Acceptance

Author: Nightstar Fury from Nightstar Productions.

Rated: M for Mature.

Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD.

Chapter 1: Disappointment.

It was an ordinary night. Stars in the sky, moon glowing brightly overhead. The sounds of nightly animals, and the roars of dragons raiding the village once again. A young boy about 15 years old ran outside trying to dodge being hit by the blasts of fire raining down as dragons passed over and landed in the village. "Ah!" He yelled as he was pulled back as a trail of fire scorched the ground where he once stood.

"What is he doing out here...Hiccup, what are you doing out here! Get back inside!" A stern voice demanded putting him down.

"Dad! I can help!" Hiccup protested quickly.

"No. Get back inside, that's an order!" His father yelled.

"Stoick! They found the sheep!" Yelled a villager.

"Raise the torches! Ready the catapults!" Stoick ordered.

"Dad..." Hiccup tried again, his father turned quickly pushing him towards the forge where another Viking was, fixing weapons.

"Hiccup! I don't have time for this! Go help Gobber and stay inside!" Stoick yelled at him. Hiccup tightened his hands to fists then let them go as he turned walking to the forge.

"You never have time for me..." Hiccup mumbled with a sigh.

"Nice of you to join me. Start sharpening those swords!" Gobber told him. Hiccup grabbed a sword and began to sharpen it, going deep in to thought. 'My father never has time for me, always the village. Hiccup, do this. Hiccup, stay inside, Hiccup, you're in the way. You're not helping...Ever since my mom was taken when I was a baby, he's been this way as long as I can remember. Stoick the Vast's little disappointment, his embarrassment...I've been teased, picked on, hated for as long as I can remember. I don't have any friends and everyone stays clear of me, except maybe Gobber. He's tough on me but at least he cares enough to hear me out unlike my own father who just blocks the sound of my voice out. Sometimes I wonder why I even stay here.' Hiccup thought, his anger rising. "Hiccup! Pay attention!" Gobber yelled bringing Hiccup from his thoughts, Hiccup pulled the sword off the sharpening wheel and tossed it to Gobber as he handed it to a waiting Viking.

"Sorry Gobber...Had my mind in other places..." Hiccup apologized to his mentor. Hiccup had been working in the forge since he could reach the table and learn the tools.

"Look, I know you want to be out there. But if you ever want to get out there, then you're going to have to stop all this..." Gobber said gesturing to his whole figure.

"You just gestured to all of me..." Hiccup sighed with irritation.

"Yes, that's it. Stop being all of you..." Gobber exclaimed.

"Night Fury!" Someone yelled.

"Get down!" Yelled another, everyone ducked under their shields now as the black dragon flew through and blasted down a catapult, the force shook the ground. Hiccup ducked down as a few weapons fell off the wall.

"They need me now. Stay put. There. Hyahhh!" Gobber let out a battle cry running out to battle. Hiccup rolled his eyes as he watched the black dragon fly away after striking again. Hiccup stood there a minute before he grabbed a weapon he'd created to throw a bola. He rushed outside away from everyone and set it up on a cliff.

"Come on...Give me something to shoot at..." Hiccup whispered as he kept his eyes on the starry sky over head. Finally he heard the Night Fury screech as it soared across his light of sight. Hiccup readied the bola shooter, aiming for the Night Fury and waited for it to swoop in to attack, when it fired at another catapult, Hiccup fired the bola shooter. It knocked him back from the force, but he heard the dragon roar out and crash down on the other side of the island. Hiccup jumped up with his fists in the air. "Yes! I hit it! Did anyone just see that?!" Hiccup yelled looking around, no one was even there. Suddenly a Monstrous Nightmare snuck up behind him and shot a blast of fire at him. "Ah!" He yelled running back in to the village.

"Stoick! Look..." Gobber yelled motioning towards Hiccup who was trying to run away from the large dragon. Hiccup hid behind a post as the dragon fired at him again. Hiccup ducked behind the metal support as the fire destroyed the wood around him. He panted as his father Stoick came over and jumped in kicking the dragon away from him. The sun was beginning to rise now as the dragons took their kill and flew off. The village was around Hiccup now as the post snapped and fell down destroying a few houses, the sounds of yelling villagers in the background made him wince. He was going to hear it again now.

"Okay...but I hit a Night Fury!" Hiccup announced as his father grabbed his arm and pulled him back towards their house. Finally Stoick dropped him and faced him angrily.

"I told you to stay inside!" Stoick yelled.

"I had a good shot! You were all busy so I took it. It went down just off Raven Point..." Hicucp began rambling.

"Stop! Just Stop. Every time you step outside, disaster falls! Can't you see that I have bigger problems. Winter is almost here and I have an entire village to feed!" Stoick stated angrily. Hiccup was getting fed up now.

"Sorry I'm such a disaster dad! I wanted to help! You never let me. The other Viking kids get to at least be outside putting out fires, but no. Not me. I get stuck in the forge!" Hiccup yelled back. There was a few gasps, Hiccup never talked back like that. "And between you and me, the village could do with a little less feeding..." Hiccup added sarcastically.

"This isn't a joke! Hiccup, I told you to stay in the forge and look at the destruction you caused in the course of 20 minutes!" Stoick argued back showing the broken torch staff behind him and then the burning houses.

"Maybe if you'd teach me instead of yelling at me, I'd be able to do it right! Oh that's right. You have the village to take care of! Never mind being a father to me, being chief is far more important. You don't have time for me..." Hiccup snapped at him. It was silent now.

"Hiccup. Go back to the house. We'll discuss this later...Gobber make sure he gets there." Stoick ordered walking away. Hiccup glared at him now. It always went this way, Hiccup was done with it. Gobber walked up to him calmer.

"Come on you..." Gobber said softer. Hiccup didn't budge, he stood there with his hands curled to fists again.

"No." Hiccup said firmly. "I'm not going back home." Hiccup stated. There were a round of gasps now as Stoick froze and whipped around.

"Go back to the house, Hiccup..." Stoick said again firmer this time.

"No! I want to discuss it now! Isn't it your job as chief to listen to the villagers when they have a problem. Well, I'm a part of this village to and right now my problem is you!" Hiccup yelled at him. Stoick's eyes widened a bit hearing how Hiccup was talking to him. Hiccup finally sighed as he turned away from him whipping his arm down and pushing past Gobber. "Forget it. I'm wasting my time...You never listen to me anyway. I'm just the embarrassment here...Your embarrassment. The son of Stoick the Vast who can't do anything right...You know what I wish..." Hiccup stated in a rather emotionless tone as he stopped at the house door now. "I wish that when that dragon took mom, it took me with her. Because I'd rather be dead...than keep living here where I'm hated for existing." Hiccup walked in to the house and slammed the door shut. All eyes were on Stoick now who stood there, unsure of how to react.

"Stoick?" Gobber said walking up next to him. Stoick closed his eyes with a sigh.

"Start cleaning up..." Stoick ordered as he walked away. Gobber sighed as he nodded and began getting everyone to disperse and get back to work. Gobber located Stoick now.

"Don't take it to heart chief...He was just upset." Gobber said to him.

"You know him Gobber...Hiccup is many things, but that...that boy wasn't one of them." Stoick looked out to the sea now.

"Stoick. It was a heated situation. Go talk to him after he's calmed down." Gobber suggested.

"No...I doubt he wants to see me, let alone talk to me. What am I going to do with him, Gobber?" Stoick asked looking over at him.

"You heard him. He wants to fight dragons like us. And to be honest, you are being unfair...you let the other untrained Vikings out to help with fires. Why not let Hiccup do the same? Put him in training with others." Gobber offered.

"He'd be killed before you let the first dragon out..." Stoick sighed standing up.

"Oh you don't know that..." Gobber stated.

"I do actually..." Stoick retorted.

"No. You don't. I know it seems hopeless, Stoick. But the truth is, you won't always be around to protect him. You are the Chief, you go on a lot of missions and Hiccup is left here. You have to prepare him." Gobber said putting his hook hand on Stoick's shoulder before walking away. Stoick just sat there.

Meanwhile, Hiccup was sitting in the house with his notebook drawing out a map of the island, trying to figure out where the dragon would of landed. "I'll prove I can be like you guys..." Hiccup whispered as he then left the house through the back door running in to the woods. Hiccup followed the paths, every time he found nothing he crossed it off. Finally he scribbled it all out and put it in his vest pocket. "Why do the Gods hate me..." Hiccup sighed walking down the hill. He came across a branch and whacked it out of his way, it snapped back and hit him in the face. "Ow!" He hissed a bit looking up. The tree was broken, he looked around This part of the forest looked different. Hiccup made his way down further, he peeked over the small dirt bank to see the Night Fury. He gasped ducking back down panting. He pulled out his knife and moved more seeing it laying there all tied up in the bola, the one he'd shot.

Hiccup got closer with a wide grin. "I–I did it! I brought down this mighty beast!" Hiccup yelled out with his foot on it, it moved with a growl now. Hiccup backed up fumbling with his knife a bit seeing the dragon begin to breath heavily. He looked and saw its eyes, Hiccup narrowed his own as he raised the knife over the dragon's heart. "I'm going to kill you dragon...I'm going to cut out your heart and take it to my father..." Hiccup said taking a deep breath. He heard the dragon made a different noise and then watched it close it's eyes. Was that fear? Hiccup tried to raise the knife again but couldn't deliver the final blow. Hiccup grunted as he backed up. "I did this..." Hiccup whispered. He crouched down and began to cut the ropes. As soon as they loosened the Night Fury pinned him to the rock behind him and stared in to Hiccup's eyes. Hiccup knew this was it, this dragon was going to kill him. He waited for it as the dragon snarled with a smirk almost. Hiccup closed his eyes. The dragon roared at him then took off in to the trees. Hiccup panted heavily laying there before he got up. He slowly passed out from shock.

It was dark before he recovered and made it back to the house. His father was home now poking at the fire. Hiccup shut the door and began making his way upstairs. "Hiccup." Stoick said. Hiccup stopped and stood up.

"I...uh have to talk to you dad..." Hiccup stated calmer now.

"I need to speak to you to son." Stoick said moving over to the stairs now.

"I don't want to fight dragons" Hiccup said, at the same time as Stoick said, "I think its time you learned to fight dragons." They both stopped. "What" They said in unison.

"You go first..." Stoick said.

"Noo...You go first..." Hiccup told him.

"Very well. You got your wish. Dragon training tomorrow. You start in the morning." Stoick told him handing him an ax.

"Oh man I should of gone first...Dad, I don't want kill dragons." Hiccup argued now.

"But you will kill dragons." Stoick said with a smile.

"Let me rephrase. I can't kill dragons..." Hiccup stated again.

"It's time Hiccup..." Stoick said firmly.

"Can you not hear me!" Hiccup raised his voice now.

"Deal?..." Stoick said. Hiccup sighed now looking down. No, again he wasn't heard.

"Deal..." Hiccup agreed.

"Good. Now off to bed." Stoick told him. Hiccup walked up the stairs carrying the ax in his hands, he tossed it lightly on the floor and got in bed staring at the ceiling before he fell fast asleep.

(Morning)

"Hiccup, you're going to be late!" Stoick yelled for him, Hiccup made his way downstairs.

"I'm right here, you don't have to yell dad..." Hiccup rolled his eyes.

"Oh good. Now get to the kill ring...I have a few things to do." Stoick said heading outside now. Hiccup held the ax and began walking towards the kill ring. When he got there Gobber was just letting the other kids in, Hiccup heard them talking. When they noticed him they all sighed out.

"Who let him in!" Yelled one of the twins, the female one who went by Ruffnut.

"He already killed a Night Fury..." Remarked another one, this one happened to be his cousin, Snotlout.

"Alright that's enough. Lets get started..." Gobber stated as they all lined up as Gobber began to explain. "The recruit who does best will win the honor of killing their first dragon in front of the entire village..." Gobber said moving towards the lever that would open the gate where the dragon was held.

"Woah, aren't you going to teach us first!" Yelled Tuffnut, the other twin.

"I believe in learning on the job! If you get blasted you're out!" Gobber told them as he pulled the lever down and the Gronckle came out snarling, they all ran and split up. "What is the first thing you're going to need." Gobber asked while they ran.

"A doctor?" Hiccup suggested.

"A shield." Said the blonde haired girl, this was Astrid. Hiccup's crush and also the girl who hated him. Barely noticed he was around.

"Shields, go!" Gobber said. They all grabbed one, Hiccup had trouble picking it up. "All dragons have a limited number of shots, how many does a Gronckle have?" Gobber asked now.

"5?!" Yelled Snotlout.

"No, 6!" Fishlegs stated, he was a larger built Viking.

"Correct! That's one for each of you!" Gobber laughed. The twins were out first, then Fishlegs, Snotlout. Astrid dodged one and then it blasted at Hiccup, he blocked it barely. He tried to run but tripped, the Gronckle charged at him. "Hiccup!" Gobber yelled as he rushed over. The Gronckle sniffed him before opening its big mouth and preparing to blast, Gobber nabbed him and the blast hit just above Hiccup's head. Gobber locked up the Gronckle and watched as the other Vikings formed together. "Remember, a dragon will always...Always go for the kill..." Gobber said his eyes on Hiccup only now. Hiccup's eyes widened as he heard those words watching them leave. Hiccup got to his feet and brushed himself off. He heard talking, he heard Gobber talking to Stoick. He looked up.

"I told you he wasn't ready Gobber..." Stoick sighed walking away. "And he never will be..." Stoick added walking away. Hiccup hit the wall now and walked out of the kill ring. He wandered in to the forest again, going back to the place where he had freed the Night Fury, the ropes of the bola he'd cut were still there. Hiccup crouched down inspecting it.

"So why didn't you..." Hiccup asked to no one. He was referring to the Night Fury not killing him. Gobber had said a dragon would always go for the kill, so why didn't the Night Fury. It could of easily done so when it had him pinned. Hiccup moved from the spot as he continued to walk while in thought. He reached a small cove and looked around, it seemed quiet. He looked down, "This was stupid..." He mumbled then saw something on the ground, a black scale? Hiccup picked it up. It was the Night Fury's! Hiccup was taken back when the Night Fury flew up in front of him. Hiccup gasped watching it try and claw its way out, it fell back and landed on the ground. Hiccup watched it continuously try to get out. He took out his notebook and began to draw it. "Why don't you just...fly away?" He asked then noticed it's left tail fin was missing. He erased it and then dropped his pencil after seeing that the dragon was unable to catch something to eat.

"Ut oh..." Hiccup said as the Night Fury looked up at him now and its ear twitched slightly. They stared at one another before the dragon began to keep trying to fly away. Hiccup left and returned back to the village. He went to the Great Hall to see his father speaking with others, the kids in his dragon killing class all looked at him and the rooms sort of hushed. Hiccup ignored it as he went to sit down. Stoick went over and put a plate of food down and a cup.

"Eat up." Stoick said trying to smile.

"I'm not hungry..." Hiccup stated.

"You need to eat, Hiccup..." Stoick said again. Hiccup pushed the food away and stood up angrily, it made his father step back a little.

"No. I don't. Alright? Stop acting like you care dad. Just stop. Because we all know you don't...I heard what you said in the ring...I'm not ready, and I never will be." Hiccup stated as he walked past him.

"Hiccup, what is with you lately?" Gobber asked now.

"Lately, you mean my whole life? Nothing. It's the same, every day. And I'm sick of it." Hiccup stated firmly.

"Yo dude, chill out..." Tuffnut said. That did it.

"You know what, Tuff...Shut up. All of you just shut up. I'm sick of being everyone's door mat. I'm sick of being yelled at in front of everyone. I'm sick of being told what to do...I'm sick of being teased, picked on, and hated by everyone. I don't need it from you..." He faced the Viking kids. "And I definitely don't need it from you." He said in a cold tone towards his father then he walked out in to the stormy night.

"Man...When did he become so heartless?...I've never seen him like this before..." Ruffnut stated.

"I don't think any of us have..." Gobber added now. Stoick was only staring at where Hiccup was standing before he walked off. "I'll go talk to him..." Gobber sighed. He made his way through the village to Stoick's house and knocked. "Hiccup? Can I come in?" Gobber asked. No answer. He heard something fall and he barged in to see Hiccup collapsed on the floor, blood coating his green tunic sleeves, tears on his cheeks. Gobber moved beside him and got a better look, a knife in his hands is what he saw. Gobber kicked it away from him and sat him up. He grabbed some rags and began to wrap Hiccup's wrists. "What is wrong with you lad!" Gobber asked him.

"I don't want to...be here anymore..." Hiccup cried.

"Hiccup, I know you're sick of the way things are but taking your own life isn't going to make matters better...Now lets get you cleaned up..." Gobber said to him.

"A–are you going to tell him...?" Hiccup asked as Gobber got him a new shirt and wrapped his wrists properly with a bandage on each one, they were hidden by the tunic sleeves. Gobber placed Hiccup in a chair as he started to clean the place up, and then burn the bloody rags before facing him.

"Hiccup, you need to tell him. He needs to know..." Gobber stated to him. Hiccup looked down.

"Why...so he can tell me how weak I am?...What a disappointment I am..." Hiccup closed his eyes.

"I won't tell him lad...But you better never try something like this again...You understand? You're like a son to me, Hiccup. I've practically raised you since you were in diapers after your mother was taken. I don't ever want to have to see you like I did tonight." Gobber said clearly to him.

"I promise..." Hiccup replied softly.

"Good. Drink water and eat something...Then go to sleep." Gobber told him. Hiccup nodded then Gobber left him by himself. Hiccup got a drink, ate some bread then crawled in bed and fell asleep for the night.