Chapter 8: Bonding

He was putting another chapter into his book. Two actually. The Gronckle and the Nadder. Now that he had had a decent conversation with them in the ring, the soldier could get information other than 'kill on sight.' Nadders were often vain over their appearance, while Gronckles had kind hearts under their rocky skin.

Hiccup was still unconscious, and the male Night Fury was sleeping in a tree. Twilight was staring off into space, thinking. Javelin decided now was as good a time as ever to fulfill his promise to Stormfly. His movement broke his sister's thoughts.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"Back to Berk's Training Ring. Told a Nadder there I'd check on any injuries," the man answered as he pulled on his Viking gear.

"Wait a sec. Nadder? Training Ring? What's going on over there?"

"Alright. This week and possibly the next is apparently dragon training time for the village teenagers. Unfortunately, one of the dragons will... die at the end."

Twilight's eyes dilated immensely. "What?!"

"I offered to take care of them and they accepted. I won't have my care be repaid in blood."

"Who's in there?"

"Terror, Zippleback, Meatlug the Gronckle, Stormfly the Nadder, and a Nightmare."

She took a deep breath. "What's the Nightmare's color?"

Javelin knew where she was going with this, but continued anyway. "Dark red. Just like... him."

The effect was immediate. She pulled back from her brother as memories came flooding in. He was her best dragon friend. Comforting, always there with her and Javelin,... dead. Her green eyes welled up in tears as that single fact bashed against her brain.

Javelin enclosed his arms around Twilight's neck and hugged her as she did last night. "Let it out. Let it out," he said soothingly as he entered her mind. Pictures of the artist smiling and having fun. All ending with the crystal-clear image of his death. "I'm here. Let it out."

The dragoness' sobs continued for another minute. She managed to regulate her breathing, then pulled out of Javelin's embrace. "I think I'll take a nap," Twilight sniffed. She went back to her original spot, scorched it, and laid down, shivering.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," the warrior said to deaf ears. He walked off to the forest.

Nobody was at the Ring now, which was good for Javelin's plan. He made sure his entrance was known to the captive dragons, if it wasn't already. He knew that most dragons had a superb sense of smell, but he didn't know whether his scent could drift into their cells.

"Easy, guys," he said. "I'm opening the cages so you can get some fresh air and leg room, but stay quiet."

Each lock was released and Javelin opened the doors slowly. Momentarily blinding them would not be good. The Zippleback was first, followed by Stormfly and Meatlug.

"Finally, we can-" the gas head began.

"-Stretch our necks and wings," the opposite finished. The Terror burst out of his cell with energy.

"Form an orderly line and I'll take you all on with one..." He looked around, seeing dragons and a familiar Viking. "... Where is everyone?"

Javelin couldn't help but chuckle. "Sorry if I woke you up." Stormfly preened herself as Meatlug relaxed in the noonday sun. That left the Nightmare in his open cell. He walked over to the brooding dragon. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Javelin stayed silent while he pondered the reasons. Finally, he spoke. "It's memories, isn't it?" No response. "The future?" A twitch this time. "Tell me, please."

"No."

"You remind my sister of someone she loved."

"Was a human my kind killed?" he snorted.

"No. It was a dragon my kind killed."

"What?" The Nightmare did not expect that response.

Javelin looked to his left, seeing everyone but Meatlug's eyes on him. He smiled. "Story time, then." He motioned for the dragons to come closer. The Terror curled up next to the warrior as he sat down. Stormfly also rested while Zippleback had both his heads inside the cage.

"He came to our island while I was on a solitary trip..."

Match and Spark were on their daily flight on Crimson Island as they called it. Javelin repeatedly insisted his friends name it Fury's Rest after Greln and Trena. But it was still Crimson Island to the Zippleback.

"Alright, Spark, we need a good clearing this time," Match said.

"Why not make one?"

"'Cuz last time we did that stunt, we nearly set the forest on fire. And I do not want Greln breathing down our necks."

Spark deadpanned, having forgotten that escapade. "Oh. OK, then. No plan B... for now."

Eventually, they found one. They landed and set to work. Tree trunks were laid down in a circular pattern, designating their workspace. The heads then argued about what they were going to do. This week's theme was dragon, of course.

"I say we do us," Match calmly suggested.

"Why not do Twilight? We haven't made artwork of her for quite a while now."

Match thought about it. "I am feeling narcissistic."

Spark retorted. "I'm feeling generous."

"Us."

"Her."

"US!"

"HER!"

"Guys." That one word scared the Zippleback so much, Match and Spark toppled onto their back. Twilight came out of the forest. "What are you two quarreling about over now?" she asked.

Spark spoke first, knowing now was the perfect time to humiliate his brother. "Well, we were arguing over what to make out this clearing."

"Shut up, Spark," Match blantantly said as he righted their body.

"And Mr. Narcissist here wanted to do us... again."

"Stop right now for your, our, own good."

"I wanted to make a drawing of you since we didn't do one in a long time."

Match would have facepalmed at that moment if he had a hand. The ground served as a suitable replacement. "You idiot," he reprimanded.

Twilight was smiling. "Aww. Spark, I didn't know you had feelings for me." She raised a foreleg to her heart.

"I didn't either- wait? What?!" Spark realized he just embarrassed himself instead of Match.

"Shoot me, please," Match requested.

"Me too," Spark pleaded.

Twilight was laughing and bouncing around. "Oh, wait til I tell Mom and Dad about this. Spark has feelings for me." There was no way she could stop laughing after seeing the Zippleback's faces go from embarrassed to "Dear Lord, please save us."

"I believe it'd be best for us to make a hasty retreat into a certain ocean," Spark said, fear spilling out of his voice.

"For once, you're right," Match replied. He turned to look at Twilight's gleaming face. "Please tell your father that we gave ourselves an honorable death."

"Doesn't matter. He'll still find our body and blast it into oblivion."

Twilight calmed down enough to speak again. "Actually, guys, there's something I need to show you. Follow me."

"They found a Monstrous Nightmare, red as Hookfang here. I named him Splatter, and he was a very good artist. We had some pretty good adventures together..." he trailed off.

"What happened?" the Terror, Sharpshot, asked.

Javelin took a deep breath and exhaled. "Four days ago, he found a Berserker fleet heading to our home. Twilight and I came with him to delay their approach. We got three ships before he... fell."

Remembering Twilight's mental image, tears began to form in his eyes. "His wing got cut. My sister saw it clear as day as they killed him. Brutally." An uneasy breath. "He was the first. Match and Spark were next, followed... by our parents." Salt rivers flowed down his cheeks, as the same happened with the dragons. Even Hookfang couldn't stop them from ruining his reputation.

Javelin saw and patted the Nightmare's snout. "Even the strongest will cry. Emotions are a core of our lives."

He returned in time to see Hiccup dancing over lines in the ground. The boy stopped when he felt a presence over him. He watched as the Night Fury and Hiccup solidified their bond. Hand on snout, both pairs of eyes closed.

He saw his sister smile in amazement. She began when he was close enough, "I assume you told them about..."

"If you mean the captives, then yes."

A tear formed in her eye. Not one of sadness, but of thanks. "Thank you."

Javelin knelt down and hugged her. "I will never leave you, Twilight."

She hugged back, still smiling. "And I you, Javelin, my brother."

(AN) - Hope you liked this one. Andipose, thank you very much for your reviews and support. Please feel free to leave a comment guys.

I know that the dragons themselves don't get their stories told here, so I'll incorporate them as much as I can.

Now, if you want, I could start up a oneshot collection featuring Fury's Rest. Again, feel free to review and give your thoughts.

Keep on keepin' on and OYA!