Chapter Eighteen

A/N: So...I just got Sims 3 Dragon Valley yesterday...the first thing I did was make Hiccup and Astrid, build the Haddock house and hatch red and purple dragons. The red one I named Toothless (because he's feisty and can shoot fire balls at people XD) and the purple one is Stormfly (because she seems like a bit of a diva and Nadders like to be complimented!) So...I'm officially a dork. XD

BTW, sorry if this chapter sounds weird. I wrote it very late at night because I was very busy all day. (And I lose about 90% of my writing ability when I'm tired.)

Also, basically filler. (Like I said, I wrote this late at night...you're lucky I can even form a coherent sentence right now.)

That is all.

In response to...

Evy: Thanks! And yes, they do! XD

LittleDragonRider: Wooo~ The best kind of tears!

OinkyThePiggy: Yeah, I find it interesting as well. (I like any character-transformation or strong emotion in a fanfic - hence his "mental breakdown" in my HTCYD series)

Even since he was freed from his cage, Toothless hasn't left Hiccup's side. The two almost appear to be glued at the hip; the boy's hand eternally resting on his dragon's head. Of course, they aren't the only ones beside themselves with relief at being back together...

"Alright, gang." Hiccup says as he casts a worried look to the unconscious guards. They could wake up at any moment. But despite his concern, Astrid notices that her friend's tone is...lighter than before. And she finds herself thanking the gods for Toothless. She should have known he'd cheer up after finding his other half. "Here's the plan. We've got to find a safe place to lay low until sunrise." Hiccup continues. "Somewhere the soldiers won't be able to sneak up on us if they manage to track us down."

"How about the cove?" Astrid immediately points out. "Remember how long it took me to find you and Toothless before? And I live here..."

He nods thoughtfully. "That could work... It's secluded and Toothless and I know it pretty well. We could all get away very easily from there..."

"So? Let's go then!" Snotlout jeers. "Before these fools wake up!"

Hiccup nods and hops into the saddle. "Follow us." He calls back. "I know a short cut." And so, for the first time in over a week, he and his Night Fury take to the sky.

Despite the fact that he's a wanted man and his father is going to executed in two hours, Hiccup finds himself...smiling a little. The feeling of his dragon's powerful wings expanding below him, the rush of wind on his face... Gods, he missed this. Now, hopefully they won't get caught.

The six Dragon Riders arrive in the cove about two minutes later, their companions landing heavily around the perimeter of the lake. Their hearts are beating feverishly, adrenaline coursing through their veins from the fear of dodging capture. More than once, they'd been sure they were spotted...only to find that flying in the clouds is more effective than they could have ever hoped for. They got here without a hitch.

"Okay, we're safe for now." Hiccup announces as he slides off the saddle, leaving his left hand still placed atop Toothless's head.

"So, what? We just sit around and wait now? Shouldn't we come up with a plan?" Snotlout demands, Hookfang growling in agreement behind him.

"Um, yeah...not that I don't trust your judgment or anything, Hiccup...but we really should know what you're going to do when we get to the square..." Fishlegs stammers nervously. "Otherwise, we won't be much help..."

Astrid hops down from Stormfly's back and hurries over to Hiccup's side. "They're right." She tells him, noting the distant look in his eyes. "We need to come up with something to get your father out of there safely."

Hiccup hesitates for a moment. He doesn't...doesn't really want to tell them the deal he struck with the assassin. He hates the fact that he had to do that...that he had to sentence another man to death, just for doing his job. And sure, Ymir is a horrible man. He's going to kill Stoick for Thor's sake! But...it just...still feels wrong. So instead of telling his friends the total truth, Hiccup shifts his weight uncomfortably and lowers his eyes to the grass. "All we need to do is get there in one piece." He mumbles. "I have...someone who is going to...distract Ymir's men..."

"Who?" The others ask him, almost simultaneously.

When he glances up, they're all staring at him expectantly.

"Uhh...someone I met...recently. You, uh, you guys wouldn't know him..." He explains weakly, a guilty feeling settling in his stomach like a rock for lying to them. He's almost afraid to look them in the eyes...

After a short moment of empty silence, his friends disperse, satisfied that he must know what he's doing. Most of them don't mind that he's being so cryptic about his plot, they're simply too relieved to be out of jail and reunited with their dragons to question him right now.

Toothless, however, eyes his human with a curious look. He can hear the unsteady thumps of Hiccup's heart as he awkwardly sits down and tries to get comfortable, despite the guilt. He can sense the boy's unease in the way he sighs a few too many times and doesn't seem to know what to do with his hands, raking them through his hair and skimming his index finger through the dirt.

With a soft coo, Toothless leans down and sniffs Hiccup's cheek questioningly. When he gets no response, he paws at his friend's leg and drones a bit louder, only stopping when Hiccup quietly mumbles,

"Stop it, Toothless...I'm not in the mood to play..."

Play? He obviously isn't trying to play. He's worried! This is so strange...Hiccup can usually read him much better than this. Something must really be distracting him...

And Toothless is about to continues his urges until he figures out the problem, when he hears a pair of boots crunching through the grass. Looking up, he finds Astrid standing over them. Hiccup looks up as well.

"Hey, Astrid." He says in a forced voice. "What's up?"

The blonde girl frowns. "Nothing much." She responds before motioning to the spot across from him. "Mind if I join you?"

Hiccup shrugs and scoots closer to Toothless, making room for Astrid to sit. "Is something wrong?" He asks her.

"No." She shakes her head as she sits, crossing her legs at the ankle and leaning on her hands. "But I could ask you the same question..."

"Huh?" Hiccup's attempt at innocence is pathetic. He suddenly plasters on the fakest smile and forces a laugh. "Haha, what do you mean, Astrid? Nothing's wrong..."

But she arcs an eyebrow and mutters. "Really..."

He nods, shifting his gaze so it isn't meeting hers. "Really. I promise, I'm fine." He lies again. "Totally fine..."

Toothless drones quietly, nudging Hiccup's arm. Why is he lying...? What did Hiccup do...? And by the look on Astrid's face, she's wondering the same thing... Instead of pushing, however, the Viking girl stands up, causing Hiccup to turn and face her again.

"Alright." She sighs. "Obviously you're not going to tell me the truth. So when you're ready to, I'll be over with Stormfly. Until then...just keep sitting here by yourself and pouting." With that, she turns and stalks off toward her Nadder. Under her breath, she mutters, "It's not like we could potentially be killed in the next two hours, or anything..."

A/N: Yup, weird chapter. Sorry. Filler, yes. Tense-awkward-set-up, yes. Even more depression, yes... I feel like gloominess is replacing cliffhangers in this fanfic. Sorry about that...