Chapter Two
Jya and Toya were flying over the ocean, heading for the Arena to see the Great Dragon.
"Look, Jya!" Toya cried out happily. "Look at the water! You can see the stars in it."
Jya smiled as he looked over at his little brother. "Yeah, cool, huh?"
Toya gave his brother a sharp toothy grin. "We should fly at night more often!"
Jya's smile faded some. "Yeah... we should."
But they couldn't unfortunately thanks to their aunt the Green Dea- ahem, the Great Queen. She didn't like the two flying out late at night or going to the Arena for that matter. Visiting the Great Dragon and paying respects was only done during the daylight when the Vikings were not around. But of course, there were some daring Dragon-Born such as Jya who didn't care about the Vikings. After all, what was the worse those land beings could do? They had no wings to fly away with and no fire or ice to breath. They weren't much of a threat to him. He was a powerful Frozen Fury. No one could capture him. And besides, the Arena looked best at night. The colorful fireglows would come and fly to where the Great Dragon lay and recreate the magnificent beast. It was a beautiful sight. And the fireworks created by the Vikings just made the night even more beautiful. A night like this was not to be missed. And now that Toya was a little older, he could go. Everything was just perfect. This one night, then never again... but maybe one day when their aunt passed the crown to them, they could return to see the Great Dragon at night.
"Come on, Toya," he grinned as he flew backwards in front of his brother. "Let me see you in dragon form. Think you can do it while flying?"
Toya nodded eagerly. "I think so."
His green eyes narrowed some as he concentrated on changing into dragon form.
The black scales by his eyes started to spread across his face. His hair started to stick together and change into black scales as well. The scales spread across his body, changing him into a dragon.
"Look, look! I did it!" Toya cried out happily in dragon tongue.
(For the Dragon-Born cannot speak in human tongue when they are in dragon form.)
Jya grinned back having also changed to his dragon form which was much like his brother's except he had white scales, blue eyes, and sharp icicle-like spikes on his spine and tip of his tail.
"Race you," he called out in dragon-tongue as he speed on ahead.
"Not fair, Jya!" Toya yelled though he knew it wouldn't be much of a race since both were equally as fast. It came from being in the family of Fury dragons. But still, it would rather fun. They never got to race like this back home.
Soon the two were gliding quickly over the waters, getting closer and closer to the Arena.
It felt like hours had past since Hiccup's rowboat had finally washed up onto the shores of the Arena or rather the Island of Hopelessness as Hiccup preferred to call it at the moment. He wasn't feeling very positive. But could you blame him? His plans had been screwed up entirely. He didn't get to be with the soldiers like he had wanted and his boat had landed on the opposite side of the island then the soldiers. Not to mention he was soaking wet since his rowboat had had the brilliant idea of springing a leak and he now had to carry a bunch of soggy, wet equipment with him as he traveled into thick overgrown rubbish of the dark forest that covered the Arena. As if it couldn't get any worse, Hiccup had no idea where he was anymore. The moonlight seemed to have been guiding him in circles. Didn't he past that tree five minutes ago? No... he was hopelessly lost.
"Shoot!" he said angrily, kicking at a tree and tossing his equipment to the side.
This had not been his plan at all. He had just wanted to see what the Arena was like, but not like this! Ugh... how in the world was he suppose to get back home now?
He flopped onto the ground and glared at his equipment. So far it hadn't been of any help, just added weight to how his plans had already failed. This was hopeless.
Boom! Boom! Cr-cr-crack!
The sky was suddenly lit up above him with fireworks. The sparks that gently floated down towards him seemed to give him a new hope.
Fireworks... there was something about them that gave him an idea.
His eyes brightened. His equipment! He had something in there that he could use to signal for help! Ah, so things weren't as hopeless as he thought. If he just set that there and put that there... Hiccup started pulling out his equipment. Mhm... and that went there and if his calculations were correct then. Uhuh, now that was looking more like it.
A small smile tugged at his lips as he worked at his project. Things like this made him happy. His father never understood why he liked sketching things then building them. He thought that was more for commoners. But to Hiccup, it was like opening a door to a new world. A world where Dragon-Born and Vikings got along.
"There," Hiccup grinned up at his finished work with proud satisfaction.
It was ready.
Whoosh!
"AGH!" Hiccup cried out in fear as he felt a large gush of wind blow over him.
The little moonlight that had lit up his workspace was suddenly covered for a few seconds, but those few seconds were enough time for Hiccup to trip up in the split-second darkness and set off his signaling device.
"Ah, no!" Hiccup gasped as it shot off into the sky.
His eyes widened in shock as he saw a speeding dragon-like form fly right in front of his rocket-flash signal.
He wanted to yell 'watch out!' but he just couldn't form the words as his rocket-flash collided with the dragon. He was helpless... and shocked. He had shot down a dragon. Well, a dragon-born most likely since no one really knew if normal dragons were still in existence. But they were practically the one and the same. But that wasn't the problem! He hadn't meant to shoot at it. And if he had, he definitely would have missed. It was such a fast dragon and blended with the night so well. If it hadn't been for the sparks shooting out from the back of his rocket-flash, he wouldn't have even seen the dragon.
Then it dawned on him.
He had just knocked down a Night Fury. One of the rarest types of Dragon-Born... only one person in Berk had ever managed to see one and that was his father. And that had happened when he was a young lad going on a sort of cruise with his family. At night, he had seen the great dragon swoop down and kill his parents. Or so Hiccup was told. This was probably the reason why his father hated the Dragon-Born so much and had even gone to the extent of creating a cruel game with them. It usually happened at the Dawn of the Year. (Another celebration Hiccup hated.) The Dragon-Born were pitted against each other to fight to the death. It was such a horrible sickening game to Hiccup, but the others seemed to enjoy it. But perhaps it was because most of the Dragon-Born sent to the Fighting Ring had once been his. Every kill in the ring gave a stab of guilt into Hiccup's heart. If he had been able to somehow keep the Dragon-Born under control or what-not... they wouldn't die like that.
Which reminded him of the Night Fury he had just struck down! He bit his nails in panic. What if he just killed it?! He hadn't meant to do anything like that! He had just been trying to set up a signaling device in hopes of finding the soldiers who had probably just made it to the island. It just went wrong... so very wrong.
Aahhh. He felt nauseated. A faint was coming upon him.
"JYAAAAAA!" a small voice screamed.
Hiccup was quickly pulled back to his senses. Who was that?
"JYA!"
He bit his lip nervously. "Um... h-hello?"
"Jya?"
"Uh no?"
"JYA!"
"H-hey... calm down. I'm not gonna hurt you," Hiccup said softly, trying to find the owner of the the distressed sounding voice. Maybe it was one of the soldiers? But
what did 'Jya' mean? He'd never heard that word before.
"Jya..." the little voice sniffled.
Hiccup pursed his lips. That didn't sound like a soldier. But maybe it was one of the newer recruits? "W-where are you, buddy? I'm coming to help you."
"I want Jya..."
Hiccup sighed through his nose. "Look, I'll help you find Jya."
Whatever a 'Jya' was...
The voice seemed to perk up some. "R-really?!"
"Yeah," Hiccup nodded before mumbling to himself. "If I can find you."
"I'm over here."
"Where over here?" Hiccup thought a bit crossly. "Can you stand up and wave or something?"
"I can't move!" the voice complained. "I hurt my leg."
Hiccup froze. Hurt... his leg? That didn't sound right for some reason.
"How'd you do that?" he asked curiously but hesitantly.
"Something big and sparkly flew into the sky and knocked me down."
Hiccup felt another faint about to come upon him. He was about to meet the Night Fury and probably in its dragon form. He was so dead meat. He hadn't thought about that since the voice had sounded so young and innocent. But hadn't Gobber taught him that the Dragon-Born were very talented at changing there voices? And especially when they were in dragon form?!
He swallowed nervously. "A-ah j-just keep talking and I'll come to you."
"Okay... what am I suppose to say?"
"I don't know, anything I guess."
"Um okay. I like fish. Especially the ones from the Deep Pit. Ummmmm... I like flying," the voice giggled some. "But that's obvious. Uhhh, um. I want to see the Great Dragon with Jya tonight."
Hiccup nearly fainted once again.
W-with Jya?!
There was another Dragon-Born close by?! Bother... he was really really dead meat now.
"Are you any closer?" the voice whined.
"Uh I don't know," Hiccup replied honestly. "I can't see very well."
Trees were blocking his moonlight and there were no more fireworks.
"Can't you light a fire?" the voice asked, sounding a bit annoyed that Hiccup hadn't thought of that.
"Heh heh heh..." Hiccup laughed nervously. He really should have remembered that he had a electric light on him. "All right, I got a light. Can you see it?" He flashed his light twice.
"Yeah, I see it! I'm uh to your left?"
Hiccup nodded some as he trudged in that direction, shining his light in front of him. "All right."
He nearly jumped and dropped his light in surprise as he found the fallen Night Fury. It wasn't at all what he had expected.
This small child... was a great Night Fury?
It would be hard to believe if it weren't for the large black scaly wings on the boy's back as well as the black scale markings on his face.
"Hi!" Toya greeted rather happily. "Help me up and find Jya?"
Hiccup blinked some. "Um right..."
Toya gave him a big smile so Hiccup could get a good look at his sharp teeth as he stretched his arms up to be picked up.
Hiccup blinked again. "Uh... I'm suppose to pick you up?"
Toya gave him a 'duh' look. "I can't walk. And it's too tiring to change back to a dragon." He cocked his head some as he gave Hiccup a double-take. "Where are your wings?"
Hiccup coughed hard. The kid thought he was a Dragon-Born?!
"Uh... I um don't have wings."
Toya cocked his head some as Hiccup gently picked him up. "No wings? But your dragon form does, right?"
"Yeaaaaah," Hiccup lied, deciding to go with it. This might be safer.
Toya started messing his Hiccup's face. "What family do you come from? You don't got any scales on your face." He stretched out Hiccup's face.
"Eeeeh eh uh!" Hiccup tried to growl. "Neth fe thafe!"
Toya laughed and forced Hiccup's mouth open. "And your teeth aren't sharp."
"Thof vat!"
Toya rolled his eyes and moved from Hiccup's face to his hair. "Soooo, what family do you come from?" He tugged at Hiccup's hair some.
"Ow! Would you stop that?!"
Toya huffed. "Answer question first."
"Only if you stop pulling my hair and pinching my cheeks!" Hiccup retorted.
"If you'd answer the question I wouldn't pull your weird hair!"
"My hair isn't weird!"
"Is too!"
"It is not!"
"Is too!"
Snap!
Hiccup and Toya immediately stopped their bickering.
"Uh... wh-what was that?" Toya asked nervously.
"I don't-" he stopped short as a bright light suddenly blinded him and caused Toya to cry out.
"Whoa, whoa! Stop, it's not a Dragon-Born."
Hiccup opened one eye nervously then immediately opened both in surprise.
The soldiers? Had they seen his signal after all?
Toya grasped Hiccup tightly as the soldiers carrying electric lights surrounded him and Hiccup. He was still crying some as he rubbed his eyes. Those lights weren't very nice to his eyes... Why did Hiccup seem fine though? His eyes were burning!
"Hiccup!" the soldiers gasped. "What brings you here?"
"Um I-"
He was cut off as the leader of the soldiers saw Toya in his arms.
"A Night Fury! A fine catch, Hiccup!" Spitelout praised giving Hiccup a rather hard slap on the back.
"Ah, it's not-"
He was cut off again as the soldiers started pushing him along.
"And we thought we caught a good haul today, but Hiccup! You've outdone us all," Spitelout chuckled. "Your father will be so proud. I'm sure he'll overlook you're
sneaking around with us after he sees what you've caught!" Spitelout gave him a wink and ushered him through a nicely cut path.
"W-what's going on?" Toya whispered, rather scared.
"I can't explain now, Buddy. Just sit tight," he whispered. "I'll take care of you."
He just had to. This kid was so small, so young. He didn't need to be thrown into the Fighting Ring. He would do his best to protect the young Night Fury and find Jya.
That is, if Jya didn't find him and kill him first...
Jya was far ahead of his little brother, thanks to his headstart. Toya should be catching up to him any minute. He grinned and changed into his original human form.
"Toya! You're getting slow!" he teased.
He frowned when there was no response and no sign of Toya anywhere.
"Toya?"
He carefully hovered around. Was his brother playing around with him?
"Toya!"
Still no response or sign of him.
Jya frowned some. "Toya! This isn't funny!"
Toya had this thing for blending in with his surroundings. He was pretty good at it as long as it was dark. It was the trademark of a Night Fury to never be seen. And Jya usually didn't mind this little trick Toya would pull every once in awhile. But now wasn't the time for those sorts of games.
"Toya!"
He felt rather nervous. If Toya wasn't with him, so many things could happen. After all, the Arena was nothing like home.
Please oh please... just be playing a game, Toya.
"Toya! TOYA!" he yelled, trying to fly around and somehow catch sight of his little brother.
This just had to be a game. It had to.
"Toya!"
He flew faster as he started scanning the island in panic. He wasn't really watching where he was going. He was just looking for any sign of Toya.
"Ooof!"
Jya bumped into something which caused him to plummet towards the ground.
"Aaaagh!" he cried out as he quickly adjusted his wings to keep him from falling at such speed.
"If it isn't Prince Jya," a haughty voice greeted as Jya made a soft landing.
"Shutre," Jya growled. "What brings you here?"
Shutre gave him a disapproving look as he landed in front of the Dragon-Born prince.
"I should think you would know after all these times of being caught here in the Arena."
Jya scowled. "So she knew I'd go?"
Shutre tsked. "You're rather predictable, Jya."
Jya growled again. He never liked the Deadly-Nadder.
"Just you then?"
For just a sliver of a second, Shutre had an almost mournful expression on his face before it quickly changed to his usual cold look.
"No... Fyr and Gyro are with me."
Jya raised an eyebrow. "What about Flyre? She didn't send him?"
Shutre spat a fireball at Jya's feet. "Of course she sent him!"
"Then why-"
Shutre's golden blue eyes narrowed at Jya. "You should know exactly why."
Jya's already white-toned face paled.
Flyre had been captured by the Vikings... and that meant it was highly likely that the same had happened to Toya.
It hadn't taken long for the soldiers to guide Hiccup to where their ships were docked, much to Hiccup's annoyance. So the whole time he had been only a little ways away from them!
"Take a look at some of the Dragon-Born we've captured as you get on board," Spitelout suggested proudly. "Of course, our catch isn't as fine as yours. But I know your father will still be proud of this year's haul."
Hiccup made a slight nod, afraid to say anything with Toya clutching him so tightly. This kid had some nails! Or was it talons? He had no idea... He just hoped Toya wasn't jumping to conclusions. He would explain everything once they got a private moment.
He climbed up onto the nearest ship as the soldiers started gathering in the last of the captured Dragon-Born. He let out a low whistle.
It was quite a catch...
Forty Dragon-Born. Usually, Spitelout and his group only caught twenty-eight or so. How did they catch so many this time, he wondered. But he didn't have much time to dwell on that thought as he felt the captured Dragon-Born glaring daggers into his back. He could especially feel the lone Deadly Nadder's steely gaze on him. He nervously glanced over his shoulder.
Yup... the Deadly Nadder was looking at him with his steely blue dragon-like eyes. It didn't help that the Deadly Nadder was rather muscular and good-looking. Everything Hiccup was not the Deadly Nadder was. And this was the Dragon-Born Astrid wanted... Ugh, it made him so jealous. What did she see in Deadly Nadders anyways?!
Maybe it was their spiky blonde hair with blue streaks? Or maybe those blue scales that seemed to glow besides their eyes? Or maybe those toned muscles?
Agh! Hiccup turned his focus back toward the front. How frustrating to be jealous of a Dragon-Born! But then, it wasn't like Astrid liked them in that sort of way, right? After all, her family was apart of one of the strongest Viking families. There was no way she'd like a Dragon-Born. She wasn't like him, who felt for the Dragon-Born even if Toya did just give him a good scratch on the face.
Jya's heart was beating rapidly as he followed behind Shutre.
If Flyre was kidnapped... was all he could think about.
"Shutre!"
The Deadly Nadder growled and glanced over his shoulder, still flying. "What?"
"T-Toya... have you seen him?"
Shutre's eyes widened slightly as he quickly turned around causing Jya to once more collide into him.
"Fool!" he yelled. "You brought Toya here?!"
Jya flapped his wings some to adjust from the sudden collision. "I didn't think it'd be any harm..."
"Be any harm?" Shutre snorted. "You fool. He's an immature pipsqueak who has no chance at living in the real world."
Jya clenched his fist as small flakes of ice appeared around it. "Take that back, Shutre!"
Shutre turned away and started flying once again. "You know I'm right, Jya. So I won't take it back. Even the Great Queen says Toya stands no chance. That's why he was suppose to stay back at the palace."
Jya's shoulders slumped some as he slowly followed the Deadly Nadder. He knew Toya supposedly stood no chance. But, but! He was planning to prove them wrong.
Which was partially why he wanted to take Toya to the Arena so badly. Besides seeing the sights, he'd show all the other Dragon-Born that his little brother was truly a Night Fury.
But now... that plan wasn't going to happen.
"Fyr! Gyro!" Shutre suddenly yelled.
Jya dropped quickly but lightly to the ground as the Monstrous Nightmare and Gronkle suddenly pounced towards him. He scowled at Shutre from underneath the two Dragon-Born. He would have missed them if it weren't for that rock...
Ambushing... Shutre just loved messing with his clumsiness. He had gotten better but every once in awhile he would slip up.
"Oh... Prince Jya!" the Gronkle immediately apologized as he realized who he had just pounced on. "You all right?!" he asked as he pulled Jya onto his feet.
"Yeah... I'm fine."
The Gronkle sighed in relief. "Good..."
The Monstrous Nightmare just snorted as he looked over at Shutre. "The Vikings are about to leave the island."
Shutre nodded. "Well that's good news. That makes are trip home easier."
The Gronkle quickly shook his head. "Not exactly good news, Shutre."
The Deadly Nadder growled, unhappy with this interruption. "What do you mean, Gyro?"
"Uh well you see. We saw they don't just have Flyre... they got Toya too."
"Toya?!" Jya screeched in dragon tongue before slipping back into human tongue. "We have to go after them!"
Shutre narrowed his eyes and calmly walked over to give Jya a hard slap. "Is your brother all you can think of?" he asked, golden eyes flashing angrily.
Jya glared back as he growled and rubbed his now red cheek.
"We've all lost family by the Vikings. Deal with it. Just be glad it wasn't you, Prince Jya."
Jya clenched his fists creating icy flakes again and shouted at Shutre's retreating form. "I can't just deal with it! He's my brother! How did you feel that Flyre has been taken too?!"
Shutre froze a moment before suddenly rushing at Jya and wrapping his talon-like hands around Jya's neck. "Listen carefully, princey. Don't you dare mention his name again. He's as good as dead like your brother. Leave them in the past where they belong. They're never coming back. And may this be a lesson to you, since all of the ones we've lost today is because of you."
Jya glared at Shutre but remained silent.
"Now come, the Great Queen is waiting for you return," Shutre commanded coldly as he let go of Jya, but had slight smirk of satisfaction as his nails drew blood from Jya's neck. He signaled to the other two Dragon-Born to get ready to fly back to their island.
Jya shot another glare at the Deadly Nadder as he spread out his wings to follow.
"Uh uh uh," the Monstrous Nightmare scolded. "Under the Great Queen's command, you're not allowed to fly."
Jya scowled as he folded his wings to his side. "Then how am I suppose to get to the palace, Fyr?" he asked through clenched teeth.
Fyr smirked as he changed into his dragon form. "You have to ride me."
Jya's scowl deepened.
Riding a Dragon-Born outside of injury was humiliating. It was a sign of punishment and the whole village would see it... They would probably think it was an injury but he knew Shutre and the others escorting him would know it was a punishment from straight from his aunt. And this wasn't the only punishment he'd be facing.
A young Tiny Terror's eyes widened in fear as the Viking soldier flipped a switch that sent a spurt of shocks into the poor captured creature.
"So, dragon. Are you goin' ta talk now, hmm?"
The Tiny Terror gave the smallest shake of the head. The young boy was terrified but he couldn't just betray his people despite all the torture they had already given him.
"N-n-never," he whispered in a small breath of smoke.
The Viking frowned and flipped another switch.
"AAAAAAAGGGGGH!" the Tiny Terror shrieked in pain.
"Tell me!" the Viking roared, patience running thin. He thought the Tiny Terrors were suppose to be weak and easy to convince after a few moments of torture. But Born was a tough little guy! It had been days since they had first captured the Tiny Terror carrying a message from the Great Queen. And still, after all those days of torture, the boy refused to speak.
This wasn't good. The Chief was expecting an answer by the time the soldiers came back with their catch. There had to be some way of getting the dragon to speak. The Chief was really wanting to use this as an opportunity to finally pinpoint where the Dragon-Born lived and where the Great Queen and her future heirs to the throne were.
The Viking flipped another switch out of boredom and frustration.
"AAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH!" the Tiny Terror shrieked louder.
The Viking raised and eyebrow and turned off the switches.
"Feel like talkin' now?"
The Tiny Terror squeaked weakly as he shook his head and panted heavily. He wished he could stretch out his wings, but they were securely fasted behind his back by an electric band of sorts. His arms were stretched above him and were also strapped to electric bands that stretched him out painfully.
"W-w-water," he begged. "Water." He was so very thirsty. Couldn't they begrudge him one sip?
This caused the Viking to smirk. "Water? Well... that could be arranged."
The Tiny Terror perked up some. "W-water?"
"If you tell me about the heirs to your Great Queen."
The Tiny Terror licked his dry lips nervously. The request didn't sound too dangerous. It wasn't like the human was asking for directions to the palace or something. It sounded rather innocent. Surely it would be okay to give this information for a glass of water.
"T-two... heirs," he whispered.
The Viking nodded encouragingly as he clicked a button which changed the switch board into a large computer. Here he could send a message for water.
The Tiny Terror swallowed some. "F-from the F-Fury family. W-white haired. Mark of Great Dragon."
The Viking nodded again, hiding a smirk as the water arrived. "Thank you."
The Tiny Terror nodded some and looked eagerly at the glass of water that had suddenly appeared in the Viking's hand.
"Enjoy your water," the Viking said as he held the glass to the Dragon-Born's lips.
The Tiny Terror slurped up the water. Ah... it tasted so good! It was so refreshing. So... tiring? He felt rather dizzy. Maybe it was from all that pain? So tired.
The Viking chuckled as the Tiny Terror went limp, knocking the glass out of his hand.
Crash!
"Sweet dreams, dragon. You've been a great help."
Author's Note: Chapter 2 up! :) I hope you guys enjoy it. I'm sorry that there's not too much Hiccup and Toothless action but I promise there will be a whole lot more in the next chapter. If you get the chance, please drop a review. Feedback really really helps!
A special shout out to Aangelik, AnnabellSkylark, changeofheart505,and resdesignDA for following and/or favoriting this story. :D This means so much to me guys!
Oh also wanted to note that I got the new cover up! :P It didn't turn out quite like I had hoped but it'll do for now. I'm thinking about just drawing my own cover instead so I can get exactly what I what but we'll see. XD