One thing I've always thought about is the phrase Ryker hammered into my head. It's deeply etched into the corners of my mind and has never seemed to find its way out of it.
' Yer enemies hate you. So, you gotta hate' em back. '
If my mind was something that could move and think as its own, I think it would've stumbled over and over about this certain subject. My head has always reasoned that what he said is true - you treat people like they treat you.
But something, deep inside me stirs uncomfortably when I hear this phrase. I constantly frown in secret as Ryker usually used it as his motto for a few years - and kept repeating to people whose minds were weak.
But my heart has always argued that, if we treat people like they treat us- the world would be like this. Cruel, vile, and just miserable.
Maybe, just maybe, you should treat people kindly regardless of how they treat you. Because if you fight fire with fire... We all get burned. Maybe trusting Hiccup won't be such a bad idea, counting on the way his friends paired against me but he still treated me with all the respect in the world. ( Before he was fully convinced Imora was a dragon Hunter.)
I gently smile at the thought. What if we could be friends-
"OW." I yelped, clutching my leg in pain.
"Did it work?"
"Is she awake?"
"Focus on me."
"What the-" I pause briefly, opening my eyes only to shut them at the sight of bright light. I prop myself up on my elbow and proceeded to listen to the random mumble of words, although I couldn't understand the voices talking.
I reached for my head, tears stinging my eyes as I blink rapidly. My head throbbed with pain- it felt like every heartbeat just added to the pain. Again, the burning feeling in my leg double as I tried to sit up. "Where- what the happened? Who-"
"Shh, it's okay. It's okay. You're just a little hurt that's all." A soothing voice reached my ears. I was about to slowly sink back and let sleep overtake me, but then I heard a ruff voice that sounded much too aggressive.
"Hiccup! What did I tell you about bringing hostile enemies- oh, who's this?" I succeeded to open my eyes and see a very large figure peering at me curiously. I reach for my dagger, only find it missing. Come to think of it, I felt no metal clinging to my body.
I froze. The man stood abruptly and starting whispering to his shadow. At least that's what it looked like.
Hiccup.
Dragon riders.
Chief.
Of.
Berk.
.
.
.
.
Well shit.
While trying to slowly sit up, a glint caught my eye - daggers.
They. Took. My. Daggers.
Hell no.
I stretch out my hand towards the wooden table next to me and started forming a plan. Well, before a hand slapped it away. I hiss at the stinging as I look down at a very small elderly woman.
"Why you little-" I started, suddenly finding the strength to move my legs to stand up. There was no way in Valhalla that an old woman was about to beat me.
A little after a second later, my head was hitting the ground, my leg laying down in a very peculiar position. The old lady tsked and walked away holding her stick proudly.
Did she just sweep my leg... WITH A STICK. THAT OLD HAG.
A hand clamped over my mouth as another hand forced me to sit upright. "Trust me, Gothi is not to be messed with." Hiccup whispered lowly, almost as if to avoid a hit to the head.
Nonetheless, I continued to ramble. Muffled strings of curses and cusses were successfully being blocked by his hand. After a while, I stopped, noticing it was pointless to even try to speak.
Carefully, he removed his hand from my face to show my unamused expression.
"Where am I?" I demanded, smacking his hand out of my face. "You're on Berk." He said bluntly, observing my reaction carefully. My mouth opened and closed like a fish, trying to think of a reasonable response. I frowned and stood up, hitting his chin in the process but finding my way to the stiff bed.
I stared ahead and glared at a random piece of wood that was peeking out of the floorboards. "Gothi-" Hiccup started but got interrupted by a hit on the head. I watched the old woman move her way to my leg and press down on it. My eyes widened as I gritted my teeth to stop myself from screaming. ' This is going to be pure chaos.'
𝔸 𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕚𝕝𝕖 𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕣:
We stood in front of a ditch with metal bars covering the ceiling.
"Welcome to dragon training!" Snotlout started, hands flailing to show dramatic effect.
I rolled my eyes, a sudden sense of dread floated in the air. My chest tightened with nerves, a few glares coming my way. "This is where you'll be training-" Hiccup started, turning around to continue his 'inspiring and informative speech.
"Huh?" I asked.
"...Training." Hiccup stated with a blank expression.
"...Who?"
"You."
"Training what."
"...A dragon...?"
I stare at him. "Excuse me?"
"Oh, for the love of-"
A roar, loud and furious split the air. I crouched, immediately looking up for danger. However, a rather boisterous noise came from one of the cages carved into the rocky wall. "Oh, she's mad alright." Astrid chuckled, a swing from her ax came as she enjoyed my fear-like expression. "Astrid-" Fishlegs said nervously, watching for any sudden movements and ducking behind Meatlug if it proved too scary. He seemed too much on edge for nothing.
"Nah, I'm gonna enjoy this, right sis?" Tuffnut grinned, knocking his sister out of the way before climbing onto one head of his dragon.
"Right!" She followed his actions and clambered onto the other head.
"Training, my dear Hiccup, is not the right word!" Tuffnut proclaimed making a dramatic movement with his hands. "I like revenge more!" Ruffnut followed.
"Guys wait-!" Before Hiccup could give a reasonable explanation, both of the twins opened the steel door revealing something that may or may not have explained that ominous feeling of dread earlier.
Walking out of the chamber, a white dragon. A familiar dragon, looked up, snarling.
It bared its teeth, stretched out its wings, and roared once more.
Destiny.
Thor, please forgive me.