A/N: A little bit of a training montage for everyone. They meet their dragons and forge a few fast friendships and Henry gets a chance to show off some leadership skills to get everyone motivated.
httydastrid4ever: It fills me with joy that after being away for so long that you wanted to check out my story. Thank you and I'm glad you are enjoying the story.
CB73: Thank you for the kind words. A crazy plan indeed but maybe that is just what they need. Everyone gets a dragon and quickly outfitted for the battle to come.
WinterBreath0602: Good luck on finding a house for you and your little Tribe. Yes your idea was a welcome one and helped give off a certain vibe that I needed. Thank you for the kind words and good vibes to you.
Guest: Well Max is attaching a camera to Sharpshot so you know could be filmed. They better learn to fly quickly, their lives depend on it. No one will die I can promise you that. Injuries though, those are bound to happen.
Thanks for the reviews hope you all enjoy the chapter
Your Friendly Neighborhood Mexican ;p
(Monday, November 12th, 2018)
Henry smiled as he looked at Audrey. She looked so proud and confident in him. It was infectious as he could feel it resonating off of her and seeping into him. When he broke her gaze and looked to the crowd behind her, he stepped forward and took stock of who he had to work with.
His fellow cast members were there, obviously. Helga, Max, and his dad were standing behind the teens looking to Henry. Helga looked much better than before, having had a few days to rest and recover. Max looked unsure and was on his phone, appearing to be relaying messages to Helga. Steven looked proud of his son, to see him stepping up and getting ready to lead a group of people and taking it in stride.
Other crew members were there as well all with eyes on Henry and waiting to see what he would have to say. As well as offer any help that they could. Henry took a few deep breaths and finally addressed the crowd.
"We all know why we are here so let's get down to business. I need to know who is willing to fly a dragon." He announced.
For a few moments no one moved. Henry began to sweat, for all of Audrey's pep speech this is what he feared the most. No one following him, no one listening. Before his inner doubt could truly manifest though several hands went into the air. Simon, Audrey, the twins, Finnick, Helga, and his dad all raised their hands. The boy let out a breath that he didn't realize he was holding in.
"Good, now what dragons to we have available?" He asked to the crowd.
"We have my Gronkles." Helga replied.
"A Nadder, Nightmare, Zippleback, your NightFury, and another Gronkle. At least those are the one that are big enough to ride." A pen worker stated.
"All right then. I need all the prop designers to start working on making saddles for them. They don't have to be perfect, just enough to help someone ride and keep them strapped in." Henry replied.
A flurry of activity ensued as workers began scrambling to get measuring tools, gather supplies, and get the dragons. About half of the crowd was gone as Henry looked over the remaining group.
"We are also going to need platforms to carry everything in. Helga, show them some pictures of your platform. Anyone who is good with woodwork will need to make them." Henry said next.
This went on for a while, Henry would state what they needed and anyone who had a skill in that particular area would be asked to help out. Finally, it was down to the teens, Helga, Max, Steven, and a few Dragon workers left in the holding pens.
"Alright then now to get started. Let's get the Dragons out, everyone move away from the pens please. We don't want to startle them." Henry instructed.
Everyone slowly moved away from the pens and the workers opened the doors one by one. All the Dragons lumbered out into the light and stretched their massive wings, took in huge breathes of air, and let out low growls of relief. They hadn't been let out in a few days due to all the commotion and were extremely glad to be out of their pens.
Henry was glad to see the Dragons and would like the chance to get to know them a bit more but time was not their ally.
"Alright we've got a lot of work and not a lot of time to do it. So I will need you all to listen very carefully." Henry advised them in a stern voice.
"Oh please if you could tame a Dragon then I will definitely be able to tame one." Simon remarked smugly.
"Simon I really don't have time to deal with you and your stupid ego driven bravado. If you want to help and ride a dragon then listen. Otherwise get bent and find another way to help." Henry snapped.
Simon frowned and went to retort but was cut off by the rumbling growl of the Nightmare. The dragon was holding eye contact with the boy and flashing a few of its razor-sharp teeth. Simon stared at the dragon, remembering their last encounter where he was hoisted into the air by said dragon.
"I think he likes you." Henry replied as he called for Toothless.
The NightFury bounded into the pens and quickly came up to the boy. Henry rubbed the Dragon's scales and offered him his thanks. The teens were all looking over the Dragons, who seemed to be pleased with all the attention they were getting. Henry glanced around and saw Helga tending to her group of Gronkles along with Steven and Max.
He walked over to her as he was at a standstill. The easy part was over, now he needed help. Besides himself, Helga was the only one who trained a dragon and he had no idea how he did it either. So hopefully the woman would be able to offer him some advice.
"Helga." Hiccup greeted as he walked up to her.
The woman glanced up from her dragon and gave the boy a warm smile and nod of the head in return.
"Henry, mighty fine start if I do say so myself." She greeted in return.
"Indeed, most impressive." Max followed up.
"That's my boy." Steven stated with pride.
"Thanks, I think." Henry laughed nervously.
"Something on your mind child?" Helga asked gently.
"I'm not sure. I mean I don't know what to do from here. I was hoping you could help me show them how to train a dragon" Henry admitted.
Henry had recalled what Audrey and told him earlier. That people were here to help, and he should use that to his advantage.
"I will offer what I can. But you are the one that trained the NightFury when not even I could. You have everything you need, but I can give a helping hand." She offered as she walked toward the group.
"Gather round everyone, gather round. Now the first thing to know about Dragon's is that they are highly intelligent. They can feed off your emotions, make decisions for themselves, and are willing to help you if you help them in return. They are not dogs or cats, so don't treat them as such." She advised them.
"Henry, how did you train Toothless?" She asked.
"I just got to know him. I helped him get back in the air and got him to trust me." Henry explained.
"Trust. Exactly, you trust him, and he trusts you. Earn a Dragon's trust and there is nothing it won't do for you." Helga said as she turned to the rest of the teens.
"Now while these Dragons are trained, they might not trust you guys right now. The Queen has been messing their minds through me and my connection to them. So, we have to get them to trust us again." Helga told the group.
"Henry how did you know when Toothless trusted you?" She asked him again.
While Henry wasn't aware of what was going on, Helga had a plan of her own. A plan that was working perfectly.
"He allowed me to touch him." Henry explained.
"It was amazing, like a feeling that I can't describe. It felt like we were connected." Henry went on.
"How do we get that feeling with these dragons? You said it yourself, you had weeks to get that with Toothless we don't have that time." Finnick pointed out.
"You are right, sorry." Henry sighed out as he looked to the others.
"I guess just talk to the Dragons. They like compliments, get a feel for their personality. We have to get the makings of a bond started in order for you to ride them. Once your dragon takes a liking to you, let me know. We won't have much time after that." Henry explained.
He left them to meet the dragons but kept watch over them. Audrey took to it like a Dragon to flying, she had gone to the Nadder and began to compliment the dragon on its scales and spines. The Dragon stood proudly as it accepted the praise, before leaning down a preening Audrey. Ensuring that not a hair was out of place. The twins got into an argument which prompted the Zippleback to separate them by grabbing their shirts. The dragon seemed to enjoy their shenanigans and quickly formed a bond with them. Finnick was nervous at the start and went to over to the Gronkle. Slowly the boy introduced himself and found that the Gronkle was a gentle giant among Dragons, just like he was a gentle boy himself.
Toothless purred and nudged his head against Henry's hand. The boy soon rewarded the dragon with head scratches and smiled at him. Henry laughed before letting out a solemn sigh. Toothless let out a concerned coo as he looked at the boy.
"I just hope we know what we are getting into bud." Henry lamented.
Toothless nodded in agreement, they both knew that the situation was less than desirable, yet they had no choice. The Queen had to be dealt with and now.
"I suppose there is no use in wishing for the impossible. Let's go see if we can lend a hand to anyone." He said, trying to lift his spirits.
As he walked through the holding pens, he saw that everyone had made a good amount of progress with their chosen Dragon. His dad and Max were speaking with Helga about Gronkles. Max was also fitting a camera onto Sharpshot which caused Henry to raise an eyebrow. He was certain that Max wouldn't harm the Terror, but it was still odd, he would have to ask about it later. Audrey, Finnick, and the twins were all making excellent progress and no doubt had secured bonds with Dragons. Everyone was doing well, almost everyone.
Simon was the only one to not make any progress with the Nightmare. They were both glaring at each other refusing to give any ground. Sighing Henry went over to the troublesome cast member to offer assistance. Helga smiled as she nudged Steven to watch the boy finally take charge.
"You know if you just stare at him you will never get anywhere. Nightmares are notoriously hardheaded and demand respect. You haven't shown him any, so he won't show any in return." Henry explained as he tried to break the tension and the ice.
"Why should I show him any respect? He has done nothing but terrorize me the entire time I have been on set." Simon huffed.
"Yes, he has, but only because you have been acting like a total ass. Remember what Helga said at the beginning? Nightmares will protect those who need protecting, right now we need protecting and we need your help." Henry replied.
"Why would you need my help? You seem to be doing just fine without me." Simon seethed.
Henry grew more and more frustrated by the moment. Simon was being incredibly difficult, and he was short on time and patience.
"Simon, I don't have time for this right now. In case you missed it, a Dragon Queen has decided to make Helga and I her personal playthings and has caused havoc on set for all of us. We need to stop her, and I need all the help I can get. Is that what you want to hear, that I need you? Well guess what, I do. Now suck it up and get to work, unless you don't want to be in all the papers and not hailed as a hero." Henry finished as he hoped that Simon would take the bait.
Henry could hear Simon muttering to himself under his breath. He heard the words 'Hero' and 'papers' before the boy sprung up and marched over to the Nightmare.
"We better start getting along you hear. We have a Queen to dethrone and a world to impress. Want in?" The boy asked as he smirked at the Dragon.
The Nightmare gave its version of a smirk before using its tail to swipe Simon's feet out from under him. Shaking his head, the boy sprung and some how decided that that was a sign of a respect. Henry would never understand how that was supposed to work but he wouldn't question it. It worked and that is all that mattered.
After a few hours of everyone bonding with their Dragon, the prop designers came to the pens with some fast-made saddles. They weren't perfect but they would do the job for now. the Dragons were fitted as best they could, and the teens got used to sitting on them. taking a few laps to get a feel for turning and flying a Dragon. If they had time to enjoy the moment Helga and Henry would have found the moment joyous, but the Queen would not allow them to enjoy such luxuries.
"You can't win, join me. Join me." The Queen's voice echoed in Henry and Helga's heads.
They shared a look that said they both heard it. Henry turned to the others and with a grave expression called their attention.
"Training time is over. The Queen knows what we are up to and we need the element of surprise to take her down. Get back to the village and stock up on supplies. We leave within the hour." Henry announced.
Everyone nodded and jumped on their new Dragon friends and flew to the village. Henry looked over to Toothless and Helga, gave them a nod and jumped on Toothless. Flying to the village knowing that the time was upon and they were coming for the Queen.
A/N: Next Chapter the battle, lets see how well Henry can battle plan during the heat of battle. Please leave a review as you can see from above I read them all. See you next time, stay safe and stay healthy.
Published 5/14/2020