How To Train Your Dragon: A Future Rider's Beginning

by MaxTV1234

Henry Haddock, a 15 year old teen always had a boring life until he was given a special golden bracelet by his grandmother the day he moves in. The day he moves into the big city, he finds a mysterious well in a big forest before being sucked into it and entering the world of Berk, where Vikings and Dragons are in war. With new friends by his side, can he end the Dragon War?

11. Chapter 11 - Truth and Lies

Note: The following is a non-profit fan-based fanfic. The HTTYD Franchise belongs to Disney, Universal Pictures, Dreamworks Animation Studios, and 20th Century Fox. Please support the official release.

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Previously on How To Train Your Dragon: A Future Rider's Beginning...

"I swear, I'm so angry right now! I'll avenge your beautiful hand and your beautiful foot!" Snotlout proclaimed with a serious look. "I'll chop off the logs of every dragon I fight! With my face!"

I gave him an amused smirk before saying "Or they could just fly away the moment they see you…Snotass."

"S-S-Snotass?!" Snotlout growled, glaring towards my direction. "Snotass! It's 'Snotlout'!"

"Yeah, I know how to say it 'Snotass'." I joked, earning a scowl from his face while the others either chuckled or smiled at that.

"Oh yeah, what's up with you calling me that?!" Snotlout demanded.

"Oh nothing." I rolled my eyes, leaning on my back before letting out a small moan. Dammit…I adjusted it too roughly.

"But you know, why bother chopping the legs off of the dragon?" Satsuki thought aloud. "Are we gonna make them out of chicken or yak chops?"

"If you want, I'll feed you some chicken in my-"

"Not. Now. Jobber." Runa hissed through gritted teeth, earning a sheepish grin from him.

And now back to training dragons!

---

"Henry..."

N-Ngh...Ugh...where am I? Why am I...? Wait, is this...my home? How did I get here? I thought I was back on Berk.

"Hey Henry...!"

Wait, who keeps calling my name? I don't understand...I feel like I've heard of that voice before...

"Henry! Come on! Wake up you sleepyhead!"

Wait...is that...?

"...Ari?"

It was her...right there...I saw her looking down at me as I found myself in my bed. I stared right up at her and saw her ocean blue eyes. I slowly gotten up and saw her in full length.

A young woman, in her mid-20s, had a Dutch crown braided ponytail that reached to her back. Had a red striped sleeveless shirt with a small coat jacket on her, and combat boots on her. She even had skinny work pants.

"Hey bro...!" Ari smiled. "Come on, we're gonna be late!"

"H-Huh...? Ari...?" I rubbed my eyes and looked at her before asking "Wait...Ari, what are you doing here?!"

"What do you mean what am I doing here?" She repeated before slugging me in the arm in a playful manner. "Duh, you dork! We're going to spend time in our Spring Break Vacation!"

"O-Oh...at Ft. Lewis, right?" I asked.

"Yep! Now come on! You and I are gonna have sister-brother time!" Ari chuckled, ruffling my hair. "And you better not oversleep like you did!"

"Yeah, coming...sis." I rolled my eyes before smirking at her. "But...thanks again, I guess..."

"No problem, anything for ya little bro!" Ari smiled happily.

"R-R-Right...but...won't I be a bother?" I meekily asked.

"No way, you'll be there for me." Ari reassured. "Just believe and forgive, as I say."

"Believe and forgive...right." I nodded in agreement.

"Yeah...though..." Hm? Wonder what's up with her? "I don't think I can forgive you..."

"What...?" I asked.

"I died because of you..."

...What? She stared at me with a blank look on her face as I began to feel the dread within me swelling around my beating heart, slowing trying to calm it down.

"It's because you were so weak that you couldn't save me, right?"

I remained silent in fear, backing away as she slowly advanced towards me in a creeping manner.

'Do you even hold responsible of that? And I suffered a long time cause of you too, right? You got anything to say to that?"

"W-What?" I gulped, breathing heavily. "Ari...I...I..."

"Ha ha ha ha ha! No reason to clam up..." She laughed joyfully, but I saw the malice surrounding her and the next words she spoke shook me.

"You damn murderer!"

It was at that moment, she grabbed me by the neck and began choking...Ugh...losing air...

I winced at the pain and tried to make her let go of me, but the moment I saw her face, I froze in fear. Her appearance was slightly altered as she was covered in blood with a devilish smile perked on her face. Half of her face was scarred with burns and it just made things even more creepy thanks to her...

"I...I...Ari...stop..."

"You wanna look away? How long are you gonna run...?"

Ari...I'm sorry...I'm sorry...

"Henry...Die with me..."

"Y-You're...not my sister..." I coughed, waving my legs around.

"So cold, bro. Aren't you my brother?" Ari laughed coldly, while I slowly began losing oxygen. "I'll make this comfortable Henry..."

"STOP...! I can't breathe...Ari..!" I begged, tears forming around my eyes as I slowly began losing consciousness. This was all in my head, right? It's not true...all in my head..

"I love you...Henry..."

"St...op...!"

"Henry..."

All in my head...all...in my...head...please...no...it's not my fault...

---

"Henry!"

"W-What?" I blinked in shock before looking around frantically, finding myself in the Great Hall. Was that...a dream? If so, what am I doing here?

"Henry!" Oh my god, I just had a nightmare and now someone is calling me?

"What...?" I asked groggily, turning over to see Jobber right in front of me across the table eating a large lamb leg.

"Uhh...is that all you eating?" Jobber asked, taking a bite of a large lamb leg. I gazed at the small chicken leg right in front of me, gulping a bit. "I mean, a tiny chicken leg?"

"Lay off Jobber, let Henry eat." Runa assisted.

"She's right. I mean, we might as well enjoy eating up for breakfast." Hiccup agreed, eating some of his own chicken leg. "To be fair, it's apparently what we all can eat."

"Yep! Though Satsuki wishes to try out that yellow chicken noodle soup!" Satsuki pleaded. "It tasted so good..."

"But not as good as my own Yak stew, eh?" Jobber joked, earning two glares from both Runa and Dusty, making a pout out from the big guy. "Oh come on, don't tell me that you're still mad from that? Ow!"

"Yes, yes we are." Runa huffed, putting away her whip after a little lash out on the perverted viking.

"She has a point dude, just stop." I rolled my eyes.

"Say Henry, how you feeling?" Dusty asked me with a concern look, much to my confusion. "You've been staring off into space for a while?"

"Sorry...just...something I was thinking." I sighed.

"Really?" Dusty asked curiously. "Was it...from last night?"

Hm? Oh, she must be talking about last night.

"Oh that ordeal? Yeah, that walk really cooled me off." I shrugged nonchalantly before saying "Sorry that you guys had to see me lose my cool again."

"Since when did you ever kept your cool?" Hiccup questioned with a smirk on his face, earning a raised brow from me. Messing with me with that sarcastic tone of yours, eh? You can play that game.

"That depends if you're the guy telling me that." I retorted with my own smirk.

"Ha ha." Hiccup rolled his eyes.

"So anyway, I hope we all get ready for some dragon training today." Runa sighed.

"It doesn't start till later today, so we got plenty of time." Jobber waved it off. "For now, we all should discuss about..." Jobber looks around, making sure no one is around or eavesdropping on us as he whispered "Toothless" to our ears...

That seemed to peeked our attention as we decided to move past the teasing and get into serious business.

"Speaking of that, Hiccup, where's the Tail-fin?" Dusty asked curiously. "Gobber didn't find it, right?"

"Don't worry, I made sure to hide it in my closet back home." Hiccup reassured with a nod. "But since it doesn't start till noon, why not we meet up back at the cove?"

"Good idea." Runa nodded. "I mean, now that we made that automatic tail-fin, we can finally managed to make it fly."

"Yep! We'll make that Night Fury fly-" Hiccup and I quickly covered Satsuki's mouth before she could yell out anything. Some vikings looked over to our table before grunting away, not eager to share what to tell us.

"Are you trying to get us into more trouble than we already are?!" Hiccup whispered.

"Just keep it down, already?!" I hissed, earning a sheepish look from the clown jester girl.

"Satsuki apologizes." Satsuki chuckled, whistling innocently in the process.

"So we'll meet up at the cove later today?" Dusty asked.

"Yeah, seems like the plan." Hiccup nodded. "Alright gang, just be sure that nobody is following us. And Henry..." Hiccup turned to me with a cautious look and whispered "Just be sure not to let anyone try and see anything out of your bag."

"Don't worry, I got that covered." I waved it off with a playful grin. "What's wrong? Don't ya trust me enough?"

"W-What?! N-No! Of course I do...!" Hiccup gulped, blushing a bit.

"Ha ha, just messing with ya dude." I nudged him on the shoulder, which made him flinch a bit before smiling at me.

"Who knew this kid had a playful side to himself." Jobber smirked, crossing his arms. "Well I always keep my playful side when speaking to the girls around me."

He immediately patted both Dusty and Runa by the buttocks, causing the two girls to blushed madly. Runa slowly gritted her teeth before knocking Jobber with a single punch in the nose while Dusty tried to hide away her blushing.

"Would you cut that out?! Gods, you're so infuriating!" Runa huffed.

"Oh...really knows how to throw a punch..." Jobber giggled, drooling a bit while his nose was bleeding.

Once again, you proved yourself as being the fucking idiotic pervert of this group. Nice way to get that title dude.

"Anyway..." I spoken up, turning to Hiccup. "I was thinking...that I should head to Luna's garden."

"Huh? To Luna's garden?" Hiccup asked with a raised brow before immediately realizing what I was talking about. "Oh yeah! Yeah...good luck."

"Oh yeah...I forgot about them." Runa nodded, already knowing what I'm implying.

Yep, Luna and that Razor-whip dragon, Silverspike. If you all remember last night that we formed bonds with the Night Fury, Toothless, the Light Fury, Luna, and the Razor-whip, Silverspike. It was something that made me...felt awed.

I never went through something like that...I mean, I guess it was sorta fun. Although, now I think we've started to betray these Vikings by befriending dragons. Though, I don't really mind. Not that I care about them anyway. They're just in the way. Surely you guys can understand that too, right?

"But you know..." Jobber slowly gets back up and looks around the other tables, finding Vikings chatting amongst themselves, eating, and laughing at one another. "This place feels the same food we cooked...I kinda hope that I can show off my cooking skills around here to let them taste my own dishes."

"Oh, so you managed to make your own dishes?" I asked in surprise. "That's surprising coming out of you."

"Yep!" Jobber grinned, wiping away his minor nosebleed. "While blacksmithing is my favorite, I took cooking as a hobby. Though, while I really wish these guys could taste my cooking, all they do is eat the same thing like drinking mead, eating sheep's meat, chicken meat, and whatever meat we have left due to those vicious dragon raids, it's the same thing."

"Yeah, I've seen so far." The moment I entered the place, I've seen some Vikings either eating in a group of a few people or whatever, and noticed eating some similar meat. I guess due to the dragon raids that they haven't been faring well with the cook.

"Don't worry Jobber! Satsuki knows that you'll pizzazz them with your cooking!" Satsuki gave her friend a thumbs-up, which made Jobber smiled back at her.

"Thanks Satsuki! I really appreciate that!" Jobber chuckled.

"Just try not to grope her." I rolled my eyes before taking my glass of cup and drinking it.

"Agreed." Runa sighed.

"So anyway Henry..." Hiccup turned to me with a curious look. "About last night..."

Oh man, he's already starting to worry me about that subject. Well it doesn't bother me much about it...

"Hey, it's okay dude. I mean, I gotten over it. I just overreacted because your dad ignoring you reminds me of my dad..." I sighed, putting the cup down. "I swear, it really doesn't bother me anymore."

"You sure?" Hiccup asked in concern. "If its uncomfortable, then we don't need to pry more into your relationship with your parents."

"Well I can tell you that my relationship with them sucks." I shrugged. "Told you that I don't care much about it."

"I see...just wanted to know, that's all." Hiccup waved it off before deciding to change the subject. Good because right now, I really don't want to talk more about two people who call themselves 'parents'. Not that would they even care about me...

"So anyway, before we head over to the cove, we should round up some fish." Hiccup stated. "You know, for you-know-who..."

"Oh, good idea." Runa nodded in agreement. "I might as well picked up a few for her."

"Same." I agreed. "So we meet up later today at dragon training while we each go visit our dragons?"

"Seems so." Dusty hummed. "But...I rather go grab some books at the book shop."

"We have a book shop?" I asked in surprise.

"Oh yeah, though it really has any customers since most Vikings don't prefer...reading." Dusty coughed sheepishly, glancing away with a small blush.

Ah, I see now...How ironic that a reading spot that could possibly give you the best info would never be used as much by anyone here...Goddamn, these Vikings are so dumb...

"That might not be a bad idea Dusty. We can copy down new notes for our dragons." Hiccup softly smiled. "Think about what we might learned about the Night and Light Furies, even the Razor-whip."

"You're right...!" Dusty gasped before giggling excitedly. "I knew my smarts would come in handy one day!"

"Your smarts have been useful Dusty." Runa pointed out, finishing up her breakfast. "It's just that nobody tends to listen your facts despite how true and helpful they are."

"Yeah..." Dusty blushed a bit, but still kept her smile. "But I'm glad that you guys like to listen to me."

"Yeah..." I nodded with a soft smile.

"Well we might as well get ready to head out to the cove." Hiccup said, getting up from his chair and headed out before waving goodbye to us. "I'll see you guys at the forest."

"Same here Hicky!" Satsuki grinned happily before back-flipping out of her seat and headed out of the Great Hall.

I'll never find out how in the world can she do that. I know that she's a clown, but still...

"Well I need to go grab some fish. I'll see you all later." Runa smiled softly. "And Henry, be prepared with them, okay?"

"I got that covered." I reassured with a slight wave and a smile on my face. "And like I promised, not telling anyone what happened last night."

Jobber and Dusty looked between them in surprise with the former asking "Last night...?"

"Don't even think about it, Jobber." Runa scoffed. "It was nothing. I was...having a talk with Henry. Just a little friendly talk with him, that's all."

"Aww..." Jobber groaned. "Fine...but that won't stop me from thinking about-"

"Finish that sentence and you're dead." Runa growled angrily.

"Yep, shutting my mouth for good." Jobber smirked.

"Good." Runa huffed. "I'll see you later you guys."

"Bye Runa." Dusty waved goodbye to her friend as Runa began taking her leave. No doubt that she and I didn't want the others to know about 'last night'. What I've shown Runa about the song my sister used to sang to me...it's been a while since I would show it to anyone like that. Heh, it is quite funny when you think about it. To be fair, I never expected her of all people to actually kiss me.

Most women would just run away from me in sight, or don't even be around me because I'm 'ugly' as they would put it. But I didn't mind, I'm just not good with romance...Scratch that, I'm terrible with girls. Never talked to any girl other than my sister, Ari.

"Well, I better be off." Jobber stretched his back. "Gotta go off and finish up my morning chores."

"Like what...?" I asked with a raised brow.

"You know, cleaning off the shields, shine off the weapons, create more weapons, and then later for my own amusement..." Oh boy, I recognized that pervy grin of his. Alright, let's just hope to ignore this one and move on. Wait, what am I saying? There's no stopping him on what he's about to say. "And plus, I'll be over picking up some cute ladies to embrace me, touch my butt and-"

"Stop stop stop!" I begged, raising my hands in front of him. Ugh, I really didn't need to know anything else about it. I took a deep breathe and gave him a deadpanned look and said "Alright, I can see that you are just only to gross us out even more, so I'll be heading out now."

"Alright fine, don't come crying to me when I go and rub some of the girls' beautiful knockers before we meet up!" Jobber huffed, crossing his arms.

"Jobber, please don't." Dusty pleaded with a heavy sigh before getting up from the seat and turned to me. "Oh, and Henry, I was wondering that if you could come to the library."

"Huh? Why?" I asked. "Is there something wrong going all alone...?"

"O-Oh...just...that I might need to carry a stack of books, and I might need some help. And since the others are gone, and you're still here, so..."

"But I'm still here-"

"A-Anyway Henry, do you mind if you could help out?" Dusty begged.

"Sure." I shrugged. "Not like I'm doing anything else other than meeting up with you guys at the forest."

"Thank you so much!" Dusty giggled.

"Rejected again..." Jobber sighed, slumping his head down. "Maybe touching her butt might help me."

"Don't." I called, glaring at him. "You better not or else I'll make sure your hands will be crippled as your face."

"Fine..." Jobber huffed before getting up from his seat and began heading out. "I'll see you guys later. If ya want, I'll be at the Forge."

That guy never changes, does he?

"Well, with him gone, you ready to go Henry?" Dusty asked curiously.

"Yeah, besides, I don't think Jobber ever show me where the library is when he first gave me that tour." I stated, rubbing the back of my head.

"Of course, I don't think he's the type to read, obviously." Dusty rolled her eyes before smiling happily at me. "Not that I don't mind, but how about we go now?"

"You might as well get going." Gram poked his head out of the sheath and whipsered to me. "You could increase your bonds with Lady Dusty."

Increase my bond with Dusty? Well while I may accepted them as my first friends in life, I don't know...but then again, I could get to know them a little more since I told them much about my ordeal I went through life.

"Okay...let's get going." I smiled softly, which made Dusty grew excited about it.

"Yay! Let's go!" Grabbing my hand and getting esteemed of my decision, she dragged me out of the Great Hall and headed down the stairs. To be fair, I always see her get this excited, almost like a little kid, so it's no surprise why's she acting like this.

She has the personality of a small child, but even so, she seems to be a nice person. Although, she's holding back her suffering from the strain relationship with her brother. It's horrible that she had to go through the bullying for being small, but even so, I can sense that her cowardice really does make her overly-dependant on others. Though, I guess I can understand that feeling. She's scared to die...but I'm the exact opposite of her.

So...this will be fun to get to know her.

Later

So this is the book shop...Gotta say, it looks pretty both old and small. It was like something you see back in your modern day world.

"This place isn't much, but I like coming here with Hiccup sometimes." Dusty smiled happily. "We're pretty much the only one to come here."

"Surprised that this place hasn't shut down considering most Vikings here don't like reading." I commented, looking at the small shelves.

"Hmm...yeah. But I hope that it'll still be open for all my life." Dusty smiled softly before walking around the shelf. "Hmm...maybe we can get an empty book for the you-know-what."

"Yeah, that...could be useful in some way." I shrugged, taking out a random book and skimmed through some pages. However...

"Of course I can't read this language..." I sighed, closing it and putting it back on the shelf. I seriously need either a translator or learn how to speak Norse.

...And I'll glady take a translator, and that'll be Hiccup and co.

"Hmm..." Dusty looks over to a stack of books before noticing a book she took interested in and walked over to slowly and gently to grab the book out of the stack, but...

"AHHHH!" The books fell on top of her and she was covered by the many piles of it.

"Hey, you okay?!" I rushed over and took out many books off of her. Dusty managed to get herself out of the pile of fallen books and dusted herself off. And no pun intended, seriously. Who would make a stupid pun like that?

"Y-Yeah...just...never expected that to happen." Dusty giggled nervousl before picking up the book she chose. "Hmm...an empty notebook..."

"How convenient." I sarcastically said, rolling my eyes. "So now what? You gonna buy it?"

"Huh? Oh! Right!" Dusty smiled happily. "This empty book could be useful to write down some facts about dragons!"

"So in other terms, you're gonna write your own facts about them?" I asked curiously.

"Yep! It'll be great! Oh, let me ask the shop's owner!" Dusty quickly rushed off and headed to the register while I looked down at the pile of books dropped on the floor, prompting me to sigh.

Of course she forgets about these books. Well, might as well pick these up and fix them up. But you know, Dusty is really excited at this idea to copy down the facts about the Night and Light Fury, even the Razor-whip. Then again, I think I would...Nah, not really.

As I nearly finished up with fixing up the fallen books, Dusty came over with an excited look on her face.

"I got the book, Henry. The shop owner was really generous to let me have it since nobody seemed to want it! This is just what we need!" Dusty smiled brightly.

"Huh, neat." I smiled softly. "Say, you...wouldn't mind if I took a couple of books?"

"Hm? Sure thing." Dusty nodded. "Which kind?"

"I...was wondering if there was any book to learn how to read in Norse language." I shrugged.

"What? Oh...right, you don't know how to read in Norse, huh?" Dusty realized, knowing what I meant. "I kinda remember that you couldn't read the Book of Dragons."

"Yeah, the language I speak seems to be different from yours." I nodded before muttering "How ironic that I can understand you guys, but can't seem to read your language..."

"Well, why not I go and teach you?" Dusty offered.

"Huh? Teach me?" I asked. "Well...I was thinking of asking you of that, but...well..."

"You were unsure, huh?" Dusty guessed, which I nodded in response. "Well...I know I can teach you. It's very basic and easy."

Basic and easy to learn a new language? Well I may have taken Spanish in 6th grade, but...well...that's something I hope you know what you're doing.

"Well...okay. I trust you." I smiled softly. "Just don't be holding anything back on me."

"I wouldn't!" Dusty giggled, earning a smile on my face. She seems so friendly, but I can see something past that smile. Hiding away her suffering from the people's harrassment from that her positive outlook...Hmm...

Suddenly, I felt someone bumping into me and dropped their books in the process.

"W-Whoa! O-Oh! I am so sorry!"

"It's okay, you just didn't see...me..." Oh my fucking god...it's him.

The boy who just bumped into me and dropped that stack of books on the ground was Dusty's older brother, Fishlegs.

"O-Oh...um...hi there..." I stared at him with a blank look while Dusty glances at her brother and looks away. Fishlegs did the same for his sister and felt the awkward silence. "So uh, I was just...getting some books...and uh...sorry..."

"...It's fine." I spat out before picking up some books and handing it back to him. "Just...take them..."

"O-Oh...thank you...!" Fishlegs meekly smiled, receiving the books I gave to him that he dropped. Right after that, we each went back to our awkward silence while I stood there, seeing how uncomfortable that the Ingerman siblings were feeling. They just glanced at each other, afraid of what to say to each other.

"Um...anyway...how it's going Fishlegs?" Dusty spoken, sighing to herself.

"Good...just borrowing a few books...to learn much of the archipelago and to study..." Fishlegs gulped, looking away from her.

"Oh, well...I see." Dusty nodded before turning to me. "Henry, let's just go."

The moment I saw her face, I saw sorrow and discomfort and I understand why. It was because of that conversation she had with her brother yesterday. She tried her best to get him to ditch Snotlout and those other assholes to be friends with Hiccup again and hopefully reconnect their relationship. However, Fishlegs wasted that chance by calling her a coward and being scared of death.

How ironic coming out of that guy's mouth. Despite his build due to his bulging arms, he's a coward too. He has no right, and I'm still pissed off by what he done to her by not doing anything to protect Dusty from Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut. I'm just not in the mood to be around him...but...seeing Dusty...

"Henry." Hm? Oh, right. We need to go.

"Dusty..." I heard her brother muttered, looking past the stack of books as Dusty began taking her leave out of the book shop with me running after her.

"Dusty, wait!" I called, stopping her from her tracks.

"Yeah Henry...?" Dusty asked, her tone showing how depressed she was acting.

"Dusty...are you sure you're gonna be alright?" I asked, looking at her with a raised brow. "You looked like you just wanted to avoid your brother. Makes sense, really."

"I don't really...but...I just don't want to be around him for right now. I...rather be around with my other friends, Henry." Dusty sighed, clutching onto the empty book she bought. "I just...right now...not in the mood to be able to talk to him."

"So are you just gonna ignore him?" I questioned, raising my voice a little. Dusty looked up to me with her eyes widening a bit as I continued on, "Because that doesn't sound like something you would do."

"But...it's just that...my relationship with my brother isn't...a good one. At least, not anymore." Dusty muttered. "To be fair, I don't think we'll ever get together."

"...Is that so?" I questioned with a raised brow.

"I know...I'm sorry Henry." Dusty sighed. "To be fair, I'm sure I already told you this by now...but Fishlegs decided to join Snotlout's side and the rest of the bullies...we never been the same since when he abandoned Hiccup like that..."

"Maybe so, but that doesn't mean that you'll lose your chance, right?" I questioned, confusing her. "Are you...really sure that he would...actually want that?"

"Well...not actually, but..."

"Then maybe...it wasn't exactly his opinion as to why he decided to join those guys." Dusty looked at me in surprise, seeing the stern and serious look on my face. "He called you a coward, but he's a coward himself for calling you that..."

"But...he's right about that." Dusty sighed, looking back at the book shop. "I mean...I'm scared okay? I'm scared to...die..."

"Huh...so you're scared of death, eh?" I questioned, placing my hands in my pockets. I was right. She is the exact opposite of my personality.

"Mm...everyone here on Berk can easily fight back due to their bulging muscles, scary faces, and their beards...but me, I'm so short, so weak, and just...not the right to be a shield-maiden..."

I stayed silent and continued to listen to Dusty's story, making me feel more upset. So these people harassed her because of her size and her personality and being weak. She's going through similar things like Hiccup.

"I think my brother accepted the fact that despite my smarts, I can't be a shield-maiden..." Dusty looks down sadly, trying to hope back her sorrow. However, she replaced it with a soft smile. "But even so...I don't blame him. I'm just too short to be one, and plus, I...really don't want to get myself killed out there in battle."

"Because you're scared of dying, right?" Dusty nodded at my question before she said "Well...yeah. I mean, I know you say a ton of times that you really don't want to die...but that isn't true, right?"

...Is it really? I mean, I don't know. I don't care if I die...but...you know what? Never mind. Stop reading my thoughts if you people keep hoping for an answer out of me.

"...Maybe." I shrugged. "But to be fair, I understand why you're scared...which is why you rely a lot on Hiccup and friends to defend you from trouble?"

"Huh?" Dusty asked in bewilderment.

"I noticed it a few times like begging for Jobber to save you yesterday from one of the Deadly Nadders. Plus, you asking me to come here and help you with the possibility of carrying any books you might buy here, right?" I crossed my arms with a raised brow.

Dusty stared at me in surprise before blushing and looking down.

"...Yeah, I'm over-dependent on you guys, right?" Dusty smiled sheepishly, rubbing her arm bashfully. "But...I just want to be useful, but I'm scared that I might die, you know Henry. You seemed to not have a problem...and to be honest, I want to keep living."

"Well..." What should I say? I mean, I don't want to say something too stupid that'll just make her upset and depressed. Well, there is something that might brighten her up a little and I can't believe I'm gonna say this.

I gave out a soft smile and said "Well...that's why you gotta stay positive, right?"

"Huh?!" Dusty blinked several times, never expected me to say that.

"Well yeah...so what? Even so, I'm sure the guys really don't mind since they think of you as a friend. Besides, I think with your size that you can easily surpass the enemy real good, especially slipping past some people from incoming dragon raids." I rubbed the back of my head.

I know...it was stupid, right?

"Wow, I never would have thought of that. Mostly that people would just go and confront the problem head on, but your answer really was a nice strategy for me to use." Dusty chuckled. "Thank you Henry."

"Just don't getting down like that." I grinned softly, earning a smile back on her face.

"I won't!" Dusty nodded. "But you know, maybe...you might onto something. Are you...like trying to show me that I am strong in some way?"

"Kinda, in a way." I shrugged nonchalantly. "I mean, if you were able to withstand all the taunts from almost, well practically, everyone here on this island while being a good friend to Hiccup, then I know for sure that you are strong. Not physical, but mentally."

"Ooh...I'm strong because I always try to think positive." Dusty gasped, realizing what I was talking about. "Ha ha, you're right Henry. I shouldn't be discerning myself or what my brother says."

"Yeah, and while I hate your brother guts for abandong you and Hiccup, I'm...sure you two would get along soon someday." I said, putting my hands back in my pockets and looked away. "I mean...Sure, siblings fight over things but they tend to let things go...most of the time. You two really need to find a way to amend your relationship with each other."

"I know...and I won't stop trying." Dusty pulled a confidant look on her face. "But you know what, Henry?"

"What?" I asked.

"Maybe you're right. I can't stand around here and keep being depressed! I need to get out there and think of the good things that's gonna happen to us!" Dusty smiled happily. "Besides, I'm not alone because...I have Hiccup, Runa, Jobber, Satsuki, even you, Gram, Sindri, and Mikako."

"Even me, huh..." I muttered.

Wow...I...I never really would have imagined that. Then again, I accepted these guys as my friends and they gained my trust.

"Yep! And don't you forget that Henry!" Dusty smiled softly. "Maybe I'm different, and people harass me because of that. But...I'm glad to have people like Hiccup and co. who accepted upon being different like me."

"You must really cherish that much." I commented with a soft smile. "It's understandable considering how unique each of them are..."

Including Jobber and Satsuki since those two are always the life of the party and highly motivate us.

"Yep! Being different isn't exactly a bad thing!" Dusty ageed before looking over back at the book shop before turning to me. "Maybe...the people here don't see it due to all their liking to violence and fighting the dragons, but...I think that being different doesn't make things bad for ya. I never really thought about being different. I think it's good to be different. If everyone was the same, then it wouldn't be a very good thing."

If everyone was the same, then it wouldn't be a very good thing...maybe she's right about that.

"Henry...have you...felt like an outcast because you were different?" Dusty asked curiously, earning a frown from me as I nodded in response. "Oh...if it's uncomfortable..."

"No, you at least deserved to hear it." I sighed. "People have bullied me for being so different from others...and I was told by people to act like others to not be an outcast..."

"Well I'm sure that it's okay to be different. As I always say, just think positively!" Easy for you to say considering that I can't be that positive when hearing what people say about me...it's just...goddamn frustrating to me...

Every time I try to be myself, it's always a problem for people. I just never seem to get a good day with myself...excluding being with Joey and Ari.

"Henry...it's okay." Dusty gave me a warm smile. "I mean, I know that maybe you may look like you kinda...abandoned and left who you were judging by how you talked to us and told us much about your past, but it's okay being yourself. Don't compare yourself with anyone in this world...You're just only insulting yourself...So that's why you shouldn't be afraid of being like that. Being the same would just be...what's the word...?"

"Disappointing?" I suggested.

"Right! That's right! But while being different does make you feel alone...but by being true to yourself, it would make you happy and I know that you can be happy too Henry. After all, while you may be sometimes stubborn and difficult to talk, I know you're a nice person..."

A nice person through my current self...Well...I guess when you put it like that, I guess you have a point. But...I'm not sure if I could bring out the real me back...I...I don't remember my past...then again, I don't want to forget her...

"...Thanks Dusty." I thanked with a nod. "Anyway, we'll meet up at the treehouse, right?"

"Yep! Oh, are you planning to do something?" Dusty asked curiously.

"Something like that. Just need some time for myself, but thanks for your ever-so encouraging words." I grinned.

"Thank you! Now I better meet up with Hiccup, so see ya!" Dusty quickly gives me a smile before heading out. However, she stops and looks back at me with a soft smile and nodded before saying...

"And...thank you for encouraging me. You really are a nice person underneath that wall of yours, Henry."

I stood there with a surprised look as Dusty quickly heads out to meet up with her friends at the cove.

Mm...You know, Dusty is just a girl hoping to overcome her hardships due to being short and such. Although, she's just an innocent girl who's trying to hold them back by sticking to her positive outlook on life with a brother who decides to just do nothing for the family she cares.

Ari...she always had my back and I always had her. It's why...I felt angry upon seeing Fishlegs just standing there and not saying a word to Snotlout and the twins. I understand if he was scared, but still...I couldn't let that happen. I learned to always love your brother and sister...and they'll love you back.

It's what she taught me...even my mom when she wasn't in a sour mood from having headaches. I...I experienced what love was to her...

When I had a bad day at school from my bullies or when my dad was too busy...Ari has been there for me, and when Joey came to the world, he always manages to crack a smile on me.

Ari said that she'll always be there to protect me...and I always trusted her. She saw potential in me...and believed in my capabilities...I always had her back by supporting her to the end, and I did the same for her...but now...

No...I don't want to forget her. But at the same time, I'm feeling the guilt again...but I don't want to forget her by moving on. It'll be disrepecting her memory, I...want to keep remember her...but at the same time, I can't help but blame myself for being a weakling. I killed her...because I was weak...my existence...was what wasted her life.

...No, please forget what you heard. I...don't want you all to just go around and just give me sympathies...All I want to at least is to do something right for her. But...what can I do?

"...I know one thing to do." I quickly looked over back to the book shop with a serious look. I know what I'm about to do, and that's confronting her brother.

As soon as I saw Fishlegs walking out of the shop with some books, I confronted him in front of his path and cleared my throat to grab his attention.

"Having fun carrying those books?" I questioned with a raised brow.

"O-Oh! Uh, hey there...uh...Henry?" Fishlegs gulped, smiling nervously. "U-Um...i-is my sister...around here or...?"

"She just left and I think we need to talk." I sternly stated, glaring at him.

"B-But I-I should really-"

"Just shut the hell up and come with me." I gave him my delightful old friend; The death glare. Fishlegs widened his eyes in fear before nodding vigorously at my suggestion.

Okay, good, I got his attention, now all that's left is to make sure that he listens me out for good.

Later

"S-So...what is it?" Fishlegs questioned.

"We need to talk." I repeated, cornering him to the back of the book shop.

"What? Just talk to me...?" Fishlegs questioned.

"Talk to me..." I demanded, crossing my arms and tapped my right foot with a serious look.

Fishlegs looks at me with a nervous look before he began ranting on like "Okay, my name is Fishlegs Justin Ingerman! I'm a fellow member of the Hairy Hooligan Tribe and a trainee of the Dragon Killing Program, and I'm 14 years old! Please don't hurt me!"

...Really?

"Relax...I'm not gonna hurt you." I stated, placing my hands in my pockets.

"Sorry." Fishlegs apologized sheepishly.

"...Heh." I snorted. "I guess I know where Dusty gets that nervousness. Only difference is that she's on the right side."

Fishlegs went silent on that last part before looking away with a sad look. Okay, with that out of mind, I'm gonna get into some serious business.

"Now...what the actual hell dude?" I questioned.

"W-What?" Fishlegs asked in worried.

"I know much about your little conversation with Dusty. What was it that you called her? A coward because she relies on her friends to do her bidding? Well...how much of a hypocrite are you to say that, even to your sister?"

"W-Well..." Fishlegs gulped before glancing away nervously.

"So what? You think she's worthless, huh?" I snorted, crossing my arms with a stern look. "Is that what you're trying to say?"

"N-No...I..."

"Do you think it's right for you to just abandoned your own sister and Hiccup like that? What did Hiccup and your sister did to you to make you hate them?"

"T-They didn't! They didn't a-a-anything wrong to me! I swear!" Fishlegs squeaked in fear.

"So then why leave him?" I questioned, only to receive silence from him. He twiddled with his fingers nervously and started mumbling something. Well...I guess we'll move on from the easy way to the hard way.

I slammed my fist against the wall, causing him to scream in fear as I gave him a death glare with an added smile to my face.

"You better answer quickly or else I'm gonna make sure I'll really make people see why they call you 'Fishlegs'." Fishlegs's pupils' shranked in fear upon seeing the look on my face.

"Okay! Okay ! I'll talk! I'll talk!" Fishlegs exclaimed. "I had no choice...I was scared and pressured to do so...!"

I grew startled at his answer, and started to feel this sense of dread in my heart. Was scared and pressured to do so...to abandon them...

Fishlegs looks down sadly before he began telling me his story.

"I-I...It was true...I used to be friends with Hiccup and so close with my sister." Fishlegs nodded meekly, his face showing how depressed when he started telling me the story. "We always hung together, had sleepovers, and exchange different kinds of things we knew about dragons...but then, as we grew up, Hiccup began his reputation as being 'Hiccup The Useless' due to his weak body and wasn't able to catch up with the rest of us...and I-I was being bullied by the other kids along with Dusty and Hiccup...s-so...no...you wouldn't get it...You'll just ignore me..."

I remember Dusty telling me that he was being bullied along with his friends due to Hiccup's little rep around here...but hearing how he was pressured to the situation on what to do, I feel like...I'm slowly starting to realize where this is going...but...I need to be wrong...I want to be wrong...

"And so does your friends. Look, I just want to talk to you...what you said to Dusty really hurt her. You just made her feel insecure and made her avoid you even more...so I'll listen." I sighed, slowly calming myself down while holding my fears.

If this is where its going, then I know for sure that I'm not gonna like it...

"...O-O-Okay." Fishlegs nodded, casting his eyes down.

"Look at me and say it straight to my face." I demanded, forcing him to slowly look up at me and squeaked at the sight of my serious look. "And stop squealing like a little girl, I think anyone around here in a five mile radius can hear you..."

"R-Right...sorry." Fishlegs apologized before clearing his throat to tell me the story. "...When we were growing up, we always gotten bullied, mostly by Snotlout because we were with Hiccup and anyone who stood by his side were bullied by him...and then one day, when Hiccup was beaten up and Dusty and I stood there in fear and didn't do anything...Snotlout...made a proposition."

"What kind of...proposition?" I asked slowly.

"He said...that he would spare me and Dusty if we abandoned Hiccup behind, and nobody would want to be around a guy like him..."

Not wanting to be around a person...and then...giving this proposition in order to avoid getting hurt...it's...similar...to me...

The more I listen to Fishlegs story, the more anger and dread was filling my mind...

"So...what exactly happened...?" I slowly questioned with furrowed brows.

"He asked us what was our decision...but Dusty, she...she refused and stood by Hiccup's side, telling him and the others that she doesn't mind and would be by Hiccup's side, but...I imagined she expected me to say the same thing but...I-I grew afraid and felt indecisive, and in a whim...I freaked and...grew nervous...I started to think that I was gonna get hurt again...so...I chose Snotlout and said...said..."

"Said what...?" I asked, darkening my face. "Say it...say the same thing as you told Hiccup."

"...That Hiccup should go and that he was wrong..."

...I see...Ngh...it's just like before...a friend abandoning you despite the things you've done for them...they just...left you to be cooler while you're left with a broken heart of betrayal...

Hiccup went through the same thing as I went through...and...he felt the betrayal of one of his own friends to just leave him...

"So...you abandoned him...with the jerks that hurted you...?" I questioned, glaring at him.

"I-I'm sorry..." Fishlegs apologized. "I-I...I didn't want to get hurt...I just wanted to avoid getting hurt sometimes..."

"Was that really what your heart is telling you? Was that really wanted to say?"

"W-Well...I..." Fishlegs attempted to say something, but went silent.

"...You can't even retort back to me. That right there is why you're like this. You guys call yourself 'Vikings', but you didn't do anything at all. A real friend is someone who always stays by your side and has your back. Your sister had the right idea to protect Hiccup, but you're the real coward."

"W-Well...it was a majority of people of not wanting to hang out with Hiccup and everyone seemed to agreed with it." Fishlegs gulped.

The majority of people...the same opinion...Bullshit. Fucking bullshit. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit, bullshit! That's a fucking bullshit rule!

It was then on that I didn't hold anything back as I slammed my fist hard on the wall, making him shriek in fear.

"So what? You guys can't be friends because you have different opinions? Did you care more about what others say behind your back other than focusing your friendship with Hiccup and your sister?!"

"I-I...well...I have heard that the side with more people is the right one to follow...it's how it works-"

"Bullshit! Fucking bullshit rule there!" I exclaimed, growling angrily. "Then what about other opinions?! Do you think that's what you wanted to say?! To actually abandon your friend and your own sister like it's nothing?! Do you even care about how much they feel?! Do you even care how much suffering Dusty is going through?!"

"I-I-I..."

"That's right, you don't because you call her a fucking coward! Your sister is a more hero than you!" I screamed. "She's worked hard to do everything to make up to keep on living on this fucking heap of rocks like Hiccup and the rest of his friends! You think she's fine because she keeps acting positive, but inside, she's suffering every single bit because of the cruel acts you assholes done to her! They aren't self-centered thoughts as you guys think! Who the fuck cares what others say because you're different?!"

Fishlegs just stared at me with widened eyes, unable to say anything back to me.

"Tell me why...when he helped you...when he became your friend...how did you feel?"

"...I felt...appreciated..." Fishlegs answered.

"...Really? Appreciated?" I spat, gritting my teeth. "So if you did, then I gotta say that with the way you got his back by ditching him and doing nothing to help him, you're already in some deep shit!"

"L-Look I-"

"This is how you guys repay back a friend, huh?! Because he was different?! You all don't care about no one but yourselves! You all are the self-centered assholes! You call brave 'Vikings' but, you're nothing but wimps and cowards who pick on the weak! The weak are left to rot in hell and be pummeled while the rest of you assholes get away with anything and don't care how others' feel at all!"

"But I-"

"No! You people only care more about being legends or fame instead of thinking about the people who ever helped you! You call Dusty a coward, well guss what? You're the fucking coward! At least Dusty's more braver than you ever were! I can see why they call you Fishlegs because you're just a cowardly jerk who likes to ruin relationships with those in order to get what you want, and even getting rid of your own sister!"

"...I'm sorry." Fishlegs sniffled, looking down sadly. "I-I didn't..."

"It isn't me that you're apologizing to say sorry to...you should say it to Hiccup and Dusty...That is, if you have the courage to do it..."

I turned back from him before seeing some Vikings staring at us with widened eyes. I glared at them all before lowering my head to avoid their gazes and continued on my path, leaving the shocked and bewildered Fishlegs behind.

This guy just started pissing me off...I hate people like that.

Hiccup and Dusty...they went through terrible things...and I feel guilty...it's another thing we have in common. And it was that fuck up majority opinion philosophy...

I honestly didn't want to hear that anymore...

I'm now understanding how much Hiccup and Dusty suffered...I now understand...

---

Later

Well...Hiccup should be around here. Where is he and the others? Did I show up too early here in their little clubhouse or something? Hmm...

Although, the place around here does look pretty nice. It's so big that it almost acts like a house. If so, then where's the beds? Heh heh, now that'll be something.

...I know what you all are thinking. I'm just trying to forget my little outburst with my talk with Fishlegs. Yeah, I was just...being a dick around him.

...Okay, screw that. I had to say something since that asshole was saying how he freaked out and was pressurized to join which side. Ugh, it just...pissed me off.

I can now understand how much Hiccup went through. He and I aren't so different. We may went through different yet similar things, and are different person and how we solve our everyday problems...

I'm just...I'm sorry, okay? I never expected to even react to that. It's...probably because...it reminds me of what happened to me in elementary school...

I honestly don't remember much...I swear...I don't want to remember that experience...

Even if I don't remember of what happened, I can't let it go...I would be forgetting Ari. I would be disrespecting her if I moved on...and even so, how can I ever move on from something like that?

It's all your fault...!

N-Ngh...N-No...not again...

You killed her!

Why couldn't you saved her?!

You're the one who killed her!

You're a cruddy and useless mistake!

It's your fault she's dead!

You're useless!

Why couldn't it been you?!

Why don't you say something?!

"N-No...!" I hissed, holding my head and breathed heavily. "N-No...I didn't...I..."

Please stop...I didn't...

"Henry..."

...! I slowly looked over at the window and saw a disfigured version of my sister glaring deadly at me.

"You...killed...me...and you...are...a murderer..."

No...No...No...NOOOOOOO!

"Henry!" Huh? I quickly turned around saw Hiccup and the gang standing by the doorway. "You okay?!"

Hiccup raced over, including Runa and the rest of their friends as they looked at me with a worried look.

"Y-Yeah...just a headache, that's all." I assured with a soft smile.

Ugh, that was another hallucination...it was nothing...

"There you are, where you've been?" Dusty asked in concern.

"Sorry, I...had some business." I sighed, leaning against the wall. "I was busy off, that's all."

"Okay, so then...why did we overheard some of the villagers talking about you being with Fishlegs and screaming at him?" Hiccup questioned.

I looked at their faces and saw worried and concern for them, staring right at me. I even saw Dusty's face, who looked at me with a scared and sad look.

Well guess news travels real fast around Berk, huh? Oh well, I can't really hide away any of my feelings anymore from them.

"...I was talking to Fishlegs...and wanted to know his side of the story." I sighed, placing my hands in my pockets.

"His side of the story...?" Jobber asked in confusion.

"You wanted to know why he abandoned us, right?" Dusty guessed, which I nodded in response. "I figured that you might've went after him Henry. I should have stopped you when I had the chance..."

"I'm sorry...I...I just wanted know why...and when I did, I grew angry at him that he...he would do that to you and Hiccup." I looked away, feeling ashamed for doing so stupid like that.

"R-Really...?" Dusty asked, looking at me. "I...I know what you did with talking to my brother felt like a bad idea, but...you did that for me and Hiccup?"

"Yeah..." I nodded before kicking my foot on the ground. "Course looked at where that lead..."

"But Henry, why?" Hiccup asked in concern before walking over to me. "Henry, was it because you didn't like what Fishlegs did to us?"

"...Yeah." I nodded. "I just felt frustrated that he called Dusty a 'coward' and getting to know her over for the past few days, I doubt that she is a coward."

"Henry..." Dusty smiled softly.

"He seriously said that?!" Runa exclaimed. "Ugh, I am seriously gonna have a talk with him and make sure he gets my lecture!"

"Oh yes, beat him down with her whip, that solves anything." I sarcastically stated.

"Oh laddie..." Jobber sighed, shaking his head. "We understand what you were trying to do, but you need to hold back your anger and curiosity, you're becoming like Hiccup."

How kindly ironic of you to say that when I'm his descendant...

"Thank you Jobber." Hiccup rolled his eyes before turning to me. "But...it's okay Henry, I understand why...you must feel bad for what happened to us..."

"Yeah...after chatting up with Dusty and getting to know a little better, I had to find out and when he told me what his reason was...It...reminded me of what happened..." I frowned, looking down sadly.

"Henry...I'm so sorry." Runa apologized.

"It's not your fault...it wasn't like me to get all that emotional." I sighed.

"Well...we all lose out of touch." Hiccup reassured. "So...you came here earlier than us to get your head out of the clouds, huh?"

"Yep...but I never expected you guys to actually come here." I admitted, scratching the back of my head.

"Well, we're just worried about you, that's all Henry." Dusty spoken up. "I mean...you really didn't have to do all that for us. Besides, he won't listen to us."

"It was worth a shot, and maybe I managed to make him more guilty to think about what he done." I said, placing my hands in my pocket. "I'm sorry again Dusty for just...doing that. I understand if you're angry at me."

"It's okay Henry, I'm not upset..." Dusty shook her head before softly smiling. "I'm actually surprised that you would even do that and talk to my brother. You didn't do anything else to him?"

"No, we just talked and all that yelling was my bad on that part." I rubbed the back of my head, looking away.

"I'll say! You exploded like a Monstrous Nightmare bursting into flames." Satsuki joked with a smile.

"Well...yeah." Hiccup shrugged before turning to me with a soft smile and placed a hand on my shoulder. "But hey, I understand how you feel...to be honest, I know Fishlegs didn't really meant to say what to comes..."

"I figured...he said that he was being pressured to side who and just blurted that out." I sighed. "I don't think I gave him a chance to retort back to me...I just...kept bursting out in anger."

"Well no one can blame you Henry." Runa reassured. "Fishlegs is timid and cowardly, but...while he thinks he isn't hurting Hiccup, he is by not doing anything."

I see your point there...but I just want to stop cowarding in fear and at least help Hiccup...for once. Stop siding with the wrong side...then again, it makes me wonder if I'm on the wrong too.

Wait, why am I thinking like that? This is the right side...I know what I'm doing...

"Yeah!" Dusty nodded in agreement, showing off a sincere look on her face. "Henry, I know my brother will learn his lesson on what he's doing joining with Snotlout and the other bullies, and while what he's doing is wrong, I know for sure that his heart is still good. Remember, think positive!"

"Think positive..." I repeated in a small voice, standing back up. "...I'll be sure to remember that."

"Thanks!" Dusty chuckled happily.

"See laddie? We got your back." Jobber chuckled, scratching his arm before stretching it to remove some fatigue. "Alright! How about we go and hunt down a Night Fury?"

"Yeah! We're already wasting time!" Satsuki cried out.

"Oh, right! Sorry you guys." Hiccup apologized. "So Henry, are you and Runa gonna go and check up on Luna and Silverspike?"

"That's the plan, to be honest." I shrugged. "But if you're worried that I might be still upset with Fishlegs, then don't worry, I cooled off."

"Oh, I see. Heh heh, I see." Hiccup smiled softly. "Well I'm happy to hear that dude."

"No problem." I smirked playfully before turning to Runa. "So Runa, you ready to head out?"

"I'm ready if you are." Runa smirked back at me before proceeding to punch me in the gut.

"Ow...seriously?" I glared at her with a smirk on my own.

"It's how I get along with my friends." Runa shrugged.

"Seriously? I thought because you love punching others?" Jobber thought aloud.

"Only to you because of your stunts on trying to touch me." Runa stated sternly, putting her hands on her hips.

"I feel offended Runa! I do no such thing!" Oh really? Then why are you touching Satsuki's 'you-know-what' right now?

SLAP!

"Ow!" Jobber hissed, rubbing his butt after receiving a slap from Runa's whip.

"You stop doing that, you pervert! Satsuki, I'm so sorry for what Jobber tried to do!" Runa apologized to her clown friend.

"Nah, it's okay Ru-Ru! No need to worry about poor old Satsuki! She was liking it!" Satsuki cried out in joy, much to our disbelief.

I just stood there with a dumbfounded like and thought 'what' right there. I mean...is this girl really liking it? Well...at least I know a perfect fit for these two doofuses. Ugh...Perverts...

"A-Anyway, we really need to get to the cove! I already gotten the book I need to copy down some new notes for the Night Fury!" Dusty smiled brightly. "But also for the Light Fury and the Razor-whip! It was only a guess and luck that the Book of Dragons seemed to have a name for it, but no details detailing about it, so this could be our chance that we learn so much about dragons!"

"Exactly Dusty." Hiccup nodded.

"Yep! Then we'll see who's the coward now, Fishlegs!" Dusty smiled determinedly, earning a smile from my face. "O-Okay, so let's go you guys...!"

"Agreed." Runa smiled. "We'll catch you guys later! Come on Henry, let's heado ver to the garden where we last left them."

"Got it. Let's do it." I nodded in agreement before turning to Hiccup and the gang. "We'll meet you guys later at the cove. And...sorry again for...you know."

"Stop apologize, we already forgave you." Hiccup reassured. "I mean, you were concern for Dusty. I think that's a real friend would do for anyone like her."

Maybe Hiccup was right...Maybe I have changed a little. I don't know...I'm not too sure about this.

"Well bye! And Runa, see ya!" Jobber chuckled.

"Oh shut up you!" Runa sighed annoyingly before heading out of the treehouse before calling "Come on Henry! Let's go!"

"Right..." I nodded before turning to Hiccup. "We'll meet later, right?"

"Right!" Hiccup nodded before we headed down the treehouse's ladder where I noticed a big basket of fish leaning against the fish.

"That's a lot of fish for Toothless." I commented.

"Well he is a dragon." Hiccup shrugged before walking over to the fish basket and gave me a pair of fish. "You should use these to feed both Luna and Silverspike."

"Thanks." I nodded.

"Good luck you two! And you better not planning anything 'fishy' behind our backs!" Satsuki pouted.

"Okay, that was a little better." Dusty chuckled nervously before turning to me with a soft smile. "And Henry, be careful and make sure nothing bad happens to each other."

"I'll be alright. Thank you for your concern." I smiled softly.

"And have fun with Runa!" Jobber smirked while the others turned to him with raised brows while I rolled my brows and began taking my leave out to the forest.

Oh well, I guess that worked out well. Though, I had to do something...I really want to help Dusty. I guess that...even if her brother is on the wrong side, at least she still has him.

Sorry...let's just move on before I bore you all...

---

Later

"Silverspike! You here girl?"

"Hey Luna!"

We managed to make it over to the garden and saw both Luna and Silverspike coming out of the flower field and flew over to us.

"Hey girl." I waved before getting licked in the face by Luna. "H-Hey chill out! We promised that we would come back, okay?!"

"So, how it's been Silverspike? Did you behave?" Runa softly touched Silverspike by the snout while the Razor-whip began sniffing her hand before nuzzling the shield-maiden. "I think I'll take that as a yes...Wow, it feels weird getting to know a dragon like this. No offence to you two..."

Luna purred softly before snifffing at me and began nudging me by the gut.

"H-Hey...calm down." I assured before taking out the two fish Hiccup gave me. I kept them safe in my bag, so I think I should be alright with her right now.

"Fish? Did Hiccup gave that to you?" Runa asked curiously.

"Yeah, it was so to feed our dragons." I replied before slowly handing it to Luna, who happily munched on it while I threw one back to Runa. "Here ya go! One order of salmon for one Runa Johannson."

"Thanks...bleh." Runa shot out her tongue in disgust before feeding it to Silverspike. "Jeez, I got fish saliva all over me..."

"Quit whining, at least you didn't start eating it." I joked with a smirk on my face.

"Ha ha ha, very funny." Runa rolled her eyes before putting her hands on her hips. "Hey Henry, you didn't tell anyone...what happened last night, right?"

"Nope, but Jobber is probably spreading rumors." I shrugged.

"Typical..." Runa groaned, face-palming. "Oh well, like it would matter. But...you know, I was surprised about what you did to Fishlegs."

"I told you guys already that I wanted to know why he abandoned Hiccup and his own sister." I said, putting my hands in my pockets. "I just...I just grew upset that he would leave behind his sister like that..."

"Does it remind you of...Ari?" I looked at Runa with a slightly surprised look before glancing down. However, I didn't want to leave her question hanging so I nodded in response. "Henry...I'm so sorry..."

"Don't apologize, you weren't there. But...what Fishlegs would do just irritated me that he would do that." I sighed, walking over to the garden fields and bent down to examine each flower. Luna, Silverspike, and Runa walked over to my side and stared at me with concern.

"What did Fishlegs say...?" I let out a sigh and looked at her with a sad look and asked "Why...?"

"You wouldn't do all that yelling and screaming at them like what we heard from the village." Runa stated. "So...what's up?"

"It's just that...from what he told me...it...reminded me of what happened back in the past." I sighed. "He said...that he was being pressured and chose Snotlout's side with an opinion of not being friends with Hiccup and Dusty, even though that's not what he wanted to say..."

"Henry...does it remind you of your past?" Runa asked in concern as Luna walked over to me and looked at me, tilting her head.

"Yeah...I remember a time back when I was...in elementary school." I sighed, sitting down on the meadows. "...I used to be left behind by my friend. He was being bullied and wanted to help them...and even asked my classmates to join a concert with me..."

"A...concert?" Runa asked.

"It's where a bunch of people show off their musical talents in front of an audience." I explained, earning a nod from her. I can't honestly tell if she knew what it was or just simply nodded and just made continue on my story. "Anyway...I asked my classmates to come with me, but they all strangely refused. Then one day, I found my desk written all over with names and stuffed with trash. I later found out that the classmate's friend that I saved actually kicked him out of the group since the older kids were targeting him out of enjoyment from their troubles and the kid's friends grew fearful of getting involved with it..."

"Oh, that's terrible..." Runa frowned while Luna and Silverspike came over to our side and looked at us as I petted the Light Fury on her head. "So...what did you do?"

What did I do? I'll tell you what...a stupid decision that I should never...even done.

"I...I thought of a way that we could work together and stay as friends together because me, my sister, Ari, and my brother, Joey, always worked together...but instead...it was different and I was so stupid..."

"You mean...they disagreed with it?" Runa asked.

"Worse...they decided to kick me out and take the boy's place...and you wanna know what was fucked up? He sided with them and told me that I was in the wrong and should have just did what they said...Since then, I was left behind as the social outcast of my school...in middle school...all that...because I tried helping him..."

"So it's just like now. You went through a similar experience like what Hiccup and Dusty went through with Fishlegs...and what I went through with Astrid..." Runa sighed sadly.

"Yeah...nobody wanted to be my friend despite my kindness." I frowned, gazing at a sunflower that seemed to be growing around these meadows.

"You? Being kind? Heh, that's kinda hard to believe." Runa joked with a teasing smile.

"W-W-Well...I wasn't always like this, you know." I hid away my blush before sighing. "I...don't know what I do...to deserve this...I never experienced what a friend is like...the only people at that time I could ever trust was Joey and Ari...They were all I had left..."

"But now you're here on Berk, huh? All the way to the past." Runa stated, sitting closely to me. "I'm so sorry..."

"You think that was the only fucked up thing? I actually thought I made a friend from school, I thought we had something...but then...I learned that he only became my friend by force due to a bet he made with his friends...and I never felt deceived or heartbroken before..." I placed my head on my knees and closed my eyes.

I was like Hiccup back then, you know. Kind, passionate, shy, timid, but had a strong heart to easily believe in people...I was so stupid to believe in others that easily. I felt...so stupid. I just wished...I could restart my life. No...I want to end my life.

All I asked of you god is that I want my life to end...that's all I want...

I'm sick of the lies, I'm sick of the betrayal, all I just want in my life is for it to get better...!

"Henry, you don't have to feel scared." Hm? I looked upwards to see Runa smiling down at me. "I mean, a guy like you don't deserve what you had to go through in life. I mean, from what everything you told me, you were lost in this world...all alone except for your siblings by your side...and I know that you are someone with a purpose. You got us, and even me by your side. Even Hiccup since he was the one who helped you before you could have possibly died out in the forest."

"Yeah..." I smiled softly. "And I thank you guys for at least listening to what I say...I felt like I needed that out of my chest."

As if on cue, Luna walked over to me and nuzzled me on the cheek, giving me a gummy smile in the process.

"T-Thank you Luna..." I smiled softly before gently scratching underneath her chin. "Heh, I guess you can somehow see through me that easily, huh?"

Luna nodded before puffing her chest out a bit, feeling proud almost.

"Yeah..." Runa smiled before seeing Silverspike wagging her tail around. "Hm? Something up girl? You want to play?"

Silverspike nodded before using her tail to grab Runa's whip and started running around with it.

"Hey! No fair Silverspike!" Runa immediately gotten back up and started chasing her around, laughing alongside the Razor-whip. Me and Luna stared at them for a while before looking at each other and smiled at one another.

It's good to see that Runa is getting quite well with Silverspike. Heh...

"I gotta say, that was quite a pleasant thought you had squire." Hm? I looked over behind me to see Gram floating out of the sheath and hovered over by my side. "A young one like you...feeling lost in the world...without the use of bonding with the ones you love...I feel pity and symapthy towards you...I am sorry you had to endure what these treacherous human beings done to an innocent young lad like you had to go through..."

"It's nothing Gram..." I sighed. "I told you, I gotten over it."

"Are you really sure?" Oh goddammit, seriously? You too Sindri? Come on! Sindri happened to come out of my bag and appeared into his monster kitty form. "I mean, who knows? You may say that you aren't bothered by it, but maybe you still are? It's alright to cry."

"I don't cry." I said harshly, looking away from their concerning gazes. "I never cried in two years...I just...don't want others to think that I'm coward."

"All because of crying?" Sindri wondered.

"While that may be so, a warrior mustn't show tears in battle." Gram voiced out his opinion, earning a dead-faced look from Sindri.

"That's not even helping, you stupid sword!" Sindri groaned. "B-but anyway, Henry...what Gram is actually trying to say that maybe not show tears that much, but crying for the people you love, you could show how much you care for them."

Cry for those you care for...? Well...you certainly aren't wrong there. How long did I let out my tears for Ari...? I wanted to run away...but I can't. As much as I'm happy being with them due to listening what I have to say, I'm still a coward trying to run away from the crowd...

Suddenly, I began hearing noises as we turned over and saw someone walking through the trees and headed deeper through the bushes and the edge of the forest.

"Huh? What the...?" Sindri wondered aloud.

Luna and Silverspike both let out growls and looked like they were about to kill someone.

"W-Whoa! Easy girl!" I called, raising both my hands in front of her.

"They look like they were easily frightened by whatever they heard or even saw..." Runa called, managing to calm Silverspike down and making her put down her tail.

"What do you think it was?" Sindri wondered.

"I say that we must searchest for thee mysterious individual and track it down." Gram suggested. "We mustn't let something like this get away."

"Uh huh, obviously dummy." Sindri groaned before turning to me and Runa. "So, you guys want to figure out what that was?"

"Yeah." I nodded. "Something tells me that wasn't Hiccup or the others."

"Yeah, we need to be cautious..." Runa insisted.

"Yeah, stay here..." I whispered to Luna, who looked at me with a concern look. "Hey, leave it to me girl. I ain't the type to get caught that easy. So I'll be careful. Now come on..."

However, both Luna and Silverspike both persisted onto staying by our side. Oh man, if they become this attached to us, then we might end up into some big trouble if we don't keep them away from us when we're around other people that aren't our friends.

"It's best if we let them come with us." Gram insisted.

"I guess why not." Runa shrugged. "It's not like we have a choice onto getting them to stay here. They're really concerned for us."

Man...I hate it when you make some sense.

"Alright fine...you two can come." I sighed irritably. "But remember to hide away if that person sees you two."

Luna and Silverspike both warbled in excitement, eager to come with us.

"Right..." Sindri nodded. "Anyway, let's head out...!"

"Right! We'll be right back you two!" Runa exclaimed before we followed out where we saw that shadow figure.

"Be careful, you two." Gram warned as I gripped onto his handle tightly.

"We will, just as long as I use you as a weapon." I rolled my eyes.

"But seriously though, what do you think that was...?" Runa asked in concern.

"Don't know, but we better be careful." I warned. "Who knows who it is...Then again, I think you'll gladly handle this."

"You're learning quite well." Runa smirked, stretching out her whip.

"Well...you are kinda strong with or without that whip. I learned that the hard way during Dragon Training and the other times we spent together for the past few days here." I smirked.

"Good point." Runa chuckled before punching me in the shoulder.

"Ow! Hey!" I winced before the two of us started chuckling at each other.

"Wow! You two are going great together!" Sindri smirked. "You two seem so close..."

"Yeah, we kinda are..." Runa softly smiled, which I nodded in agreement.

Yeah, Runa seemed to understand me...then again, so does the others so that there's no exceptions. But if Sindri's implying that-

"Hey, look over there." Runa points over to the cave that was in front of us, surprising me a bit.

"Oh...a cave. How...thrilling." I commented bluntly. "Yeah, that figure totally did not walked into this strange looking cave."

"So...what are we waiting for? Let's go into battle!" Gram exclaimed, pulling me into straight into the cave.

"W-What the?! Stop it! Hey!" I exclaimed, trying to pull him back but was dragged into the cave with Sindri and Runa chasing after us.

"Is Gram that...pushy?" Runa questioned.

"You certainly aren't wrong there." Sindri sighed before we slowly entered the dark cavern.

Ugh, can't this crazy golden sword just stop acting this eccentric?! He keeps running into battle! This guy reminds me more of these Vikings' urges on fighting, but only except that he's a floating golden sword...this guy just really annoys me so much...

"This place looks so dark...Hey Henry, do you still have your phone? Maybe its glowing screen might help us out?" Runa suggested.

"I could try, but I got my hands full with trying to stop a crazy egomaniac of a sword!" I hissed, slowly pulling away Gram. "Look Gram, calm down already!"

"I am sorry squire, but who knows? We might be in the spite of danger." Gram exclaimed. "Now stand on your guard, squire."

"Stop it!" I hissed before getting punched in the gut by Runa before glaring sternly at us both as she said "You two are acting like idiots."

"Wait, me too?" I asked incredulous, placing a hand on my chest.

Seriously? I'm being a part of this too?

"Well yeah." Sindri agreed with Runa. "I mean, you two are alike in a way."

Please don't compare to this crazy-ass sword at all.

Suddenly, Luna stepped forward and let out a little roar, but the surprising part was that some light was echoing across the cave.

"Whoa...what was that?" Runa wondered.

"That was echolocation." Sindri answered.

"Echolocation?" Runa asked.

"It's like what bats used to rely on hearing and seeing since they can't use their eyes. They need to hear their surroundings to trace any predators and/or prey." I explained.

"Oh, well I never knew that it could do that..." Runa stared at Luna, who made a soft smile at us while Silverspike marveled at the Light Fury's new ability.

"Well of course. Even a Night Fury can do that." Sindri chuckled.

"Wait, seriously?" Runa blinked in shock.

"It's kinda obvious, to be honest." I shrugged. "I mean, they're both similar species."

"W-Well...yeah..." Sindri nodded, but in a relunctantly manner. Actually, hold on...how the fuck does he knows that?

"Sindri, how do you know even know?" I questioned.

Sindri looks down and answers "I-I...don't know...I just know, that's all..."

Well isn't that fucking great? Before I could say anything more to him, Runa raises her hand to the side and looks around.

"Hey wait, do you guys hear something...?" Runa wondered, looking around in confusion.

I blinked in surprise before leaning a little forward and began hearing some sort of talking...

"Yeah, I think so..." I nodded before gesturing the gang to be silent, which they nodded. Soon, we quickly headed over to the scene and managed to head deeper into the cave while taking out our weapons. Sindri rubbed his paws together as static electricity appeared in his claws.

"Damn..." I muttered, blinking in surprise upon seeing this.

"Like it? I come prepared." Sindri smirked. "Heh heh heh, don't worry...we'll be alright with me by your side."

"Thanks, I guess Sindri?" Runa shrugged before we hid behind a giant rock and began hearing someone talking. However, it all sounded like muttering...and...I couldn't even understand what the hell what they were saying.

I swear that if it's someone muttering some sort of curse, then I'm suing Gram and Sindri for making us come here.

Luna and Silverspike both growled and got to their defensive maneuvers. I held Gram tightly in my hands, Runa held her whip firmly, and Sindri started sparking up some electricity in his paws as we slowly made our way into the deepest part of the cave.

However, the scene that we saw...was bewildering onto who it was in there.

"Here you go, my friend...enjoy it."

Right there was Mikako, the girl who healed my wounds and knew who I was the entire time due to always watching us. No, not just us, but all of Berk for years that I do not why she would do in the first place. She held what seems to be a bowl of water and raised it in the air.

"Huh...I wonder why she's doing that?" Sindri wondered.

"You don't know?" I questioned.

"No, I told you that I've been here for the same amount of time as you did on Berk." Sindri reminded. "So...I don't know anything much about her..."

Huh...I see...so what's going on? Why is she in here?

Suddenly, we saw a pair of eyes opening up in the darkness of the cave's ceilings as it slightly turned around before coming down in front of Mikako. All of us all widened our eyes in horror upon seeing the giant dragon gazing down on Mikako.

I stared at the dragon looking down at her in full view. It had two pairs of wings, had head frills, and looked like it had a 'smashed' face, along with tail fins that look like the tail of an airplane and its wings make it looked like an 'X', along with a muscular and sturdy build.

"Oh..." Runa gaped.

"My..." Sindri jaw-dropped.

"God..." I finished, twitching my eyes in shock. What the fucking hell is that?!

"Whoa...I never seen any dragon that huge before." Runa muttered in horror and shock. "Mika...was taking care of a dragon?!"

"What the heck?! Since when did this happened?!" Sindri exclaimed.

"Quiet...!" I hissed, covering his mouth quickly before the rest of us hid behind a giant rock.

We all peeked out and watched Mikako keeping an eye out for the giant dragon drinking some of the water before staring down at Mikako as it breathed through its nostrils before cooeing at her curiously.

"Mm..." Mikako made a small smile before petting her on the head. "It is okay...they are good..."

Hm? Wait, what is she...Oh crap.

"...Please come out..."

...Goddammit.

I let out a heavy sigh before slowly walking out of my hiding spot, placing Gram back into my sheath.

"Hey Mikako..." I greeted, placing my hands in my pockets. Mikako didn't greet us back as she stared down at us with a hint of suspicious in her eyes.

"Mika, you were here...and taking care of a dragon?!" Runa exclaimed in shock. "I don't believe it..."

"...It is...alright..." Mikako answered. "I am just...simply...doing my...duty as...a healer..."

"What? But I don't understand...why did you even help it?" Sindri questioned.

"Because she was hurt." Mikako answered. "I've been taken care of her for a while, and she needed help."

"Well...I can understand that feeling if I saw any of my friends in pain." Runa couldn't help but agree to her on that. Soon, Luna and Silverspike came out of their hiding spots and immediately went over to check out the new dragon, who stares at them with a sincere look on her face.

"So...what is this thing?" I asked. "It's completely new from the other dragons here on Berk as far as I know."

"...It is...a...Stormcutter..." Stormcutter? What a weird name...Hmm, oh well, maybe Gram might know.

"A Stormcutter..." And I stand corrected. I gazed over at Gram, who stared at the dragon in shock. "In all my life, I would never thought to see this magnificent dragon."

"So you've seen this kind of dragon before?" I asked in confusion.

"Yes, but only in folklore and it lives in secret places you cannot begin to understand, squire." Try me because so far being on Berk made me not begin to understand anything at all like Vikings and dragons actually existing here.

"Wow...she's so beautiful..." Runa muttered in awe.

"Yeah..." Sindri blinked, smiling over at the Stormcutter. "What's her name...?"

"Nights..." Mikako answered, grabbing her right arm and slightly rubbing it. "I've...been taking care of her...and check up on her health..."

"Oh no, does she have a fever?" Runa asked in concern.

"Yes...as well as a broken wing, but she's been feeling now and been capable to fly for sometime now..." Mikako walked over to Nights, who softly nuzzled her face. "But so far, she remained hidden in this cave...I assumed because...she trusts me and has bond with me...just like how your dragons trusts you..."

"Oh...that's...nice." I shrugged before walking over to Nights and looking upwards, seeing her staring right down at me and started sniffing at me. Wow...I never seen anything like this before.

This feeling in my heart...I can't explain it, but I feel nostalgic. It's like...I've seen this kind of dragon before...I can't explain where...

Before I knew what I was doing, I had my hand slowly extend to reach out for the dragon. Nights merely grunted at me before flinching, making me gulped in fear before closing my eyes and had my hand extend out.

It worked well with Luna, right? And Hiccup did it to Toothless, and Runa did it for Silverspike. So...let's give it another try.

Five seconds later, I felt something pressing against my hand before slowly opening my eyes and saw Nights rubbing her snout on my hand. I grew a little startled, but replaced it quickly with a soft smile.

"I...gotta say. She seems pretty tamed." I smirked. "You must be lucky to have a dragon like her."

"Indeed, I do." Mikako nodded in agreement. "It would seem you are beginning to understand some truth to Berk's reasons."

Hm? Berk's reasons? For hating dragons, you mean? Hmm...well...it just felt weird that I'm not thinking about it.

"You mean...why the Vikings hates dragons?" Runa questioned, which Mikako nodded. "Well, I just had this small feeling in me that something didn't seem right considering how the Night Fury, or Toothless as Hiccup calls him, didn't kill him or any of us by first glance. My mom, Gobber, and the other adults around here tells us that dragons always go for the kill on first glance."

"That would seemed to be just a lie they too believed." Mikako replied, casting her eyes away from Runa.

"Huh? A...lie...?" Runa asked in bewilderment. "You mean, they were lying to us?"

"Yes...These people...they lost the strength to find what's the truth or what's a lie...they've been trapped by the chains of lies..."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"To be honest...I do not trust the village for many reasons, and one of them is for their hatred towards...dragons." Mikako explained, folding her arms as she continued on. "I've...studied over...the...reasons of why they hate dragons...and so far, I come...across reasons like they're bloodthirsty...killers, vicious...beasts, attacking them...since day one our ancestors first set...sailed here in the Archipelago...All I found out that it was founded 300 years...Many people came up with many different reasons and it motivates people to go into battle..."

The more I began hearing Mikako's story, the more I began to understand what she means.

Wars tend to make up different beliefs like the reasons why it started out. Like for example, think about the Cold War in 1945. Many people came up with different reasons like how USSR disliked capitalism, or their fear of the government using the atomic bomb on them, or how the Americans back then were fearful of any communist attack or even how my country was stubborn not to share any of their nuclear secrets to the enemy or their rivalry between the US and the USSR and how it grew out of control to go through even through for four or five decades.

All of those different reasons that stemmed from the one actual truth and just came up with multiple disbeliefs and false truths. Then again, many people who go into battle seems to actually believe in those different reasons and just go with the flow, not questioning why we do this or what's the real reason. They didn't think much more on the subject.

This Viking-Dragon War was making much sense based on Mikako's accusation about it. Why did this happened? The dragons aren't bloodthirsty at all and they looked really friendly and tame.

"I think I'm starting to see your point..." Runa muttered. "I mean...I was told that the dragons started killing Vikings for their food and such..."

"Hmm...I see." Mikako hummed, closing her eyes.

"Actually, I have to agree with Mikako right there." Sindri nodded in agreement, "Why did this war even happened? Why do Vikings and dragons fight all the time? Luna, Silverspike, Toothless, and now Nights...these four are pure evidence that they aren't what Vikings described..."

"Yeah..." I gulped, letting down a sweat from my forehead.

These Vikings...did they believe in these reasons? I mean, sure they aren't the brightest but they do need to think about the actual cause of this...

"Well, so far as I knew, the dragons only seemed interested in our livestock." Runa explained. "Every week or months, they always come to Berk, attack us, and try to steal our herd and any other food."

"Indeed...but right there...is the curious and strangest part..." Mikako spoken with narrowed eyes before petting Nights, who softly cooed at her. "When I first found Nights, she was starving and started eating the food I managed to make for her...and if she was a part of the dragon raids or so, then...why hasn't she eaten any of the food along with the other dragons who came from Dragon Nesting Grounds?"

"What...?" I asked, slowly turning shock and pale upon hearing that.

So that Stormcutter hasn't eaten anything, and if she was a part of the dragon raids, then...why hasn't she eaten at all? Something doesn't make sense.

"Actually, that makes sense but I was always told that they were emotionless creatures with no soul or remorse, but seeing these dragons right now prves that we were wrong." Runa stated, crossing her arms with a serious look.

"Yeah...but if that's true and if these dragons are really harmless, then why do they keep stealing food in the first place during the raiding?" I questioned. "That right there is the strangest thing..."

"...Hmmm...that is questionable..." Gram hummed in agreement.

"What if...they have to do this? For some reason, they have to raid you guys' food here on Berk and on the other islands around the Archipelago?" Sindri suggested. "Maybe that's the reason."

"Huh..." I muttered before turning to Luna. "Hey girl, do you know anything about it?"

Luna shook her head, making me sigh. Great, well that sucks...

Luna must've sensed my sadness as she began nuzzling me a lot.

"H-Hey girl...it's okay...I appreciate your concerns, but I'm fine." I reassured.

"What about you Silverspike? Do you know why?" Runa asked in confusion.

Silverspike looks down and purred sadly.

"Looks like a no." Sindri sighed.

"It's okay Silver, you didn't know." Runa softly smiled, gently rubbing her snout.

"But even so, this war...if what Lady Mikako says is the truth, it would explain a lot..." Gram sighed.

"Yes...Gram is correct." Mikako agreed. "No matter what reason it is, whether it is stupid or not, the Vikings here would instantly believe it and accept it as a truth even though it might end up as a lie. Our ancestors were the first ones to have war with the dragons, perhaps...they too didn't know and started making other types of beliefs for other people to believe, motivating them to be a part of this war...increasing more of the casualties of death between dragon and Viking."

No way...she's right about that and so is Gram. This is just...crazy to comprehend. Then...does that explain how these guys are always fighting so hard or even...not caring about petty things like Hiccup? The people here are so focused on the war so much that they practically focused on much about people wanting to be the same and despises those who are different like Hiccup, Runa, Dusty, Satsuki, Jobber, Mikako, and...me.

Even those who don't agree with their opinions sides with them in fear of getting hurt, both mentally and physically, by force. Fishlegs...was one of them.

"Oh my gods...just...what is going on anymore?" Runa gritted her teeth. "I don't understand...why?"

"It's because of this war..." Sindri spoken up, having a serious look as he places his paws to his side. "This war between Vikings and dragons...it's really affecting them. They've been going at it at each other through this war back and forth for so long that they've forgotten what really started it all, fogging up the truth and facing the lies that they're going through. These Vikings are taking the lies as truths that this war built up over the years. If this keeps up, I'm afraid that they might end up doing something far worse than before..."

"Just like those other two Vikings..." I muttered, slowly widening my eyes upon remembering yesterday.

"What?" Runa asked.

"Do you remember those two Vikings that captured Silverspike yesterday? They were gonna kill her and make her body out of armor...maybe...that was one of the casualty of the war..." I slowly widened my eyes and looked down on the ground, clenching my fists in the process.

So this is the aftermath of the war. People loses their sense of sanity by going through the killing of others. They go so far as to not care on what they do, even breaking out of their control of who they are and affect them in traumatization and such...

"O-Oh...Oh my gods..." Runa covered her mouth in horror. "Then...what have we done...? What...has my mom have done? What has any of us been doing? I...I don't know anymore what's real or not...this is all just so...so..."

"Runa, it's okay..." Mikako walked over and patted her on the back. "Would you like...a medicine...to cure your pain...?"

"No Mika, it's not that...I just...how did I not even notice this?!" Runa exclaimed. "Learning all of this...finding out about the Viking-Dragon War, how come I never thought of all of this?! And look at what we've done! We've killed practically millions of dragons and in return, we all lost many innocent people too...! Even my..."

Runa began sobbing as Mikako hugged her softly.

"Runa..." Sindri muttered, feeling bad for her.

"...This war is making us all feel liek we're nothing..." Gram spoken, closing his eyes. "Thanks to it, your friendships and bonds with those you all called 'friends' like Lady Astrid and Sir Fishlegs made them feel heartless. The lies of why this war came to...is making them believe the things you all thought. It explains very much..."

Maybe he's right...I honestly been lied to many people on how things are always my fault. Why Ari died, blaming me for things that I never done, and how my opinions don't matter and to...abandoned my former self...

They were all right...but...I knew deep within me that they were wrong...but I was a coward to even voiced out my opinion...

I knew it...and yet I believed it...so I can understand and see where this all going to...that's why I'm gonna change it.

"...Then that's why we need to put an end to this." I spoken, forming a serious look on my face.

"H-Henry...?" Runa looked up at me, tears covering her face. Sindri, Gram, Mikako, and the other dragons turned to me as I began to continue on what I wanted to say...

"Hiccup seems to get the idea when he touched that Night Fury, and he and the others are questioning about this...that's why we need to put an end to this, and uncovered the truth to make all these Vikings and dragons stop fighting each other! Thay way...no one would die! We can end all of this!"

"But...how? We're just teenagers..." Runa said somberly.

"Runa...it's okay." I turned to her with a serious look on my face. "I understand where you're going through...but remember that even your own mom believed in this lie. Everyone on Berk and those who were or still are a part of this war were lied to as well. They believed that the lie they listened to was the absolute truth...but we can overturn that lie by showing them that dragons aren't what they say they are. Those other guys, Astrid and the gang, they were told of this lie too and believed it. You can't get upset with this...we'll be able to expose that lie that they all unintentionally believed and showed them the real truth behind this war. That way...we can end all of this...end all of the pain..."

I placed my hand on my chest with a frown upon my face.

"I know where you're going with this, you guys...and I understand what you mean...this lie is just hurting you all. The pain and the suffering...is real. The bonds...are real. That's why...we need to do this..."

"Henry..." Runa muttered in shock, wiping away the tears before staring at me with a surprised look. Before long, she made a smile on her face and nodded determinedly. "You're right...we need to end this war..."

I knew that I could count on you Runa.

"Agreed." Mikako nodded. "That way, no one shall be killed. Not a Viking nor a dragon...it could work." Mikako hummed in agreement.

"Me too...that's why...I will find the truth and I won't let anyone to keep believing in this lie just to make them be clouded by the truth and make them keep creating more suffering to each other..." I formed a serious look and continued, "That's why we need to do this together! I won't let anyone faced the pain and the suffering like what we all gone through! I won't let anyone believe in these crappy lies anymore!"

"Squire..." Gram smiled. "You really have learned so quickly for the past few days..."

"Yeah, you're really good with words..." Sindri chuckled before forming a serious look. "Well you can count me in this too Henry!"

"Huh?" I looked at Gram, blinking in surprise before turning to Sindri as he looks down at himself and says "I don't know much...but I wanna help. I wanna search for my memories, to search for a way to become human...and...this feeling in my heart...It's telling me to help you guys..."

"Sindri..." I muttered before smiling softly and nodded. "Yeah..."

"Well...how can we prove it?" Gram wondered. "The village will never listen to us or even care what yu guys show them."

That is true...even if we show them that the dragons are friendly, that wouldn't be enough. Also, don't come up with some bullshit thing like going out there and telling that the dragons are real and possibly make an occult about it. That wouldn't work obviously...

"...But even so, that village will believe anything that they think is the truth, whether its real or not...but...I don't trust anyone...but...there's another reason...why I don't trust them..." Mikako muttered.

"Huh? Really Mika? What's that?" Runa asked in confusion.

However, Mikako went silent and didn't respond back to us. We stood there and waited for her to give us an answer...but she didn't.

"Never mind..." Runa sighed. "We understand if you're too shy to answer us back."

I hardly call her...shy. She's just silent...

"Yeah, just forget it you two. She won't tell us." Sindri sighed. "This girl is too difficult to decipher anything out of her."

"You wouldn't...understand...you all...wouldn't trust me...either way..." Mikako replied, closing her eyes.

"...Well...I could try trusting you." I said, earning a curious gaze from her. "I mean...you saved my life by removing that arrow out of my back and the wound isn't hurting at all and it's only been a day, so...I can trust you that you're on our side..."

"...Hm..." Mikako closes her eyes and made a small smile. "You...are one...curious boy..."

"And you are one strange girl who sucks at socializing, do ya?" I smirked, only to earn a whipping lash by Runa. "Ow! What?!"

"Stop messing with her!" Runa exclaimed. "Come on Henry, you shouldn't discern her like that!"

"Yeah yeah, whatever." I waved it off before turning to Mikako. "But anyway, I guess you can tell us another time...but for right now, we need to go and see the others right now!"

"But they're already at the Cove meeting up with Toothless. It'll take too long." Sindri stated. "How can we get there in time?"

That's a good question...

"This is indeed a troublesome situation we put ourselves in...Mind I suggest we figure this out during tea time?" I gave Gram a deadpanned look with a raised brow.

Really dude? You're asking that to us? But jeez though, what are we gonna do? How are we gonna get out of here? It's not like we-

Huh? Luna? I felt her nudging to my side as I turned to her and saw her, Silverspike, and Nights each staring at us.

"W-What's with the looks?" I questioned, raising a brow.

The three dragons turned to each other and nodded before quickly flew over and...

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Yep, that was my scream right there. That moment was terrifying and caught me off-guard! Luna instantly grabbed me by the shoulders, along with Silverspike and Nights doing the same for Runa and Mikako. Well actually, Nights flew over and allowed her caretaker to hop onto her back, which didn't seem to hesitant about and got on.

"AHHHH! Someone help!" Runa cried out. "Silverspike!"

What are they doing?! Why are they doing this?!

"Hey! Wait up!" Sindri called before immediately grabbing onto Luna's tail as we instantly were brought out of the cave and into the endless blue skies.

"AHHHHHH!" What you people expect?! I can't handle something like this! It's a lot to take in!

Not too soon as I continued to hold onto dear life onto her leg, Luna picked me by her teeth before throwing me over and onto her back.

"H-Hey! What are you doing, you crazy dragon?!" I exclaimed, holding onto her before hearing her dragon chuckle. Oh ha ha ha! Very fucking funny, you!

"Whoa!" I glanced at Runa, who was put on Silverspike's back by the Razor-whip herself. Runa let out a terrified scream as Runa exclaimed "What the hell are you guys doing?!"

Okay, this is all too crazy! Why are they doing this?! I mean, they just flew up in the air right now! This all...too...ah...

I slowly looked down and saw how high we were up in the sky. I slowly felt all my fears...ceasing up. I don't understand, why am I calm? Am I seriously questioning that?

I don't know why...but being in the air right now, it's...making me feel calm...I looked over to the skies and saw the clouds and the open seas right around. I stared all over the open sky and slowly began...letting out a smile.

"Wow..." I muttered, feeling awed by being in the air.

"T-This is all too crazy...! Silverspike!" Runa cried out.

"Runa, calm down!" I yelled back, making her look over to me. "Just be calm and relax! Trust me, this is all too crazy, okay? But right now, just calm down and stop screaming! Trust me!"

Runa was panting heavily before slowly nodding.

"Trust me...I know this all scary, but at the same time...this is actually...pretty cool." I smiled softly before looking around the sky. Oh my god, this is so frigging cool...! I feel so great!

...Wait, did I just say that?

"...Huh..." Runa looked around, seeing a cloud over by her side. She slowly touched it and grew amazed by it. "Okay, this is pretty cool..."

"Indeed." Mikako agreed, riding on the back of the Stormcutter as they flew across the high skies. "I never would expected that they would offer a ride for us..."

"Yeah..." I nodded before seeing the smile on Luna's face. Oh I see, you just wanted to do this in order to get to the cove more faster...

I don't know why...but...this feeling I have...I can't explain it, but it feels like...I've done this before...? No, that's impossible...why would I know that? I never even flown on a dragon before! So how can it be...? Nah, I'm probably overreacting.

"Look athis...I can see almost the entire village around here...!" Runa called before looking down on Silverspike. "I gotta say, you three really scared us but thank you for letting us ride on you."

Silverspike happily cooed in response.

I couldn't help but smile at them before looking back down on the ground, seeing the village of Berk down there. Let's just hope that nobody sees us, but...this adrenaline rush I'm having...I just can't contain any more of my emotions!

"This is amazing!" I shouted, earning a chuckle by Luna before we noticed our destination: The Cove. "There it is...!"

"Hiccup and the others should be there right now...but...how do we land?" Runa asked in concern.

Actually, that's a good question. How are we gonna land?

Soon, we heard Luna, Silverspike, and Nights each let out roars before they began nose-diving towards the cove.

"Oh gods! Everyone! Prepare for impact!" I shouted, holding onto Luna tightly.

"MEOOOOOOOW! I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS!" Sindri shouted out.

"Well you kinda did when getting into this situation!" I cried out before we flew straight down into the cove. God, this is all just too crazy, insane, and...awesome at the same time! This adrenaline rush...I think...this is like...freedom right here...

---

Fifteen Minutes Earlier
Third Person's P.O.V.

"Hey Toothless..."

Meanwhile, back at the cove, Hiccup, Jobber, Satsuki, and Dusty were heading over to the cove, where they bumped into their Night Fury friend, Toothless, who was starting to wake up before seeing his human companions.

"Hi Toothless! We brought breakfast!" Dusty chuckled as Hiccup placed down the basket of fish while having Jobber hid behind the prosthetic fin. Hiccup dumped all of the fish down, making Toothless more hungry as he hasn't had a bite since then. He walked over and started sniffing through the pile of fish.

"Okay, that's disgusting." Hiccup groaned, stepping back from the pile of fish.

"Well Toothless is off the 'hook' about it! Ha ha, do ya need a 'loan shark' with all these fishes that Hicky brought over?" Satsuki suggested with a smile, but Toothless ignored her.

"You sure are hungry, eh?" Jobber chuckled, hiding the prosthetic fin behind his back for Toothless not to see. Hiccup wanted to make it a surprise for them, so he told them that he needed to hide it before Toothless can see.

"Uh... we've got some salmon, some nice Icelandic cod, and a whole smoked eel." Hiccup described each fish that he picked up along the way, but then noticed Toothless began snarling at the last part Hiccup mentioned; Whole smoked eel.

"Something up?" Jobber asked in confusion.

"Does it not like eel?" Satsuki wondered aloud, pointing over to the smoked eel that was beneath the pile of fish.

"Huh..." Hiccup walked over and picked the smoked eel up and raised it in front of Toothless, but the moment he did, Toothless roars at the sight of the eel.

"No, no, no, no! It's okay." Hiccup raised his hand in front of Toothless, calming down by throwing the smoked eel aside. "Yeah, I don't really like eel much either."

"Who doesn't?" Jobber snorted.

"It doesn't like fish...interesting..." Dusty muttered before writing it down in her empty notebook. "Now that's something..."

"It doesn't like fish? Now that's really 'fishy' right there." Satsuki hummed. "Wonder what it could mean...?"

"It must be that they're afraid of it." Dusty deduced. "But for reasons, I don't even know and I'm about to find by hanging out with Toothless!"

Hiccup smiled at the Ingerman girl's excitement as Toothless starts to eat the fish, munching every bite of them. While he's distracted, Hiccup turned to Jobber, who gave the tail fin back and snuck behind Toothless, slowly heading towards his tail.

"Okay. That's it. That's it, just stick with good stuff. And don't you mind me. I'll just be back here... minding my own business." Hiccup muttered before attempted to put on the new tail-fin, but Toothless kept moving his tail around while eating the fish. Letting out an aggravated grunt, he managed to hold down the Night Fury's tail and began attaching the new tail-fin on his tail.

"Careful Hiccup..." Jobber whispered, but Hiccup was too focused on managing to attach the tail-fin. Toothless soon began to feel like something was on him. He wiggled his tail-fin around, and grew startled and surprised to feel something attached to his tail. He glances back and sees Hiccup attaching the prosthetic tail-fin with his tail, much to the Night Fury's surprise.

"It's okay. Okay... okay... There. That's not too bad. It works..." Hiccup muttered, wiping offf a sweat from his forehead and admired his work. While he was doing so, he hasn't noticed that Toothless was slowly extending out his wings.

"Um...Hiccup?" Dusty called.

"Hold on, you guys..." Hiccup raised his hand at Dusty, still checking out the new tail-fin.

"But Hicky..." Satsuki spoken, widening her eyes.

"Not now you guys...just hold on..."

"Hiccup...!" Jobber yelled.

"What is it?!" Hiccup looks back, but it was too late as Toothless takes off with Hiccup literally on his tail and began flapping across the lake, heading straight towards a rock wall.

"Whoa! No! No! No!" Hiccup quickly adjusts the tail fin and they dodged the wall, flying straight out of the cove and into the skies.

"OH, MY-IT'S WORKING!" Hiccup exclaimed in amazement before adjusting the tail fin again, flying around the place as Toothless lets out a roar, feeling excited by it.

Dusty, Satsuki, and Jobber all watched in awe, seeing Hiccup flying on Toothless's tail while controlling his tail-fin.

"No way...It really worked!" Dusty exclaimed in shock.

"That's 'tail-ly' exciting!" Satsuki raised her fist in the air while Jobber laughs at this before placing his hands on his hips.

"Well...that surely is something." Jobber smiled before it stretched into his casual pervy grin. "Well...not as seeing as your cute butts."

"Don't even dare." Dusty glared at him.

"Aw, thanks Jobber!" Dusty sweat-dropped at her clown friend smiling giddily at Jobber.

"What is wrong with her...?" Dusty thought before letting out a sigh and decided to hold that off as she and her friends continued to watch Hiccup and the Night Fury nose-diving back down to the cove as they flew across the lake.

"YES! YES, I DID IT" Hiccup cheered, pumping a fist in the air. Toothless realizes Hiccup is on his tail and throws him off.

"AAAAAGGGGHHHHH!" Hiccup screamed, falling straight into the lake. However, as Toothless tried to fly upwards, he couldn't be able to steer the fin on his own and then crashes into the lake. Hiccup manages to pop right out of the lake and raises his hands in the air and yelled out "Yeah!"

"Hiccup, are you okay?!" Dusty called in worried.

"Quick! Get this guy out of here! He's 'wetted' up the situation!" Satsuki exclaimed before the three headed over and helped Hiccup out while Toothless popped right out of the lake and shook itself off.

"Better be careful next time, bro." Jobber stated. "Seriously, your curiosity always lead to getting killed."

"I know, and I'm sorry." Hiccup shook his head to get the water out of his hair while doing the same with his ears. However, he didn't mind about being wet, but was really happy that Toothless was able to fly and what's better? That he gotten the joy ride with him too. "But hey, at least Toothless can be able to fly again."

"True, but he fell back down." Dusty pointed out, copying some notes down in the notebook. "Although, I think what you designed was a kind of mechanism that you needed both Toothless and yourself to be able to fly."

"Yeah, something like that." Hiccup nodded, still happy about what he just experienced. "But still, I think I'll start getting the hang of flying around like that. After all, it's the least we can do to help him."

"Agreed." Jobber nodded in agreement before something caught his eye. "Hey, is that...?"

Hiccup, Satsuki, and Dusty turned to him in confusion before looking up to see three figures flying straight down into the scene.

"WHOA!"

They heard the scream and sees three dragons flying down the cove, revealing the Light Fury, Razor-whip, and a...

"What the heck is that?!" Satsuki cried out at the large dragon that was with the other two.

"Sweet baby Thor on a thunderstorm!" Jobber widened his eyes in shock as Hiccup and Dusty both gaped at the sight of the dragons flying down into the cove. Toothless soon took noticed of the three dragons landing down on the cove, but the one thing he was most curious about was the one dragon; The Light Fury.

The Light Fury glided down at the lake before barrel-rolling, dropping Henry and flinging Sindri off her tail and dropped them into the lake. Silverspike and Nights dropped both Runa and Mikako down gently while Luna landed back down, right next to her two dragon companions while Toothless gazes at Luna with widened eyes.

"Bleh! Ugh..." Henry popped out of the water and spat out water from his mouth. "That was crazy.."

"What the?! Henry? Runa? And...You!?" Hiccup exclaimed, seeing the three of his friends here.

"Hi there..." Runa greeted with a nervous smile.

"W-W-What?! Is taht the Light Fury dragon?! What the?!" Dusty babbled on and on about what she was seeing right in front of her.

"Satsuki's confused! Satsuki's confused!" Satsuki cried out while Jobber stood there with widened eyes.

"...I think I need to change my undies..." Jobber muttered.

"Hey..." Henry managed to come out of the water and looked at himself. "Seriously?"

"Henry, you okay?!" Runa asked in concern as she and the others raced over to his aide.

"Oh wow, you sure gotten a 'splash' out of there." Satsuki grinned.

"First off, terrible pun." Henry rolled his eyes before looking over at himself. "Second, it's okay...I'm sure that it'll dry off."

"Speaking of which...what's happening?!" Jobber exclaimed.

Hiccup turned to the three who suddenly appeared to the cove before looking over at their dragons.

"Guys...can I ask what is going on...?"

Henry let out a sigh and placed his hands on his hips before replying "It's...a long story..."

As they were busy talking, Toothless continued to stare at Luna with widened eyes, his pupils growing at the size of watermelons at the sight of her. Luna soon noticed Toothless staring at her and looks at him with the Light Fury tilting her head in confusion.

It was at first that the two Furies finally met.

To Be Continued