A whole, boring, week passed by as Hiccup had to wait with exercising his left leg, but the good thing was that his nightmares had finally disappeared. They gave him permission a week ago to start the training, and today was the special day. Hiccup woke up with a wide smile on his face that covered half of his face. Hurrying up, he got his crutches, and Toothless carried him downstairs along with his new prosthetic leg. He felt happy, but at the same time worried that me might fail on the progress and never be able to walk by himself, ever again.
Stoick sat by the table, eating soup from a bowl in his large chair. If Hiccup ever tried to sit there, it would only take one out of five of its space. He stared at the empty chair in front of him in silence, enjoying the peaceful mornings with only his son by his side. After the past week, he knew his son would be there in about now, and as if on cue the two made their way downstairs and he said, "Good morning, son."
"Morning, dad! DO you know what day it is?!" Hiccup asked happily, sitting down in his chair as he began eating. He stared at his father excitedly, eating his food in rapid speed.
"Woah, slow down son. Let me see… Saturday?" Stoick chuckled slightly at his son's sudden happiness. It was hard for him to contain his laughter at how fast Hiccup actually ate his breakfast.
Hiccup rolled his eyes, chuckling a bit but then corrected him. "No, it's the day I can finally learn how to walk again!" He said in joy, laughing in happiness. Stoick couldn't contain his laughter anymore and joined him in the beautiful morning exercise. "When can I start?"
"Depends on when old Gobber decides to wake up," Just then Gobber came in, joining in on the happy mood.
"I'm not old! In fact, younger than you, and second, I don't sleep that long," Gobber said the last part, looking shyly at the ground, fiddling with his hands. Once again, the two burst out in laughter, and a happy night fury joining in. He walked over to get Hiccup's metal leg that lay on the board.
"Let's see. Since you need to get used to this, let's start with attaching it. See this one?" He asked, holding up a strap with a metal dot and a few holes in it. Hiccup nodded and watched, "Put your leg through this one, place it inside this crater in with fur to soften it and attach it as tight as you want, but not too tight. Then you're free to go!" Gobber helped him up from his chair and steadied him as he almost lost balance. Hiccup thought twice about placing his prosthetic on the ground, thinking it may be painful or uncomfortable.
"Go on," Gobber said, gesturing to his leg. Hesitating, he moved his leg closer to the floor, ready to lean more of his weight on it. The tip of the metal met the wooden floor, and soon followed the rest of it. Hiccup took a deep breath, placing more weight on it, but regretted it once he lost his balance. Luckily Toothless caught him and brought him back on his feet.
"Thanks, bud," he let go of Toothless's head after giving him a stretch and kept going. Closing his eyes, he limped forward and kept limping, every time trying to make it better. To Stoick and Gobber's surprise it only took him about ten times walking back and forth and he was already walking like a professional.
"Good job Hiccup! Looks like a professional already, aye Stoick?" Gobber said. "Better than that!" Stoick pulled Hiccup in for a hug, and pulled away after a few seconds, giving him and approving, yet warm, smile.
"Does this mean I can go out flying now? Toothless here has been complaining a lot lately," Hiccup grinned, scratching his dragons chin. Gobber looked at Stoick who nodded. With that, Hiccup walked out of the house, nearly running, with Toothless's tail in his hands. Behind him he could hear a few chuckles and he couldn't help but smile. Once they came outside, Toothless moved his tail forwards so Hiccup could attach the tailfin along with his saddle. Toothless stared curiously, watching his best friend attach the advanced invention, and also amazed that someone could make it all by themselves. Well, Hiccup couldn't exactly get all the credit. Toothless helped just like he helped him with his flying issue. A click was heard and Hiccup sighed in relief.
"Finally! Now what do you say we take a lap around the island?" Toothless bowed, letting Hiccup on his saddle and click his foot in the right pace. They were about to set off when they heard a familiar voice along with a few wings flapping.
"Mind if we join you?" Astrid asked, gesturing for the rest of her friends. Hiccup smiled, and lightly patted Toothless's side, making him set off into the midday sun light. He couldn't help but yell out in joy, holding his hands to his sides as he flew around Berk a couple of times.
"Who's in for a best trick competition?" Astrid asked as they landed on one of the sea stacks outside of Berk. Everyone nodded in agreement. Fishlegs was about to fly off, but got off by an ear piercing scream.
"Were here to light the sky on FIREEE!" They hadn't really caught the first things he said, but managed to hear the last part where his dragon, Hookfang, flew off the cliff and dived towards the ocean. The other riders watch as they made their way towards a narrow opening in a small mountain. Failing, Hookfang lost control and flew right into the mountain, sending them both to the ocean.
"Well, that was unexpected," Hiccup muttered quietly under his breath as Snotlout came back behind them and landed, panting hard.
"I'm alive. I'M ALIVE! Of course I am," He said, kissing his 'muscles' while making a pose to, once again, try and impress Astrid who happened to almost puke in her mouth.
"My turn! My turn!" Fishlegs said happily, flying up in the air on his dragon Meatlug. They flew to the end of the cliff and suddenly dropped. The dragons watched, worried for the two of them when suddenly they heard yelling once again. "PULL UP! PULL UP! PULL UP!" Fishlegs screamed, and before he knew it, he was right above the ocean, covering his eyes to wait for the impact. The two of them flew back up, without Fishlegs opening his eyes once.
"You can see now, Fishlegs," Astrid said, crossing her arms. Fishlegs looked around, taking in the surroundings but then noticed nothing was as he expected. No deep, dark, salty water, or him freezing to death by the cold winter water. He let out the air in his lungs, sighing heavily as he calmed down.
"My turn!" Both of the twins yelled at the same time. They looked at each other angrily, starting a staring contest.
"Guys, same dragon," Hiccup groaned, mentally face palming. The twins let out a sound of understanding then fist bumped as if nothing had happened, and then set off. Barf and Tuffnut's dragon, flew down towards another tiny sea stack and stopped. The others looked at them questioningly, but then heard a blast followed by rocks trembling and splashing as they hit the ocean. Once the smoke cleared, none of them could see the sea stack, not even a single sign that it had ever been one there. Once again Hiccup face palmed, crossing his arms as the twins landed with their dragon.
"I believe it's my turn then. You better take some notes," Astrid said, giving Hiccup a proud smile as she kicked the side of her dragon, making them set off. She flew up in the air, diving to the ocean and just a few seconds away from hitting; they pulled up and began spinning around like two maniacs. She took a few loops before landing back on the sea stack, getting amazed glances by all of them, even their dragons.
"Looks like we got some more work to do," Hiccup chuckled, patting Toothless's side and they set off. They flew high into the sky, making sure none of them could see them, and then they floated in the air. "You ready for our planned trick?" He asked Toothless who made a growl of disapproval in his 'voice'. Hiccup laughed, taking his prosthetic out of place and fell over to the side. He fell down alongside Toothless, both smiling happily.
Toothless stuck his tongue out, showing off his gums. They both relaxed for a few more seconds until they could hear the sound of the ocean, hitting the sides of the sea stacks below them. Hiccup opened his eyes, taking a glance at the riders as he passed them and fell a few more seconds until he strapped himself back onto Toothless, pulling up just in time. They took a few turns around the sea stacks until they found the one the others stayed on, and landed as if nothing happened. Hiccup patted Toothless's side happily and then looked up to see the other's staring at him, and their dragons, as if they were insane.
"What?" Hiccup asked, breaking the awkward silence as he felt uncomfortable by them staring so much.
"You have to teach us how to do that!" The twins yelled out excitedly, everyone except Astrid, nodded in agreement. She had her arms crossed with a death glare, then out of nowhere she punched him in the shoulder.
"What was that for?!" He yelled, rubbing his shoulder with his good one.
"What were you thinking? You could've died!" Astrid yelled back, giving him a harder death glare.
"Sorry, but it's ok. I know Toothless will always have my back, and he knows I'll always have his. That's the thing about dragons, they trust their riders just like we trust our loved ones," Hiccup explained calmly, looking deep into Astrid's blue orbs. They stared for a few more seconds before she finally gave up, groaning in defeat. Hiccup smiled at her before flying off towards Berk in to the sunset.