Short Stories: Frostcup Oneshots

Under the mask - ONESHOT

This giant island has many names, and many of those names were given cautiously by drunk men and scouters. But this giant piece of rock overlooking the meridian of misery is named Berk. We don't have much entertainment here in this small kingdom, but in the center of it is what people call The Cage.

The Cage is an arena. The core of the city where all of the pests, as they are so generously called, are locked away in and only brought out for people brave enough to fight them.

These giant winged creatures are not easy and not safe to be trifled with. Many Berkians lost their lives trying to count how many sharp teeth where lining the gums of the giant beasts, while also trying to get free from its strong jaw.

This arena is the most dangerous thing in all of Berk, minus the fire-breathing reptiles flying about and burning the houses down. But this dangerous place never really bothered me. I was good at keeping the crowd entertained, I was also very good at staying alive while doing it, but then again, I may just be too cocky for my own good.

Now I don't just perform in front of the entire kingdom. King Stoick and Prince Hiccup are the two most important souls on this rock and it is my passion to perform for them, well, mainly just for the Prince.

Prince Hiccup is known for his generosity and undying attention for the games played in The Cage. The Prince never missed one event in his entire life, and mine was his favorite.

He enjoyed how, instead of killing the beasts, I confused them and posed myself as a friend. Countless times I stood upon the backs of these creatures, and many times I've even stuck my head in between the jaws of them. I knew fully well that what I was doing was dangerous and I could mess up at any second, but what kept me alive was how calm I was, and if I stayed calm, I was safe.

There is a catch, a rule of some sorts, to my performance and that's to keep my face hidden at all times. I made a new identity for myself whenever I step into that ring. I was just a man in a mask, but to the Prince, I was more than that. Much more.

Once I left the ring I was nothing more than a man with a simple life wanting more. I was not poor and I was not rich, and Hiccup was a close friend too. That's how I know that when I'm in that ring Hiccup will never miss a second.

The sad thing is that he's in love with my masked self and nothing but a close friend to my simple life. I hope to change that one day.

~*~

I cocked my head to the side and beckoned the beast forward, testing it. The dragon growled and shook its head to the left and then to the right, stomping its feet into the dirt.

This dragon was hungry, I knew, and I was nothing more than a tease to its growling stomach. I wasn't going to get eaten today though so I had to stay light on my feet.

I jumped out of the way, hovering over the ground for a few seconds, as the dragon charged at me and snapped its teeth at the air where I was. I touched the ground and ran a hand down the dragons back, not surprised as it turned to snap at me.

I smirked under my mask and tapped its nose. The dragon roared and vaulted, narrowing its pale blue eyes at me. I cocked my head again and waved my hand in front of its eyes, confusing it.

It made a deep hum and bowed its head. I smiled and pet its head and it purred. It was now that the crowd burst out with cheers but I ignored it and looked over towards the Prince, bowing. Hiccup smiled wide and nodded his head, a blush as bright as the sun coating his freckled cheeks.

I smiled just as wide and turned back to the dragon, petting its head before jumping on its back. I raised my hands and the crowd cheered louder.

This is where I wanted to be.