My Hope
Author: Nightstar Fury of Nightstar Productions.
Rating: M for Mature.
Disclaimer: I own nothing from Dreamworks HTTYD or Dreamworks Dragons. I also don't own any of the songs I may use.
25; New Champions.
{Hunter's POV}
Since the day I used my birthday wish to ask Astrid to be my girlfriend, life had been nothing short of perfect for me. Hope was happy, Astrid was happy, my family and friends were happy, and so was I. Per Astrid's and mines agreement, she was my girlfriend and a friend to Hope but didn't act like a mother to her, Astrid would play with her but the feedings and changing were my job as they'd always been. Astrid and I would revisit the possible step mother idea later on after we'd been dating a while and knew we'd last. After all we were only in high school, thought that wouldn't be for much longer either since we were graduating in 2 weeks and I still couldn't believe that I'd made it through senior year with both my secrets out and I hadn't gone completely insane. Finals were over, final grades would be out in a week, and all my friends passed their dragon training and could fly free reign without abiding a certain altitude limit or only some locations like school and home. I was already able to do this since I passed my training when I was 16 and became a racer in the ARL which stood for Archipelago Racing League and I raced for the Berk Island Team.
Hope had turned two years old in April, and Astrid turned 18 in April too. It was funny that I'd almost forgotten their birthdays were so close so we celebrated them together. Astrid even let Hope pick the theme so Winx Club it was for Hope and Astrid. Turned out that Astrid actually liked Winx Club so that was entertaining to see her dressed up as a fairy like Hope was. Both of them choosing the character they loved most, Astrid was Stella the fairy of the sun and moon. Hope on the other hand chose to be Musa, the fairy of music. My family, and all our friends were there too of course, and the dragons. We did games, music, food, and cake. Presents were last. I made Astrid a necklace from one of Stormfly's scales, and I got Hope a few new toys and also made her a headband with a mix of Toothless's and Strykeout's scales. It was a good day, I loved both my girls.
On a more fun note, my leg was completely healed now. It healed about 2 weeks after my birthday party and boy was I glad it did too. I finally got to test out the tail out for Toothless, and what an interesting yet terrifying day that was too. I remember it well because I did right after the doctor gave me the all clear to resume normal activities. I grinned and all my family and friends were instantly worried I was going to land myself back in the hospital attempting to use this fake tail. Bonus from the healing, I didn't even have a limp but my leg would always have the metal plates and screws in it which was fine with me. I chuckled now remembering the day I got home and instantly got to work to try out the tail.
[Flashback]
"Hunter for the love of Odin, you just finished healing...Please hold off a day or two?" Astrid asked softly as she saw me rushing to the back stables to get the tail and Toothless ready. I only smiled, I'd been waiting for this for two weeks, no way I wasn't trying it out right now. I understood their concern but flying was something I excelled at, so I'd be just fine. It was only a test, just to see if Toothless could fly with me controlling his tail fin using a pedal on the left side of the saddle which was attached to some cables and strings that allowed the tail to open or close depending on the position of the pedal which I would be moving as we flew.
I knew it was dangerous but I also didn't care, I knew we'd be fine. I'd spent almost a month perfecting this rig. I knew it would work, it had too. It was our only chance to fly, and race again. I knew Toothless was excited, he bolted towards me when I whistled for him. Heather was holding Hope, my parents standing worried and my friends all there with their dragons since now they were allowed to take them home with them. "I'll be fine babe...Have a little faith in me..." I gave a fake pout to her, she sighed nodding. I kissed her cheek and then mounted Toothless position my feet in the stirrups and pressed down on the left one to open the tail. I smiled seeing it open. I heard my friends gasp, it was the first time they'd ever seen it. They'd seen parts but never all together. "Okay there bud, lets give this a shot..." I told my friend who warbled in response.
"You do it dada!" Hope cheered happily, I smiled. Well at least my daughter supported my choice. I knew I could do this. Toothless and I could, together as one. Toothless launched into the sky and we caught the wind, now gliding on it. I took a deep breath.
"Alright, lets take it nice and slow Toothless. We can do this." I rubbed Toothless's head and opened the tail fully. Toothless growled contently, I could tell he really missed being up in the air. So did I actually, there was nothing else like it. So far we were doing really good, the breeze was helping a lot but once that died down we'd be soloing our flight. "Come on buddy, come on!" I urged my Night Fury as we dove down and flew through the stables since it was just 4 posts, one roof with some hay and rocks present. It was easy to get right under but we managed it perfect without the wind. "Yes it worked!"
I tried to alter Toothless's path by leaning but we hit a tree, then it happened again. He smacked me with his ear and we continued flying. I pressed the peddle and we headed straight up towards the clouds and I couldn't help but smile wide. The tail was working! Toothless could fly again with my help! "Oh this is amazing! The wind in my-..." I felt my feet come loose from the stirrups, Toothless and I fell apart from one another, both heading straight down.
"HUNTER!" Heather and Astrid cried out in worry. Not wasting another moment, I grabbed the loops to my riding suit and brought out the wings gliding now.
"Toothless, roll wing tuck!" I called to him, Toothless closed his wings and rolled so he was under me now. "Its now of never bud!" I said, Toothless growled as he adjusted and swooped under me and I grabbed onto the saddle, pulling myself back on him. I fixed my feet just as I opened his tail up and we swooped back up just in the nick of time as I laughed out. "We did it!" Toothless smiled a gummy smile now as we looked ahead seeing a few trees, I leaned forward narrowing my eyes as I adjusted the tail and we weaved in and out of them, even managed a roll once and made it out safely. We landed perfectly in front of the group and I climbed off.
"Holy...Thor...It worked..." Travis said. All of them were in shock, so was I actually. I'd...built Toothless a working tail!
"We did it...We did it Toothless!" I cheered as he tackled me down licking my face happily. I laughed again, "Ew, Toothless! You know that doesn't wash out!" Toothless stopped as I got up. We had really done it, I built him a working tail and now we could fly together. Wouldn't it be fun when the others found out we were racing again. In the meantime, I was just glad my best friend and I could fly again. We'd need a little more practice, but for now...We could fly.
[End Flashback]
Yep, that was a good day and even now...They still had no idea that I was racing in the world wide races though. It was an interesting event. 1 racer from each location would go to represent their home, and go against one another. It was similar to the Olympics only it was was straight dragon racing. The way it worked was one racer from each league around the world would compete in their own division so for the Archipelago it was each island league against one another until it was narrowed down to only two racers. The winner of that race would go on to compete to represent the whole of the Archipelago against racers from other leagues. This had been going on since the race when I crashed. Damien using Shocker was the one representing the Archipelago but when the time came, I'd be taking his place because I was the original winner of the qualifying race. That and Damien could give it to whoever he wanted, and he wanted me to have it. Saying I deserved it after rebuilding Toothless's tail.
No one knew that Toothless's tail was fixed besides my group of friends, parents, sister, daughter, and girlfriend. So this would be fun when I showed up with Toothless for the race in 1 week. All my friends were going, invited by Damien of course but none knew what we were planning to do. It was definitely going to be a big surprise. Neither of us could wait. I know I said no more secrets but this is one they'd like. I was sure of it. I still couldn't believe it, the dragon race was in a week, then graduation in 3. It was gonna be good.
(1 Week Later)
It was going to be a 3 day event with There was roughly 50 racers representing countries, some countries didn't participate in dragon racing if they did there would be 195 racers and that would take weeks to narrow down. 60 was going to take a while too but since they made it so there were only 10 laps around the track with no obstacles then it wouldn't take long to get it down to 5 racers competing in the finals, and the winner of that round was named world racing champion of that year along with a hefty number for reward money. Even better that this year, the race was being held right here in Berk, home territory. Damien and I took care of everything but it was kept a complete secret that I was racing in Damien's place. It wouldn't be announced until the race was about to start when I walked out with Toothless.
Damien and I remained hidden, saying we came together because he wanted my help in time trials. The race began in an hour, the others had arrived already and were getting escorted to the VIP lounge. "They are gonna be so surprised..." Damien chuckled.
"I know. I did tell them I'd race again if I could fix Toothless's tail. I just don't think they'll be expecting this." I replied to him. Damien and I continued to work on Toothless's tail making sure it was prepared for the next 3 days of racing. 10 laps for Toothless and I was simple and only took roughly 10 minutes with Toothless's speed. When the hour was up, it was beginning. Damien snuck off to get into VIP as I prepared myself with a deep breath. "You ready for this Toothless?" I asked him. He nodded to me as I rubbed his head. The other riders and their dragons were announced, I was next.
{Regular POV}
The group arrived and showed their VIP passes, the guard led them to their spot and they sat down. "When is Hunter coming?" Heather asked looking to Astrid.
"He said he'd be here by the time the race started, something about helping Damien get ready." Astrid replied. "I can't believe we're here!"
"Right." The other agreed staring at the track as the announcers were calling riders and and their dragons on to the track to line up. "Damien should be next." Travis added.
"And the final racer, someone we all know and love..." The announcer began as Damien sat down near Heather.
"I miss anything?" He asked cheekily almost. They all whipped their heads around and looked at him.
"Wait...if you're here..." Heather said, all their eyes looked to the track.
"Representing the home track is Dam-Oh, hold up. We just had a racer change and the racer for Berk will be...Oh my Gods, I can't believe it! Shadow and Toothless, back from the big crash 3 months ago! What a change up! We're going to take ya down to our track reporter to get the scoop! Take it away, Dave!" The announcer called out, the crowd went wild as Hunter came out on Toothless looping in the air once and landing.
On the track was a man with a microphone approaching Hunter and Toothless now. "Well this is a shock indeed, Shadow. We thought you were done for good after that crash a few months back. Can you enlighten everyone on the sudden change of heart?" Dave, the track reporter asked.
"Well, Dave...To be honest, the only reason I said I was done was because I was trying to protect my friends and family from press and the celebrity lifestyle. I didn't want them harassed or in danger. That is why I was the only racer in dragon racing who wore a mask. My fears were thus confirmed when a few months ago after revealing myself, a masked Changewing rider forced me off Toothless landing both of us pretty injured and out of commission for a while. I was targeted, and I didn't friends or family do be targets as well so I thought they'd be safe if I removed myself from the lifestyle. But after I woke up, they told me they didn't care and to keep doing what I love to do. So that's what I'm here to do." Hunter replied.
"But your dragon had lost his tail fin...How do you intend to race?" Dave asked now. Hunter stepped back showing the tail rig.
"The same way I always have. If doctors can make prosthetic limbs for human...Then why can one not be made for a dragon?" Hunter chuckled, he sat on Toothless's back and pressed the peddle showing off the prosthetic now.
"And to whom do we owe the credit for building such. That is pretty big." Dave said.
"I built it." There were some gasps. "I built the fin and everything that makes it work, all controlled with this stirrup peddle. Now we can go on about this after the race but I think its better explained if I show you in the race. So lets get started." Hunter smiled.
"Couldn't have said it better myself. I can't wait to see that tail in action...Well you heard it here from the rider himself, They are back, both healed and ready to race. Back to you John!" Dave called stepping off the track.
"They don't stand a chance man, a fake tail come on. Even if they get in the air, no way that Night Fury still has the same speed..." Said one of the racers besides Toothless and Hunter. Now it was Hunter's turn to grin almost.
"You're right about that. He doesn't have the same speed...He's faster than ever before. See you boys and girls at the finish line. Lets do this bud." Hunter stated as he reached for his mask and went to put it on, then stopped. Hunter only tossed it in the air smiling. "Toothless, plasma blast!" Toothless shot a purple blast at the helmet and it shattered to pieces. "We don't need to hide anymore."
"Racers! To your marks!" Said the official. Hunter pressed the pedal and opened the tail as he leaned forward against Toothless ready to dart off. "Ready! Set...RACE!" The announcers called and in a flash all dragons took to the air. Everyone watched closely, their eyes on Hunter and Toothless, it was going to be an interesting 3 days indeed.
(3 Days Later)
Now it was down to the final 5 racers in the finals bracket, this race determined who was named World Racing Champion. This race however, there were only prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. First being grand prize. Hunter's friends weren't even mad that Damien and Hunter hid the truth because it was one hell of a shocker for everyone. Unlike the other racers the last two day, this one had 20 laps and obstacles. Something very similar to the day of Hunter's crash.
Thus far, the racers had done 19 laps and this was the last one with the most obstacles. It was Hunter versus 4 others, Hunter so far leading by about a foot against two Nadder riders. The last obstacle, a stone arch set above a very steep wall where they had to leave their dragon's backs, run across, fly down the wall, land on their dragon's backs and land under the line to finish the race. Troublesome for Hunter since Toothless needed him to fly.
"Straight up Toothless, we got this!" Hunter called out. Toothless obeyed and broke away from the other two riders trying to box him in and went right up the wall as fast as he could. Reaching the arch, Hunter reached to the left side and pulled a lever. This was a slight adjustment he'd made just for situations like this. Something to lock the tail open so Toothless wouldn't lose altitude. Hunter stood up on Toothless's back and jumped towards the arch running across it as Toothless flew under perfectly, when the two cleared it Hunter smiled. "Dive bud!" The two now dove straight down together, side by side. Everyone thought that it would be a repeat of the crash but Toothless moved under Hunter and he got on his back as the two swooped up, then did a barrel roll under the finish line and landing without a problem.
"SHADOW AND TOOTHLESS WIN! I can't believe it! We have a new World Wide Racing Champion! What an amazing finish!" The announcer called out excitedly. Hunter and Toothless went right for the winners circle as his family and friends were led there safely. Hunter took Hope in his arms and kissed her forehead before placing her on Toothless's back while she giggled. Hunter kissed Astrid deeply, the camera flashes going off wildly. He could of cried, he was that happy. Toothless and him were the new world champion racers. It was an amazing feeling too. Not just to be champions but to know he got there because of his family and friends supporting him not to give up racing, which pushed him to make it so Toothless could fly again. This moment wasn't even possible without any of them. He was definitely celebrating later.
