Answering reviews:

FictionLOver: I didn't even think about continuing to have him try and sneak out but that makes perfect sense for his character! Thanks for the idea!

Godspeed: What kind of "badass" thing were you thinking? I've been trying to figure out a good one but am not sure haha. As for how long I'm planning on this story being... I have no idea. Its already far longer than I was expecting and we haven't even gotten to the movie yet...

Guest: yeah, I totally see how there would need to be SOME mutual like in there for Astrid to get to trust Hiccup so quickly, I just don't think the film really showed that... I'm trying to figure out how to get that to work, where she can still despise him yet have an odd fondness...

Anyway, onto the chapter


Entry 35

My sketchbook is full of ideas for dragon killing machines, yet none of them seem good enough to put into reality. It's halfway into summer now, and I haven't touched any actual metal since my first disastrous design.

I've filled half of the book with drawings, but I just can't think of anything that's truly worthy. I even started working on ideas for trap types I wasn't originally considering, just to get more on the pages, but they're just not enough. I think I need to get some inspiration… maybe a look through Gobber's stash will spark the imagination. Be back later.

Well, my dreams have been crushed once again. Now, I don't know if that's entirely fair to say, because nothing was EXPLICITLY said to discourage me. It was more of what WASN'T said.

I went to the forge, and when I got back, my father was waiting for me. Apparently, I left my sketchbook on the table (thank Thor it wasn't THIS book), and he was asking me what all the drawings were. So, I explained my quest to create something that'll kill dragons for me, thinking that he'd be impressed; I'm trying to be the son he wants, after all. But, instead, he said nothing. Just nodded once and handed me the book back. And now, I feel like an idiot.

Why would I even think anybody would be IMPRESSED by my ideas? Just because they're in the spirit of Vikinghood doesn't mean they're actually Vikingly. I mean, what kind of Viking uses their MIND to kill dragons? That's what fists are for! Gods, I'm so naïve sometimes.

Even if I do somehow create something that actually works, and I do get that kill, it doesn't mean anything. I didn't do it the Viking way.

I just hope that if that does happen, they'll be able to forget how I did it. But honestly, to do that, I can't kill just any old dragon. It's gotta be one of the big ones… a Nadder or Gronckle is okay, but I should think bigger. Zipplebacks, Monstrous Nightmares… or maybe… No, that's impossible. No one is sure if it's even REAL.

Then again… if I could kill a dragon like that, one that flies so close to the line between myth and reality… I'd definitely get some recognition.

It's time to do some research. Research into… the Night Fury.

Until next time…

-H


It's hilarious how this is the first time I've even MENTIONED Toothless and I originally thought I'd be into the movie by chapter 20... XD