Winds of Change

Chapter One

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III sat in Saint Emilion, France, fixing a pair of earbuds that had been at his desk at least twenty other times before. He finished, and handed them back to the thirteen-year-old girl on her phone.

"Now, Becky," Hiccup tried to say, but the girl was to engrossed in whatever she was doing. Hiccup leaned over to see what it was. Becky held the phone against her chest.

"Mr. Haddock!" she cried in French. "How dare you look at a lady's phone?"

Hiccup rolled his eyes, and handed her earbuds back to her. "How dare you break custom earbuds for the twenty-first time?" He raised an eyebrow, and Becky snatched her earbuds back.

"Honestly, Mr. Haddock, it wasn't my fault this time. My cat started chewing on --"

Hiccup held out a hand. "Spare me. You owe me fourteen."

Becky scowled. "Mom's not going to be happy when she finds fourteen euros gone..."

"And who's fault is that? I'm charging with tax this time."

Becky groaned, but handed over the money. "Where is your cat?"

"Toothless? Nah, he's not here. I have the crow back today."

"Also named Toothless?"

Hiccup smiled. "I'm not good with names, especially when random animals come to my back door. Toothless fits them all just fine."

Becky rolled her eyes just as Jack stepped into the shop. Becky's eyes widened.

"Is this your boyfriend?" she asked. Hiccup and Jack stared at her.

"Um..." Jack said.

"No, Becky, he is not my boyfriend," said Hiccup. "He's just a friend, and he's trying to get my help to stalk a girl on Facebook."

Becky narrowed her eyes. "I still think that you two are going out. Well, thanks, Mr. Haddock!"

Becky left, the bell dinging as the door closed. Hiccup grabbed a phone from the pile and started fixing it.

"Are you sure that you're not my boyfriend?" Jack teased.

"Since when did you start learning French?" Hiccup asked. "And no, get someone else to be your boyfriend."

Jack laughed, and put an elbow on Hiccup's desk. "Are we still on for tonight?"

"If you're asking me --"

Jack shook his hand. "No no no. For the search."

Hiccup looked up from fixing the phone. "We've exhausted all resources. There's nothing else to do."

Jack leaned in. "I found the entrance to the Library of Alexandria."

Hiccup almost dropped the phone. "That's impossible. I burnt the place down myself. I made sure that no one could get in, including me."

Jack smiled. "Well, I found a way in. Wanna see it? Maybe it has something on where they've taken her."

Hiccup shook his head. "I burnt that library down for a reason, Jack."

"Can we at least check it out?"

Hiccup scowled. "Fine. I want to see where your magical entrance is. I sealed that place up pretty tight."

"You won't regret it, Hiccup!"

"Sure I will," Hiccup mumbled so that Jack couldn't hear. No need. He was already out the door. Hiccup shook his head, and continued working on the phone.