Frosted Scales - When Worlds Collide: A HTTYD X Frozen Tale

Dragon Stones

Everything was black. That was all Hiccup knew for what felt like an eternity. It was like those nights when he tried to sleep but could not, lying there with his eyes closed, searching for the sweet renewal of dreams. Yet, unlike those restless nights, this darkness was different. He could not open his eyes, could not move or feel anything. It was as if he were trapped in the void between wakefulness and sleep, suspended in nothingness.

When things changed, it was sudden. First, a spot of light appeared in the distance, faint and flickering, like a distant star. Then, the darkness around him began to blur, colors swirling in all directions, disorienting him. He blinked, and suddenly, he was no longer in the void.

He was in Berk.

The familiar sight of his home village unfolded before him, as real and vivid as if he had never left. The thatched roofs of the huts, the stone paths winding through the village, the towering cliffs that loomed over the sea—all were exactly as he remembered. The air was filled with the sounds of the bustling village, the calls of merchants, the laughter of children, and the distant roar of the sea.

Hiccup’s heart ached with a mix of nostalgia and confusion. How was he here? He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers, feeling the solid ground beneath his boots. Everything seemed normal, yet something was off. He could not quite place what it was.

He took a step toward his father’s hut, an urgent need driving him to see Stoick, to understand what was happening. But before he could take another step, a voice called out from his left, near the Great Hall.

"Oi, Stoick! They’re coming from the North!"

It was Gobber, his voice tinged with urgency and a hint of fear. Hiccup turned and ran toward the sound of his mentor’s voice, his heart pounding in his chest. He rounded the corner of a hut and saw Gobber and Stoick standing together, surrounded by a group of Vikings. The men were shouting orders, gathering weapons and tools, preparing for what was clearly an imminent dragon raid.

"Dad! Gobber!" Hiccup shouted; his voice strained with urgency. But neither man turned to acknowledge him. They continued their preparations, oblivious to his presence.

"Get all the remaining children into hiding, my old friend," Stoick commanded, his voice booming with authority. "Then meet us on the cliff to the North. We’ll meet these monsters head-on!"

"Right. On it, Chief!" Gobber replied, thumping away on his one good leg, his face set with determination.

Stoick turned to the North and began to jog away, his massive form cutting through the crowd of Vikings like a ship through water.

"Dad! Wait!" Hiccup called after him, running to catch up. He reached Stoick just as his father stopped to speak with someone else. But as Hiccup approached, he stumbled, his foot catching on something. He fell forward, and to his horror, passed right through Stoick and the man he was talking to, as if they were nothing more than shadows.

Hiccup scrambled to his feet, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he realized the truth. He was not really here. He was some kind of spirit, or perhaps trapped in a vision, unable to interact with the world around him.

He looked up and saw Astrid standing before Stoick, her blue eyes bright with determination.

"Where do you want us, Chief? I have Ruffnut, Tuffnut, and Snotlout with me," Astrid reported, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.

"Very good, Astrid. Take those three and head over to the Great Hall. Gobber will be bringing the other children," Stoick ordered, his tone firm but gentle.

Astrid frowned, clearly unhappy with the directive. "Chief, we’re not going into hiding! We’re not little kids anymore!"

Hiccup’s heart swelled with pride at her defiance, even as he wished she would listen to Stoick’s orders. He tried to speak, his voice a mere whisper. "Astrid, Dad just wants you to be the last line of defense. In case the dragons get through."