1,000 views already? Well, hot dang I'm not complaining, lol! Sorry that the uploads haven't been anywhere near consistent, I've got so much on my plate(most of which is personal stuff).

But here's the next chapter for you!

Enjoy!

~Silverleone

Well, Astrid and I had both kept our words.

'Man, am I sore…' I thought as I leaned against a tree, sliding to the ground. I laid my katana across my lap before reaching into my coat's inner pocket, pulling out a sharpening stone. I gently ran it along the edge of the blade, hilt to tip. I did this a few more times before flipping it over, doing the same thing to the other side. By this time Astrid had sat against the same tree. She was slightly less out of breath compared to me. She'd won a lot of our matches over the past few weeks.

…

Okay, most of our matches.

…

Okay, all but two, which were both ties, only because we had to stop for breakfast…But I'm counting those as wins for me!

"So, it seems you're almost getting good enough to beat me, you've gotten close. And those ties don't count, by the way." I finished the current swipe with the stone. I turned towards her.

"Did you win? No, so that must mean I won." I replied tauntingly.

"Are you really doing this again?"

"Maybe…Nah, I'm messing with you." I went back to sharpening my blade as she studied hers. A few minutes of silence later and the breakfast shot went off. She stood up and held out her hand. I gratefully grabbed it, and she helped me stand up. We nodded and walked to the hall, sheathing our weapons. We heard a number of crashes coming from the hall.

We looked at each other and ran the rest of the way. Even if I wasn't back to 100%, I was still a little faster, so I got there first. I heard crashes, roars, and shouts coming from the hall. When I turned the corner to go in, I was greeted with a face full of dragon scales and was knocked flat on my back.

"DAH! Oof! …Did anyone *cough* get the number of that dragon…?" I slowly sat up, holding my head. When I looked up, Astrid was holding out her hand again. She helped me up, and I looked around. "What happened…?" The hall was a mess, fish, tables, and benches were flung everywhere. Hiccup and the others were calming their dragons, and I didn't see Tesla. Astrid looked on in shock.

"Hiccup, what happened?!" Hiccup turned towards us, specifically me.

"Tesla happened."

"What? What did he do?" I was shocked. He may have a short temper some times, but he never started anything. Most of the time he just left. The twins glared at me, Ruffnut speaking up.

"He started attacking Barf and Belch! What's wrong with your dragon?!"

"Yeah, someone could get really hurt! I don't know about you, but I don't like getting hurt." Tuffnut said, coddling Belch's head. Astrid snorted.

"You two bludgeon each other for fun! Quit your whining!" I shook my head in confusion.

"I don't know what happened, but I'll find out. Hiccup, I'm sorry for the mess, I'll help clean when I get back." I turned and ran out of the hall. First place to look, the beach. Tesla had grown to love sunbathing.

I ran all the way there, jumping down every other step. I got to the sand and looked around. Nothing. Okay, forest then.

««{{¤}}»»

I had finally found Tesla hiding deep in a cave on the coast. I got him to explain what happened as best as he could. I basically got that Hookfang, Barf and Belch teamed up and joked about how weak I had become after the accident. Tesla had snapped back that I could take all of their riders with my eyes closed and my hands tied. (Personally I'd balance on one leg at a time too. Make it a challenge.) They didn't like it obviously and went on to insult him and myself till he snapped.

It took some convincing, but I was able to calm him down enough to get him to come back to the hall. We were about to walk into the hall when I heard yelling. I backed up against the wall and peaked around the corner. Everything had been put back where it had been before, minus a few fish here and there. The others were standing at the table, having a group discussion. Well, more of a yelling contest, but they are Vikings, what more do you want?

"Okay, let's just calm down! …BE QUIET!" Hiccup yelled. The room went silent. "Now, Ruff, Tuff, what's on your minds?" Tuff spoke first.

"Well if that Skrill is going to be picking fights, then why should he be around?! Someone could try to stop it, probably me, and only end up hurt!" I looked back at Tesla, seeing him pull back at the words. They weren't even using his name… Ruff jumped in.

"Yeah! Why is a fight-happy dragon allowed to be here?! You don't see us breaking up fights between our dragons!" She gestured to Barf and Belch, who looked at each other in confusion. They're the same dragon…right? Astrid vocalized their thoughts.

"Okay, that's not fair. They're two heads stuck on one body, of course they're going to get along better than most dragons!" Astrid pointed out. Snotlout had, not shockingly, joined the twins on their side of the argument.

"Well, they have a point. When have you guys seen Hookfang fighting with one of your dragons?" There was a short pause. "Okay, but he's trying to show he's top dragon! That's normal." Silence filled the room, in what I assumed was everyone else shaking their heads. Hiccup spoke up.

"What I'm trying to get at, is that all of our dragons fight from time to time. Tesla has been here for less than a month, he's used to being alone. He's just adjusting to living with other dragons! Everyone needs to learn their place on this island, and until they find it, it's very possible there are going to be fights."

"Well we don't want that dragon anywhere near Barf and Belch!" I shared a hurt look with Tesla at that. That fight was only a little scuffle, and they started it. I didn't blame Tesla at all. If someone had been insulting him behind his back like that, I would have shot them down instantly. I never resorted to actual violence unless I had to. A minor slap upside the head to get the blood flowing again, but nothing major.

"And I don't need Rai coming after me because Hooky accidentally hurt his dragon with his overwhelming strength." Tesla and I just rolled our eyes. That wasn't an insult, that was a joke.

"Wh-what are you guys saying?"

"If that dragon is going to be picking fights, then why should he be around?!" I froze.

'No…it…they can't, I understand their frustration, but they can't-'

"Are, are you guys saying Tesla should leave…?"

"YES!" Three voices range out. Tesla shrank back, and I placed my hand on his nose to comfort him. A whole argument broke out among the group, and Hiccup had to ignite his Dragon Blade over his head to get everyone to calm down. "NO ONE is getting kicked off the island. It was one fight guys!" Snotlout shouted back.

"Yeah? And what if that one fight turns into three? Or five?! We will not have our dragons hurt just because Rai can't control his pet!" That did it. I spun into the doorway and slammed the side of my fist on the wood. (ouch.) Everyone turned to look in surprise.

"ENOUGH! Tesla is not my pet! He's my friend! I don't control him! He has a mind of his own! But if that's the way you feel then FINE! We're leaving!" I leveled my gaze at everyone. My tone dropped to speaking level. "Next time though, make sure you have the full story." I hopped on Tesla's neck, and we took off. I heard Hiccup and Astrid call my name, but I didn't listen.

"Tesla, Jump." He looked back at me in concern. "Just enough to put on some distance." He nodded and we jumped into a lightning bolt. It was only a few seconds, so it didn't hurt that badly. When we dropped out, we were almost out of sight of the Edge.

I furiously rubbed my eyes, trying to clear the unshed tears. I hated to get emotional like that, especially in front of others, but it needed to be done. Some Vikings were too stubborn to see past their own noses, and shouting was the only way to get through to them. Tesla looked back at me, rumbling in concern.

"I'll be fine Tesla. Let's land over there." I pointed to a familiar looking island. We landed near a pond and I dismounted. I looked around. "You know…This wouldn't make a half bad home." A shiver went up my spine and I whipped out my sword, wincing at the pain in my hand. The fact that it was still broken, combined with my slamming it into wooden objects like an idiot, really didn't help. Tesla felt the same thing, and lightning sparked between his teeth. I heard rapid clicking and spun, only to see something flash out of the bushes and strike me in the stomach. I flew back and hit a tree.

All I knew after that was darkness.

Chapter 19

*Roooooooarrrr*

*Screeeeeech*

*Clack clack clack clack whoosh*

'What…what's happening…?'

*ROOOOOOOARRRR*

'TESLA?!' I tried to force my eyes open and sit up but clenched them shut when my stomach and ribs protested the movements immediately. I gripped it with my right hand and slowly opened my eyes. Tesla was standing in front of me, facing the other way. He roared and shot a blast at something, which screeched back. I heard the clicking again, and Tesla jumped to the side slightly. Orange and brown scales with two pincers, a dragon roared and waved its tails over its head.

'Triple Stryke…' I forced myself to sit up, ignoring the throbbing pain in my gut.

"Tesla!" He glanced back really quick and saw I was awake. He turned forwards in time to get a face full of Stryke tail. "NO!" He landed hard on his side, knocked out. The Triple Stryke slowly stalked over to me, tails poised to strike, pincers clicking in anticipation. I almost closed my eyes in defeat when a thought popped into my head.

'Tesla would kill me if I didn't fight…' I put my right hand against the tree I was laying against and slowly pushed myself up. The Stryke stopped. It didn't expect me to resist, especially not after a full blow from its tails. It leaned down and roared at me in frustration. I gave it a cocky smirk.

"You want me, come and get me. But don't expect I'll go down without a fight." It hissed and leaped at me, the tails moving to stab me. I grunted as I rolled left, letting its tails land in the tree. While it was pulling them out, I ran as best I could towards my sword, which I had dropped when I'd been hit earlier. I rolled as I grabbed it, barely missing the three tails again as they jabbed where I had just been. I crouched into a stance and grinned, hiding a wince. I had to constantly use a two-handed grip because of my left hand.

"Told you I wasn't gonna go without a fight. You hurt my friend." My face dropped into a low scowl as I looked over at Tesla, who was still out cold. "You hurt him, and I won't forgive you for that." It pulled its tails out of the ground and roared at me. I might as well have snarled back and charged. I spun as the tails came down, the first coming down right at me.

I sidestepped a pincer and cut at its right ear flap as I went past. I rolled to finish, spinning while coming out of it, and jumped back to dodge the three tails that swung at me. It roared in pain after I'd cut it, and it got even angrier.

'That's it, get angry, get mad. I want you to see red for what you've done.' I didn't want to kill it, and I probably couldn't in my state, but I wanted it to learn that it attacked the wrong rider and dragon. It ran at me, then jumped high and rolled into a ball. I ran to the side and into a slide. Its three tails struck the ground where I had been, and it roared in frustration.

It never had such a small, difficult foe before. Normally humans just screamed and either curled into a ball or ran. They never fought back. It decided to go for the long range tactic and started shooting at me. I leaped out of the way and ducked behind a tree.

'Crap, almost forgot this dragon can still breath fire!' I peeked around the tree, only to duck as a tail was heading right for my face. I backed up and leaped into another tree, landing on a branch, then frog-hopped from branch to branch, going deeper into the forest. My ribs weren't broken, just really bruised. Still, they definitely slowed me down.

The Triple Stryke followed me, not realizing in its frustration how limited its movements would be. I landed in a random spot on the ground, finding the area suitable. Hearing the Stryke stumbling through the forest was hilarious, but I needed to focus. I stabbed my sword in the middle of the small clearing and hopped into a tree.

The Stryke eventually came crashing into the clearing and saw my sword. It slowly walked forward. Why would the human leave its only defense in the middle of the clearing? Was this flimsy thing how the human had cut it earlier?

I jumped down, holding some vines in my hands, and wrapped a loop around the combined tails. I tossed the rest down and under its head, grabbing it when it came up and around. I had created a loose "collar" for it, using its tails as an anchor. It started freaking out and was trying to uncoil its tails, but they were stuck together. I was barely able to tie the loose end to the loop on the tails before jumping away, grabbing my sword. I stood up and sheathed it, hopefully not needing it after this.

"HAH! Now your tails are useless!" I hoped it was in such a rage that it wouldn't think to use its claws. Looked like I was right, the thing just charged right at me, leaping with fire charged in its maw. I side stepped and it slammed into the tree behind me, knocking itself out cold. I reached down and patted its head.

"Maybe next time stinger." I said. I ran back to the clearing where Tesla was, hoping his only injury was from the hit that knocked him out. I heard what sounded like a roar of agony, and I reached a faster speed in seconds.

Tesla had woken up with a massive headache. He had looked around only to find myself and the Stryke gone and assumed the worst. He roared to the skies in pain at the loss of his friend. He collapsed to the ground and just laid there, feeling sick.

*Smack*

His head jerked up in surprise, looking around. There was a small rock rolling on the ground. He looked up across the clearing. I was standing there, tossing another rock up and catching it. I dropped it as I slowly walked over.

"You think it would take a simple Triple Stryke to kill me? Man, what did I do to make you doubt me?" Next thing I know, he was on top of me, almost crushing me with his wings, nuzzling and licking my face.

"CAUH! Tesla, you're-AHH gross-stopstopstop!" He stopped and just laid on his side, letting me rest in his right wing. I hugged him back now that I wasn't being drowned in his statically charged saliva. I didn't know how long we stayed like that, but next thing I know, Tesla was standing over me protectively. He roared at something, dropping into a low growl of warning.

I nudged his stomach, and he hesitantly opened his wings, letting me stand. I walked up next to his head and saw the Triple Stryke on the other side of the clearing. It still had the vines on its tails, and was standing sideways, holding them out as far as it could with the restraining vines. I stepped away from Tesla and started to walk forwards. He didn't much appreciate that, and swiftly moved in front of me to block my way. I gave him an understanding, but reprimanding look.

"…Tesla…" He simply growled at me and tried pulling me close with his tail. I stepped around it and gave him a look. "Obviously he just wants the vines off of his tails, I'll be fine." He growled again and tried using his wing this time, but I slapped it away. "Would you knock it off you possessive baby? I'll be fine." I stepped around him, and this time, he didn't waste the effort, grabbing me by my coat and dragging me back. I tripped and fell on my butt.

"Ow! Tesla! Let me, go!" I shrugged him off and turned towards him. I gently whacked him on the nose and he flinched. I pointed a finger at him. "Now you listen here mister, I will not take that kind of behavior. Yes, he tried to kill us, I'm not happy about that either. But didn't you try to kill me at one point." It wasn't a question, and his head drooped when he realized that. I turned towards the Stryke, who was watching with a perplexed look on its face. The Skrill was trying to keep its kill away from it, understandably, but the human turned, smacked the Skrill and started back talking it! How did the Skrill not blast the human to smithereens?!

Tesla backed down and looked at me in shame. I reached up and scratched the side of his head.

"I understand why you're concerned bud, but if the Stryke only wants the vines off of its tails, then I'll help it." I walked over to the Stryke, who was still too confused to properly put it into words. It started suddenly when I got within 20 feet of it, and when Tesla growled, it backed down, trying to show it wasn't a threat. It even went so far as to lay on the ground. I slowly walked up, stopping about 10 feet away.

"So you want those vines off? If I'm going to get them off, I need to use my sword. I'm going to pull it out, okay?" The Triple Stryke hesitated, not knowing what a 'sword' was, then gently nodded. I reached up and slowly pulled my sword out, trying to not make any sudden moves. I brought it around to my front.

"You've never seen a sword before, have you?" It cocked its head to one side. I knelt down in front of it, close enough to almost touch its front horn. I reached out with the sword, holding the blade in my right hand, offering it so the Stryke could investigate. It gently and hesitantly brought its nose forward, sniffing it. When it tried to lick it, and I pulled it back.

"Careful, this is what cut you when we fought." It looked at the sword in shock. I slowly got into a standing position and walked over to its tails. The Stryke hesitantly shifted it tails away from me, pulling them close to its body. I gently huffed.

"If you want those vines off, I gotta use my sword. Your pulling tightened the knots so I can't use my hands…hand." It slowly brought its tails around, keeping them close to the ground. I reached forward and grabbed the vines, bringing them closer. I started to saw the vines when I stopped. I had to confirm one more thing.

"I'm going to cut these vines, but you have to promise me you'll leave Tesla and I alone." The Stryke was hesitating when I gestured to Tesla, who had come closer. "If you leave us alone, we won't bother you, deal?" It gently nodded its head after a moment, and I sawed through the vines. They snapped, but there was still the loop keeping the tails together. The Stryke started to get up, happy it was free. Out of reaction, I put my hand on its horn.

"Wait!" Nobody moved, everyone tense in the moment. It felt like time had frozen. I slowly removed my hand from its horn. "I-I'm sorry, but your tails are still stuck together. Those vines I cut were only keeping them close to your head. I'm going to have to cut those vines too. Um, if you want to use your tails…" The Stryke had seemed to zone out until I removed my hand and had pulled back at the same time I did. Tesla had started to growl, but I turned my head and gave him a pointed look. He stopped. I turned back to see the tails on the ground in front of me.

"So…you'll let me cut them…?" It nodded, still seemingly out of it. I gently reached forward and grasped the vines, keeping away from the stingers. I reached forward with my sword, keeping my movements slow and deliberate. I gently sawed through the vines, keeping the blade as far away from the tails as humanly possible. I stopped when they were about to break and stepped back.

"There, you should be able to break that." It looked at the cut and tried to pull its tails apart. After some effort, the vines snapped, and the tails spun apart. It flexed them by rotating them apart and together a few times, looking at them in awe. I chuckled softly, slowing backing up and sheathing my sword.

"It's like you've never had those before, the way you're acting." I had backed up all the way to Tesla now, gently putting my hand on his nose. The Triple Stryke looked at me with joy and was wiggling slightly in excitement. I waved in the direction of the forest.

"Well go on, just don't forget our deal. We don't bother each other, and we won't have problems, okay?" It nodded and disappeared into the brush, waving its three tails. I turned to Tesla, who in turn smacked the back of my head with his tail.

"OW! You brat!" I tackled his head in a hug, and we rolled so he was on his other side. We curled up and went to sleep. It had been a long day after all.