Four chapters in one day? CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! :D This is my SECOND update today, let's see if I can make it to four (should I try for five maybe?). Enjoy this chapter! :D
"Okay!" said Hiccup, clapping his hands together once. "Who's up next?"
"You are," said Astrid. "Come on, I'll help you up."
"You sure?" said Hiccup.
"Oh yeah, you bet," said Astrid. "Don't worry, I'll tell you to let go so you don't swing out too far."
"Thanks," said Hiccup. Astrid grabbed his wrist gently and pulled him towards Stormfly. She mounted the dragon and pulled him up beside her. Then, she motioned for the dragon to fly to the platform. Once she did, Astrid grabbed Hiccup's hand again.
"Jump," she said.
"What?" said Hiccup.
"It's okay," said Astrid. "Just jump."
Hiccup looked really worried, yet complied, sliding off Stormfly's back at the exact same time Astrid did. He stumbled when his feet hit the ground, and would have fallen had Astrid not held him up.
"Okay," said Astrid, grabbing the rope and putting it into Hiccup's hands. After he had a firm grip on it, she stepped away slowly. "Okay, now, just jump off the platform. Right now, you're at the very edge. One more step, and you'll fall."
"Okay," said Hiccup. "So I just jump?"
"Yup," said Astrid. "Jump, and I'll tell you when to let go."
"Um...okay," said Hiccup. Astrid could see that he was worried, but she wasn't going to let him back out of it. He had to be confident in his blindness, and so far, this was a step in the right direction.
Then, Astrid watched as he leaped, screaming as he swung through the air.
"Let go riiiiiiight...NOW!" Astrid shouted.
Hiccup let go, screaming as he splashed into the water. Resurfacing, he gasped and made his way to the shore. He laughed.
"That was awesome!" he shouted.
"See?" said Astrid. "Nothing to worry about!" She grabbed the rope and swung down herself, falling into the lake with a splash. "Fun, huh?"
"You bet," said Hiccup. "This was a great idea, guys."
"Yep!" said Tuffnut. "I'm so glad we went through with it!"
They stayed there the rest of the day, just goofing off and fooling around, talking and chatting about new ideas while others whooped and dared each other to perform different stunts on the rope swing. Ruffnut dared Tuffnut to do it with one hand, while Snotlout dared Fishlegs to do a backflip off of it. Fishlegs, who tried and failed, dared Snotlout to go on the swung backwards. Snotlout did so, screaming all the same.
Hiccup and Astrid mostly talked, going a few more times before lying out on the grass beside their dragons, letting their clothes air dry in the sun.
Before long, night had fallen. The youths of the academy decided that it was best to head back to the village before people started getting worried. And so, naturally, that's exactly what they did.
...
Later on that evening, Astrid found Hiccup at his house, fiddling with Toothless' saddle straps, trying (and failing) to put the saddle on his dragon's back.
"Here," Astrid offered. "Let me."
Hiccup jumped at her voice, yet let her help him with the saddle.
"I didn't see you coming," he said. "A little warning next time, please."
"Oh, I'm sorry," said Astrid. "How did the saddle come off in the first place?"
"One of the straps got loose, and so I tried to fix it by myself," Hiccup said, and sighed. "I just made it worse, and before I knew it, the saddle was in my hands. Thanks for helping."
"No problem," said Astrid, not even looking at him. "There," she said, stepping away from the Night Fury after making sure the saddle was on securely. "All done."
"Thanks again, Astrid," said Hiccup. He smiled at her, and she smiled back, until she wondered something she hadn't before.
"Why are you trying to put his saddle on at this time of night?" said Astrid. "Shouldn't you be resting?"
Hiccup shrugged offhandedly. "Probably," he admitted, "but I really wanted to go on an evening flight with Toothless, you know...for old times sake."
Astrid nodded. "I know," she said. Hiccup always loved taking a good, long ride with his dragon at the end of the day; it was relaxing for both Hiccup and Toothless, just being able to enjoy the moment for all it was worth and just take a break. "Do you want me to come with you?" She knew he normally liked it to just be him and Toothless, but she also knew he was blind. Was he scared of being alone with no one besides his dragon?
Hiccup shook his head. "Thanks," he said, "but I think I'll be okay. It's just a little flight."
Astrid nodded and smiled. "Well," she said, "I guess I should leave you to it. Don't stay out too late, though. You still do need to rest."
"I know," said Hiccup. "Thanks." He mounted Toothless with surprising ease, and then headed off. Astrid watched until he was out of sight, and then turned and headed back to her own house to get some sleep herself.
Hiccup trusted Toothless to lead the way while he focused on keeping his prosthetic in line with the pedal, switching it only when necessary, since he still couldn't see where they were going. Toothless flew around Berk a few fair times before going and landing in the cove.
Hiccup dismounted for a few seconds, enjoying the peace and coolness of the night air. He was just about to mount Toothless and head back, when something made him pause.
Something was off. He didn't know what it was exactly, but it was there; an odd feeling Hiccup couldn't quite determine. Something was wrong. Something wasn't right.
"Toothless, we have to get out of here," said Hiccup. Just as the words left his mouth, he heard something whizz through the air; a bola. He heard it wrap around something, and then Toothless roared.
"Toothless!" Hiccup shouted, but just as he did so, someone grabbed him from behind, putting their hand over his mouth to keep him silenced. Someone else kept his arms pinned at his side as Hiccup struggled against their grips.
"Here we are at last!" a voice spoke from in front of him. "Hiccup, the great Dragon Conqueror, brought down by me."
Hiccup stood there in shock. He knew that voice.
Savage?