Okay, so…I've got my story plan open and as I look over it…I really don't entirely remember what I'd plotted out for this story. I have this vague idea of what will happen and when, but…yeah, you know what, I'm winging it. There, I said it! I just haven't had time to write much lately, so…yeah, we'll get through this. First up, congratulations to this story's 300th reviewer: Cottonmouth25!

Next, an open letter:

To the guest that has taken it upon themselves to tell me how "bad" this story is because it doesn't live up to their expectations: First off, this is a super long title. I really wish I had some other way to distinguish you from all the other anonymous reviewers, but, unfortunately, you do not give me a "name" so, this will have to do. As much as I appreciate your words of "advice", I would like to remind you that this is a fanfiction story. It does not have to be canon and, you know what, that is okay with me. Like you, I am a Hiccstrid supporter, but I wanted to get out and try something new for once. Is that really such a problem? I mean, if we never try anything new, then how boring would life be, right?

With that behind us, please allow me to address your other reviews/concerns. It seems to me, that this all stems from a shallow knowledge of both the TV series and the story I am writing here. You claim that Heather, in the TV series, is portrayed as "duplicitous, self-serving and lacking in any real moral compass" (props to you on the vocabulary word "duplicitous" by the way). Have you seen the latest seasons of the TV series? I think I can speak for many other viewers when I say that Heather seems to be quite the opposite of what you have just claimed. Yes, in the first season, she was quite sneaky and sly, but I do not see that now in these later seasons. So, first, I would recommend that you go rewatch the newest couple of seasons when you get a chance.

Moving on, you claim that there are many reasons why Hiccstrid is the canon relationship. Please, enlighten me, because, you clearly believe that I know nothing about this series even though I have seen both movies and have been watching the TV series since it began airing.

Well, I (and I'm sure the other readers) would like to move on to the next chapter, so I will finish up this letter with one last reminder that this IS a fanfiction story. If you have taken the time to read the chapters (as you have taken the time to tell me all that is wrong with them), you know that this story does diverge from the first movie timeline. Astrid does in fact tell Hiccup's father about Toothless, leading to Hiccup's banishment. I feel that, as a FANFICTION story, I can craft a timeline that is different. How boring would it be to always read stories that never stray into new terrain and plotlines?

By the way, I do wish to point out that the readers who do enjoy reading every update of this story would like to thank you for taking time to open each chapter. When I update my stories, I check to see how many views the story receives. Whether you read the chapters or not, it still counts as views and, thus, factors into how often this story is updated. By taking the time to open the story and review, you are giving the readers an opportunity for much faster updates.

I do hope that you took the time to read this letter so that your concerns and questions could be addressed and answered. By the way, there are plenty of Hiccstrid stories on this site, so if this story is not your cup of tea (and it sounds like it is not), please don't waste your valuable time checking in on this one! Go have a look and find a story that you enjoy reading!

Have a wonderful day!

Management

And, due to the length of this open letter, replies to other non-anonymous reviews will be answered in PMs. Anonymous review replies are below.

Review Replies:

Guest (anonymous): Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!

Guest (anonymous): Thanks! Not bringing me down at all (I've just been busy writing my original stories and starting grad school).

Noctus Fury (anonymous): Yeah, I was back, but life's been too busy for me to write fanfiction lately. Last season was pretty great. I haven't had time to watch the newest episodes yet, though. I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to get back, but, yeah, that's perfectly fine. You can use the alias.

Chapter 37: An Important Project

"A little more to the left…and maybe up a little more…" Nörrik concentrated, squinting a little to make sure even the minutest detail was in place. "Yeah, that looks great!" Sometimes Nörrik had to remind himself that this was actually happening; soon, he would actually be training villagers about dragons! He had given the idea some thought and, though he was still a little nervous about sharing his knowledge about dragons, Nörrik was reassured that Heather would stand beside him and help him too, as best she could.

Currently, Nörrik was overseeing operations to build a large enclosed space within the village where the villagers could train to ride and care for dragons. It had not taken long; the villagers were skilled builders and they had easily erected a building similar to Berk's Arena (but much less foreboding). Right now, they were working on adding a sign to the front of the structure. Nörrik, himself, had carved the runes into the wood. The runes spelled out the word "Academy", a word that he felt best suited the purpose of the enclosure. It would be a space of learning not destruction, like the Arena had been.

The finishing touches were being added to the Academy now and Nörrik had gradually taken on less of a role in the creation of the building. He had moved from planner to overseer to onlooker. There was not much more that he would need to do before the Academy was ready for use.

"Looking good, guys!" It was amazing how quickly he had grown confident, easily calling this village his home. Not only that, but the villagers were also quick to accept him as well. So much had changed and Nörrik couldn't complain; he'd never have guessed this was possible. Acceptance felt good.

Nörrik caught the attention of one of the nearby workers. "I'm going to head back to the forge now. Brokkr is probably waiting for me with a whole pile of work to get done!"

"Understood. Good luck!" the worker dismissed Nörrik.

The young dragon rider raced back to the forge. He was in a hurry to get there, but not for the reason that he had mentioned to the worker. The reason he'd given was not entirely a lie, though. Brokkr probably did already have a whole assortment of work waiting for his apprentice and Nörrik would work through it all without complaint, just like always. However, that was not the only thing that Nörrik planned to work on today. He'd had a project plan design in his head and today seemed like as perfect a day as any to make that plan a reality.

As Nörrik had expected, the forge was bustling when he arrived. Brokkr had probably been there for hours already.

"Ah, Nörrik, my favorite apprentice, you've finally arrived. How is the Academy progress coming along?"

"It's just about finished," Nörrik answered as he tied his apron on over his flight suit. "Within a few more days, it should be ready for use."

"Great! Well, while you were there, I divvied up the work requests. Seems pretty even to me, so I left your portion on the bench in your workroom."

Nörrik excused himself and walked into his small workroom. As Brokkr had said, there was already a moderate-sized pile of work requests waiting on the workbench, but Nörrik walked right past them. It would not be too hard to satisfy all those requests in a timely manner. Instead, what Nörrik turned his attention to was the project that would take more time to complete. It was a delicate project that would require a great deal of care. Not that the other project requests wouldn't take care to complete too, but this project, the one Nörrik had planned, would need a special kind of care.

Busying himself with selecting the perfect golden-colored metal to use, Nörrik envisioned all the special touches he could add to the project. Each was more and more elaborate and elegant than the first. This would turn out perfectly! He just knew it!

When Nörrik had found the most perfect supply that he possibly could, he took that metal over to the forge to melt it down. He wouldn't need very much metal for the project; even just this little scrap piece that he had found would work perfectly. It did not take long for the metal to melt down enough to be flexible. Carefully with his metal tongs, Nörrik removed the warmed metal and set it down onto the anvil where he would next work to shape the metal.

With his hammer and his years of apprenticeship experience, Nörrik set to work on shaping the golden-colored metal. Often he would kneel down to take closer looks at the metal and a few times, Nörrik needed to rewarm the metal as it cooled while he worked.

When he was finally content with the shape and consistancy of his project, Nörrik warmed the metal one last time so that he could etch in the runes that he'd envisioned in his head. This was one of the hardest (if not the most difficult) parts of the project. This was the part that would require all the care. Using his tongs to hold the molded metal with his right hand, Nörrik chose his smallest tool and, with his left hand, etched in the runes quickly and carefully before the metal could cool once again.

It was slow work, but Nörrik was able to successfully finish before the metal could cool completely so he did not have to return it to the forge. Not yet, at least. Standing up straight from the workbench, Nörrik stretched his back which had tensed up slightly from being hunched over his project for so long. Finally, the project was finished. All the hard work that Nörrik had put into it had paid off; this was easily the project that Nörrik felt the most proud of—out of all the projects and requests he had ever completed.

Now, he just needed to find a place to store his project, stash it away until such a time when it would be needed. Where could Nörrik place it so that it would not get lost in the cluttered mess that was his workroom? Nörrik wasn't worried that Brokkr would find this secret project; the expert blacksmith had rarely set foot in this workroom since he given his apprentice the work space. No, Nörrik's only real worry was that he would set this finished project down and then other uncompleted projects would become piled on top of it.

That's it! He could place it in the top drawer of his work table. Nörrik didn't store too many things in that drawer, so his finished prized project should be able to sit in there without getting lost or displaced. Opening the drawer of his work table, Nörrik shifted some of his things around so that there was a nice clear place for him to put his small project. Before he set the project into the drawer, though, Nörrik decided to take one last close look at his hard work.

Nörrik held the now-cooled project up to his eyes, taking it all in. Creating this project had been so important for him. He had set everything else aside to make this. Now, he looked at it again, but this time, not with the eyes of the creator, but as if he was seeing it for the first time, as if he was to be gifted with this project. Would it be sufficient enough? It had to be! It would be. It was perfect, absolutely perfect.

Satisfied, Nörrik finally felt ready to lock his project away until a time when it would be needed. Without taking his eyes from the shaped golden object, Nörrik felt for the drawer.

"Nörrik, I could use a hand with…" Brokkr's voice alerted the apprentice to the expert blacksmith's presence. He had stopped midsentence as he saw what Nörrik was holding.

Nörrik cursed his luck. Brokkr had caught him. Now he had some explaining to do!

Okay, yeah, this chapter wasn't very good, but it's hard to come back to this story when I've been gone from it for so long. So…what do you think this mysterious project is…and why does Nörrik want to hide it so badly?

I don't know when I'll ever come back to updating any of my fanfiction stories. My focus, in these days, has shifted to writing original stories. I'm not giving up on fanfiction, but I won't be updating as much anymore. Not only that, but I have grad classes now that require a good deal of time.

Posted: January 5, 2018