HTLANF: Hidden World

Chapter 7

As night fell, Hiccup and I were looking through Dad's old notes and referencing our map to see where exactly the Hidden World would be located. We had his old journals spread about the floor around the map as we searched.

"Come on Dad, give us a clue..." I whined as I flipped through one of the journals.

"There's gotta be something..." Hiccup muttered as he tried to pinpoint where on the map it would be, but he wasn't having much luck, just like I wasn't with the journals.

The both of us froze as we heard movement above us and dust fell from the ceiling. I quickly packed away the journals as Hiccup packed up the map. He then pulled me behind him protectively as we looked around the hut for the source of the noise.

A floorboard creaked and we saw a silhouette of a man as he poured some of the tea Hiccup made earlier into an empty mug.

"Oh, I hope you don't mind if I help myself." The man said after he had taken a drink. "This is, uh...quite good."

Hiccup growled quietly, to the point that only I could hear it, and unsheathed his Inferno, igniting it in the process. From the light of the flames, we were able to get a good look at the intruder, who by now I had a good feeling was the Grimmel guy Eret warned us about. He was a tall man with short gray hair, a long face, and all black clothing. He was standing by the dining table with a crossbow in one hand, and the mug in the other.

"That is impressive. But let me finish my drink." He said as he took another drink from the mug and shot a dart from his crossbow at the area where he assumed a dragon was sleeping soundly under bed covers.

"Toothless!" I cried out, feigning worry for Hiccup and I's fake dragon.

I ran towards our 'dragon' as Hiccup stayed put to keep Grimmel from trying anything as he finished his drink and looked proud of himself. He then loaded another dart into his crossbow and held it at the ready.

"What did you do to him?" Hiccup asked angrily, fighting the urge to full on growl at the man before us.

"Eh, nothing that he won't sleep off." Grimmel said as he set the empty mug down then proceeded to sit in Dad's chair. "Ahh. Haha. May I? Dragon Master Hiccup, hmm? Do I say Dragon Master Hic-cup or do I just call you Hiccup? What do you prefer?" He asked as he mocked my mate's name, which earned a glare from the both of us.

"And you must be Dragon Rider Kala, Hiccup's lover, correct?" He asked as he was now addressing me.

Hiccup then blocked his view of me. "Don't you dare speak to her."

"Oh, my apologies." Grimmel said sarcastically. "You have no idea who I am, do you? Uh-ha ha. Well, your father knew of me. Now, that was a chief. One of the greatest hunters to have ever lived! What would he think of you? Huh-hah."

He then proceeded to laugh and after a minute or so he calmed once again. "He had it right, you know. Making it his mission to destroy the beasts so that you could grow up in a better world."

"He changed his mind." I said as I took my place beside Hiccup, but I was pulled back behind him slightly for protection.

"And look where that got him." Grimmel spat as he leaned back in the chair, which made both Hiccup and I very irritated. "So, let's get to the point. I am the Night Fury killer. I've hunted every last one but yours. You are going to give me the dragon. Or I will–"

"We will never give him up." Hiccup growled out, cutting Grimmel off as he did.

Grimmel then stood and pushed Hiccup's sword out of his way as he laughed. Hiccup pulled me further behind him to keep the man from harming me. Grimmel then pushed past us and began to make his way to 'Toothless'.

"You wish dragons to live free among us, like equals? A toxic notion, dear children. History has shown that we are the superior species. What if word of your misguided ideas were to spread? It would be the undoing of civilization as we...know it. Hmm." Grimmel said, then he tilted his head the slightest bit and kicked 'Toothless'' tail.

Fishlegs then lifted his head groggily from under the covers wearing a Night Fury disguise. "Did we get him?" He asked just before he fainted and fell back asleep from the dart.

Hiccup then took the opportunity to knock Grimmel's crossbow out of his hand with his blade. "Now!"

The others then revealed themselves from their hiding spots with weapons drawn and glares directed towards Grimmel.

"Sorry to barge in!" Gobber said sarcastically with a joking tone in his voice.

Grimmel looked around the room a bit flabbergasted then set his sights on Hiccup and I.

"You think you can come into our home, sit in my father's chair, and threaten our dragon?!" Hiccup asked very pissed off now, but I was rather proud of him for keeping his appearance from changing.

"This is Berk, and we have defended our way of life from far worse than you!" I added, rather upset myself from what this man has done thus far.

"Oh. Haha. Fighting spirits, I love it! Only, I'm afraid you're mistaken. You've never seen anything like me!"

Grimmel then whistled and dragons I had never seen before broke into the hut and began attacking us. As the fighting was going down, Gobber got me out of the chaos. I struggled against him as we got further and further from the hut, tears in my eyes.

"No! Gobber let me go! This is my fight too!" I screeched.

"No can do little flame. I promised Hiccup I'd keep ya safe and that's what I'm gonna do." Gobber stated as he kept a firm yet gentle grip on me as we fled.

I stopped struggling once I started to see the village and the tears began to fall as I took in the burning buildings as Vikings and dragons alike were running and/or flying about to either flee from the flames or put them out.

This man was willing to destroy our entire village to get what he wanted. He wanted to kill Hiccup and quite possibly me as well, even if he didn't know it yet.

~~~HTLANF~~~