Tales From Berk
Chapter Four: First Flight
"Okay, dad." Hiccup, Toothless at his side, led his father down the village. "Today's the day."
"Must I do this?" Groaned Stoick.
"Yes." Said Hiccup. "Everyone else in the village has a dragon, and now it's your turn."
They passed Spitelout, whose Terrible Terror (Whom he had humorously named "Titan") was riding on his shoulder. He shared a curt wave with Hiccup and Stoick. Toothless and Titan crooned softly at each other.
"I don't see the point." Stoick shook his head. "I'm the chief. I don't have time to make niceties with dragons."
"You can't tell me you still don't like them." Hiccup sighed. "After everything that happened?"
"No, no." Stoick assured him. "I'm fine with the dragons. I just prefer to keep my distance, that's all."
"Really?" Hiccup sighed.
"Besides, we've already got Toothless practically living in the house all day." Stoick continued. "Another dragon would be more then I can stomach... No offense, Toothless."
Toothless snorted in an offended kind of way.
"Come on, dad." Hiccup pressed on. "Don't you want to learn how to fly a dragon?"
"No, thank you." Stoick grunted. "I prefer to keep my feet on the ground, just as the gods intended."
"You'll feel differently, once you're up there." Smiled Hiccup. "Trust me, dad."
Stoick, having already prepared another argument, stopped at those last three words. He remembered what had happened the last time he didn't trust his son, and the consequences of that decision. He sneaked a glance at Hiccup's false leg. A surge of guilt washed over him.
"Alright, fine." Stoick capitulated. "Let's go."
The two walked down to the former dragon fighting arena, the cages of which had been converted into dragon stables, for dragons who had not been paired up with vikings, or those for whom there simply wasn't room for at their viking's houses. The cage-like ceiling of the arena had been removed, so the dragons and their riders could fly free.
As Hiccup and Stoick entered, they encountered Ack, who was tending to a medium-sized Gronckle.
"Hiccup, Stoick, Toothless." Ack nodded at each in greeting.
"Hello, Ack." Stoick nodded back.
"Made a new friend, have you?" Hiccup.
"Yes." Smiled Ack, patting the Gronckle on the head. "This Gronckle and I are like kindred spirits. The only thing he's missing is a name..."
The Gronckle chose that moment to belch in Ack's direction.
"That settles it." Coughed Ack. "His name is 'Newtsbreath'."
"Good name." Hiccup gagged.
"They don't all do that, do they?" Asked Stoick.
"Not as far as I know." Shrugged Hiccup.
The humans and the Night Fury made their way to the stables, where Stoick began perusing the available dragons.
He looked over a Deadly Nadder, a Hideous Zippleback, and another Gronckle, none of which he thought suited him. He stopped when he reached a Monstrous Nightmare. The dragon had brilliant scarlet scales, and was much bigger then Snotlout's Nightmare. As he eyed the dragon, the dragon eyed him back, an almost haughty look on it's face.
"Found one you like, have you?" Hiccup asked.
"Perhaps." Mused Stoick. This one is strong, powerful, proud... A lot like myself, actually."
"Hold out your hand." Hiccup suggested. "See if he'll let you put it on his snout."
Stoick obliged. The Nightmare recoiled for a moment, then leaned forward, allowing Stoick to put his hand on his snout. The dragon started making a guttural purring noise, apparantly quite pleased. Stoick, quite pleased himself, raised his other hand, and stroked the Nightmare's cheek with it.
"Looks like someone's found a new best friend." Hiccup smiled. "What are you going to call him?"
"Hookfang." Smiled Stoick, pointing out the dragon's curved teeth. "Fitting, wouldn't you agree?"
"Definitely." Hiccup agreed. "Now, see if he'll let you ride him. Do this."
Hiccup made a miming motion with his hands, one that let a dragon know that someone would like to ride it him.
Stoick awkwardly did the same, and Hookfang leaned down, allowing Stoick to climb onto his back, where a small saddle had already been placed.
"Alright then." Mumbled Stoick, unsure of what to say or do next. "Ummm... go?"
Hookfang growled in understanding. He spread his wings, leaned onto his legs, then took off into the air.
"BY THE GODS!" Stoick bellowed, half-jubilant, half-terrified, as Hookfang carried him up into the clouds. "ODIN'S BEARD!"
"This looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Hiccup said to Toothless, who flashed him one of his gummy smiles.
To Be Continued...
(How to Train Your Dragon and all associated characters are the property of DreamWorks Animation.)
