Disclaimer: I don't own How to train your dragon or any of its characters, franchise or whatsoever…

~True Love's Kiss Chapter 3~

Dragon's blood


Princess Heather was running as fast as her legs could carry her and was stopping at nothing. She needed to get to her knights and prove to them as well she can take care of herself. This quest would be a chance to prove to her father that she was ready to take on whatever dangers there was, and she knew too that unless she could pass this simple test, then she would be allowed to go on and try her limits through trying to wake the prince up…

All her life she was kept inside, trying to watch her knights go through every single test she made, yet she knew she couldn't even pass one. Every single day she watched them train, until finally she managed to convince Astrid to train her. Reluctantly she did, but the princess proved to be a fast learner…

She tripped upon an overgrown root and stumbled down the hill, until eventually she bumped into Ruffnut, who too was running as fast as she could to find the others. As soon as she heard Dagur shouted 'run', she took off running as well to find Thuggory. He was always the best strategist, not to mention Fishlegs was with him who knew the most about these dragons and what their weaknesses were…

"Gah!" Ruffnut exclaimed as she was thrown off course, "Watch where you're going!" she hissed and finally looked up her eyes widened, "Your highness I- I didn't know-"

"Its fine Ruff," Heather said grunting in pain as well, "Where are the others?"

"Well… that's why I'm running as fast as I could." She said getting up, "We split into teams a while ago, and we found the dragon but…"

"But what?"

"Who really knows what's happening right?"

"You left them!?"

"Well, that's why I'm running! To get the others as fast as I could so I could return and help them!"

"Well then let's go!" as soon as Heather mentioned that they heard a distinct blow of a horn not too far from where they are, "What was that?"

"Astrid." Ruffnut muttered, "No wonder I forgot something!" she hissed, "I forgot to blow the horn!"

"What?"

"No time for that princess, we gotta get there fast; Thuggory and Fishlegs will be as well."

"And Dagur and Tuffnut what about them?"

"Right now, I can only hope they are together." And they both took off running into the woods to where they last heard the horn…

Meanwhile as soon as Thuggory heard of the horn, he immediately took off running and would have probably left Fishlegs behind had he not heard it too. Naturally, Fishlegs wasn't much of a runner therefore he easily lost track of Thuggory who continued to run to aid his teammates…

He passed by lots of trees and low branches along the way and even tripped on some of the roots but he immediately recovered and got up to resume running. He could only hope some people were there too to help them overcome whatever this dragon was. As soon as he reached the site he bumped into someone…

"Ah! Again!? Why does this keep happening to me!?" Ruffnut yelled as she fell once more off course, she looked at the person she bumped into and then rolled her eyes, "Seriously Thug, you couldn't be more careful?"

"Well, I would have if the fate of the quest doesn't lie on this final test." He replied and got up and even helped Ruffnut up, "Your majesty." He bowed to her in which she only replied a nod. Ruffnut dusted of her hands and looked at him…

"The quest?" she asked, "Or Astrid?" he kept silent and Heather stared at the two of them back and forth and let out a cough…

"Uh, less talking more rescuing shall we?" she asked and they both agreed and took off running once more. Once they did arrive, the sky was already dark enough that the dragon was already out of its tunnel and in the open ground. Dagur was busy holding it back while Camicazi was having a hard time carrying both an injured Astrid and a knocked out Tuffnut back in the deep hole…

"Are you done yet?!" Dagur yelled towards her…

"No!"

"Hurry! I can't hold much longer!"

"Well you're gonna have to!" she continued to support Astrid as she tried to climb her way out, "Are you sure you can hold on?" she asked in concern and Astrid just nodded…

"Yeah, I just sprained an ankle." She replied, "Where's my axe?"

"Whatever do you need it for?"

"I need it for killing a dragon." She hissed through her teeth as she held back the pain, "The least I could do is slow it down by throwing it towards the pesky dragon." She replied and slowly got up, "Hurry and pick Tuffnut up."

"Alright, alright," she replied and turned to face the unconscious Tuffnut, "I sure hope he survives this day."

"He will, he's a tough guy." She said and looked up, "I'm almost out, hand me my axe."

"Fine," Camicazi said and handed it to her, "You only get one chance to throw it."

"I know." She said and climbed out. As soon as she reached the outside world she almost got crashed down by the tail but luckily, she dodged it just in time and rolled out of the way. She grunted and leaned against a tree bark and tried to stand up, she looked back at the battleground…

Thuggory was catching the dragon's attention by swinging it's sword around it while Dagur tried to wrap its neck with a rope. Ruffnut had reached the hole already and tried to assist Camicazi of getting her brother out while Heather came up beside her…

"Are you okay?" Heather asked her…

"You-your highness," she said in surprise and bowed down, "What are you doing here?!"

"I came to help." She said and showed her the bow and arrows she carried around, "You have to rest."

"No… get me close enough to the dragon." Astrid muttered, "I have to try."

"You've done enough."

"No… please Heather." She said, "I have to…" Heather obliged and supported Astrid as they came in a closer view. Tuffnut was out and Ruffnut was tending to him already, soon enough Camicazi came charging in with her dagger and managed to get on and stab it somewhere in the back and made it roar with pain…

Thuggory saw his chance and slashed the dragon's underside, which made it turn its attention back to him, and both knights were exchanging blows while Dagur still tried to choke it to its death, which would have worked had the rope been strong enough to withhold the dragon. Astrid told heather to move aside and she did, as soon as she got a clear shot of the neck she poised herself to throw her axe…

"Dagur let go!" she shouted, "Now!" and threw her axe as soon as Dagur did as he was told. Sure enough it did got stuck in the dragon's neck but now it had its attention on her and it was determined to take her down with it, and with a broken ankle she knew she can't run as fast as she could to duck and avoid, just as it was about to strike her an arrow shot him in the eye and made him turn the other way around...

"Princess!" every one of them shouted as it charged towards Heather, but somehow Fishlegs came charging in and jumped of the high ground and raised his hammer high above him and struck it down Astrid's axe with a mighty blow… completely severing the head of the whispering death, as well as its terror with the villagers…

Everyone breathed and panted as the rush and adrenaline was slowly leaving their body and they stared at the head and Fishlegs back and forth. Fishlegs dropped his mace and fell his knees to the ground, still in complete disbelief with what he just did to the dragon, "I- I'm sorry I, uh, I didn't mean for it to-"

"It's okay Fish," Thuggory said, placing a reassuring squeeze upon his shoulders, "You did what you had to do." He then walked around the severed head and stared at it in disgust, "What do you say we get this over with and come back Princess?" he stared at Heather whose eyes were as wide as saucers since she was just as near to an imminent death a while ago. She nodded towards him and he told Dagur to wrap it up, "Let's go back."

They got back to their horses and Ruffnut had to haul Tuffnut onto his horse, while Camicazi assisted Astrid up on hers. Dagur was left to carry the head as proof, and Heather rode with Thuggory on their way to the palace. The trip was silent and Camicazi kept a close eye on Heather the whole time, while Fishlegs remained silent and seemed to be in a daze as he stared at the bag Dagur was carrying. Dagur sensed this and patted the bag…

"You want to carry it Fish?" he asked, "I bet you'll feel better if you do."

"Dagur." Thuggory scolded, "Leave him alone." Dagur just chuckled and stopped anyway as they continued on with their way. As soon as the castle came into view, that was when Fishlegs finally spoke up to them…

"Do you," he started, "Do you think dragons will sense it if you have already killed a dragon?" he asked, and made the others stop as well, "I mean it'll make perfect sense if they do since they do have higher senses than us. Do you think they'll still accept us?" Camicazi let out a sigh and got down from her horse and started to approach him…

"Cami," Thuggory tried to call out, but Camicazi put her hand up to silence him…

"Don't stop me," she said to Thuggory and paid attention to Fishlegs, "Is this what it's all about then?" she asked approaching him, and when she finally got near him she pulled him down to her level, "You've got to stop feeling sorry for yourself, because you did as you are told Fishlegs," she whispered to him, "You did the right thing, and sometimes there are things way out of control that don't end up like how we hope it will be." She said and let him go, "We're going to go through those gates and people will praise you not because you killed a dragon," she said and went back to her own horse, "But because you save them from a greater evil than what may happen had you not let it die." And with that they resumed their riding…

The gates opened up for them and the king's men came out to greet them first, and then came the king afterwards. He looked to his daughter, and then back to her knights and to the bloodied bag. He nodded towards Savage who immediately retrieved the bag and looked inside it. He then came to whisper to the king and he was quickly dismissed…

"I see your knights are indeed ready, Princess," he said and placed his attention towards them, "Come, let's give you a warm bath and tend to those wounds shall we, and then afterwards celebrate all of you for saving us from a terrible terror that could have occurred in our island." He said and the guards let them in. Heather in came after them, "Not you." Her father commanded that she was forced to stay back…

"Didn't I tell you to stay in the palace?"

"Father I'm fine, I survived-"

"You disobeyed me." He butted in, "Because of this your knights shall go in before you could to Berk."

"But father-"

"You are only to go there once they are absolutely sure there would only be the prince there waiting for you." He said and nodded to some of his knights, "Make sure she gets to her room." And they took her away. Nothing should happen to Heather, if there will be, he might as well kiss his empire a goodbye…

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Tuffnut and the others were taken to the infirmary as soon as they arrived in the palace grounds. They were bathed and taken care of during their stay there and were left to lie down on the beds. Each one of them lay down on their pillows and slowly drifted off to sleep. As soon as the celebration started, not one of them was allowed outside and was only served of the finest food from the king's table. They needed to rest, at least that was the excuse given to them…

"If we're served like this always then I'll be happy to go out to kill dragons." Dagur muttered as he ate the food. Thuggory threw him a small pea and gestured towards Fishlegs who wasn't eating, "Oh Odin," Dagur mumbled, "You can't still be bummed about the whole dragon killing are you?"

"Come on Fish, eat up, if you aren't I will." Thuggory said as well, "The food's really excellent." He whispered and finally Fishlegs let out a sigh and started eating, "Atta boy." Thuggory said and smiled and continue to eat…

The day ended without much of a ruckus and they all rested well before they were quickly summoned to the throne room as they were being called out by the king. They got ready and put on their armours and weapons on them which were all cleaned and sharpened as soon as they arrived last night. Their dragons too finally woke up and managed to greet them on their way to the throne room and Fishlegs was back to his old nerdy self. And everyone was all normal again…

As soon as they reached the throne room, the king was seated in his throne and beaming happily down upon them, but the princess wasn't sitting beside him. Alvin noticed this, and let out a cough to gather their attention…

"Ah, yes, you all would be wondering where your princess is," he said, "Well, she's… mm, detained for a while."

"Detained?" Camicazi spoke up first, "Why?"

"Well, she acted out of my orders." He reasoned

"But you said we should kill the drag-" Fishlegs said but was cut off…

"Yes… you, as in all of you, that didn't include her." he said, "And because of that I'm sending you off first without your princess to make sure she'll have no trouble on her way to seeing Prince Hiccup." Camicazi scoffed silently at him…

"Might as well give us the honour to kiss the prince then," she muttered to herself, but Alvin heard her loud enough…

"Something funny?" he asked and she shook her head, "And if any one of you gets any ideas while searching for the prince… you'll be punished… severely." He said and leaned back, "Now you can go now." He said, but Astrid came forward…

"When are we allowed to go?" she asked

"Any time you like… though I really do prefer it to be right this instant." He said, "Supplies are all ready, as they always are." He said, "I was only waiting for you to be ready." He said and the knights wasted no time in delaying the quest…

"Well it seems like all our training days are behind us." Tuffnut added, "Now we get to really destroy stuff." He said smirking with his sister who only laughed along with him and bumped him in the head and they began to prepare to leave…

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The next day, the knights had left their beds early at the break of dawn and bid goodbye to their princess. Their dragons had been already readied and the villagers had come to the palace gates to bid their warriors goodbye. Each of them had bid goodbye to their families with the exception of Thuggory, Dagur and Camicazi. As soon as it was time, they all mounted their dragons and took off, looking back at their beloved island, not knowing if they'll live to tell the tale of their princess ever marrying the prince. After they have flown away from the island, Alvin then went to the meeting room to seek council…

"Sire I suggest you go and send the princess out." Suggested one of the elders…

"On a dragon?! Are you out of your mind?" he exclaimed, "She'll just catch up to them!"

"Then not by dragon," said Mildew, "By ship then, by the time they reach berk, her knights would have already reached their nights before, dragons do get tired and they'll need to find land as quick as possible." He said. Alvin thought about it for a while and seemed to like the idea. He then turned to Savage who was standing behind him…

"Get your crew together, and tell the princess to get ready." He ordered and went to face the council again, "However, someone will have to keep the princess in check, and she does tend to rebel a lot." Alvin said and looked to Mildew…

"Me, sire?" he asked, "I would love the honour to go to Berk."

"I know you would, which is why I'm sending you. Report back to me whatever you find." He said and stood up, "Thank you for your wisdom." And they all stood up and left. As soon as no one was left Alvin sat back down and began to think, until the door opened…

"Mother," he said in surprise, "What brings you out from your quarters?"

"Oh nothing really," she said, "Are you sure you are going to risk your daughter's life?"

"It's not a risk if she's going to wake the prince up," he countered, "And we'll be more powerful than ever."

"True but, don't you remember the precautions?" she said and walked around, "I was there when King Stoic made his desperate speech." She then turned around, "Just make sure in the process that she was the right person to grace the prince's lips." And she left him pondering with his thoughts and about his daughter's fate…

As soon as the Outcast's ship was readied, they fetch the princess from out of her quarters and she wasted no time in preparing as she had it all prepared as soon as she found an opening to escape. In the process of admitting her plan, she got a glare from her father who only let out a hopeless sigh towards her and let her out.

She boarded the ship and looked towards the horizon, where the sun was already beginning to rise. Hopefully this was going to be a short trip. She's been waiting for this moment to finally see the prince again, and hopefully he did not forget her. After all she had been dreaming of a true love's kiss. Hopefully her love was good enough, and but deep inside as pure as she tried to keep her thoughts that way, there's still her father's blood in her, where she just can't wait to rule a powerful empire and make everyone else bow down to her will…

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"When do you think we're going to get there?" Tuffnut complained, "I'm feeling sick with all this sea." He said and let out another vomit to the sea. Fishlegs cringed at the sight and shivered, but stared back at the map given to them, after all they have never step foot outside their island, so now; they were charting new territories…

"Uh, I can't really say, but judging by the way we are speeding up right now, we'll reach there by nightfall." He said and turned to look behind them, "What was our goal again?"

"We reach there before nightfall," Astrid replied, "There's danger lurking inside that forest of thorns, or so I've heard."

"And where'd you get that from?" asked Camicazi, "I bet my rations you're just too scared."

"I got it from trader Johann." She said, "He was extremely generous about the news from Berk."

"Oh, and what is the news?"

"That we should be careful," she said and stared at Camicazi in the eye, "Even the mightiest of warriors coming from the different Vikingdoms weren't ever seen going out." And with that they quickened their pacing…

"Well, whatever dangers are behind there I'm pretty sure Moody and I can get through it." She exclaimed proudly while Astrid just rolled her eyes at her…

"Even so," Dagur said, "I know I usually go charging head on, but I never liked it when I can't see where I'm hitting."

"Dagur's right," Thuggory butted in, "In those thorny forest, its best we have the light on our side." Camicazi just scoffed at them and urged Moody to go and fly faster. She was just sick with being with them. Why on earth did she have to go in this stupid rounds anyway? The moment she reaches the tower, she's going to make sure she'll wake up the prince… and Princess Heather could kiss her empire goodbye. She knows what Heather truly wants… because she wants it too…

Power.

That's what everyone wants more than love…

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As they sailed towards Berk, Heather leaned to the edge of the ship and just stared at the waves crashing the deck below. Mildew came up beside her and breathed in the air of the seawater and looked to the princess who seemed bored not being able to go anywhere, "Something troubling you milady?" he asked, she stared at him for a while and then let out a sigh…

"How will we know if they succeeded?" she asked, "We won't have any means of communication in there." He nodded in understanding…

"There is a tale," he started, "That dragon's blood will hide your scent from dragons. This is the very reason why long ago, Vikings, like us, kill dragons. So they can go to the forbidden fortress and kill the red death. But that of course… is just a story."

"Just… a story?" she asked in confusion, "How come I have never heard of that before? And what's a red death?"

"Ah yes," he said, "That was banned when Hiccup the first managed to tame a dragon. And the red death… well they say that this dragon was just a myth. No one's ever seen it, except of course some soothsayers from long ago saying that Prince Hiccup the first will slay it, but he made history when he tamed a monstrous nightmare instead."

"And how come you've heard of it?"

"Well my dear," he said, "Because my family was one of the oldest families ever to live from the olden times, up until now. To have this mark as an old family, we pass it down to our descendants, so they will know what lineage they come from."

"And… what kind of lineage do you come from?" she asked curiously, he stared at her smirking…

"Weren't you listening?" he said, "Only descendants will we tell it to." And he left to leave her to her newfound thoughts.

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After hours and hours of flight, Fishlegs took out his looking glass once more and scanned over the area, "If my calculations are correct, we should start seeing Berk, right about…"

"There!" Astrid exclaimed as she pointed out to the horizon, "That's Berk isn't it?" Fishlegs took a closer peek at it through his looking glass, and indeed all he saw were thorns…

"Yeah," he said shrugging, "That's most probably it." And they all start to fly towards it. As soon as they tried to land on it, their dragons refused to land, "Uh, I think this is another way of saying don't enter?" he asked his fellow knights…

"Please," Camicazi said and swung her feet to the other side, "If they're not landing I am." She said and jumped out of her dragon, soon enough, the others followed in suit, with the exception of Fishlegs, "Well, you coming or not?" Camicazi shouted, Fishlegs shook his head and gestured to the dragons…

"No… I'm good here, someone's got to stay with the dragons… right?" he whispered the last part to himself and the others seemed to buy it, and left him alone in the air with five more dragons and Meatlug. "Well, I guess it's me and you guys." He said and stared at the dark forest of thorns, "Dear Odin, please protect them."

As soon as they were approaching the forest of thorns, the sky began to darken, "It's going to rain soon," Astrid said, "We should set up camp somewhere inside, the thorns may not be much of a shelter, but it's all we have."

"I thought you said its best we go in when there is light on our advantage?" Camicazi butted in, "Then why are we going in there?"

"Well, I did say it was best," she said, "But its fine too if we take shelter now." Camicazi gave her an icy stare while the others did as Astrid said and began to go in. Astrid held her glare and stood her ground as well, but it only broke when the skies began to bring out thunder and lightning. Astrid soon followed the others, while Camicazi glared daggers behind her back. Once she wake the prince up, she was going to make sure Astrid will be the first outcast she'll take care of…


Oh… there's a tension there between Astrid and Camicazi. They are both brilliant girls, and will get along well if both their prides are lowered don't you think? Anyway, what's Fishlegs suppose to do while he's out with the other dragons? When do you think the princess's ship will arrive in Berk? What dangers will the knights of rounds face? And how much longer will it take for them to reach the castle and to climb up the highest tower?

All that in the next chapter… or more chapters to come.

Hpnarutardsjedipirate1234

11092013