Secret of a Dragon (An HTTYD Story)

Chapter Twenty: Disowned

Hiccup stumbles to stay on his feet. Fearfully, he turns to his father as he throws closed the door of the dark Great Hall, but Stoick's face is too full of fury to read anything else. The door bounces back open, allowing a small amount of sunlight to filter through. The chief is turned briefly into a large silhouette, but as he passes Hiccup, he mutters, "I should have known. I should have seen the signs."

"Dad --"

"We had a deal!" Stoick roars.

"I know we did, but that -- that was before I -- ah, it -- it's all so messed up..."

If it weren't for the fact that he was in his father's presence, he may have let his tears escape. He has now lost his friends, his dragon, and now probably his family. His father will never, ever forgive him. And the last thing he said to Crystal, was nothing. He ran away, and then he wouldn't even meet her eyes.

"So everything in the ring... a trick?! A lie..." Stoick fumes.

"I screwed up. I -- I -- I -- I -- I should have told you before now. I -- just you -- take this out on me, be mad at me, but please, just don't hurt Toothless!"

Hiccup would never be able to forgive himself if something happened to Toothless -- to Crystal -- because of him. All of this happened because of him. He should never have tried to make it to the end of Dragon Training. It should have been Astrid in that arena, someone who knew what she was doing. But it wasn't, and Crystal paid the price.

Stoick whirled on him. "The dragon? That's what you're worried about? Not the people you almost killed?!"

"She was just protecting me! She -- she's not dangerous!"

"They've killed hundreds of us!" Stoick roars.

"And we've killed thousands of them!" Hiccup yells. He's never stood up to his father in this way. And he can't stop now. "They defend themselves, that's all! They raid us because they have to! If they don't bring enough food back, they'll be eaten themselves! There's... something else on their island, Dad. It's -- it's a dragon like I've never --"

"Their island?" Stoick interrupts. He continues in almost a whisper. "So you've been to the nest..." 

Hiccup stares up into his father's suddenly interested eyes, realizing his mistake far too late. Of course, it has been hard to keep up, with the amount that he has had to realize.

"Did I say nest?" he says nervously.

"How did you find it?!" Stoick demands.

"What? No, I -- I didn't. Toothless did, only a dragon can find the island."

Comprehension dawns on Stoick's face. Hiccup's mistake count goes up.

"Oh, no, no, Dad, no, please. It's not what you think. You don't know what you're up against, it's like nothing you've ever seen."

Determination crosses Stoick's face. He shoves Hiccup out of his way and starts toward the doors.

"Dad, please, I promise you, you can't win this one!" Hiccup cries.

Stoick doesn't stop. Hiccup rushes forward, gripping his father's arm as if he could pull him back. "Dad, no!" he screams. "For once in your life would you please just listen to me?!"

Stoick turns on his heel, throwing his son back. Hiccup lands on the floor and stares nervously up at his father, who has once again become an intimidating silhouette. 

"You've thrown your lot in with them," he mutters darkly. "You're not a Viking.

You're not my son."

Yes, two chapters in a row!!!!!

Has this ever happened?!

I don't think so! Be happy, because this is the only time it will ever happen!

This was so short, I'm sorry, but it had to be. This part is so dark and important. The next chapters will go back to normal, and if I can I will try to make up Crystal's part before the end. I think I'll be able to.

Well, anyway, I hope you liked it!

Bye!