Dat Dah dah! We're at the final chapter! I am abosultly thrilled at how many people have been reading this and that you've all enjoyed it as much as the Toothless POV one. Well, I'm treating you to a nice long chapter and enjoy it! on word the enitre fic reached 100 pages yay!
Enough of my ramblings, read and review! It's time for the final battle!
Standard disclaimers apply.
Chapter Ten: I Do Something Crazy
And I want a moment to be real,
Want to touch things I don't feel,
Wanna hold on and feel I belong.
And how, can they say I'll never change?
They're the ones that stay the same.
I'm the one now, 'cause I'm still here,
I'm the one,
'Cause I'm still here,
I'm still here,
I'm still here,
I'm Still Here…
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
I ran down through the almost deserted town right for the Kill Ring with Astrid right behind. Nearly all the ships were gone and besides I didn't know how to handle much more than a rowboat. The only way to catch up with the armada, we would have to fly. Good thing we had some Dragons in the Kill Ring in perfect flying shape. We only stopped at my house on the way to get my flight vest.
Both Astrid and I arrived at the Kill Ring without running into anyone. If we had, there would've been trouble. Exiled, we weren't allowed anywhere near Berk except the outskirts. But, desperate times call for desperate measures. The first cage I headed for was the Monstrous Nightmare's. I know what you're thinking, after my near death experience wouldn't I want to stay far away from the Nightmare? No. The only reason the Nightmare attacked me was because the sound of Dad hitting the bars with his hammer startled it so badly.
"If you're planning on getting eaten, I'd go with the Groncle." Fishlegs said from behind me. Astrid and I both turned around surprised. Not only was Fishlegs there, so was Snotlout, Tuffnut, and Ruffnut. What were they doing here?
"If you two think we're here to smash you flat we're not." Snotlout said.
"We all got exiled too." Ruffnut said, "I mean…even an idiot could've seen that your Night Fury wasn't going to hurt you."
All I could do was blink in amazement. Snotlout then said that he and Tuffnut got into a shouting match with Dad and Uncle Spitelout trying to tell them that Toothless had been trying to protect me. I was almost speechless. They had gotten themselves exiled for me?
"You…were exiled too?" I asked.
"Yeah." Tuffnut said, "We couldn't let you and Astrid go down by yourselves."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because that's what friends do." Snotlout said, "They stick up for eachother."
"Guys…" I said.
"Thanks." Astrid finished for me.
"Alright." Tuffnut said flapping his hand impatiently, "Warm fuzzies later, what's the plan?"
"We catch up with our parents and the armada." I said. Tuffnut stepped forward importantly.
"You are wise to seek aid from the world's deadliest weapon." He paused for effect and an awkward silence followed, "That's me." This coming from the guy who got his nose gnawed on by the Terrible Terror on an almost regular basis? He was shoved aside by Snolout.
"I love this plan." He said trying to show his enthusiasm. He was pushed aside by Ruffnut.
"You're crazy!" she said and the look on her face said so too, then changed to a slightly disturbing smile, "I like that…" she said leaning forward towards me. I leaned back slightly unnerved. Luckily, Astrid came to my rescue grabbing Ruffnut by one of her braids and pulling her away looking disgusted. This turning out from my worst birthday ever to the strangest…
"So," Astrid said, "What's the plan?"
"Astrid, can you open the Nightmare's cage?" I asked, "It'll be easier to show than explain." Astrid nodded. Snotlout's eyes bugged.
"WHAT!" he bleated, "You're gonna get up close and personal with the Nightmare! Right after it nearly made a meal out of you!" Astrid punched him on her way out of the ring.
"Hey, the Nightmare only attacked Hiccup because it was startled and went nuts." Tuffnut said, "Even the kids saw that."
"Hey, I trained a Night Fury." I said, "The most feared of Dragons remember? The Monstrous Nightmare? No problem." The turned around as the beams were lifted from the Nightmare's cage I stepped forward to open the doors. As soon as the Nightmare saw me and smelled me, it began to calm down. I held my hand out and slowly stepping backwards led the Dragon out of its cage never breaking eye contact.
"Whoa…" Tuffnut said.
"Cool…" Ruffnut said.
I stepped back until I was standing next to Snotlout. At that point my hand was resting against the Nightmare's snout. Snotlout flinched slightly, I grabbed his wrist and started to move his hand to the Nightmare's snout.
"H-hey! Wh-what're you doing!" he bleated.
"It's okay…just trust them and they'll trust you back." I said, "I've had personal experience." I put Snotlout's hand on the Nightmare's snout and both he and the Dragon calmed down immensely. In fact I they liked each other right off the bat.
"Wow…" Snotlout said laughing, "This…This…This is cool!" he scratched the Dragon's nose causing it to rumble happily and closed it eyes lazily. I walked over to the side of the ring.
"Hey where're you going!" Snotlout bleated. I lifted out a coil of rope from a large box.
"You're going to need something to hold on with." I said.
We all got the rest of the Dragons out of their cages, the Terrible Terror just jumped onto Tuffnut, gnawed at his nose then flew away. While I was making makeshift harnesses, everyone else was trying to think of a name for their Dragons and determine if they were male or female. I almost laughed as I watched this. I couldn't help but notice some vague similarities between the Dragons and their new Riders.
And for once, Tuffnut and Ruffnut agreed on something. For a minute they couldn't agree on either Tinder or Flint for their ZippleBack. Ruffnut wanted to name him 'Tinder', Tuffnut wanted to name him 'Flint'. Then Tuffnut by some miracle of Odin came up with a solution.
"How about 'Tinderflint'?" Tuffnut said, "You name your head 'Tinder' and I'll name my head 'Flint'. How's that?"
"For once I think we can agree on something." Ruffnut said, "Tinderflint it is." Tinderflint seemed to like the idea too.
Astrid named her Nadder 'Squall' on account of the sound of the laughing sound he made.
Snotlout was having some trouble, "So…how about…Fireball?" the Nightmare snorted rolling its eyes, "Um…Kaboom?" The Nightmare gave him a withering look.
"Maybe you should figure out gender first?" I suggested.
"I think she's a girl." Snotlout said, "Female Dragons are more vicious. So how about…Firewyrm?" The Nightmare's eyes lit up as if saying "there you go!".
Fishlegs named his Groncle "Bumblebee", "Groncles fly around like bumblebees!" he said in his defense. He may know almost everything about Dragons, but he was never very creative.
Once everyone had their harnesses on we all mounted our Dragons. Just before take off I quickly told everyone how to steer.
"Just lean in whatever direction you want to go." I said, "Lean forward to dive, lean back to climb higher up."
"How are we gonna get to the Dragon's Nest?" Ruffnut said from her head on the ZippleBack.
"We just get to Helhiem's Gate." Astrid said, "The Dragons will take care of the rest once we're in the fog."
"Alright!" Snotlout shouted "Let's get outta here!" and nearly crashed into the caged ceiling.
"Come on!" I said "We've gotta catch up with the armada!" soon as Snotlout and Firewyrm disentangled themselves we all took off from Berk heading for Helhiem's Gate. The armada had several hours head start, they'd probably reach the Dragon's Nest before we did, but since we were flying we'd probably be able to get there in time. During the flight I quickly filled everyone in on the plan.
"…There's some kind of Dragon eating monster there." I shouted over the wind, "If the Dragons don't bring enough food back, they'll be eaten! If Dad and the others try to fight that thing they'll all be killed!"
"So we have to warn them!" Astrid shouted from behind me on the Nadder, "We might be able to hold it off so everyone can get out of there."
"Fight it?" Tuffnut said his eyes lighting up, "Sounds like a great plan! You should think more often Hiccup!"
"He does that all the time you idiot!" Ruffnut shouted taking a swing at him. They started bickering again and taking swings at each other nearly causing their ZippleBack to wobble and fall out of the air!
"WILL YOU TWO STOP THAT!" I shouted, "Save your energy for monster-butt kicking will you!" Both twins stopped fighting immediately. Breathing slightly in relief I turned back to look ahead as we all flew over the ocean.
Hold on Toothless…I'm coming…He had saved me, now I was going to save him.
"Don't worry." Astrid said grasping my hand, "We'll save Toothless."
It took us only a few hours to reach Helhiem's Gate. Once we were in the fog, the Dragons took care of the rest. They knew where to go, all we had to do was hold on.
"I can't see a thing!" Snotlout shouted, "You sure our Dragons know where we're going?"
"Yes I'm sure!" I shouted, "Just hold on!"
"Ugghhh…I don't feel so good…" Fishlegs moaned.
"Don't tell me you ate before this!" Ruffnut shouted.
"He always 'just ate'." Tuffnut grumbled, "Hold on Fishlegs don't puke on us!"
Several lurching turns later and we burst out of the fog. The armada had already arrived and nearly all the ships had been set on fire! On the shore of the volcanic island we could see the Vikings running away from…
"WHAT IS THAT THING!" Snotlout shouted.
"It's HUGE!" Tuffnut shouted.
"Beyond huge!" Ruffnut said.
"That's why the Dragons have been raiding Berk!" Astrid shouted, "If they don't give it food it'll eat them!"
"Looks like a Dragon but isn't one." Fishlegs said, "Got it! Better attack from behind!"
"Alright!" I shouted let's go!" I leaned to the side taking the Nadder into a dive and with several loud whoops and cheers the other followed us. The monster was stomping around on the beach, at its feet I could see Dad and Gobber running around trying to distract it from the fleeing villagers led by Uncle Spitelout. The thing swung its large armored head from side to side then raised its head up, there was a sharo intake of air and the smell of sulfur. It was going to breathe fire!
Oh no you don't! We swooped in from behind and…
BOOM!
All at once our Dragons shot out fireballs hitting the beast right in the back of its head. It roared in pain as we swooped around it making our escape before it could broil us.
"YEAH!" Snotlout cheered swinging his hammer over his head.
"WE'RE ON DRAGONS!" Tuffnut shouted.
"ALL OF US! WE'RE ON DRAGONS!" Snotlout shouted.
"Ev'ry bit o' bull-headed stubborn Viking you ever were." I heard Gobber say to Dad in his "I-told-you-so" voice. I caught a glimpse of Dad looking up at us on our Dragons with something close to amazement. We circled above the battle.
"Alright Fishlegs break it down!" I shouted. If anyone could give an on the spot profile it was Fishlegs. Fishlegs squinted as he looked at the creature roaring and stomping on the beach.
"Large jaw and clubbed tail tip made for crushing, stay away from both!" Fishlegs shouted over the roaring, "Large nostrils, small eyes, must rely on smell and hearing!" Okay so that meant its vision must be very bad.
"Alright, 'Lout! 'Legs! Hang out in its blind spot; make some noise to confuse it!" I shouted. Snotlout made a saluting motion, Fishlegs gave a thumbs up and both dove down to the monster hovering on either side of its head.
"Ruff! Tuff! Figure out if it has a shot limit!" I shouted, "Make it mad; really mad!"
"You got it!" Ruffnut shouted happily, "Pissing off is my specialty!"
"Since when!" Tuffnut snapped, "EveryoneI knows I'm more irritating!" He swung his ZippleBack head upside down making faces and annoying noises. Ruffnut started slugging Tuffnut and the two began bickering again.
"WILL YOU TWO JUST SHUT UP AND GET IN THERE!" I shouted.
"Okay! Okay! We're on it!" Tuffnut and Ruffnut shouted in unison. They took their ZippleBack into a dive right at the monster's face. I steered the Nadder towards the burning ships looking for Toothless. I craned my neck around looking for Toothless.
Come on buddy where are you..? I thought desperately scanning the flames. I steered the Nadder in a wide arc looking…praying…Then…
"THERE!" Astrid shouted pointing to the struggling black shape of Toothless. I quickly unsecured myself from the Nadder and carefully got behind Astrid as she scooted forward on his back.
"Go help the others." I said readying myself to jump, "Soon as I'm up break off your attack!" Astrid nodded, and I jumped! I landed on the deck of the ship staggering forwards slightly right in front of Toothless. He was still alive!
"Toothless!" I shouted hugging him tightly. All I had to do now was get him free. I grabbed the muzzle around his snout and started to pull.
"I'm so sorry, this is all my fault!" I grunted pulling the muzzle off Toothless's head. Toothless looked at me with his large green eyes as if telling me it wasn't my fault. The muzzle slid off and I staggered back slightly. I grabbed a metal pole lying nearby and put it through one of the metal rings the chains holding Toothless down were attached to.
"Don't worry!" I shouted, "I'll get you out of these!" I threw my whole weight into it trying to pry up the chains to free Toothless. If I didn't hurry either we'd both get burned or drowned, or both! I wasn't going to let that happen. I kept trying to get the chains loose, using every last once of strength I had, but it wasn't anywhere near enough. The flames kept getting hotter and closer.
Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, a large clubbed tail swung over the ships and the mast of the ship Toothless and I were on came crashing down right in front of me!
"AH!" and we were both dropped into the water. I resurfaced sputtering. I looked down and saw Toothless sinking to the bottom of the bay! He'd drown! I took a deep breath and dove down to the bottom of the bay to the struggling Toothless. I grabbed the chains and started pulling as hard as I could.
I need air! Dark spots started appearing in the corners of my vision and my grip on the chains started going slack and I inhaled water. I was drowning. No Some…someone…please…sa…ve…Tooth…less…I started to sink to the rocky floor of the bay starting to pass out and inhale more water.
A large hand grabbed me by the straps of my flight vest and I was jerked upwards. I was only aware of the movement. Whoever had grabbed me was swimming to the surface as fast as they could!
No…Toothless…
We broke the surface of the water, I was pulled up out of the water and then I was lying down on the shore. As soon as I got air into my lungs I started coughing up all the water I had inhaled. I sat up still coughing and blinking the water out of my eyes. My vision cleared in time for me to see Dad dive into the water! He saved me?
"Dad?"
What happened next was the longest thirty seconds I ever experienced. I stood up completely waterlogged staring at the water. Why wasn't Dad coming back up? I knew he was a strong swimmer and could hold his breath for a good few minutes but…I backed up ready to dive in to help. Bubbles roiled on the water's surface and Toothless burst out carrying Dad and splashing me with even more water. Toothless dropped Dad onto the beach flew over me and landed on a large rock. He looked over at me and jerked his head at the battle going on nearby.
I knew what he was telling me: "Come on, we've got a monster to beat."
I nodded, "You got it bud." And sprinted over to Toothless swinging myself up into the saddle and started to secure myself in when Dad grasped my arm. I looked over confused.
"I…I'm sorry…" He said, "I'm sorry for everything." I wasn't sure is he was really apologizing or if my head was still full of water, but I was sure he meant every word.
"Yeah…Me too." I said nodding, "Me too." It was my impulsiveness that had gotten us all into the mess. Now I was going to get us and the Dragons out of it. Dad grasped my arm a little tighter, he seemed afraid.
"Y-ye don't have to go up there." He said a touch of fear in his words.
I had to go up there. Maybe I was even born for this.
"We're Vikings Dad." I said shrugging, "It's an occupational hazard." I had heard Dad say that several times before. I never thought I'd be saying them myself. The apple didn't fall too far from the tree after all.
Dad placed his other hand on my arm, "I…I'm proud to call ye my son." And let go. My head spun with confusion mixed with some relief. This was the first time Dad saying he was proud of me, for who I was. I wasn't even sure if I was still exiled or not.
"Thanks…Dad…" I said then turned forward, "Alright Toothless let's go!" Toothless grunted and thrust his wings down taking off! Soon as we were up Astrid and Squall flew down to the monster and with Tinderflint bringing up the rear. Snotlout jumped off the thing's head and landed on Tinderflint's back and both Dragons started to fly away. The monster opened its maw to breathe fire and Astrid and Squall were being sucked in! There was no way I was going to let that happen!
"Come on!" Shouted and flattened myself on Toothless's back to increase our speed. Toothless tucked his wings to his sides as we went into a dive and a high pitched shriek filled the air and I felt a rumble below me as he was about to launch a fireball.
"NIGHT FURY!" someone screamed.
"GET DOWN!" Gobber shouted.
Toothless dove, right at the beast's maw and just before Astrid and Squall were sucked in…
BOOM!
Toothless's fireball slammed right into the thing's jaw and Astrid was thrown off Squall and started to fall! Squall went spinning out of control and crashed into the shoals.
"Astrid!" I shouted. Toothless twisted around in midair and dove again to Astrid.
"!"
We swooped down and Astrid's screaming stopped. Did we catch her in time?
"Did you catch her!" I shouted over the roaring as Toothless flew away from the monster. I twisted around in the saddle and saw Astrid's hand sticking out from below Toothless giving me a thumbs up. We caught her. I leaned left and Toothless banked I heard Astrid grunting and we flew low to drop her off where the rest of the townspeople were.
"Go." I heard Astrid say in parting as Toothless and I flew back into the fight. The monster was stomping around on the beach trying to crush any stragglers underfoot. Toothless slammed into its face and started clawing at its eyes. It had three pairs. The thing roared as Toothless took a swipe at one of the eyes rendering it completely useless. It was taking all I had just to hold on the way I was getting tossed around. Toothless clawed again then flew away taking us higher up into the air. Just before we flew away I noticed something.
"That thing has wings!" I said and an idea formed in my head. Forget crazy, I was going to do something insane, "Okay…Let's see it can use 'em!" And took Toothless into a dive towards the monster.
I hope I know what I'm doing…I thought and flattened myself on Toothless's back as he tucked his wings to his sides readying to launch another fireball. We dove down, closer…closer…closer…and…
BOOM!
Toothless's fireball slammed right into the monster's wings knocking it right to the beach. We pulled out of our dive and started to fly away over the bay trying to get some distance before it started to chase us.
"Do you think that did it?" I asked Toothless twisting around in the saddle to see the monster giving chase, "Well…it can fly." I added nervously. Now we had to get this thing far away from everyone else on the beach! I steered Toothless into the fog navigating trying to stay ahead of the thing as it chased us, I didn't need to looked behind to know it was starting to catch up. We flew through the sea stacks and over the crashing and sound of rocks shattering I could hear cheering coming from Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut and Tuffnut. I didn't hear what they were saying, I was focused on one thing only. Bringing this monster down! There was a lid roar behind us and Toothless picked up speed! I steered Toothless away from the beach and flying over the bay I looked up seeing dark storm clouds.
Perfect.
"Alright Toothless. Time to disappear!" I said, "COME ON BUD!" and pulled back on the saddle and Toothless started climbing higher into the air towards the storm clouds. Behind us there was another roar and a sharp intake of breath and the smell of sulfur! I looked over my shoulder, the thing was about to breathe fire!
"HERE IT COMES!" I shouted and steered Toothless out of the line of fire as a red hot plume of flame shot up right next to us! We shot right into the storm clouds flying as fast as possible trying to lose the monster in the cloud cover. Ina few seconds, the thing stopped chasing us, we had disappeared now we could attack.
"It's the wings and the tail ye want. Without those a Dragon can't fly."
We banked right circling the monster who was whipping its head around looking for Toothless and I. Target, the wings.
"Now." I said in Toothless's ear and flattened myself on his back. Toothess dove and shot a fireball at the monster hitting it in the back of the head. It roared and whipped its head around to retaliate but by then Toothless and I were already behind it again. Toothless shot another fireball this one going right through the monster's wings. Again and again we swooped around in the cloud cover and each and every time Toothless landed a hit.
But he couldn't keep shooting fireballs forever.
With an enraged roar the monster spun around spewing out a jet of flame! I yelped and tried to steer Toothless away if the prosthetic tailfin caught on fire we'd both fall to our deaths!
"WATCH OUT!" I shouted steering Toothless away staring to make our escape. Suddenly Toothless wobbled in mid air! I turned around in the saddle and my heart skipped a beat. The prosthetic tail fin had caught on fire and was falling apart! We had to take this thing down, now.
"O-Okay time's up." I said trying not to panic, "Let's see if this works…" I said more to myself. That thing may not have been a Dragon, but I was sure it wasn't fireproof inside. If I could just time it right…I took Toothless into a dive shooting over the monster.
"COME ON!" I shouted trying to get its attention. "THAT THE BEST YOU CAN DO!" We flew right at its face only escaping from its jaws just barely in time! I leaned forwards on Toothless, lying flat on his back and we went into a dive almost in freefall. A roar from behind us told me that we had the thing chasing us, good, just like I wanted. I pressed down on the left stirrup, there wasn't much change in course. We only had seconds left before a nasty crash landing.
Toothless was starting to panic.
"Stay with me buddy! We're good."I said, "Just a little bit longer!" Come on…just a few more seconds please! Please!
We kept diving and Toothless started to tumble. It was now or never. There was a sharp intake of breath and the smell of sulfer…
"Hold Toothless…" I said. One…Two…Three…I glanced over my shoulder to see hot gas building up in the back f the monster's throat.
"NOW!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. Toothless twisted around in midair and launched a fireball into the heated gas just before the flames could shoot out. The monster choked and gagged on the flames as it started to explode from the inside out! It flared it wings out to slow its fall but the holes we already put in, the explosion inside it, and the velocity of the fall just made them bigger! Toothless struggled to right himself getting ready to fly back to the beach. Instead we were dragged back almost right into the monster's maw! Toothless barely managed to avoid it and all the hot air blew us higher up into the air! The monster hit the beach headfirst exploding into a huge fireball that was about to incinerate us!
Toothless flapped both sets of wings furiously all I could do was hang on and steer him through the spikes as the flames kept getting closer and closer!
Just when I thought we were safe, we lost all control over our flight. I looked over my shoulder and to my horror saw the prosthetic tailfin was gone! We were starting to tumble through the air!
"No!" I shouted then turned to look ahead and I froze. The clubbed tailfin was coming closer and closer and we couldn't avoid it!
"NO!" I shouted flattening myself on Toothless praying that it would just pass over.
CRACK!
We crashed right into the clubbed tail tip. There was an explosion of pain and everything went dark…
I knew I was dead.
But if I was dead, why did it still hurt?
One moment I was freezing cold, the next burning hot. And why was one of my legs hurting so much?
Warm breath, snuffling, a familiar grunting sound. I was lying down, safe and warm.
"Uggh…." I struggled to wake up. I cracked my eyes open. My vision was so blurry all I could make out was a dark shape hovering over me. I blinked trying to clear my vision and when it did the first thing I saw was Toothless! I smiled weakly up at him I'd never been happier to see him.
"…Hey…Toothless…" I croaked. I barely had the strength to speak. I couldn't even lift my arms. My whole body felt like lead and I was probably on the verge of passing out again. Toothless leaned over me gently nudging my with his snout then put his paws up and started licking my face completely overjoyed at seeing me awake. I leaned to the side slightly still lying down and wrapped my sore arms around his neck.
"…I-I' happy to see you too bud…" I said hoarsely. Toothless lifted his left paw apparently trying to hug me back and hit my left leg. Pain shot through my leg and I sat bolt up right, "OW!" I shouted clutching my left thigh wincing as Toothless jumped back.
It was then I noticed where I was. I was in my bed covered in several layers of warm blankets, back in my house.
"I'm…in my house…" I said completely confused. How had I gotten here? The last thing I remembered was crashing into that monster's tail then…nothing. I turned to my left to face Toothless who was squirming happily on the spot.
"You're here…in my house…" Toothless sprang off the floor and started bouncing off the ceiling and walls! He knocked over almost everything making a huge racket then jumped up to the rafters! What was Toothless doing here? How had he gotten inside?
"Wait…Does Dad know you're here!" I yelped suddenly starting to panic. What was Dad going to say when he got home and found Toothless trashing the living room? My head was spinning so badly I thought I was going to pass out again. Toothless jumped down from the rafters and bounded over to my bedside.
"Okay okay…" I said trying to figure out what was going on. Toothless was here, I was back in Berk, I wasn't dead, but what the heck was going on! Toothless jumped up to the rafters again knocking even more stuff over and started swinging upside down from the rafter by his tail. I must have been out for a long time.
"Toothless!" I said, "Aw come on…" Still I couldn't help but feel a little better seeing Toothless acting so silly. I leaned back slightly and lifted the blankets.
"Oh…" was all I said. The lower half of my left leg was gone. It was replaced by a wood and metal prosthetic. The one I had designed; spring loaded, wood calf, metal foot. I stared at my leg in shock. A bout three inches below my left knee the prosthetic leg was strapped to the stump with several leather bands.
I would never be able to run again. I would always walk with a slight limp. Toothless jumped down from the rafters and landed next to me hooting sadly. I turned to look at him. He stared at me with large sad eyes that said "I'm sorry…"
Don't blame yourself Toothless…I'm just reaping what I sowed…I knew I wasn't going to come out of that fight unscathed but I didn't expect to lose half a leg…I swung my legs out of bed. My right leg was bandaged at the calf but it was still intact and still in its boot. My left leg came down the prosthetic squeaking slightly. Toothless leaned down sniffing the prosthetic foot. I never thought I'd be wearing this so soon.
I was pretty depressed about not being able to run the way I used to, shocked at finding I had only a leg and a half, and completely confused about everything else. But, despite all that, the thing I was thinking most of was my first step. I looked up at Toothless and took a deep breath. And another. I stood up leaning on the bed posts and on my right leg. I braced myself and set my left leg down and evened out my weight. Pain shot up my left leg and I gasped wincing as my weight came down on the prosthetic. It was going to take a while to get used to it.
Once the pain subsided, I took another deep breath and took a step forward.
I lost my balance and fell!
"AGH!" I yelped. But instead of hitting the hard floorboards, I fell across Toothless's large black head. Toothless purred softy and gently pushed me back up to my feet. He wasn't going to let me fall. Leaning slightly on Toothless I evened my weight out again and together we both turned to the door. As we did I saw Toothless tail, I guess we're even now.
Just one more thing to connect us…I thought, We really are two of a kind…
"Thanks bud…" I said limping alongside Toothless as we crossed the room to the front door the prosthetic foot squeaking with each step. We reached the door and wobbling slightly I grasped the handle and pulled the door open.
A Monstrous Nightmare flew right by! With a startled yell I slammed the door shut leaning back against the door waiting for the fiery breath…which never came. I turned to Toothless.
"Toothless, stay here." I said. If there was another raid I wasn't going to let Toothless get hurt. I opened the door and what I saw nearly made me pass out again!
"Come on guys!" Snotlout shouted, "It's almost time for our first flight around Berk!" I stepped out of the house my mouth hanging open in shock. Dragons were everywhere! Dragons walking through town led by Viking's, Vikings flying Dragons around town, Dragons snoozing on rooftops, and what originally had been the torches were now communal fish bowls for the Dragons. There wasn't a weapon in sight and nearby I could see several of the little kids all playing with a Nightmare.
There was only one explanation for this.
This wasn't Berk! I was in Valhalla!
"I knew it." I said, "I'm dead!"
Dad burst out laughing steeping up from behind me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders, "No, but ye gave it yer best shot." He was still chuckling at the look on my face, "So, what do ye think?" he asked gesturing to Berk. All I could do was gape in shock. We both walked down the pathway into the village with Dad supporting me as I limped alongside him.
"Hey look!" someone shouted, "It's Hiccup!" Several of the villagers all rushed over, Uncle Spitelout with a Green Terror sitting on his shoulder. I glanced around at everyone still in shock. Everyone was looking at me like I was some kind of hero.
"It turns out, all we needed was someone like this." Dad said gesturing to all me.
"You…You just gestured to all of me?" I asked completely confused. Dad smiled and nodded. I knew right then we weren't going to have anymore one sided conversations ever again.
"Well, most of ye," Gobber said stepping up pointing to my prosthetic foot, "Tha' bit's my handiwork with a bit of a "Hiccup flare". Ye like it?" I lifted my left leg looking at the prosthetic foot.
"I might make a few tweaks." I said laughing slightly and everyone else burst out laughing. I already had a few ideas but first I had to get used to this thing.
WHAM!
"OW!" I shouted.
Astrid slugged me from behind and I lurched forwards almost falling flat on my face!
"That was for scaring me." Astrid said looking half angry half relieved.
"Wh-what!" I bleated, "I-Is it always gonna be this way? Because-." Astrid grasped the front of my tunic and pulling me towards her, kissed me right on the mouth. I completely forgot what I was going to say next. I was feeling almost light headed when she pulled back I grinned.
"I could get used to it." I said.
Gobber pulled out Toothless's saddle along with a new proecthetic tailfin, this one red from behind his back and dropped it into my arms.
"Welcome home Hiccup." Gobber said.
I was about to thank him when Toothless suddenly roared. I forgot! He was still in the house!
"NIGHT FURY!" Uncle Spitelout shouted and everyone scrambled out of the way as Toothless came bounding out of the house over to me, squishing Uncle Spitelout on the way. He got back up saying he was okay. The other villager burst out laughing, so did Astrid and I exchanging grins.
"Alright," Dad shouted out to the gathered townspeople, "Our first ceremonial flight around Berk is about to begin!" everyone cheered and ran over to their Dragons. I rushed over to Toothless and secured his saddle on. The only difference was now the left stirrup was made of metal with a clip where my prosthetic foot would fit into perfectly. I got my flight vest on and swung myself up into the saddle. After securing myself in I slid both feet into the stirrups. The prosthetic went in with a clean click. I shifted my left leg, it was working just like before.
Apart, Toothless and I were incomplete, but together, we were whole again.
I leaned forwards patting Toothless on the neck, "Ready Toothless?" Toothless grunted and shook his head grinning toothily at me. I didn't need to ask, of course he was ready! All around us Dragons and their Riders were taking off for our first flight around Berk. I glanced over to Astrid who was already mounted on Squall. We were ready. Toothless thrust his wings down and we were off! The whole world was open to us, nothing could restrain us. We all flew around Berk racing each other on our Dragons exchanging some friendly banter. Dive bombing a few people on the way.
I would never forget the day I met Toothless or anything that happened afterwards.
With a loud cheer Toothless and I flew up into the clouds ready for whatever came our way…
This is Berk.
It snows nine months of the year, and hails the other three. Any food that grows here is tough and tasteless. The people that grow here are even more so. The only upsides are the pets. Well other places have ponies or parrots.
Not us.
We have much cooler pets.
We have…Dragons.
The End
AND WE'RE DONE! *throws confetti* not only did I also do the movie novel fic before it gets done to death, looks like I;m the first one to finish yay! Well, I;m glad that i did so that this can keep your sanity in check till the DVD comes out.
As for those of you asking if this did do me any good, it did. that's all I'll say.
I'll be working on some HTTYD oneshots on Toothless's siblings but there might be a bit of a wait, I'm getting jaw surgery in two weeks, wish me luck, and I'll be totally out of it for a few weeks. In the mean time, please read and review and check out my tales of symphinai fanfic too.
Edited 6/13/10: i forot to put in some deatil that Astrid's Nadder was still alive so I out it in!
Well, it's been another thrilling fanfiction!
See you soon!
Chocobo Scribe signing off!