#hiccup for the whole ‘setting furious free’ thing and fishlegs for not leaving with his best friend and camicazi for not standing up with

[aldoodles]

have some super sketchy and pixelly lighting studies because I literally cannot stop thinking about these three or the year they were separated during the war

[thanksfornothinguselessreptile]

A Shifting World Chapter 10: Back to the Ship

First Chapter

<–Previous

Work Summary: Things have been going great since Hiccup and Toothless have defeated the Red Death. He has his father’s approval, a group of friends his own age, and is leading the integration of dragons and the Vikings of Berk. When neighboring tribes call together a meeting to discuss rumors of Vikings riding dragons, however, Stoick decides to keep their alliance with dragons under wraps. Hiccup must decide whether he should listen to his father or seek to teach the other Vikings of the archipelago the truths about dragons.

AO3

Rating: T

Characters: Hiccup, Toothless, Astrid, Stoick, Fishlegs, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Snotlout

Pairings: Minor Hiccup x Astrid

Chapter Summary: The Thunderdrums are safe and everyone returns to the ship, but there are still a few loose ends that need tying up before reaching the Thing.

Chapter Warnings: Death Mention

Despite the hours of rest everyone got, by the time they left an hour past sunrise Hiccup still felt on the verge of slumping over on Barf and Belch’s back and taking a nap, chances of being pranked or not. He’d kind of expected it, since he’d been too worried to sleep after the rescue. Of course he’d been concerned about waking up to find the Thunderdrums gone or seeing the remaining enemy ships back for a second attack. But the thought of just how upset his father would be made those seem like the best-case scenario in comparison.

It’s kind of hard to get some rest when considering all the different ways you can be grounded.

Things had been going so well for the past few months. Stoick had been more patient and open with Hiccup ever since he’d woken up with a new leg and impact on his village, and when they talked it didn’t feel like they were two actors tasked with improvising when neither were good at it. But after this fiasco with him freeing the Thunderdrum behind his back, his father would be furious. Worried, yes. Furious, also yes. And for reasons that Hiccup could understand.

And he hadn’t even gotten the chance to get to the Thing and convince the Vikings dragons weren’t their enemies yet. Regardless of the outcome that would have, Stoick wouldn’t find Hiccup going against his wishes particularly amusing.

A warm and scaly nose bumped Hiccup’s hand, and he turned around, making sure he didn’t fall from Barf and Belch’s back.

Sure enough, Toothless was there. He was perched precariously on the small of the larger dragon’s back, crouched awkwardly in a struggle not to block the path of their wings.

“Are you okay?” Toothless’s head was tilted, his mouth set into a large frown.

Hiccup forced a smile and hoped that it wasn’t a sad one. “Yeah, bud. Don’t worry.”

“Oh, I’d be worried if I were you.” Hiccup straightened out to glare at Tuffnut. He was half-turned around, a big smile on his face. “Stoick’s going to be so upset.”

“I know, right?” Ruffnut was sitting up straight, looking thrilled. “He might even yell louder than when we go yak-tipping!”

Tuffnut puffed up in indignation. “Wait, are you implying that Hiccup might break our record?” He placed a hand on his chest. “Unbelievable.”

Toothless snapped his jaws together, clacking his teeth in a bite to the air. Hiccup had seen dragons do this when they, or other dragons nearby, were squabbling. He guessed it was something of a rebuke to be quiet.

Hiccup reached out to pat Toothless’s shoulder to calm him down. “I wouldn’t be so sure he won’t be yelling at you, too. He seemed pretty angry when Toothless told us you had snuck off after us.”

“Toothless, you traitor!” Tuffnut threw out an accusatory finger at him, clutching at his helmet as if in disbelief.

Toothless’s response was simply to roll his eyes.

“I don’t know, bro.” Ruffnut shook her head, looking overly serious. “I don’t think he’s supposed to be here, either. Hey, maybe he’ll be the one breaking our record.”

As the twins starting arguing over who’d break whose record, a squabble that seemed to warrant multiple punches and kicks and more than one near-fall from the dragon, Hiccup tried to screen them out and focus on how beautiful the sunrise was.

It didn’t really work out well.

Since Barf and Belch were carrying three humans and Toothless on his back, and the blue Thunderdrum was flying with the purple one on his, it took a while to reach the ship. When they did, though, Hiccup had to wince. All the oars were out and churning the water at full speed, and the ship seemed to be headed in the direction the blue Thunderdrum had taken Hiccup.

As they approached, though, the rowers stopped and the anchor lowered. Even from a distance, he could see those onboard running to the side of the ship to see what was happening.

Hiccup didn’t need a spyglass to see the tallest Viking with the reddest beard was among them, and didn’t look happy.

Grounded for sure.

Barf and Belch led the way down to the ship in a calm but gentle descent, while the Thunderdrums followed more warily. Toothless bumped Hiccup’s shoulder to get his attention, then glanced at his back. Following the unspoken direction, he climbed onto the Night Fury’s neck, right where his harness would be if he were wearing it. The moment the Zippleback drew close enough to the Hooligans’ ship, Toothless leaped clear during a downstroke of their wings, clearing several heads and landing on an empty space of deck. Hiccup slid down and off his shoulders, feet meeting wood with an empty “thunk.”

The moment the ship steadied after Toothless’s landing, the twins leapt onboard as well. For all the clumsiness of their brawling, they landed on the handrail as surefootedly as cats. Their back now clear, Barf and Belch splashed down into the ocean next to the ship, the boat not being large enough to support their weight.

Getting the purple Thunderdrum onto the deck was more complicated. Thunderdrums weren’t exactly known for jumping with their small legs, and with his wing injured there was no way for him to glide clear. Ultimately, the blue one had to roll while over the ship and the purple one had to leap onto it at just the right time. The ship shook as if caught in a sudden but invisible storm, and Hiccup had to make a lunge to the railing to keep his feet. He consoled himself with the fact that most other Vikings had to latch onto handholds and each other as well. Stoick was among the few not affected. He stood in the middle of it all, feet planted firmly on the wood and watching the proceedings with a stern gaze.

The blue Thunderdrum made one large circle, then two, his eyes fixed on the Vikings below in a narrow glare. As they showed more interest in righting themselves and staring at the newcomers, he finally dove into the ocean and began to swim around the ship.

“Hiccup!”

The sound of Stoick approaching made Hiccup give a quick prayer to the gods for a quick and painless grounding. That done, he turned to face Stoick and gave him the smile that used to give his younger self a chance to get somewhat out of trouble. “Hey, Dad.”

Stoick’s expression didn’t change the slightest bit. “What were you thinking?” Stoick waved a hand in the general direction of the blue Thunderdrum. “Flying off on a wild dragon like that! You could’ve been killed!”

Hiccup winced. Definitely not lightening this punishment. “Yeah, sorry about that. But at least I wasn’t, right?”

Stoick pinched the bridge of his nose. The gesture covered most of his face not already hidden by beard. “By Odin’s ghost, son, you need to stop being so… so reckless, and acting like risking your life is fine.”

Hiccup swallowed, hoping the motion would help with the sudden feeling that some invisible force was constricting his throat. “I’m sorry, Dad.” And he was, he really was. He knew he wouldn’t change a thing even if he could, but even so, he didn’t mean to worry or disappoint Stoick in the process.

Stoick glanced around at the twins, Barf and Belch, the Thunderdrums. His expression didn’t relax, but Hiccup felt grateful that at least he didn’t look angrier.

“Hey, Chief!” Tuffnut waved at him cheerily, as if he was an old friend who’d bumped into him on the street rather than having been caught following the ship against unspoken orders. “Fancy meeting you here.”

Ruffnut glanced around at the ship. “Love what you did what this place. The scratches in the hull really sell the whole Viking look.”

“So how much trouble are we in?” If this was anyone else, they’d be sounding nervous and on the edge of running away. But this was Tuffnut. He sounded almost eager to be yelled at.

“Oh, a lot.” Stoick’s voice had lowered in volume, but no less angry.

Ruffnut leaned over to bump helmets with her brother in triumph, causing Stoick to sigh so much that if the sail had been raised they probably could’ve sailed all the way to the Thing on it.

“What even made you all think that this–” Stoick gestured at the Thunderdrums, the Zippleback, the Night Fury, and the twins “–was a good idea?”

Hiccup had thought he’d been nervous talking to the Thunderdrums. It turned it that they had nothing on Stoick. But he stepped forward. “I figured out that the Thunderdrum was in trouble.” He explained his and Toothless’s reasoning, and how it led to their decision to leave the ship. He made sure not to mention Astrid at all, in case Stoick was upset at her too. Not that he wanted any of the other lookouts punished for not noticing their departure, but she shouldn’t pay for his decision.

He also kept the part about the Thunderdrum’s betrayal rather vague as well, but from the thunderous look on Stoick’s face as he glanced in the blue Thunderdrum’s direction, he wasn’t quite sure how successful he was about that. But when Hiccup reached the part about the ships, Stoick spoke up, his expression troubled rather than stern.

“What tribe?” His gaze was unsettling, like he was looking through Hiccup rather than at him.

Hiccup shrugged and tried to swallow down any nervousness. “I don’t know. They looked like Viking ships, but they had no images on their sails, and they didn’t look like any I’ve ever seen.”

“No clue here either.” Tuffnut shrugged, the motion loose and fluid. Hiccup couldn’t tell how he or Ruffnut could be so relaxed under the circumstances.

Ruffnut shook her head. “They were pointy,” she offered.

Hiccup nodded. “They had spikes everywhere.” Stoick’s gaze snapped back at him, his attention back to him rather than some mental image. “And dragon skulls on their stemposts.”

“Outcasts.” Stoick’s voice was almost a growl. He turned his glare to the horizon, as if searching for them.

“Oh, Thor.” Fishlegs’s voice cut through the tense silence. Hiccup silently agreed with the sentiment. The Outcasts were the archipelago’s most hated residents, more even than dragons, and for good reason. Formed from Vikings who’d committed crimes too heinous to punish merely with imprisonment but not extreme enough for execution, they carried god-sized grudges against their former kin for casting them out.

Spitelout scoffed. “Outcasts don’t usually come out here just to hunt dragons.” He raised an eyebrow at Stoick, his arms crossed against his chest. “You sure they aren’t lying?”

Stoick turned to face Spitelout, his shoulders raised in anger. “You calling my son a liar?”

Spitelout stepped back, though the belligerent expression on his face didn’t change. “I’m not saying Hiccup is, but the Thorston twins?” He nodded at them.

“Normally you’d be right, but not this time.” Tuffnut raised his hand as if swearing an oath.

“And anyways, if you accuse us of lying when Hiccup is saying the same thing, aren’t you still saying he’s lying?” Ruffnut squinted at Spitelout.

Spitelout snorted, but didn’t respond.

“If those Outcasts are still in the area, then we’re in deep trouble.” Stoick rubbed at his head, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but there. “If they’re out hunting dragons, they’ll be heavily armed. More armed than we are. And with this becalming, we’re sitting ducks.” He glanced at Toothless, who was watching him with a head tilted with sympathy. “It seems that we’ll have to ask your dragons to stick around in case they decide to test their luck.”

“So does that mean we’re not getting sent back?” Ruffnut asked, her eyes narrowed.

Stoick sighed. “No. It’s too dangerous to risk sending you both back with your dragon alone, especially if Outcast dragon hunters are in the area.” Before she or Tuffnut could react, he pointed at the two of them, glaring so sharply Hiccup was surprised they didn’t flee at the sight. “But you aren’t to prank anyone or cause any trouble when we are at the Thing, or you’re going to be swabbing every ship in our harbor for the next five years. Every day. At dawn. On top of whatever your parents decide. Understand?”

Tuffnut gave him a salute, though any respect behind the gesture was undermined by how loose and sloppy it was. “Oh, yes, sir. We understand.”

Stoick stared at them for a moment longer before he decided the matter was out of his hands and sighed. He turned back to face Hiccup, face worn. “Hiccup, you and your friends are very lucky to be alive. You may have had the advantage of surprise on your side this once, but you cannot count on it next time. When we get back to Berk, you’re grounded. You understand?” There was no anger behind the words, just tiredness. Somehow that made it feel worse.

Hiccup nodded. “I understand.”

Stoick nodded and moved away. As he moved to the front of the ship, Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut headed for Hiccup. Fishlegs fidgeted with his fingers giving Hiccup a look that was both concerned and sympathetic. Even Snotlout looked less confrontational than usual.

“Are you all right?” Astrid asked. She was staring at Hiccup as if expecting him to collapse at her feet.

Hiccup put on his most confident grin. He was pretty sure it looked more tired than he wanted it to. “Don’t worry, Astrid. I’m okay. I told you nothing would happen, right?”

She bit her lip. “Fighting Outcasts isn’t exactly nothing. I’m really glad that you’re okay.”

Ruffnut jabbed a finger at herself. “Hey, what about the people who actually did the heavy lifting?” she asked, though there wasn’t much heat in her words.

Astrid shook her head with her eyes raised to the skies, though Hiccup was sure he could see the corners of her mouth slightly raised in a barely unnoticeable smile. “I’m glad Barf and Belch are okay, too.”  

A gurgling sound caught Hiccup’s attention. He glanced over at the side of the ship to see Barf and Belch watching them, their heads bobbing and faces set into draconic grins. Whatever they were saying, Hiccup couldn’t understand, but he could hear the mirth behind the burbles.

Ruffnut shrugged, any false annoyance immediately gone for amusement. “That’s fair.”

“I don’t mean to spoil the fun,” Snotlout said, speaking loud enough to interrupt even the twins, “but those Outcasts are still out there. You saving those dragons aren’t going to matter much if they find us floating out here, all alone.”

“I know.” Hiccup wished there’d been some way to drive them off and ensure that they’d never bother any human or dragon ever again. But while they’d been in the perfect position to kill the Outcasts and never have those ones, at least, hurting anyone else, it just didn’t feel right. Especially not while they were running.

“At the very least we’ll be safer at the Thing.” Astrid placed a hand on Hiccup’s shoulder. “My mom says that even tribes under a blood-feud will come to save each other from the Outcasts.”

“But we aren’t at the Thing, Astrid.” Fishlegs’s eyes darted from place to place, as if expecting an Outcast ship to rise directly from the waves. “And we’re becalmed.”

“You certainly aren’t becalmed.” Tuffnut leaned right into Fishlegs’s personal space, squinting as if trying to determine whether or not Fishlegs was really panicking. “You’re more…be-panicked.”

“Fishface is right.” Snotlout didn’t look at all happy with agreeing as he pointed toward Fishlegs. “You can’t predict a becalming, or when it ends. Do you have any bright ideas up your sleeve to get us moving?”

Ruffnut raised her hand. “One of us could get out and push the ship to the Thing.” Hiccup could swear that he saw her grin grow just the slightest bit as Snotlout opened his mouth to make some retort.

But the sound of water rippling distracted Hiccup. He glanced over to see the blue Thunderdrum still circling the ship, surfacing every so often to cast a wary glance at the Vikings within. He was probably trying to keep an eye on them to make sure his friend wasn’t hurt.

His friend that he’d flown there on his back. A feat he’d managed because he was strong even for his species.

“Ruffnut, you’re right.” Hiccup didn’t realize he’d said that aloud until all his friends, even Ruffnut and Tuffnut, were staring at him with jaws at various states of dropped.

“Are you okay?” Astrid was the least surprised, but even she had an eyebrow raised.

Hiccup nodded. “Be right back.” And he headed for Stoick.

His father was still glaring at the horizon where Thing Island must’ve been. But when Hiccup approached, he turned to face him. His face was still creased with stress, but Hiccup was thankful to see the frustration vanish at least somewhat as he saw him.

“Son, what’s going on?” Hiccup could hear that behind the surprise, Stoick sounded tired. He must have been up for hours before sunrise, worrying about him.

“Do we have any rope?”

Stoick blinked, the sudden question confusing him. “Rope? We’re on a ship. We have probably have more than enough for whatever you need it for.” He narrowed his eyes, frowning. “Why?”

“Ruffnut just gave me an idea.” Hiccup didn’t want to steal credit for her idea, but from the suspicious look on Stoick’s face made him wonder if he should’ve kept quiet about who originated this plan.

“If this is for a prank…” Stoick placed a hand on his face.

Hiccup shook his head. “No, but I’ve got an idea for how to get to the Thing without the wind. At least for now.” He described the kind of rope they needed, a long and straight one, something strong that couldn’t easily be ripped through.

Stoick’s face flickered as his caution warred with hope. And then his eyes widened as he cast a quick glance at the blue Thunderdrum. “You think he’d be on board with the idea?”

Hiccup shrugged. “I don’t know, but it can’t hurt to try.”

He signaled Toothless over from where he’d been talking with the purple Thunderdrum before leaning over the side of the ship and waving to get the blue one’s attention. “Hey, bud, can you ask him if he’ll do us a favor and help tow the ship?”

Toothless leaned over and shared a few words with the Thunderdrum. From how back and forth it was, and how the Thunderdrum’s pupils narrowed, he had his reservations. But whatever they’d been, Toothless managed to put him at ease.

Meanwhile, Stoick managed to get ahold of some rope and tied them to the stempost as securely as Gordian’s knot. When he threw the resulting loop into the waves, the blue Thunderdrum hesitated. Then, with a snort, he dove after it. A moment passed, and then he surfaced, rope in hand. The ship rocked back and forth for a moment after the rope went taut, before moving in the direction that Stoick gestured.

Cheers filled the air, even as the rowers went back at their job with twice the effort.

All the energy seemed to drain from Hiccup’s body, and he found himself resisting a yawn. It’d been a long night, after all.

But before he could properly considering finding someplace quiet to lie down and take a nap, a hand descended on his shoulder to get his attention. He glanced over to see Stoick looking at him, his expression serious.

“I’m glad you came back all right, son.” Stoick’s voice was deep with what could only been relief. “When I woke up and found that you, Toothless, and the Thunderdrum were gone…” He glanced out at the horizon.

“I’m sorry, Dad.” He hadn’t expected it to get so dangerous, but he couldn’t walk away when the Thunderdrum needed help. And he knew that Stoick wouldn’t have either. As much as his father was intent on only concentrating on protecting their own, he wouldn’t sit and do nothing about people who needed help who were right in front of them, either.

Stoick nodded. “I know, I know.” He tugged at a lock of his beard. “And I am proud that you stood up for what you believed in. Though I would have preferred if you hadn’t jumped into such a dangerous situation with both feet.” He glanced over at Hiccup, a wry look on his face. “And before you say it, yes, I’m aware one of them’s a prosthetic.”

Hiccup couldn’t help but laugh a little, barely audible even to himself. “Am I that predictable?”

Stoick shook his head and laughed himself. “Well, you can't have that, can you?”

Hiccup grinned. “Someone’s got to keep you on your toes. Can’t let you get too bored with your chiefing.”

For a moment, they both laughed. Hiccup couldn’t help but relax. He’d made a big deal out of nothing, worrying about how upset Stoick would be.

But after a few moments of silence, Stoick cleared his throat. “But still, take better care of yourself, Hiccup.” He glanced at Hiccup, and Hiccup could’ve sworn his face looked more worn and wrinkled than he’d seen it. “The gods were kind with you this time. You cannot always count on having their favor.”

Hiccup shrugged. “I know. But I had to do something.” He couldn’t just ignore a dragon that needed help, even if he refused to admit he needed it.

Stoick nodded and exhaled, as he glanced out toward the dragon. “And you really came through for him and his friend today. But as much as I’m glad you resolved the situation as well as you did, it could’ve gone so much worse.”

Hiccup shrugged. “It’s an occupational hazard.”

Stoick’s shoulders tensed, just a little, and Hiccup could’ve sworn he saw something like regret pass through his eyes. “You may be willing to lay down your life for peace, son, but your life is too dear a price to pay for the first stranger you find who needs help. Too dear for me, yourself, Gobber, your friends.” He ran a hand down his face, and Hiccup could’ve sworn the gesture made him seem older, his face more creased, his hair and beard duller. “Understand?”

Hiccup nodded. “I’ll try.”

“You will.” It had all the air of a command. Hiccup couldn’t see even a god disobeying an order in that voice.

“Okay.” He nodded and looked out to the blue Thunderdrum, still pulling away at the rope.

It occurred to him that he’d never learned his name, or his friend’s.

He turned to Toothless, who’d been standing to the side with a tilted head and wide, almost sad eyes fixed on both him and Stoick. “Hey, bud, did you happen to catch those guys’ names?”

Toothless nodded. The grave contemplation turned to an expression that was more thoughtful.

First, he gestured at the purple Thunderdrum. He was currently settled toward the back of the ship, gazing at the Vikings going about their business with a wary curiosity. And he wasn’t the only one doing any observation; Fishlegs stood not too far away, staring at the dragon as if this was the only time he’d ever get to see a Thunderdrum up close.

Toothless made a sound that Hiccup hadn’t learned the meaning of, which brought his attention back to the Night Fury. The moment Hiccup was looking back at him, Toothless spun in a circle and repeated the word.

“Spin?” he guessed.

If that wasn’t the word, it was close enough, because Toothless immediately said something else. It wasn’t a word that they’d covered yet, but when Toothless extended his left wing, Hiccup didn’t need to guess.

“Spin Wing?” No, that sounded a bit clunky. What Norse word was the same as spin? “Whirlwing?” Much better, with the added bonus of wordplay.

Toothless nodded. It must’ve been a good enough translation.

“Okay, so his name is Whirlwing.” Stoick nodded, and from how creased around his eyes he got Hiccup assumed that he was committing it to memory. “And what is his name?” He turned to face the blue Thunderdrum.

Apparently, his name was harder to translate to Norse. Toothless hummed and half-closed his eyes, an ear twitching as if it’d suddenly gotten an itch. But finally, he perked up as if struck by lightning.

Whatever Hiccup was expecting, it wasn’t Toothless bounding across the deck and peering over the rails at the shields hanging on the sides, as much for decoration as for transport. He glanced at a couple before batting at one at about the ship’s midpoint.

Hiccup reached the shield and pulled it over the rails. It was a solidly built shield, a bit worn from the elements, but fine nonetheless. Painted on it in fading colors was a representation of Thor. Or rather, just his face, frozen in a dramatic yell that made it look like he was about to sink his teeth into the metallic center of the shield. Sparks of lightning flew from his mouth at whatever had gotten him so angry. The fact that metal didn’t make a good meal, perhaps.

“Thor?” Stoick asked, his nose crinkling up.

Apparently, Toothless wasn’t quite happy with the translation, but he nodded anyway, so it must’ve been the closest equivalent. At least, one which wouldn’t require hours upon hours of Dragonese lessons to get to a point where he could explain.

Toothless then brushed his paw on the bolts of lightning coming from Thor’s mouth.

“Thor Lightning?” A bit excessive, if you asked Hiccup.

Toothless wrinkled up his nose and shook his head. “No.” He then blew out a mouthful of air and beat his wings, creating a cold gust of rotting-fish-scented wind.

“Thor Thunderstorm?” Stoick sounded like he was raising an eyebrow at that one.

Toothless hummed. It wasn’t a yes, but it wasn’t a no, either. And not close enough to get a “That’ll do.”

As Hiccup wondered what could possibly be the dragon’s name, Toothless spun in a circle again.

“Thor Cyclone?” Hiccup was relieved to see Toothless shift more toward the “That’ll do” end of the spectrum.

“Thornado.”

At Stoick’s voice, Toothless nodded. It looked like wordplay was going to be the naming scheme for these dragons, at least with their Norse translations.

“Huh.” He nodded at the dragon. “Fits him, at least.” He said this begrudgingly, and Hiccup could tell that it would take him some time to forgive him for attacking the ship, and for probably sinking the other one.

Hiccup supposed that he couldn’t complain, as long as Stoick was okay with the dragons hitching a ride until they could be taken back to Berk for medical attention.

He just hoped he’d be as understanding when he revealed the truth about dragons to the other tribes.

Next–>