Chapter 20: New Beginning

It had been a few days since Javelin found out how to switch forms. He had spent much of the time moving what little he had to a temporary home in Berk. While he helped build his own home inside the village, the soldier and his sister slept either in the cove, the Arena, or with the other dragons.

The warrior had designed it with his draconian family in mind. The size and frame were more akin to a warehouse than the normal Berkian home. When finished, there would be large shutters on the second floor, allowing himself or his sister to leave and enter without making a hassle. He made sure the floorboards were strong enough to handle even some of the heaviest dragons around. Despite Meatlug not having a problem with helping, he still apologized several times.

When he was sure he was alone, he traced his scale patterns. From what he could tell, they traveled down his spine to the small of his back. They split off at the bottom of his shoulder blades, shooting up to his joints and down his arms to end at his palms. While he had never really worried about it, he sighed in relief that his squad insignia was unaffected. The crimson had also snaked across his collar bones and grabbed at his neck like tendrils.

He didn't spend all his time as a human. In order to help him as a dragon, and simultaneously keep Toothless occupied, the Night Furies taught him how to launch his fire as well as some of the other basics.

That was when he found out just how powerful his own shots could be. The first time he launched a plasma blast, the bright red packet of energy didn't detonate on contact like other shots. Instead, it burrowed into the rock wall before exploding. In its wake was a hole just large enough for its creator to squeeze through.

Not sure what would happen the second time, the trio moved to the opposite shore. Crimson fired again, more powerful this time. The shot had widened the hole into a reasonably sized cave.

Fortunately, the rocks were strong enough not to break apart and collapse.

Despite that mishap, Crimson proved himself to be a very quick learner. He already knew how to control his blasts and was constantly pushing himself to his limits with flying, determined to be worthy enough to be called a Fury. Knowing how much changing took out of him, he was building up his tolerance for the aftereffects, albeit slowly.

Now, as he took a break from the construction work, Javelin was writing in his own Dragon Manual, transferring the information stored in Berk's version. Fishlegs was currently helping him. "So Changewings can instantly camouflage themselves, even against contrasting backgrounds and on the move?"

"Yeah. They have maybe the highest stealth of all dragons overall," the bright teenager claimed. "Night Furies can't be made out in the dark, but can be seen easily in daytime, so their stealth isn't as high."

"Hmm." After Javelin wrote that down, he thumbed back to the Zippleback. "Well, here's a fact you probably don't know: you can tell a Zippleback's gender from the heads. Gas on the right is male, left is female."

"I don't think I've read anything about that in our manual."

"Well, it's true. Barf and Belch confirmed what Match... and Spark told me." The warrior sighed and rubbed his face, remembering his old friends.

"Wait, what do you mean 'Barf and Belch confirmed' it?"

"I'm part dragon now, Fishlegs. I can definitely understand and talk to them. Always could, with a little help." Help I don't need anymore, he thought as he looked at the minuscule device resting on his hand.

"The dragons have their own language?" Fishlegs asked excitedly.

"Yup. I guess it is possible to learn it, just not completely. There's so many tones and pitches that ou- normal ears simply can't hear. Trying to speak it would be even more difficult, since you'd likely destroy your own vocal cords." He looked over to see the teen hurriedly writing down notes. "You just wrote down everything I've said, didn't you?"

"What? Uh, maybe?" he answered sheepishly.

Javelin smiled and chuckled. "Don't worry about it, Fishlegs. It's always good to learn new things." Deciding he had done enough sitting around, he got onto his feet. "Tell you what, after our home is finished, I'll give you the honor of being the first to document a new species."

"You mean the Crimson Fury?" The warrior nodded in response. "Awesome! Oh, I can't wait."

"Haha. See you then, Fishlegs." Javelin saluted, then walked off to help with the construction.

Toothless looked over Hiccup as he always did whenever he wasn't needed for anything. While helping Crimson and being with Twilight drove his worry away for a time, it always came back. It was with that worry he gently nudged his rider- his soul-brother's head, wanting a reaction. He received none.

"Please, just wake up," he crooned.

There. There it was. A small twitch. A fluttering of the eyelids. The Night Fury brightened up at this and nudged the boy's head again. "Come on. Get up, Hiccup."

"Five more minutes, Dad," Hiccup said softly. At hearing the voice of his friend for the first time in days, Toothless happily licked Hiccup's face repeatedly. "Wha- agh, bud, stop i- Ooohh!" The heir shot up and clutched his stomach when his dragon stepped on it. After the pain, he looked at his surroundings.

"I'm in my house. Uh, you're in my house," he commented, watching Toothless bursting with energy, refusing to stand still. He heard a young, deep voice coming from somewhere, shouting "You're awake! You're finally awake!" with joy and relief, but the only ones here were the two friends. "Who's there?"

"Hiccup, it's just you and me here."

"'You and me- Toothless?! I-I can understand you?"

Toothless did his smile, beaming with happiness. He gave shouts of joy as he jumped through the house, knocking over the cooking spit in the process. The dragon perched himself on a rafter and looked at Hiccup upside-down.

Knowing his dad would most likely get upset with Toothless being inside his home, he moved to get up and out of the bed. "Ah, man. Toothless..." his voice and movement stopped at the feeling. Or rather, the lack of feeling in his left leg. He pulled the blanket up and his eyes went wide at what he saw.

Toothless, meanwhile, jumped down onto the floor. While he knew how much his rider had lost, he had yet to see the prosthetic. Hiccup took several breaths to calm himself, then swung his legs over the side. His right foot in leather boot reached the floor. His left leg ended just below the knee, the wood-and-metal contraption replacing the void.

The Night Fury sniffed the prosthetic, then brought his head to Hiccup's. "I'm sorry," he said with regret and guilt.

"It's okay, Toothless," Hiccup comforted, patting the dragon on his head. With another deep breath, he got off the bed and steadied himself. He put his foot forward... and nearly fell to the floor, but was saved by Toothless. "Thanks, bud."

With Toothless acting as a crutch until Hiccup found out how to adjust for the leg, the duo slowly walked to the front door. The boy pulled on the handle and opened the door...

To reveal a Monstrous Nightmare head just outside, roaring at him. Feeling a sense of deja vu, he quickly slammed the door shut. "Toothless, stay here," he said with quick breaths. He pulled the thing back open.

The red dragon had pulled back to show itself as Hookfang. Snotlout was on his back. "Alright, guys! Hold on tight, here we go!" he shouted, leading a small group of Vikings on dragonback.

Hiccup's eyes followed the group as they flew past, a silent "What?" in his mouth. In the plaza, he saw Vikings and dragons living in harmony. A line of dragons led to one of the massive torch-lights used in raids, except it was brimming with fish instead of wood. Around them, both groups were helping around with construction, be it on one of the homes or the newly built half-warehouse.

"Hey, look! It's Hiccup!" exclaimed someone.

Javelin was busy adding the wood tiling to the roof of his new home when he heard that. He turned his head around towards the chief's home to see his blood-brother up and about, staring at the new village. Setting his materials aside, he climbed down and joined the crowd.

"I knew it. I'm dead," the boy said, not believing his eyes.

Stoick came up from behind and put his hand on his son's shoulder. "No, but you gave it your best shot. So, what do you think?" he asked, gesturing to the new Berk. Hiccup was speechless, and so Stoick spoke again, standing next to him and surrounded by the small crowd. "Turns out all we needed was a little more of... this."

"You just gestured to all of me," the heir said in that same tone all the villagers knew.

Gobber came up front and gestured his prosthetic towards Hiccup's own. "Well, most of you. That bit's my handiwork. With a little Hiccup flare thrown in. Think it'll do?"

"And how do you like my own get well present, brother?" Javelin asked, gesturing a hand to his ear. The boy followed the movement and felt a small device resting comfortably in his ear. In fact, he didn't even notice it until now. The soldier brought Hiccup into a tight hug, then pulled away, both hands on his brother's shoulders. "It's good to have you back."

The boy smiled only to get to punched in the arm by Astrid, who seemingly came out of nowhere. "That's for scaring me," she said sternly.

"Is it always going to be this way with you? Because-" Astrid grabbed the boy and kissed him, much to the laughter of everyone around them. "I could get used to it," he finished, all protests gone.

Gobber gave a large bundle to Hiccup, a bright red piece standing out. Hiccup immediately recognized the design of a saddle and knew what it was for. "Welcome home."

"That's it. I'm coming out!"

"Night Fury!"

"Get down!"

Toothless burst out of the house and proceeded to land on a few Vikings. Javelin jumped back and managed to dodge the dragon's tail, but he tumbled onto Twilight's back as her head came up from beneath him. Spitelout and Stoick weren't so fortunate, as Toothless stopped his playful entrance on top of them.

Hiccup quickly got Toothless set up, the red a deep contrast to the dragon's right tailfin. He climbed onto the saddle and hooked his prosthetic into the perfectly designed pedal. When he heard the metallic click, a wave of calm, joy, and freedom washed over him. Toothless must have felt the same as well, judging by his lack of keeping still. "You ready?"

"Yes!" Toothless was already getting impatient. He had no desire to spend another second on the ground. Stormfly struck a smile towards the Night Fury, then both of them as Twilight nuzzled her head against her mate's.

Behind his crimson helmet, Javelin smiled as he looked at the peace and new prosperity around them, imagining what his brother was thinking. Toothless then shot into the air, and Twilight leaped after him, Stormfly on their right.

The group raced through the village streets, grace in their every move. As they moved out of the residential area and through the harbor, they were joined by the rest of the teenagers. Snotlout on Hookfang, Tuffnut and Ruffnut on Barf and Belch, and Fishlegs on Meatlug.

As they flew through the air, they arranged themselves in a V formation, the Night Furies in front. It didn't last long, however, as Hiccup and Toothless shot higher into the sky. Javelin and Twilight followed after them, determined to stick with their family.

Below, the other riders and the village heard the roar of a Night Fury, overflowing with joy. They may or may not have understood Toothless, but all the dragons who heard definitely did. "WOOOHOOOO!"

In the sky far above, the two black dragons, riders in tow, didn't just fly. They danced together through the air, twisting and turning in barrel rolls, corkscrews, and loops. While four were in the air, there were two and for several moments, one.

The Crimson Rider relaxed on the cliff overlooking the harbor, a small breeze running through his short, black hair. He had just finished his new home. The last touch was the square panel resting above his door instead of a figurehead. His brothers would be always be there as long as that symbol made itself known.

Now, the sun was easing into the ocean, ready to begin its daily slumber. The sky was a myriad of colors: red, pink, orange, purple. The soldier recollected the sunsets he had seen through his life. Coruscant, Bespin, Mon Calamari, and even Naboo. But they seemed to pale in comparison to the masterpiece slowly fading in front of him.

He grinned. "Hiccup was certainly right. This place does get the best sunsets."

He stayed where he was even after the sun had been replaced by the nighttime stars.

(AN) - Yes! I managed to write this one within a week. Being on break certainly helped. Anyways, thank you for the 1,264 views, everyone. I hoped you enjoyed this story and what is left.

As always, thank you Adipose for your reviews and comments.

Now, before I end this off, I have a important question. Should I go ahead and end this with Gift of the Night Fury, wait until I put it into Riders of Berk? I may even be able to put it with the normal stories, provided I be vague with Javelin. I'll see about making a poll for this, which will last until after Legend of the Boneknapper.

Stay strong out there, everyone, and OYA!