How to Be a Dragon Star 1

Chapter Thirteen - The Fight Offs

Hiccup woke up late the next morning with a squirmy feeling in his stomach. The fight offs. They were today.

Was he ready?

Did he even want to win?

He clambered downstairs, thinking he could slip outside to talk to Estrella and Toothless, but his father was up and heating up porridge for them. "Good morning, son!" Stoick exclaimed.

"Good morning," Hiccup responded, casting a longing glance at the door when his father wasn't looking.

"You sort of disappeared on me yesterday," Stoick began, testing the porridge with one finger.

"Who, me? No, no, I was always there. I had to go outside to look at something, but then I came back inside and you weren't there."

"I'd gone around to the other side of the house," Stoick continued. "Did you not hear me calling for you?"

"No, I didn't," Hiccup lied.

"Hmm," Stoick murmured, spooning the porridge into bowls. "Well, today's the big day! Actually, no, I take that back. The big day is going to be your final. Today is just leading up to that." Stoick's eyes glazed over. "You'll be famous throughout the village, Hiccup! Glorified! You'd have earned your place at the table of kings."

I can't let him down, Hiccup thought, fingering his pocket. But I might have to.

"So, are we training today?" Stoick asked, excitedly.

"Aren't they going to be getting the ring ready for this afternoon?" Hiccup inquired innocently.

"There's not much to get ready for," Stoick said, sliding Hiccup's porridge toward him.

"Thanks," Hiccup said, accepting it.

"Ah. You must keep up your strength for this afternoon," Stoick said proudly, gazing fondly upon his son.

Stoick had transformed the last couple of days. He'd become a good father— a little pressuring, a little boisterous, but Hiccup liked him this way. But how long can I keep up this game? Hiccup wondered to himself. How long before I have to let him down? Would it be better to pretend a little longer, just until the final? He'd be furious if I let him down today, or during the final.... But if I play his game a little longer, his affection would be mine for just a few more days...

Hiccup had never really felt like he'd quite earned his father's affection. Oh, he tried, he really did; but ever since he could remember, Stoick had never known quite what to do with him. Before my mother died, was he happier? Before that dragon took her to be slaughtered, was he kinder? How he's been the last couple of days— Was that how he was like during my earliest years? Hiccup had never asked him, and he wondered if he would ever know.

Hiccup ate his porridge quickly and tried to come up with an excuse for leaving. Stoick would want him to stick close to his side for the whole day.

"Let's go to the ring. Just a little quick trip. We won't worry about the Monstrous Nightmare yet. We'll just review. Get you warmed up." Stoick rubbed his hands together. "Come on, son." And Hiccup had no choice but to follow him outside.

However, once they got to the ring, Hiccup sensed trouble. Astrid was there, with her father, and both looked very protective of the ring as the two newcomers entered it.

"With all due respect, Chief," Astrid's father said before anyone else had a chance to speak, "we arrived here first."

"With all due respect, citizen," Stoick responded, emphasizing the last word, "The chief owns the entire island, and is allowed to do what he pleases with it."