Chapter Text
Prologue
Cold…
It was his first sensation…
Pain the second
and a strange feeling of floating the third…
A brown and blue eye opened in a bleary effort: anything seen nothing but a dark blue-greyish blur of the ocean.
The water lay dark around him there he drifted; fingers stiff around the edges of a plank; that kept his head and shoulders over the water’s surface. His limbs were numb from the cold water and loss of needed blood, his head hurt and he couldn’t feel his left leg at all, but no warning-bells rang in his head; or maybe they did but their sound lost in the grogginess that his mind was in. A dirty white shirt with loose arms waved around him in the moving water, and a pair of brown-grey pants, torn at his ankles hugged around his legs tightly. His brown hair hung damp; expect some locks that defied gravity. His skin was fair and faint freckles covered his flushed feverish cheeks.
A howling wind blew over the surface, making the waves grow big; forcing a big ship to sway, the greyish sails were torn, flapping in the wind as mutiny had broken out on the ship, swords flashed in the light from a bolt of lightning. Cries from both pain and anger rang around the ship, but were drowned by the deep growl from the clouds as the thunder roared.
He trembled even so slightly in the cold his body already starting to enter a dangerously state of hypothermia.
Then without warning the entire ship exploded out in flames and a strong gust of wind hit out over the ocean. He flinched at the heat that the explosion had created and slowly turned his head, still in pain, seeing how the remains of the ship sank, dragging its crew into the depths of the dark waters; bubbles kept going for a moment as the ship sank, before noting displayed the ships existence, except rubble.
* * *
The sky was bright, no clouds as far as the eye could see, and a calm ocean breeze tugged at the red sails of the black tarred ship. In the front; the figurehead was a detail-rich dragon, the front legs in a threatening pose and the mouth wide open; ready to shoot a blast that was never going to happen, ivory teeth were visible and shone in the light, the eyes had small pupils and was in emerald green, the rest of the dragon were black with some lighter parts here and there but it melted together with the rest of the ship.
The sails had a sewn marking of a dragon on them as well and not just any dragon… a Night Fury: the most mystical and rare of them all.
The captains brown hair danced in the wind. He was dressed in a plain short-sleeved green shirt with buttons going from the wide V neck to his left hip. Over his waist a brown waistband was bound and over it two belts; a black compass hung from one of them in a silver chain, a third belt went from his left shoulder to his right hip. Over all this he wore a black coat that was red on the inside that reached his knees. Around his neck, an animal’s tooth hang; belonging to a dragon, the only Night Fury he’d ever seen; and it had been nothing but bones. Brown loose pants covered his legs and dark brown boots had his fee- foot, in its grasp. Where the other foot should have been a wooden peg-leg took over; the wood greyish form age and sun and had an iron-plate at the end to keep the wood from being worn down. His grass green eyes gazed out over the blue ocean, as the sun warmed his freckle covered face as he stood at the helm hands resting on the dark oiled wheel.
“Rapunzel, how close is it to the next island?” he asked, not turning around to the woman, who stood bent over a big world map. Her hair was long, reaching to her ankles; and it was in the most beautiful of gold, reflecting the sun’s rays making it seem to glow; she wore a light pink blouse with wide arms that turned tight at her wrists: her pale shoulders and collarbones left exposed, over the blouse she wore a corset in a deeper shade of purple that had two bands going up over her shoulders. A chain in silver hung around her neck with a golden flowerlike sun fastened to it. Around her head a purple head band was bound, some locks of her hair going over it but most was under it being kept from her face. Black tights covered her legs, as knee high, high-heeled boots, in a deep colour held her feet.
Rapunzel lifted her head to look at him. She was the ship’s doctor and navigator and sometimes, even the chef. In one corner of the map, her chameleon, Pascal relaxed, enjoying the warmth from the sun.
“About three days, if the wind doesn’t change.” She answered; something then caught her eye; she turned her head to the side, looking out over the calm water. She walked to the railing, peering out, moving a hand to block the sun to see better.
“What is it?” Hiccup asked, now looking at her.
“I… I don’t know.” she answered. “It could just have been a sea animal.”
“Ay, Hiccup!” a woman’s voice suddenly echoed over the ship. Hiccup looked up to the crow’s nest where the red-haired girl stood. Her red-orange disobeying hair were blowing in the wind; she wore a white blouse similar to Rapunzel’s, a brown belt at her waist made the start of her deep brown tights, a green-blue corset was around her torso ending just before her breasts. She wore grey-brownish high-heeled boots that reached to just under her knees, over all this she wore a deep green jacket, and around her neck a band was bound along with her silver pendant; with tree bears carved into it, the carves painted green. Freckles covered her cheeks; she held a binocular in her hands, placed at her eye as she looked out over the ocean.
“What is it Merida?” he called back.
“A group of seagulls, cap’ an’ it’s not a school of fish their gathered around, it’s ay person!”
“What?” Hiccup heard Rapunzel gasp out. He looked out to the side scanning the waters till he saw what the others had seen. Slowly it drifted towards them.
“Eugene! Aster! Take the dinghy and see if there’s still life in the shipwrecked one!” Hiccup ordered. Aster; a tall dark skinned man with green eyes nodded. The man wore noting on his upper body expect the straps for some boomerangs, around his neck a band of grey-bluish pearls hung along with tree animal teeth. On his left breast a white mark in the form of a hand was painted, and on his arms the blue tattoos of his tribe markings was visible, around his wrists two armbands in a pale golden colour with grass under them, he wore a brown band around his head and his blue-grey hair was gathered in a ponytail. Around his waist a blue shawl was bound, with a brown belt over it. He wore grey pants and brown-greyish boots. Eugene, on the other hand sighed tiredly, but did as he was ordered. He wore a white v-necked shirt with loose arms that gathered a bit over his wrists to become tighter before turning loose again. Over it he wore a green-blue short armed tunic that was opened at his chest, a golden band leaped around the edges of the short sleeves and the ends of the tunic. Over it he had a band bound with a thick belt over. Around his legs brown pants hide his legs, before a pair of brown boots took over. His dark brown hair was moving slowly in the wind.
Both of them took the dinghy and moved it out over the railing, before both stepped inside taking the ropes in their hands and slowly let themselves descend down to the surface. Aster took the oars and started to push towards the shipwrecked.
After a while Aster stopped to paddle and let the dinghy glide up to a stop next to the person.
“Is he still alive?” Eugene asked looking down at the pale boy, Aster took one oar and poked the person in the waters, a weak groan come from it.
“He’s alive, but barely.” the Pooka said putting down the oars. “Come on, and help me get him on-board.” Eugene took a hold of the boys left arm while Aster took the other they heaved the boy up and put him down on the boat, they finally got a full look at him. A wet cough escaped the boy’s lips, Eugene winched when he saw the state the boy was in.
“We better hurry or we will have a corpse on our hands.” He muttered, sinking down next to the boy taking of his belt and the band before placing his tunic over the boy, trying to make him get warm again, by rubbing his hands over the boy to create friction. He was the first to notice when the boy’s eyes open. “Aster he’s waking up.” He said sitting up a bit more almost turning his head around, he never let his eyes leave the boy.
“Then try to get contact with him.” come the reply in a growl from behind him.
“He got funny looking eyes; they’re not in the same colour.” Eugene chuckled
“I don’t care!” Aster pushed harder with the oars glancing at the boy. “Are you sure he’s fully awake? Stop finding him funny and keep him alive you moron.”
“Ay, ay… no need to get irritated.” Eugene muttered bending forward again moving a hand before the boys eyes trying to get a reaction. “Hey… are you okay?”
“Of course he’s not okay!” Aster snapped.
“Oh shut up.” Eugene snapped glaring back at the Pooka, before returning his mind to the boy; “If you can hear me blink two times.” noting… the boy just looked at him with tired feverish eyes. Eugene tried to make him stay conscious but was not able to when the boy’s eyes closed and his head lolled to the side, just as they got back to the ship.
* * *
“How is the shipwrecked doing?” Hiccups head looked down over the railing.
“Not good mate, he’s barely hanging on. I’m surprised he’s not dead yet.” Aster answered as the rope ladder was thrown down to them.
“Tell Punz to get her medicines and herbs ready.” Eugene shouted as he helped Aster get the boy onto his stomach, binding his arms so that they hugged around the Pooka’s throat, before Aster started to climb, one hand holding the boy, while the other held the ladder, the boy was cold.
As he reached the railing Nicholas took the boy so that the Pooka could climb over. He was a big man, oldest one in the crew, with a red shirt with a wide collar and rolled up sleeves, revealing two tattoos, the right one: a compass and left one: an anchor. He wore a black bandana over his brown short hair; his shin was covered in a brown pointy beard and a moustache. Around his stomach a big waistband was bound made from many different pieces sewn together, all of them holding a story to tell. Grey loose pants covered his legs as a pair of dark-grey shoes took over his feet. Rapunzel hurried to the boy just having to glance at him, before she gestured for Nicholas to take the boy and follow her, she was just about to go down to the lover section of the boat, when Hiccup called out to her.
“Place him in my cabin, there’s more space there and you can keep a better look on him with the light from the window.” she nodded in a thanks before she walked to the door that was under the wheel. Hiccup stayed to help Eugene and Aster to get the dinghy up from the waters.
“Now what do we do?” Eugene asked as he pulled up the ladder.
“We wait for Rapunzel to return, with a report on the boy’s state.” Hiccup answered, sitting down on the bench that went around the main mast, crossing his legs. Toothless stood up from there he had lied under the table with the map; he stretched his long furry body and walked down the stairs and over to Hiccup, his left hind leg was a peg-leg just like Hiccup’s but it was in a darker colour, and more animalistic. The big black panther nuzzled his head against Hiccup’s side, purring as Hiccup started to scratch him behind the ear “You really are nothing but a big kitten.” Hiccup chuckled.
Aster sighed there he stood stretching his shoulders; he was not feeling like getting sore muscles out in the middle of the ocean. Merida looked down from the crow’s nest sighing before she returned her eyes to the ocean, looking around to make sure they didn’t hit a rock or cliff, or getting a surprise attack from another pirate ship.
The sky was starting to get a pink colour when Nicholas came out from the cabin. He sighed before he walked up to Hiccup who had stood up, when he came out.
“News?” the captain asked.
“Rapunzel says he will be fine, but she wants someone to stay by his side during the night, if he gets worse.” the northern accent hung heavy over Nicholas words. Hiccup nodded. “I will go and make dinner, no?”
“Yes, that’s sounds good, Nicholas.” Hiccup smiled at him and Nicholas loud laughter echoed out over the ocean, before he made his way to the kitchen that was in the front of the ship, below deck.
Hiccup opened the door to his cabin, the boy lied in his bed, bandages covered his head as blankets covered his body, and a wet piece of cloth was folded over his forehead. Hiccup cleared his throat; making Rapunzel look up from there she sat on a chair next to the bed.
“Hiccup...” She smiled tiredly at him.
“How is he?”
“He got a fever, his body temperature is low, he lost a lot of blood; but not in need of a transfusion, and he’s got a terrible wound on his leg and head.” Rapunzel lifted her hand. “But he’s getting better, slowly. Sorry Hiccup, but he will seize your bed for the time being.” Hiccup waved his hand and smiled.
“Don’t worry about it Rapunzel. I can sleep with the others just as well.” Toothless, had followed Hiccup inside the cabin and now walked up to the bed, his green eyes eyed the boy with curiosity, his pupils wide; he placed his paws on the edge sniffing at the boy. He smelled of blood and smoke and well… wet human. Toothless looked at Hiccup giving away a growling sound from the depths of his throat.
“He will be fine bud, don’t worry.” the bell that signalled that the food was ready started to ring. “Toothless keep an eye on him.” the panther nodded and sat down at the side of the bed to guard the human.
* * *