That Look (Hiccup x Reader)

74: Saving Shattermaster

We had gotten a Terror mail late last night from Mala. Apparently, she was buying weapons with... urgh, Throk.... and some hooded crusader saved her. Nobody believed my theory of this being the begging of an epic love story between the two. Anywho, we flew over to the Defenders island the next morning and was more than grateful we met at the beach and not in town.

"So, this hooded stranger, he risked his own life to save you?" Hiccup asked Mala.

"If it weren't for him, who knows what would've happened."

I made a sound halfway between a squeal and cough, at this new information. It clearly had to be true love.

"And you've bought weapons on this island before?" Hiccup continued, ignoring my fangirl moment.

"Yes, for many years." Mala nodded.

"It never used to be like that." Heather spoke up. "That island was always a peaceful place to trade."

"Heather, we should go see what those Hunters are up to." Hiccup told her then turned back to Mala. "Thank you for filling us in, Mala. It was good that you sent for us."

"Actually, I summoned you for another reason completely." She told us.

"Hiccup. You are not gonna believe this." Tuff said and appeared with his sister. "Hiya, Queenie. Looking good. Black is definitely working for you."

"This may be the greatest day ever." Ruff told us.

"No, it is the greatest day ever." Tuff confirmed. "I mean, except for the first time I wrestled a boar. Whoa! That was spectacular, or the second time I wrestled a boar."

"All right, out with it." Astrid said, getting annoyed.

"Easy, A. This is too good to just blurt out." He proceeded to drag this out. "The village is setting up for some big crazy looking to-do."

"So?" Astrid asked.

"We asked a couple of the natives, 'What's the deal?' And do you know what they said?" Ruff told us.

"Probably something like, 'It's none of your business.'" Hiccup responded and I laughed.

"Many of them said that, at first." Tuff nodded. "But then, they said it was for The Trials."

"The what?" I asked.

"Oh, come on. We have to explain everything?" He complained ad if he wasn't thriving in the moment. "It's a series of tests to choose a new king. They are totally impossible, and they involve, fire, poisonous reptiles, volcanoes. Basically, any cool thing that causes a grisly, painful death."

"How lucky are we?" Ruff grinned.

"So, Mala, who is the sucker?" Tuff asked the Queen.

Snotlout suddenly came running from the bushes looking beyond terrified. "Hiccup. We have to get out of here. Pronto!" He noticed Mala and immediately changed his demeanour. "Oh! Hey, babe. How's it goin'? I was just thinking about you. Looking forward to watching me die a horrible gruesome death? Did you know about this?"

"Mala, will you please excuse us?" Hiccup asked politely.

"Of course." She nodded and thankfully left with Throk.

"I'm not swimming across some lava pool just so I can become a king." Snotlout told us.

"No, no, no. It's not a lava pool anymore." Tuff shook his head.

"It's not?"

"No. It's way better. You see, there's no way Snotlout could survive what they've got planned." He went on. "He simply doesn't possess any of the physical or mental prowess to successfully complete these trials. In fact, I don't even think he knows what prowess means."