A/N: Before we get to the story, let's get to the reviews! Star- I love your penname! Okay, thanks! It is fun to write! Okay that's it, R&R! To the story!

How To Learn About Dragons part One

When I got back to the village it was really late and Bucket pointed me into the right direction to the old watch tower. Arriving, I accepted a fish on a stick Astrid gave me and sat next to her. Gobber dove head first into one of his 'horror' stories.

"… and with one twist he took me hand and swallowed it whole. And I saw the look on his face. I was delicious. He must have passed the word, because it wasn't a month before another one of them took me leg."

I leaned towards Astrid, "Dad told me Gobber lost his leg during an Outcast raid, and two weeks later his hand to pirates while on a quest."

Astrid snorted right when Fishlegs spoke from across us, "Isn't it weird to think that your hand was inside a dragon. Like if your mind was still in control of it you could have killed the dragon from the inside by crushing his heart or something?"

I wrinkled my nose while Astrid whispered in my ear, "No, that is just weird to a t."

Snotlout growled suddenly, "I swear I'm so angry right now. I'll avenge your beautiful hand and your beautiful foot, I'll chop off the legs of every dragon I fight, with my face!"

I raised an eyebrow at that image, which Astrid laughed at. Gobber spoke up again, "Nuh ah, it's the wings and tails you really want. If it can't fly, it can't get away. A downed dragon is a dead dragon."

I could feel my face paling. The fin, it was part of the tail! I just condemned my first friend to death! Maybe I can make another one? Getting up, I sat the rest of my fish down and started to leave. I could hear Gobber ask about the Monstrous Nightmare, but choose to ignore it. I didn't ignore Astrid's footsteps.

"Astrid, why are you following me?" I called over my shoulder.

I could feel her hesitation before she answered, "Where are you going?"

I smiled, "To do some research to find out why the dragons don't attack me, to do this I'm going to make something really bizarre and probably won't work ."

"Okay, you should tell me what you learn."Astrid's footsteps faded away as she joined the others. Shrugging, I headed to the forge. Once there, I slipped into the back room. Not bothering to light a candle, I went to work first heating up the forge. Then I measured out the metal I needed and used the heat to melt it all down. Once that was done, I hammered it into shape.

Once I was comfortable with how the skeleton of the fin feels, I grabbed some leather and sewed it onto the frame. When I was finished, I gather the fake fin and headed home for a good night's sleep. Tomorrow I start my research.

….

The next morning, I bought a whole basket of different fish from Bucket. I could smell an eel in it and tried not to wrinkle my nose. Eels are nasty slimy things and I always have a hard time breathing after eating them. Sticking the fin in the basket, I headed into the woods. Feeling slightly winded, I arrived at the cove early like I promised.

Sitting the heavy basket down, I pulled out the tail fin, hiding it behind my back. "Hey Toothless, I brought breakfast. I hope you're hungry." I then kicked over the basket, letting the fish spill out. Trying to sell the food, I continued, "We've got some salmon, some Icelandic cod, and a whole smoked eel." For once, I'm glad different kinds of fish smell different from each other, or else I might have asked Bucket what he was selling me exactly.

I jumped when I heard the Night Fury screech out of terror in front of me. Bending down, I picked up a salmon and offered it up. Toothless gulped it down no problem. I then picked up the eel, and Toothless started to screech again. Quickly I stuck the eel into my vest, "It's okay, I don't like eel much either."

I listened to the sound of Toothless chowing down for a minute before walking to the back of him. Crouching, I felt for his tail and remainder fin. Once finding it I found myself sitting on the tail, just to attach the prosthetic tailfin to him. Strapping it on, I felt the real fin open at an angle, so naturally I opened the fake one to match said angle.

I wasn't expecting Toothless to take off. Or for us to plummet to our deaths. Quickly, I realized the fake fin, not designed to stay open, most of closed during take off and reached out to rip it open again. Then I made the mistake of speaking, "It's working! Yes!"

And Toothless dove headfirst into the lake. Breaking to the surface, I let out a large gasp for air before freezing. Which way was to the bank? I was jogged by my thoughts when Toothless grabbed my, dragging my soggy body to dry ground. Getting up, I bid Toothless good bye and headed to the arena.

I barely walked in when Astrid rammed into me, "Hiccup! Thank goodness you're here! Gobber told us for this exercise we need to be in teams…"

"Hi Hiccup! Want to be partners?" Fishlegs voice cut in my left. Startled, I spun to face him.

"Fishlegs! Astrid was asking me…" I began only for Ruffnut to interrupt, "Hey Astrid, my bro and Snotlout teamed up, do you want to team up with me?"

This is getting us nowhere. "What is today's lesson on exactly? And How many teams does Gobber want?" I bluntly asked.

"Teamwork, didn't say." All three teens spoke in unison. I rubbed my face tiredly, "If it is about teamwork then why don't the four of us form one team?"

Everyone agreed and the four of us moved into the center, where everyone was given a bucket of water, no weapons allowed, and instructions to work in our teams to drench the Zippleback head that lits the gas. My team formed a circle, with our backs pressed together. It wasn't long till the dragon took out the "Lout Nut" team. It then moved onto ours. Surprising enough, Ruffnut, Fishlegs, and Astrid drenched the wrong head.

I raised my bucket of water, readying to toss it, "Guys, the spark head is the head that makes a clicking sound, not hissing! Can't you hear the difference?" And then promptly spilt the water on me. Oh well, I was already wet.

Astrid spoke up next to me sounding very impressed, "No, but if you can that is impressive."

Fishlegs spoke from behind me, "Hey, guys? How are we going to defeat the dragon if we don't have water?"

I spoke slowly, a plan forming in front of me, "We play Hot Eel. Now listen to me, I tested this with a wild dragon, it wasn't a Zippleback so I don't know how well this will work. But some dragons are terrified of eels, and I have one in my vest pocket. Ruffnut go long!" With that, I pulled out the eel, and the dragon immediately started backing up.

We scattered around the arena, tossing the eel towards whoever the Zippleback charged towards. All the while herding him into his cage. Once he was in, I lunged forward and locked the door.

Gobber approached from behind my team, "A bit unorthodox, but that was the best teamwork I ever seen! Snotlout, Tuffnut! Take notes! Oh! And Hiccup? That was amazing leadership skills back there, your father would be proud."

"Um, thanks? I think? Can I go? I want to improve an invention of mine. I know where it went wrong." I asked Gobber, who laughed. "Just don't burn down the forge!"

With that I ran off to find something to hold the tailfin open with. Mmm, so a blind person can lead a team? I think everyone is starting to get my point.