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Dragonese

Telepathic communication

Chapter Eleven: Lesson Four - Surviving a Fight that is not necessarily a Battle

My last day loomed ahead of me. Just twenty-four hours until I was a fully fledged member of the Berk community. I was determined to live it out.

"Penny for your thoughts?" my soon-to-be younger brother piped up. I sighed as I stared out to the open ocean.

"This week's just gone so fast," I murmured. "Seems only yesterday I was putting up with taunts from bullies."

"Join the club," Hiccup smirked. "We've got our own seals." I chuckled, despite myself and his sarcasm. "What is that song you're always singing to yourself? I couldn't help wondering."

"In my old world it was called Pearly Adriatic. We learnt it in choir - that's a singing group," I replied. "But I feel as if I've known it longer."

"The Dragon Shifter's song is known here as The Song of the Adriatic," Hiccup pointed out. "I think it's the same song."

"Might be," I shrugged. "What do you reckon the Elder meant a couple of days ago about fire and water meeting? That way, everyone else will know what I am."

"Who you are," Hiccup corrected. "I dunno. Astrid, Toothless and I have tried everything. Fire into the water; water into the fire; drawings of water and blasting fire at them; drawings of fire... you get the point. Nothing." I huffed before I spotted a fleet of ships nearing the island.

"That's your dad," I mumbled, zipping back to the village. We spotted Stoick pretty easily and he did not look happy.

"I trust the 'talk' went well," Hiccup grimaced.

"You wish," Stoick huffed. "You were right, son. Those good-for-nothing brutes didn't bother listening. I'm guessing they'll attack again within the week."

"Ouch," I murmured. "Well, the good news is you made it back." Stoick chuckled.

"Ha! Oh, Valkyra," he smiled. "You'll make a fine sister for Hiccup. Just make sure nothing happens to you today!" I smirked slightly, wishing that I could just get the day over and done with. "I trust you two had better luck than I did."

"Well..." Hiccup feigned modesty. "If by 'better luck' you mean 'your worries about me being impaled in battle are over', then..."

"...yes," I finished in perfect timing. Hiccup and I looked at each other, slightly confused. Where had sudden synchronisation come into all this? Our thoughts were interrupted by a horde of villagers.

"Congrats, you two!"

"You guys have done so well!"

"How about a demonstration this afternoon, eh?"

"You've done it?" Stoick frowned.

"Yep," I shrugged. "Battle Training's flown by and Hiccup's improved so much."

"You...can fight?" Stoick gasped.

"Who'd have thought?" Hiccup grinned. "Kyra has a natural talent! She's brilliant!" Stoick's face brightened. I felt as if my chances of staying had shot up by about 30%.

During the demonstration, Astrid, Hiccup and I were up against the Bladed Six again. We had everything planned out and were ready to kick some Viking butt!

"Okay, guys," Astrid grinned, gripping her axe. "Let's do this!"

"Yeah, let's!" Hiccup agreed, un-sheathing his sword and grasping his shield. We were ready. The fight was incredible. We weaved in and out; we struck and blocked; we twisted and turned; we somersaulted (even Hiccup managed one of his own which was very impressive. If Astrid wasn't ready to become his official 'hands-off-he's-mine-forever' girlfriend by now, I don't know when she will be) and we performed every single move we'd practised perfectly. I was so proud when we downed the Six for the second time running.

"Well done!" Stoick cheered from the crowd. I beamed with pride, as did Hiccup and Astrid beside me. That evening was my first official dinner with my possible new family. It was rather quiet after Stoick had finished congratulating me and Hiccup and things were getting rather awkward.

"I never would have imagined I was left-handed," Hiccup said at last. "It made sword fighting a whole lot easier."

"Didn't you say your great-grandfather was a legend at sword-fighting?" I asked. Hiccup nodded. "Well, I think he would be proud that his talent has been passed on through the family."

"Ha-ha! I see Hiccup's told you plenty about the village and his life," Stoick beamed. All was quiet again. "Oh, I got something for you both. Late birthday present for you, son." He revealed a tunic of chain mail, fit for a warrior. It was brand new and looked perfect for Hiccup - my main concern was if he'd be able to stand up in it. "I had it made of the strongest but lightest metal we could find." Well, that put a stop to my worries.

"Wow," Hiccup breathed. "Thanks." He slipped off his coat and placed the chain mail over his green tunic (he'd put Astrid's in his clothes chest to prevent it from getting ruined). He really did look like a Viking now, especially when he added his sword, shield and helmet to the outfit.

"You're the Viking!" I grinned. Hiccup's face reddened a little, albeit not with embarrassment.

"And... Valkyra," Stoick continued, revealing a cloth package and handing it to me. "I was going to save it for tomorrow, you know, for after your initiation." I gulped - I'd forgotten that I would soon have to choose a dragon. "But I guess I didn't want you to wait." I smiled slightly. It was nice to know that the chief was starting to care as if I were his long-lost daughter but I knew that I'd never truly replace her. I unravelled the rope holding the package together and unfolded the black cloth to reveal the most beautiful dagger I had ever seen. It had a gold hilt and studded with precious stones and the hilt was designed in the shape of a dragon wrapping itself around the handle. The blade was solid silver and razor-sharp. I wasn't afraid of it - just in awe that Stoick would give me such a beautiful object.

"It's... beautiful," I breathed.

"Valhallarama had that made shortly after our daughter was born," Stoick explained. "It was going to be for Dragon Training but... circumstances have now changed and she vanished shortly after her third birthday." A horn sounded throughout the village. "Oh, not good!"

"What is it, Dad?" Hiccup asked, running out of the door after his father. He was getting rather good on that leg of his. We both found out soon why the alarm had been raised.

"Outcasts!" a Viking shouted. I figured this to be Spitelout, even though his name had never been mentioned in the film.

"Hiccup! Get the dragons ready," Stoick instructed. "NOW!"

"I'm on it!" Hiccup saluted as he darted off to find the others. I gave a shrill whistle to round up the dragons and the teens were with us shortly after. "Alright, I want everyone in Intermediate Dragon Training classes upward to grab their weapons and shields and get on their dragons right now!" Hiccup instructed. "That means you, too, Spitface!" A portly Viking next to a purple Deadly Nadder huffed but nodded anyway. "Astrid and I will lead the initial attack. Ruff, Tuff; you take the Zipplebacks and Nadders by the docks and wait for my signal. Fishlegs, Snotlout; you guys stay hidden on the rooftops with the Gronkles and the Nightmares. Don't let them see you until I say..."

"What about me?" I asked. I had a feeling that Hiccup was deliberately leaving me out of this.

"Yeah... Kyra, get to the cove and stay there."

"WHAT?!" I exclaimed. "Excuse me, mister, but I am not just going to stand and watch you lot get hurt!"

"I don't want you getting hurt, Kyra," Hiccup protested, a little too calmly for my liking. "You only have one more day - I'm making sure that you stay!" I was stunned. Hiccup took my silence as me seeing his point and started to go off to find Toothless. Anger swelled up in me. How could I have not seen it?

"I thought you were my friend, Hiccup!" I blurted.

"Huh?" Hiccup frowned, turning to face me.

"I should have seen this," I growled. "You never wanted me to stay for my own good!"

"Kyra... I..." Ah-ha! He admits it!

"Hiccup, what is she going on about?" Astrid quizzed, her eyes narrowing.

"All you ever cared about was her!" I shouted. "All you ever wanted was your sister back!"

"Kyra..."

"Well, I'm sorry but I can't replace her!" I was almost crying with anger, brushing a bothersome lock of hair out of my face that always seemed to find a way back over my left eye. How could Hiccup have used me so? "Sorry to disappoint you."

"Kyra... please..."

"Forget it!" I yelled, storming off into the village. I was going to fight, no matter what that jerk said. I almost grabbed my staff from the house when something snatched me up off the ground. "AAAHHH! PUT ME DOWN! PUT ME DOWN!"

"I'm sorry, Kyra!" It was Hiccup. "I just can't let you fight!"

"I SAID PUT ME DOWN YOU SON OF A RAT EATING, SLUDGE COVERED, SELFISH HALF TROLL!" I screamed. "TOOTHLESS! PUT ME DOWN!"

"I would but it's a long way to fall," Toothless growled back. They took me to the cove and as soon as I was on the ground I launched myself at Hiccup, punching and kicking every bit of him that I could reach.

"WHY?!" I yelled "I TRUSTED YOU! I THOUGHT YOU WERE HELPING ME!"

"I was... OUCH! Kyra!"

"YOU STUPID, STUPID SON OF A..."

"I'M NOT LOSING YOU AGAIN!" Hiccup shouted before I could break any bones (in my mood, I could have broken his neck). I froze. Again? He... really knew me? I backed off, panting in amazement and horror. Hiccup got to his feet and walked back over to Toothless, nursing a scratch I had given him on his arm. "You're right. You can't replace Valkyra." Valkyra? That... that was my name. "She doesn't need to be anymore." With that, he took off, leaving me speechless in the cove.

He knew me. He had recognised me. He knew my name even before I said it - he just wanted conformation. I was...

His sister.

Lesson Four: Surviving a Fight that is not necessarily a Battle. Not easy.

/

AN: I think most of you guys saw this coming - yay for dramatic irony! Thanks to all who have reviewed so far and just some quick replies to reviews I couldn't before:

Ultimoto: I can understand how the marriage age in this story can seem weird but I wanted to make it relatively young due to the fact that in Viking times (indeed history in general) marriages did take place at a very young age due to short life-expectancy, sometimes even younger than sixteen. I'm not entirely sure what the usual Viking marriage age was so I just stuck with sixteen.

We're well over halfway now so thanks to everyone who's kept up with the story so far and I will update as soon as I can. As always, reviews and constructive criticism welcome but no flames.