Prompt: After the event of Gift of a Night Fury, Toothless starts to formally teach Hiccup how to fly. Although, after many failures, she's in need of some encouragement.
Song: Eye of the Tiger by Survivor (A request from TheDragonWriter4ever)
Start fic as you start song.
Heart of a Dragon:
"Ahh!" Hiccup fell out from the sky into the cove's lake. "Ugh, that's the fifteenth try today", she griped as she climbed out. "I'm just not getting it, Toothless. I think it might be too late for me to learn. Or, maybe my wings just don't work?"
"That's crazy talk. You just need to keep trying", Toothless was convinced. He was trying to teach her how to fly, much to Hiccup's failure to stay in the air for more than ten seconds.
"I don't know, bud", Hiccup wasn't so sure anymore. She had wished to learn to fly on her own, but that hope was dying fast.
"Back on the cliff. Now", Toothless growled, and Hiccup, her heart no longer in it, complied.
Fall, after fall, after fall, Hiccup kept trying, but no progress was made. Hiccup climbed back out of the lake again, and this time when Toothless told her again, she refused. At that moment, Toothless realized he needed to do more than simply push his sister off the cliff.
"Rose on up, back in the ring…", Toothless started to the girl sitting glumly in the grass. "…Went the distance, now I'm back on my wings. Nothing left, but the will to survive."
Hiccup looked up at Toothless, a tiny spark igniting. But Toothless knew it wasn't enough yet.
"...it happens too fast. You change your passion for glory…"
Hiccup looked back down, almost ashamed to have given up, but unable to stand again. Toothless nudged her face, however, picking her chin up as he told her to never give up the fight.
"…It's the heart of a dragon, it's the thrill of the fight", Toothless lunged down. "Rising up to the challenge of our rival. As the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night…", Toothless stalked up to Hiccup, then leaped up over her. "…with the HEART…", gliding to a boulder on the other side, "…of a dragon."
. . . .
Up on the cliff again, Toothless continued his pep talk, Hiccup still hesitate as she looked over the side.
"Face to face, out in the heat; staying tough, staying hungry…"
As Toothless spoke, a new fire was growing in Hiccup. He could see it in her face; in her eyes. A downed dragon is a dead dragon, and though she could live without her own flight, would it really be living?
"It's the heart of a dragon, it's the thrill of the fight. Rising up to the challenge of our rival. As the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night, and he's watching us all with the HEART of a dragon."
Hiccup stepped up, her eyes blazing with a new found confidence. "You're right, Toothless. After all I've done―we've done―I can't let a few falls stop me now. I can't stop. I won't!"
"Rose on up, straight to the top. Had the guts, got the glory. Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop! With the fight and the will to survive, it's the heart of a dragon, it's the thrill of the fight. Rising up to the challenge of our rival. As the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night..." Hiccup stepped back from the cliff's edge, then with a running start, "…with the HEART…" she leaped off and flew into a glide, "…of the dragon."
"Hahaha! I'm flying!" Hiccup shouted as she kept herself in the air, flapping her wings. "Toothless, I'm flying―whoa", she wobbled.
"I knew you could do it! Now just―"
"Whah!" Hiccup lost control and fell, a splash sounding.
"—make sure to keep yourself balanced…" Toothless cringed. He leaped down, but as he landed Hiccup was already out of the water and raring to go. She wasn't stopping now.
For the rest of the evening they practiced and practiced, until Hiccup could fly from one side of the cove, to the other, without falling in. It took a lot of time, practice, and patience, but eventually, Hiccup did it, and she hugged Toothless so tight in thanks. He was just glad her dragon heart was still strong.
