"Modern myth".
How to train your dragon, Toothcup.
By: Sinattea.
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Disclaimer: Cressida Cowell owns the book series, Dreamworks owns the movie. I own nothing but this AU.
Note: I think this means the weekly update is back, yay! Well, that is unexpected. ^^
This chapter made me think a lot of the "Buckbeak's flight" scene in HPatPoA, I was even listening to that soundtrack when writing. Guess that's a huge clue.
Oh, and before I forget: you should go to my DeviantArt and check the full and colored version of our lovely cover. ^^
Now go on: read, enjoy, review! !
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Chapter 10: Unexpected.
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And finally, a saturday morning, the bandage was officially removed and according to the doctor's opinion the crutch would be no longer necessary, though Hiccup would have to be careful and he couldn't run or do any exercise for at least another week.
- Don't worry, doctor, I'm not really into sports, I'm not a Viking – Hiccup mumbled to himself as he leaped down the hospital bed and headed to the reception to meet his father.
- Hiccup, ya're walkin' – Stoick exclaimed, clearly relieved.
- Yes, dad, I am – he replied with a huge smile spreading through his face -. I gotta tell everyone the big news!
Hiccup fished the cellular out of his pocket and dialed his most frequent number (as a precaution neither he nor Toothless had each other registered as contacts, just in case any of them lost the phone).
- Say 'hi' t'Fishlegs from ma part, son – mentioned Stoick as he went to pay the bill.
- I will when I call him, dad – promised Hiccup, not noticing he'd just revealed it wasn't his best friend whom he was about to talk with.
Stoick, on the other hand, did notice that tiny detail, and he pursed his lips in suspicion as Hiccup excitedly waited for the person on the other side of the line to answer.
Toothless delayed a bit to finally respond, for he was working and had to wait until he was alone in the elevator to pull out his phone.
- Okay, hi, Hiccup. I got my boss all hysteric today, so try to be quick: I'm dead if he sees the phone – he said, overwhelmed by his job.
- Hi! Busy-busy, aren't we? – Hiccup drew a comprehensive expression -. Well, try to make some space in your tight schedule… Guess what? – Toothless let go a slight snort of exasperation, he didn't have the time to guess right now, so Hiccup went straight to the point - I finally quit the crutch: I'm walking again!
There was a second of silence as Toothless caught the true depth of Hiccup's words.
- Do you realize what this means? – asked Hiccup in encouraging voice.
- Today is the day – a wide grin slowly slid through Toothless' face.
- Are you ready?
- Are you? – he defied in a cute tone.
- Yes!
- Wait for me tonight… – Toothless said in a soft, enticing (almost seductive) voice - And Hiccup, open the window.
- I will.
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By the time skies went black and the moon lit up the drifting clouds Hiccup was already at his limit. He couldn't wait any more, anxiety was driving him crazy!
He made up some lame excuse to go to bed early and get properly dressed for the occasion (no attempt at fanciness this time, Toothless had warned it was cold to fly at night) and piled his pillows in a strategic way to take his place on the bed (just in case Stoick felt like taking a look, though he hadn't done that since Hiccup was twelve).
Now he was counting minute after minute, yearning for midnight as he gazed fixedly at his window. Sooner or later, Toothless would appear there.
"Better sooner than later" Hiccup caught himself wishing. Toothless was delaying too much, probably his job was keeping him some extra hours. Bored and increasingly anxious Hiccup dropped himself over the bed with his head hanging upside down on the edge, watching his ceiling through its reflection on his amazing mirror (well, it used to be his mother's mirror, but Stoick let him keep it after she died). The dragon curled around the crystal stared back at him through empty metal eyes.
- What are you staring at? – Hiccup unleashed all his irritation against the metal dragon. Naturally he obtained no answer… not from his mirror, at least.
- Wow… You gotta feel quite lonely without me if you're actually talking to that dragon – called what in that moment was the most beautiful voice in the world.
- Toothless! ! – Hiccup exclaimed. He rolled over the bed and jumped up to go and hug the boy sitting on his windowsill, arms crossed. Toothless welcomed the hug.
- Hey, either you missed me a lot or you really can't wait for the flying tour.
- Both, I guess – replied Hiccup, somewhat playfully, breaking the hug.
- Fair enough – Toothless jumped off the window and stretched out a bit -. Can you just do a tiny thing for me first? I'm starving, work was tough today. We got a group of tourists in some sort of spiritual retirement: heaviest luggage I've ever carried.
- Worse than Starkard's?
- Multiply that for thirty tourists.
- Oh, poor boy… We got some fish.
- Yes please! ! – the dragon boy exclaimed, overexcited.
- But you have to be very, very quiet, 'cause if my dad wakes up… – warned Hiccup, though his words sounded more as begging.
- You know? We reptiles are four times stealthier than you humans in your best moments, to say the least.
And only to prove his words true beyond any doubt he lifted an unaware Hiccup in his arms and went to the kitchen in an outstanding cat-like silence. Actually, Hiccup was the noisiest during the trip downstairs, with his pouty whispering of ten motives why Toothless should put him down.
- Keep complaining and you'll be the one to wake your father – teased Toothless, at last letting the boy touch the ground. Hiccup responded with one single hiccough.
Then he opened the fridge and pulled out a casserole of blackened tuna. "There you go". Toothless' face was the reflection of gratefulness when Hiccup offered him the dish, and for the next minutes he focused on eating to his heart's content. The Haddock boy couldn't help but giggle slightly: Toothless ate as much as Stoick!
- What's so funny? – wondered Toothless, his mouth full with fish. Hiccup shook his head in negation, and Toothless didn't press the matter any further since he was too busy licking the plate clean - Thanks.
- It's okay.
- There's one more thing I have to ask – announced Toothless, his voice suddenly gaining a lot of seriousness.
- What is it?
- Forgive me.
- What for? – Hiccup blinked, not knowing what was to come.
- This – and suddenly Toothless used a pressure-point maneuver on the joint of Hiccup's neck and jaw.
Everything went black.
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When Hiccup woke up he felt a pulsing sensation on his neck, but nothing too serious to hurt. He was a bit dizzy, so it took him several minutes to realize he was back at the clearing. Toothless sat by his side, throwing tiny branches into the fireplace.
- Welcome back – he said.
Hiccup sort of glared at him, sobbing his neck.
- What was that for? – he groaned.
- The knock-out? Sorry about that, but to leave your house flying would pretty much ruin the surprise.
- Was it really necessary? – now Hiccup was going upset. Such a lame excuse Toothless had just pronounced.
- I apologized in advance! – Toothless remembered, which softened a little bit Hiccup's expression - I know what it feels like; learned that trick from Evelyn, she knocked me out that way very often. I'll make it up to you.
- So are we finally going to fly?
- Yes.
This said Toothless kissed Hiccup's forehead and began to undress in front of him afterwards. Hiccup's face turned red as tomato.
- W-what are you doing?
- Taking my clothes off – Toothless shrugged, as if it were the most normal thing in the world -. Believe me, I've tried, but I can't find the store that sells the Hulk's pants; when I dragonize my human-sized clothes just shred apart.
Hiccup's embarrassment and demureness vanished with that joke, so he simply looked away as Toothless removed his clothes (the bellboy red uniform), still laughing. Fortunately he carried a backpack in which Toothless safely put his clothing.
The next second, when Hiccup turned around, the Night Fury was already there, greeting him with huge, bright green eyes and spread-out wings.
Hiccup felt a warm sensation grow inside his stomach at the sight. He had once come to believe that he'd never see that black dragon for a second time.
- Hello, again – he said, placing his hand on Toothless' forehead. The dragon rubbed his muzzle against his hand, and tilted his head up to lick Hiccup's cheek enthusiastically -. Let's go, then.
Toothless lowered his head so Hiccup could climb up his neck and seat on his back, between his wings. At the beginning the boy was nervous, and he required a couple minutes to get used to the idea of flying on top of a wild dragon (the "wild" word was quite fitting considering the lack of seatbelts or any sort of saddle, and thus the danger, but Hiccup was sure Toothless would take it easy).
- Okay – he sighed -, I'm ready.
Toothless looked back at him one last time and then started running to gain impulse, the quick movement scaring Hiccup to his core, but before he could scream how he'd changed his mind Toothless leapt with all his might and shook his wings… Two seconds later, when Hiccup opened his eyes one at a time, they were flying. They were flying! !
Flying! !
Hiccup felt an incontrollable glee grow inside of his chest, like a tickling and warm bubble expanding more and more, till his adrenaline shot up and he was euphoric. The squalls summoned by Toothless' flapping wings waved his hair in all directions, and a crazy laughter burst from his mouth, and he felt like screaming all his excitement out again and again and again. And every time he shouted Toothless elevated higher and higher until they were flying amidst the clouds, enveloping like a silver mist under the moonlight. There Toothless joined Hiccup in his euphoria and shot some plasma blasts that lit the clouds like blue lightning.
It was magical, the best experience Hiccup had ever lived.
He could get used to it, flying with Toothless…
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When things turned too cold Toothless descended slowly until he flew ten meters above the treetops, Hiccup holding firmly onto his neck, enjoying the feeling of watching the world from the heights and the now soft breeze.
And then…
"What's that?"
Something caught Hiccup's attention suddenly. There were several light spots amongst the trees, as if some sort of huge camp had started many bonfires. Perhaps they were some of the tourists Toothless had mentioned, it wasn't normal to have so many people camping on that time of the year.
Toothless had also noticed them, and was as curious as Hiccup. He immediately turned back, describing a big circle around the area (he couldn't spin in a fast maneuver for Hiccup could fall down). He knew it was safer to get away before any of them caught a glimpse of the black shadow drifting on the clouded skies.
Then it happened.
A lightning passed by, almost touching one of Toothless' wings and causing Hiccup to stumble; he had to tighten his grip on Toothless' neck ferociously.
Problem was the lightning didn't strike them from above as expected: it had ascended from the forest. It had been shot at them from below.
Hunters! !
Right after the first lightning a second one came, and another one, and soon the whole forest emulated a rising, artificial electric storm.
Toothless did his best to evade the bolts, but having to take care of Hiccup limited his movements and speed. Everything was to no avail…
- TOOTHLESS! ! !
The lightning reached the Night Fury, and they both fell down…
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It didn't hurt so much, though, when Hiccup hit the ground; maybe because Toothless protected him, embracing him with his wings. They rolled several meters downhill and finally crashed against a shrub. There Toothless blacked out, and Hiccup had to struggle to release himself from the protective hold.
Toothless was, again, seriously wounded. This time Hiccup soon realized something much worse had happened as pain brought the dragon back to his senses and he shrieked in agony, already noticing how fatal the wound was.
- Your tail… – muttered Hiccup, doing his best not to panic.
Toothless kept shrieking, pain piercing his whole body as the artificial lightning had.
Hiccup didn't know what to do. Healing scratches was one thing, but curing a lacerated tail? The black membranes were shredded. He clumsily wrapped the tail with both hands, trying to apply pressure to stop the copious bleeding; his efforts didn't seem to aid much.
Toothless yelled and growled and shook his wings in a convulsive way, pushing the human away. Hiccup was growing desperate by his impotence…
And only to make it worse, the noise and the moving lights revealed that the Hunters were obviously searching the area, not giving up in their chase of the Night Fury.
They were close. They would find them…
Hiccup had to think of a way to keep Toothless safe.
- Toothless – he called, but the agonizing beast didn't pay attention to him -. Toothless… I know it hurts, but you have to go human…
The dragon kept shrieking and trembling, so much that Hiccup had to force him quiet by surrounding his whole muzzle with both arms, pressing the reptile's head to the soil using all of his weight.
- Toothless please! ! You have to go human… – he begged, but realizing how he was still holding a dragon's head multiplied his anxiety. There was a knot in his throat - I'm here, I'm with you… but you have to go human! They're coming… Please, Toothless, please… Humanize! !
Toothless could only understand half the words Hiccup said, but something in the boy's desperation clicked inside his head. Employing whatever energy he had left, he turned into a human again, but that was the last thing he was capable of doing. Afterwards he lost conscience for good.
So now Hiccup was alone in the middle of the forest with an injured person in his arms.
He did what his survival instinct told him to: shielded Toothless with his own body and waited until the Hunters passed by. Those were unbearable minutes; he hugged Toothless with all his might, keeping his blood-stained head pressed against his chest, and prayed to all the gods that the shrub was big and thick enough to hide them from the scrutinizing looks of the vicious hunters.
Boiling tears blurred his vision, but he somehow managed to remain calm.
Half an hour later he grew convinced the Hunters had lost the Night Fury; now he could begin to think of a way to get out of there. "Focus – he encouraged himself -. You need to focus, there's no place for panic if you really want to help Toothless".
He studied Toothless carefully: his body was all covered in mud and blood, and his frayed tailfins had turned into a deep wound on his lower back. To prevent infections Hiccup had to get him properly washed, and to prevent hypothermia or some other complications he had to get Toothless clothed, for he was still as naked as a dragon. Doing things almost in some sort of automatic pilot Hiccup pulled the uniform out of his backpack and dressed Toothless, making sure to tear the shirt and improvise a bandage around his lower torso. It wouldn't be enough for that injure, though, it kept bleeding too much.
Now he had to figure out how to take Toothless somewhere safe. He knew they weren't far from the forest's border, he'd seen a glimpse of city light far in the horizon before Toothless was knocked out. If only he could make it to the road…
"Whatever I have to do: I will protect you".
Filled with determination Hiccup placed Toothless' arm around his shoulder and began dragging him carefully through the woods. He wished he were strong enough to carry him, but wishful thinking wouldn't take him anywhere so he preferred to focus on his task: "Help Toothless, heal him, keep him safe". The physical sacrifice required for it was the last thing to worry about, it was all means. If it helped him fulfill his goal, whatever it was, he could take it.
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An hour later Hiccup finally reached the main road and stepped on the pavement. He looked in both directions, but no cars were driving by. He gave it a second thought, anyways, because taking a ride would mean having to give explanations to some stranger. Then his panicked brain finally remembered he owned a cellular. Would he have any signal? Well, it was probable considering how his father's call interrupted his first moment with the Night Fury weeks ago. He confirmed that miraculous fact when he fished the phone out of his backpack.
He called the only one who could help him, yet the phone rang and rang and a mechanic feminine voice informed him the cellular he was trying to contact was either turned off or out of the service zone. Probably the phone's battery had died in the middle of the night and he didn't notice.
Fishlegs couldn't help them.
Hiccup's anxiety returned with all potency in a second. The flush of relief that filled him for reaching the road and having his fully-functional cell vanished.
Toothless leaned, still unconscious, against the closest tree while Hiccup screamed and stomped and cursed everyone and everything, frustrated, desperate and powerless as he felt.
What could he do? To whom could he go to?
He needed to get Toothless out of there. Where were they to begin with? In the outer limits of the forest, twenty kilometers away from the city, the very least. He needed a car. Fishlegs didn't drive. He needed someone who owned a car. His father? No, that wasn't even an option. Toothless' landlady? No, he didn't have her number, and she for sure didn't have a car. But not only was the car an important consideration, he also needed to reach a safe place in the shortest period of time… Too much for his list of people-to-trust.
Hiccup needed someone trustworthy, who could drive and had access to a car 24/7, and that someone had to live near enough of the forest, at the city's borders…
Realization hit Hiccup so abruptly it truly seemed like a miracle.
He searched in his contacts list:
"Astrid Hofferson".
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The popcorn bowl was completely abandoned at the closest corner of the table; neither Astrid nor Ruffnut wanted to risk getting food stuck in their throats if they needed to shout.
Astrid's parents were gone for the weekend, so she seized the opportunity to organize a private party (meaning she invited only the non-bully Vikings), but now the party was over and everybody went home Ruffnut decided to stay and organize a terror-movie marathon only for best friends. There they were, lights out, sitting on Astrid's fancy couch, half-hiding under a blanket, watching the most terrifying movies Ruffnut was able to find. Their eyes were glued to the tv.
- Don't go there! You'll die! ! – yelled Ruffnut at the screen - She's so gonna die, ain't she?
- Yup – the blonde nodded -. Question is how…
- Wanna make a bet?
- What? – Astrid whispered, barely daring to ruin the scary mood with her voice.
- The one who screams when she dies… buys breakfast for the other the whole week.
- You're in… Oh-shit-that's-it! – Astrid began biting her nails.
- Don't-scream-don't-scream… – Ruffnut muttered to herself.
The girl on the screen committed the stupidity of walking alone into the dark and spooky tunnel…
Then the phone rang in the middle of the night.
Both Astrid and Ruffnut screamed at the top of her lungs and nearly jumped off the couch to hide behind it.
- It's the phone! ! It's the phone! – Astrid realized a couple seconds later - Don't worry, it's just my cell phone…
- Phones don't ring at friggin' four in the morning! ! ! – complained a terrified Ruffnut.
- I'm not answering – Astrid announced (the last phone-call someone answered that night ended in his brutal murder).
They both stared at the cellular until it stopped ringing, and sighed incredibly relieved when it did.
- You're such a scaredy-cat – mocked Ruffnut.
- Says the girl with the blanket over her head – Astrid teased back.
Ruffnut quickly left her hidey-hole beneath the blanket.
- No, seriously, who the hell calls at friggin' four in the mornin'? – wondered Ruffnut.
- Could it be Tuffnut? He knew we'd be watching horror movies…
- Yeah, actually, that could be him – Ruffnut scratched her chin to later smash her fist against the table -. That stupid belchin' worm…! !
The phone began ringing again.
- Ok, that's not Tuffnut – said the twin, pretty convinced -. His phone-jokes take at least a ten minutes break. He needs time to laugh his ass off, you know…
- Then who is it? – Astrid felt a void at the base of her stomach - Maybe it's a real call… An emergency?
- Your parents?
Less than a second later Astrid had already picked the phone with trembling hands.
- Hello? – there was a moment of silence as the other person thanked the gods and cleared his evidently dry throat - Hello?
- Astrid, I need a favor – said a desperate someone.
- What's goin' on? – whispered Ruffnut, curious. Astrid shushed her at once.
- Who is it? – the blonde demanded to know.
- Please, we need help… – begged the desperate one.
Astrid's eyes widened as she recognized the voice.
- Hiccup? ?
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- So, le' me see if I get it – said Ruffnut as she climbed on the copilot's seat -. For some strange reason your ex-boyfriend's stuck in the middle of the woods and he needs you to go pick him up?
- Yes – confirmed Astrid as she adjusted her seatbelt and put the keys in place.
- And we're goin'?
- Well, what do you think? – Astrid started the car and stepped hard on the accelerator. Sometimes her best friend was simply exasperating.
- I say we are – responded Ruffnut. Astrid growled lowly -. Why?
- Okay, Ruff, we're not… I mean… If I needed help and Hiccup was my only option, he'd help me, okay? No more questions, please.
Ruffnut kept quiet for a couple seconds playing with the switch of the automatic windows. When Astrid glared at her in irritation she stopped.
- I didn't mean "why" as in "why are we goin'?" – Ruffnut sort of apologized -. I mean: Why do we have to pick him up in the middle of nowhere?
- We'll find out soon enough.
Astrid studied quickly the empty avenue in search for patrols; since she didn't see any, she dared skipping the red light. Ruffnut was honestly astounded.
- You realize is 4am? Saturday night? Isn't that weird? I mean, it's Hiccup Haddock we're talking about…
- Okay, that's enough – Astrid interrupted -. You didn't listen to him, Ruff. He was desperate, panicked… Something really bad just happened…
- How bad?
Astrid lowered the speed just enough to fix her eyes on her best friend in the gravest expression ever.
- He said "we need your help".
- O…k…
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Hiccup kept watching his cellular's clock, while cradling Toothless' head in his lap. Astrid said she'd go, Astrid said she'd help them. Where was she?
Toothless moaned slightly, the evolution of his pain forcing him to awake.
- Shh, it's fine. You're gonna be alright. Help's coming, Toothless – Hiccup murmured in his ear. It was so cold that his breath turned to steam when speaking.
Seeing the road was still empty Hiccup took the time to check Toothless' improvised bandage: the white shirt was now as red tainted as the rest of the bellboy uniform. The wound was obviously deeper than expected.
Hiccup was forced to bite his hand in order to keep his emotions under control. One single tear slid down his left cheek…
He would've lost his faith if not for the gentle hand that cleaned the tear from his face. Toothless looked at him through weary eyes, his fingers trembling due to weakness.
- Hiccup…
He held Toothless' hand against his cheek as he promised, once again, that everything would be alright.
Hiccup's cellular rang, stunning Toothless with its sound. He answered immediately.
- Where are you? – said Astrid -. I've been driving down the forest road back and forth for ten minutes now and I don't see you.
- Keep driving – urged Hiccup -. You'll see us.
He hung the phone and stood up, carrying Toothless as best as he could, and headed to the road, hoping the only one to see them would be Astrid and not some Hunters.
Toothless was half-unconscious again, but he somehow managed to stand on his own, making things for Hiccup much easier.
Two lights floating above the pavement blinded the brown-haired boy partially. Astrid stopped her car right in front of him with a screech of the wheels.
- Oh, shit… – said Ruffnut from the copilot seat, staring at the dark figures standing in the middle of the road -. Toothless Night? ? Is that really Toothless Night? ?
- Yeah, that's him…
Astrid wasn't as surprised as her friend, of course, after all she'd already seen and heard trustworthy sources that rumored about the two boys' unusual relationship. She was more worried about the emergency, so she focused: she'd promised help and she was there to provide it, not to judge or question.
- …And he's blood-covered… Hurry up, let's go! ! – she urged.
Both girls got off the car and ran towards Hiccup to help him heave Toothless into the back seat, where Hiccup climbed as well to take care of him.
Though both girls noticed the boy's obvious discomfort for having Ruffnut there too they didn't make any comments about it, as neither did he. The three of them simply established an implicit agreement as soon as laid eyes on each other: they'd do what was to be done first, and think of important questions later.
He didn't exteriorize it, but Hiccup was endlessly grateful for the girls' discretion.
- So, where to Hiccup? – asked Astrid a minute later, ready to step on the pedal.
- I was hoping you'd let us use your garage…
- My parents are gone for the weekend, you can stay in my house – she informed.
And step on the pedal she did.
Hiccup, in the meantime, didn't pay attention to anyone or anything, he was too busy trying to control Toothless' unstoppable bleeding: unfortunately all the movement required to get him to the road and into the car only aggravated the injury.
Sometimes Astrid and Ruffnut would take a peek at the back seat through the rear-view mirror, feel incredibly sad watching Hiccup's angst, and then exchange a look between themselves to remind each other how they should keep their mouths shut.
Nobody talked during the journey, and the only noises to be heard were the motor's roar and Toothless' pained groans.
Only once Hiccup shushed him affectionately.
"Everything will be alright".
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Another note: Chan-chan-cháaaan- - -. Ehm, that's how suspense music sounds like in spanish, yeah. Onomatopoeias, you know, they change from place to place.
So, yeah, I almost killed Toothless here. But you know what the saddest part is? That Hiccup couldn't enjoy naked Toothless because he was, you know, kind of dying in his arms... Yeah... (-Just kidding, he's not going to die... [Yet] Damn it Squirrel! Spoiling is one thing but lying is an entirely different matter!-). I bet you didn't see that coming!
I wonder if this abrupt fall from heaven and all the way down to hell (literally) is somehow product of my shitty week... No, it can't, this was written ages ago. Or maybe it can be? Did I predict the future? I mean, I started with Hulk and Buckbeak and fun and... somehow ended up here... Oh, damn.
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Whatever, let's move on to the happy part of the chapter. And the Oscar goes to... my reviewers! Thank you very much!
AlexJohnD, Hi Mr Whale, NlightsofAlaska, AtkiakFF, AliceCullen3,
Amy-the-Book-Nerd, Monn's Secret Dream, DragonDude23,
PrincessOfTheNight01, BeautifulBayonetta, simoka, Psycho-Pacgirl,
Loti-miko, Ancientathens, No No 22, Heather Dehmer, SweetTooth4Romance.
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