AN: Y'all! I'm so excited and proud of myself! I wrote a whole chapter this week! It's been so long since I've done that! I'm so proud of myself right now! Thank you all for your support and love! I greatly appreciate each and every one of you and the time you take to review all of the chapters as they come out! You're all amazing and I hope this story continues to provide you with quality story-telling excitement!
Music: "I'm Still Here" from Treasure Planet
NOTES: "It's funny how day by day, nothing changes. But when you look back, everything is different."
Chapter 4: I'm Still Here
The smell of fire billowed in the air along with massive clouds of smoke as two of the five ships below began to sink. Hookfang let out a screech of adrenaline as he dived towards the flagship, spewing fire at their catapult, but the net it launched caused him to swerve away and miss his target. Stormfly rushed in from the other side, shooting spines at the men trying to reset the catapult and breaking their defense.
Gravity disappeared as they released a breath, suspended for a moment as they turned almost in slow motion, and then came the rush of the dive. Synchronized heartbeats thundered in his ears as the wind roared past them, energy surging in his fingertips and the all-too familiar whistle singing through his bones.
With their power blended together, Toothless fired, his plasma blast hitting the deck of the ship and blowing a hole straight to the water that was large enough to almost split the ship in half. The groaning, creaking, and snapping of wood as the ship caved in on itself was accompanied by screams and shouts as the men aboard began to abandon ship.
"NIGHT FURY!" The cry went out from the two remaining ships as a ferocious energy shot along his spine.
"Easy, bud." Cat murmured, the hand on Toothless's forehead petting gently. Toothless grumbled a little, but didn't respond as they swung around towards another ship.
Cat jumped up to a crouch as they approached and Toothless sent another, smaller blast, towards a barrel of Monstrous Nightmare gel, sparking a fire on the ship. Cat propelled himself forward out of the saddle, jumping straight through the fire and into an unsuspecting hunter. The man screamed as Cat tackled him to the ground, his flaming sword running him through.
Cat ran into the fray without a pause, throwing open the locks on cages and setting fire to the barrels of gun powder and Monstrous Nightmare gel. The occasional hunter would charge at him, weapon raised, but he ignored them, dodging and moving quickly along towards the bow. Reaching the tip of the boat, Cat leaped and Toothless appeared below him. He landed in the saddle and the pair flew off in the blink of an eye as the fire overcame the ship and caused a large explosion.
The fifth and final ship was already tipping sideways after a few minutes of bombardment from Hookfang, Stormfly, Meatlug, and Barf-Belch.
A silent flick of the head was enough to have the rest of the pack fall into formation on either side of them, and Toothless turned towards Dragon's Edge.
Flying over the rushing waters of the ocean, Cat and the dragons came within view of Dragon's Edge after less than an hour of flight, which felt far too soon in Cat's own opinion. They glided along the mountain ranges as they made a wide circle around the collection of different huts connected by walkways and zip-lines.
The Edge was as busy as ever, bustling with dragons and pirates alike. Cat directed the pack towards the landing platform outside the stables. Several of the men greeted them, ready to wash, feed, and care for any injuries the dragons had. Cat slid off of Toothless's back and pulled off his helmet, shaking out his hair as Toothless stretched and shook himself as well.
"There you are!" Alvin the Treacherous came lumbering up the walkway, his gaze fixed on the boy and his Night Fury.
"What is it, Alvin?" Hiccup asked with a half smile as Toothless bumped his head with his own, and Hiccup responded with a chin scratch.
"Where should I start? We've got two new shipments of goods needing to be dispersed, the scouts to the Archipelago returned half an hour ago, that Triple Strike is having another one of it's pissy fits, and that Nightmare wretch hasn't stopped whining for the past hour! Where have you been?" Alvin demanded, crossing his arms with a scowl.
"Simple patrol. Got a little messy when we came across some hunter ships. Nothing we couldn't handle though, right Bud?" Hiccup asked, and Toothless gave a warble of agreement.
"I don't think the Captain is going to share your enthusiasm. You are supposed to be keeping a low profile right now." Toothless reminded him with an amused look as Alvin's nostrils flared a bit.
"Well, while you're running off to have a flight picnic with your pet, the Edge still needs to be operational! You need to decide who gets supplies first, the scouts need to give you their reports, and for the love of Thor would you shut up the whining beast!" Alvin exclaimed.
"Careful, Alvin, you're almost starting to sound like a responsible leader." Hiccup quipped, walking past the growling pirate. "Talia left me in charge of the Edge while she's busy infiltrating Hogwarts with Eret, but that doesn't mean you need me for every little thing that comes up. We just discussed yesterday that we need more supplies towards the armory to make up for all the damage done over the summer to the weapons and ships. As for the scouts, unless it's something urgent, it's better for them to eat and rest before giving their reports anyways. And I'm sure Sleuther and Fireworm are just missing Eret and Talia."
"I would've thought after that whole summer of war with the Hunters, you would've learned a thing or two about respecting the line of command." Alvin muttered with a bit of a sneer, following Hiccup and Toothless as they walked towards their private hut.
"I think you and I learned very different lessons over the past few months." Hiccup retorted, though he couldn't help the wince at the mention of the war.
The summer had been hard on all of them. Following their return to the Edge after the Battle at Azkaban, they began constructing a proper outpost. With the dragons' help and some of the gold from Grimbeard's hold on Skullion Island, it didn't take long before Dragon's Edge was a fully operational Haven for pirates and dragons.
The good news didn't last long, however, as the increase in activity drew the attention of Viggo Grimborn and his Dragon Hunters. Hiccup spent most of the summer in a deadlock with Viggo, an all out war between pirates and hunters waging in between. As much as he wished it had never happened, Hiccup was also aware that the war pushed him farther than he'd ever been pushed before intellectually and it had also provided him an opportunity to continue practicing with the Light Magics he'd discovered at Azkaban.
Hiccup almost snorted at the thought. In the end, that practicing had just drawn even more unwanted attention from even worse powers.
Upon reaching his hut, Hiccup spotted two dragons occupying his balcony space that also doubled as a forge. He smiled and walked straight toward the pair with Toothless trotting ahead and Alvin scowling behind.
Sleuther, a yellow and brown Triple-Strike dragon, lifted his head from where he was dozing and gave a soft warning growl, directed at Alvin as the three approached.
"Bah! You see! Blasted lizard keeps hissing at me!" Alvin spat, standing a safe distance away.
"I'm sure he has a reason to," Hiccup muttered under his breath before turning to Sleuther and dropping low as he crawled forward while extending one hand. Sleuther immediately calmed and nosed his hand in welcome. "What's the matter Sleuther?"
"The fat one kept growling at the little 'un." Sleuther offered simply and shortly before laying his head back down to continue napping. Hiccup chuckled, giving a small scratch behind his ear. Just like his rider, Sleuther couldn't hide the way he cared about younglings no matter how much he tried.
Hiccup turned his attention to the young Monstrous Nightmare whom Toothless had already curled up next to and cooing at softly. She looked up at Hiccup and perked up a little, but Hiccup could still sense the Sad coming off of her.
Hiccup settled on her opposite side from Toothless and she turned to tuck her head in his lap almost instantly. He gently smoothed her scales and scratched the hard-to-reach spots along her spines.
"You miss her bad, huh?" Hiccup asked gently, the small Monstrous Nightmare looked up at him without moving her head, her eyes big.
"She'll come back, yes?" She whimpered.
"Of course she will, Fireworm. I'm sure she's missing you just as much as you miss her." Hiccup assured the young dragon, looking at the slightly dull tone of her usually vibrant yellow scales. "Have you been eating?"
"Not since dinner last night. And she didn't sleep well either." Sleuther put in without even opening his eyes.
"Tattle-tale." Fireworm pouted, flicking her tail in annoyance. Hiccup snickered. Fireworm had been a timid little thing when they'd first found her, but it seemed that during the time Talia was nursing the then-hatchling back to health, she also managed to pass on some of her fiery spirit.
"Now, you and I both know that Talia wouldn't be happy to hear that you're not eating. How about we get you some food, okay?" Hiccup nudged her up to her feet as he started getting to his own. Fireworm gave a small grumble of agreement, though she looked very much the chided child.
To make things easy, Hiccup filled Toothless's trough with a double portion so Fireworm didn't have to go all the way back to the stables and the two were content to eat together. Toothless continued to comfort Fireworm, and Hiccup was happy to note that she was almost the same size as Toothless. For all she was a runt, she was slowly growing and would soon be ready to start carrying a person. He would have to let Talia know the next time they talked.
He left the dragons to their food and rest, turning to his desk to find a small pile of paperwork. Alvin stood in his doorway, having lingered in the background the entire time Hiccup was chatting with the dragons, and Hiccup was more than aware that he couldn't ignore the man forever.
"What's on your mind Alvin? Or do you just enjoy glaring at me from a distance?" Hiccup turned his head to look at the outcast who was leaning against the entryway.
"I just wanted to know if you're planning another 'patrol' for tomorrow too. We've got two traders coming in tomorrow and they're going to want to deal with the Captain of the Haven. Wanted to know if I should be ready to tell them you've up and disappeared for the fifth time this week!" Alvin said with a hard look.
"Five in a week isn't that bad Alvin, and our flights are never longer than an hour or two." Hiccup rolled his eyes, looking over the first parchment in the pile.
"It's Tuesday!" Alvin snapped back incredulously.
"I see you two are getting on as well as ever." The amused, feminine voice had both men straightening and turning towards the source.
She was tall and slim with long brown braids, draped in thick leather armor with a heavy fur hood. The Stormcutter at her back peered at them curiously, tilting his head just slightly.
"My Lady." Alvin gave her a nod, though his expression remained fairly sour.
"I've already seen to the goods being dispersed as we discussed. The scouts have already been instructed to report to the Club House first thing in the morning for their report." Valka informed them both. "Now if that's all, Alvin..."
Valka stepped aside to let the Captain pass. He hesitated, looking between Valka and Hiccup before huffing and stomping, pausing only to speak briefly to Valka. "You keep mothering him like that, he'll never learn."
"Perhaps you should leave the mothering to the mothers, Alvin." Valka returned evenly before walking into Hiccup's hut and letting Alvin know he was dismissed. As soon as the pirate was gone, she spoke again. "He is right, you know. Partially, at least. There will be matters I can't attend to for you."
"I know," Hiccup sighed before looking up at her. "Thank you, for taking care of everything today, Mom."
"It's what mothers do." Valka replied, pulling Hiccup into a hug which he returned fully. "Call it making up for lost time." As they pulled apart, Valka's hands fell to Hiccup's shoulders as she looked in his eyes. "I am worried about you." She told him.
"You have nothing to worry about." Hiccup assured her as he placed one of his own hands over one of hers. "I'm fine."
"Are you? Alvin may have a stick up his arse, but he does have a point. You've been disappearing more and more lately, and I know you haven't been sleeping well." Valka added the second remark when he made to put in another excuse. "Flying is an excellent way to escape the things you'd rather not face. Everything just seems to fall away when you're up in the air. I know it well..."
"I'm not running from it." Hiccup said quickly, turning away from her and back to his desk, fiddling with the papers. Valka calmly rested her hand on his shoulder, her energy just Warm and Concern and Love... Hiccup sighed, his shoulders drooping. "How can I run? It's always there in the back of my mind." He whispered.
Valka stepped up next to him, using her hand on his shoulder to turn him towards her so they were facing each other again. "You're growing up into a wonderful, strong, young man... But you are growing up too fast. You're too young to be trying to shoulder such burdens all on your own."
"Verndari said it was a path I'd eventually have to walk on my own." Hiccup said after swallowing the lump of cotton in his throat. "And I just need an outlet is all. There's just all of this... Energy and Fire and I need to let it out somehow. Flying helps."
"Oh, my darling," Valka whispered before she shook her head and her voice grew a little stronger. "I'm afraid you're searching so hard, you've lost yourself."
"I'm not sure I was ever found?" Hiccup offered in a weak attempt at lightening the mood. Valka pinned him with a look.
"Hiccup, your magic is Different." Valka began.
"Really? I had no idea -sorry." Hiccup started in dryly, but then stopped at Valka's sharp gaze.
"Hiding it away and locking it up is only going to hurt you." She continued. "And if what the others say about Pitch Black is true, which I am inclined to believe it is, then hurting yourself will only put you in more danger."
"What are they saying?" Hiccup wanted to know.
"You know I'm not one for gossip, but I do have ears. The men believe that the only reason Pitch Black hasn't approached any pirates is because of your presence." Valka shared.
Hiccup didn't reply, that bit of news hitting him rather hard because there was no way to deny it, no matter how much he wanted to. He knew Pitch would come calling to him again, but that didn't concern him much. What did worry him was what Pitch would do to turn the Royal Council against the pirates. Hiccup wouldn't put it past the Dark Sorcerer to try and force him into an alliance.
"...Pitch won't try anything. Not so long as I stay away from Hogwarts and the Allied Kingdoms." Hiccup murmured.
"You and I both know that it's more than that." Valka remarked smartly, but then her gaze softened and she touched Hiccup's cheek and he couldn't help but lean into the warmth. "Please just remember that I'm here. When you are ready to talk about it."
"I know, Mom. Thank you." He nodded.
"Well, then, I suppose I'd better be off. Cloudjumper and I are helping the men and Skullcrusher with guard duty on the Southern side of the island. You'll make sure to eat dinner, won't you?" Valka fretted, trying to straighten out imaginary wrinkles from Hiccup's and her own clothing as she fussed and blinked rapidly.
"Of course, Mom. I'll be fine. Toothless will make sure of it." Hiccup reassured her, and Toothless's following gargle-warble of affirmation made them both chuckle.
"Get some rest then. I'll be back later." She promised.
The icy landscape was tormented by heavy winds and grey shadows. The face of the glacial cliff groaned and creaked as waves smashed against it. A thundering crack hit the air as the ice slowly started to tremble and split apart. The cracks grew and grew until an entire portion of the cliff-face was collapsing into the water, dusting up a storm of snow and ice and churning the waves into an upheaval.
A roar echoed through the air.
The vision split and terror coursed through his veins as a gasp ripped from his throat. He stumbled back, trying to get away from the large, dark figure, but the imposing darkness only grew and grew.
A harsh growl, followed by a deep and dark laugh that softly echoed in his ears and invaded his mind -!
Hiccup lurched up into a sitting position, breathing hard. He was shivering, drenched in a cold sweat from the nightmare, his blanket thrown on the floor by all of his tossing and turning. Toothless was looking at him from his place on the floor, and when he caught Hiccup's eye, cooed worriedly.
Hiccup gave a small nod to let him know he was okay and that he appreciated the Safe and Comfort from his twin-flame. Knowing he wouldn't be getting any more sleep for quite a while, he pushed himself up from the bed and made his way out on to the balcony to get some fresh air and clear his head.
The night was calm, the stars and a sliver of the moon shining across the sky. The air was cool and refreshing, and the salty ocean mist was caught on every breeze as the fog moved in along the coast. The distant sound of the waves and the occasional screech of a Night Terror all mixed together in it's own kind of lullaby for the island.
A flash of the dark figure from his dream interrupted the peaceful scene, and Hiccup squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head to get rid of it as a shudder ran down his spine. Knowing that He was out there, right now, just waiting for his chance to...
Hiccup firmly cut off that line of thought, already knowing the panic it would lead him into.
He rested his arms on the railing, leaning his weight into it as he closed his eyes and lifted his chin to feel the breeze brush past. The night was gentle and calm. Relaxing. He focused on it, drawing on it to ease his pounding heart and racing mind.
His meditation was interrupted by a flutter of sound and a tiny presence appearing beside him. Hiccup opened his eyes and looked down to his side, smiling at the small creature that had landed on the railing beside him.
"Pipsqueak!" He greeted, receiving a peep of happiness from the mini owl. Hiccup scratched the top of his head and then reached to take the note he carried. "Thank you for bringing this to me. I know it's a long journey."
Hiccup offered his finger and Pipsqueak hopped on, allowing Hiccup to carry him over to his desk. He let Pipsqueak transfer himself from his finger to a little bar off to the side, and then Hiccup turned to the letter.
"Let's see what you've been up to, Emma..."