Let me Live

Let me Live - Chapter Eight

Astrid creeped down the steps, entering a new area of the ship. Instead of it being spick and span - like the rest of the ship was - this part look old and decrepit, cobwebs along every corner, and dust sprinkling the walls and floor.

Astrid loudly coughed, as she breathed in the dust while searching. The cough bounced off the walls and echoed back to her.

Well I guess now if anyone's here they'd know I'm here. She thought to herself. She drew a deep breath in and shouted:

"Hiccup?!" She cried, hoping he could hear her. "It's me - Astrid - I've come to help you!"

And with that, she descended further into the ship.

---Elsewhere---

Stoick had just stepped onto the ship where the 'A' person went. However, the closer he got, the more obvious it was that the dragon on the ship's hull was Toothless. And if Toothless is here then... The 'A' must mean Astrid, and that strapping lad Birger must be... his own son.

Who's in trouble.

As soon as he stepped onto the ship, he started to sprint, catching the attention of Toothless. Of course, once Toothless realised who it was, he allowed Stoick to continue his descent.

As Stoick ran, a multitude of emotions flew by him - disappointment in himself for not recognising his own son, fear for his son's health - as Astrid said he was in trouble - anger toward whomever is responsible for his son being in danger, and pride at the amazing combat skills Hiccup demonstrated when they fought side by side.

Hiccup is incredible.

"Hiccup!" He shouted. "Son!"

As he ran past two large cages - one on each side of the ship - he slipped and fell, colliding hard with the floor. Groggily standing up, he rested his hand on the right cage and leaned into it, catching his breath.

That's when he noticed the staircase.

---Back to Astrid---

"Urgh, this is taking forever." She muttered. She hoped Hiccup really was down here, otherwise all this would be for nothing, and Hiccup could be really hurt somewhere else.

"Astrid?" A voice boomed from behind her.

"Hiccup?" She spun around.

Not Hiccup.

Stoick.

"Ahh, Stoick, hi! Uhh, what brings you here?" Astrid asked awkwardly.

"Where's Hiccup? I know he's here, I saw Toothless!" He yelled back at her.

"Crap..." She muttered under her breath, before turning back to Stoick. "Look, I don't know where he is. Do you even want to know? Or are you here just to make yourself feel better about the way you treated your only son?"

"That's not-!" Stoick yelled, before quieting down. "Listen, Astrid, as soon as you both left I immediately knew I had royally screwed up - I knew before you both left but I just couldn't find a way to tell you both without making me seem like I was faking it. I want the best for you. For you both."

He sighed, and they both started walking forwards again as he continued. They opened and searched a few rooms, but they all seemed dusty and empty.

"I started saving dragons about a month after you both left. I started it with Alvin, we'd go on adventures together! We tried having Gobber in charge of the island in my stead, but that... didn't work... so we went with your parents."

"MY PARENTS?!" Astrid yelled.

"Yes, given how close you and Hiccup were when you both left, and considering the obvious crush he had on you, I assumed you both would eventually marry, leaving your parents a good option to run Berk in my, and both of yours, stead. They're doing very well, might I add. They miss you a lot though."

"Yes, and I bet they all want us to return to Berk, huh?" She said sarcastically and dramatically, glaring at Stoick as they walked.

"Astrid, I have to admit. Part of me did start saving dragons with Alvin in the hopes that we'd eventually find you and Hiccup and convince you both to return home. After the first six months, I convinced myself that it was never going to happen, and that you both were happy - and... well.. part of me thought... you both had moved on to Valhalla."

Overcome with emotion, Stoick stopped walking, and turned away from Astrid to admire this amazing dusty stone wall - definitely not turning away because he didn't want Astrid to see him cry. Astrid patted his arm in sympathy, imagining her own parents and what they must be thinking.

"But another part of me wanted to take up the mantle Hiccup left behind, as a way for me to prove to Berk that what my son had done was significant and would remain with us for generations." He dragged his head away from the wall and opened another door, quickly walking inside.

"That's... really admirable Stoick." Astrid said to him, a small smile on her face, while following him inside.

"Oh, I'd beg to differ." A new voice - a cold, heartless, insane voice - rang out from the new room they entered.

"Dagur?"

"HICCUP!"

Another quick update! I'm on a roll 😊

I'm hoping to keep up this momentum and be able to finish the series soon. I started my HTTYD fanfiction in 2018 (and by this I mean the first one, the For the Glory one) - and now its almost 2021 - its been about 2 years. I love HTTYD, but I can't wait to move on and write something new.

And on that subject...

It's time for 'LET'S VOTE ON PEACHY'S NEW FANFICTION TOPIC!'

Basically, I'm stuck between three options for my next fanfiction, so I'd like you guys to choose which one you'd like me to write about next (I'll also be putting this on my Announcements, and other ongoing stories).

This does not mean that I'll be writing and publishing it straight after this one is over - because of this experience I decided I want to prepare some fully written chapters beforehand, so I can have some on hand in case I don't have the time to write a chapter.

OKAY, the options are:

1) My Hero Academia

2) Gravity Falls

3) The Next Step

These plotlines have already been chosen, so don't worry about that haha. I can't choose, so I'm hoping you guys can choose for me XD

Thanks for your help and support, it means a lot!

Oh - and if you don't include the epilogue, the next chapter of Let me Live should be the last one! So I'll see you there!

But for now...

Peachy out! 😊