"Vera, you know we have to fix this." Toothless said, his voice heavy with concern.
"We?" I said, turning to face him.
"Of course. You didn't think I'd let you handle this on your own, did you?"
"The fastest way back to the village is to fly, but I don't know if I-"
"Vera. Stop saying that you can't fly, stop saying you don't know. You're a dragon! You do know, and you can fly!"
He's right. I managed a few feet before, but if I try harder…
"Ok. Let's go."
I watched Toothless jump into the air and fly off with ease.
He makes it look so easy! I'm just a beginner at this… no. I know I can do this.
Tensing my body, I jumped into the air and started flapping my wings. I managed to catch an updraft, and was lifted into the air. Toothless was ahead of me, but I quickly caught up to him, gliding along the currents.
"Toothless, this is even better than when I rode on you! To feel the wind passing over your wings… it's amazing. Do you feel like this every time?"
"Yes. I never get tired of flying. It's the best thing in the world."
I saw the earth passing by below me as I flew overhead. I spotted the village quickly enough.
"There! I see the village!"
I could also see the Vikings gathering in the middle of the village, with Vron in the middle of the growing group. Vran was tied up to a post at the edge of the village.
"Vran?!" I said, diving down to land a few feet away. I quickly changed into my human form, to avoid being seen. My wings and tail slid into my back, my claws softened and became fingers, my hair grew back, and my body shrank as my skin turned a tan brown. Toothless landed next to me. I ran up to Vran, clamping my hand around his mouth to keep him quiet.
"Vran, I'm here to help you, but you have to keep quiet, ok?" he nodded as I lifted my hand from his mouth. I quickly untied the ropes, and led him into the forest, towards Toothless. Vran panicked as soon as he saw him.
"Vera, why did you bring him here?"
"Vran, be quiet! Toothless is here to help!" I turned to face Toothless.
"Toothless, get him out of here. Don't let him come back to help, or he'll get hurt."
Toothless shook his head, growling.
"I'm not leaving you, Vera! Either you let me stay and help, or I'll carry you out of here in my claws."
"Fine, you can stay," I sighed, "but don't do anything reckless."
Vran was staring at me in shock.
"Vera, can you understand that dragon?"
I turned to face him.
"Yes, I can turn into a dragon, and understand them when I'm in human form."
"Wow…"
I heard shouting from the edge of the forest. The Vikings were getting closer. I quickly shifted into my dragon form, scales and claws appearing almost instantly. I bared my teeth, ready for attack. Toothless stood by me, ready to fight.
"Vera, try not to bite off any arms this time, ok? Just be defensive, not offensive."
So, I should show them I don't want to fight. Ok, I'll go for that.
Suddenly, the Vikings burst out of the trees, noticing us right away. Battle cries erupted all around as they charged towards us. Vran, having no weapons, stood off to the side, hiding behind a tree. Toothless and I dodged every attack thrown our way, standing side by side. Unfortunately, we were separated, Toothless and I each surrounded by half of the Vikings. Swords and hammers swung at me from every direction, some hitting me in the side. I growled in annoyance, but didn't attack. I had to try and show them that I didn't want to fight.
"Vera!" Vran shouted from the side. I looked over and saw him pointing to Toothless, who was lying on the ground, Vron standing over him with a sword to his neck. The attacks stopped as I looked at Vron with hatred. I couldn't move closer to help Toothless, or Vron would kill him! Suddenly, I hear a scream off to the side.
"Stop this!"
I turned to the voice and saw my mother, her blond hair tangled and a mess, running towards Vron.
"Stop this, Vron! They did nothing to us!"
"Nothing? Have you seen my arm, Astrid?" he held up a heavily bandaged stump, still red with some blood. He pushed her to the ground, and I snarled.
"So, Vera. You still care about your mother, then?"
Gasps of shock ran through the crowd.
"Vera?"
"That's Vera?"
"How can it be her?"
I can't hide it any longer.
I shifted into my human form, my hair growing back, my skin turning b tan brown, my claws shrinking and softening to hands and fingers, my tail and wings sliding into my back.
"Yes, Vron. I still care about my mother. I also care about that dragon you are holding at sword point, Toothless."
Vron signaled to one of the Vikings next to him, who grabbed my mother and held a dagger to her throat.
"So then, Vera. Choose. The dragon," he indicated Toothless, "or your mother."
Do I suck? Leaving a big gap, with a major cliffhanger... *giggles madly*
"Vron, how can you ask me to choose between the two people I care most about?"
"This… thing," Vron indicated Toothless again, "is not a person, is not human! It is an animal, and deserves to be treated as such."
I shook my head, smiling.
"Then I guess… I'm an animal too." I turned to face the crowd.
"You've all seen my secret. Now, it's time for me to tell you the truth. The truth about my father, and how I got to be this way."
Mom was staring at me, nodding her head slightly.
"You all know that when I was five, my dad took me into the woods one night and never came back. The day after, a small black lizard was spotted in the gardens of the neighbors. That lizard was me. I had made a wish on a star to fly with dragons because of the stories my dad told me, and it was turned around. I became a dragon myself, able to change between being a dragon and a human at will, but I had to give up something in return."
Vran walked out from behind the trees, curious.
"It was your dad, wasn't it Vera?" he said softly.
I nodded.
"When I made the wish on the star, a voice said that I had to give up something of value in return. Being five years old, I didn't understand it and foolishly agreed. It was a mistake," I looked at Toothless, who looked hurt when I said 'mistake', "that made my life worth living." His face changed to one of joy.
"I do not regret making the wish, because I have gotten to know Toothless because of it."
I turned towards Vron.
"So, Vron. You ask me to choose? I choose … both of them. If you want to punish someone," I looked at my mom, tears in my eyes, "then punish me. I was the one who bit off your arm, who caused the villagers to rebel against you. I am the one at fault. I will not fight."
I shifted into dragon form, claws and scales replacing flesh, wings and tail growing out of my back, skin darkening to black, body growing longer and heavier. I sank to all fours. Vron smiled.
"I said I would get revenge, Vera, and I follow through on my promises."
He lifted the sword above Toothless's neck, ready to strike. I lunged forward to stop him, but Vran got there first. He hit his dad in the head, knocking him out with one blow. Toothless, surprised, walked over to me.
"Toothless, are you ok?" I said, checking him over.
"I'm ok, Vera."
Mom walked over to me, smiling. She was beaming with pride.
"Silvera, I'm proud of you. I know you wanted to choose Toothless, but I'm glad you chose both of us. Your father would be so proud."
She turned to face Toothless.
"Take care of her, Toothless. I'll be coming to check in often."
What does she mean by that?
I gave my mom a questioning look, not understanding what she meant. She walked forward, placing a hand on my head gently.
"Silvera, I think I've taught you all I can. You should go with Toothless."
I was torn.
How could she make me go with him? Sure, I like him, but… wait a second… I turned to face Toothless, my stomach somersaulting.
I think… I love him!
I nodded, thankful that she'd seen what it had taken me so long to realize. Mom smiled, practically glowing with pride for me. Vran walked forward, smiling as well.
"Vera, I'm proud to have called you my friend. I hope we can go flying some time…?"
I playfully slapped him with my tail, knocking him to the ground. I laughed at him, a deep rumble within my chest. I turned to Toothless.
"So… we're mates now?" I asked.
He walked towards me and rubbed is head against mine.
I'll take this as a yes.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
2 years later…
"Vera? How are you doing in there?"
"Toothless, quite worrying about me. I can handle myself, you know!" I joked. A large, black dragon walked into the cave I was in, sitting down beside me, its massive body silhouetted against the setting sun. It was my mate, Toothless the Night Fury, and seeing as how I was currently in human form, his massive bulk outsized me easily as I curled up against him.
"I can't help it! You're my mate, and I worry about you when I'm not around."
"It isn't just me you have to worry about anymore, remember Toothless?"
"Oh, yeah. How are the kids?"
I pulled back a blanket beside me to reveal two small shapes, sleeping. One was a male Night Fury and the other was a female human. They were our kids, and like me, could change between human and dragon form as easily as breathing.
The male, Kami, and the female, Kera, were as close as brother and sister could get. Kami had, when in his human body, tan skin, a head of thick, dark brown hair, light green eyes, and a strong grip. When he was in his dragon body, his eyes shone more brilliantly than any star.
Kera, when in her human body, looked like a twin to Kami.
They never were in the same form at the same time, and they were very smart. One of them was in dragon form when the other was in human form. At a year and a half old, they could already talk in complete sentences… more or less.
Toothless and I were so proud of them. They were the apples of our eyes.
As they opened their eyes, I could see the smiles on their faces as the looked at us. I looked up at Toothless as I picked them up, smiling.
"We're one happy family, aren't we?" they asked in sync, as they always did.
"Yes, we are. One happy family." Toothless and I replied in sync, mimicking them.
We laughed at the joke as the sun set into the horizon, and I realized my mom had been right when she told me to go with Toothless.
I was as happy as I could be here. Sometimes I still regretted making that wish, but then I looked at Toothless, and our kids, and remembered that it was really a chance at a life I'd never have known.
It was a life… of happiness.
THE END
A/N: *sniffles* HAPPY ENDING FOR ALL!
Well, except Vron... who was obviously thrown in jail for the rest of his life. Wanted to hang him, but remember, kiddies- I rated this as K+... so, no gore like that.