So far, this is my longest entry into my one-shot collection. Hope you all enjoy!
NOTE: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING!
You'll Always Be My Sister
We did it.
We beat Grimmel.
But at a great price… for we had to leave.
I couldn't stop the tears from welling up in my eye as I gazed at Zenna, who was also struggling to hold back tears. She is my best friend, my other half, my Rider…
How could I possibly leave Zenna? While I don't doubt that she can hold her own in a fight, she was still a human, still a soft fleshy thing; without claws and scales to protect herself from the elements, she needed to be protected.
I crooned, nuzzling Zenna who let out a small sob. "Cowme wid us?" I asked hopefully, speaking the human tongue. It's no secret that, out of all the dragons on Berk, only I have the gift of human speech. Six years of listening to Zenna and other humans talking and talking back have widened my vocabulary and improved my diction. While garbled, most people could understand me when I talked human, Zenna most of all.
Zenna shook her head. "I can't go, girl. You heard Hiccup. The world doesn't deserve you… yet. You, Toothless, your son, all of the dragons… as long as humans like Grimmel are out there, your kind isn't safe." She gently stroked my head, tears already falling from her eye. "You deserve to be free in the Hidden World, without us humans," she told me.
Her breath hitched as she rested her head against mine. "You deserve to be happy, Stryka," she whispered.
"But you make me happy, Zen…" I whine, nuzzling my Rider's face, tears slipping down my face. And I meant it, every word.
The moment I looked into those beautiful and mysterious violet eyes, my world and my heart have been filled with love, adventure, and Zenna. We became each other's protectors, two halves of the same whole, both possessing scars that have made us stronger than ever before.
The past six years have been the best of my entire life, and I want Zenna and I to have more years together.
I still want to soar higher than the clouds with Zenna on my back, the two of us joining my beloved Toothless and Hiccup on more crazy adventures.
I still want to see my son, sweet little Hiccup, grow up alongside Zen's little brother, El, and to see the two of them fly together.
I still want to have Edgar and Henna greet me with belly rubs whenever Zenna and I come back from a flight.
Most of all… I want to see Zenna continue to grow, as a daughter to her parents, as a sister to El, Hiccup, and Loki, as a wife to Eret… and maybe even as a mother.
I still want Zenna to be a part of my life, as much as she wants me to be a part of hers. How can that happen if we were apart?
"I'll always be a part of you, Stryka." Zenna's hand caressed my eye patch. "Keep your eye patch. You don't have to wear it anymore, but keep it… so you can remember me by," she murmured.
I let out a soft whimper and wrapped my forelegs around Zenna in a gentle hug. I felt Zenna shake in my grasp. She was crying, soft sobs wracking her lithe frame. I cried as well, nuzzling Zenna's dark locks and breathing in her unique scent of smoke, flowers, and vanilla.
"Meeting you, becoming your friend, and getting to fly… they're some of the best things to ever happen to me, Stryka. I'll never forget you, girl. I love you… I love you so, so much…" whispered Zenna as she embraced me.
"I love you, too, Zenna…" I drew back so I could look her in the eye. "You will always be my sister," I warbled with all the love I had for the human who had changed my life.
Zenna let out a small laugh and smiled, in spite of the tears. "And you'll always be mine, Stryka," she said.
When the time came for us all to leave, I looked back at Zenna one last time. She stood at Hiccup's left with Eret at her side. Giving Zenna one last smile, I lifted my right front paw and flicked it back and forth. I hadn't done that little gesture in nearly six years, something I had seen Zenna do during those first visits to the cove, back when we were starting out as the most unlikely of friends.
Recognizing my gesture, Zenna laughed and waved back. "Bye-bye…" she said softly.
With that, I turned and spread my wings… and took flight with Toothless and all the other dragons, leaving our humans and heading for our new home – the Hidden World.
There's no way of keeping track of the years in the Hidden World, but I know it's been a long time. The scent of human has long faded from the eye patch I now keep in a special place in my and Toothless and Luna's nest.
It had been a surprise, especially for Stormfly, Hookfang, Meatlug, and Barf and Belch, when Toothless and I both welcomed Luna into our nest and into our hearts. We both love Luna. She's kind, funny, feisty, and beautiful. I love seeing her fly around, her white scales glittering in the darkness. And she respects me as Toothless' first mate, which makes me love and respect her all the more. It helps that Toothless loves both of us equally, and that it's not uncommon for dragons to have more than one mate.
With Luna, Toothless sired three beautiful hatchlings, our little Nightlights – Star, Ventus, and Comet; and they grow stronger and more amazing every day.
A year after Toothless and I had settled into the Hidden World, we had two more hatchlings, two beautiful girls named Eclipse and Vesper who are older than their three half-siblings by four years. Hiccup, our eldest, adores all five of them. Whenever all three of us - Toothless, Luna, and I – had to go on patrols, he would watch over them. And when we came back, we would find him buried under a pile of sleeping baby Night Furies and baby Nightlights, blissfully fast asleep himself, no doubt tuckered out from looking after them.
In the mornings, all nine of us would fly out of the caves and emerge from the waterfall into the sunlight for fresh air. I live for these moments, where Toothless and I can feel the sun on our scales. The glowing crystals down in the Hidden World may provide light and warmth, but Toothless and I have always preferred to feel the sun's rays shining down on us.
On this particularly fine day, Toothless, Luna, and I are sunning ourselves on the rocks, Hiccup playing a little game of chase with Eclipse, Vesper, Star, Ventus, and Comet.
Suddenly, Toothless and I hear the sound of boats cutting through the waves. Squinting, I could make out two boats sailing towards us.
"Luna, stay with the kids," Toothless says, getting up taking flight.
"It'll be alright, loves. We won't let any humans hurt you. Just stay with Mama Luna," I warble to the little ones, joining my mate in the skies.
"I'm coming too!" Hiccup yelps, taking flight as well. Already 12 years of age, Toothless and I trust our son to be careful around humans.
There are two boats, and Hiccup and I land on the larger of the two, the one with a purple sail depicting a Night Fury and a gray wolf. We see six humans onboard – all of them black-haired - and one of them, a woman with an eye patch, approaches me. "Hey, girl…" she greets me softly, her hands raised in a peaceful manner.
I growl lowly, wings raised. 'Who are you, human? And why have you come here?' I think. Looking over the woman's shoulder, I see a man, probably the woman's husband, holding three children close.
"It's okay…" he murmurs, keeping his eyes on his wife and I. The children huddle closer to him, eyes wide with fear.
"Remember me, Stryka…?" the woman whispers, a hopeful smile on her face.
I blink my one green eye in shock. How does she know my name?
The woman shuts her one eye and slowly extends an arm out until her palm is inches from my nose.
And just like that, the memories come flooding back.
A cove on an island I barely remember, two violet eyes staring into mine when I used to have two eyes, fighting the Red Death that had enslaved Toothless and I, the sight of blood on a girl's face, one of her eyes crushed and burnt beyond healing, the girl waking up and the two of us flying together.
A single name bursts from my lips as I speak the human tongue for the first time in years.
"ZENNA!"
Zenna laughs as I lick her face. She still looks the same, but also a little different. Granted, it has been a long time since we last saw each other. But her one violet eye hasn't changed. It's still bright and filled with life. Now, it's currently welling up with happy tears as we bask in the joy of our reunion.
"Ywou hwere! Ywou hwere! Happy! So happy!" I yap, my human speech not as perfect as it once was, bouncing around her and nuzzling her.
"I'm so happy to see you, too, Stryka! It's been so long! Oh, my beautiful girl…" Zenna says breathlessly, hugging me tightly.
I trill and hug back. "My sister…" I warble.
"My sister," Zenna whispers back, resting her head against mine, her smile as radiant as the sun.
I feel complete, as if I had gained back something I had lost, and it's because… after so long… Zenna and I are together again.
I have my sister back…
"Mom, look! Look!" Hiccup's excited voice makes me turn my head. My son is hugging a young boy with curly black hair and Zenna's violet eyes.
"It's El! It's El, all grown up! My buddy Viking's all grown up!" Hiccup roars joyfully as he playfully bats his paw at El who chuckles.
'Oh, he's so big now!' I think, my heart fit to burst with love. The last time I saw Zenna's little brother, he was an adorable chubby toddler. To see him, now a young man like my son, it's amazing…
"See? The dragons aren't eating your mum and your uncle," the man chuckles, and I instantly remember him. Eret, Son of Eret, once the "world's best dragon trapper," now Zenna's loving husband.
Looking at the other boat, I see Toothless happily licking a bearded human with a prosthetic left leg. 'That can only be Hiccup… Ooh, and Astrid's there with two kids! They tied the knot! Zenna must have been so happy for them during the wedding…' I think, amused, before turning my attention back to Zenna who was now coaxing the three children to come closer.
"It's alright. Come. There's someone I want you three to meet," Zenna said gently, beckoning her kids over.
I tilt my head curiously as they stand before me, two boys and a girl. The boys take after Eret in appearance, broad-shouldered and stocky. One of them has Zenna's violet eyes while the other has pale green eyes, a color I remember being associated with Eret's father.
But the girl… she is the spitting image of my sister. I trill softly but the youngling and her brothers take a step back, apprehensive. I manage to glimpse her eyes, partially hidden by raven bangs.
Her left eye is a bright violet like Zenna's while her right eye is a soft brown like Eret's.
'She's the perfect mix of them,' I think as Zenna kneels beside her children.
"Hold your hands out, like this." Zenna gently extends her arm out, her children copying her until their palms are just an inch away from my nose. "Give her a little time, and she'll come to you," she says softly.
Sniffing the three children's palms, I recognize Zenna and Eret's scents. Closing my one eye, I gently press my snout into their palms. When I open my eye again, the children are staring at me in awe.
"Hi, Stryka…" the girl says softly while her brothers just gape at me, eyes wide with wonder.
I give them a toothless smile, making them giggle with delight.
Eret walks over to the little ones and smiles. "Stryka, these are our kids. These two lads are Vali and Narvi." He pats the violet-eyed boy on the head before ruffling the green-eyed boy's hair. "And this lovely lass is Gyda," he says, wrapping an arm around his daughter.
I warble happily then waggle my brow suggestively at him and Zenna. "Ywou two got buwsssy!" I huff, making them blush.
"Oh, you're one to talk!" Zenna shoves me playfully. "I see two other little Night Furies out there on those rocks that can only be yours and Toothless'!" she retorts, laughing when I give her a lick as payback.
A while later, all of us are standing on the rocks surrounding the waterfall. I'm introduced to Hiccup and Astrid's kids, Zephyr and Nuffink. Luna, after some coaxing from Toothless and I, allows our children to play with our Riders' young.
Seeing Vali, Narvi, and Gyda, and Zephyr and Nuffink play-wrestling with Eclipse, Vesper, Star, Ventus, and Comet… it makes me wonder if they would have been partners had we not left the humans.
"They're getting along well," Toothless remarks, watching Star, our youngest Nightlight who mostly has Luna's white scales and his green eyes, happily nuzzling Nuffink. Zephyr is hugging Ventus, the two of them content to just sit and cuddle.
"If we hadn't left, those children would have definitely been their Riders," I say in amusement, seeing Comet, the eldest of Luna and my mate's offspring, tackle Gyda, Zenna and Eret's little girl shrieking with glee.
Eclipse and Vesper prefer to play with Vali and Narvi the most. Like my Eclipse, quiet and shy, Vali doesn't say much but his smile as he pets Eclipse is one brimming with sheer gladness. Meanwhile, Narvi's exuberant personality is a perfect match to Vesper's as the two chase each other around the large rock they're standing on.
"Look out, little human! Here I come!" Vesper roars before rushing to Narvi and tackling him.
"Hahaha! That tickles!" Narvi laughs as he lies flat on his back, Vesper licking him like there's no tomorrow.
All the while, Hiccup, Astrid, Zenna, and Eret are watching, love and pride shining in their eyes. Toothless and I could tell that they'd been hoping for this, for their children to meet us and experience what it's like to befriend a dragon. And, I'll admit, while I nearly forgot, I'd yearned to see Zenna again after we went our separate ways and that she would be a mother like I am now. Thanks to fate and just a bit of luck, I got my wish.
My sister has grown to become an amazing woman and a loving mother, and I couldn't be any happier or prouder.
Suddenly a black blur flies past Toothless and I from behind and, turning around, we see Hiccup, our son, flying with El on his back.
"We're doing it, buddy! We're finally flying together!" El whoops as Hiccup flies an entire lap around the waterfall.
Luna watches them, her stepson, and smiles. "I have an idea," she pipes up and whispers her plan into our ears. And Toothless and I both think that it's a wonderful plan.
The three of us roar, the humans covering their ears at the volume, and we wait.
A few minutes later, two of our most trusted friends come up to join us.
"Stormfly!"
"Skullcrusher! C'mere, you big ugly beast!"
Astrid runs up to greet Stormfly while Eret immediately gets bowled over by Skullcrusher. Hiccup and Zenna watch, grinning from ear to ear. Then they look at each other, then at us.
"What do you say, you two?" Hiccup asks us.
"Just like old times?" adds Zenna, her one violet eye glimmering.
Toothless and I don't think twice and we let them climb onto our backs.
The wind caresses my face as I soar through the clouds with Zenna and Gyda on my back. It was like old times, my sister and I flying as one. As I dive and spin and perform all sorts of aerial stunts, I can feel Zenna's joy resonating with my own. Gyda laughs as her mother tosses her up into the air, Hiccup doing the same with Nuffink, before landing into the safety of Zenna's arms.
Our babies are not too far behind us, Ventus and Comet practicing their cloaking skills as they shoot out plasma blasts and fly into them, momentarily turning invisible. Star flies next to her father, chirping excitedly as Nuffink reaches out to her. Comet flies over to me, nuzzling Gyda.
I hear a delighted roar and see my son Hiccup do a power dive, El and Vali on his back, towards the ocean. He pulls up before he hits the water, his wings skimming the waves to Vali's delight. When he flies back up, Vali is whooping, "This is amazing!" while El laughs and praises Hiccup for his exemplary flying.
Stormfly and Skullcrusher fly past us. I see Eret grin over his shoulder at Zenna while Narvi waves to his sister. Astrid has Zephyr with her on Stormfly, and Hiccup's daughter has her hands thrown up in the air, thrilled beyond measure.
Luna flies alongside the both of us, at ease with our humans and their offspring. Looking at each other, Toothless and I smile.
We stay up in the air for what seems like ages, until Hiccup and Zenna signal us to land. When we make it back to the waterfall, the sun is already dipping low across the horizon. My heart sinks as I realize what's happening.
The children are quick to realize it, too, for they start begging for more time with us.
"Can't we stay a little while longer, please, Mama and Papa?" Gyda asks, Comet whining in her arms.
"It's getting late, love. Toothless and Stryka and the Light Fury need to go back to the Hidden World with their babies," Eret tells her gently.
Vali's face is thoughtful as he hugs Eclipse close to his chest. "Well… can we come back here?" he asks, Eclipse giving a soft warble.
"Yeah! Like maybe on our birthdays or-or Snoggletog!" Narvi looks at Hiccup, light green eyes pleading. "Can we come with you next time, Uncle Hiccup?" he pleads.
"Yeah, Dad. Let's bring Aunt Zen, Uncle Eret, Uncle El, Vali, Narvi, and Gyda again!" Zephyr cheers.
"We will come back here… right, Daddy?" Nuffink asks hopefully.
Hiccup looks at his son, his daughter, and nephews and niece apprehensively while Astrid looks on, slightly worried. Eret and Zenna glance at each other, wondering what the chief is going to say.
Finally, Hiccup looks at Toothless. "What do you think, bud? To be honest, I-I really would like to see you again," he tells my beloved.
Toothless nods. "Your family and Zenna's family are always welcome here, Hiccup." He then gently butts Hiccup with his head. "Just don't stay away too long this time, got it?" he warbles teasingly.
"Guess we're planning a second trip when we get home," Hiccup chuckles, the children cheering.
Comet, Ventus, Star, Eclipe, and Vesper take their time saying goodbye to Zephyr, Nuffink, Vali, Narvi, and Gyda. El gives my eldest son a hug, whispering to him how he would be back soon. My young Hiccup coos and nuzzles El, his bright green eyes sad.
"I'll see you soon, girl. You keep any unruly dragons in line, okay?" Astrid rests her head under Stormfly's chin, the Nadder crooning in reply.
"Till we meet again, old friend," Eret murmurs, patting Skullcrusher's horn, the Rumblehorn Toothless and I often regard as a father figure letting out a farewell snort.
Toothless and I are the last to bid the humans farewell. Hugging Zenna, I rumble, "Gwoodbye, Zen…"
"It's not 'goodbye,' Stryka. Think of it more like… see you soon," Zenna tells me, smiling gently. With one last hug, she leaves and boards the ship followed by Hiccup. They turn back to look at us… and don't turn away even as the wind catches in their ships' sails and takes them away.
Luna, Toothless, and I watch silently as the ships sail away. Our children squawk and chirp and roar, their goodbyes carried by the wind, until… the ships disappear into the horizon.
Suddenly it's as if a new hole's been opened in my heart and Toothless'. Who knows how long it would take until we see our Riders again...
Luna senses our sorrow and gently nudges us both. "They'll be alright. And they'll be back. They're your humans after all," she reassures us.
Looking out into the horizon, Toothless and I know that Luna's words are true.
Years living in the Hidden World had nearly made us forget our Hiccup and Zenna. But all it took for us to remember them was to see them, their hands raised in peaceful offering and eyes closed in trust. That was how our forbidden friendship began, and it is a friendship Toothless and I never regretted making.
Hiccup and Zenna changed our lives, and we changed theirs. Countless of times, they saved us; and countless of times, we saved them. Our bond will never be broken now that we've seen them again. And they will return to visit us, we know it.
'See you soon, Zenna...' I think as my family and I head back to the Hidden World.
What do you guys think? Read and review whenever and whatever you want!
Next one-shot's going to be the same scene… but in a different point of view. I'll leave it to you to guess who it is ;)
Until the next chapter!
-GuardianDragon98