Men are led to conquest by the black sky and dazzling stars.
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a 15-year-old boy destined for greatness. Born on this island, as the chief's heir he was always meant to be a strong Viking. Unfortunately, If one looked at Hiccup "strong" would be the last thing that came to mind. His head of chestnut hair and hazel instead of his father's striking auburn. With a lankier build of average height, he took after his mother in body. That along with his quiet and unassuming nature made him stand out from the other much more boisterous children of Berk. Of course, if it were just that the villagers wouldn't reject him the way they do. As he makes his way down a well-worn dirt road towards the forge villagers eye him wearily. Every step he takes is accompanied by a snide remark.
"Fishbone"
"Pipsqueak"
"Weakling"
These are all things Hiccup has grown used to being called. Even his own name is often used like an insult. In spite of everything Hiccup cherishes his name. The one his mother gave him 15 years ago. It was the one thing he could remember her by. Before he had even gotten through his first year, Hiccup lost something priceless and irreplaceable. His mother. Hiccup's home was attacked during a dragon raid. His mother, in an attempt to protect him, was whisked away into the night.
Raids happen regularly on Berk. The dragons will swoop down from on high to steal their livestock and barrels of water. If left unchecked dragons would see Berk starve, to prevent that for 300 years Vikings have fought them tooth and nail. As heir to chiefdom Hiccup was expected to continue this tradition. And he would. Not for these stupid villagers that thought him a nuisance but because-.
Hiccup lost his train of thought when a Viking he hadn't noticed roughly shoulder checked him. Contrary to what this Viking expected, Hiccup did not fall. Working as Gobber's apprentice in the forge and some unwanted cardio had made Hiccup fit. Snotlout Jorgenson, Hiccup's biggest bully. Ever since they were kids Snotlout had always hated Hiccup. In recent years, the Jorgenson has begun to vent those feelings in increasingly aggressive ways. After trying to embarrass his target and being met with surprising resistance, Snotlout decided to take a more direct approach. His hand reached out to grab Hiccup knowing better than to leave him unrestrained.
"Hey, watch where you're going!"
Snotlout clenched and reeled back his fist. Of course, no one decided to step in. But before it could land Hiccup's left hand blurred and Snotlout's head flung back. Of course, Hiccup didn't punch him; the villagers might like the heir if he was the type to get into fist fights. Instead, Hiccup threw dirt in his eyes, and the moment Snotlout let go Hiccup took off. Far faster than Snotlout and having experience losing tails there was no chance he'd be caught. Not that Snotlout even tried, he was much more concerned about the dirt in his eyes. It didn't take long for him to arrive at the forge and throw on an apron.
"Hey lad"
The man who spoke was Gobber. Another victim of dragon raids on Berk. He's lost both a hand and a foot but remains jolly as can be. Gobber is one of the only people on Berk who like Hiccup's presence. He's always been a family friend, which is why the chief went to him when he needed something to occupy his son's time.
"Hey yourself, we're starting up right?"
"Yup."
With that Hiccup pulled a few barrels of dull swords over to the grindstone and got to work. There were no major imperfections in the blades of this barrel. Hiccup had even made some of them, not that anyone besides them knew. No one would trust the weapon of a hiccup. Next week they would probably start building weapons in preparation for the next expedition, but for right now he just needed to sharpen. This just happened to also be Hiccup's favorite part of helping in the forge. He had been doing it the longest since it didn't require as much skill. It was a tedious process that allowed his mind to wander as he worked. He made a mental note to put more dirt in his pocket. Hours passed like that, sparks leaping from metal and onto the stone floor, a calm fire basking everything in an orange hue. Somewhere along the way Hiccup closed his eyes he could hear the waning and waxing sound of the grindstone. It told him when to ease up and move to another spot on the blade. In what felt like a few minutes Hiccup finished his barrels and when he looked around for another one Gobber spoke up.
"That's enough for today, run along and try and talk to your father before he has to go."
Hiccup responded with a slightly strained smile and a nod. After hanging up his apron Hiccup left the forge. As he walked down the familiar dirt road, he took care not to be surprised again. The villagers made their displeasure known all the while. And then he smelt it… soot. Not the kind you'd smell near the forge, this kind was special and could only mean one thing. All at once he turned around and broke out in a sprint while some of the older Vikings raised the alarm. The sun had just set, light from dragon fire blazed in stark contrast. Hiccup heard a few screams as he ran. Vikings had already begun to repel some of the smaller dragons. Weaving through fires and rubble with ease Hiccup made his way to a specific invention of his. He had to do this if he wanted to keep his seat as heir but all he really wanted was to-.
"Hiccup!"
Hiccup let out a sigh, never slowing down. Like he expected a large hand shot out to grab him. But a quick sidestep left him home free.
"Hiccup!"
He could imagine the look on their face and giggled to himself. It wouldn't be long now before he proved himself. But something told him to look left. He'd know if a dragon was barreling towards him having never let his guard down. An angry dragon would've stolen his breath away just the same. But this sight was far better, aglow with draconic light Hiccup saw an angel. His personal angel Astrid Hofferson. For an instant Emerald met Sapphire and everything was right in the world. Alas all good things must come to an end and nearly tripping over a piece of wood brought Hiccup down from Cloud 9. Taking a deep breath to refocus. Hiccup went even faster. That was one more reason to become chief. Finally, Hiccup made it to his bola launcher on a wooden stand he built for it outside the village but not in the woods. That way he'd have a clear shot of any dragon he tried to take down. Just as he was lining up to take down a Monstrous Nightmare, one of Berks watch towers exploded in a blaze of lilac. Hiccup was shocked stiff before a name escaped his lips.
"Night Fury"
While he was stuck in his stupor 4 more towers were destroyed. He knew that without knowing where it would strike, hitting a night fury would be impossible. He was already resolved to take down the strongest dragon he could. Looking to the stars he saw the black nearly invisible silhouette. If he did this, struck down the unholy offspring of lightning and death no one could renounce him anymore. He'd be chief; they'd treat him like a member of Berk. He took a deep breath, his hands on the trigger. The exhale took his hopes and dreams with it.
"Please"
The bola shot forth just as the watchtower went up in flames. Hiccup held his breath all the while and even prayed to the gods he knew hated his guts. The silhouette paused in midair for a moment, and he thought he missed, until it came crashing down somewhere in the forest with a barely audible roar. Hiccup collapsed over his launcher and couldn't keep the beaming smile off his face. The childlike joy that overwhelmed him quickly saw him shoot up. Hiccup ran again; he ran like he hadn't just cleared the village to use his launcher. The dragons were beginning to retreat, perfect timing if he could go out and bring back the dragon everything would change. Hiccup let his feet carry him, but his newfound joy was doused, and his sprint abruptly stopped. Before him was the same monstrous nightmare he had considered shooting earlier. Its severely slitted eyes stared straight through him, and he froze as it wreathed itself in flames.
"God damnit"
For the third time that day Hiccup took off at top speed. While Hiccup was fast, he couldn't run forever, doubly so today. Hiccup was in real danger, unfortunately most of the Vikings were elsewhere. And the few he passed as he ran were no help. Hiccup knew running in a straight line would only end with him on fire. So, he did what he did best. Use his small body and mind to his advantage. Right now, his "Un-Viking like" qualities were the only thing keeping him alive. Hiccup ran like the devil was on his heels. Which was surprisingly accurate. He vaulted over and sped through half collapsed huts while the dragon behind him simply barreled through. He didn't stop running. Not when he stepped on something sharp. Not when his lungs felt like they were on fire. Not even when he heard someone scream his name. All of it paid off when he saw a crowd of Vikings. They clearly heard him coming and were looking ready to pounce on his tail. So, he made a sharp right and pushed himself one last time for the final stretch sprinting straight through the crowd. When he heard a battle cry behind him Hiccup finally fell to his knees. His breath came out in choppy huffs as he knelt on the ground. His forest green tunic and brown coat stuck to him. His hazel hair was matted down and getting itchy. All in all, he was a mess and so exhausted he could hardly stand, but not even all that could make him any less excited.
Though it took him a minute, eventually he got to his feet. When he flipped around, he saw the monstrous nightmare chained and sleeping on the ground. On Top of it was a man he knew very well. The strongest warrior on Berk. The current chief. Hiccup's father… Stoick the vast. Taking in some deep breaths Hiccup made his way through the crowd and towards his father. Stoick was in the middle of assigning jobs for the Vikings that would help with reconstruction. Stoick was just getting to Bucket when he was interrupted by a voice he really didn't want to hear.
"Father there's something you need to see!"
It was hiccup with his damnable smile playing at his lips. What is wrong with that boy? Can't he see the destruction around him? Can't he smell the smoke in the air? Can't he hear the distant flaps of wings? In his mind Stoick asks the Norse gods for strength.
"Not now Hiccup."
"You don't understand this is really important."
"Later"
"Please dad"
That did it. Stoick's patience had snapped like a twig. The stress he'd been under as chief made him more volatile in recent years. For a time, he thought Berk was done for until they were saved. But regardless the pressure had only served to make his already legendary temper even more volatile. Hiccups badgering had only set it off, and now there was no going back.
"Hiccup!"
Hearing his name spoken like that gave Hiccup pause, and his lazy grin disappeared. The rest of the Vikings had begun to back away from them both. Astrid the apple of Hiccup's eye had just arrived with the rest of the fire brigade trailing behind clearly out of breath. The Vikings made way for her; everyone adored the hero of Berk Astrid.
"How dare you! Scurrying like a coward as a dragon chases you, allowing it to destroy Berk! Look around you boy, all this destruction is you've brought our people, and you have the nerve to ask for my attention!? And even before this, you've never had the strength to fight, only relying on cheap tricks and contraptions whose messes I clean up! Gods, she said she didn't see a Berkian in you… I should've listened."
Of course, Hiccup instantly knew who he was talking about. He thought of her everyday… Valka Haddock, Hiccup's mother. Hiccup could take a lot of verbal abuse. It was a necessity for him to live on Berk, but while most insults hit him in the strong mental armor, he had built for himself this was different. Stoick had essentially said Hiccup was a disappointment to his mother, the person he loved most. That struck him right in the pride; And you never strike a Viking in the pride. If Hiccup inherited anything from Stoick it was that legendary temper, you could see it in father and son's acid green eyes.
"Liar!"
"How dare you say that! She's what all this is for! This is all she ever wanted! She believed in me, you know that!"
No one had ever heard Hiccup scream like that. The look in his eyes could melt stone. Hiccup finally looked ready to fight like a Viking. Stoick saw it, The Vikings saw it, but only one person inched closer. Stoick matched his son's glare for a moment. Then he sighed a crushingly disappointed sigh.
"And who told you that?"
All at once it looked like the fight got drained out of Hiccup. What does he mean? It couldn't be what it sounds like right? No, that's way too cruel. But as he held his gaze Hiccup knew it was true. This was all a lie. All those nights of planning, building, struggling, Were for a lie. His shoulders slumped, fists unclenched, and head dropped. All in all, he looked dead on his feet. But to Stoick that was just another weakness. How dare he look that way, as if the blame for her being taken doesn't lie with him. Stoick had already made his decision. A choice that would be the finishing blow to his former son.
"That's enough Hiccup! We have had enough of you who can't even look his chief in the eye!"
Stoick paused for a moment and finally noticed the blond that had been inching towards Hiccup. He waved her over and she stiffly walked over to him by the monstrous nightmare. When she stopped Stoick put both hands on her shoulders and knelt to eye level. This was an exceedingly rare thing for a prideful man like Stoick to do. When he spoke, he ensured all could hear.
"Astrid when Berk was unable to get enough fish. Losing livestock, Clothing, our very homes, Berk was on its last legs. That is until you came along. single handedly you forged a new method of fishing. Something we Vikings have been doing the same for centuries. All you need is a couple nets of Icetail Pike and you come back with double the fish. You saved Berk. You are its greatest prodigy. You have already become its hero but tonight I wish to make you greater. Tonight, I wish to make you, my Heir!"
There was a shattering sound. No one else seemed to hear it, but it was all Hiccups ears could pick up. He was deaf to the cheers of every Viking in the crowd. Hiccup couldn't see the look in Astrid's eyes as she stood in front of everyone. He barely saw the ground at his feet. Hiccup was walking before he even noticed. It was instinct by this point. His first reaction under pressure was to start moving. Eventually Hiccup made it to a specific clearing, far from Berk concealed by thick brush. He was safe here. As he lies beneath the stars, not quite awake, not quite asleep, he waits.
A rustling in the bushes tips him off. She's close. Hiccup might've waited 20 minutes or 2 hours. He couldn't tell but it didn't matter anyway. She was here now. In their special place no one else knew about. Her blonde hair shone in the faint star light. Steps grew closer and closer to him. She raised his head to rest on her lap. In the next moment, like a switch had been flipped, there was more clarity. Hiccup's hands shot up to blot out his face as he started blubbering like a baby. She didn't scold him or hit him. That was never a possibility because she was an angel. His angel. Astrid.