Yo! I'm back, baby!

Man, that was some semester XD. It was difficult, but I got through it.

Thanks for being so patient with me :) I would have gotten this up earlier, but I've been sick for the past three days. So, that was fun XD.

So here is the longly awaited Chapter 9! Or... 10, technically XD

I dedicate this chapter to emyy250, for offering the idea :)

A/N: I do not own How to Train Your Dragon.

"No man should bring children into the world who is unwilling to persevere to the end in their nature and education."

Plato

Teaching a Gust of Wind

This is Berk.

Although we are merely a small island, we are so much more. Look closely, and you can see that our houses are stronger that all of Rome.

'Cause we've got something no other city or country has:

Dragons.

Now, granted, it hasn't been easy. Not when you go from fighting dragons in a three hundred year war to riding on their backs overnight (well, not literally overnight), there aren't always followers. Eventually, we got everyone on Berk on the backs of dragons. It's been pretty good ever since.

Well, besides going up against Outcasts, Berserkers and Dragon Bludvist.

So I've made it my goal to have all the young Vikings receive proper training by the time they are twelve years old. Why I chose twelve... actually I didn't. It was Mom's idea to have tests, or Training, for young Vikings before they can officially become Dragon Riders. Not to mention there is a constructed prize at the end of each pass: the Viking (and dragon) with the most points has their name inscribed on the School of Dragons Trophy, and are eligible for Dragon Racing.

The rest of Berk seems to agree, wanting their children to stay protected until they are at least adults. Which is the sanest thing I've heard from the Hairy Hooligans.

Then again, everyone loves competition.

But I'm one for exceptions.

Yes, even the great Hiccup the Useful allows exceptions. Usually, I would follow my own written rules over expectations for things like Thawfest. Then again, I like fairness and make sure not to cheat in anything. So I understand treating all future dragon riders equally is important. However, this mean my children should train normally with their peers, and not be on top simply because their father is Dragon Master (not that I've ever taken the name before...).

Then again, I never followed rules.

I taught Kari how to fly Shadow.

I know, I know. Confusing, right? For Almost eight years Kari's had Shadow and she cannot properly fly her? Well, let's just say Kari was hard to teach. It's not that she's dumb or anything, quite the opposite: she has all this energy and intelligence that she wants to run and play with wooden swords and be correct about everything. It was only when I reminded her of the big Trophy that sat in the Great Hall that she changed her mind.

The day was starting off wonderful. Sun was shinning, Terrible Terrors were singing on the rooftop... I was lying in bed with the best wife a man could ever ask for. My four children were asleep. Ah. Peaceful. No interruptions.

"Daddy! Wake up!"

I groaned. It was too good to be true.

"Alright... who released their dragon on a rampage this time?" Astrid grumbled. I quickly realized her hair was in my mouth, which happens from time to time, when she and I-

"It better not have been Monty this time," I muttered, spitting out hair.

Kari, who was now nine years old, giggled. "Daddy, you promised you'd help me today!" she insisted.

Rubbing my face, I slowly sat myself up. "I did, didn't I?" I moaned. Why is Kari an early riser? Why not sleep in like her brothers?

"C'mon, Dad! Shadow's all ready to go!" Kari pulled on my arm. It looked like Kari attempted to braid her hair again, because there were parts of her red hair which stood out.

"Just give me five minutes," I yawned.

"Fine," Kari groaned, jumping off the bed. I heard another thud, so it must have been Shadow.

Astrid rolled over and yawned. "Well, good morning," she mumbled.

"Yea... if only she'd sleep in like most children," I sighed, which turned into a yawn. Why were yawns so contagious?

Astrid smiled sleepily and kissed my cheek. "I wonder where she gets her enthusiasm."

"Definitely not me. I love sleeping in," I retorted.

"Hiccup, admit it: she's just like you," Astrid giggled.

I sighed. "Yea, and let's remind ourselves who insisted teaching our daughter how to do a handstand on Stormfly?" I asked.

Astrid sat up and stretched. Damn, even after sixteen years, Astrid is gorgeous. Motherhood has been kind to her. "The same person who married the one-legged Chief, whom, may I add, somehow convinced his sons that Flightmares eat Terrible Terrors."

"Hey, I only said that so they would take better care of them," I insisted. "Reverse psychology, I think it's called."

Astrid pushed me aside. "You better get up or Kari will stick Shadow on you again."

I groan. "Dont remind me." Long story short: a young Night Fury has fangs like those of a grown Monstrous Nightmare.

It was a struggle, but I got out of bed (which required convincing from my wife, whom may had given me some kisses here and there), and found myself stumbling downstairs to crack open a couple of eggs and cook the at the fire. Then there was the dragon problem: one of the downsides to a family of children are the number of Terrible Terrors. Not to mention the biggest baby of them all was a Night Fury, whom, may I add, attacked me with his saliva, and shook excitedly.

"Yea, bud. I know." Toothless knew what today was; perhaps Kari told him.

Kari excitedly sat at the table, while Haldor and the twins literally crawled down the stair to the breakfast table, complaining how loud their sister was. Like I said, the boys were not morning people. The red-headed girl merely grinned as the three boys slugged into their seats. Astrid and I quietly fried the eggs up for them, and we sat down to listen to what they had in store for the day.

"I'm gonna build a fort!" Langley, the oldest twin, proclaimed.

"We should add a working drawbridge to it," Lamont added. The twin four-year-old boys bumped heads in agreement. The twins were similar in looks: dark blonde hair and blue eyes hinted with hazel. Not to mention they were similar in cosmic energy that could literally destroy Berk if we didn't keep close eyes on them.

"I'd still be in bed," Haldor grumbled, "if someone didn't jump on my head..." The seven-year old boy was build larger than his sister, and not to mention his hands could fit a dragon egg in them easily, but was the most gentle Haddock.

Kari smugly ate her eggs.

"I can't believe it: I gave birth to my husband four times," Astrid realized.

Toothless let out a mocking laugh.

After breakfast, Kari and I properly got dressed and headed outside. I already fashioned a flight vest for her, similar to the one I made when I first rode Toothless, so she didn't fall off Shadow. In addition, I constructed a small saddle for Kari to learn to put on Shadow. However, it will be interesting: Shadow has never worn a saddle, and Kari's only sat on Toothless' and Stormfly's saddle.

"Alrightie, new Dragon Rider!" I exclaimed, causing Kari to giggle. We were both outside the house, and I readied some boards with written-out rules. I stood up like a teacher, and Kari and Shadow sat in the grass. Toothless sat up beside me, flying equipment on and ready. "The first thing you need to do is win a dragon's trust." I patted Toothless affectionately on the shoulder. "The bond you can share with a dragon is phenomenal, and he-"

"-or she!" Kari pointed out, nudging Shadow.

"Or she..." I added, slowly, "will always protect you."

Kari grinned, as she patted her pet.

"Now," I walked over to Toothless, "you must show your dragon you do not mean to harm them. The best way to do it is to-"

"-give them a piece of fish!" Kari interrupted.

I held back an annoyed groan. Toothless mockingly laughed. Having trouble? he sneered, obviously noticing my annoyed expression.

Oh, shut up, useless reptile. "Kari, how do you expect me to teach you if you keep interrupting me?" I asked.

Kari rolled her eyes. For a nine-year old, she contained a lot of sarcasm. "Dad, I know all this. I just want to learn how to fly Shadow properly."

"And you first need to master the basics before you go further."

"But Shadow already trusts me, and I trust her." Shadow licked Kari's face, to prove her point.

I rubbed my eyes. "Kari, she's not as trained as Toothless. You two have a very strong bond, but up until now, she's never worn a saddle."

Kari nodded. "Okay... but she'll trust me to put it on, right?" she asked.

I shrugged. "That depends, but I wouldn't risk it," I admitted.

"Dad!" Kari moaned in annoyance.

"Do you know how long it took me to get a saddle on Toothless?" The thought took me back to my fifteen year old self chasing the uncooperative beast to wear the stupid thing.

The nine-year old girl threw her arms up in annoyance. "I know, you told me a thousand times!"

Keep it together, I tried to come down myself. My bottom lip began to hurt from my teeth driving through it. "Listen," I muttered, "I'm only telling you this because I don't want you to get hurt. Understand?"

Kari gulped and nodded quickly.

I sighed in relief, "Good. First," I lifted the small saddle, " Let's see how your Night Fury handles a saddle."

Well, that was the worst idea.

Kari spend half an hour chasing Shadow, whom (surprise, surprise) hated the thought of a saddle on her. We spent an hour trying to find Shadow after Kari finally locked the saddle on. Turns out she was hiding in Not-So-Silent Sven's sheep pen, and chewing on a sheep's legs with her gummy teeth.

After we finally calmed Shadow down, I taught... well, attempted was the correct word, Kari about flying formations and landing techniques. She seemed to know the first few I mentioned, but by the time I started telling her about commands, she was falling asleep. I mean, honestly? She was falling asleep. And it wasn't even close to lunch or anything.

This is what happens when you rise before the sun.

"Hello? Midguard to Kari," I tried to wake her.

Shadow instinctively licked Kari's snoring face.

"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the First founded Berk three hundred and twelve years ago!" Kari shouted, jolting upwards.

I rolled my eyes, while peering Vikings laughed in the distance. "Correct, but this isn't History, Kari. This is Basic Commands."

The nine-year old rubbed her eyes tiredly. "Dad, I don't get why I need to give Shadow commands. She listens to me." Before I could rebuttal, she added, "I just want to fly."

See, even my amazing daughter had, who excelled at dragon facts and sword-fighting, the attention span of a sparrow. She was this... gust of air which wanted to keep moving and just go. Which is my fault, I guess. I couldn't be stayed put when Dad was Chief. I must have taught Kari the same thing, or she inherited my free-spirited nature. And how can you teach the wind?

Trying to teach my daughter- which, evidently, Kari means "a gust of wind"- was impossible. I would have to become the wind myself to teach her.

Wait... the wind.

The wind!

I snapped my fingers. "Kari, you want to fly? Then let's fly."

Toothless looked at me in confusion. You're kidding, right?

Even Shadow and Kari looked at each other with blank faces.

"Dad, you just told me to-"

"I know, I know. But you want to see how difficult it is riding without using commands? Then let's try it."

Kari's face was a mix of pale and red.

"In the... air?". For a moment, I thought she was going to hurl. Then, she smiled and screamed: "Awesome!"

She and Shadow could hardly contain their excitement, as I mounted Kari on Toothless' saddle.

"We're going to the top of the rock," I explained, pointing to where my father's statue stood.

Kari looked up. "Oh... so it will give us more height?" she guessed.

I smiled. So she did listen. "Good. We'll start there and you can take off there."

Once we were up on the mountain, Kari sat on Shadow's saddle, and awaited for further instruction.

"Now, nice and steady, Kari. Remember, you need to show you still are in control," I warned.

Kari nodded. "Still in control," she agreed. Shadow's tongue stood out, and growled in excitement. "Shadow, fly!" she shouted.

Shadow smiled and opened her wings. The wind caught us and the Night Fury picked up in the air. Kari screamed while Shadow flapped against it, and covered her eyes.

Toothless followed Shadow as she started to pick up speed. I was starting to worry: we were thousands of feet above open water and quickly leaving Berk. Toothless growled at me in warning while Shadow quickened her flight.

I was about to command Shadow when Kari shouted, "Easy, Shadow!"

The Night Fury immediately slowed down her pace.

Toothless growled, worried.

You got this, Kari...

Kari opened her eyes slowly. She checked her surroundings, then patted Shadow's neck. She must had whispered something to the dragon (because I didn't hear it), since Shadow flapped her wings and steered towards Toothless and I.

"Dad! I'm- well, we- are flying!" Kari shouted in excitement.

I couldn't help but smile. There she goes again. Growing up.

Soon, she'll be flying on her own. Then going on adventures, helping protect Berk from threats, just like I did. Next thing I know, she'll find romance... become Chief... have a family of her own-

I shook my head. No, not for a while.

"Now, practice some circling," I ordered Kari, "I want to make sure your corners are smooth."

Toothless laughed. Our daughters sure take after us, don't they?

"They do, indeed, bud."

I heard Kari snicker, and Shadow make a gurgling sound.

"Daddy's talking to Toothless again," Kari said to her Night Fury. Shadow made a mocking sound.

I rolled my eyes. "Merely talking with my best friend, kiddo."

Kari patted Shadow's head. "I know, I do too." She gave me a smug grin.

Hmm, I thought devilishly, this give me an idea. "Wanna go on one more race?" I challenged, replying with the same smug grin she inherited. I knew she could not resist one last race. She had the soul of a dragon, after all. Not to mention she was Astrid Hoffferson's daughter, too.

Kari smirked. "You're so on."

Shadow smiled a toothless grin at Toothless and I, before spreading her wings wide and flew fast back to Berk. Kari yelled a Valkyrie holler as her dragon burst through the wind.

Yep, our daughters, I thought with a smile on my face.

"Yea! Let's go, bud!" I shouted, excitedly. I patting my best friend's neck. Toothless roared and we chased our children to the island below.

Being able to teach your children is a gift within itself. You pass down your knowledge in order for it to survive. If we cannot do this, what is the point in teaching our children? By teaching them, we are giving them essential knowledge to survive and create a better future. Then again, there's also the timeless bond between a parent and their child. Luckily, my oldest child appreciates it, despite her short attention span.

I get it now that I, too, focus on things I'm interested in and excel at them.

I've noticed how much I benefit from teaching my children. I'm learning from teaching: yes, teaching is never easy, but the end results are priceless. Not only was I to pass on my knowledge to the next generation, I could help shape it too. Who knows, maybe this information will pass down to future generations and help other nations besides Berk.

However, I was only interested in shaping Berk.

It just meant I have more time with my daughter.

To be continued...