The Dragon Games (HTTYD AU)

Ten - Busted

Using the discarded pieces of wood and metal from the cave, Hiccup managed to throw together a scrappy bucket. Sure, it wouldn't hold water, but it would be able to carry more fish than Toothless' mouth.

Even if he does manage to carry or eat an ungodly amount if fish in one gulp.

This was his contribution to the Dragon Cave, as the adult dragons were bringing food. Hiccup finally, finally, felt useful.

Grinning, Hiccup tested out the large bucket, using rocks and the remaining scrap pieces. He threw it around, swinging it in the air. He made to catch it but it landed behind him.

Hiccup turned to grab it and froze.

Astrid raised an eyebrow.

"Uh... hi?" Hiccup moved his hands from behind his back to his hips to crossed in front of his chest.

"What in Thor's name are you doing here? Playing with a bucket next to my camp?" Astrid hissed.

"Actually, I was making the bucket," Hiccup mumbled.

Astrid shot him a glare, gripped her axe.

"Aaand you heard that. Great. Look, I said I'd stay out of your way, so I'll just," Hiccup pointed backwards with his thumbs.

Without warning, Astrid threw the axe by his head. Hiccup screeched and jumped to the side.

"Are you crazy?!"

"So it was you!" Astrid accused, taking a step closer.

Hiccup blinked twice. "What was me?"

"I heard whooping and yelling yesterday night," Astrid stated, picking up her axe. "That was you! Your scream sounds exactly the same."

Hiccup flushed, trying to come up with an excuse. "Dragon... attack? Yeah. Gronkle. Probably the same one from earlier. Y'know, big, brown, angry."

Toothless would be arriving soon. Hiccup began to sweat, hoping Astrid would take his word for it and leave. 

"You sounded pretty happy, given it was a dragon attack," Astrid commented, showing nos signs of leaving anytime soon.

Hiccup forced a laugh. "Did I?"

Astrid's face was blank. "Yes. What were you really doing so close to my camp?"

A roar prevented Hiccup from answering. Ordinarily, he'd be happy about that, but this was a night fury's roar.

Astrid recognised it too. "Get down!" She forced them both behind a large tree, the bucket abandoned.

Toothless dived from the sky and sniffed at the bucket, growling. He dropped the fish and tried to find Hiccup. Hiccup began to panic. If Astrid saw Toothless, she'd definitely attack.

Hiccup's heart wrenched. He couldn't let that happen.

Placing a finger to his lips, Hiccup gestured to Astrid to be quiet. She gave an unimpressed glare and mouthed 'obviously'. Hiccup resisted the urge to face palm before pointing to some boulders. Nodding, Astrid crept behind them.

Hiccup didn't follow. Stepping out from behind the tree, Hiccup waves at Toothless. He gurgled happily but titled his head in confusion as Hiccup pointed to the sky.

Astrid looked out from the boulders and gasped. With a snarl, Toothless turned to her, covering Hiccup with his wing.

"Hyah!" Astrid charged, swinging her axe.

"No!"

Toothless fired at the ground. Astrid was blasted back, dropping her axe. Hiccup ran in front of Toothless.

"Stop!"

Astrid and Toothless stared at Hiccup.

"You don't need to fight! You're scaring him," Hiccup said, stroking Toothless soothingly.

"I'm scaring him? Who is him?"

"Astrid, Toothless. Toothless, Astrid."

Astrid was still breathing hard, eyes wide. "You befriended not only a dragon, but the night fury?"

Hiccup nodded. "They're just defending-"

"They're violent and destructive!"

"No, they're just being defensive! Please Astrid," Hiccup turned to her, tone soft. "Let me convince you that we can all be on the same side."

Astrid stood up and grabbed her axe. Toothles followed the motion with his sharp eyes and snarled.

"Ack, no, uh, probably best to ditch the axe."

Astrid didn't looked convinced but did as he asked. Hiccup picked up the bucket, now full of fish, and settled on Toothless' back, reaching out with a hand.

"Please, just let me show you."

Astrid hesitated. She took his hand and sat behind him.

"Toothless, let's go gently to the cave, yeah?"

Toothless stretched out his wings and Astrid stiffened, placing her hands on Hiccup's shoulders.

"Really, theres nothing it worry about. Just make sure you hold on ti- ah!"

Toothless shot into the sky, faster than the he'd ever flown before. Astrid screamed, grabbing onto Hiccup.

"What's gotten into you? Come on dragon, slow down," Hiccup scolded.

Toothless twisted in the sky, going so fast the fish didn't even fall from the bucket.

Hiccup changed to a pleading tone. "We need to convince her we're on the same side! For all the dragons on the island!"

They slowed. Gliding gracefully by the clouds, Toothless gave Hiccup a sheepish glance.

"Wow," Astrid breathed. Her grip loosened on Hiccup and she reached for the clouds. "This is pretty amazing."

Hiccup sighed in relief. Titling downwards slightly, Toothless took them towards the sea. His wing sliced through the water, splashing Hiccup. Spluttering, Hiccup gave Toothless a gentle whack. Astrid laughed.

Gradually, Toothless took them to the cave entrance. Hiccup got off first, putting the bucket on the floor. He offered Asteid a hand but ignoted it and leapt off.

"You said they were being defensive," Astrid reminded.

"They're not trying to kill us. They're trying to get rid of us."

Astrid raised an eyebrow.

"That doesn't sound better, um. What I mean is, this island's important to them. Astrid, this is a nesting site."

Her eyes widened and she glanced into the cave. "Why would the Dragon Games take place here, then?"

Hiccup sighed. "I don't know what Alivn's thinking. Maybe he wanted to make the challenge harder or something, as the dragons are much more aggressive here. Whatever it is, it's not worth it."

A strong wind ruffled their hair and clothes.

Astrid gazed over the island, noting a large trail of smoke. "We should tell them."

"Who?"

"The council." Astrid's blue eyes steeled with determination. "Hiccup, we can convince them to use a different island for the Dragon Games. Maybe then-"

"We won't have to fight," Hiccup finished. "I've thought about it. But I'm not sure. It can't be a coincidence, surely."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying... there's more to this island and the Dragon Games than we think. And I'm going to get to the bottom of it."

***

Thanks for reading this part! I hope you enjoyed :D

Why do you think the Dragon Games take place on this island in particular?

What suspicions do you guys have?

Next part not tomorrow but the day after because I have to start school work (bleugh)