Tale of the Twins and Barf and Belch
It was late Spirit evening. The Spirit Moon was well into the midnight blue heavens and most of the souls were all snug in their beds even if it was still a troubling sleep.
Boden was busy working at the table in the kitchen going over many different papers and books, checking and rechecking his facts, date and notes with Stardust's also double checking everything again for him.
Sighing he took a sip of the broth Asta made him that was numbing his pain. Though the pain had gone down quite a lot it still hurt and every now and then there was a big spasm of pain.
What Boden didn't realize he was doing among his notes was he'd unknowingly doodle a heart with his initials and Asta's till Stardust was looking over his shoulder and commented it was a cute doodle.
"Stardust!" he yelled embarrassingly as he stuffed it into his pocket and tried not to look even more embarrassed.
"Why are you so embarrassed about being in love, Boden? They say there someone out there for everyone! And love is a gift anyway. So what's so embarrassing about liking a girl? It's perfectly normal for a boy your age to start feeling those kind of feelings for another." Stardust pointed out sensibly.
"Stardust, I'm a 16 year old soul in the afterlife who has the ability to hear and feel the thoughts and emotions of dragon souls. My older brother is alive and is chief of the tribe of Berk and our younger sister is the only soul ever to be reborn and is a bridge between two worlds.
Plus the only parents either of us ever had despite everything that would seem to make us truly their son and daughter even though it be impossible because by all accounts we were dead long before either of them were born themselves!
And here's the last kicker of my family, we all ride dragons! And now the girl I'm falling in love with is the soul of a 21 year old woman who died 155 years ago long before even I died and you tell me what part of any of that seems normal to you?!"
"Boden? Normal is different for everyone and the basic idea of normal is highly overrated to begin with. Trust me there is no true normal anymore then there is a 'perfect' both are unachievable by you, me and any creature living or dead.
Above and beyond love it is one of the most unusual things there is. It's by no means straightforward and it's certainly not as simple as one make it sounds. It's truthfully an exceedingly complex and outright impossible to understand feeling that goes far beyond just being a feeling."
"Have you ever been in love, Stardust?" he asked her and she shook her angelic head.
"No, I've never been in love with someone, but just like you I have loved many souls. Love is more than just love one person. There are many forms of love and people keep misunderstanding that. They keeping think the word "Love" only applies to 'romantic love between a couples."
But your family understands how powerful the love of a family is for sure as I love my family. My brothers and my sister-in-law and nieces and nephews. We all understand the love we share with all our friends. We understand the love we feel and why we wish to protect our homes from home.
So yes I may never have fallen in love with another dragon but I've loved many others and so yes I do know what I'm talking about nonetheless."
"True enough, I think we really do understand and do appreciated the many blessed gifts that love has given us and that it does come in many shapes sizes and forms. So you do speak the truth.
I mean my brother loved Una enough to help set her free and he still loved me enough that he made the crystal necklace as a reminder of both of us. Because when he told us both of the story of how it was stolen he said he didn't want it back just because it had Una's hair in it.
He said if he lost it forever he'd never have proof of either of us and though we didn't get to spend time together till the Realm became available to us he never stop thinking of me as a brother. So I still mattered and Una she calls us both BBBFF meaning "Big Brothers Best Friends Forever"
"Yes, your family is full of love and the love you feel for one another has touched so many lives on both sides and the lives it touched have touched more in turned.
All because of your family so many lives both living and dead have already been saved and so much love and friendship has been put in a world once so full of blind hate, distrust and lack of harmony. When the three of you work together? All three of you and your unique gifts you really do many miracles.
I'm not surprised even with all the hardships your family been through even your parents have been through that you Haddocks seemed to have done great miracles."
"Well, Stardust I've confession. We've been keeping something from all of you. But all five of us have been having what you could call a premonition ever since this sense of great danger drawing near began. It's just became part of all of us, but we have told any you dragons because we really didn't want to upset the babies.
But this is how this premonition is playing out in all our minds.
We've all seen the exact same thing many times over in our dreams. We're standing in a once beautiful spot and then all hell breaks loose. There an unbelievable loud crash of thunder and a brilliant flash of light and the feeling of something very important to all five of us is lost forever.
It's the start of a battle to end all battle and only one is gonna win this fight. Danger fills the air and its destroying everything in sight and we somehow know it's up to us to lead whoever else there though we can't see them ourselves yet to win this fight.
We just feel alone we have the power to do something. What this power is we don't know but we only have this unexplainable power. We just keep feeling the desperation as the struggling continues on as each sides falls some but never really seems to give an advantage to the other.
Though what my brother and sister I feel most is we get this part together. We feel like in this part of the dream we get a vision so strong and true. Like we have an epiphany and somehow know what we must do. Like in a moment when all is lost we know it what we have to do.
Still not one of us know how to unlock this power inside us that this vision keeps telling us we have," he slumped back in his chair and looked a bit dishearten which surprised Stardust some.
"Are you worried it spells doom or hope or what?"
"It just feels if we're dreaming of a battle it just only confirms we're gonna have a battle of some kind and if there a battle to come and me and my brother and sister are the ones that must win it you know what kind of pressure that is?"
"Come what may, Boden will face that day when it comes and you will not face it alone. You are never alone you have the ones you love and that will see you through. Now let's get doomsday out of our minds and do you at least have this family tree thing almost done?"
"Well, there only a few dragon left from the Shardas Clan to see if Hiccup encountered any known relations and then only one Soul Rider dragon to see if it too is an ancestors of one of his friends dragon. So I guess that's what I'm doing this week.
Um do you know where Dad is?" he asked looking up from the mountain of paperwork on the table.
"I've not seen your father or Soulwings since this morning when they went to attend the meeting at the Spirit Great Hall. I'm worried they always make it home before moonrise."
Just then they heard the sound of wings approaching the house and knew Stoick was getting in. Grabbing his crutch Boden hurried to the door and hugged his father tightly as he came into the doorway late.
"Oh, Boden! Didn't meant to worry you son. The meeting ran way later then I thought it would. Sorry to make you wait half the spirit night. Should of sent a Terror with a message saying I be later."
"I'm just happy to have you home, Dad. Let me get you something to drink, I made some berry juice give me a moment."
"How is faring lovely Stardust?"
"He's doing as well can be expected for a teenager, Soulwings. But I'm thinking he really needs to get out of the house. He's been cooped up too long having to stay housebound.
It wouldn't actually hurt him to go into the village and just get some fresh air. I mean his leg is mending and the boot comes off in three and half weeks now. I can watch him on my back you know."
"Try convincing his father of that. You know he doesn't wanted upset the boy's mother and make the injury worse."
"Boden's pain has really gone down, Firestorm herself said the swelling gone down enough that he should be trying to walk a little, still not long distance, but still not just staying in bed all day either."
"I understand he needs to get some exercise in and fresh air and sunshine would do him good. One female I knew once said sunlight was the best tonic she knew of. So I recommend we get the boy out of the house before he does go crazy."
"I'll see what I can do but let's not upset the boy's father too much. Boden heard from his big brother that their when their father was a baby he popped a dragon head clean off its shoulders."
"Well, my Rider is full of stories and a lot of other things, still he ultimately cares for the wellbeing of his children. Still we both know Boden needs out of this house if only for a couple of hours. Children aren't meant to be kept indoors.
It will be a tremendously sad day in history when children willingly chose to stay indoors on nice sunny days to sit on their bums all day long and do nothing when there a big world of fun and adventure outside. If all they desired is to entertain themselves with objects that really do nothing at all."
"If that day comes when humans are unable to find any at all imagination and lose their zest to actually live in the beautiful world around them as well? Then favor a fictional world of gobbledygook trapped in a bubble in front of their eyes? Then I say that's the day human life has come to end. You can't live life if you don't really do anything to live."
"What are you two talking about?" Stoick asked curiously as he came over with two bowls of half chicken and fish with a little bit veggies mixed in. They nodded and smiled in thanks and began to eat.
"Boden do you know what they're speaking about?" to which is son shook his head, "Not sure what they're speaking about a moment ago, but I was talking about Stardust early about the family tree project and love and things like that."
"I see, well how is the Family Tree coming along?"
"Almost done, I just need to finish up with Eira and Erika's Zippleback Ruby and Jade who I do know is the daughter of Endre and Unna's Zippleback Search and Protect.
So when the Twins watch me this week, I'll get them to tell me more and we'll find out the last of the Shardas Clan's dragons' bloodlines and relay those downstairs and see if Hiccup's ever encountered any relatives."
"I would've thought that the Caxel sisters be watching you this week. If you were continuing doing a clockwise rotation. Why aren't they watching you?"
Blushing, "Um, I'm not really ready to be alone with Asta right now, so I just skip them to doing the DSS and now Elof and Tue are covering the DSTA and Leif and Tobin doing patrolling again and then next week they'll do the DSS."
"Boden you're gonna have to at least talk to Asta again sooner or later and you do work with her. If you like her why not just tell her?"
"DAD!"
"It's really simple, you like her just tell her."
"Oh, like you just told Mom you liked her? She told us you smacked your head into a tree and tripped over a tree stump because you couldn't ask her out on a date!"
"When did she tell you that?"
"On one of our prior Realm night visits. She was telling us a few amusing stories about some of your twos early dates and a little about Dragon's Glen, but the point is even you Stoick the Vast couldn't even muster the courage to ask who you called the most beautiful woman ever to walk Berk shores out on a date without making a fool of yourself!
So please don't get on my case for having a hard time trying to get the courage to deal with my feelings towards Asta, okay, Dad?!" he snapped at his father who decided to back off a little.
"He really has been cooped up too long hasn't he Soulwings?"
"Yep, he needs some fresh air. Get him out of the house and let him blow off some steam."
So Stoick changed the subject away from his teenage son's love life troubles and told him some of the troubles of their friends within the Shardas Clan and how they're still handling things for this unknown danger that was coming.
How both the Feravel sisters were working almost nonstop concocting potions, remedies, and reading up on anything and everything they could to try and figure out what evil from any of the other Nine Realms was coming and what they needed to counteract it.
That even with his grandson filling in with Boden out sick he'd left enough designs that Halvar Feniul was super busy cranking out ingenious weaponries that left one's imagination in disbelief. It seemed Tue still made time to help even when he was still 'dead' tried to help with making some of the armaments and they're things of outstanding magnificence and wonder.
Endre and Unna Darrym weren't to be put off either. They're running drills, practices and training exercises from Spirit Sunrise to Spirit Sunset to be prepared for any kind of scenarios. They'd study every battle strategy, attacks, war, anything to do with fighting of any kind and were doing all they could to prefect it or counterattack it.
Thora Baul and Merchant Audun Arjas had put aside their old quarrel and were working together to help souls stock up and learn how to be prepared for the worst and what to do in case of emergency and in times of crises.
And of course helping keeping it running smoothly for Stoick was his second Kustaa Hagen who was a good leader and kept things running smoothly and organized and still kept the normal routine of Valhalla running.
By then it was only like three hours before Spirit Sunrise so they all agreed to get some sleep and just slept together in the living room, but without saying it both Stardust and Soulwings agreed they would get Boden out of the house.
In the morning when the Soul Riders and Tue showed to get their duties the Caxel sisters were surprised that they're assigned the Sanctuary since they'd assumed they be taking care of Boden this week and Asta been looking forward to it, but they did as they're told and headed to the DSS. The others were given their assignments and everyone left to do their things.
The Twins went into their chief's home for the first time and after admiring it for a few times asked what could they do for Boden. They knew he wanted to talk to their dragon to get her family history but did he need anything else?
It was then Stardust seemed to indicate with her body language they should go outside and that left them confused since for the past few weeks since Boden's attack Stoick had made it clear Boden was not to leave the house, but now his dragon was making it clear she wanted him out of the house.
So while one set of twins was trying to figure out what to do in Valhalla the other set of twins on Berk were facing a challenge of their own.
On Berk right now Ruff and Tuff were facing a dilemma of their own and for once it wasn't their usual who can blow up or hurt the other the most kind of dilemma. The way they're talking it was clear they're actually trying to be both serious and mature!
"You know Ruffnut I can't believe how hard it is to actually be serious! It's really an effort! How Hiccup able to do it without passing out I don't know!"
"Well, right now, Tuff, it doesn't matter how hard it's gonna be. We may be sister and brother to each other, but we're twins and we've been pretty much alike, but now it's time to really I can't believe I'm using this these words, but think of others!
We have little sisters and brothers now! We've already discovered it's not all about playing and having fun either!"
"No, surprisingly sis, even though I taught Hiccup's sister how to be a kid last year by having fun, we know now being a big brother and sister is about more than that. We have to be ugh…serious and mature and…and…"
"And responsible…ugh! I know I find it hard to use these kind of words too. When we were kids it was all about chasing each other around, up or down and making each other smile all day long while doing it! Still we were at least always there for each other.
But now we have ten younger siblings to be responsible for and that actually all the fingers on both hands, Tuff!"
"Yeah and the fact we can actually count that high is a big deal. We ain't exactly the brightest candles on the island and we know it!"
"Either way, Tuff, this is one thing we don't need to be thought little of. I may always be at least when it comes to being a pretty girl the Viking next door compared to Astrid.
I mean when it comes to me and Astrid and what a guy wants? Look at the two of us, we both come from the same small island in middle of nowhere and yet it's not constant on many things.
There's no denying she's the beautiful warrior queen who the star in everything with her perfect skin and hair no wonder boys flock from everywhere to stare.
Everyone just looks at me and tells me I'm just ugly, jealous and hate her and that fact I don't even got a boyfriend myself and that I'm just the sorry and stupid Viking next door to the perfect Viking queen that is Astrid.
You know sometimes it does hurt like we explained in that song the other day when people say things like people like Astrid must be sent from Valhalla and she's never the last one standing. That I'm just bitter, alone and just never gonna be worth something to anyone.
You know sometimes I've felt sorry for myself and wished I was some else, but then I came to understand something and it's something I learned actually from Hiccup's little sister.
Accept yourself and don't give a shit about what other think of you. Be happy with you and don't try to be anyone but who you are. True to you is all you have to be.
So while I'll never be a warrior Viking queen and let's face it neither you nor I will ever have the big brain that Hiccup's got it doesn't mean we're really dumb or we can't do this job of being big brothers and sisters."
"You know that does sound smart and I guess this would sound smart too, at least I hope it sounds smart. If we just do the best we can but at least try not to be careless or what we did when we that age we can do this job. We may never been smart or a lot of things but your right, Ruff we can be good big brothers and sisters.
If Hiccup and Una are willing to give us this chance then I say we run with it. Just not you know really run with it."
"I know what you mean, Tuff."
So whilst the Twins were attempting to really think on how to be mature and responsible their dragon was thinking about similar thoughts outside when it came to their own family. After all being a family with six heads was really a challenged to say the least.
"Do you think we should give them flowers or do you think we should give them another token of affection, Belch?"
"Flowers, fish, or even a shiny rock what difference does it really make, Barf? Won't she love it all? It's always been easy to give Clover and Thistle gifts. She likes anything we give her, but we want to give her something that's not a worthless trinket for once. A real gift of love for a change don't we?"
"Yes, and want to make sure Chaos and Havoc are well taken care of and provide for as well. She is after all our daughter and that is our best gift to our wife is being the father of her child. So we should raise her right."
"Still do you think we can be a little bit of dummies at times? I mean we were never the brightest of the Zipplebacks and our Riders aren't exactly the smartest people either."
"Nevertheless, they're our best friends and have saved us and we've saved them. They took the time to learn about Clover and Thistle and care for our daughter. So at least there some consideration there. Would you rather have anyone else ride us really?"
"Nope, you don't always choose who you're meant to be with. Many times life and powers that be know better than you do. Still I think we need to step it up as a father and a husband, since Clover and Thistle seem to think we're not doing a good job lately."
"Not sure what they're not happy with but let's try and do something really good today. After all today the day the twins will be bonding with Chaos and Havoc future Riders Creel and Gala. So let's hope something good happens."
"Let's hope we didn't just jinx this and we better get going or we'll be late and you know how our wife is about people being on time!"
So they wacked the door and then the Twins realized it was getting late and even though they still didn't know what they would do with their alone time with Creel and Gala they did agree they'd to prove themselves today for sure.
So they flew quickly as they could to where the two girls lived. The girls lived next door to each other with a shared space between the house where Clover and Thistle lived.
Creel and Gala were just at the moment attending to mother and daughter. Their own mothers were busy helping their uncles with chores on the farms so they'd been asked to care for the dragons.
As they did their best to care for the adult dragon they discussed their own concerns that were surprisingly similar to the Twins. It was obvious that all the children truly loved that fact the Riders had adopted them as their own little brothers and sisters, on the other hand that did make them feel some pressures of their own.
For example some of the feelings and pressures all the children collective shared were feeling could they live up to the Riders' expectations? Was it all right to just be themselves or did they've to act a certain way? Would they ever become true siblings like how Hiccup was with his brother and sister? Would they ever be the one big happy family that Hiccup and Una had originally hoped for when they'd brought their two groups of friends together? And perhaps most importantly of all was would the dragons both the parents and the babies all be alright as well?
It was a lot to think about which was what Creel and Gala were talking about as they took turns trimming down Clover and Thistle's toenails. Clover and Thistle listen very patiently and understandingly to their daughter' best friends and could very well sympathize.
As a mother and wife they felt similar things when it came to their own relationship with their husband and child, but also how they also interacted with their own friends.
"It's quite a lot for mere children to be concerned about, don't you think Thistle?"
"I agree, Clover it's quite a lot and I would say they really shouldn't be as consumed by half of it as they are. It always seems many times people worry about things they've no need to worry about at all. Or at least that's what I've observed"
"Mommy, I wish you could just talk I can when I'm alone with my best friend, but Queen Moon Shadow's gift only allows us to talk to our trainers when we're alone. Still, Creel and Gala?"
"Yes, Chaos and Havoc?" Creel asked as she was sweeping up the toenail clipping into a rubbish pail and Gala was polishing the last toenail they'd just trimmed.
"Our mommy says you're worrying too much! We are all friends here and your best friends and pretty much sisters to each other. So why do you worry about how the ones who take care of Daddy and the other think?" Chaos asked first and then Havoc added
"Yeah, they all seem to love and adore you just the way you are. They really love you just fine. They seem like good big brothers and sisters to us and we have often heard your friend Una preach the words that "It takes more than being related to be a family. That being a 'true' family comes from something deeper and more important than blood." Though the nine month old baby looked a bit confused as to what their trainers' friend meant.
Their mother however understood and explained it too their child and the children understood what she said for some things don't need words to understand it is just feelings. "Well, our lovely daughters the child you call Una speaks the truth. A truth many do not understand at all." Clover started and Thistle took over with the same gentle voice.
"Anyone can have a baby but it doesn't make them a parent also anyone can have more than one child that doesn't make those children brothers and sisters.
What the extraordinary family of our alphas learned is that a true family isn't by something a thin and pointless as blood which merely flows through one's body to do what it does.
Blood is meaningless in that sense. What makes someone a parent or a brother and sister must come from the heart and soul. It's the feelings, thoughts and actions. It the small things that lead to the big things.
It's being there when someone needs when they're alone and needs a shoulder to cry on. It's being a friend when you have none. It's about teaching you how to be the best person you can be. It's about being loyal to each other and showing real respect to each other."
Smiling Clover took over once more and carried on "It's about even when you fight like cats and dogs and hate each other so bitterly you know you'll still be willing to come to that person aid even if you're so irritated you wish them dead.
It's about knowing where you're needed when you couldn't possibly know that.
It's when you have nothing at all you have someone whose there to give your heart a reason to beat. It's someone you think of more than yourself. So even when things go south and there are times of animosity, resentment and fury you'll still stand strong in face of adversity.
It's about being there not out of obligation but because you genuinely care about that person and are willing to listen to them when they have something to say. Not repeating their words but listening to what their heart is saying."
The both heads spoke at once. "In the head it's comes down to the feelings and thoughts and actions of one's heart and souls and how they treat people around them. You'll always share someone's blood, but blood doesn't make a family, child.
What makes or breaks a family is the one thing that unites everything that lives and breathes and dies. It's love. As long as you love someone and they love you that's what makes them family if they love you and you love them."
"Our mommy said…"
"We got what your mommy said funnily enough," Gala spoke in amazement but still looked a bit troubled as did Creel for that matter.
"What's the matter, Creel? Gala? Don't you think, Mommy's right?"
"Well, she may be right on what makes a family a family and all that, but can you really say you understand how we feel about our new big brothers and sisters?
I mean no offensive Chaos and Havoc but you're the only hatchling without a sibling of your own. So you don't exactly have an inkling on what it's like to have a brother or a sister either way." Gala pointed out matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, sorry to say it, but you don't have a brother or sister. Everyone else does have a brother or sister and you don't so how can you really say you know how we feel?" Creel asked in a slightly rude tone to which her dragon didn't answer but someone did answer for her.
"Well I say she knows very well what's like to have a sibling since she's pretty much a conjoined twin from what I can tell, as is all the Zipplebacks. So it's like a sibling you can't escape from.
At least the other hatchlings even more own can move away from their brothers and sisters when they've had enough Chaos and Havoc can't even go to another room so they're stuck like glue to each other.
So yes from where I'm standing they do understand the concept of a sibling as well as any other dragon. So I'm quite sure they understand how you and the other children feel about your own insecurities with your own older siblings."
Looking up they saw a beautiful and elegant form descending from the sky and landing delicately next to them was the beautiful and wise Queen of the Dragons Moon Shadow.
She looked and smelled extra good since she'd obviously just had a bath since one doesn't normally smell like roses first thing in the morning unless they've just bathed nor do jet black scales shimmer the ways her were.
"I apologized for being a little late for our rendezvous. Valka and Una were insisting that my whole family get a bath this morning. They picked up these scented bath oils from Trader Johann and so with the help of Skullette and Firefang who happened to be over for breakfast everyone in the family was getting a bath.
So my family got a bath, as did Nightrainbow and I left as they're getting to Cloudjumper. They're saving some of the oils of course for themselves for a special occasions. Not that I know of one any time soon. So how do I look?" she inquired nervously.
"Well now you really look like a queen that is for certain," Creel complemented her and Gala inhaled the wonderful perfumed scents. "I've never smelled so many wonderful scents, you smell like a magical meadow of flowers!"
Blushing she smiled her toothless smile and her birthmark gleamed brightly too. "Thank you for your kind words. Now I do believe again if I was hearing correctly from the distance that Clover and Thistle are right, Creel and Gala.
It takes a lot more then you think to be a good brother and sister and to become a true family. I will also say it's a daily struggling and it's not something you never stop working on."
"Still what about…"
They're all cut off and Moon Shadow fell silent because at that moment the Twins had arrived so she could no longer talk. Moon Shadow did trust Hiccup's friends as allies and knew they could be depend on in a fight but did feel in her heart that they couldn't be trusted with her secret for different reasons.
For Fishlegs she felt it was because he'd proven too easy to break given how easy in the past he'd cracked under pressure, her husband had told her how when they'd practice interrogation just how easily he'd cracked when the lights when out.
Snotlout given his ego problems and liking to make a profit would most likely try to make money off her someway instead of understanding the true nature of her gifts and why they must be kept secret.
The Twins? It was pretty self-explanatory given their general nature and their normal lack of understanding the concept of what a secret was and why it had to be a secret.
As Hiccup adult friend Gobber? He was too likely to get drunk and slip and also just run his mouth when he was sober.
That's why so far the only ones she'd trusted with her secret had been the Haddocks who were her family, the children who she knew could be trusted she seen it in their hearts before she'd given them their blessing, Astrid was the only mature Rider with any common sense and had proven her worth, and finally of course the Anquetil clan because of their special gifts and earning her trust as well.
So she acted like a normal dragon as far as she was a very intelligent Night Fury who the children started to explain but the Twins said they'd already heard that Moon Shadow was spending time with each dragon couple as part of her Queen duties and it must be her turn to spend time with Barf and Belch's family.
Moon Shadow raised a single eyebrow that the Twins were genuinely sounding a bit more mature or at least paying more attention for once. Still she just remained silent and listened.
The Twins who had failed to come up with an idea of what to do for a bonding experience with the children as an alternative ask them to make a suggestion instead.
Creel and Gala were a little taken aback by being asked to make a suggestion but at first they didn't know what to say but they Twins were like there had to be something they wanted to do.
It was then something very surprising came out of Creel and Gala's mouth. Valka had noted when she'd supervise the playdate where she'd meet them that Creel was on the mature side and Gala also seemed to be pretty well-behaved.
So when the Twins heard what came out of their mouth they're more than a little shocked.
"Well, there is something we've always wanted to do. But our mommies and uncles won't let us do. Saying it's too dangerous," Creel started to say and Gala piped up excitedly.
"We've always wanted to go explore the Haunted Caverns on the far side of the island. You know the ones rumored to have the ghosts of old Vikings and marauders and also filled with all kinds of treasure? Can we go there please?!" she was begging and pleading with her indigo eyes.
Now to Creel and Gala they figured the Twins be the perfect ones to take them to this place they'd always wanted to go but had been forbidden their whole lives. So they shouldn't have to do more then make big eyes and beg a little.
So now they're ones taken aback and so was Moon Shadow when they heard the Twins' response to the little girls' request.
"No way. We aren't taking you two to those Caverns! They are way too dangerous!" Tuffnut stated firmly with his arms crossed across his chest trying to be assertive for once in his life.
Ruffnut took her own assertive stance and also crossed her arms and said in her own astonishingly firm no-nonsense tone that was so freaky coming from her it was scary, "There's a good reason why no-one is allowed to go to those Caverns. When the tide comes in they're completely underwater and who knows what other pitfalls are in that place?
It'd be highly irresponsible of us to take you there and you get hurt. So the answer is no. We're not going to Haunted Caverns. Pick something else and don't even try changing our minds we're not going to the Caverns end of story. Pick something else."
Moon Shadow was very pleased and happy to see the Twins act more responsible and really care about the wellbeing of the children and was whispering to both Barf and Belch and their wife who also approved of the Twins behaving in this manner.
Creel and Gala pouted a few moments but for once the Twins were firm and when the girls saw they couldn't get them to take them to the Haunted Caverns they seemed to have given up the idea.
So they suggested instead they go have a nice lunch in a grove of trees that was still on the far side of the island but had an amazing view. The Twins agreed and Ruff went inside the house to help Creel make the lunch and Tuff helped Gala by going into her house to get some supplies for the lunch.
Little did the Twins realizes they're being manipulated by the girls who were still dead set on going to the Haunted Caverns and if they had to be sneaky about it they would be!
So they managed get the Twins to take them to a grove of trees that were still near the Haunted Caverns and they'd heard about a shortcut one could take to get to the Caverns from their location. Though they still had to be slick about how they did this and make sure they did it and not get caught. That was the most important thing was not to get caught.
Both Ruff and Tuff were putting a lot of effort into this bonding trip and trying to do things they seen the others do to make connections with the other children. They tried to tell a few stories of their best adventures, attempted to teach them a few tricks of their own and give them some personal pointers for their dragon.
Creel and Gala tried to act like they're really interested and enjoying this which they were on one hand on the other hand their strong desire to sneak off was overpowering.
If Moon Shadow hadn't been distracted with getting to know the Zippleback family on a more personal level her magic probably would've alerted to the girls' less then honorable intentions. But as it was she was preoccupied with learning more about Chaos and Havoc's parents' whole fantastic history and trying to get them to understand she could only have one head speak at a time.
The girls after getting too antsy for their own good decided it was now time to sneak off but had at least come up with a way to do it without the Twins knowing. Because again it was noted the Twins had this whole time been making a lot of effort to be mature and responsible so they'd been paying close attention to the girls.
"So um how about we play a game of hide and seek now?" Creel suggested nonchalantly while giving Gala a sideway glance.
"Yeah, I love to play hide and seek right now!" Gala said a little louder then she should've but just smiled extra sweetly, " How about Creel along with Chaos and Havoc and I go hide and then you two and their daddy can come find us? It looks like Clover and Thistle really need a nap. They're up pretty late last night helping out our mommies you know."
"What were they helping your mom's with?" Ruff asked curiously as she did notice the beautiful female Zippleback was curling up for a nap. She was obviously very fatigued and had been very sluggish since they'd picked her up.
"Our moms were extremely busy last night helping with moving things from the docks to different places for winter storage. That's why they also asked us to keep an eye on Clover and Thistle while they help our Uncles on their farm today," the girls replied honestly while still looking like they wanted to scamper.
"Okay, Moon Shadow can you keep an eye on Clover and Thistle while the rest of us play hide and seek?" Tuffnut requested politely to which Moon Shadow nodded and curled up beside her and closed her own eyes.
So the Twins went over to nearest tree with their dragon and began to count and the girls did a quick glance to make sure both the female dragons were asleep before scooping up the nine month old hatchling and running as fast as their legs would carry them.
They quickly found the hidden shortcut hurried down it and they slipped Chaos and Havoc some dragon nip they'd nicked from the Twins' satchel to keep her quiet so she wouldn't alert anyone to where they're going.
It didn't take them long to get to the Haunted Caverns and they looked indeed very haunted and scary from the outside. Like someone had used a blood-stained and fragmented battleax to make the opening to the Caverns.
Looking inside it was very dark with an eerie reddish glow and strange sounds. Finding some nearby driftwood they took out some flint and made a small torch and smiling gleefully entered it despite this place was just screaming "DANGER KEEP OUT!"
Well back up on the where the Twins and Barf and Belch were they'd finished counting and began to try and find the girls, though when they couldn't find them after 15 minutes they really started to panic.
They just knew something wasn't right if the girls were playing hide and seek they wouldn't have strayed so far it be that hard to find them.
"Tuff are you getting the feeling we just got played?" Ruff was asking as they were still looking for the girls.
"We are playing a game, Ruff how do you not get played when you're play a game?"
"Not that kind of playing, Tuff! Think about all the times we pulled pranks and tricks on everyone else! I think Creel and Gala just pulled a trick on us and I think this one isn't funny at all. I'm getting a feeling this one is very bad indeed very bad!"
"Wait a moment, Ruff!" Tuff exclaimed grabbing his sister and making her look at him. "No-one knows more about tricking someone then two tricksters like us! Oh my Thor! Oh could we not see this coming?! They planned this! They wanted us to take our eyes off them so they could sneak off! But why?"
"I don't know…wait a sec! We need to get in the air for a second. I'm not sure from the ground but if we get an aerial view from the sky for a second I think I know where the girls are and why they wanted to come to this grove for lunch! Barf!"
So they climbed on their dragon and took quickly to the sky and then Twins smacked their heads for being dolts and realized the girls had played them. The grove of trees wasn't more than half a mile from the Haunted Caverns and from the air they could see the hidden shortcut the girls probably knew about from some older kids.
"Oh this isn't good! Not good at all! If the gods don't kill us or not the girls mothers, Hiccup gonna murder us on the spot!" Tuffnut was saying very quickly in a panic as they landed back on the ground.
He was still panic when Ruff smacked him hard across the face "Tuff! Get a grip! We need to do something neither of us are good at! We need to think! And we need to do it now! Now calm down and let's try and THINK!"
"Okay, trying to calm down," so they both took some deep breaths and started to really use something they didn't use very often. Their brains and then actually they came up with a good idea.
"Okay what we need to do is go get the girls, right? They're probably already in the Caverns and knowing those Caverns reputations it wouldn't be a surprised if they're lost or hurt or both, right, Tuff?"
"Yes, so we need to go get them, but given the tide will be in soon we need to hurry but we can't go without some back up and someone to come help us if we need it. So we need to somehow get Hiccup to come here and help us."
"Though we can't just wait for him to get here, but we can at least tell him to get here and have him somehow meet us and help us? So how do we get him here and search for the girls at the same time?"
It was then they heard a twig snap and looked up and saw Moon Shadow had come to find them because Clover and Thistle had ask her to find them and the twins exclaimed to her confusion. "Moon Shadow! Yes!"
She looked at them in puzzlement as they quickly took out some paper and with painstaking effort actually wrote a note explaining what was going on and spelled everything correctly and tied it too Moon Shadow's neck.
"Please Moon Shadow, listen to us very carefully. We need you to go back home to Toothless and Hiccup as fast as possible, okay? It's a life or death emergency! Creel and Gala could be hurt or in danger and are most likely in both right now.
We need Hiccup's help. Bring Hiccup to the Haunted Caverns ASAP and we have a horn. Have Toothless roar at us and we'll blow our horn back and you'll find us. But we've have to find our little sisters and quick before the tide comes in. Do you understand?" Ruff was asking and Moon Shadow nodded and gave them a look and Tuff figured out what she wanted without her saying it.
We should make sure Clover and Thistle stays visible so she can keep an eye out for them when we get back. Let's hurry!"
With that Moon Shadow did what her kind was famous for as she gave it her all to fly at maximum speed to get home and with the thought of two children in danger it only made her go even faster.
The Twins hurried down to the Haunted Caverns and then thinking even more clearly than ever tied a rope around themselves and then had Barf and Belch lighting the way they did their best to navigate the treacherous Caverns.
The Caverns were off-limits for several good reasons. Because of the tide coming in an out daily it made the pathways of the Caverns very unsteady from being constantly eroded. They're extremely narrow, twisty and was full of dead ends, pits with dead and decaying things that no-one really wanted to know for sure what it was in almost complete darkness.
Ruffnut and Tuffnut put their fears and worries aside and were just thinking of the nine year old little girls who were mostly like badly hurt in this death trap. Taking all the steps they could to find them and not get lost themselves they kept looking and making sure they didn't get lost themselves.
They still were also paying attention to how the water level was slowly raising and knew they had to hurry. After what seemed liked forever they finally found a sign of the girls.
Having come to small bend that they could see something just glistening on what looked almost like a shelf they noticed what looked like a pile of rocks that gave the clear impression of someone had been standing and fell. Hurrying over they looked down and down the embankment of this particular spot the girls were at the bottom with Clover and Thistle all of them were out cold.
"Alight! We found them! Let's fly down and get them and get the hell out of here!" Tuff said when Ruff grabbed him and pointed out something, "Tuff in case you haven't notice it's too small here. Barf and Belch barely been fitting into the last few passageways. We're not gonna be able to fly down and get them. We need to think of something else!"
"Well, if we can't fly down we'll have to climb down to get them. Do you have any rope?"
"Nope, I didn't know we be in the Haunted Caverns trying to save two of our little sisters from dying when the tide comes in and also trying to save Barf and Belch only daughter on top of it!" Ruff snapped irritably.
Just then they heard a roar and breathed a sigh of relief "Thank the gods! It's Hiccup!" So Tuff took out the horn they'd brought along and blew it and they heard the roar and soon the whole Haddocks and both Night Furies were there.
"Sorry we came as quick as we could! We're using Toothless and Moon Shadow's echolocation to navigate the tunnels to find you guys!" Hiccup panted.
"By the way we're quite impressed with how well you wrote the note and how you figured out how to handle this so far," Una admitted who they had also used her for her psychic abilities to help them in Caverns as well.
"But that's neither or there at the moment. Have you found Creel and Gala?" Valka asked them and the twins pointed down the embankment and they judged the situation.
"We did bring rope with us figuring we would needed it but we've got to hurry. The tide will be coming in within forty-five minutes and we need to get all three of them up out of there and then get ourselves out here before that as well. So let's get to work!" Valka stated as they got a long thick rope out of a large bag on Moon Shadow's back.
They quickly secured the rope and Hiccup was gonna go get them but the Twins insisted they get the girls as they were their responsibility. So Tuff climb down first and got Creel then Ruff climb down and got Gala and then Hiccup was sent down to get Chaos and Havoc.
After Valka checked all three children out and said it looked like other than some cuts and bruises and they mostly like be out cold for a day they'd be fine. Una then yelled because her danger sense was driving her crazy saying it was time to leave like now.
So they got on their dragons and the Night Furies blew a hole in the roof of the Caverns and they barely escaped before the tide swallowed them all up. They quickly got everyone back to the village and the Twins insisted they should stay with the girls till they woke up and explained to their moms what happened.
So that's what they did and when the girls did wake up the next day and got an angry lecture from their mothers and were told they're grounded ten days the Twins were surprised what the girls mothers said to them.
They thought they just be yelled at themselves or just be called dumb, stupid, irresponsible or what they normally got. Instead both Creel and Gala's mothers thanked them both for actually being responsible and mature and actually saying no to them even if they'd been tricked in the end.
They're glad that the twins were showing that to them the Vow they and the rest of the Riders took in become the children's big brothers and sisters is the one thing they're being serious and mature about. That they did think and act appropriately and they appreciated everything they did and they did act like true big brother and sister would.
So they are glad they're part of the five who make up the big brothers and sisters to the children. They even got a kiss and a hug from each of the mothers and they made the girls apologize to their older siblings and thank them for saving their lives.
The Twins felt much better about themselves after that knowing that they could do something right and in times of crises they could use their brains especially if it was to help someone they cared about. It was a good feeling.
They also just hoped while they're feeling good about that if Barf and Belch were having a good time on their date with their wife.
Clover and Thistle were having at first a hard time relaxing on their date because they'd been so concerned about Chaos and Havoc who had been hurt. It'd been three days since what had happened and it really taken Moon Shadow and her husband actually literally dragging her away from her daughter and assuring her that Skullette and Firefang would make sure she was alright for her to enjoy her date night.
Clover and Thistle still were very unsettle and like were they a bad mom? They knew this did prove even the best-behaved child and even those who act mature are still little kids.
"If we hadn't been napping then this wouldn't have happened! Oh are we foolish? Are the girls gonna be okay? Is our daughter gonna be okay?" her two heads were going over it again and again.
Barf and Belch each nuzzled their head and assured their wife. "Clover and Thistle, no parent can be there 24/7 and children will be children. No child is so mature that they don't misbehave or do something stupid.
Did you know Toothless's Rider's sister once nearly got herself killed when she tried to get his attention by doing very dangerous stunts when she felt ignored by him?
Children are children they will be children. They do foolish things at times and they don't listen when they should. We never stop worrying about them, they're not bad kids my love, they're just being normal children is all.
We all make mistakes and sometimes they are small other times they're big but still we are thankful and glad we are okay. Now can we please enjoy the hot chocolate and delicious fish now?"
"How can you possible think of food? But hmm the other mothers swear Valka's hot chocolate is a little taste of Valhalla. Hmm delicious!"
"Glad you love the hot chocolate but we want to give you a true gift one that comes from the heart."
"You give us a gift every day from the heart. Just by loving us. What more can we ask for then that?"
"Then let us sing to you about our one and only love."
Clearing their throats the male Zippleback once again thanked Una for teaching them to sing and began to express their love for their wife in song.
"From the depths of our soul we found love that too control. Now we all know secrets and feelings its shows. We may be driven far apart at times but when we see a shooting star fly by their only one wish either of us have.
That there will come the day when we're no longer be far away just in each other wings and talons we shall stay with our only love. Even when we're gone our love will still live on because what we have is so strong. For you are our only love our only love.
For you're the only who hold the key to the secret of my heart that I've known from the start. For you are my one and only love!
That there will come the day when we're no longer be far away just in each other wings and talons we shall stay with our only love. Even when we're gone our love will still live on because what we have is so strong. For you are our only love our only love.
For you're the only who hold the key to the secret of my heart that I've known from the start. For you are my one and only love!"
Crying tears of joy all four heads kissed and said "We are each other's only loves forever"
The Haddocks were very pleased hearing how well things had gone after the near tragedy in the Haunted Caverns. They're happy the Twins had gained both maturity and respect. They're happy that their dragon had had a good date night and they just felt once again things were slowly getting better for everyone.
However everyone couldn't help but feel they're forgetting something rather important themselves. Not sure what it was they just all enjoyed what was left of those exotic bath oils they'd gotten off Trader Johann and went to sleep.
Only to their surprise they awoke to find themselves along with Astrid who was also shocked to find herself once more in the Realm.
"Why are we in the Realm? Una you didn't tell us we'd be in the Realm tonight and the Realm been trusting you to tell us when it's safe to come here," Hiccup pointed out as he went over to help his girlfriend who still wasn't used to arriving into this new world.
"I honestly didn't get a heads up, Hiccup. I don't know why we're here tonight."
"Not sure myself," answered Valka who was looking at the landscape and then commented offhand, "It's quite a romantic setting tonight. Like the perfect romantic evening with how the stars and the moon is and all."
"OMG! That's why we're here! Mommy! It's yours and Daddy's anniversary tonight! It's October 12th and since you didn't really get to celebrate it too well last year which was before we had access to the Realm…"
"It looks like the Realm is surprising the whole family tonight by making sure you and Dad have a proper anniversary party! We're expecting to come here tonight either! We didn't remember either, but Happy Anniversary Mom!" called out Boden who looked much healthier as he and Stoick showed up.
Valka and her husband ran into each other's arms and did some passionate kissing while the children and Astrid with Kara went to set up the dinner by the space between the Family Tree and the Obsidian Lake.
"This is much nicer than last year when your mother scared your little sister to death when she was angry and upset about her first anniversary as a widow, Hiccup, "Astrid whispered as she conjured up some beautiful candles.
"Yes, it is that's for sure."
"It's also better they can be together this way then last year with you guys at Lover's Cove and us watching you through the Viewing Wells. Let's make sure the music is extra magical tonight and so is the food, shall we?"
"You can count on that, Boden! Anything for Mommy and Daddy! You sure look much better! Like you have some color back in your skin. Did you finally get out of the Spirit house?"
"Truthfully? Yes, but don't let either Mom or Dad know or at least not tonight. Stardust and Soulwings felt I've been cooped too long. I'm still gonna have to wear Firestorm's boot for a little longer, but she did tell Dad it's alright if I go outside for a couple of hours, but try telling him that!" shaking his head.
Astrid cocked an eyebrow, "So how did you sneak out without your dad finding out? Even Hiccup wasn't that successful."
"Well, I was finishing my project of tracking down all the souls I could who have some connection to the souls you've encountered. So you can inform Skullette and Firefang I now know the identities of Barf and Belch's parental great-grandfather and great-aunt."
Then he grinned widely and added gleefully "I also know the identities of the parental great grandfathers of both Cloudjumper and Skullcrusher. I also learned the identity of the matriarch whose children lived to established Changewing Island and the maternal great grandmother of Scauldy the Scauldron you all helped saved."
"Wow, that's super cool, I'm impressed, Boden. You've a very cool job in the afterlife for sure. I'll give your family one thing, Hiccup, none of you or your family's dragons are boring that's for sure!" Astrid complimented to which Hiccup kissed his girlfriend passionately too.
"I'm happy for all the love and romance in the air but let's make sure the couple who wedded today have their proper anniversary tonight? So shall we get to that?" Kara inquired to which everyone else agreed.
The unexpected visit was really great and for Valka and Stoick finally having an anniversary together was wonderful but sharing it with their family and future daughter-in-law could you really ask for more?
They did do their song and dance and one thing was for sure all for one night was truly perfect.
Songs used 1. She's got the power 2. Girl next door 3. Brothers and sisters 4. My only love