use of my full arsenal, so I have already decided to use only my axe for this hunt and nothing else other than my prosthetics." He nodded.

"I can understand your choice of weapon, but I am afraid I cannot allow anything else to be used including your normal attire." I looked down at my regular equipment. "For the hunt, you shall be given armor of Asgard to wear as well as a mount to hunt down the boar." I nodded.

"Thank you, my lord." He raised a hand.

"Now go and find my grandson who has chosen you as his partner for the hunt and he shall take you to those who shall prepare you for the honor of hunting down the beast that is to be roasted within the halls of Valhalla." I nodded with a smile and took off out of the room and found Modi standing there, waiting for me before he asked.

"How did it go?" I shrugged.

"It went alright, I've just been told I'd only be allowed to use one weapon in the coming hunt and none of my gear." He nodded.

"I knew that would happen as this is a hunt where it is better for no competitors to have an advantage over the others."

"Except numbers if the hunting party who we'll be racing is anything to go by." He nodded.

"Don't worry, I've spoken with Father Odin and we shall be given a short head start to make up for our lack of numbers." I nodded.

"Sounds fair." He smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Now let us go get dressed for the hunt and meet our mounts." I nodded and he led me away.

3 hours later

Since my meeting with Lord Odin, even though it's only been three hours a lot has happened, starting with me being stripped of my gear which was then placed in a locked room with six Valkyrie guards both outside and inside to protect them from those who would try to steal them. After that I was taken to get fitted for my hunting gear which consisted of a silver chest plate, a leather belt that had a large buckle in the form of a golden oval that had a night fury in the middle, silver armguards with gold lining, black leather boots and my black leather pants. Following this we were introduced to our mounts which were two strong stallions with fur that was black as night, wearing dark armor with leather straps and from just seeing them, I knew they were strong. It was while we were examining our mounts that I met our opponents and my faith in our ability to hunt the boar dropped greatly since these hunters were famous among the various tribes.

First up were a set of identical twins with red hair, short beards and long hair that was tied in high ponytails with them both wearing bronze chest plates with black pants and bronze arm guards. The only thing that showed them to be separate people is one was armed with a bronze bow in hand and a quiver of bronze arrows that had red fletching's while the other wielded a long spear with a long black pole and a barbed bronze head. These two were the famous twin hunters Arne with the bow and Gorm with the spear who were said to be one of the greatest hunters ever to walk in Midgard thanks to their combined skills and teamwork. Arne was said to be able to pin a falling leaf to a tree ten miles away when it was inches from the ground while Gorm was said to be able to throw his spear hard enough to split a boulder right down the middle and thrust with even more force.

Next to them was a man the size of my father except while my dad was mostly fat, this guy was all muscle which was easy to tell since he was wearing nothing aside from a pair of brown fur pants with a bear head belt buckle on his leather belt and a brown fur cape. As for his facial appearance, he had a thick jaw like Gobbers but he had a short brown beard with his hair pulled back in a tight braid and being held in both hands was a giant axe with blood red leather wrappings and a black blade. This man was Bjorn the mighty who was another legend on Midgard, not only as a hunter but as a warrior as well who was said to carry his giant axe, high above his head into battle which sent enemies fleeing in fear.

Next to him was a man who was a head shorter than me and wearing a suit of brown leather armor that covered his entire body and seemed to stick to it, showing his thin build. At his sides were two long daggers with brown wrappings around the handles and going across his chest forming an X shape were two sashes, loaded with throwing knives. This man was Frode the fast who was known as a hunter whose style of hunting revolved around speed and hitting major points with his throwing knives or slicing them with his daggers to weaken his prey before going in for the final blow.

Finally, at the front of the group was Magni, son of Thor and the god of physical strength, brotherhood, health, and family loyalty who was no doubt the leader of the party. Magni wore nothing more than a pair of black arm guards lined with brown fur, brown pants while leaving his torso shirtless and exposing his body to reveal that he was all muscle which was to be expected. His hair was brown and rose a bit in height with a short ponytail while his beard was well groomed and braided at the bottom of it, going down to his pecks. It was then Frode gestured to me and asked Modi.

"So, this is the partner you have chosen?" He smirked. "The so called 'Champion of the Gods'?" Modi glared at him as Bjorn looked at me.

"You know the boar we hunt isn't like the small babies you hunt in Midgard." I smirked.

"Good, if it was the same as back on Midgard then beating you all wouldn't be as much fun." He glared alongside his companions except for Magni who nodded to me in respect.

"I look forward to wiping that smug look on your face." He then smirked. "Maybe after the feast, we'll pay a visit to Midgard and have a little fun with those wives of yours." I knew they were just trying to make me angry and that is a satisfaction I wasn't going to give them.

"You'd be killed before you could even lay a hand on them." Arne replied.

"Do you believe your pet dragons could stop us?" Gorm then said.

"We'd bring them out of the sky with a single strike." I raised an eyebrow.

"I was talking about my wives, they'd kill you if you tried to lay a hand on them and knowing those women, we'd have a hard time finding what's left of you." They looked ready to attack but it was then Magni stepped between us and said.

"Please, let's not act like children as all will be decided on the hunting grounds where we shall hunt the boar to be roasted upon the fires in the halls of Valhalla." We all nodded but I could see they were still glaring at me as they left the stables before I turned to Modi and asked.

"So, what can you tell me about the boar we'll be going after?"

"The boar is three times bigger than me but despite its size it is fast and as one can expect, very powerful." I smiled.

"The tougher the challenge the sweeter the victory." He smiled.

"That I cannot deny and although the boars' meat is always extremely delicious, it'll taste even better should we be the ones to take it down."

"Just remember to try and keep your anger in control or channel it as anything else will lead to mistakes and that could lead to defeat." He nodded while we prepared our mounts for the hunt that would begin in half an hours' time.

1 hour later

It's been an hour since I met those who would be my opponents in this hunt and since then, the hunt had begun and we'd been given a head start. Now Modi and I were now in a small clearing, in a forest that the boar had clearly come through which we were easily able to tell from the trees that had been pushed aside. I turned to Modi and said.

"The boars trail is fresh; it was here fifteen minutes ago and if we hurry than we can still catch up to it." He smiled.

"Our foes haven't even begun their hunt and we're already hot on the trail of the boar."

"Don't get ahead of yourself, that'll only lead to our downfall." He nodded before the sound of Valhalla's hunting horn rang through the forest. "We have to get going now before our opponents catch up to us." He nodded before we took off down the path that the boar had taken.

4 hours later

It's been four hours since we found the boars trail and, in that time, we'd had multiple encounters with not only the boar but our opponents who were also the main reason the boar had yet to be killed. Every time we got close to the boar they'd sabotage our chase in some way including cutting a tree down in our path, scaring our horses with a spear landing in front, dropping branches on our heads by throwing a knife to cut them down, spooking the boar in some way while we were sneaking up on it and more. Modi of course wasn't the least bit happy about this and wanted to get revenge on them by bringing the head of Svartvedir down on them but I told him not to since in addition to being dishonorable to attack your opponents, I didn't want to stoop down to their level.

Now we were once again hot on the trail of the boar, more determined than ever to knock those hunters down a few pegs and to show them we were just as good as they were. It was then we came to a cliff overlooking the forest and from the backs of our mounts, we looked down and saw the boar running through the trees with our opponents right on its tale. I heard Modi growl but before I could tell him to calm down and that we needed to hurry, the sound of horses in distress came from below us and we looked down to see the horses our opponents were riding were the one, crying in horror. After getting a closer look I could understand why as vines had just grown out of the ground they were on and wrapped around their legs, holding them and their riders in place. I turned to Modi, expecting him to be smiling at our opponent's misfortune but what I saw was a frown of annoyance and a shake of the head as he said.

"We have to help them for a victory of this sort would not be honorable." I nodded with a smile.

"I couldn't agree with you more." We then began riding down towards where the other hunters were trapped. "Do you have any idea what type of plant is doing that?"

"It's a type of vine created by Loki by infusing magic into ordinary seeds, but I don't know why they are here in the forest when Loki is meant to keep them all in his garden."

"Must be his idea of a prank to make the hunt a little more challenging." I shrugged.

"He is the god of pranks." He nodded and we continued until we reached them, gaining their attention before Bjorn glared at us and asked.

"Here to brag about us falling for this crude prank of the trickster, allowing you to easily claim victory." Modi was the one who answered.

"A victory like that has no honor and a victory without honor is not one worth having." They kept silent hearing this as we dismounted our horses and began cutting the vines, freeing the horses who took off from the spot where the vines grew before I said.

"That's the last of them." I watched as Gorm's horse trotted away from the vines. "If you guys hurry then you could still get to the boar before us." They all shook their heads before Magni said.

"My brother was right when he said a victory without honor is not one worth having." I smiled at this. "Now mount your horses and we shall all see who shall claim the head of the boar on this hunt." I nodded and mounted up before we all took after the boar.

1 hour later

We'd been chasing after the boar for the past fifteen minutes and were finally closing the distance between us but now we were chasing it alongside our opponents who weren't causing any trouble for us. It was then Modi threw Svartvedir at the front legs of the boar, striking its front left leg making the boar tumble while the hammer returned to its wielders hand. I ignored that though and focused on Magni who jumped from the back of his horse and onto the head of the boar that quickly recovered and began trying to shake the god off its head. Magni looked at me and gestured to the head making me raise an eyebrow until he yanked the boars head up, exposing its neck and I knew what he wanted me to do and threw my axe that went spinning rapidly spinning towards the boars exposed throat and sliced it right open. The boar let out an ear-piercing screech as it collapsed to the ground with its body slowly losing motion and passing away while the hunters smiled at the downed prey as Bjorn said.

"Twas a glorious hunt and although we may have lost, it was a hunt that we could still enjoy and shall never forget." I smiled knowing his arrogance had been cured. "Now let us get this boar back to Valhalla so it may be roasted and enjoyed by all." We all nodded and got to work.

Nightfall

It was night in Asgard and I was now in the halls of Valhalla, sitting at the table reserved for me and my fellow hunters who were also sat down at the table with me. I smiled and moaned in pleasure as I enjoyed the succulent meat of the boar we had hunted while the body of the beast was continuously rotated over the fire in the middle of the hall. It was then Lord Odin stood up from his throne, gaining the attention of everyone as he said.

"TODAY, WE WERE ALL TREATED TO AN AMAZING HUNT BUT AS WE ALL KNOW IT WAS NOT AN EASY ONE DUE TO THE RIVALRY BETWEEN THE TWO HUNTING PARTIES!" There were murmurs of agreement while Bjorn and the others looked down in shame. "THIS IS WHY I HAD LOKI INTERFERE WITH THE HUNT AND PLANT HIS VINES IN THE HUNTING GROUNDS TO TEST NOT ONLY THE TEAM MY GRANDSON MAGNI WAS ON BUT ALSO MY GRANDSON MODI AND I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT THE TESTS WERE PAST!" He then looked at me. "MODI AND HICCUP HADDOCK, COME FORWARD!" Both me and Modi did so. "MODI, YOU SHOWED TRUE HONOR BY CHOOSING HELP YOUR OPPONENTS, ALLOWING THE BOAR TO ESCAPE AND FOR THAT, I REWARD YOU WITH THE HEAD OF THE BOAR AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO YOU ONCE IT HAS BEEN STUFFED AND READY TO BE MOUNTED UPON YOUR WALL!" Modi smiled.

"Thank you, lord Odin." Everyone cheered as Odin turned to me.

"HICCUP, YOU SHOWED GREAT SKILL IN TRACKING, HUNTING AND MENTAL STRENGTH BY NOT FIGHTING AGAINST YOUR OPPONENTS ATTEMPTS TO SABOTAGE YOUR OPPONENTS WHILE ALSO HELPING TEACH MY GRANDSON MODI A LITTLE SELF CONTROL AND HELPING HIM TO PROVE HIMSELF AND FOR THAT I PRESENT YOU WITH THE HORN OF THE HUNT!" Everyone cheered as a Valkyrie walked forward holding a curved horn that looked to be made from the horn f a deer with the open of the horn being wrapped in bronze with the velvet red heads of deer painted on it, a red sash to hold it and a mouth piece made from the same bronze as the one at the opening. "ALTHOUGH IT HAS NO POWERS, IT IS A SYMBOL OF HONOR FOR ALL HUNTERS OF ASGARD!" I smiled and took the horn before bowing to Lord Odin. (AN: Horns image on pinterest page.)

"Thank you, Lord Odin, I shall treasure this honor till the day I die." He smiled and nodded.

"NOW THEN, BACK TO THE FEAST!" Everyone cheered and we returned to the feast but I did get a lot of slaps on the back from my admirers and although I loved the party, I was looking forward to getting home to my family.

AN: And that brings an end to this chapter and with it I have to say, I'm really hurt that the last chapter got no reviews because I put a lot of effort into it after my two-week break. Seriously, it wasn't easy planning that whole thing out so I'd appreciate a little feedback on it instead of just being ignored like that. Anyway, I hope this chapter has been a little more enjoyable for you all and have a nice day.