Chapter 4

The next few days Edelweiss continued going to the Academy. They learned about the strength and weaknesses of each dragon. Her scales came in slowly each day. She didn't itch anymore and was able to concentrate on her lessons. The class was learning about the strengths and weaknesses of the Stoker Class dragons. Edelweiss was surprised to see how much she didn't know about dragons. She also liked hear more of Fishlegs's stories.

After each lesson Black Widow would pick her up and fly her back to the Red Death Hideout. They hung out there under Draco's protective eyes, until bedtime. Draco stayed on his perch on the volcano's rim where he could see all of Dragon Island and Berk.

Then about a week after Draco arrived, Edewleiss woke up and looked up at Black Widow in her web. Her vision was different. Every color was more vibrant and she could see the dust in the sunbeams. When she squinted she could suddenly see rocky ceiling above Black Widow as though it were inches in front of her face. She opened her eyes and her vision zoomed out again. She got out of bed and looked around. She glanced out the window and saw the ocean, a small school of fish was swimming by.

It wasn't just her vision that had changed, but all her senses had become much stronger. She could hear her grandparents talking way down in the throne room, they were talking about lending a wing around Berk since the Academy wasn't meeting today. Edelweiss glanced down at her arms and was greeted by metallic blueQ scales that glimmered in the light. She felt them, they felt hard and smooth. She ran a hand over her right cheek and felt more scales.

Black Widow woke up and stretched.

"Good morning," she said. Edelweiss got to her feet.

"How do I look?" she asked timidly. Black Widow looked at her rider and her red eyes popped.

"Wow, I think you need to see for yourself," she said. She jumped down from her web. Edelweiss mounted her bareback and they flew down to the throne room.

When everyone else saw what Edelweiss looked like now they were speechless.

"Do I look hideous?" she asked.

"Not at all," said Aurora. She shot fire in front of Edelweiss and a tall mirror appeared magically facing her. Edelweiss got a good look at herself. Metallic blue scales covered her cheek, ran down the back of her neck, down her arms, stopping at her wrists. When she pulled her hair out of her face she saw more scales clear up to her temple, and hugged the edge of her right eye. She reached behind her and felt larger scales on her back. Her eyes were different too. They were still green, but the pupil had turned into the tall oval that the dragons had.

"Is that why I can hear and see better than I did yesterday?" she asked.

"Yes," said Aurora. She waved her wing over the mirror and it vanished in a puff of smoke.

"Grandfather said the humans won't like this," Apollo said.

"No they won't," Aurora said. "So Edel, you're going to have to be extra careful in the village today. Don't go anywhere alone, understood?"

"Yes Grandmother," Edelweiss said.

The Draconians flew towards Berk. Edelweiss stayed close to her friends. With this new enhanced vision and hearing, she felt like she was seeing the world for the first time.

"So, how does it feel being like us?" Avalon asked.

"It's all so new," Edelweiss said. "I can finely keep up with you guys, Black Widow won't have to carry me the whole time we're playing games."

"I don't mind," Black Widow said. "In fact I think you've gotten lighter since yesterday."

"What should we do today, since it's Edel's day off?" asked Eider.

"Let's go hang out at the cove," Black Widow said. "Perfect day for swimming."

"Anything else?" asked Avalon.

"Hide 'n Hunt," said Apollo. "We haven't played that in so long."

"When does the Academy go on their campout?" Black Widow asked.

"In a week or so," said Edelweiss. "I'm excited for it."

They landed in the plaza where Hiccup was talking to Astrid. They looked up when the Draconians landed.

"Hey Tenor do you remember when we took a vacation on that island with grimoras?" Hiccup asked. Tenor blinked.

"The time your dragons tried to kill you," he said. "Yeah I remember that. That was back when we were fighting dragon hunters. A part of me misses those days."

"We were talking about away to keep grimoras off when dragons go swimming," Astrid said.

"Berk doesn't have grimoras," Tenor said.

"It's incase we go on another vacation," Hiccup said. "Since we know how to get grimoras off, I wonder if there's a way to keep them from infecting a dragon in the first place." Edelweiss exchanged a look with her friends.

"Weren't we going to the Cove?" Avalon said. But just then Edelweiss was yanked off the saddle and came face to face with Gothi. The elder clasped her and on Edelweiss's face, and examined her scales. This drew everyone's attention to them. All the dragonets growled. But before any of them could rescue her Edelweiss kicked Gothi's staff, making her topple over and Edelweiss was able to escape. She looked back at everyone and they all saw her scales and her dragon eyes.

"What's up with her face?" asked Astrid.

"I was born half dragon," Edelweiss said. "Since Mother has dragon's blood." Gothi got up and stared at Edelweiss with a look of suspicion. All the villagers were murmuring in suspicion. Avalon came up beside her friend.

"Let's get to the Cove," she whispered. Edelweiss mounted Avalon and they took off. They headed over to the Cove.

"That's better," Edelweiss said. "It's a good thing Draco warned me."

"Are you happy with your scales?" Apollo asked.

"Yes, as long as you guys are around I can handle anything," Edelweiss said. "I'll become as good a fighter as my father and as good a healer as my mother."

"You're getting to be great at both," Eider said. They landed in the Cove and Edelweiss dismounted.

"I wonder if your skin is fireproof already," Eider said.

"Let's see," said Edelweiss. She held her hand out and Eider breathed a small flame at it. Edelweiss saw the flames licking her hand, but she couldn't feel them. Eider closed his mouth and she saw that her hand was completely unharmed.

"Cool," she said. "And Draco said I'd be able to control fire too."

"Let's go swimming," said Avalon. "We have the rest of time to talk about this." They all agreed.

They spent the day at the Cove, swimming in the water and casing each other around the large space. Edelweiss could now keep up with the dragonets with so little effort. She could also jump higher than a normal human. After playing tag, Edelweiss sat on a large boulder and threw a large stick for the dragonets to catch.

Then after that they left the Cove to explore the rest of the island. Edelweiss stayed on the ground the whole time. They went from cave to cave and found several empty Whispering Death holes. They had just arrived at Flightmare Falls when Avalon suddenly became alert. She scanned the area with the eyes of a hunter. She hissed.

"What is it Avalon?" asked Black Widow.

"We're being watched," Avalon said. "Someone's been following us."

"By who?" asked Eider.

"I don't know," said Avalon. "Apollo I'll need your help in fleshing them out."

"My magic isn't as strong as yours," Apollo said.

"It's strong enough," Avalon said. "Come on." The two of them went into the shrubs. Edelwiess, Black Widow, and Eider waited quietly.

"I think I'll be carrying my sword with me all over," Edelweiss said.

"And your bow and arrows too," Eider said. Suddenly they heard Apollo and Avalon returning and took a fighting stance. Edelweiss had learned her father's martial arts moves, including chi blocking. So even though she had no sword, she would still be able to fight. Apollo flew towards them carrying something in his talons. He dropped it in front of them and flew off again. It turned out to be Gothi.

"What are you doing all the way out here Gothi?" Edelweiss asked. Avalon and Apollo joined them. Gothi got to her feet and leaned on her staff. She looked stunned and winded. She glared right at Edelweiss.

"I can hear her thoughts," said Apollo. "She doesn't want you on the island Edel, and want you to quit coming to the Academy."

"She hates me," said Edelweiss, it wasn't a question. "Grandmother once said she tried to get me and my mother killed when I was a baby." She looked at Gothi. "Why? I haven't done anything to you." Gothi still glared.

"She's afraid of what you'll be come," Avalon said. "She's afraid you'll become too powerful." Apollo hissed.

"Well if you want a fight, I'll fight you right now," he said bitterly. He spread his wings, about to lung but Edelweiss held him back.

"Don't, it wouldn't be a fare fight," she said. "She's outnumbered, and outmatched. Gothi can hate me all she wants, she can't actually do anything about it." Apollo backed off, but still glared.

"Edel's right," said Avalon. "let's just go back to exploring." Edelweiss mounted Avalon and they all took off, and even gave Gothi a ride back to her hut, before going back out to explore. They sang songs the whole way.