If We Hold on Together
On Dragon Island in the beginning of summer, Edelweiss and her four dragonets were gathered around the tide pools. They went there everyday, and each time was different. They were the best of friends and planed to be forever.
Edelweiss was almost six years old. She had flowing black hair and vivd emerald green eyes. She had on a teal t-shirt, kaki shorts, and sandals. She had been born with dragon's blood in her veins. She was one of the only three humans in the world that could speak Dragontongue, the other two being her parents Serenity and Chris. She loved her family more than anything.
Edelweiss's riding dragon was Black Widow. She was the rarest dragon in the world. She was half Night Fury and half Blackfang. She had the sonar flaps, eyes, wings, tail, fins, and body of a Night Fury, and like a Night Fury her teeth were retractable; she had a long muscular neck, the long legs of a wolf, the talons of a lizard, a narrow head with a square forehead. Her teeth were black and very poisonous, one bite would kill anything in less than an instant. She was glossy black, with red eyes and red hour glass shape on her forehead. She wore a black head plate that was covered in spider web engravings. On the forehead was the engraving of a black spider with the red hourglass shape on its abdomen.
The other female was Princess Avalon. She was teal green with violet purple horns and spines, and her eyes were lavender. She was a Whippertail where the last third of her tail had no bones, just solid muscles. It was very flexible and could be used to grab things, and could be used for a whip. It was covered in tiny barbs that were smaller than a human eyelash and sharper than fish hooks. On her head was a purple head plate that doubled as her crown. It had a celtic design of a maple leaf on the forehead. She was born with the gift of magic, which she had fully mastered. She was next in line to be the Dragon Queen like her mother Aurora.
Avalon's brother, Prince Apollo, was also born with the gift of magic. He was blood red with gold horns, spines, talons, and eyes. His head plate was darker red with the gold insignia of a dolphin leaping over a lyre, surrounded by a wreath. He was next in line to be the Prime Minister like is uncle Tenor.
The oldest of the bunch was an orphaned young dragonet named Eider. He was a Whipfang. He had a Whipperfang's tail, and black venomous teeth like a Blackfang. He was a vivid shiny purple with black horns, spines, and talons. His eyes were amber gold. His head plate/crown was also amber with a king eider duck on the forehead. He had been orphaned when a group of humans shot down and killed his parents. He was still traumatized by it and missed his parents a lot. He was being looked after by Ruby and Harmony. Ruby had raised Serenity since she was younger than Edelweiss. As a result Eider saw Serenity as a sister, and Edelweiss as a niece.
They were currently playing Catch the Crab. The terrain was too rocky and slippery for Edelweiss, so she had to ride one of the dragonets which at the moment was Eider. Avalon had the crab and ran from pool to pool splashing water everywhere. Black Widow was hot on her heels. Then Eider cut her came out of no where and cut her off, forcing her to slow down. Edelweiss snagged the crab from Avalon's jaws, and Eider took off. Edelweiss held it for him, if he held it the crab would be killed. But then suddenly the crab pinched Edelweiss's delicate fingers. She screamed, as it hurt so bad. Eider skidded to a stop, knee deep in one of the pools. The others caught up.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Eider asked looking over his wing.
"The crab is on my finger, and it won't let go," Edelweiss wailed. She tried to pry her fingers out of the crab's claws. It was holding on with all it's might. Eider knelt down and Black Widow helped Edelweiss off Eider's back.
"I could bite it," Black Widow suggested.
"You're talking like a human," said Apollo. "We want to get it off with out hurting it."
"Just set it on the ground," Avalon said. "It'll let go on its own." Edelweiss set the crab on a nearby rock. Once it was on solid ground the crab let go and scuttled off. Edelweiss looked at her fingers. The index and middle finger were both cut and bleeding.
"Here, let me see," Avalon said softly, she had Aurora's motherly voice. Edelweiss held out her hand. Avalon sat on her haunches and held her hand, examining it. She covered it with her other paw and whispered an incantation. She let go and Edelweiss looked at her fingers. They had been healed, and they no longer hurt.
"Thank you," she said. She hugged Avalon, and the Princess purred.
"Should we head home?" asked Apollo. "It's almost high tide."
"Well, when the tide comes in we'll go play on the beach near the throne room," Eider said.
"I know," said Black Widow. "We can have race through the island to see who gets to the beach first."
"Why bother, we all know you're going to win," said Eider. Black Widow hissed at him. Then she tackled him into a shallow pool. She pinned him down growling.
"That is the same type of ridicule my father had to listen to when he was my age," she said.
"That's enough Black Widow," Avalon said with real authority. "Eider meant you, and your father no offense." Black Widow relaxed a bit and let Eider stand up. At that moment the tide came in and washed over the dragonets' talons. Edelweiss got back on Eider. They took off running towards the beach.
When they got there they slowed to a halt. The sky was growing grey with storm clouds. The ocean was choppy and the smell of brine was in the air. Dragons of all types were flying over the island calling to each other. The dragonets watched them for a bit.
"I can't wait until we get our thrones," said Apollo.
"Mama says we don't get our thrones until we unlock out titan wing," Black Widow said.
"Who exactly says you get to be the queen?" asked Eider. "And Apollo only gets the position of Prime Minister?"
"It's tradition that the position of King or Queen goes to the eldest offspring of the current King or Queen," Avalon said. "But since Mom and Dad's eldest offspring is human, the tradition has to be bent a little. I hatched before Apollo did."
"So humans can't occupy the Draconian thrones?" Apollo asked.
"Correct," Avalon said. "If they do, that means the human race has taken over the entire planet."
"Good to know Draco draws the line somewhere," said Black Widow. "And you don't mind being just the Prime Minister."
"Uncle Tenor told me all the cool things I'll get to do," Apollo said. "Like I get to order about the town leaders and work with them to come up with anything that would make the country more prosperous."
"So how does this work?" Edelweiss asked.
"The four of us run the country together," Avalon said. "And we work with the leaders of the dragon squadrons, to make sure our kind doesn't go extinct. The dragons of the squadrons report to their leaders, the leaders report to the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister reports to the King and Queen. Unless we're in a war, then everyone reports to the Captain of the Guard. The Captain of the Guard gets to command all the squadron leaders in battle, including us. She also commands the border guards who are stationed on the wall that marks our borders. She's also judge and jury for any criminals that are caught and brought to the castle by those guards."
"Wow," said Edelweiss. "What do I get to do?" The dragonets looked at each other.
"Well, that's up to you?" said Avalon. "Do you want to be a soldier like your father or a dragon healer like your mother?"
"Maybe I can be a spy or something," Edelweiss said. "Break dragons out of their cages, and things like that. So in other words, I'll be both." The dragonets smiled.
"Okay then," Apollo said. "We know what our rolls are going to be, we should get a chance to try them out."
"How?" asked Black Widow.
"Don't know," said Avalon. "Something will come up. But in the meantime, we should go inside it's about to rain." She lead the way towards the throne room where their elders were waiting.
"We're going to Berk tomorrow," said Apollo. "Maybe we can hang out with Hegan."
"Good idea," said Avalon.
"As long as that which doesn't come near us with that stick," Black Widow hissed.
"Don't bother her then," said Eider. He broke into a canter as they neared the ivory doors.
The next day the Draconians headed for Berk for their annual Berk vs, Draconia dragon race. The dragonets were excited. Aurora had used her magic to put everyone's war paint on. Ruby and Harmony were joining the races this time. Ruby had neon blue spots all over his body. Harmony has black zebra stripes all over her body. She refused to have her wings painted as the paint would stain her feathers and it would never wash out.
They landed in the plaza. The Vikings were setting up the stands. Hiccup was putting red paint on Toothless. They both looked up when the Draconians landed and folded their wings.
"You're a bit early, we just started setting up," Hiccup said.
"Well then we'll help you set up," Re said. "What still needs to be done?"
"The sheep need to be brought down from Sven's farm and into the pen next to the sheep launcher," Hiccup said.
"Can we do that? We're in the mood for chasing things," said Eider.
"Go ahead," said Hiccup. The dragonets looked up at Aurora, who nodded her approval.
The dragonets spread their wings and flew to the farm where the sheep were penned. Edelweiss was riding Avalon. They landed at the farmlands and spotted the sheep. Black Widow climbed over the fence like a spider, then crept up on the sheep. The others were stationed at the gate. Black Widow let out a loud roar which startled the sheep. They scattered around the paddock. Apollo and Eider opened the gate and ran in to help Black Widow herd the sheep out of the paddock. When they ran out Avalon joined them. The sheep ran towards the village, the dragonets pushing them towards it. The sheep were fast, but the dragonets were faster. They let out loud roars to keep the sheep running. Every once in a while a sheep would break off from the herd, only to have the closest dragonet chase it back in line.
Soon they reached the plaza and pushed the sheep into the pen next to the sheep launcher. Gobber closed the gate, the sheep started running in circles for a bit. The dragonets kept roaring at them.
"Alright save it for the race you lot," Gobber said. The dragonets left the pen and roamed about the plaza looking for something to do.
"Do you guys think I'm old enough for a rider yet?" asked Black Widow. Avalon looked her up and down.
"I think so," she said. "But there's only one way to be positive." She looked over her wing at Edelweiss. She dismounted Avalon and carefully mounted Black Widow, who was already wearing her saddle. When she was in place, Black Widow stood up.
"Well I guess you are old enough," said Apollo. Black Widow beamed.
"We should try flying," Edelweiss said.
"Good thinking," Black Widow said. The other dragonets backed up. Black Widow spread her wings and was about to take off.
"What are you lot up to?" said someone behind them. Black Widow spun around and saw Toothless and Stormfly looking down at them.
"Sorry sir," said Black Widow. "I was seeing if I'm old enough for a rider."
"You certainly look old enough," said Stormfly.
"Do you plan on racing?" Toothless asked Edelweiss.
"Mother doesn't want me to race, at least until these dragonets reach maturity," Edelweiss said.
"Fair enough," Stormfly said. They turned and walked off when they heard their riders calling them. The dragonets turned to each other again.
"We should go join our parents," Black Widow said. "It'll be lunchtime soon."
"Good idea," said Apollo. Black Widow looked over her wing at Edelweiss.
"Hang on," she said. She spread her wings and lifted off the ground. She flew over to the middle of the plaza where their parents were.
"Hi Mama," Avalon exclaimed, running to her mother. Aurora lowered her head and nuzzled her dragonets.
"You guys ready?" she asked. Apollo went into a playful crouch, wagging his tail. The riders came up to them, they were all painted.
"Everything's ready," Hiccup said. "The race will take place after lunch."
"Can we go play in the woods?" Avalon asked.
"Yes, you may," Aurora said. "But don't go passed the Cove, and come back when I call you."
"Yes Mama," said Avalon. The dragonets turned and took off towards the woods. The adult dragons took off and went to catch fish. Chris and Serenity went up to the Golden Apple Tree.
The dragonets ran through the woods as fast as they could, burning off energy. Edelweiss held on tight as Black Widow sped through the trees. Soon they came to the Cove. They stopped and looked inside.
"Wow, that place never changes," said Apollo. He spread his wings and flew over the Cove.
"Where are you going?" called Avalon. "Mama said don't go passed the Cove." Apollo turned around. He considered for a few minuets. He looked around.
"We'll go this way then," he said, pointing to the right of the Cove. "That's not passed the Cove."
"Well, alright," said Avalon.
"Besides," said Apollo, as they started off again. "We're at the top of the food chain here, what could possibly kill us for food."
"Good point Apollo," said Black Widow. Avalon frowned when she felt like the only responsible one there.
They cantered through the woods. However they didn't see the pack of boars stalking them. The dragonets soon came over a small hill and saw a massive tree, broken down the middle and fallen over.
"Hey I know this place," said Avalon. "This is where Toothless crashed all those years ago."
"You mean he crashed into this tree?" asked Edelweiss.
"Yup," said Avalon. They all flinched, looking at the damaged tree.
"I'm guessing that crashing into this tree is what cut his tail fin off," said Black Widow. Suddenly they heard the rustling of shrubs. They tensed up and scanned the bushes. Edelweiss gripped the saddle nervously. Then about three packs of boars began closing in on the dragonets. They kept oinking to each other. The dragonets took up a fighting stance. Black Widow shot a red plasma blast at them. A few of the boars ran off, but the rest stayed. They pounced on the dragonets, all at once. Edelweiss held on for her life as Black Widow fought off three boars at once. They all dropped dead when bitten by Black Widow's venomous teeth. But then another boar jumped her from behind and knocked Edelweiss off the saddle. She screamed when she hit the ground and boar pinned her down. Eider tackled the boar. He tried to bite it with his venomous teeth, but the boar evaded him. More boars attacked him. Edelweiss was pinned down by the same boar.
The dragonets fought the best they could but the boars had them outnumbered. A few of the dragonets got scratched up by the boars' tusks, including Edelweiss. But then suddenly there came a loud roar. A bigger plasma blast hit the ground, causing the boars to fly in several directions. The adult Draconians landed and fought off the boars, more successfully. When all the boars were either dead or long gone, the dragonets looked up to see their elders glaring down at them.