Here we go, getting into the middle of the first movie now, let's go!
Chapter 5: A new Name, and a new Tail
It's another day stuck in this miserable cove...at least I'm not starving anymore. I guess I have the kid to thank for.
It isn't long before he shows up in his usual, awkward, way, but today the adolescent brings a casket full of food: fish obviously. He starts describing all the different type of fish he brought for me as I sniff the contents of the casket.
Suddenly he says there is an eel in there and I pull back, "wait, what?"
For some reason I am horrified to see the creature, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it's a dragon thing, who knows? Anyways he throws it away before I calm down.
I start chowing down...jeez, this is a lot more food than last time...it'll definitely quell my hunger for a while. Unbeknownst to me, the human makes his way behind me to get to my tail. As I eat peacefully, with my appendage wagging happily, the boy starts getting frustrated.
By this point, there's one fish left in the basket, but it's way in there! And so, I put my head in to reach for it since my dragon arms are too short to...
Behind me, the boy straps something on my tail, and I don't realize it until he tightens it. I lift my head as the basket falls from my face. I narrow my eyes as I inspect a strange new feeling around the end of my tail.
What is that...it feels like...no way...my...my tail fin...it's back!? It's grown back! Oh heck yes, I have a tail fin again!
I extend my wings in preparation to take off. Behind me the Viking inspects his invention with a look of approval. As he does, I quickly lift off the ground as the human hangs on to my tail, yelling loudly while I climb higher.
It's...it's happening! I'm flying again...see ya later kid...I'm out of here!
Suddenly, however, I lose control and I start falling again. I screech in terror, "no-no! What is happening!?"
I'm about to crash into the cliff below, but I climb higher once again...barely missing the rocks.
I smile contently as I fly around the cove, "There we go! I just needed to get used to flying again, that's all."
I fly over the pond, deciding to finally leave this place behind soon after. I hear something behind me suddenly though, and I turn to see the boy hanging on my tail. Wait, how did he end up there!? Get off!
I flick him away as I fly off, and he lands in the waters below harmlessly. That was a BIG mistake, however, because I look to my tail fin and notice something odd about it. I don't have time to dwell on it because I crash into the pond soon after.
After I emerge from underwater, I can hear the human, still in the water as well, yelling with excitement.
I leave the pond and I shake vigorously like a dog to dry myself. Once I'm dry, I bring my tail toward my face to inspect the fins. My draconic eyes widen upon my discovery: that my tail fin didn't grow back at all. This kid attached an artificial fin...a prosthetic device...for me...
How did he even get it? Wait...did he...make it for me? Wait a dang second, he made a NEW TAIL FIN for me, which means he might help me fly again! Oh, this is fantastic, this is great news! Oh Friea...you were right!
The kid doesn't see it coming...I tackle him with a wide smile on my face. At first, he yelps in fright, thinking I'm attacking him, but he soon catches my tail wagging behind me. He figures that I am not a threat and he eases up as a result.
"I can't believe you know how to make prosthetics...like that is going to save me kid. Thank you, thank you" I say to him in innocent growls. I get a bit carried away and lick him all over like a dog, but what can I say: this kid is literally my ticket out of here now.
"Okay, okay. I get the idea" he exclaims gleefully before I pull away.
Some minutes go by: we're sitting together by the shore. He turns to me and says, "my name's Hiccup, by the way."
I turn back with a raised brow, H-Hiccup...now what kind of name is that, especially for someone who's supposed to be a Viking" I chuckle in response in my deep dragon voice (which by the way my voice was higher in pitch as a human)
He kind of takes my laugher personally...kind of, not really, "h-hey, my name's supposed to scare off gnomes and trolls. Do dragons even have names for themselves? Maybe I should call you FishBreath?"
I narrow my eyes and snarl at him in response, shaking my head as well.
"Okay, well...I noticed you lack teeth sometimes...so, how does Toothless sound to you?"
I shrug. Sure, why not? Everyone else here has weird names, and SheepBrain wasn't working for me...and not to mention I STILL don't remember my human name...so yea...let's go with that name from now on.
Hiccup lies down on his back against the soft grass, "what a day...never in my life I would believe I'd be here talking to a dragon...let alone ride along the back of one!"
I curl up to rest as he says to himself, "I need to see what went wrong. I thought you'd be able to fly on your own. I'll make some modifications tomorrow...if you don't mind of course?"
I shake my head, and he seems excited to see me enthusiastic about this.
This is going to work out...Friea...I can't believe it!
Speaking of Friea: she showed up once again later that night. We talk like we usually do, but I tell her about what happened today and she seems very surprised. There's also something I have yet to ask her...
"So, where have you been Friea?"
"Some wild places...I ended up in a world where only dragons exist...no humans. It felt like paradise" she explains as I listen to her descriptions of the world.
I rest my head on the grass, "his name is Hiccup."
"Hiccup...and Toothless...oh wow...quite the name for a duo" Friea chuckles as I snort in annoyance, "yea, yea...whatever..."
"I'm happy for you, Toothless" she adds as I look towards her.
"It's so weird having you call me that" I retort.
"Okay, I'll go back to calling you SheepBrain then"
"Don't" I growl as she giggles softly to herself.
...
Another day goes by and Hiccup walks up to me with something in his hands. I roll my head to the ride in a curious manner. He grins before brandishing what appears to be a saddle.
Oh heck no, you're not putting that on me, I'm not a horse buddy, I think to myself before I run away and he gives chase.
Eventually, however, I give up the chase and decide to let him put it on my back. We take off again to test his recent invention. We fly over the pond and it seems like it's going well at first; however, the teen pulls the string controlling my artificial fin, and as a result we lose control. We fall into the pond. The both of us emerge from the depths and I grumble to him while he chuckles nervously.
That night I told Friea about the saddle and she just stood there, amazed about our progress. I guess she would have never imagined humans and dragons working together. Having fought humans most, if not her entire, life she just found it miraculous to see how quick Hiccup and I were bonding. Then again, she sees the similarities between us. If only she was alive and with us...it sucks only being able to see her around this time of the night, and only I can see her...I mean Hiccup isn't really here when it's nighttime, but still...
Yet another day comes, and the Viking made another modification to the equipment allowing him to ride on my back, and to help me fly of course. As we try to make it over the cliffs, my prosthetic fin is violently thrashed around by the wind: causing us both to fall yet again. This time, though, we land outside the cove among tall grass, and Hiccup tries finding me among the foliage.
As soon as I ended up here, I am overwhelmed by an intense feeling. I am unable to resist it...I dub my body all over this strange grass...what...what is this...amazing stuff?
Hiccup finds me lying on the ground, rubbing against "the cat-nip." He picks some up and an idea crosses his mind shortly after.
Just like the last few nights, I ask Friea about the catnip and she explains that all dragons are attracted to the aroma the plants make, not just me. I wonder what other stuff I don't know about that affects us like dogs and cats...this world is so weird.
The next day, after a long day of testing some more upgrades to the riding gear, Hiccup pets me on the back after dismounting, but he soon starts scratching my neck. If I hadn't known any better I'm being treated like a pet now...but...but why does this feel so good!? It's like a dog getting a scratch behind the ear. Hiccup then goes for a spot right below my muzzle and I am immediately sent toward the grounds in stunned bliss. I sigh in satisfaction while Hiccup looks at his hands, realizing what power they hold to calming dragons.
Not very long later, I notice something shiny on the ground, and I guess it kicks my dragon instincts in high gear. For whatever reason, I am attracted to the shiny dot much like a cat would. I slam my paw against it in a vain attempt to catch it, but once I lift my black paw the light is gone. Oh man...why am I falling for something so simple!? I shake my head, but I ultimately give in. Oh well, might as well have fun with it...oh, there it is!
I continue chasing it as the human, who's hiding and using a small hammer to reflect sunshine towards me, chuckles to himself.
As time goes by and the more we both work towards getting airborne, I grow more and more content with my newfound friendship with Hiccup. Not going to lie, doing all this brings back purpose for me, and it really does put a smile on my face.
Anyways, some more days pass and the Viking has fitted some more equipment on me in order to help us in the air better. Hiccup secured the fake fin and added a brown harness to my body. I don't mind it though, it's the closest I'll ever have at wearing clothes as a dragon I guess…
"Alright then Toothless, we're going to try a few things" Hiccup says before I shrug to him: alright, what's the worst that can happen?
The first thing we do today is fly out of the cove towards a cliff with lots of wind. The teen secures a rope on a tree trump by the edge of the cliff and connects it to the harness. We begin our session by taking off so I can glide in the air, stationary, as we hover in place. The human tests the position of the fin with his foot, since that's how he now controls the device. Once he's finished, I land: looking up at him with content. He writes down on a sheet of paper the type of position the fin is at according to the pedal. We try another position and I smirk before spreading my wings. I start flying, but we didn't take into account the sudden burst of strong wind that would hit us soon after. I flail my arms and legs around in attempt to remain stable, but then…
Snap!
Oh man...that just happened…
The rope broke in half and we are both sent backwards by the wind, and the next thing I know I'm on my back and Hiccup is face down on the dirt. I lift up as I shake my head: Hiccup, still having his tether attached to the saddle, is picked up as I stand up.
That didn't work out as planned…
"You okay" I ask him with a series of grunts to him.
"A...slight miscalculation, I can fix that" he mutters as I walk away with him still attached to me, "h-hey, Toothless, hold on" he exclaims as I give a smug look to him.
That's when he notices the saddle is damaged from the crash, "wait, hold on, something's wrong" Hiccup says before I comply: I stop and look back towards him with a questioning look.
He ponders silently to himself about what to do, and then gives a nervous but determined expression to me.
Later that same night, I am led into Berk by Hiccup…
I didn't realize just how EASY it was to get into this place on foot, and it isn't that far away from the cove...oh man...imagine if they were to go looking for the kid in the woods...it wouldn't be long until they find us in that sinkhole…
In any case, as soon as we both entered the village, the fifteen-year old spots a night guard approaching before shoving me into the darkness behind us. He leans on the wall to make it seem like he's hanging out. Once the man goes by, Hiccup leads me out of the space between two houses out into the open. I look around since this is my first time actually in the village, that one time with Friea doesn't count of course.
I'm led to a bigger building and soon realize that it's a forge. Though it's dark I'm able to see a collection of weapons on the walls, but since I've never been indoors as a dragon, my body manages to knock over stuff.
Oh! Sorry, my bad…I cry to Hiccup, giving an awkward smile of guilt to him.
The noise I made catches the attention of a certain unfamiliar Viking I have yet to meet: her name is Astrid as I would soon know her by.
She makes her way to the forge while Hiccup makes the necessary repairs and adjustments to the saddle.
Suddenly, we hear her outside:
"Hiccup, are you in there?" We both look up as our hearts skip a beat...uh oh...we're dead...what am I talking about….I'M DEAD! I'm a DRAGON in the middle of a VIKING SQUARE!
Hiccup quickly bursts out the door and quickly closes it before confronting the girl, "Astrid, hey! Hi Astrid…hi Astrid" he repeatedly says as he tries to come up with a cover story. I notice right after that a sheep is nearby and it looks up toward me.
"You're acting weird" Astrid begins, brows down and eyes glaring at the teen in front of her.
"What are you looking at, sheep" I snarl as I move slightly towards it. Hiccup, still unknowingly attached to me, is getting pulled back as I make my way through the forge to the sheep. The sheep starts alerting the others as my ears move up in response...oh...
"Well, weirder..." Astrid adds. He is then pulled up the door before one final tug from me pulls him away into the door behind him. The female Viking gives chase, but it quickly ends when she finds that Hiccup (in addition to myself) is gone. Having reunited with the boy, I run fast until we're airborne and quickly out of the vicinity of Berk before anyone notices. Astrid leaves the building in muted frustration, not understanding how Hiccup was able to get away.
We make it back to the cove with Hiccup laughing in response to what just happened. He jumps off the saddle, "that was TOO close...I can't imagine how I would have explained everything to Astrid...let alone the entire village...oh man...and my father...forget it."
Yea, when he puts it that way...I can't imagine...his family might not approve if they're blood-thirsty Vikings...they probably would cast him out or worse…
"I'm probably going to stay here for a while until things cool down" Hiccup adds as I look towards him with a raised eyebrow.
Alright, sure...why not, it is getting boring sleeping by myself in this dang sinkhole.
...
Some time passes by and Hiccup is fast asleep against a rock while I'm looking up at the dancing lights in the sky.
"Hey Toothless" I hear her call out to me.
"Hi again Friea" I happily embrace the RazorWhip.
I explain what happened today like all the other nights and she just scratches her chin, "it does seem like you two were cutting it close" Friea gulps, "I must say though, you are probably the first dragon ever to be in that place when we're not raiding it and managed to get out without getting noticed. I mean, you ARE a Night Fury after all, but still...very interesting. I would have loved to see it."
"I bet you would" I give her a playful smirk, "but then you'd stick out like a sore thumb with those shiny metal scales."
"Touche" she says, making a grin back
Silence takes over for a few seconds before I give a sigh to the dragoness, "I really wish you were here with us right now...alive-well...you know what I mean" I give an awkward teeth-less smile, "I think Hiccup would have loved to meet you...we would make such a great team."
"Maybe, but it wasn't meant to be 'ya know" Friea shrugs.
"What are you looking at Toothless?"
I suddenly hear the boy's voice ringing out in my ears before I turn back to see him. He's rubbing his eyes as he looks around, "are you okay" he adds. I look back towards Friea and then back to the human, but it appears as though he doesn't see her...
I nod before looking up to the lights above. He does the same soon after and he seems to understand, "Oh yea, the stars sure look nicer out here in the forest" he says as I roll my eyes while turned away.
Wait, is he not able to see the northern lights like I do?
"He can't see the migration like we do" I hear Friea explain.
Oh...I guess that makes sense...Hiccup isn't a dragon after all.
"You should get some sleep Toothless, we're going for a test flight tomorrow" Hiccup adds before realizing how late it is, "oh, I got to head back to Berk before anyone finds I'm not home in the morning. See you tomorrow bud."
He leaves and I am left there to ponder on what he had just said to me...bud...as in...buddy...he doesn't think of me as a pet...but as a friend. I don't know why but it just made me feel...complete? Is that even the right word to use in this situation?
"Looks like you two are inseparable now" I hear Friea say next to me.
"he considers me a close friend" I mutter softly.
"he does" Friea nods, "though it's obviously more than that."
"Is he really THAT lonely that he considers something like me his best friend" I look down towards the ground.
"Like I said before...he's a lot like you" Friea walks in front of me and faces me, "you were lonely in your human life too, weren't you?"
"I guess...I never really had anyone like you two as friends...people just...came and went...sometimes so fast I couldn't keep up...and a person I thought was my best friend had stabbed me in the back in high school, but that was years ago."
"high...school" she looks at me with a questioning frown.
I explain to her briefly about it and tried to compare it with adolescent dragons.
"Forgive me for asking but...how old did you say you were" Friea raises an eyebrow.
"I'm twenty-four, why" I raise an eyebrow back to her to challenge her confusion.
"Maybe when you were human, but you are definitely not much older than the young dragons you described" Friea explains as my eyes widen.
"W-what do you mean...are you saying that I'm..."
"You're still a young dragon...not a hatchling, but you're definitely a teenager."
Now that just blows my mind. My voice made it seem like I'm just as old as I was as a human, maybe it's just the vocal chords I have? And I thought with my appearance I looked very much like an adult dragon...but now I'm being told that not only was I turned into a dragon...but I'm also a kid again!?
"That's insane..." I simply respond with that with my mouth left open afterwards.
"I've only really seen one or two Night Furies in my life, and that was years ago, but I know for a fact those were adults" Friea adds before walking away, "anyways, like your friend said, you need sleep for tomorrow. Good luck in the sky tomorrow, I'll see you again later Toothless."
Friea ascends into the northern lights as she always does and once again I am left by myself, but this time I am determined...determined to do my best tomorrow and show Hiccup just how grateful I am to have him as a friend…
...
Welp, that wraps up this chapter, I hope you all enjoy this recent addition: more to come later. See you all later!