Summer might be coming to an end, but Another Nightmare will keep going, this book till end of the year and next one from January onward, if things go as planned.

.

.

Comments:

gabrielyalejandra. rengellopez: Perhaps some things are just inevitable. The universe is a mysterious place. (ps. for some reason wants to delete your name everytime I paste it here. Had to split it in two to keep it here.)

thearizona: f I think it as a positive review on my writing when people actually express interest to torture the less than good characters.

Dragonrider's Fury: It already came back to cut and saw him. ;) The queen is still bit far away and the leg is quite a notable part of Hiccup's character.

urworshipfulness: I can't really give any other excuse than not being a native english speaker, though it is strange that those get past two people before publishing.

HaveAReview: I know the feeling about following the movie too closely. Your review reminded me of one story where Hiccup was the damn grandchild of Thor with super speed and somehow the ending was much the same as the movie, with different details and bit darker take but still. I still remember the feeling of disappointment when I realized that.

Guests: (in last 2 chapters) I'm not sure if these reviews are from same person (they seem like they are). The suggestion that I wouldn't have an idea where I'm going next (C35 = B2C7), because the first book was the one with much less preplanning and more discovery writing. The chapter 35 point mentioned in first review is when Hiccup and Flock come to Fjoll and there Hiccup and Toothless had to spend more time apart so the cause for the disappointment might be that this didn't match the expectations that the past chapters/book might have caused. I'd like to hear more from you one or two people on what you felt went wrong. As for rewrites, nothing that would significantly change the story.

.

.

Proofread by 3DPhantom


"I think this position is for when he climbs higher," Fishlegs said. He was holding up Toothless' tail under one arm with the page of Hiccup's notes in his other hand.

"So that is position… three," Ivar answered. He turned the pedal, hanging on to Toothless' side a bit more. "How about now? I think this is supposed to be number four."

Toothless grunted next to him and leaned forward, trying to get up. Ivar took a step closer to the dragon's head. He reached out with his hand. Toothless jolted back when his fingers met scale, but calmed down almost as quickly. The little terror Sharpshot had laid right in front of the black dragon and was now chirping at him. The little dragon was able to calm his much larger big brother. Hiccup had told Ivar about the family ties between the mismatched pair. Toothless settled down, but turned to look at Ivar as soon as the boy returned to crouching next to the saddle. Ivar slowly met the dragon's gaze with a smile. He saw Shortclaw raise her head out of the corner of his vision. Ivar wasn't sure if she was staring at him or Toothless. He focused back on the pedal.

"I think you're right," Fishlegs said. "That looks like number four… left turn." Ivar committed the pedal's position into memory. There were only two left.

"It's hard to believe how smoothly Hiccup flies with him using just this," Ivar said. "How did he even come up with this?"

"He has always been sort of an inventor, especially since he started apprenticing at the forge. Though I remember him tinkering with pieces of wood even before that, and drawing." Fishlegs looked at the paper in his hand with every fin position drawn to the smallest detail. "Always drawing. It wasn't one or two times the Chief had to organize a search party just to find Hiccup in the forest, drawing something and not realizing the time. I think that was part of the reason he had Hiccup apprentice in the forge so young."

"My dad wouldn't have dared. He just had me helping mom with her healer work," Ivar answered.

"So you ran off to talk about us behind our back?" A deep voice boomed behind them.

Ivar turned to face his parents. The dragons hadn't raised alert for their arrival, but Whiplash hung from a tree looming over them as Hookfang stepped closer, keeping a close eye on the two Vikings. Dad held his arm around mom as they walked closer. She looked at Hookfang with worry and an unusual tint of fear. Normal for someone in that situation who hadn't ridden on the back of a dragon. Ivar left his crouched position next to Toothless and walked to meet them, right next to Shortclaw. His mother barely looked at him, focusing on what was behind her. Whiplash had dropped on the ground next to Hookfang.

"Are they…?" mom started.

"Mom," Ivar said. "Don't worry about them."

"Son, I have treated people who faced dragons, and watched them die before you were even born, your brother's injury being the most recent. I'm not completely sure what is going on with them, but you never turn your back to a dragon." She detached herself from under dad's arm and stepped closer to grab Ivar's. Shortclaw bounced forward, hissing at her. Mom jolted backwards. Dad too tensed at Shortclaw's sudden hostility. The rest of the dragons observed carefully, but then Ivar's mom pulled out a long knife from under her clothes. Hiccup's entire flock, except Toothless, were immediately up and ready for a fight. Shortclaw's head remained between Ivar and his parents.

"See!" mom said. "Even if they seem calm for a moment you never know. Dragons always goes for the kill, eventually."

Ivar sighed.

"This must be how Hiccup felt every day. They aren't evil, we would already be dead if they were. They can be dangerous, but they have reasons just like humans."

"And what reason would that beast have to attack me?"

"Mom, you were trying to grab me." Ivar put his hand down on Shortclaw's head. The dragon didn't react to the touch, holding her position. "They can be protective. I would say that's a good reason to be a bit dangerous. Also, you pulled a knife. They don't like that. How would you react if someone pulled a knife on me?"

She didn't have time to answer. Dad brought his hand down gently on his wife's hand, who thankfully didn't resist as he took the knife from her grasp. The dragons didn't drop their stances until he dropped it to the ground. Shortclaw still didn't move away and kept an eye on mom. Ivar smiled, looking down at the Nightmare's head. Who would brand an entire species with such a name as "Nightmare"? He pushed gently against Shortclaw. Finally she looked away from Ivar's parent to face him.

"She's my mom, not a threat," Ivar said. Shortclaw kept staring at him. His smile almost lapsed. If only they could understand each other. He needed a different way. Ivar stepped in front of Shortclaw and held his hand in front of her snout, just so she could get a proper reminder of his scent. Dragons used their sense of smell a lot, so this might work.

"Mom, come here." Ivar's tone was serious in a way that was risky when talking to his own mother. She didn't move.

"Dear," dad said. "Trust our son on this." He held onto her and walked her closer. From one glance at her eyes Ivar knew she wasn't willing to do this on her own so he stepped closer and grabbed her hand. He pulled it to Shortclaw's snout. The dragon sniffed more audibly to take in the new scent. Shortclaw then looked at Ivar, mom and then Ivar again. She cooed and stepped back.

"That was clever." Fishlegs said as he walked to them. "She really likes you. Even Hiccup hasn't gotten so close to her."

"He mentioned that dragons can recognize family from scent alone. Seems he was right," Ivar answered and nodded towards Shortclaw. Then he spoke to his mother. "Mom, this is Shortclaw. She's the Nightmare that Dad bought from the Hunters."

"You mean the one who almost killed your brother?" mom said. This wasn't going as well as Ivar had hoped it would. Before he could answer mom turned her eyes on Toothless. They widened slightly. "Is that," she paused and afterwards her voice was quieter, "the Night Fury? The offspring of Lightning and Death?"

"His name is Toothless," Ivar answered. Sharpshot had positioned himself halfway between them and Toothless, growling at Ivar's parents. At least he was making the closest thing a terror could muster to a growl.

"Is it, awake?" The Chief asked.

"Some of the time. I think he's getting better, but losing Hiccup really hit him hard," Ivar answered. Dad shook his head.

"I don't even try to understand that, but they have to stay out of the village. Your little getaway got a lot of people questioning, but we don't want to push them." Dad paused to look around the gathered dragons. Finally, he faced Fishlegs. "The question is, what is going to happen with them next? We talked about a rescue."

"As soon as Toothless can fly and one of us can go with him." Fishlegs pointed at Toothless' tailfin. "Hiccup was… is the only one who has ever been able to use that."

"So, you are leaving soon?"

"At least for a while. I don't really know what happens after this, even if we save Hiccup. Shortclaw is free again." Fishlegs looked at her. "That is what we came here for in the first place. Well, Ivar would have to return if he comes along." Ivar tensed as soon as Fishlegs said that.

"Return?" His mother raised her voice. "He isn't going anywhere. I already have one wounded son. I'm not going to have the other go… somewhere… with dragons, and no son of mine is going to get in trouble with the Hunters."

"Mom," Ivar pleaded.

"No," she spoke over him. "I don't care if this boy takes the dragons away and goes to die for his friend, but you aren't going anywhere for some foreigner. They got themselves into this mess."

Ivar's face tensed. How could she talk like that? Sure, she could be strict, but to talk about Hiccup like that... She didn't even know anything about him! Shortclaw raised her head again, but didn't come closer.

"Foreigner. Is that all you think about him, after all that he's done for us?"

"What he has done? Brought dragons that almost killed your brother? Divided the village with his ideas of the beasts? Endangered the relationship between the village and the Hunters?"

"He taught us something we didn't know before and weren't even trying to discover." Ivar was already looking at Shortclaw before he even realized he was doing so. The dragon tilted her head. "And he gave me hope, actually wanted to be my friend. I'm not going to abandon him now, just because you want to hold back the scrawny son."

Ivar turned around and went back to crouch next to Toothless. He held onto the pedal, but couldn't actually do much. The tailfin wouldn't more easily laying against the ground. To think Hiccup could have made something like that. For someone from Berk to make something like that to help a dragon... Hiccup hadn't abandoned Toothless as an enemy. Compared to that "foreigner" was nothing. Ivar heard light steps, human, and right after much heavier ones, dragon. A growl sounded right behind him.

"They don't care where we are from," Ivar said, not even turning to look. Some more steps approached. Fishlegs kneeled next to him.

"Ivar," he paused. "You shouldn't turn your back to your parents like that. Maybe they haven't accepted some things yet, but they are trying to keep you safe."

"Safe? Sure, they look at dragons and now the Hunters and start caring. For everything else…" Ivar searched for the right words. "Hiccup, and the dragons, they have done more to make me happy than my parents have in a long time." The parents didn't say anything to respond to Ivar's words, but he could hear their sharp breaths. At least one of them was totally surprised. Shortclaw's low growl told him one of them tried to come closer.

"They barely pay attention to what Hakon does besides being a strong heir and," Ivar kept talking, "Dad may be starting to accept dragons now, but he's still a Viking father and a chief and I'm… not what is expected from his son. I first came for your lesson hoping what Hiccup taught would have helped me be that. He stopped the dragon that Hakon couldn't defeat." Ivar paused. "I think I found a new path for my life. I owe him. They don't understand that." Ivar waved his arm in the general direction of his parents.

There was a moment of silence after Ivar's words, then a step, just one careful one. Shortlclaw didn't growl this time. After another step she let out a coo, a question? Ivar sighed and turned around to face his parents again. Dad was standing closer, right next to Shortclaw. Ivar stepped closer and kneeled next to the dragon, hand on her head.

"Sorry to involve you in this." Of course, she didn't understand, but Ivar hoped the tone of his words would convey at least some of the meaning. Shortclaw moved out of his way but didn't go any further. Ivar's father stepped closer, but didn't try to touch Ivar. His eyes spent equal time on Ivar and Shortclaw even as he spoke.

"Son I'm… not sure what to say."

"It is not about what you say, but what you do, about what everyone does. I can only hope things get better as they begin understanding dragons. It's all thanks to Hiccup. I can't decide what the village does, but don't stop me."

Dad took one last hesitant step closer to Ivar while keeping a close eye on Shortclaw, and slowly brought his arms around Ivar in a hug. Ivar couldn't remember the last time he had done that. Initially he tensed at the sudden gesture, but soon relaxed again.

"I am sorry son. I haven't paid enough attention to you," he said. Ivar's mother, too, came closer, but the expression on her face was much sterner.

"I hope you aren't changing your mind about not sending our son to his death, because I won't allow it. If he doesn't become a warrior, then he will be a healer. He has many paths open to him. No need for dragons," she said. Ivar sighed.

"She needs more time", the Chief said just loud enough for Ivar to hear him, "and she still isn't wrong about the danger. Don't rush out on your own. We should at least think what options there are, and the weather seems to be getting worse. No one here should fly anywhere today."

Ivar had already thought about their options and talked them through with Fishlegs. Only the dragons could catch up to the Hunters before they left their camps and returned north. If Toothless didn't get better soon even that might not be enough, maybe one more day and that would be cutting it close.

"We are still studying Toothless' tail and he can't fly yet anyway." As he spoke, Toothless whined and pushed himself up. The dragon took a few shaky steps and shook his head. Hookfang came to him with a careful growl. They stared at each other for a moment. Toothless growled at Hookfang, who responded with a more forcible growl. Toothless glanced at Fishlegs and Ivar, but during the movement his stand faltered. Toothless quickly laid back down.

"I'll be home for dinner," Ivar answered loud enough for his mother to hear.

"That is all I ask." dad pulled back from his hug. After facing Ivar for a few seconds his gaze slid to Shortclaw, who hadn't moved. "I… She is acting very protective of you. Even more than the Changewing did."

"Hiccup thinks it is in their instincts, at least if they accept you as part of the flock… or family." Ivar looked at his mother. "That is why Toothless acted as he did yesterday." He paused for a moment and waved at Toothless. "We should get back to figuring this out."

"For Fishlegs?" dad asked.

"Maybe." Ivar's answer was barely a whisper.

He still kept his promise to come home for the night. He almost wished he had done it earlier as he fought against the storm winds just to reach his house. Even if Toothless had been in perfect shape, they weren't going anywhere. Fishlegs too came back to the village to stay at the forge for the night, but they both agreed they had to leave the next day, if Toothless could fly and weather let them. His mom came home from checking on Hakon just as Ivar was going to his room to sleep. No storm was going to stand in her way.

"Ivar," she called. Ivar turned around to listen, but his eyes were on the floor. "You will help to look after your brother tomorrow."

Ivar opened his mouth to answer but didn't. He had raised his head to speak, having to look at her. She stared at him. She just wanted to hold Ivar in the village. Ivar moved his head just enough that it could perhaps be interpreted as a nod, turned, and walked to his room. He sat on the edge of the bed for a long time. Things were happening too quickly: Dragons, Hakon, hope, Hunters, losing Hiccup, his dad coming to their side, his mom not, and then there was the rest of the village. He could only handle things one at a time. First he had to evade his mom and help Hiccup. The rest would come later. He got back up and began rummaging chests that held his wardrobe. After some time he even found an empty water skin and a handy bag to stuff things into. He left the full bag in the chest nearest to the door before finally going back to bed.

With the rain pelleting the roof above Ivar slowly drifted to sleep. He hadn't even changed the clothes he had on besides taking off his soaked shoes and fur jacket.

Quiet roaring mixed with the whoosh of wind outside, Ivar turned his head to the other side and kept snoring, more roaring far away. Ivar curled into smaller a space, still asleep, though almost as restless as the previous night, even with dragons in his dreams. More roaring sounded outside, muffled by the walls but much closer this time. Ivar half opened his eyes and stared at the wall. Had they just been in his dreams? The building itself vibrated with hard steps approaching behind the door. Dad slammed it open.

"Ivar! Outside now!"

His shout finally woke Ivar up properly. He got up and ran downstairs. Now he could easily recognise the roars coming in through the open door. Toothless was definitely awake and others had noticed it too. A few drops of water hit his face at the doorstep, but it was only a drizzle. People were coming out of the surrounding houses. A group of warriors ran towards them. Ivar didn't stay to wait for his dad to command them. He ran past the few houses behind theirs before the edge of the village. There wasn't much space between the buildings for dragons and yet most of them had gathered between two houses. Hookfang and Meatlug stood at the end of the alley closest to Ivar, Shortclaw and the Nadder Stormfly had perched on the roofs, and Ivar could see a glance of the Zippleback at the other end. In the middle of them the terror Sharpshot and a very angry… alarmed? Toothless, the source of most of the noise.

Most people around weren't staying to find out why the dragon was misbehaving again. A trio of two men and a woman armed with axes held together near Hookfang, but Shortclaw had her eyes on them. Other people around were moving away quickly.

"Hey!" Ivar shouted to the trio. They only payed him a quick attention, focusing back on the dragons even as they spoke.

"Oh great. The Chief's kid is coming to hug the dragons to death," one man said.

"Oh shut up. I'm not sure what all is happening here, but after what we saw today he might be our best chance to get through this without someone dying," the other man said. Ivar was right next to the by then.

"There's still Fishlegs," he said loud enough to be heard, "but there still won't be a battle." He breathed in deep. "Step back. Keep your weapons out of sight. You too." Ivar turned to face his parents and the Fjoll army that was beginning to surround the whole area. It was all too familiar of a situation. "Get Fishlegs."

Dad actually turned to command one of his men without even questioning Ivar. He then held his hand up to hold rest of the warriors back. He himself stepped closer.

"Son," he said, "what is going on here?"

"I'm not sure. He was relatively calm in the evening," Ivar said and looked at Toothless. Their eyes met as Toothless looked back. The dragon stepped forward and pushed past Hookfang. He didn't stop Toothless, but Shortclaw dropped down from the roof to follow Toothless. The black dragon rushed across the short distance and came to a stop in front of Ivar almost as quickly. He staggered with the sudden stop and almost hit his head on the ground. There were no more roars, but Toothless' whimpering was loud enough to cover people gasping behind Ivar. Ivar kneeled in front of Toothless keeping their eye contact.

"Is it Hiccup?"

Toothless responded the moment Ivar mentioned Hiccup. The sound was something between a whimper and a growl, like the dragon was crying. Something was wrong… Something was very, very wrong.