"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: Sorry if this chapter took longer than expected... Don't hate me. To earn your forgiveness you can go and watch in my DeviantArt the drawing for the Halloween first kiss and some slitgh smut Toothcup drawing.
Now, the cliffhanger is finally over, but... will it end alright?
Read and find out.
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Chapter 13: Given wings.
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Hiccup's heart pounded in his heart like a ticking bomb. The raindrops eventually replaced the tears he wiped away, but he still felt broken; dry and broken. He curled in the mud and waited till his body quit shuddering, till his sobs died deep within his chest.
Toothless had pushed him away. Toothless had blamed him.
Toothless was gone.
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He returned home covered in mud and wet to the bones, at very unfashionable hours. Fortunately Stoick was more relieved than angry at the time, and waited for the next morning to scold him and talk about punishments. Hiccup, naturally, listened to none of his father's ranting, only these words echoing in his mind: nothing, no one…
- Ya've been doin' this tha whole semester! Whut's wron' with ya? Hiccup, are ya listenin'? – Stoick growled.
Hiccup wouldn't even look at him, his olive-green eyes, those eyes he'd inherited from his mother (as pretty much everything about his physical), remained focused on the floor, bearing a pained and saddened expression. Stoick's anger softened: he hadn't seen his son like that ever since his mother died. What was the point in punishing him if he didn't seem to register so? There was something really serious keeping his mind busy; and Stoick, this time, wanted to know exactly what.
- Whut's wrong with ya son? – he asked in a completely different tone.
- What would you know? – Hiccup muttered, non-conscious that he was repeating Toothless' words out loud. He was barely aware of his father's presence next to him - You know nothing about me…
- Well, it's hard t'know, ya haven't been tha same lately – Stoick got quite indignant, and stared down at his son as he crossed his arms. Should he feel upset or guilty because those words were, as offensive as they sounded, true?
- What? – Hiccup blinked repeatedly, finally realizing he was home and his father was there, talking to him. He looked confused.
- Are ya listenin'? – Stoick frowned, just as confused.
- Sorry, dad. I'm… a bit distracted. I won't do it again – he promised, unconvincingly.
- That's whut ya said las' time, an' ya did it again. Whut is it son?
Hiccup stared at his dad in disbelief. Was his father the fighter really showing interest in his geek son's business? Great. Stoick wanted him, for the first time in like five years, to share his problems and he couldn't say a word of it. How was he supposed to explain that he'd just had the worst fight ever with his boyfriend who happened to be half a dragon?
Hiccup tried to say something, really, but lies didn't come easy at the time, so he ended up gulping his hiccups.
Stoick got the message.
- Ya can' tell me or ya don' wan' to?
- Dad, that's not… – Hiccup gave in; he sighed - It's complicated…
- Problems with a frien'? – Stoick wondered. Hiccup bit his lips and nodded - Fishlegs?
- No.
- So ya got more frien's? – the man's eyebrows raised in disbelief.
Hiccup inhaled to hold an aggressive response, feeling quite offended.
- You know what? I better go, I'm gonna be late.
- Hiccup! – Stoick tried to stop him, but the boy's argument was irrevocable, after all he had used the only valid excuse to leave in the middle of a dialogue: school - Hiccup…
The main door was slammed shut violently. Stoick exhaled noisily, letting all his frustration out. This was exactly why he avoided conversations with his son. He wasn't exactly the communicative kind of person (which is why he chose box as the best life option for him), but with Hiccup things were twice as complicated. Not only because he, sadly, had not a single thing in common with his only son. It was way worse than that: he couldn't help seeing Valhallarama's face in Hiccup's every time he looked at him.
He lost the one he loved the most six years ago, and, subconsciously, had tried not to grow any closer to Hiccup ever since, because if he ever lost him too that would mean the loss of both a son and the one thing that kept his wife's memory alive. Stoick was merely sheltering himself from a pain he couldn't punch right on the face. Nonetheless, it was about time to admit that he'd done that for too long, and along the road he had mistakenly pushed the other one he loved the most away.
If only there was a good manual of how to be a single father Stoick would for sure buy it. But since he wasn't the kind of man that trusts a book to provide solutions to his problems, he contented himself arriving early at the gym and having a "brief conversation" with the punching sack. Oh, he had to face it: he'd just throw the how-to-be manual at his problem's head. No wonder why Hiccup didn't feel like sharing anything with him.
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December eight, thursday, what a depressing date, Christmas was officially on its way and everything in BHS was all glee and colored lights. The students volunteered to help with the decorations, which were always prepared before the last week of the semester, because students needed a bit of happiness prior to their final exams. Carols echoed throughout the hallways and even the toughest Vikings sang along when nobody saw them. Some professors decorated their cars with Christmas-like motives. Everybody was happy, the end of the academic cycle and the holidays very near.
The ambiance couldn't be more opposite to Hiccup's mood. Fishlegs could so tell when Hiccup slammed the door of his locker open.
- Any news? – he inquired, watching the tone of his voice in an attempt not to alter Hiccup any further.
- No – he said in low voice after a prolonged pause.
It was terribly obvious to Fishlegs: Hiccup was lying.
- Well, we should've known hospitals have "confidentiality" rules too. Don't worry, Toothless will contact you once he's better – there, he would save Hiccup the trouble of inventing a lie. If he didn't say any, it didn't count. Now Fishlegs was sure he'd recovered his good friend status.
Hiccup took a minute to calm down. He still had Fishlegs, he still had, well, himself. He could sort things out, he'd find a way.
- Thanks, bud.
- No problem. Wanna hear some good news? – Fishlegs drastically changed the topic -. I finally received a response to my petition: I think these will be Principal Sander's last weeks in BHS. Now let's go, English Literature won't read itself.
Hiccup grabbed his book by Oscar Wilde and followed Fishlegs down the hallway.
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That day, however, Hiccup decided to stand apart from everyone and pretended to feel sick so he could get permission to isolate himself in the nursery. The nurse may be good-for-nothing (incredibly beautiful, though, which is why many knew she kept the job), but at least she let students sleep in the nursery during hours for something as banal as a broken fingernail. Hiccup never thought the day would come when he would actually like that trait of hers.
Fishlegs accompanied him to the nursery and supported his sickness alibi; it was very easy to trick her.
Minutes later, Fishlegs and Aura were picking stuff from their lockers, as the girl tried to cheer him up with some news about the celebs visiting the next ComicCon. They both felt quite surprised when Fishlegs closed his locker and found BHS's new quarterback staring fixedly at him right behind the door.
- Hi, Snotlout.
- Fishlegs, mathlete – he kind of saluted, bearing a frown just in case someone walked by and saw him talking to those nerds. He still had a reputation to sustain because when Green Death returned he didn't want to be on his bad side.
- My nickname is Aura – for some reason Aura didn't feel scared of him. Yeah, he'd bullied her once or twice every semester, but now that Green Death wasn't around to pull his strings he didn't look that menacing.
Snotlout focused his blank and wide-eyed expression on her. Fishlegs chuckled.
- Don't tease him, Aura. He's still a Viking and we're still nerds.
- Yeah, got a status to keep up here – said Snotlout.
- Then why are you talking to us?
- Well… – Fishlegs shifted uncomfortably - How can I say it? It's something very important… and private.
Aura focused her big brown eyes on Fishlegs and blinked. Four seconds later she got the message, blushing at her obliviousness.
- Oh! I remembered I have some mathematics to discuss and I gotta be early in my next class… Ok, you guys talk, I'll go and… mathlete around. See you later Fishlegs! – she waved her hand good-bye.
- Later – he waved his hand in response. Snotlout was quite impressed.
- You got a girlfriend? Ain't that against nerds' rules or something?
Fishlegs' Aura-related joy died in a second. Maybe he wasn't as bad as the others, but Snotlout had definitely learned quite a few bad Viking habits in those years.
- You wanted to tell me something about Hiccup? – Fishlegs went straight to the point.
- Yeah, where is he?
- In the nursery, faking migraine – Fishlegs informed.
Snotlout scratched the back of his head and looked around to make sure there were no potential witnesses scattered nearby. The hallway was almost empty, excepting some other geeks, but they knew better than gossiping.
- It's my imagination or Hiccup ain't right lately? I mean… even Astrid looks worried 'bout him… Too worried for my taste – he added in an angry mumble.
- He hasn't – confirmed the nerd. Snotlout closed his eyes in a resigned (slightly disgusted) expression.
- Has anything to do with Toothless goin' missing this week?
- I'm not allowed to either confirm or deny that information – Snotlout drew his best what-the-F face. Fishlegs corrected -. Probably.
- Anything I can do? – believe it or not, Snotlout was completely honest when saying this. Hiccup was his family. He may pretend he didn't remember most of the time, but they were still cousins, even if nobody knew.
Fishlegs knew, though, and he dared to place his solacing hand on Snotlout's wide shoulder.
- I'm afraid there's nothing even I can do. We'll just have to wait.
- Waiting sucks – Snotlout complained.
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Hiccup could've said that, right then, he hated waiting as much as his cousin. He usually was a very patient person, but all his emotions had been driven to the edge by Toothless in the last days. He was overwhelmed. He had to do something.
Now, more than ever, Toothless needed help… of all sorts. He may think he didn't want to receive such from Hiccup, but even so Jay Haddock wouldn't stop giving it to him.
He could agree that Toothless was broken, in every way possible. But Hiccup, and not many knew this about him, was an expert when it came to both drawing and fixing things; that's why he decided to take Gobber's extracurricular class. Hiccup was awesome using his hands: he could easily handle wood and even metal, he could handle mechanic devices (oh, how he loved gears and clockworks, thanked his mother for it). Actually, every time something stopped working in his house, he always figured out a way to mend it before his father noticed. When he applied the term "genius" in his self-description, he meant it.
Now, if he could repair all those things, he for sure could do the same for a broken person, right? And fix Toothless he will.
Since the nurse was gone for gods-know-what, Hiccup stood from the bunk bed and headed to the corner where he'd dumped his backpack an hour earlier. He always carried his sketchbook, and there he had tons and tons of drawings of the Night Fury. He was a good artist, very detailed in his work; he certainly had useful information in those sketches.
He stared at the drawn tail in every page for what seemed like hours, until the bell rang announcing it was time to go back home. Hiccup didn't care the nurse wasn't there to give him permission to leave; anyways, she didn't even have the authority to opinion on his health, so he simply left as quickly as possible. He had to be home at once, he had work to do.
When arriving home he immediately took over the studio and pinned all his drawings to the wall. He hoped his father wouldn't need the computer that particular day to check his students' statistics, because Hiccup wasn't letting him in for anything in the world. He still had to protect Toothless' secret, after all.
He locked the door and proceeded to draw more sketches of the Night Fury, most of them focusing only on the tail. When he finally drew one he considered had the proper dimensions, his job started for real. He had to design a new left tailfin for Toothless… and a way to make it move mirroring the other tailfin's movements. Hiccup thought of gears and pulleys and many complex mechanisms formed in his mind, but most of them seemed to be just heavy and highly impractical (although some still looked awesome on paper). He needed something really aerodynamic, and simple, but he felt he still didn't have the proper knowledge to produce anything with such characteristics. Most of his mechanic work so far consisted in understanding and repairing something already built, but coming up with a whole new invention was a new level of challenge for him.
Still, he had to do it. He wanted to, for Toothless.
That's when a marvelous (and maybe a little self-centered) idea came to his mind. He didn't have to think of a mechanism to place on Toothless' tail; he could distribute the weight through the dragon's body if he somehow installed all those pulleys and gears on its back. Of course, if he did so, Toothless would need a little help to handle those in dragon form; help Hiccup could provide if he actually were on Toothless' back when in flight…
Now he had the perfect device in mind, one that, if everything went right, would allow Toothless to fly again… with Hiccup as his rider.
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The next step in Hiccup's plan was to find a place and the proper tools to build the tail. When he started that kind of projects he usually talked to Gobber and got permission to use his workshop (ok, having one of your professors being best friends with your father and almost an uncle to you has a lot of perks), but this time that wasn't an option. Why did Gobber blow up his garage right that week? The only place Hiccup could think of as a second option was the school's workshop, but that represented a tiny complication. First, he needed Gobber's approval, done, but he also needed Principal Sanders' approval…
So Hiccup decided to go straight to the source and during that friday's lunch time he went to the principal's office to ask for his consent directly. The secretary let him in quite easily, which was weird because Principal Sanders couldn't usually stand to be bothered.
When Hiccup entered the office he met a nice and unexpected surprise: Mrs. Cowell. She greeted him with a smile, but Principal Sanders' face showed the exact opposite of her good humor. He looked down at Hiccup with a frown on his face, almost as if he were watching at an insect. Hiccup, however, didn't have time to deal with anybody's bad mood. He was on a mission.
- What do you want Mr. Haddock?
- I have a project to finish for professor Gob- - -Ferguson's class, and I came to ask for permission to use the workshop classroom – Hiccup said as politely as he could.
- That decision lies in Ferguson's hands. You didn't have to come and bother me for that, Mr. Haddock – claimed Principal Sanders through gritted teeth.
Now that Hiccup reconsidered the matter, the principal looked real angry. Funny thing is he couldn't be more unimpressed. Respect for the Sanders name was something Hiccup (and most of BHS's students) didn't have.
- He already agreed, but I want permission to use the workshop during the weekend.
- Nonsense! – bellowed Principal Sanders right before Mrs. Cowell drew a smile and interrupted him.
- Done – she said -. Permission granted, Mr. Haddock. Wouldn't you agree principal? He's one of our best students, top in most of his classes, a smart and promising boy. If someone can make a good use of the school's facilities, that's Mr. Haddock. Wouldn't you agree with me?
The anger on the principal's face increased beyond imagination at the same time that her smile grew wider. Hiccup knew he was one of Mrs. Cowell's favorites, but he never thought she'd intervene in his favor with so much… audacity. She'd practically revoked the principal's decision, confident as if she had the power to do so.
Angrier than ever, the principal scribbled his signature on a document that Mrs. Cowell herself handed to Hiccup, her radiant smile denoting a mischievous satisfaction.
- Whatever it is you're building, Mr. Haddock, let me know when you're finished. I'd like to see it – she added, for the principal's further irritation.
If Hiccup weren't so focused on Toothless and his prosthetic tailfin he would've deciphered immediately what Mrs. Cowell's happiness meant, but he'd gotten what he wanted and he cared about nothing else.
He started working on his design's materialization that afternoon, but made sure to return home early to prevent his father from asking, well, more questions. He was showing an abnormal interest in all of Hiccup's activities lately.
Hiccup worked hard and arduous the whole weekend to build the prosthetic tail, and the saddle that came with it. Using as many materials as he could take from the school's resources and some scrap metal that Snotlout (generously, and therefore suspiciously) donated from his garage he made three prototypes, each a different size, just in case his memories were playing tricks on him and the Night Fury happened to be smaller or larger than he thought.
By the time he was done with that, the week of final exams had already begun and his stress multiplied for three: hoping his exam results were good, hoping his hand-made tail would work, and hoping he could ever find Toothless.
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On tuesday, however, the order of Hiccup's priorities suffered a drastic change, and before midday he was already in the woods, carrying his three tail prototypes in a black plastic bag, because he didn't have any backpack big enough to contain the three of them.
As he went deeper into the forest heading north, toward the mountains, Hiccup couldn't believe he'd just escaped school, for the first time in his life. He did attend his final exam, of course, but as soon as he finished he picked up his stuff and left through the main door (for all of his classmates and professors' utter surprise). There were still classes to attend, but they didn't do much in the last week, and Hiccup couldn't afford to waste his time like that having Toothless still alone in the forest; not with the nightmares he'd been having every night for the last five days about Toothless, about never finding him, or worse, finding him hurt, or worse, finding him dead…
His biggest fears had proved to be all related to Toothless and his welfare, and a strange sensation was driving him to venture in parts of the woods he'd never been before, every time farther into the northern wilderness. Hiccup couldn't explain why his feet were taking him in that direction without his consent, or why his head was letting his heart decide, but he felt convinced that if he somehow made it to the mountains he would find Toothless there. It was a fact.
Hours passed and Hiccup eventually began to feel the urge of calling Toothless' name out loud. Nonetheless he was tired, thirsty, and his mouth was dry, and he couldn't produce a single word. He had to stop and sit under a tree to catch his breath.
That was his first sign. There were claw marks on that tree, deep as the ones that now scarred the vegetation in their once peaceful clearing. An indescribable energy fueled him again in the second he saw that. The strange sensation crept on his chest again, nesting deep at his center and leading him to take what seemed like the craziest decisions ever.
He kept going on to no apparent destination, guided by an instinct strong enough to blind even the deepest corner of his mind. Was this what Toothless felt when he was beating Green Death out of sense? Was this incontrollable feeling the same emotion that ran through his veins in those moments when his draconian impulses shut all logic down?
When he found Toothless, he'd ask him. "And I will find him" Hiccup kept thinking.
And whether it was by a choice of fate or because of his own determination, Hiccup found Toothless, lying in his dragon form near a pond, apparently trapped within a cove.
He was sleeping, and he looked tired, but at least he wasn't injured any worse than the last time Hiccup saw him. Of course, Hiccup knew too well that Toothless was hurt in the inside, and those scars his flesh would never truly reflect.
He descended the stone wall as best and silent as he could, but it was obviously too much of a hope to believe Toothless wouldn't notice his presence. By the time Hiccup finally reached the bottom (in one piece, thank the gods) the dragon stared fixedly at him through wary eyes, almost as if he didn't recognize the boy in front of him.
One step, two, Hiccup walked slowly towards the Night Fury, holding his breath in fear of another hostile response, but Toothless didn't move. He closed his dragon eyes again.
- I'm not angry with you – Hiccup said as he approached faster and sat by Toothless' side -. I tried, once or twice, really, but I couldn't. I wish I could, though. You hurt me, Toothless. You know that, don't you? Still, I'm here…
The Night Fury lifted his head in the second Hiccup mentioned he felt hurt, focusing those big green eyes on him, filled with undecipherable emotions.
- I made something for you – Hiccup continued, pulling the bag closer to get the new tailfins -. I wanted to come earlier, but it wasn't ready… I'm not even sure you'll take any of these, but- - -
- I didn't mean any of the things I said – Toothless apologized, swiftly going hybrid and looking at Hiccup right in the eyes -. I was angry, at the world, at everything; I just wanted to take it against the first person who crossed my way… I'm sorry that person happened to be you.
- Everything you said…
- I didn't mean it – Toothless swore, sitting next to Hiccup, who let out the air in a theatrical sigh.
- I know you didn't. That's why I'm here.
Toothless drew a cautious expression tainted with an unconscious amount of cuteness. He was truly repented, and he'd clearly felt awfully lonely that week of runaway. And before Hiccup could realize how true his words were (that he wasn't capable of getting mad at Toothless) he'd already pulled the dragon boy into a tight hug. Toothless froze, disconcerted for Hiccup's unconditional support.
- You're the silliest guy I've ever met – said Hiccup before letting go. He drew a twisted smile and shook his head -. You're one of a kind, Toothless.
- Is that bad or good? – he wondered, a little embarrassed.
- That's up to you.
Toothless nodded, taking Hiccup's words to heart, and transformed into a full dragon. Once he thought of something worth to be spoken, he'd maintain a shape capable of talking. Until then, well, he better let Hiccup lead the conversations. He didn't want to mess things as much as the last time.
- I made something for you – Hiccup repeated -, so you can fly again.
Toothless frowned in a way that clearly asked "Are you serious?" He sniffed the bag, curious the most. Hiccup chuckled and pulled the tailfins out.
- Will you let me try these on?
It took Toothless a while to understand what "these" were and what Hiccup was trying to do. He backed in disbelief, shaking his reptilian head in negation.
- Toothless, you owe me! – the boy pursed his lips - Just try them.
The Night Fury doubted. He had seriously lost too much the moment he realized he couldn't fly anymore. All of his life, or at least since he discovered he was able to do it, he'd taken flying for granted. Just like you take yourself for granted; just as you have faith that your personality and your very essence will forever remain, making you who you are. It was the one thing that no one could ever take away from him, the one dragon skill that reflected his true nature; the one he'd always be proud of. Yet a week ago he'd discovered that even his very soul could be stripped away from him. That's the kind of thing that knocks all your certainties off; the kind of thing that breaks you. Toothless didn't believe he could ever get himself back, not even if Hiccup was the one promising he will.
- Toothless – Hiccup called in a reprimand tone -, I spent my whole weekend on these.
The dragon lowered his head but kept his eyes firmly focused on Hiccup. With a shyness and fragility completely opposite to his mighty looks Toothless moved his tail till it was at the reach of the human's agile hands.
Without removing his gaze from Toothless' Hiccup grabbed the tailfin the right size and secured the leather straps around the tail.
- But that's only half the surprise. You're gonna need this until I can make something better – thus Hiccup pulled the saddle and tied it around Toothless' neck and torso, much to the dragon's astonishment, though he docilely let him do so.
Everything fitted perfectly on the dragon's body, as if Hiccup knew every measure by heart the same way Toothless could place every freckle in the boy's face. Hiccup couldn't hold back a satisfied smile when he realized that everything looked just as he drew it.
Toothless walked around, jumping, running and shaking his wings to make sure he could move comfortably in his new accessories. They felt a little heavy, but not as much as part of him expected; he'd get used to. Had really Hiccup made them for him?
- And this is for me – Hiccup put on a belt with a harness made of leather straps that crossed his chest forming an "x" -, if you let me.
Hesitation turned Toothless' bright green eyes opaque for a second. Would he really risk a second "accident" with Hiccup on his back? Was Hiccup even aware of what he was about to do…? Of course he was. Hiccup knew better than Toothless believed. He was smart, he was mature and, contrary to the popular opinion, he could very well take care of himself. He could even take care of a dragon for the gods' sake!
Meanwhile, Hiccup waited, a considerably worried expression settled on his face. Maybe he'd gone too far assuming that he could just come and ride a Night Fury. "Maybe I've offended him" the question could be read in his eyes and furrowed eyebrows.
For all response, Toothless lowered his head, inviting Hiccup to climb on the saddle.
He knew Hiccup wanted to ride him, and he wanted him to.
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Another note: The feels! ! The feels! ! Do you feel them? ? Do you? I for sure can. ^^
Aren't you just relieved that they make up and Toothless does get his tailfin and Hiccup does ride him again? Aren't you? I know I am.
And the weekly update will now be back.
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In the meantine, I wanna thank from the bottom of my heart to:
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AlexJohnD, shyboywriter, Splendidguy44, DragonDude23,
Let my dragons roar, AliceCullen3, AtkiakFF, Mousettezz,
BeautifulBayonetta, Shy Owl, Loti-miko, Ilmazzobro, aura,
Psycho-Pacgirl, Ancientathens, Elder The 1st, Pawii-Chan.
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IRT Mousettezz: Thank youuuuuuuu! And yes, I guess I could, and it would have a lot of variety since spanish is... much richer in swearing. I actually plan to write the whole fic in spanish once I finish it.
IRT Loti-miko: Sí, soy una desgraciada, ¡y a mucha honra! Jiji. He escrito cosas peores que ese capítulo, créeme. Espero haber podido curar tu corazón con esta actualización. ^^
IRT Psycho-Pacgirl: Dudie, te adoro, pero tus dotes de profeta me intrigan... Como decimos en México: ¿Qué comes que adivinas? Bueno, aunque te diré que sólo acertaste en parte, pero no te especificaré cuál fue la correcta... Wajajaja (-eso es una risa malvada-). ^^
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