This is my FOURTH update today. I'm really enjoying this story, and I've also got a TON more planned for it, so don't worry. I'm hoping it adds up to about thirty chapters in the end, if I'm lucky (which I really hope I am). Anyways, shout-outs:
Silver Electricity: THANKS FOR THE COFFEE AND OREOS! *takes them, hands you more in return* LET'S GO CWAAAAAZZZYYYY! :D
silverwolvesarecool: YES! VENOMOUS, CHARCOAL, OVERBITE AND DEATHBREATH, ATTTTTTTAAAAACCCCKKKK! :D
Wanli8970: Yes, I do. :)
Animalhugger2874: Yup! I have your vote dialed in. And you know, you can vote for more than one thing. Actually, on my poll, you can vote up to twenty things. So...really, don't worry about voting for more than one if there's more than one you want to vote for. :)
midnightsky0612: YEEEES HICCUP TRAINED THE SNAPTRAPPER! NOOOO MILDEW WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE!? WATCH OUT! midnightsky0612 is going to chase you off Berk with the NIGHTFURY ARMY! AAAAAAAGH! DIE! DIE! DIE!
AnimeAngel: Glad Aquaria approves of the fish! I'm not all that great a cook...just ask Sparkglider. Sparkglider: *huffs* *growls in agreement* Me: Thanks, girl. You instill me with confidence. And that is a GREAT idea for Truth or Dare! HAHAHAHAHA! LOVE IT! I'll have to use it! :D
Astrid waited for Hiccup. Sure, he said he would be there...but he was already an hour late. What kept him?
She was just about to head out, find him, and ask him herself, when Toothless flew into the academy.
"Hey, Astrid," said Hiccup as he dismounted. "Sorry I'm late."
"You're very late," said Astrid, crossing her arms. "What took you so long to get here?"
"Had a rough night," said Hiccup. "Never mind that, though. Should we begin work on the Snaptrapper?"
Astrid nodded to Fishlegs, who stood behind her. Fishlegs pulled the lever opening the cage the Snaptrapper was caged in. The dragon burst out of it and approached Hiccup, pausing just a few feet away from him.
"Hello Venomous," said Hiccup. "Charcoal, Overbite, Deathbreath." The Snaptrapper heads each took turns nuzzling Hiccup's hand. "How are you guys doing?"
Venomous, Charcoal, Overbite and Deathbreath grunted before turning and running circles around the academy.
"What did you learn from it, if anything?" Hiccup asked, ducking when the Snaptrapper spread its wings and swooped over his head.
"Nothing much," said Fishlegs.
"We would have learned a whole lot more if someone hadn't arrived an hour late," said Astrid.
"I said I was sorry," said Hiccup. "Ugh."
The Snaptrapper continued to run circles around the academy until he stopped in the corner. Then, it opened its four heads and stayed in that position.
"What's that smell?" Astrid questioned.
"Is that...chocolate?" Fishlegs asked.
"Of course," said Hiccup. "Snaptrappers produce a chocolate scent to lure in their prey."
"So I guess the Snaptrapper's hungry," said Fishlegs.
He tossed the dragon a few fish, which the heads fought over, but eventually came to an understanding.
They worked on a few more tricks with the Snaptrapper until Snotlout and the twins arrived. Then, they were forced to put the Snaptrapper back in its pin before they got any ideas.
Shortly after, they decided to work on some dragon trust exercises.
...
"The search party has been called off," said Stoick to the members of said search party. Mildew, who was hiding in the corner, unnoticed and out of sight, listened intently. "Hiccup and the others have trained the Snaptrapper," Stoick announced. "No more worrying about that dragon."
Mildew fought the urge to yell in frustration. In his plan, they weren't supposed to train it. They were supposed to get hurt by it. But he had plan B up his sleeves, which he had already put into action the day before. The infected water he had given Hiccup would work just fine.
When the meeting broke, Mildew snuck out of the Great Hall to prepare himself for the other parts of the plan.
...
Stoick left shortly after in search of Mildew. He found the old man near the armory, heading from there in the direction of his house.
"Mildew," said Stoick.
"Why hello, Stoick!" said Mildew. "What can I do for you?"
"Hiccup told me that you told them about the search party," said Stoick. "How did you hear about it?"
"Oh, I just overheard some people talkin'," Mildew lied. "Got me thinkin'. I didn't mean any harm, you know, of course."
"Be careful, Mildew," said Stoick. "I'm always watching." Then, he turned and walked away.
"Just not at the right times," Mildew whispered to himself.
...
Hiccup fell through the air calmly, looking down below him at the island stretched out beneath him. He closed his eyes and smiled. Freefalling felt good...as long as you knew there was someone there to catch you.
Toothless swooped in underneath him just before he hit the ground. Hiccup clicked his prosthetic into the foot pedal and pulled up.
"Nice going, bud!" Hiccup congratulated. "A little close..."
Toothless grunted and shot into the sky, meeting up with the other riders.
"Oookay, Fishlegs, you're next!" said Hiccup. He gestured to the air in front of him. "Jump!"
"WHAT!?" said Fishlegs.
"Fishlegs, you have to believe she will catch you," said Hiccup. "It's a trust exercise."
"Well, Meatlung and I like to do our trusting on the ground, thank you very much," said Fishlegs.
"FIshlegs, like this!" said Astrid. She stood up and jumped off Stormfly without hardly giving it a second thought. Stormfly swooped in underneath her at the last second and then shot back into the sky.
"See?" said Astrid. "Easy!"
"Easy for you to say!" said Fishlegs.
"Okay, never mind," said Hiccup. "Do I really have to demonstrate again?"
"No," said Tuffnut. "Allow me!"
He put his hands in the air and fell off the dragon sideways, whooping with the thrill of falling through the sky. The Zippleback made no point to follow him. Until he heard Tuffnut's cry of satisfaction turn into a scream of terror.
The Zippleback jerked downwards so fast Ruffnut fell off its other head.
"Oh not again," Hiccup groaned.
Ruffnut and Tuffnut were both free falling, screaming their heads off. The Zippleback heads were fighting with each other, twisting awkwardly, trying to save each of its riders.
"Oh that's...that's productive," Hiccup grumbled. "Astrid, you get Tuffnut. I'll get Ruffnut."
"On it," said Astrid, and headed off. Stormfly and Toothless both caught one of the twins, swooped over the Zippleback, and then dropped them onto their backs.
"Trusting on the ground," said Fishlegs, "from now on."
Hiccup found himself secretly agreeing. He hugged himself and rubbed his arms. Astrid noticed him do so. He had been doing it a lot the past few hours.
"Is something wrong?" she asked suspiciously.
"Hmm?" said Hiccup. "No, nothing's wrong. It's just cold."
"Hiccup, it's like, ninety degrees out here," said Snotlout.
"Really?" Hiccup questioned, almost in disbelief. "That's strange."
Astrid steered Stormfly over to him and pressed his forehead. She had expected it to be hot; sometimes fevers can make people believe it is cold when it's hot, or hot when it's cold. But instead, his skin was ice cold; even colder than it had been the previous night.
"You could be coming down with something," she commented.
Hiccup pushed her hand away. "No, I'm fine," he assured her. "Let's do a little bit more training, and then if you want I'll go home and sleep. Okay?"
"Fine," said Astrid. She wanted to argue, but he would never listen. She might as well go with this.
They headed back to the academy to learn more about the Snaptrapper.