Disclaimer: I do not own How to Train Your Dragon or any of its characters in any way, shape, or form.

Chapter 9

Hiccup crept through the hallways of the palace, being careful to not make any noise that would draw attention to him. He went up the stairs using his hands to soften his steps, and kept moving through the hall once he was up them. He was almost at his room, and all he had to go past was a few offices. One of them; however, was his father's, and Stoick was currently at his desk. Holding his breath and slowly walking past, Hiccup was almost past the room when one of the floorboards creaked underneath him. Hiccup cursed under his breath.

Hiccup heard a sliding sound of a chair, and heavy steps on the floors. Turning back, Hiccup saw that his father was looking at him, like he had to say something.

"Son, I have something to say to you." Stoick said, looking as though he didn't really want to tell Hiccup anything.

"Ok… what?" Hiccup asked, uncomfortable.

Stoick took a breath. "I've signed you up for Guard's Training when I'm gone."

Hiccup stuttered, shocked that his father had done that, since he always told Hiccup that he wasn't fit for training.

"Ah… Well, uh… What if I don't want to take the training?" he asked, nervous.

Stoick laughed, "Of course you want to take it! You'll learn how to fend of enemies to the throne, especially those Red Thieves who have been attacking anywhere."

"But I can't attack them! Don't we need more small home repair princes around here?" Hiccup struggled with what he was going to say, knowing that he couldn't win this fight.

"Hiccup." Stoick seriously said, and Hiccup stopped his mumbling.

"You will take this training, and then you'll learn to walk like us, talk like us, think like us." Stoick gruffly said, tapping to his head. "No more of all of this." He gestured to Hiccup's general area.

"But you just gestured to all of me." Hiccup replied, annoyed.

"Deal?"

"I'm starting to think this conversation is feeling very one sided." Hiccup whined

"Deal?"

Hiccup sighed, defeated. "Deal."

Hiccup ran his hands through his hair, making it stick up with gel. He had gotten it cut the day before, making it a couple inches shorter, but not enough to make a huge difference. His hair was soon sticking somewhat upright, showing off his auburn undertones.

This way, it would be hard for anyone to recognize him when he was in training, if any of his customers happened to see him.

After throwing on a silky green tunic and some boots, Hiccup headed out of the castle and into the courtyard, where the training was being held.

Stepping into the area where the other teens were, Hiccup was suddenly glad that he had worn his hair like that, as he quickly spotted Astrid amongst them.

Making his way towards the others, he heard Gobber announce his presence once he was seen.

"Ah, there you are, Henry! I was starting to worry you wouldn't show up." Gobber cheerfully said, grinning.

"I wish he didn't." Someone grumbled, and Hiccup look over to see that it was Tuffnut, one of the two twins that Hiccup had often seen horsing around outside of his shop, with Ruffnut.

Hitting him on the back of his head yet saying nothing, Gobber gestured for everyone to follow him.

While walking, Hiccup looked at who all was in the class with him. The people he had to spend the next few weeks with.

The twins, Ruff and Tuff, Fishlegs, Astrid, and his awful excuse as a cousin, Prince Snotlout were all there, giving him annoyed looks.

Of course, Hiccup had been prepared for the other teens not to like him being there, as he didn't have any athletic skills whatsoever.

They all stepped into an arena built just for training, and Gobber lead them to a rack full of weapons, shields, and armour.

"Ok you lot! Choose a weapon, and if you'd like one, a shield and some armour." He yelled, moving away towards a storage room and unlocking the door.

Gobber stepped in the room and soon came out with a human-sized brass automaton, with padding wrapped along the outside. In one of its arms was a round shield, in the other was a dull training sword. Gobber heaved out a couple more, and set them in a row.

"Alright, these automatons are made specifically for this purpose, and have sensors in them identify people and attack. You objective is to knock them all over with your weapons, but don't break them.

He flicked on a switch in the back of each of their heads, and Hiccup could hear the gears start to whir inside the robots. Just as they started to move, Snotlout butted in, sounding nervous.

"Whoa whoa! Aren't you going to teach us first?" he said, panicked.

Gobber laughed, and the automatons were already moving.

"I believe in learning on the job."

The teens all scattered as they started to get chased by the dummies, quickly grabbing shields and weapons as they passed by them.

There were six dummies in the arena, one for each of them. Hiccup saw as Ruff and Tuff were called out by Gobber as it hit both of them in their stomachs. He heard Snotlout try and impress Astrid, heard an oomph!, the moving gears, and Gobber pulling Snotlout out of the match.

Hiccup heard Fishlegs scream, and turned his head to see him getting chased down, with Fishlegs' arms in the air as he ran away.

Hiccup looked around again to see it was only himself and Astrid left.

"So, I guess it's just you and me now." He said to her and she looked away, only to see another automaton coming towards her.

"Nope, just you." Astrid ran away, leaving Hiccup with a robot coming straight for him. Stuck in place by fear, Hiccup quickly shielded his head and saw the dull blade come striking down at him.

Closing his eyes and expecting the worst, Hiccup was greeted instead with Gobber's voice, and looked to see that Gobber had shut the dummy off, and was hauling it away from him.

Grunting, Gobber told the disappointed looking teens,

"Don't worry, you'll get another chance. And remember, in real life, these criminals here will always, always, go for the kill." He annunciated his words very clearly, looking at Hiccup as he did so.

Hiccup stood there, dazed, and wondered about the boy from the other night. He sure looked like one of the thieves, but why was he alone?

Author's Note: Hahaha… Erm.. Sorry for the late update and the short chapter… I really have no excuses. Sadly, there will most likely not be another update on this story for the next three weeks. Those of you who also read my other story, Time Flies, that one won't have an update anytime soon either… Sorry…

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