Chapter 1

What Has Gone Before Part 1

WARNING: Updates will come as soon as I can write them, but they will likely be slow.

Greetings, and many great hellos!

It's been a very long time since I've written "Legends are Born", and now I'm ready to do something similar. This time, however, it's a crossover between HTTYD and Monster Hunter, two very similar franchises.

The storyline will focus on the TV series "Riders of Berk" and "Defenders of Berk", but with my own OCs, plot twists, and even fan-made "episodes" thrown in. Fun, right?

Before we start, I just want to say that I do not own HTTYD, Monster Hunter, or anything related to either of them.

Let us start the prologue!

This is Berk.

It's five days North of hopeless, and a few degrees South of freezing to death. It's located solidly on the Meridian of Misery.

It's my village. In a word – sturdy. It's been here for seven generations, but every single building is new.

We have fishing, hunting, and a charming view of the sunsets – the only problems are the pests.

You see, most places have mice or mosquitoes. We have…

Monsters.

Village Plaza

In the dead of night, the village of Berk was complete chaos. Vikings ran to and fro, grabbing axes and maces and various other weapons in order to defend themselves.

"Defend ourselves against what?" asked the newcomers.

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third turned to the three people behind him. There was Arachne, the young girl who had lost her parents in an Outcast raid and now lived on Berk with her aunt and uncle. There was Snaketail, the tall teenager who had also lost her family, and had come to Berk in search of a home. And then there was Batwings, a shapeshifting Siren that resembled a person-dragon hybrid with wings, talons, and fangs, and a hideous scar curving around his neck. All three were new to Berk, and thus didn't know just what to expect on a night like this.

"Monsters," Hiccup said grimly, then rose up from behind the boulder and pointed at the village below. The three others followed his lead, and gasped in shock.

Vikings, farm animals, and even wild dragons were fleeing in fear from the great beasts that terrorized the village. They came in all shapes and sizes – some flew through the air, others romped about on land, and still others had come from the sea. And all were ravenous, aggressive, and just plain unfriendly.

A group of teenagers ran down to the village with a large barrel of water and a wheelbarrow, aiming to put out a huge fire that was consuming one of the houses. Snaketail eyed them with interest and asked, "Who are they?"

Hiccup replied nonchalantly, "Oh, that's Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, and Astrid. They're in training to become hunters."

"Hunters?" chirped Arachne.

"Vikings that make a living by slaying monsters," the scrawny boy explained. "They're all tough enough to learn – I'm not though."

He pointed to a particularly large Viking with an impressive beard, who was busy battling a fearsome bird-like monster. "And to make matters worse, that's my dad," Hiccup sighed. "Stoick the Vast, Chief of the Hooligan tribe. When he looks like that, and I look like… this," he continued, gesturing to himself, "you can see why people think I'm not cut out for killing monsters."

Suddenly, Hiccup was hoisted up by the collar of his shirt by a particularly large Viking with an impressive mustache and a hook for a hand. "Oh, nice o' yeh to join the party," he chuckled sarcastically. "I was beginnin' to think you'd been carried off!"

The Viking turned to Arachne, Batwings, and Snaketail and broke into a jolly smile. "So these're the new recruits!" he proclaimed. He pointed to himself with a sausage-like finger and proclaimed, "The name's Gobber! I'm the resident smith 'round these parts. Hiccup here's been me apprentice since he was little – well, littler," he considered, looking appraisingly at the boy that dangled from his hook.

"Would you let me go, please?" cried Hiccup. "I need to make my mark!"

"Oh, you've made plenty of marks," retorted Gobber. "All in the wrong places."

Hiccup continued to plead, "Please, two minutes! I'll kill a monster and my life will get infinitely better – I might even get a date!" the boy added, staring none-too-subtly down the hill at Astrid as she ran off for more water.

"If you want ta get out there an' fight monsters," Gobber said wearily, "you need to stop all… this." He gestured at Hiccup with his hand.

"But you just gestured to all of me!" exclaimed Hiccup. "Can you put me down now?!"

Gobber did so with a little chuckle, and began to make his way into the chaotic village. "Alright, kiddies. Stick close to Gobber, and yeh won't get yerselves killed. We're headin' off to me smithy, where it's safer. Kinda."

The group of five made it to Gobber's forge relatively safely, although they had to avoid a terrible, leech-like monster and a trio of startled Gronckles along the way. The burly blacksmith set Hiccup to work sharpening weapons while he worked the anvil, and instructed the other three to help as best as they could.

"Looks like you aren't exactly the toughest Viking in the village," Batwings remarked, fluttering over to a wall upon which many shields hung. He took a shield in his claws and carried it over to an empty bench, then started polishing it.

Hiccup nodded and replied, "Yes, I'm way too muscular for their taste," he sniped, jerking his head toward an orange-and-blue-striped monster that charged at a contingent of Vikings and bowled them over. Almost to himself, the Haddock continued, "But one day I'll get out there. Because killing a monster is everything around here."

With his three new friends gathered around and listening intently, Hiccup went to the forge window and pointed out the various kinds of monsters that were eagerly trying to tear Berk apart and get to the food that they wanted. It seemed as if nothing could stop them, not even the resident dragons.

"A Yian Garuga head will get me at least noticed," he said, as the purple, evil-looking wyvern that Stoick had been battling flew off with a squawk. As it passed, they could see its wolf-like ears and wickedly spiked tail.

"Barroths are tough," Hiccup continued. "Taking down one of those would definitely get me a girlfriend." He stared at a building from which a terrible roaring could be heard, and then a gigantic reptilian beast stomped out, smashing its way through the wall with its great, rocky crown.

"And then there's the Rathalos, the King of the Skies," he lectured further. "Only the very best Vikings go after those. They have this nasty habit of setting things on fire."

As he said this, there was an awesome roar that pealed through the din of battle, and a ruby-red wyvern soared across the village on majestic wings. The Rathalos screeched and rained fireballs down on the plaza, which tore through roofs, cobblestones, and unlucky Vikings.

By this point, Arachne was looking spooked and the other two had expressions of terrified fascination. But before Hiccup could continue his lecturing, a horrible scream tore through the air, and a loud whistling sound could be heard, gaining in volume rapidly. "Oh no," he murmured, and rushed to lean out the forge window so he could scan the dark skies.

"What's going on?" asked Snaketail, noticing how all the Vikings, dragons, and even monsters seemed to be seeking shelter.

"The ultimate prize," Hiccup claimed solemnly. "The monster that no one has ever seen. We call it the –"

And then the words were snatched out of his mouth by a panicked Viking that ran past them, his horrified eyes on a catapult tower that towered, so to speak, above the village.

"GORE MAGALA!"

The scream and the whistling reached its peak, and a burst of black fire shot down from out of nowhere and exploded against the catapult, tearing through it and causing it to collapse. Upon detonation, the fires seemed to become more like dark fog that spread through the village.

Now even Batwings, normally something to be feared, looked frightened.

"Gore Magala," repeated Hiccup. "This thing never steals food, never reveals itself, and" – he winced as another explosion of dark flames destroyed another catapult tower – "never misses. Breathing in its fog causes eel pox. We don't know anything else about it other than the fact that no one has ever killed one. That's why I'm going to be the first."

Training Arena, Several Days Later

"Focus, Hiccup!" cried Gobber from his perch above the arena, just as a blazing fireball crashed into the wall next to his poorest student. Hiccup squeaked in fear, almost dropping his Hunter's Dagger, and ran back through the maze, away from the Yian Garuga that chased him down like a relentless hound.

"Today is all about attack!" called Gobber, letting his voice carry across the arena. "Garugas are quick and light on their feet. Yer job is to be quicker and lighter!"

The Yian Garuga was more than just that – it was sly and tricky. It stopped to listen with its pointed ears, then flew up over a wall and into another corridor. Fishlegs met its evil eyes and shrieked with fear. The wyvern replied with a similar shriek, and flung its poisonous tail spines directly at him. Luckily, the pudgy Ingerman boy managed to block them with his Sword and Shield, the Carapace Mace, as he ran away.

"Look for its blind spot!" continued Gobber, as idly as if discussing the weather. "Every monster has one. Find it, hide in it, and strike!"

The twins ran past Fishlegs and directly into the path of the Yian Garuga. They tried to do as Gobber said, to stay in the blind spot, but they were struggling to do so.

"Do you ever bathe?" grumbled Ruff as she caught a whiff of her brother's body odor.

"If you don't like it, just get your own blind spot," snapped Tuff, knocking her back with his Lance, the Red Prominence.

In response, Ruff swatted him with her Blue Prominence Lance and threatened, "How about I give you one?!"

Their helmeted heads met with a resounding *clang*, alerting the Yian Garuga. It crazily spat fireballs in their direction, sending them scattering down different corridors.

"Blind spot, yes," chuckled Gobber. "Deaf spot… eh, not so much."

The terrible bird-like wyvern began to pursue Astrid, Snotlout, and Batwings, and then cornered them against the wall. A dark smirk crossing its razor-sharp beak, the Garuga closed in on them. Astrid raised her Dual Blades, called the Midnight Blackwings, and met it with a defiant glare.

Before she could attack the Garuga, Snotlout pushed her aside and aimed his Brazen Clout Hammer. "Watch out, babe," he said smoothly. "I'll take care of this overgrown chicken."

With a chuckle, he threw the Brazen Clout with all his might, but missed by a mile. The Hammer thumped against the wall, and the Yian Garuga squawked with laughter.

Batwings was next, tossing each of his Double Deathbolts at the Garuga. The Dual Blades struck its armored shell and bounced harmlessly off. The wyvern kicked the swords away and advanced on them again, this time with a menacing snarl. Astrid punched the Siren viciously in the shoulder and growled, "That's for making it angry."

"The sun was in my eyes, human!" gasped Batwings, rubbing his shoulder.

The three of them – two Viking teenagers and a Siren – scattered at the enraged Yian Garuga's approach. Its eyes locked on Astrid's back, it pursued her with frightening speed, talons barely touching the ground as it raced after her. Hiccup, who was hiding in a corner of the maze, looked up in fear as the walls suddenly started tumbling down.

Astrid appeared at the top of the wall next to him, the Garuga snapped at her heels. The wall shuddered, and began to fall down. Hiccup could only watch in horror as the Hofferson girl screamed, and plummeted down on top of him.

"Oooooh, love on the battlefield!" mocked Tuffnut from behind a fallen wall.

"She could do better," snickered Ruffnut.

Snaketail swatted both of them. Of all the hunter trainees, Snaketail was probably the only one who treated Hiccup nicely. Batwings mostly ignored him, and Arachne was too busy following Astrid admiringly to pay attention to him. The others were just bullies who took delight in Hiccup's misery.

Gobber managed to get into the arena and chase the Yian Garuga back into its cage. The few Vikings that had been watching applauded the teenagers' effort, while Astrid untangled herself from Hiccup and retrieved her swords.

"Is this some kind of a joke to you?" she demanded of the scrawny boy, who ducked his head protectively when she pointed one of her Midnight Blackwings at him. "Our parents' war is about to become ours. Figure out what side you're on."

The girl stalked away, shoving Snotlout to the ground as she did so. Hiccup cautiously brought his head up again, and if anyone were paying much attention to him, they would have seen a curious look in his eye…

Secret Cove

Tentatively, Hiccup crept into the gorge with a fresh fish in his hand. He had discovered this amazing, beautiful cove weeks ago. It was located in the deep woods, where no one ever went, and was simply the perfect place to spend some peaceful time alone. Birds chirped in the massive tree whose roots spilled over the edge of the cliff walls and down into the ground below, and the waters of the lake shimmered in the afternoon sunlight.

But Hiccup knew that he was no longer alone in this secret place. Only a couple of days ago, he had had the absolutely staggering luck to have shot down the Gore Magala before it could spread more of its diseased black fog. And yesterday, he had found it again, trapped with an injured wing inside the place he loved.

A low growl caught his attention, and Hiccup spun around nervously, holding the fish close to him like a security blanket. He cautiously made his way further into the cove, passing a great, flat boulder that was awash in sunlight. A gleaming black shell caught his eye, and he spun around again, this time to face the boulder.

And there it was.

The Gore Magala.

It was blacker than night, with a shiny and almost insect-like skin that shone like onyx. Its two arms were tucked close to its body, the claws gripping its shoulders tightly, while the sleek, furry wings swept over and around its body like a ragged cloak – at least, one of them did, as its injured left arm hung limply at its side, the fur on its wing messy and bedraggled.

The Gore Magala stealthily crept forward on four powerful legs while its cloak dragged behind it. Its head extended forward, and Hiccup was shocked to see that it had no eyes – the beast's head was totally covered in hard black armor, with two ridges where the eyes were supposed to have been.

Faint wisps of black fog trailed from its furred wings, and Hiccup nervously took a step back at the sight of them. Eel pox was something he didn't want.

The Gore Magala sniffed him cautiously and snarled. It was suspicious.

Hiccup pulled his coat back to reveal the dagger that he kept lashed to his waist. Somehow, the Magala could smell the cold metal, and hissed harshly. It was clear that the monster wanted it gone.

Drawing a shaky breath and holding it, Hiccup, drew his dagger and quickly tossed it away. It skidded across a rock and fell with a soft *plop* into the lake. The Gore Magala heard it and observed Hiccup with more curiosity – at least, Hiccup thought it did. It was hard to tell on something without eyes.

"Here, bud…" the Haddock boy murmured, holding out the fish with a grimace. He wouldn't put it past the Magala to try and bite his hand off. "Take the tasty –"

The Gore Magala lunged, its ferocious jaws open wide, and snapped the fish up. With a quick toss of its head, the fish was down its throat. It licked its chops and stared at Hiccup sightlessly, almost as if it was looking through him. There was something about its "gaze" that simultaneously frightened and thrilled Hiccup. Like this was the start of something.

His hand was still outstretched. The Magala inched toward it cautiously, as if afraid that it would bite. "It's alright, bud," soothed Hiccup. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm… a friend."

It was at that moment that something arose in Hiccup with amazing clarity. He was the Gore Magala's friend. He was friends with the very thing he wanted to destroy – or thought he wanted to, anyway.

The Gore Magala stretched its head closer and made contact with Hiccup's hand, growling softly. Hiccup found its cold, hard shell smooth and oddly comforting to touch.

The boy smiled, and patted the monster's muzzle with his other hand. "Hey there, Sightless," he said quietly. "I'm Hiccup."

He could have sworn the Magala smiled when its tongue flicked out to gently lick his nose.

Berk Village, A Day Later

Hiccup watched in horror as Spitelout and Gobber held the thrashing Siren down forcefully to the ground. Batwings looked as if he had gone insane – the dragon had shapeshifted into his true, twenty-foot-long serpentine form, and was putting up a terrible fight. His monstrous jaws were open wide to display long, thin fangs, his forked tongue lolled on the ground, and his wings and tail flapped madly. The screeches coming from his mouth sounded like the most horrible curses coming from the depths of Hel itself.

"This is the third outbreak of eel pox this week," murmured Stoick, cautiously approaching Batwings. The delirious dragon snapped hostilely at his fingers, almost tearing his hand off. "We're going to need Goathi again to heal your friend, son."

Hiccup gulped. "A-Are you sure her antidote will… you know, cure him?" he asked.

"Of course, Hiccup," Stoick told him. "Still… the other dragons around Berk are getting sick as well. Have you noticed?"

"Yes, Dad," Hiccup replied quickly. "But…"

"It won't be long before the eel pox starts spreading to the village," Stoick continued, oblivious to his son's protests. "I haven't stopped thinking about what you said after that last monster raid, Hiccup, about how you claimed to shoot down the Gore Magala. If you did… and if it has survived… we will have to hunt it down and put a stop to its virus once and for all."

That does it for now. So, readers, how do you like this story so far? It will combine elements of both Monster Hunter and HTTYD – which are similar enough to make me wonder why there is only one other crossover on this site.

Anyway, tell me how I'm doing so far! Review please, and look out for the next part of Chapter 1!