Things are getting somewhat interesting...
xXXx
"Thor's mighty hammer, Astrid knows!", was Hiccup's true wake up call when he was already almost dressed.
At first he'd thought he'd seen a nice dream where the reveal went over well and they'd gone flying together (he really, really liked that part what with his crush on her). But then Kernel had told him sleepily that Astrid said thanks for yesterday and everything just clicked in place.
Said sister was watching him with a raised eyebrow as she pulled her usual green shoulder wrap over her dark turquoise shirt. It was tied by the waist with a leather belt and the hem had been split to give more maneuverability. That one was a recent addition for riding purposes. Otherwise the shirt was more like a dress as it reached her knees, covering her usual brown pants partly.
"Well, duh…", she pulled on her boots that were like a slightly slimmer model of Hiccup's. Then she snorted, "Don't tell me you thought yesterday was a dream"
Her backpack was thrown at her in retaliation and she caught it with a slight 'oof'. It was confirmation enough and she laughed lightly and waited for her brother to get ready. He threw on his sleeveless furred leather jacket and they pushed out of the door to go to dragon training.
Whatever happened from now on it was bound to be interesting.
Plus, they would finally get to testing the flying controls today! And Astrid could come too!
xXXx
"I can't believe this!", Astrid hissed through her teeth as she watched wide eyed from the bushes at three children playing with Terrible Terrors, "You've been doing this since last week!? All for the sake of convincing people dragons aren't all bad?"
The twins just glanced at each other and shrugged. They didn't see what the big deal was since they had to make their village a safer place for their best friends. This was just one of the methods.
"Pretty much. Now let's go back. I wanna put this on Toothless", Hiccup whispered and started sneaking away, a bundle in his arms full of the twins' newest invention.
Kernel followed with one last glance at the laughing kids. They weren't bigger than five or six. She started following her brother and left Astrid gaping for a moment longer. The blonde was trying to comprehend the lengths the twins would go for friends and then just smiled fondly at the scene. She turned to go after them a few seconds later. It didn't take long for the trio to get far enough for not being overheard and Astrid took the chance to pick their brains on the tactics they used in the ring. She was kind of envious of them to be honest. Having their own dragons and riding them. Though if what she heard and saw of Springer's flying she didn't want to try it. Toothless was enough, thanks.
She still hoped to have her own one day. Perhaps when they managed to get a stop to this war.
The twins had filled her in as to why dragons raided them. That they didn't really want to but they had to or they'd die. Astrid was sure the twins would try everything to help. She wanted to help. Never before had she felt such sympathy towards dragons.
Then they reached the cove and got to putting the flying control thing on Toothless. Astrid helped with putting it together, being much stronger than either twin and thus having an easier time to put some of the parts together. Really, you wouldn't believe she found out only yesterday! But the twins were glad for it.
"Okay. Done!", Hiccup rose to his feet to admire the job. Toothless curiously turned to look at it and ended up going in circles.
Everyone laughed and got ready for a flight. Or, well. Hiccup and Kernel were readying for a flight and Astrid decided to watch from the sidelines. Only because she didn't want to fall from a height. Or get drenched. It didn't take too long for Hiccup to figure out how the tail worked and the twins felt ready to try their longest ride yet. Over the ocean!
"Astrid? Wanna come?", Hiccup asked the blonde who regarded him for a second.
"Are you sure you won't fall?", she asked suspiciously.
A confident smile, "Of course", he reached a hand out to help her in the saddle. Astrid took it with a smirk.
"Let's fly then!"
Kernel watched their interaction with a smile. Looked like this might just be a working couple of they started dating. She looked at her dragon and grinned.
"Ready Springer?", she asked, settling comfortably in the saddle and holding on.
Her answer was an excited screech and two wingbeats that took them high up into the sky. And of course a barrel roll that she'd by now learned to anticipate. Or some similar trick. Only seconds later they were joined by a black scaled dragon. Hiccup gave them a smug grin Tooth echoed.
"Race you?", he challenged.
Kernel grinned, a glint entering her eyes, "You're on!"
Astrid looked a little nervous but calmed herself with a breath and tightening her grip on Hiccup.
"Okay. I'll count to three", she told them, "One! Two! Three-eee!", the dragons took off making her yelp.
They were quite evenly matched. Toothless was faster but he couldn't read air currents like Springer. And he had two riders which slowed him a little. Normally it would be a win for him but today Springer had the advantage. The wind was flowing favorably. And if it didn't, she could shoot a blast forward and make them. At least for a little bit. Springer raced amongst treetops like they weren't there, circling and moving with Kernel holding on admirably. Toothless' wing beats were steady and fast. They were first, then second, then first again and the shore was only a little bit ahead. Springer caught a gust of wind under her wings and sprang forward in the last moment.
"Goal!", Kernel and Hiccup shouted at the same time, "We won!"
Astrid was panting hard and looking a bit dazed but had a happy and exhilarated smile on her face. The twins frowned at each other.
"No, we won!", they said at the same time. Looks of frustration, "Stop that!"
The blonde laughed at their antics breathlessly and got two pouty glares in response, "Y- You guys! Hahaha! You're hilarious!"
"Are not!", they protested, then glanced at each other in sync before chuckling. It was pretty funny.
Astrid was now clutching her sides. The twins looked at her with eyes that said that was a bit too far.
Hiccup looked to Kernel, "It's not that funny, is it?"
His sister shrugged. Maybe the girl was still riding off the adrenaline high. Scratch that, she most certainly was. She smiled a bit at the scene though. She was glad Astrid was this relaxed with them. Kernel met her brother's eyes.
"Ready to go up?"
Hiccup nodded, "Ready"
Astrid took a moment to calm herself and then wrapped her arms comfortably around the boy in front of her, "Ready!"
And they were off.
Oh how they wanted to show this to all the vikings! It would be wonderful to do this with all the others.
But first they could fly with just the five of them. And that was enough for now.
xXXx
A few days went by with the siblings and Astrid bonding through their secret and finding out more about dragons. But one time they went flying in the clouds and suddenly found themselves in a swarm of dragons carrying their catch. Tooth and Spring were in the middle, as if following something. Kernel sent a wary and questioning feeling through her bond with her dragon. A worried and muffled answer. Like she wasn't entirely in control. Her eyes narrowed.
"Something's controlling them somehow", she informed Hiccup and Astrid quietly.
The brown haired boy gulped silently but was filled with the same determination as her. They would make the controlling stop. The dragons flew in between rock formations and Kernel briefly wondered if they'd run into their Dad but dismissed it. No one had gotten this close to the dragon nest and that was definitely where they were headed. She just worried what they'd find there. Did they have to witness dragons eating the food? Getting eaten by something? There had to be a threat of some kind there. Threat enough for Tooth and Spring to help the raids.
A cave. They flew through a cave smoothly and quietly, like a shadow. They came to a orange glowing giant pit where all the dragons dispersed and the slight control slipped, making Tooth and Spring find a hiding place in shadows. The other dragons dropped their catch into the hole as the three teens held their breath. Something had to be down there.
That something raised its head to grab a flying dragon.
It. Was. Enormous.
"That's the- the…?", Astrid whispered in horror.
They stared for a moment longer with wide eyes until everything started acting up and it became clear they needed to get out. Like right now. Their dragons understood the riders' intentions and sprang to action, Springer using her agility to get through the dragon swarm and Toothless just speeding his way through.
The giant head of the- the creature followed. And almost snatched Hiccup and Astrid, making Kernel's breath catch.
I hate close calls, she thought with relief as they made it out and into the cold night sky.
It had been a long flight. The trip back to Berk was spent in silence. Everyone was thinking of this turn of events and how it'd impact their lives.
"How are we supposed to get rid of that- that thing?", Astrid asked once they were almost at the cove, "It's like the dragon Alpha!"
Hiccup frowned in worry and thought, "We'll come up with something…"
"In the meanwhile", Kernel voiced her own worries, "How are we supposed to convince everyone of… all that?"
At times like these she wished cameras existed here. Pictures and videos that could be shown to others. It would be preferable that there was no way to use something like Photoshop either. Genjutsu or general illusions would've worked too… or she could've invented reverse legilimency as Hermione. Alas, all those things didn't exist here. It was only her, her wit, her brother and their dragons. And their newest friend.
Hiccup sighed tiredly, "Just what we need. Another crazy hard job on the list"
Astrid looked up to the moon and smiled wanly, "Look on the bright side, guys"
The twins turned to her, wanting to hear what the bright side to this situation was. The warrior's slight smile widened.
"You've got a knack for making this 'crazy hard' work"
Even with the somber mood they cracked a small smile at that. Astrid's confidence in them was uplifting. Plus, she was kind of right. They did make this thing called 'against all logic' look rather easy. They just hoped it would stay that way.
Dad had to get back home soon. He had to. The twins didn't want him to face that giant dragon.
xXXx
A visit to the nest and more workload for the twins. No not the Thorstons, the other ones. But we might see them both next chapter... If I remember correctly. This is the problem when you write more chapters than you publish. See you next time!
