Chap. 4: Training Only Goes So Far

POV: Skye 3rd

I had decided, in the short amount of time between my talk with Hiccup and then my talk with the Hatchling, that I was going to help them. I didn't know what it was about Hiccup that made me do this, made me want to go out there and kill this impersonator by myself, but I learned not to fight my instincts long ago. My mind told me to give up, it seems like the Alphas have already, but my instincts, my heart, told me that helping them would make Hiccup happy, and it seems like that's what my life revolves around now. So, I came up with a plan, I wouldn't go out there and fight this queen one on one, no, I would train them to help me fight this queen.

Hear me out here, Hiccup may not have the same physical aspects as his people did, but his mind was twice that of all of them put together. And, with the Hatchling's help, Hiccup could be very deadly, though I wasn't going to let them stain their soul by killing, even if it was an impersonator we were killing. Plus, this would help in their flying too, it would teach them to work as a team, eventually correlating over to their flying ability, making it smoother and allowing them to work together seamlessly. If we did go fight this thing then I would need someone to watch the other dragons. If they were trapped under her control for so long, then they wouldn't know what to do with their new-found freedom.

I pitched this plan to the Hatchling and he agreed after a lot of convincing and promises that I would look after Hiccup. By the next day, I already had a training routine setup and was waiting for Hiccup in my dragon form. I would tell Hiccup everything in time, but I just wasn't ready to be a human full time, shifting in front of the Hatchling was to prove to him that I was trying to change. When I wrote out an explanation of the training routine Hiccup asked why we were doing this. After looking towards the Hatchling and seeing that he didn't have a clue either, I explained that I was training them to help fight the queen, which led to an explanation of what the queen was. Hiccup was appalled to learn of its existence and agreed that she had to be taken down, but I could see the glint in his eyes dim at the thought of killing anything.

After that, I started training them in every way I could think of, mental, physical, reflexes, emotional control, anything that they might need. Physical training was probably the hardest due to Hiccup's small stature and the fact that Toothless was a different species. So, I focused on them separately, teaching Toothless anything I could remember the other Night Furys doing, and helping Hiccup in his fighting style. Hiccup was best fit for one of the fighting styles I used to use, he needed to rely on his speed while making sure his attacks were accurate. It was a good thing they were fast learners since I told them that we would do physical training every day while also moving on to different topics. That was a bit of training itself, making sure that their minds were capable of multitasking, which Hiccup was better at. Reflexes were almost in the same category, making sure they could react to things in seconds.

The mental and emotional training was a bit easier, even if it took longer than I wanted it too due to their strong emotions. Of course, you didn't just learn these things in days, but I had perfected everything in my long life and knew exactly how to train them to make sure they could learn it fast. It also helped that they both seemed to be at the same level of intelligence so I didn't need to teach this topic separately. They caught onto the mental training quick, finishing puzzles I made in seconds after first looking at them, and coming up with solutions to almost five different problems at the same time. The emotional thing was a bit different, I didn't want them to take control of their emotions or ignore them, no, I taught them how to use their emotions to fuel their actions. Anger was great fuel for fighting, happiness fueled creativity and calmness, and sadness fueled self-confidence. The last was mainly for Hiccup, to help him get over his sadness, but the Hatchling also seemed to be a bit better after learning it.

I couldn't help the feeling of pride when I actually took a look at how much they changed. The Hatchling could fight a bit better, knew how to access his Alpha side, only in extreme cases though, and he also seemed to be more energetic, if it was possible. Hiccup though, he had actually changed a lot. He wasn't clumsy at all due to the physical training I had started only a week or two ago, he always had at least two knives on him that were made perfectly, and he was a good fighter. I knew it would take time for him to be great, but I felt confident that he could take care of himself if he needed to. He also seemed happier and almost carefree, though he always took a serious approach when we talked about the queen, and I couldn't help but smile when I saw him.

I had given up trying to decipher my feelings towards Hiccup, the Hatchling was easy though, he actually felt like my hatchling, like I wanted to make sure he was OK, but knew he wouldn't need my help. The closest thing to my feeling towards Hiccup that I could remember was my time with one of the panthers. His name was Zane, and we became close friends in a matter of days. I spent a full two months with him when I had only spent half of one with any other, and we seemed to be getting closer by the day. I had decided to talk with him about it one day, but that ended up being his last day. He had been out hunting early in the morning, I guessed he wanted to start the day off with a good hunt while I was still sleeping, and had ended up being attacked by another panther. When I eventually found his body and the other panther, I was told that Zane had trespassed on the panther's territory, of course, they didn't know that Zane had been my friend for two months. I looked into the panther's eyes, and I saw nothing but cruelness, I had met a few like him before, there were always bad eggs in every batch. So, I killed him, he had taken a life so I took his, it never eased the pain of Zane dying though. He was the only one I got that close to, until Hiccup that is, and I still didn't know what the feeling was. Every other feeling I had a name for and a way to use it, even lust, but this was different, though I will admit Hiccup is very cute.

I thought that everything was going good, Hiccup seemed happy and the Hatchling was having fun, so I was happy. Then, Hiccup comes back one day looking pale and terrified. He told us that he was the one chosen to kill the Nightmare, and he passed out. We knew that he had been going to dragon training due to his father, and that said father had come home a few days ago, but we never guessed that Hiccup would be chosen to kill the dragon at the end. Once Hiccup came to, we told him to follow his heart, do what he felt was right. When he said he wanted to try to train the Nightmare to show his tribe that dragons weren't what they thought me and the Hatchling went on a rant before eventually agreeing since we knew Hiccup wouldn't change his mind. Hiccup convinced us that he would be fine and that we should stay in the cove since, if this worked, he didn't want to introduce us by scaring the entire village half to death.

-Line Break-

POV Change: Skye 1st

That's what led to me and the Hatchling sitting in the cove trying to calm our nerves. I had convinced him to play a game I had made long ago to keep away the boredom that I called Xs and Os. One of us would use our claws to draw an X in the dirt then the other would draw an O on one side of it and then it would go back to the person that started and they would draw an X around that O, the end goal is to surround one of the other player's letters with your letter, you only had to cover the sides though, no diagonal letters.

C'mon! That's the tenth time in a row that you've won! The Hatchling whined and I couldn't help but smile. Yes, I had won ten times in a row, yes, I was cheating, no, he didn't know I was or how I did it.

That's how you learn this game Hatchling. You have to lose before you ever learn how to win. I told him and he pouted even more. All of a sudden we picked up Hiccup's voice and the sound of an agitated dragon. We looked at each other and he nodded at me, I increased my size to the same as his and jumped into the air.

I was cheating by the way! I shouted as I flew away, just to lighten the mood a bit. And I swear I heard the Hatchling yell about how he knew I was doing something. I wanted to laugh, but that could wait until Hiccup was safe.

I was at the Kill Ring two seconds later and I swore at the sight. Hiccup was trapped under the Nightmare and the vikings were still outside the ring just watching. I dive bombed the ring, blasting the top open, hearing all the shouts of "Night Fury! Get Down!" as I did. I immediately whacked the Nightmare across the snout, making him fly back a few feet by the strength I put into it.

Back away, Nightmare! The human is mine! I screeched at it and he was so surprised at a dragon protecting a human that he backed into his cage. I was still panicking a bit and I wanted nothing but to make sure Hiccup was okay. I turned to him and saw that the vikings were rushing the ring now in order to get to me.

"Skye, go! Go, now!" Hiccup said while trying to push me. He wasn't even worried or surprised about how big I was, only worried about what they would do. I wasn't about to leave though if they wanted a fight I would give them one, but I couldn't do that in this form.

I shifted without a second thought and pulled Hiccup behind me, hearing his surprised gasp but not paying any attention. The vikings all stopped now, and I saw that the biggest was at the front, most likely the chief, and was staring at me and Hiccup. I looked around, watching all of the vikings in case they wanted to attack. All I saw though were gazes full of disgust, hate, fear, any emotion that revolved around my appearance, both of them.

"What is this? Some kind of cruel joke by the gods?" The chief asked and I looked straight at him, standing to my full height and looking him in the eyes. His gaze was filled with betrayal, hate, disgust, confusion, and a tiny amount of fear.

"I don't suggest you keep going, and I really don't suggest trying to attack me." I said calmly and that seemed to aggravate a lot of them. They started screaming for blood now, but not one of them moved. I suddenly heard something and turned my gaze to the left where I saw what appeared to be the village elder. She was walking through a small path in between the rest and when she reached the front everyone stopped. I stayed quiet like everyone else, but I let my eyes drift to Hiccup as he seemed scared to death. I let my hand grab a hold of his and he looked at me with curiosity and thankfulness and I squeezed his hand as a promise to tell him everything. He blushed and I smiled at him before turning back to the elder. She took a bag by her side and spilled some sand on the ground before writing in it with her staff. One of the vikings came by her side, who I thought was Gobber from Hiccup's description of him, he never did say anything about his father though, only that he came back a few days ago. Gobber seemed to try to read it before he gave up and backed away. I focused on the writing and could see why, the language she was using was not one that anyone would know. It was actually made by animals, one day some of the smarter species came together and since they couldn't talk to each other they came up with this, the purpose of that group was to discuss humans as a whole actually.

They don't know who you are Watcher. They do not know the pain that a being like you has suffered. Excuse their violence, you seem to understand that they aren't all bad judging by the one at your side. Do not hurt them for their ignorance, spare them their lives. The writing said and I looked her in the eyes. Her gaze held hope, remorse for their actions, and pleading, pleading for their lives.

"I would not have taken their lives Young One. I would kill if they tried to kill me, but I avoid bloodshed as much as I can. The legends about me must have said a lot for you to know who I am, but I know that they aren't all that flattering." I said and she smiled at me. I turned back to the chief and he still stared at me. I knew nothing that I could do but tell them who I am, what I am.

"The Young One knows what I am, so I know that at least some of you will know the legends. But, I have no idea what they tell you about me, so I can only guess. She called me Watcher, but I have been known by many names, most are worse than the rest." I said and I heard most of them gasp at the mentioned name. The chief looked like someone had punched him in the gut and stared at me with only fear and confusion. Hiccup didn't seem to know so I guessed that they hadn't told this generation for some reason. Gobber seemed to be the only one able to talk, and his question seemed a little obvious.

"Then why were you a dragon? The Watcher is said to only have a human form." He asked and I sighed.

"When humans first came around I tried to talk to them. I had taken my human form but when they saw me, well, I guess your reactions were pretty accurate. But, I have multiple forms, a dragon form only being one of them." I said and they all seemed a bit more fearful. I hardly knew what to do at this point, Hiccup was my only real concern though and I wouldn't let these vikings get to him without me here. The chief seemed to take a deep breath before looking at me with a blank face.

"I don't care what kind of demon you are. Give me my son back, or we'll have some problems." The chief said and my eyes widened. This was Stoick, Hiccup's father, well it wasn't surprising when Hiccup said he was called Stoick the Vast. I felt Hiccup tense and I looked back at him with a raised eyebrow, wanting to see what he wanted. He seemed hesitant at first before he shook his head and pleaded to me with his eyes, asking me to just take us away, where he could think on this whole thing. That actually sounded fantastic right now, just try to figure out what to do. I looked back at Stoick and I could feel a lot of emotions go through me, but one of them was anger, at the fact that Stoick called himself a father. I remember looking into Hiccup's eyes and seeing that sadness, the type of sadness and loneliness that comes from more than just having no friends.

"I don't know everything that's happened here, but I know that when I first met Hiccup he had the same scars I had seen on those of an outcasted wolf. A wolf that had been ignored, tormented, even abused by his pack. He had no physical scars, no, but the mental scars were as big as the scars from losing an arm, the kind of scars that don't heal with time." I said, telling them what they needed to hear. They had outcasted Hiccup, and I would never forgive them for doing that to such a nice person. Hiccup seemed to be touched by my words and squeezed my hand, which I had actually forgotten about.

Two seconds later I was in my dragon form with Hiccup on my back and was flying out of the Kill Ring before they could even react. Hiccup leaned forward and hugged my neck, either due to the unexpected flight or the feelings he had been holding back. I couldn't help but think, I guess training didn't help that much, but, who can tell?