A/N: LONGGGG CHAPPIE EVERYBODY!
Chapter 10: The Haunting
There was crushing of leaves and twigs in a distance. A boy of sixteen years with black hair was crouched behind the bushes and held his breath.
"Found you!" an eight-year-old boy with red hair jumped out of the bushes and tackled the teen on the ground. "I win, Egil!" he triumphantly sneered at the teen.
"You're getting good at this game," the teenager named Egil laughed and ruffled the kid's hair. The boy beamed at him, obviously proud of himself. "We've been playing that since forever, what do you expect?" the boy harrupmhed.
"Shh," Egil suddenly put a finger over his lips. "Did you hear that?" he asked the boy in a hushed tone. The little boy shook his head and looked at his brother strangely.
"Listen," Egil told him. They were silent for minutes, but the boy still didn't hear anything. Only the sound of the rustling leaves in the wind and the low-humming sound from the crickets. After a few minutes had passed, the boy started to hear faint rumbling, followed by silent hisses.
"I hear it!" the boy announced in a small voice. He felt his hair rising up at the back of his neck. He knew that sound very well. "We have to go, Egil! It's dangerous!" but Egil ignored him.
"I'll just take a look, it won't take long." Egil crawled to the sound with his body closely pressed to the ground.
"Egil, please! Papa won't like it." The boy pleaded. He dreaded his older brother's curiosity. Egil continued to follow the sound's direction. He stopped in front of a bush that separates them from the vast clearing at the other side.
"Look," Egil pushed some branches and leaves away, and peered at the small hole he created. He smiled at what he saw. Dragons—and they were hundreds of them. Different species and colors flocked all over the clearing.
"Egil," the little boy tugged at the back of his brother's tunic desperately. Egil turned around and urged the boy to come closer to him.
"Just look," he pleaded. The boy sighed in defeat and reluctantly crawled beside the teen and peered into the hole.
The boy gasped, they were completely surrounded by hundreds of dragons. "Isn't it beautiful?" Egil marveled at the sight. But the boy was beyond terrified. They need to get out of this hellhole fast!
"This is long enough, we should really go." He tried to coax his brother out of this insanity. The bush suddenly shook violently. The two boys fell backwards and watched the bush with anxious eyes.
A beautiful piercing blue nadder's head recklessly popped out of the bush and came face to face with the two boys. A sort of necklace dangled over its neck. The nadder cocked its head and stared at the boys curiously.
"Egil!" the boy gasped hitting his brother on the arm. His blood ran cold. But Egil didn't move. He was fixated with the dragon before him. Slowly, he reached out his palms in front of it.
The boy's eyes were wide in fear. "What are you doing?!" he hissed at his brother.
The nadder stretched out its head and cautiously sniffed Egil's hand. The teen watch the dragon with intent and unmoving. The dragon's eyes were glistening, and they were the most beautiful golden orbs he has ever seen. At that moment, Egil was mesmerized with the dragon, just like a sailor to a siren.
Smoke was coming out from a small hut's window. The sun was setting and the sky was painted with various shades of mauve, blue, and orange. Egil fanned the fire and hung the cauldron to heat.
He looked mature now since he's in his early twenties. A girl with long wavy gold hair was curled on the floor beside the hearth and absent-mindedly played with the necklace that's dangling from her neck. Her bright golden orbs reflected the embers of the fire.
"I'm home!" the boy entered the room and placed the fruit basket on the table. He was fifteen now, and will be turning sixteen at the next season. The girl sat up and smiled at the boy. "Welcome home, Darick!" she greeted him sheepishly.
"Sleeping all day, Caileigh?" the boy named Darick laughed. He sat beside her while Egil prepared the food on the table, "Believe me, that's all she ever does," he snorted. Caileigh pouted at Egil and flipped her hair back haughtily.
"Aww, you mad?" Darick teased her. Caileigh flicked his forehead and stuck out her tongue. "Hey! That hurt!" Darick hissed. "Aww, mad?" she mocked him.
"That's enough you two," Egil laughed and patted the girl's head. "Dinner's served! Caileigh, go get Papa." Caileigh nodded and skipped out of the house. A few minutes later, she returned together with a man trailing behind her. He was in his mid-forties and looked spent. In his calloused hands, he held an axe with dull edges.
"My, that smells lovely Egil! I'm glad you're home. Darick and Caileigh can't really do much around the house." The father licked his lips at the sight of the food before him obviously starving from a long day's work. Darick and Caileigh rolled their eyes at him and harrumphed. Egil chuckled again.
"Home sweet home," Egil announced happily.
The scene changed, Darick was standing outside a small hut looking distraught. Caileigh was nowhere to be found. Five burly men where standing in front of him, all eyes downcast. The rain had started to fall.
"Egil's dead," one of them spoke up melancholy. "We found his body at the forest this morning. He was killed by a dragon."
"It's so ironic that he always want to protect those bloody devils," the man, who was their father, gave out a dry laugh. His face showed intense remorse. "Look at what it got him," he sighed bitterly as the tears fell from his face.
"Papa," Darick looked at him and shook his head. "He died for a good cause. And we'll remember him as Egil the Great Protector." He then broke down and punched the ground. His father rushed to his side and calmed him.
"Your brother wanted you to have this," he gave him his golden dagger. "But, I-I don't deserve this," Darick refused. His father shook his head and placed the blade on the boy's palm and clasped them.
It was the weapon that Egil pillaged from another tribe for his first quest. "It was his lucky dagger. You're the only who can have this."
Darick held the dagger close to his heart. And for a moment, he felt that the time had frozen. He had nothing left of his brother but this vile thing on his hands.
"I'm sorry," he whispered to it.
The rain thumped on the roof. "Wake up!" A massive bearded man shook him awake. Fritjof blinked the sleep away. "Artair? What's happening?" Fritjof groggly sat up and held his head. It was throbbing and he felt something warm on his face.
"You're bleeding." Fritjof blinked and looked at his hand, which was covered in blood. "I must have hurt my self again." The massive man handed him a washcloth and helped him dressed the wound.
"You're dreaming about it again." The Artair spoke up. He helped Fritjof to sit down, and passed him his waterskin for a drink.
"Ever since we set foot here on Berk, it's been haunting me." Fritjof took a swig. His recent dreams are getting hazardous. And now, he finally managed to hurt himself unconsciously. Fritjof was scowling.
Artair cautiously peered out of the window and closed it. "Do you think it's here?" he asked him in a low voice. Fritjof smirked, "Sure as hel. It's definitely here. I can feel it."
"I hope this is not one of those false alarms again, boy." Artair looked at him and sighed. He felt jaded since he had been keeping watch of the boy the whole night.
Fritjof threw the waterskin at his side and stood up. He stretched and flexed his toned arms. The scars on his arms, were deep and jagged, ran up to his shoulders and branched down to his lower back. His forehead and chiseled tattooed chest was covered with beads of sweat. He grabbed his silver knife on the table and unsheathed it.
"By the way, there's this annoying feeling that's been gnawing at the back of my head," He told Artair while turning the knife over while delicately ran his fingers on the sharp edges.
"Berk is hiding its finest dragons somewhere and I'm going to find out why."
"Why do you need their dragons for? They have lots of them littering around. Is it the Night Fury that you've been hearing about?" Artair yawned his sleep away.
"A Night Fury will be an awesome kill," Fritjof jeered at the man, "but what I'm specifically looking for is the nadder." He licked the tip of the blade with a menacing smile and devilish glint in his eyes.
"How do you even know the Nadder is here? There's a lot of nadders!"
"Mani's Brooch only blooms where the Helle's nadder is, Artair. And I won't stop until I find IT." He threw the knife with such force that it lodged on the wall.
"Life for a life." He hissed bitterly and his eyes glittering darkly.
Thunderous footfalls rang outside of their hut. Artair peeked out of the window and noticed white smoke was coming up from the academy. The race was starting.
"Looks like the race is starting," Fritjof announced distastefully and cracked his neck and shoulders.
"Get ready, show's starting." Artair went out the hut and took one last good look at Fritjof and sighed. "Oh, kid. I hope you know what you're doing."
"What do you take me for, boy?!" Stoick's voice boomed inside the Haddock household. Toothless was lounging on the carpet near the hearth, watching the fire flicker with disinterest while listening to the two stubborn Vikings bickering behind him.
"Dad, you have to believe me!" Hiccup threw up his hands in the air, obviously getting frustrated with his father.
"Believe you?! That, That, this-" he motioned to Toothelss with his hands, "This person is your DRAGON?!" Stoick bellowed. The household shook again, and the night fury just sighed getting vexed with the situation by the minute.
"You know a lot of things have already happened here in Berk. I thought this would be easier for you to take in." Hiccup rumbled to himself sardonically.
"WHAT!" Stoick exploded like volcano which sent the house violently shaking.
"But he's really telling the truth, Stoick." Toothless finally spoke up and dusted himself off. Stoick stared at him in disbelief. "And you! Who're you trying to fool with those heinous lies! Who exactly are you?" Stoick screeched.
"Dragon turned human," Toothless retorted. Stoick face reddened in anger. Who does this imbecile think he is, talking back at him like that in his very household!
"Dad, please, it's really the truth. I can't exactly say how it happened, 'cause I too, don't know!" Hiccup pleaded trying desperately to make his father understand. "B-Buuut! Gothi does!" he added.
"Gothi?" The chief turned his attention to him. And Hiccup nodded abruptly.
"Yes, when the dragons started talking in Norse, we told her."
"This is very hard to take in, son." Stoick sighed and massaged his temples. "It's just so impossible…."
His voice trailed off when saw human Toothless grab a handful of raw slimy salmon from dragon Toothless' fish bin, and stuffed it in his mouth. In which he savored every chew.
"If that doesn't prove anything, I don't know what will." Gobber turned green and felt very nauseated at the feat. Stoick shook his head and eyed the boy doubtfully.
"Anybody could eat a raw fish, if they wanted too. If Hiccup is saying is true, then prove it to me that you're indeed Toothless." The dragon boy stared the chief and shrugged his shoulders.
"Every night when you get home, you sit by the hearth in your favorite chair. You get some wood and carve out some duck. Then you talk to your wooden ducks and mumble—this depends on your mood actually—either you miss cradling Hiccup as a babe, or how Hiccup is stubborn as his mother is." He told them nonchalantly. "Oh, and him and Astrid should have grandbabies."
"DAD!" Hiccup looked at him mortified.
"I do not!" Stoick replied indignantly. "Well, maybe the grandbabies," he mumbled.
"DAD!"
"What? I'm not getting any younger, son! You should already plan about your future. Being the next chief, everything needs to be set. And by the way, you and Astrid have been together for years, shouldn't you also think about—"
"This isn't about me!" Hiccup cried out. "You know what, forget it! But Dad please, you have to believe me. I know it's crazy but I really can't explain it."
Stoick was about to say something when a succession of sudden blasts boomed all over Berk and rattled the Haddock household.
"What in Odin's beard!" Stoick roared dashing to the window with Gobber following behind.
"It seems like the race will be starting soon, Stoick. It'll be quite embarrassing if the Chief is not there to open it." Gobber chirped, observing the smoke coming from the arena.
Stoick nodded and stomped to the door. But before leaving the house, he turned to two boys inside the room.
"We'll continue this later," he eyed them skeptically and banged the door close. "That's just great!" Hiccup and Toothless both groaned in annoyance.
Stormfly looked out of the window while absent-mindedly brushing her hair. She had visited Eindride again at the waterfall last night. But before that, she met Fritjof and he had asked her to come with him to his travels. So many things have been running inside her head.
The door creaked open and Astrid silently entered the room.
"It seems like you're enjoying your time." Eindride floated down from the waterfall stream. His apparition was quite bright tonight with the moon lighting down on him.
"Yeah, being human is fun. There's so many things that you could do. Everything is limited that's why you make the most of it." Stormfly smiled at her reflection on the water. "And then, there's this guy."
Eindride's eyebrow raised, "this guy?"
"His name is Fritjof. He's different. He understands what I feel. He understands what I want. He also asked me come with him, and to leave everything behind."
"So you have made up your mind, then?"
"Not yet," she shrugged her shoulders. Eindride watched her with interest. "I'm not sure, I'm confused." She added. She played with her braid and sighed.
"You do know you're running out of time, right? The power of the moonlight flower will only last until the next full moon." Eindride floated to the clearing behind her, his ghostly voice trailing behind him, "… and I suggest you better hurry and make up your mind, Helle."
"It's not that easy, okay!" she replied agitated. She had enough of people gnawing at her back and she wouldn't let Eindride have that luxury too.
"The brooch is already with you, keep it until you have decided. But I'm warning you Helle, if that falls into the wrong hands you wouldn't able to go back being a dragon."
"How about the others? Wouldn't they turn back as well?"
"Technically it all depends on you. You have the brooch, you have the power to dictate whatever will happen to them."
"I understand." Stormfly collapsed on the ground, staring at the sky. The moon was high but its light is faint.
"Try not to drag them down with you." Eindride's apparition suddenly vanished and left the clearing enveloped in darkness again.
There were no stars to provide light in the gloomy sky. Stormfly sighed and clasped the brooch tighter in her palms. She somehow found solitude in the darkness.
"Girl?" the blonde shield maiden called out. Stormfly snapped out from her trance and look at Astrid puzzled.
"S-Sorry, Astrid. I was just doing some thinking." The nadder greeted her limply. Astrid's smile disappeared when she noticed the deep dark circles formed under the dragon girl's eyes. Her pale skin looked washed out as well.
"Mhm, you seem to be thinking quite a lot a lately then," Astrid recounted. She sat beside the nadder girl and combed her hair, readying it for her braid.
"What's up?" she asked her again while braiding the girl's hair. Stormfly shooked her head and breathe a dry laugh.
"It's nothing,"
"I'm just worried about you Stormfly." Astrid gave her a weary smile. Something has been bothering her dragon for the past days and she's extremely worried about her.
Astrid cannot stand the feeling of being useless when she knows that Stormfly is going through something. But then again, she cannot force her to tell her what it is.
"Sorry," Stormfly apologized when she realized how concerned Astrid is with her. She didn't mean to make her feel that way.
"There, done! Aren't you a pretty girl?" Astrid plaited her hair in a fishtail braid and looked very proud of her work.
"Thank you, Astrid." Stormfly held the braid dearly. Astrid stood up and started to walk towards the door, "Well, just call me if you need anything, okay?"
"Astrid! Wait!" She hesitated to tell her what's going on, but she felt that she was being unfair to her rider. It is now or never.
"Yeah?"
"W-What if I stayed like this forever? What if I don't turn back into a dragon?" Stormfly stammered, ringing the end of her braid in her hands. It took Astrid a few moments to give her answer.
"Well," she started. "Dragon or not, you'll always be my Stormfly. Don't forget that." She smiled at her.
Stormfly felt torn. "What if I never turn back? What if I leave Berk? Would you hate me?" she asked her a tirade of questions desperately. She was surprised to hear Astrid laugh.
"If you never turn back into a dragon, then that's fine with me. You're still Stormfly anyway. And if you really want to go away from here, I will not stop you. You choose what path you should take, girl."
Astrid's eyes became soft, just like her voice. "I could never hate you, because you're family." Stormfly didn't expect to hear that from her.
"Well, I gotta leave now. I'll be seeing you in the arena later alright?" Astrid quickly exited the room. As soon as she closed the door, a tear fell from her eyes. She had a feeling that this would be the last time she would be seeing her.
A lot of excited gasps and hollers were swirling around the plaza. A flock of villagers flocked the way to the Arena. Hiccup went on ahead to facilitate in one of the races. He rather be part of the operations rather than to be part of the competition.
Toothless lounged inside the cages and watched the other players with little interest. He saw Meatlug with Daddy 'Legs, Hookfang and Snotlout, the Twins, Barf and Belch, and the other contestants prep themselves up.
Stormfly was standing at the corner looking slightly troubled. Toothless recalled the way he acted towards her recently and felt very guilty. They have not spoken to each other properly for some time now.
Stormfly noticed that Toothless was starring at her, and glanced at his direction. Both of them abruptly looked away as soon as their eyes met.
Suddenly, Stormfly's vision turned dark. Someone was covering her eyes from the back. Is it Toothless? Astrid? Barf or Belch?
"Who is this?" she called out, but no reply came. She felt for the hands, it was rough and calloused. Certainly, it's a man's hand. "Toothless?" she guessed.
A deep voice laughed, and removed his hands from her eyes. The bright light hurt the nadder girl's eyes, and it took quite a few seconds to recognize the face in front of her.
"Hey," he greeted her sheepishly. "Sorry 'bout that," he grinned at her.
"Frit!" she looked at him surprised and slightly punched him in the arm. She noticed that he's wearing some armour.
"You'll be entering the race as well?" she asked. "Yep! Hope I'll win. I heard that Berkians are merciless when it comes to competitions." Fritjof joked.
"You sure heard well," Stormfly grinned at him. Fritjof ran his hand through his hair but accidentally brushed the wound on the side of his forehead, and winced.
"Oh, what happened?" the girl touched his face delicately and examined the wound. Good thing, it's not that deep or he'll be in serious trouble she thought to herself. Fritjof blushed at the contact and cleared his throat.
"Oh this? I just slipped when I woke up."
"That won't do," Stormfly pouted and searched for something inside her bag. She brought out some herb paste that she often used to dress her wounds.
"Ah, here," she dabbed some the wound making Fritjof wince again. "I hope that'll help." She smiled sweetly at him.
"Thank you," Fritjof returned the smile shyly. Toothless watched the whole thing unfold before his eyes and made his blood boil. He would like to shank that poor excuse of an arse with his claws if he had them right now!
Meatlug also saw the whole thing unfold. She pursed her lip and decided to break the ice, before someone crazy does. Unfortunately, Barf and Belch already beat her to it.
"Hellooooo there, Fritjof! Don't wanna be late for the race?" Barf greeted him slurred, obviously jeering at him. Fritjof raised an eyebrow at them. "Yeah, I heard that Toothless was in this as well!" Belch added grinning at the man.
"Really, now?" Fritjof listened to them with keen interest. Stormfly's eyes widened, "Toothless? He can't possibly do this!"
"And why not?" Out of nowhere, Toothless strode towards them. "I'm pretty confident myself that I can win this race." He told them. But he stared straight at Fritjof eyes, challenging him.
"Oh is that right?" Fritjof smirked at him. "Well, looks like I quite have a worthy competition here. So I wish." The both of them stared each other down, not breaking into each other's pressure.
"Damn right, you bet." Toothless hissed at him. This bitch is going down to where he should be in the first place. And he was determined to destroy him in front of Stormfly.
"Toothless, you can't! Remember what Phelgma said!" Stormfly was worried about condition. She knows that he knows that he can't do this. It would be too risky.
"Why're you even doing this?" she asked him agitated. She couldn't understand why he's acting so recklessly.
"I can handle myself, Stormfly. I don't need your pity." He told her coldly. Stormfly was taken aback at Toothless' sudden change of attitude.
Fritjof just shook his head and smiled, amused at what's transpiring. "Good luck," he patted Toothless on the shoulder a bit roughly and went to his side of the arena. Toothless just snarled at him. "Just wait and see. I'll crush him."
He turned to Stormfly, held her hand tightly and smiled at her. "I'll get you back."
"HUH?" the nadder girl looked at him puzzled, but her heart somehow quickened its beat. Toothless just gave her a toothy grin and ran to opposite side of the arena, "Wish me luck!" he called out to her.
"Gods, you're such an idiot!" She screamed at him, her face red with embarrassment and frustration.
"For you, I'll be the biggest one," Toothless smiled to himself.
The race is divided into five categories. For Agility, they have to battle in hand-to-hand combat. For Strength and Power, they partake in a relay in the forest with various traps made by Gobber. And to top it off, Endurance, in which they have to drink Astrid's special homemade drink (that eliminated most of the contestants, btw). For Flexibility and Balance, they have the Dragon race.
Toothless and Fritjof dominated the competition and they are both toe to toe with each other. Even Hiccup was surprised that Toothless still possessed his abilities even in human form. Up next will be the last category. For Speed, it will be the Meter Dash. Toothless felt confident he could win this one since he's a night fury after all.
During the break, Hiccup took it as an opportunity to talk to his dragon. "Hey, Bud. Seems like you're fired up out there." He chuckled.
"Never back down from a competition." Toothless grinned at him. Hiccup sighed but a small smile formed on his lips. They both knew what that meant. "Just be careful."
Meatlug and Stormfly were chatting in a corner, when Fritjof waved at her from the distance. She waved back at him. As if on cue, Fritjof sauntered over to them, feeling quite good of himself since he won the last challenge.
"Stormfly I need to talk to you."
"I'll just leave the two of you alone," Meatlug politely excused herself. "Fritjof," she greeted him with a nod. Fritjof returned politely returned the greeting. Meatlug walked a few meters away, but near enough to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Stormfly turned to him, "What is it?"
"I remembered our talk last night. I'll be leaving by tomorrow and I'm just wondering what your answer will be."
"There's so many things to consider," Stormfly's eyebrows furrowed. "I mean, I possibly just can't…"
"It's okay, you still have tonight to give me an answer." Fritjof gave her a reassuring smile. He held hands and squeezed them lightly. "Take your time. I'm willing to wait."
"Who would take care of Astrid?" Stormfly suddenly blurted out, recalling the conversation she had with her a while ago. Although Fritjof could take her away, she couldn't just abandon Astrid.
"I think Astrid can take care of herself." Fritjof snorted. Stormfly looked at him offended. "This is my home Fritjof, I can't just leave everything."
"Sorry, I didn't mean it that way."
"N-No, I want to go. But there's so much to think about." Stormfly bit her lip. She was torn in making such a hard decision.
"I better go back. I just want you to be free Stormfly," Fritjof let go of her hands and went back to his side of the court. Meatlug quickly approached Stormfly.
"What was that all about?" she asked her. She had heard every word they've said.
"I can explain," Stormfly started.
"Come here, you!" and she dragged her away farther from the court. " What's the matter with you Stormfly! You know that we're not humans! This is not supposed to be!"
Toothless was on his way to the court when saw the Meatlug pull Stormfly to the sides and had a heated discussion with her. Curious what's the commotion about; he quietly hid himself behind the nearby barrels to hear what they are saying.
"I know that! But this, all my fears, they could all go away!" Stormfly argued.
"What are you saying? Can you hear yourself! Can you see yourself? You're frolicking with that human jerkwad!" Meatlug's voiced raised a bit higher. She had never been agitated before. Ever since that Fritjof came into town, all that Stormfly can talk about is how nice it is to be human.
"Fritjof is not like that! And you don't understand!" Stormfly snapped back at her.
"Not like that?! I don't understand?! Then with all due respect, please make me understand! Because all that I'm hearing now is completely ridiculous!"
Stormfly collapsed on one of the benches, drained. Her head is suddenly throbbing and she feels nauseated. "I'm afraid Meatlug." She told her friend quietly. Meatlug calmed down and sat beside her.
"I don't have to live for so long. Astrid is all I have. I don't have to see anyone go away and leave me behind." She gave our tired sigh. "I don't want to feel alone and unwanted like I used to before."
Meatlug sad beside her and put an arm around her friend, "You are running away from your problems and you know it. We can help you if you just let us."
"What if you can't? Then I'll be stuck again in this endless dark void." She told her listlessly. The two were silent for a few moments. Then Meatlug spoke up again,
"Or are you doing this for something else?" Stormfly didn't give her a reply. She just stared at the ground hoping to open it and swallow her whole.
"Don't tell me you're in love with Fritjof?" Meatlug reeled back and looked at her friend questioningly. Stormfly shrugged. "It's not like that, but I feel like Fritjof is the only one who understood me the most. I don't know Meatlug."
"Stormfly, what about Toothless?"
Toothless suddenly perked up when he heard his name. All the things he's hearing right now was scarring him,
"What about him? He doesn't need me." Stormfly laughed bitterly when she remembered what Toothless told Hiccup about her. He was actually one of the things that could make her stay, but every time she recalls his words, it breaks her into pieces.
"Is that what you really think about him?"
"That he's a kid that I should always worry about? Then yes…"
Toothless' vision turned dark. He felt a heavy pain on his chest like it was breaking into a million pieces. He punched the ground until his knuckles bled. Soon he felt empty inside, he can't feel anything anymore. What Stormfly said wasn't registering in his brain. Those words she said, replayed over and over again, stabbing the wound deeper and deeper. He needs to get out of here! He crawled on the ground and dashed the other way around. The two girls never suspected that he was there.
Meatlug stifled a laugh, "Oh gods, you're such a bad liar." Stormfly gave her a half-hearted smile, "I wish it was just like though. It so hard not fall in love with him."
Toothless was silent when returned beside Hiccup. "You alright?" Hiccup asked him. The dragon boy didn't reply. He looked like he was in a daze.
A round of blasts went up in the sky again. The last challenge is finally going to begin. The audience started betting on who will be the winner. Some put their faith on Toothless, but most are betting on Fritjof. He was the crowd's favorite after all.
Stormfly and Meatlug returned from their talk and walked to where friends are. Toothless was sitting in one of the barrels and absent-mindedly stared into the abyss.
"Good luck," Stormfly chirped and cheered him on. Toothless didn't even flinch a muscle. He just got up and went to his spot. Stormfly looked at Meatlug, who just gave her a shrug as a reply.
"Come on Toothless, you can do this." He thought to himself. "You can't lose, or you'll lose her forever." He went to his place, beside Fritjof.
"On your marks! Ready, Set,"
"Good luck, man." Fritjof suddenly whispered to him, throwing out of his game. He then remembered what Stormfly had intended to do. She would run away with this bastard. She never had any feelings for him.
"Go!" the flag fell to the ground and the competition started. Fritjof took off, while Toothless was left behind the starting line.
"Toothless what are you doing!" his friends screeched at the other side. "Shit," He snapped back to his senses and made a dash. He passed by two competitors in a minute. Truly he has a gift of speed.
One lap had gone and one more to go! Fritjof was maintaining the lead and Toothless was not too far behind. A few seconds had passed and they were neck to neck. "I'll win this, I'll win this!" Toothless urged himself on. He felt his back breaking, but he didn't care. He just wanted to finish this for once and for all. Just a little bit more, he just has to hang on a bit more.
"Go guys, go!" Stormfly hollered in a distance. Toothless had finally overtaken Fritjerk and was a few more steps away from the finish line, when he passed by Stormfly and then the painful words flashed again before his mind.
"Argh!" Toothless suddenly winced and felt a sharp jab on his back, in which had caused him to double over. The crowd gasped as Toothless fell on the ground. The other runners stopped on their tracks and looked back at him stupefied.
Stormfly covered her mouth and her eyes wide in fear, "Toothless!" she screamed.
Toothless' vision became hazy, his ears were ringing, and he felt nauseated. "Get up!" he cursed himself through clenched teeth. He felt that the ground was moving.
"Bud!" A worried Hiccup ran over to him, followed by the others. Toothless forced himself to stand up. He used his arms for support.
"Hey, you alright?" Fritjof jogged back to him and helped him to stand. Toothless saw Stormfly standing behind the crowd that gathered in front of him.
He saw her eyes that portrayed a mixture of pity and worry. PITY. The thing he hates the most. And the only thing Stormfly sees him as, a pitiful child. Rage and embarrassment engulfed him.
"Don't touch me!" he slapped Fritjof's hand away. He felt violent. He wanted to burn everyone, especially this bastard.
"I don't need your help!" he roared at him. Fritjof was dumbfounded as the boy's hostility.
"Call the healer!" Hiccup yelled to the crowd. But Toothless didn't want any of this attention on him. Even if he's writhing in pain, he forced himself to sprint to the woods.
"Toothless!" Stormfly tried to follow him, but Meatlug stopped her. "Let him be first, Storm."
"I can't just let him be all alone in that condition!" she escaped from Meatlug's grip and followed Toothless to the forest.
"I told him already to take it easy! But nooo, he have to be so hard-headed!" Stormfly hissed at herself perplexed at the situation.
The sun was already setting and still couldn't find the stubborn night fury. She scouted the places that they usually would go to. She also scouted Toothless' private places. Finally, she saw some movement behind the trees, going towards the small hill. It was Toothless!
"Toothless! Hey!" She called out to him. When Toothless saw her, he started running again. Stormfly pissed off with his actions, ran after him.
"What the hel are you doing!"
"Leave me alone! I don't want to do anything with you!" Toothless shouted still running away from her. Stormfly was gaining speed behind him. He was tired and his back is already killing him, but he's not yet ready to face her.
"Come back here! Stop running!" Toothless made a sharp turn and entered the woods again, dodging the trunks and branches expertly. Stormfly followed suit.
"I would only stop if you catch me!" he challenged her. Stormfly had enough of this nonsense and decided to end the stupid chase.
"Fine, you asked for it," she murmured under her breath. She zipped past through the branches and used that momentum to throw herself up from the ground and to the trees. She jumped from branch to another with amazing balance and footwork.
Toothless was still running and took a second to look back and see if Stormfly is still chasing after him. He was relieved to see that she was nowhere in sight. Suddenly, a dagger zipped past the side of his head, only missing by a few centimeters. The dagger lodged itself on the nearby tree.
"Whoa!" Toothless lost his footing from the sudden attack and toppled over. Stormfly appeared hanging on to one of the branches in front of him, with a triumphant smile on her face.
Toothless quickly pushed himself off the ground, ready to run again. But the nadder swung down and tackled the night fury and he fell face first.
"Gotcha!" she announced, grinning at him. "Watch it! You could've killed me!" Toothless snapped at her.
"But I didn't!" she laughed as she pinned him down. Toothless squirmed under her weight, his face brushing against the ground was not the position he intended to be in. Stormfly realized that her weight was putting pressure on Toothless' injury.
"Sorry, your back! Did I—"
"Get off me." Toothless bit. Stormfly quickly get off him and helped him to sit up, which Toothless accepted.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it," she apologized.
"Just go away you stupid girl." Toothless spat out.
"What is it with you!" Stormfly snapped at him. The nerve of this guy, treating her like this!
"What is it with me? What is it with you!"
"You're acting like a hatchling! Hel, hatchlings are more obedient than you are." Stormfly gritted her teeth. He was getting under her skin. If she had her spikes, she would've shot him one right now.
"Thanks for rubbing it on my face that I'm kid." Toothless replied in a small voice. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He's pathetic. Stormfly cooled down and approached him,
"You know that's not what I meant—"
"Damn Loki!" Toothless winced at the pain again. His energy is spent and he couldn't run away anymore. Hel, he couldn't even move anymore. "Are you okay?!" Stormfly fluttered around him, worried. Toothless shook his head.
Stormfly put Toothless' arm around her and helped him to stand up. They limped to the edge of the forest, which are only a few steps away from them. She propped him down in front of the tree and sat beside him. The two was completely submerged in silence.
"Look—" Stormfly started, but Toothless cut her off.
"I heard you and Meatlug talking."
"You were eavesdropping?" she looked at him mortified. Did he hear about what she said about him? Or was it the lie she told Meatlug? "I can't believe you!" she told him exasperated.
"It doesn't matter, you're going away anyway." Toothless disregarded her. "You can finally leave this place… us…" he sneered, "I'm happy for you."
"Can you stop for one minute and listen to me!" Stormfly rolled her eyes at him. He completely got it all wrong.
"Isn't that what you wanted from the start? Ever since we became humans, there wasn't a day that you never shut about how it would be nice to be like this forever. Then that asshole came and look where it got you!" he rambled at her. The then tension came back again.
"Fritjof is a good man! I do not get why you are acting like this!" Toothless fell silent. He couldn't bring himself to say it. He was too caught up with the pain and the anguish he felt right now.
He one fluid motion, he suddenly pinned Stormfly on the ground. Their faces were only a few centimeters apart.
"Why? Toothless quietly asked her, his serious eyes piercing through her. Stormfly was startled how sad and hurt his expression is and she found herself lost for words. Toothless inched closer, almost closing the gap between them.
"What're you doing…" she finally managed to say in small voice, completely stunned.
"Can't you still see me? Look at me, please."
Toothless rested his forehead against hers. Making their eyes meet in such intimate distance, made Stormfly feel flushed and her heart quickening its beat.
"Please, look at me with those eyes that you look at him," he begged her. "Why can't you do that to me?" She winced at the painful expression he has on his face. She closed her eyes, wishing it would go away.
"Is it because you still see me as kid? Can't you see I'm more than that?" he asked her, not breaking his gaze.
"Toothless, I know. But please, "
"I'm trying my best, Storm. But I can only do so much. And each time I try, I feel like you're slipping away from me."
"Hey…" Stormfly wanted to say something but she was paralyzed. Toothless got off her and rested his back on the trunk again. Why does everything have to be so painful?
"I'm in love with you, you know?" he blurted out. He hid his face behind his knees. It's too agonizing. Stormfly couldn't believe her ears. She sat up and held his hand, but the night fury didn't notice it.
"I'm sorry that I'm not Fritjof, I can't take you away from here. I can't take you away from your fears. I-I'm just a dragon." He continued, his voice betrayed bitterness.
"But I'm keeping my promise, so why aren't you?"
Stormfly's heart was bursting, but she couldn't bring to say it to him. She has too. The moon was beginning to rise up in the sky. The moon! She knows what to do with the flower! She has to speak with Eindride fast. There isn't much time.
"Toothless, I'm sorry but I have to go!" Stormfly abruptly stood up and dashed to the other side of the clearing. She needs to speak with Eindride. Toothless was flabbergasted with what just happened. He watched Stormfly run away from him. He felt a punch in his gut. He done it now, everything's over. He ruined everything.
"You idiot!" He cursed himself.
Stormfly huffed and pumped her legs to go faster. She's going to finish everything by tonight. She ran past the clearing and climbed up the ravine. When she got to the glade, she found Eindride's apparition floating in the moonlight.
"Eindride, I know what I want to wish. I'm okay not being a human. I don't want to run away anymore." Stormfly called out to him, catching her breath. The apparition floated towards her.
"Are you sure?" he asked her in ghostly voice. Eindride seemed to be expecting her. Stormfly was about to answer when the bushes near her moved.
"Who's there?" she called out stiffly.
"Stormfly?" a voice came from the other side. "W-Who is that?" she called out again "Toothless?" she guessed. Fritjof emerged from the other side. "Sorry to disappoint," he smiled at her.
"Frit! What're you doing here?" Fritjof noticed the apparition beside Stormfly and quickly pulled her close to him.
"D-Did you see that? Come on Storm, let's get out of here!" he was ready to run, but when he looked back to where the apparition is, it vanished.
"Wait Frit, about your offer, I'm sorry but I'm not going with you." Stormfly squirmed away from him. Fritjof scowled.
"I thought you've already made up your mind? Did Toothless say something?"
"No, he didn't. This is my own decision." She replied curtly. Fritjof guessed that thing he saw had something to do with it.
"I-I understand. It's that ghost isn't it? We should tell the others about this!"
"No! Listen, promise me that you won't tell any of this to anybody." Stormfly stopped him from his tracks and him face her. Her face was stern and it made Fritjof backed down.
"Okay," Stormfly comtemplated whether she should tell him or not. Might as well since he already saw Eindride. "I'll try to explain everything as much as I can, okay. Just don't freak out." She told him. Fritjof just nodded.
"I-I'm not a girl…" she started.
"You're a guy?!"
"No! What I meant was, I'm not normal girl—human girl to be exact." She wrung the end of her braid with her hands.
"I am having a hard time grasping this, Stormfly," Fritjof looked at her incredulously.
"I know, just let me explain." she composed herself and thought of the right words to use.
"Me, Toothless, Meatlug, Hookfang, Barf and Belch are actually dragons."
"Okaaaay," he replied skeptically. He was just not buying this explanation. It's just too absurb!
"Because of this," Stormfly showed him the brooch that she was holding "We somehow turned human."
"Is that what I think it is?" Fritjof's eyes grew wide and move closer to Stormfly to see it better.
"Mani's Brooch." He breathe out of amazement, he couldn't believe his eyes. "I-It's so beautiful… I thought I'd never see it."
"But its power is waning. Either we will turn back into dragons by the next full moon or we'll stay like this forever." Stormfly added.
"This is insane," Fritjof slapped his forehead looking very much rattled.
"I know there's a lot you have to take in, but I promise that I'm not messing around with you or anything." She told him indignantly.
"I-I believe you, but I just need some time." When Fritjof calmed down, he turned to Stormfly and asked, "Uhh, say, what kind of dragons are you guys?"
"Can you try and guess?" Stormfly laughed.
"Oh I'm really bad guessing though. But sure I'll give it a try." Fritjof cleared his throat. "Uhm, well I think Barf and Belch are the Hideous Zippleback since they're always together and they looked identical."
"That's a good guess." Stormfly agreed with him.
"Meatlug, I'm not so sure, but I'm thinking maybe she's a terrible terror?" he recalled Stormfly's friends and almost forgot the hot-tempered guy. "And I'm guessing that Hookfang with his fiery temper, is a Monstrous Nightmare. But that's just a lucky guess."
"You're really good at this, aren't you? Well except for Meatlug. She's actually a Gronckle."
"That I did not expect." Fritjof shrugged which made Stormfly laugh. Fritjof then realized that there are five specific dragons missing on Berk, and those are from Hiccup's side.
"Wait a minute, a Zippleback, a Gronckle, and a Monstrous Nightmare? And there are five of you guys. Specifically, there are also five missing dragons here on Berk and those are Hiccup and his friends' dragons. Don't tell me that you guys are…"
"Are you really sure you're bad at guessing?" Stormfly grinned at him.
"So that must meant that the Night Fury is Toothless?" Fritjof felt his face paling. Stormfly nodded at him eagerly.
"And you must be the Deadly Nadder," she gave a half-curtsy that made Fritjof chuckle. "Why am I not surprised!"
"Tell me, doesn't the flower only blooms where the Helle's Nadder is?"
"Really?" Stormfly looked at him puzzled.
"Yeah, I studied about this, you know. The flower only blooms where Helle's Nadder resides."
"I didn't know that,"
"Well now you do." Fritjof laughed.
"Thanks, I'm actually the Helle Nadder." She blurted out. Fritjof gave her a kind smile, "You fit the description, lady." Stormfly blushed and pocketed the brooch.
"By the way I should go now. If you have really made up your mind, come by my hut later. Stormfly, whatever happens, I will never change the way I feel for you." Fritjof kissed the back of her hand and hurried out of the forest.
"That man, you should stay away from him." Eindride suddenly appeared beside Stormfly.
"Everybody's telling me the same thing,"
"Maybe you probably should,"
"I'll have none of your sass, Eindride." She snapped back at him. Today was a rough day. Stormfly completely forgot what she went to see Eindride for. She told him her goodbye and set out back to the village.
"He reeks of dragon blood," Eindride voice was laced with anger.
The moon was already high when she got back to the Meade Hall. Toothless and Fritjof was nowhere to be found. After dinner, she strolled by the docks and decided to visit Fritjof's hut. She planned to return his dagger to him.
"Maybe I should just listen to Eindride. But Fritjof has been so nice to me." She told herself. She felt that the guards are already warning her. Artair suddenly bumped into her.
"Lady Stormfly, Good evening." Artair greeted her.
"Where are you off too? You seem to be in a hurry." Stormfly asked him.
"Oh, we're just hauling back the things for tomorrow's sail. The Captain loves to be on schedule. If you excuse me for a moment, I need to finish some tasks." Artair politely excused himself and went on his way. After a few minutes, Stormfly saw Hookfang patrolling the docks. She waved at him.
"Hey Stormy, where are you off too?" Hookfang greeted her.
"I'm just going to return something I borrowed from Fritjof."
"It's getting dark, why don't you return it tomorrow. You're not a dragon anymore remember? They might take advantage of you." Hookfang warned her.
"Oh for goodness sake, I can handle it myself. It'll just be a sec." Stormfly dismissed him. Hookfang shrugged and walked away. "Take care,"
Stormfly knocked on Fritjof's door. "Come in," the voice from the inside beckoned her. Frit opened the door and smiled at her. There's something different in the air that surrounds him.
"Frit, I'll just be quick. I need to go." Stormfly felt uneasy in his presence.
"What's the rush for?" Fritjof raised an eyebrow at her. "Have some tea," he offered he a cup. But Stormfly shook her head and politely refused. She needs to get out of here.
"I'm fine thank you."
"Something wrong?" Fritjof eyed her curiously. Stormfly noticed the some scars on his face that wasn't there before.
"Nothing, I'm just a little tired that's all." She lied. Fritjof bought her lie and snorted,
"Rough day, huh? Tell me about it." He sounds exhausted. He placed the cup in her hands, and wouldn't hear any of it when she tried to refused again.
"T-Thanks," Stormfly accepted the tea reluctantly.
"So I guess you've come here to give me your decision, huh?" Fritjof sat across her. Stormfly couldn't put a finger on it, but something changed in his aura.
"Yes, I'm sorry but I decided to stay here." She told him apologetically. "I'm returning this to you," and she handed him back his dagger. Fritjof gingerly plucked it from her palms.
"Aw, that's a shame. It looked great with you." Fritjof seemed to look disinterested. Stormfly took that as the cue to leave.
"Well, that's all, I must leave now." She stood up and hurriedly went to the door.
"Wait a minute," Fritjof voice pierced through her. "You can have this instead," he handed her the locket hanging from his neck.
"What is this?" Stormfly looked at the thing in her hands.
"A necklace, if you don't know what that is,"
"I know what a necklace is," Stormfly told him offended.
"Open it." Fritjof's smiled urged her to do so.
"This girl, she looks almost exactly like me," Stormfly stared at the picture baffled. "Who is this?" she questioned him.
"Isn't she a beauty? So sad she had to go at such an early age." Fritjof voice was full of false wonder.
"What?"
"Her name is Caileigh and you're going to be her replacement." He grinned at her devilishly.
Stormfly made a dash to the door, but Fritjof pulled her by the hair and dragged her towards him.
"What're you doing?!" she struggled away from his grip. "Let go off me! HELP!" she screamed on top of her lungs. Fritjof laughed, amused at her demise. He threw her on the bed and pinned her down. Stormfly tried to push him off.
"For a dragon, you seemed to be really weak," he mocked her. With the dagger in his hand, he placed the blade on Stormfly's throat. He pressed it lightly on her skin, and warm blood dribbled on the girl's pale neck. Fritjof licked the blood off and Stormfly winced at the contact.
"You will come with me and become my little toy, or I will burn Berk to the ground." He whispered in her ear dangerously.
"Are you trying to threaten us!" Stormfly scoffed at him. She's wrecking her brain to find some way to throw him off his game. Her heart was thumping out of her chest. She was hysterical but she's trying to pull herself together. Astrid needs her!
"Us?" he cackled. "You still dare to associate yourself with them? Aren't you the one who ratted out your secrets to a stranger you slimy bitch?"
"I trusted you!" a pang of guilt washed over Stormfly. This is all her fault. If she just listened to them.
"You will never bring Berk down, my friends will find out about this!" gathering her courage, she spat at him. Fritjof raised his hand and slapped her hard on the face, which made Stormfly dizzy.
"HELP! ASTRID!" she struggled again, shouting, and pleading that someone, anyone would hear her. She tried to kick Fritjof in the stomach. But the man was unflinching. Instead, he put most of his weight down on her body that almost crushed her.
"I don't need to bring Berk down, my little monster. I just need to kill some people that's all," he caressed her face with the blade.
"Struggle more and every single one that you love will be part of blood feast. Didn't you notice Artair lurking near the Hofferson residence? I've have them surrounded by my men."
Stormfly remembered bumping into Artair a few minutes ago and he mentioned that he has some tasks to finish. She felt terrified at the thought of Astrid and her friends getting hurt. She was terrified of Fritjof and his plans with her.
"You can't!" she protested. "No, Astrid! Toothless! Anyone, help!" she bit back her sob. She needed to be strong right now. She won't allow this monster to win!
Fritjof placed a scented cloth over her mouth and nose, and in a few seconds she was losing her vision. Her body became paralyzed and her breathing slowed down.
" You monster..." Stormfly with all spent up energy, glared at him.
"Shh, it's going to alright," Fritjof stroked the girl's head affectionately and watched her as she lose her consciousness.
"Astrid…"
" Welcome aboard, my love."
A/N: PLEASE READ:
Hello everyone!
First of all, I deeply apologize for not updating this for the longest time. I have been in a pickle since last year and I rarely have the time to commit in writing this story. Honestly, I'm thinking of stopping and deleting this story since I felt like I have no time to finish this anymore. But reading your comments, I'm very much pleased and thankful that I have new readers who found this story interesting and it gave me heart to finish what I started. I do hope I'm improved my writing a lot better in this chapter. If there are any grammatical errors and typos, then I apologize again. I haven't been able to proofread this because I wanted to post this chapter as soon as possible.
For trystrike, thank you for PM-ing me and asked for an update. Thank you so much for the concern that you put in this story. I really appreciate it! :)