Third Person View
About mid day later that day, after Stoick had finished cleaning up the mess Hiccup had made and done a bit of chiefing around the village, he along with all the other warriors were inside the Great Hall around a large fire with a stone circle surrounding it with a wooden top.
"Either we finish them or they'll finish us. It's the only way we'll be rid of them!" Stoick yelled out as he stood in front of a large map on the wooden edge of the fire pit with his second in command, Spitelout, standing beside him.
"If we find the nest and destroy it, the dragons will leave. They'll find another home!" he said stabbing a dagger into the corner of the map. It was surrounded by fog with dragon drawings within the fog.
"One more search before the ice sets in" he said. However everyone didn't really look as keen on doing it as he was.
"Those ships never come back!" a viking pointed out.
"We're Vikings. It's an occupational hazard. Now who's with me!?" He called out. However many of the Vikings just mumbled excuses for not going, so Stoick decided to change tactics.
"All right. Those who stay will look after Hiccup and report to DJ should he be injured" he said standing straight up. Immediately everyone raised their hands, both from the fear of looking after the village runt and reporting to DJ should he be injured.
"To the ships!"
"I'm with you Stoick!"
"Aye that's more like it" Stoick said with a smirk. Everyone then began clearing out to finish up thier jobs, pack and say good bye to any loved ones they were leaving behind.
"Right, I'll pack me undies" Gobber said, his hand now having a mug attachment. He went to get up from the table but Stoick stopped him.
"No I need you to stay and train some new recruits" he said coming over and sitting down with his long time friend.
"Oh perfect, yeah. And while I'm doing that and DJ is acting chief, I'm assuming, Hiccup can manage the shop. Teenage boy, molten steel, sharp blades, lots of time to himself. What could possibly go wrong?" He said sarcastically while Stoick groaned.
"What am I gonna do with him Gobber?" Stoick asked. The blacksmith then thought back to what DJ had said this morning.
"Put him in training with the others" he said.
"No, I'm serious" Stoick said thinking his friend was joking.
"So am I" Gobber said.
"He'd be killed before you let the first dragon out of it's cage" Stoick said.
"Oh you don't know that" Gobber said waving his hand as his friend.
"I do know that actually" Stoick insisted.
"No you don't"
"No actually I do"
"No you don't!" Gobber said sternly.
"Listen, you know what he's like. From the time he could crawl, he's been... different" Stoick said standing up and walking around Gobber who drank from his mug again but accidentally coughed and spit his stone tooth into his mug.
"He doesn't listen, he has the attention span of a sparrow. I take him fishing and he goes hunting for... for trolls!" Stoick said frustrated.
"Troll exist!" Gobber said turning around and pointing his mug at him.
"They steal your socks but only the left ones. What's with that?" he said muttering the last part to himself before turning back around.
"When I was a boy-" Stoick began but was cut off by Gobber.
"Oh gods here we go" he muttered before trying to get his tooth out of his mug.
"My father told me to bang my head against a rock and I did it. I thought it was crazy but I didn't question him. And you know what happened?" He asked Gobber who had gotten his tooth out of his mug.
"You got a headache" the blacksmith answered hammering in his tooth back into place with his mug. Stoick ignored him and continued.
"That rock split into two. It taught me what a viking could do, Gobber. He could- he could crush mountains, level forests, tame seas!" He said before sitting back down beside Gobber.
"Even as a boy I knew what I was, what I had to become. Hiccup is not that boy" he said before his thoughts drifted to his eldest son.
"And then there's DJ. Always coming to Hiccup's rescue, from dragons and me, like he's his own personal bodyguard. Always treating him like he's done nothing wrong" Stoick said.
"Stoick, you and me both know the reasons why he puts Hiccup's safety over his own" Gobber said as Stoick sighed again, now sad and angry as memories came back to him.
"Gobber, he was only four years old! What in Thor's name was he going to do against a dragon that size? And he was on the other side of the village when those kids were killed!" Stoick said.
"Stoick, Valka was DJ's mother for an entire year before she was killed and it didn't matter what he could or couldn't do, it's what he seen and did. He seen a dragon take his mother away while he could only pick up his little brother and keep him away from the flames until you saved them. And those kids were his best friends for ten years of his life. And he couldn't save them. So he has, and will continue to, rescue Hiccup" Gobber said before he placed a hand on Stoick's shoulder.
"But you can't always rely on him, Stoick and you can't stop Hiccup either, you can only prepare him. I know it's hard to hear but the truth is you aren't always going to be around to protect him. Hiccup is going to get out there by himself again, he's probably out there now and all he has is DJ's short sword training to defend himself" Gobber said as Stoick's eyes narrowed as he knew it was probably true.
In the woods of Berk
Hiccup had drawn a map of the of the island and had drawn a checkered line from where in the village he had shot the dragon to where it probably landed. However all around where the checkered line ended were X's drawn showing that he had had no such luck.
He took in a deep breath with his eyes closed before he opened them. But there was no dragon, no damaged trees. Nothing.
He then began walking before he drew another X on the page beside the others. However he then began scribbling over the X's before sighing and putting the book and charcoal pencil inside his tunic pocket, signaling that he had given up his search for the Night Fury.
"Oh the Gods hate me" he muttered down a hill.
"Some people loose their knife or their mug. No not me, I manage to loose an entire captured dragon!" He said before smacking away a tree branch that was in his way. However it immediately came back and hit him in the face.
He was about to take his sword and show the branch who was the boss, when he suddenly seen that the branch was connected to a damaged tree. Along with that there was several other damaged trees and a huge trench carved into the dirt.
'Is this...' Hiccup thought before he began following the trench. Surely, he couldn't have found it just as he had given up, right?
As he walked towards and over a small hill while still following the trench, he suddenly seen an all black dragon. Immediately he recoiled in shock and hid behind the hill, ready to hear a roar but he heard nothing.
Slowly he peered over once more and seen the black dragon was laying on it's side tied up in his bolas with one wing in the air.
It wasn't the biggest dragon he had seen before, actually it was pretty small in height but was about as long as a Nadder. It had bat like wings and a long tail with a single fin at the end of it.
It had four legs and no claws on it's wings, no horns on it's head and no bumpy skin. Actually it's skin looked as smooth as cured leather.
Immediately Hiccup got his sword out before sliding down the hill and hiding behind a large rock just before the dragon.
He took some deep breaths before he approached. The dragon was still and didn't appear to be breathing with it's eyes closed.
"Oh wow. I-I-I did it" he said in shock before it turned to happiness.
"Ohh, I did it. This... this fixes everything. Yes! I have brought down this mighty beas-" he said putting a foot on the dragons leg. However the dragon immediately moved it's leg and bellowed, both the movement and the shock, sent Hiccup backwards towards the rock he had been hiding behind.
He approached once more, with his short sword pointed at the beast. This time, the dragon was now breathing heavily.
As Hiccup scanned the dragon, he seen one of the eyes open and a black slitted pupil was staring right at him. The eyes of the Dragon were forest green. Almost like his.
He quickly readjusted his aim with his sword back to the chest but the beast let out a low moan making him look at it's eyes once more.
He took a few deep breaths before he put on an angry face. Well, as best of an angry face as he could.
"I'm gonna kill you, dragon" he said still exhaling deeply.
"I'm gonna- I'm gonna cut out your heart and take it to my father and brother. I'm a viking. I am a viking!" He yelled at the beast who just let out a low moan again. Hiccup gripped the sword with both hands and raised it over his head, ready to cut the head off the beast.
However he opened his eyes and looked at the dragon's once more. Looking up at him with fear, an emotion he was all too familiar with. However Hiccup quickly closed his eyes as the dragon did the same with a low moan, laying his head on the ground and accepting his fate.
However Hiccup's arms failed him and he finally dropped his arms, the sword falling to his left side, still in his hand.
He then looked over the creature once more. Trapped and tied up in his bolas, scared and alone. Of course he had hunted deer and all that with his brother before, but that was different. He has never trapped something and had to look into it's eyes before he killed it.
"I did this" he muttered before turning to leave. However he stopped and looked back at the dragon who was rapidly breathing, probably trying to get as much air into him as he could before it's death.
Hiccup sighed once more before he made his decision.
The Night Fury's eyes snapped open at the sound of something sawing against the ropes. He then seen out of the corner of his eye that it was the young human who was cutting the ropes with his sword.
At the third rope, the dragon was finally loose enough to get away. It got to it's feet immediately as Hiccup backed up. However the dragon didn't run away, but pounced at Hiccup who found himself pinned against a rock by the claws of the Night Fury nearly piercing his throat.
He had also dropped his sword in shock when the beast attacked and said weapon was now laying too far away for him to reach it.
He stared back into the dragon's eyes as it huffed hot breath in his face. Suddenly the beast began rising with it's mouth open so Hiccup welded his eyes shut.
'So this is it? DJ was right hello funeral boat' He thought to himself ready to feel fire or teeth. However all he felt was the claws retract from his neck but before he could open his eyes, a loud roar echoed in his ears as spit from the dragon landed on his face.
The Night Fury then turned and flew through the trees as Hiccup opened his eyes and watched it go. However the dragon didn't seem to be flying properly as it bumped into rocks and trees and didn't look to be getting higher.
Hiccup immediately grabbed his sword and just continued to watch as the dragon disappeared into the fog, all the while wailing loudly.
He turned around, still panting like he had just run a marathon, and took a few steps before his sword fell from his grasp as he began stumbling. Then with a low moan, he fainted from the shock and fright from his near death experience.
By the time Hiccup had regained consciousness, it was early night with only enough sun left to guide him in his way back home. And once he got to the village, the sun was completely gone.
The door to the large Haddock house slowly and quietly opened and Hiccup stuck his head inside. Sitting by the fire in the middle of the room was his dad and brother talking with his father having a basket packed beside him. Hiccup knew his father was probably going on one last search for the nest and was probably making sure DJ knew how to run the village.
Slowly Hiccup closed the door before making his way around them towards the stairs, still making sure to keep out of their sight.
"-and make sure you keep those Thorston Twins away from the yak and sheep farms" Stoick said as DJ nodded. Both of them unaware that Hiccup was sneaking up the stairs behind them on all fours.
"Hiccup" Stoick said not even looking at his youngest son as Hiccup stopped dead halfway up the stairs.
"Dad, uh... I have to talk to you dad" Hiccup said getting up from his 'sneaking' position and came down to the bottom of the stairs as Stoick stood up from his seat.
"I need to speak with you too, son" Stoick said clasping his hands together as Hiccup then seen DJ's smile.
"I've decided don't want to fight dragons/I think it's time you learn to fight dragons" both said at the same time.
"What?" they questioned once more at the same time looking at each other before turning to the other Haddock male.
"Don't look at me, all I heard was 'fight' and 'dragons' " he said picking up his mug before drinking the contents.
"Uh, you go first" Stoick said gesturing you Hiccup.
"No, no. You go first" Hiccup insisted.
"Alright" Stoick said before sighing and pausing for a few seconds.
"Your brother and Gobber convinced me so you get your wish. Dragon training, you start in the morning" he said putting his fists on his waist.
"Oh man, I should have gone first. Uh...'cause I was thinking, you know, we have a surplus of dragon-fighting vikings. But do we have enough bread-making vikings or small-home-repair vikings?" Hiccup said as his brother raised an eyebrow at that but kept quiet.
"You'll need this" Stoick said ignoring his son's statement while also heaving a large axe into his hands which nearly sent the boy tumbling down the stairs as it was almost as heavy as he was.
"I don't wanna fight dragons" Hiccup said once he regained his balance. At that, Stoick began chuckling as did DJ.
"Oh come on, yes you do. Don't you remember this morning?" he asked turning and walking back to the fire.
"Uh, rephrase. Dad, I can't kill dragons" he said following his father for a few steps. However Stoick thought he was referring to his body type.
"But you will kill dragons. One day. So you need to be ready" Stoick said.
"No, I'm really, very extra sure that I won't" Hiccup said.
"It's time, Hiccup" Stoick said.
"Can you not hear me? You can hear me, right?" he asked looking around his father towards his brother. DJ seen the look in his eyes and stood up.
"Look father, if he decided he doesn't want to fight-" however the eldest son was cut off as Stoick turned to him.
"This is serious! You both have been bugging me for months to get him real training and that's what's happening!" He said harshly before turning back to Hiccup and grabbing the axe from his hands.
"When you carry this axe, you carry all of us with you" he said holding the axe high before he gave it back to Hiccup who once again stumbled but this time he was on even ground.
"Which means you walk like us, you talk like us, you think like us" he finished making Hiccup stand up straight.
"Don't worry, last part's not as difficult as it sounds" DJ muttered. Both of them heard it but chose to ignore it.
"No more of... this" Stoick said gesturing to all of Hiccup.
"You just gestured to all of me" Hiccup said flatly while his shoulders dropped as this was the second time today that someone had said that to him.
"Deal?" Stoick asked ignoring him.
"This conversation is feeling very one-sided" Hiccup said.
"Deal!?" Stoick said more sternly this time. Hiccup sighed, discomfort plastered on his face.
"Deal" he muttered.
"Good" Stoick said heaving the basket over his shoulder. He then paused, trying to think of something else to say. Maybe along the lines of comforting.
"Train hard. I'll be back... probably" he said grabbing his helmet before putting it on and continuing to the door. DJ then got up before also walking over to the door.
"And I'll be here" Hiccup said.
'Maybe' he thought knowing his brother and father could still here him.
Stoick then stopped at the door and turned to his oldest son who extended his hand out. Stoick took it and shook it before opening the door.
"Take care of the village and make sure he doesn't get himself killed" Stoick said.
"You know I will" DJ said nodding as the door closed behind the large viking chief as he exited.
"Love the over-whelming load of confidence" Hiccup said putting the axe down and finally allowing his arms to relax.
"Alright so what did it?" DJ questioned turning to his little brother as soon as their father was out of hearing shot.
"Uh, w-what do you mean?" Hiccup questioned nervously.
"Just this morning you were wanting to kill a dragon so badly like you thought once you did, then girls would take their clothes off in the middle of the town square for you" he said as Hiccup blushed madly as a certain blonde came to his mind doing that action.
"So I'll repeat myself; what changed your mind?" He asked going over to a chicken that was on the slow roaster above the fire.
"Uh... okay look. I took a walk in the woods today-" he started but was cut off by his brother.
"And this walk, did it happen to take you past Raven's Point?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"I-It may have. And I found my bolas... just... no dragon" he said as DJ nodded and made a gesture for him to continue. So Hiccup sat down and sighed before continuing.
"Well, on the walk back, I began thinking about how I do seem to cause destruction and chaos every time I step outside and it's probably hurting my chances at getting any friends and maybe something more. So I decided maybe I should just try something else to help the village other than killing dragons and maybe try again in a few years" Hiccup said. Instead of answering, his brother leaned forwards in his chair and just stared at him.
Hiccup knew what he was doing, he was checking to see if he was lying. His brother and father always knew if he was lying to them just by looking at him. So he quickly tried to act as normal as he could.
"Okay then" DJ said shrugging before taking a leg off the chicken and eating it with his hands. Slowly Hiccup reached forwards and took the other leg but also grabbed a plate to place his on.
"So, this means I don't have to go to training?" He questioned eating his leg.
"Oh you're still going to dragon training" DJ answered as Hiccup made a 'come on' face as his mouth was full of food.
"What? Look are there Vikings on Berk who spend their time inside and away from the raids? Of course, I mean you have the ones who guard the young children in the Great Hall, healers, even blacksmiths don't go out unless they want to. Is your job doing one of those until you're older? Maybe, that's something that you and only you can decide" he said before standing up.
"But let's say... You're helping Mrs Larson guarding the kids in the Hall, keeping them calm, all that. Suddenly a Nadder bursts through the doors and Mrs Larson is knocked unconscious. What do you do?" He asked.
"Um... slay it?" Hiccup guesse.
"Obviously, Smartass, but how? Where do you attack from? Do you attack immediately or after it strikes first? Is there an easy way to kill it without endangering the kids in the room?" He said. However the younger teen couldn't answer but instead just kept opening and closing his mouth like a dying fish.
"Exactly! Look, you know I'm very protective of you-" he started sitting back down but this time sat beside him.
"Understatement of the year" Hiccup muttered.
"But! I might not always be around to help you out. What happens if I meet a girl I really like, we get betrothed and I end up moving to her island instead of her coming here? Or, Gods forbid, in the next dragon raid I'm not as lucky as I've always been?" He said before he looked Hiccup in the eyes.
"I just wanna make sure that you get to live the life you're destined to. Right now, I know it seems everyone is against you and you're not very strong physically. But you're strong here and here" he said rubbing his head and jabbing at his chest where his heart is before putting him in a playful headlock, nearly knocking his food over. But he let him go quickly.
And I know, one day, you're do something that's gonna win you more respect than you can ever imagine. It might also win you that blonde girl with the battle axe I keep hearing you moaning about at night" he said as Hiccup quickly swallowed a small piece of his chicken as he wasn't expecting to hear that.
He coughed and reached for his mug full of water as DJ laughed but was also ready to jump in if his brother went blue in the face.
"...pervert..." Hiccup said in between breaths and coughs while also throwing the leg bone at his brother which harmlessly bounced off his chest.
"Hey, it's the last few weeks before it starts snowing and I take advantage of having the window open while I can. Not my fault you can't keep quiet" he said drinking his mead.
Hiccup finally stopped breathing heavily before he began thinking about the black dragon in the woods. Maybe a little dragon training could help him figure out some things that were still bouncing around his head.
"Alright I'll go" he said as DJ nodded.
"Good, also I'll be sleeping here while dad's away. Someone has to keep an eye on you" he joked ripping off a wing now. Hiccup laughed and shook his head before he took another small piece of chicken and placed it on his plate before taking it and his cup upstairs.
"Oh and Hiccup?" DJ said stopping him once more halfway up the stairs.
"Yeah?" He asked looking back down at his brother.
"First of all, we really need to work on your lying skills" he said as Hiccup frowned, learning that his brother had in fact known he was lying. But was also glad that he didn't know fully what he had done or what he was lying about.
"But if you're not comfortable telling me something then just say so, I'm gonna torture you or anything like that. Also get up early tomorrow and we'll get you something a little better than this" he said picking up the heavy axe his father had left with a smirk.
"Thanks DJ" he said smiling at his brother before continuing up the stairs to his loft.