How to Train Your Friend

Epilogue

"Ready Jor…?" Hiccup asked his friend.

"Not really, but if I don't do it now, I don't think I ever will." Jorvar replied as he slowly rose from his seat.

He'd arrived at the Academy early that morning, even earlier than normal actually. The dragon trainee had been training with Spitfire for a month, and he was blessed that no attacks from the Outcasts or Berserker had interrupted his sessions with Hiccup and Astrid. The other members of the Academy had been helpful, to an extent anyway. Fishlegs had shown Jorvar his way around the Book of Dragons and shared all its secrets to give Jorvar the benefit of using its wide array of knowledge whenever needed. Snotlout, though crude, had shown Jorvar how to act assertive around his dragon, should she ever act up. However, Spitfire proved to be more than an affectionate dragon, as well as fierce when she needed to be. The Twins took turns trying to teach Jorvar something he could never truly identify.

Jorvar learned most of what he knew about dragons from Hiccup and Astrid, and the credit was equally shared. Hiccup taught him the importance of trust between dragon and trainer, along with other lessons. Astrid was the one responsible for teaching him the formation of certain battle strategies that they had formulated in the event of an invasion or small scale attack. Jorvar was careful to observe Hiccup and Toothless over his month of training that led up to his first flight with Spitfire. It was a day he was both eager for, and terrified of. Many thoughts spread through his brain, dozens of which were simple thoughts of doubt. There were numerous occasions where Hiccup would try to ease his friend's troubled mind, but nothing truly seemed to have any effect. As the day for his initiative flight drew closer, Jorvar was only worrying himself, but had made a solemn promise to himself and to Spitfire that he wouldn't back out, no matter how nervous he had been.

Spitfire rattled a bit back and forth as she excitedly waited for Jorvar to mount her. Even though she was still young, and probably couldn't carry Jorvar for very long or far, she was most likely more eager than anyone to have him fly with her. He'd made sure to speak to Spitfire a lot, which was a tip he'd been given by Fishlegs. This seemed to increase the bond they had, and it showed, as Spitfire grew more and more protective of Jorvar with each day that passed. She was also nervous, but was far less concerned than Jorvar had been. She fidgeted with delight and anticipation, and she watched as her rider slowly approached her from the side. He looked strong to her, and she was happy for him, as he seemed to recover from his recent handicap quite well.

It was a moment before Jorvar actually attempted to pull himself up onto the saddle that had been crafted for the two of them. It was a specially made saddle that Gobber had worked tirelessly on. It was woven together with tough oxen leather, yet was still smooth enough that Jorvar's hands wouldn't get rug burn if they were strung across it like a bow to a violin string. It also had a spot especially made for Jorvar's makeshift grip. Gobber and Hiccup had pooled their expertise in blacksmithing and metalwork to construct a literal iron grip for Jorvar to use when he'd be riding Spitfire. It was an awkward looking device, and had a circular base and long rectangles extending from the square foundation. The rectangles were curved at the end, and this is where he would grasp it. Built into the saddle was an iron bar where he would normally have placed his right hand, and the curved edges around the iron grip clung to this bar, replacing the grip he'd usually have with his right hand. It was entirely airy, and Jorvar could slip it onto his right hand, where he could then use the built in lock to snap it into place without ever causing him pain or discomfort, and just like that, he'd be able to hold on with both hands, essentially.

Astrid was the first to grab Jorvar and push him up onto Spitfire's back. He gripped the saddle tightly, and locked his iron grip onto the bar with a clang. He grown used to lying in the designated riding position, as Hiccup had made them practice. Jorvar took a deep breath and crouched down his head, and Spitfire opened her wings as she limped towards the gate of the Academy. Once they faced the opened entrance, Hiccup and Astrid both hopped onto their dragons and carried with them stern expressions. Jorvar was the first true new recruit that they had trained to be part of the Academy, and all their lessons were about to come forth as he rode on his new dragon.

"Whenever you're ready Jor…" Hiccup called to his friend.

The new dragon trainer closed his eyes, and with stones in his stomach, he heard himself give Spitfire the order to fly, which she responded to unquestionably. At first he felt nothing but large barricades of wind tearing past him, and the breeze had long since been left behind. Soon, he heard Spitfire's wings lock into a glide, and it was only then that he realized that his eyes had been closed for the short duration of the flight. He slowly opened them, and to his amazement, the world was flying along with him. Rocks soared by him like they'd been thrown their way, and the water beneath them was like a swift river flowing in the opposite direction. Spitfire groaned, and Jorvar ordered her to land on a nearby rock formation, as there were many around Berk. They crashed down, and Jorvar noticed that his hand was shaking, not from fear, from adrenaline.

"Welcome to the Berk Dragon Academy…" Hiccup said, and Jorvar saw all the other riders land on the same rock. Jorvar looked around, and he was grateful to be surrounded by so many friends.

"Thanks guys…I think that was enough for a first run. We'll rest here for a bit, and then we'll head back." Hiccup and the others nodded and Jorvar's declaration, and one by one they flew off. Hiccup stopped to turn around, and both he and Toothless were radiating pride for their accomplishment. Soon enough though, they too were off, flying away into the distance. Spitfire had continued to land on her right foot, as she still couldn't feel anything in her left. Jorvar unlocked his right hand from the bar and leaned over to rub Spitfire's lower jaw; she made a sweet purring noise and growled lovingly. "That'll be us one day girl." Jorvar said as he watched his friends fly towards the motionless horizon line. "Someday soon, we'll be just like them."

The End