SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE! I PROMISE, PROMISE, PROMISE I WILL START UPDATING MORE IN THE SUMMER HOLLS! I've just been so busy lately! I always seem to have so much to do at the end of the school year *sigh* oh well! Here's the next part of Hiccup's story…
Chapter 5- Live and Let Fly
Hiccup POV:
Clang!
A satisfactory sound rebounds around the forge as I hammer away at my new shield. The fresh wood shines in the glowing dusky moon-light. I yelp as Toothless rams me, non-too gently, into the table. "Toothless," I start sternly. He huffs in annoyance and stares longingly at the perfect round moon, lighting up the velvet blackness and turning the sea to liquid silver. I sigh, "You have to relax bud."
In response Toothless roars in my face. "Ew! Toothless okay! Enough! I want to be up there too!" I say turning back to banging my shield as Toothless flops down in the dirt with a huff.
"Nice to have you back in the shop Hiccup!" I hear Gobber shout as he thunders into the forge. "Usually you and Toothless are out enjoying a beautiful evening flight around the island as this hour." Gobber says smiling obliviously. I glare at him. "Of course, you can't do that anymore, what with the ban on flying and all!" He continues with an upbeat attitude, I narrow my eyes. He clears his throat suddenly, coming to realisation, "Ah… shame about that…" We're both silent for a minute so I bite the inside of my cheek for something to do. "So what are we making?" He asks clearing the awkward atmosphere.
"What do you think?" I exclaim turning round to show him my shield.
"All this work for a shield?" Gobber asks frowning.
"Well," I start, "it's not just a shield." And I beam with pride as I flick the catch. A long, winding rope shoots out, wraps itself perfectly around Gobber's middle and abruptly yanks me forward and smashes my face into his smelly, fat tummy. I pull a face at the revolting smell and I heats up in embarrassment; my face glowing scarlet. I unravel the rope as fast as I can and quickly step away from Gobber's delightful chest. That was meant to pull him closer to me… not the other way round…
"Handy," Gobber says awkwardly.
"If we can't ride dragons, we have to defend ourselves somehow." I say turning back to my bench and diffusing the stiff atmosphere.
"You know, Hiccup, your father is just doing what's best for you- He's trying to keep you safe." Gobber says kindly.
"I know," I reply with a sigh. "But the problem is the safest place for me is on Toothless." I glance down at the Night Fury symbol on my shield, wishing once again that my father was more like me. That he understood. Wishing I could've known my mother. Wish I could've spoken to her. If just for a few minutes…
"Well, I'll leave you to it. Imagine you'll be here quite a while. Too bad really. Have you seen that moon? Can't imagine a more beautiful night for a flight…" Gobber says looking up at the constellations wistfully. I huff and he starts and looks immediately guilty, again. "I did it again, didn't I?" I nod. He pulls a face and struts out the forge.
I sigh for the millionth time that day and look up at the sky. Toothless nudges his nose hard in my ribs. "Ah! I know what you're thinking, and you might as well forget it!" I say. But then we both turn to the sky with the same yearning expression on our faces. You know it wouldn't hurt to just go for a little flight, right? No, I can't. I yank my face away from the moon and close my eyes; dad will kill me. I turn back to the shield but give up after a minute; unable to concentrate with the rebellious plan forming in my head.
I look at Toothless and he warbles agreeably. I give a mischievous smile but hesitate before climbing into my saddle. Just a small flight can't hurt me or Toothless. We'll be fine! "Okay bud, but we've got to be silent."
Toothless coos in joy and with one click of my foot we're soaring through the cool and fresh air. I let out a peaceful sigh and grin as the gentle breeze whips through my wavy auburn hair. The usual sense of freedom overcomes me and I glide like a bird through the inky sky. The shadowy clouds swirling through my fingertips as me and Toothless shoot higher into the sky: A black streak in a silver cocoon of freedom.
I'm so caught up in myself I barely hear the whooshing sound of wings behind me getting closer. It's only when I hear the slight crow of a nadder I realise I'm being followed. And the only person with the guts or curiosity to follow me in the middle of the night and in the middle of a flying ban, who has a Deadly Nadder, is…
"Astrid!" I whisper. "Come on bud! Faster!"
We immediately leave our peaceful gliding behind and shoot toward the sea stacks. I maneuverer Toothless perfectly through the maze of jagged rocks and invisible looming cliff edges, hoping that Astrid doesn't have the skill to follow us. When I can no longer hear the sound of Stormfly's wings I land gently on the edge of a rock and sigh. "Nice flying bud- I think we lost them," I whisper.
"Think again Hiccup!" I hear a shout from behind me, followed closely by the crunch of claws on the gravelly sea stack.
"Astrid!" I exclaim, "Why we were just talking about you!"
She doesn't look impressed. I gulp.
"So I guess this is the part where I ask if your father changed his mind, and you tell me he didn't, and you're going behind his back. Again." She says, her blue eyes sparkling like silver in the darkness.
"Actually, no… This is the part where I tell you my Dad is wrong." I say.
"So… he knows."
"I didn't say that…" I trail off. "Look, you were there on Outcast Island just like I was. You know what Alvin is capable of."
"So you were just gonna fly around at night - all by yourself and say nothing?" She asks, her golden hair blowing across her face in the gentle breeze; my heart speeds up like it does every time I pay attention to her.
"That was my plan…Look I didn't want to get anyone else in trouble. I was trying to do the right thing… Sort of."
"We both know what the right thing is Hiccup," She says. "But if we're gonna ride dragons behind your father's back, we all need to ride dragons behind your father's back."
I smile at her and she nudges Stormfly forward and kisses me softly on the cheek. I grin lopsidedly. She just smiles back then whispers in my ear. "Catch me if you can!" And with that she shoots off into the night sky.
"Oh no you don't!" I say before blasting into the air.
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Astrid's POV:
"Ew! You two kissed! When you were children!"
"Yup!" I say, smiling at Lucy's horrified expression.
"You two are disgusting!"
"Yes we are," Hiccup reply's with a mischievous grin.
"So what happened next? What did you do?"
"Well. By the end of the next day I know one thing: I wanted to cry."
"But daddies don't cry."
"Well I did then."
Why daddy?"
"Well…"
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Hiccup's POV:
Telling Snotlout:
"Dragon flight club! I like that! Erm… what is it?" Snotlout asks us.
"It's a secret dragon flying society. We train at night under the cover of darkness." Astrid explains her voice deadly serious.
"Sharpening our skills against possible dragon attacks by Alvin." I explain.
"But remember, it's secret- Nobody can know." Astrid says her face alight with sparks of rebellion.
"As far as you're concerned it doesn't exist." I add. Then, knowing Snotlout, just to clarify; "There is no dragon flight club."
Snotlout turns to look over at Hookfang questioningly. Hookfang growls angrily from lack of flying and being cooped up, immediately nudges him onto his snout, and then tosses him through the air.
"AHHHHHHH! HOOKFANG!" Snotlout screams as he plummets toward the Earth. Toothless and Stormfly cock their heads to one side in curiosity at seeing a flying human. Snotlout then shatters an innocent cart to pieces.
Me and Astrid wince.
"He's in!" Snotlout calls weakly from beneath the sharp splinters. I look over at Astrid who pulls a face.
"Now for the twins…"
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"So listen, this is very, very important:" I start, staring sternly at the twins' mock serious (and hanging upside-down) faces with doubt creeping into my mind. "The first rule of dragon flight club is that there is no dragon fight club."
Tuff somersaults down from the rafters and lands, swaying, in front of me. "Okay, so wait a minute." Tuff starts, I inwardly groan. "Is there a dragon flight club?"
"Yes!" Astrid says. "There is a dragon flight club."
With that Ruff flips down and appears in front of my face: The smell of rotting fish oil steaming through my noise. I pull a face. "But he just said there is no dragon flight club."
"No…" I groan inwardly again; I should've known this was going to be hard. "The first rule of dragon flight club is that there is no dragon flight club, get it?" I ask hopefully.
"Absolutely!" My spirits soar. "Not." My spirits tumble into the core of the Earth.
"Yeah…" Ruff puts a hand on her head, "I think I need to lie down…"
"Huh yeah me to! Why don't you guys comes back when you've made up your mind… and you stop saying "is" so much."
They disappear deep into their 'lair' and slam the door shut behind them. I look at Astrid once again.
"You look like you've lost all hope."
"I think I have," I reply in a monotone.
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Fishlegs reaction:
"Um, I'm not sure this is a good idea. Besides, I hate having to wake her; she's so beautiful when she sleeps."
Meatlug lets out a blast of foul smelling air as if to prove Fishlegs' point. Astrid gags and recoil slightly. But Fishlegs' face breaks out in a smile of pure love. I almost crumple off the window sill and onto the floor in despair.
"Fishlegs, this is a defining moment in the history of the Berk dragon training academy." I say grasping for something relative to say that will persuade Fishlegs. "Hundreds of years from now, when they're building statues of us in the middle of town, they're going to harken back to the courage it took for all of us to stand up for what we know is right, - regardless of the consequences." I say strongly, making it up as I go along.
"So… I get a statue?!" Fishlegs squeals.
"Yes Fishlegs…You get a statue." I deadpan.
Xxxxxxxxxx
Astrid POV:
Lucy giggles and Hiccup's face glows up in a smile. I sigh, remembering that adventure, that particularly HARD adventure. Physically it was great! Mentally I wanted to throw bricks at everyone.
That's when I feel the kick. I gasp and clutch my stomach. Hiccup's eyes snap to my form. "It's okay," I reassure him, "He just kicked."
"He?" Hiccup raises his eyebrows.
I wink. "Is it the baby mummy?" Lucy asks.
"Yes honey, your brother's going to be a feisty one."
Her face lights up in a smile, "When will I meet him mummy?"
"I'm afraid we've got to wait a little while Lu."
"Aww! But I want to meet him now!"
"You will… Just give him time to grow a bit," I smile as she turns back to Hiccup, satisfied with my answer, awaiting the next part of the story.
"Well we met up in the arena at dusk and set off to do some night time training."
"Where did you go?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"First stop Changewing Island," I call over my shoulder.
"Oh YEAH!" Tuffnut shouts over the howling wind, "Stones of good fortune! A lifetime of Good Luck! I CAN'T WAIT to get my hands on one of those…"
I inwardly cry. Don't the twins remember ANYTHING!?
"Tuffnut we've been over this!" Astrid half groans. "Those are NOT stones of good fortune, those are dragon eggs!"
"And leave them alone, PLEASE," Fishlegs begs. "I really don't want to revisit the changeling debacle!"
I couldn't agree with him more. We fly over the sea of charcoal looking trees, searching for the perfect ones to hide in and study these slithering- snake like- dragons. After a few minutes we find a clump of trees near a clearing; we sit in the trees, Fishlegs hovering on Meatlug, and wait for the wild Changewings to show themselves.
"How long do we have to wait here for?!" Ruff shouts.
"SHHH!" Astrid and I whisper/shout.
"We'll wait for them to pass, and then we can study them." I explain.
"Ugh!"
Then they come, just like I said, a pack of scarlet Changewings. Their scales glowing in the moonlight, their cream eyes narrowed in danger. I smile- these little, or should I say 'big' guys, can never cease to interest me.
"Whoa!" Tuff says.
I lean forward and spot their prey, a herd of boars toddle along the fluffy grass, not noticing the danger lurking in the shadows behind them.
"Changewings hunt like wolves, one dragon lures a single boar from the herd," I say as we watch the action unfold before our eyes. I thank Thor for the coverage of the trees. Who knows what would happen if they saw us.
"Then the other Changewings surround it," Fishlegs says, fascinated.
The lone boar squeals in terror- I almost want to go over there and save it but not only would I be putting the gang in danger- I'd also mess up nature. But as it turns out someone else decides to help the boar themselves…
"Hey, don't we know that Boar?" Tuff yells over at Ruff. I inwardly cry.
"Yeah we do! That's Bjorn Boar!" Ruff shouts back.
"Are they serious?" Astrid asks the air.
"YOU LEAVE BJORN ALONE!" Tuff screams at the band of Changewings.
The Changewings shift uneasily, their eyes narrowing to slits as they sense danger: Sense us. "Clearly they are," I start off shakily as the Changewings turn their heads toward us, and stretch out their wings.
Toothless growls in his throat. "You're on your own Bjorn!" Tuff cries before we leap out of our coverage and into the forest: Lime balls of acid sailing through the air, us their target board.
One bolt of acid burns a tree in half; I gasp and yank Toothless into a barrel roll as we narrowly avoid the falling timber. Another ball of acid hits a tree in front, but it only singes the outer layer of the wood. I twist my neck round, the Changewings are losing speed! Yes! "Keep your distance!" I cry out, "Their acid is only affective at close range!"
"Not very comforting when you're on the slowest dragon!" I hear Fishlegs scream from behind me, his voice wavering in fear. I smile lightly when he mumbles, "I'm sorry, girl, it had to be said."
"THERE'S TOO MANY OF THEM!" Snotlout yelps as a tree branch flies toward him. He avoids it by a nanometre. "AND THEY COME OUT OF NOWHERE!" He adds, his voice climbing in frustration.
As if to conclude that Snotlout's correct, two Changewings instantly appear right in front of my vision line. I yelp like Snotlout while Toothless pulls me into a second barrel roll to avoid the acid bombs.
I glance up at the empty sky, Snotlout's words tumbling around in my head. How on earth are we supposed to fight something we can't see? "Wait a minute…" I mumble… 'Empty sky'…Oh Gods Hiccup! Get a grip! Of course, how on Earth had I not thought of that before!? I turn toward Fishlegs, excitement in my eyes, "If they don't have anything to camouflage against…"
"…It'll take away their advantage!" Fishlegs finishes, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"Ugh!" Astrid rolls her eyes at our excitement over working out such a simple thing, but nevertheless she orders Stormfly; "Up! Up!"
We shoot into the air and fire downwards. Spikes, flames and violet blasts of power hurtle toward the oncoming Changewings. The blood-red furies squeal and cry out in protest. Almost immediately they run away back into their den.
"What did I say about the changeling debacle? Was no one listening?!" Fishlegs half squeaks half groans.
We all share a look and breathe a laugh. "Gods we really don't ever learn from our mistakes do we?" I say.
"Nope!" Fishlegs pops the 'p'.
"Not a chance," Astrid says flicking her bangs from her face, revealing her piercing blue eyes. My heart stops. Again.
"I do!" Tuff shouts.
"Yeah!" Ruff agrees.
"Pft!" Snotlout titters.
I just smile; we're the most dysfunctional family EVER. We continue flying for some time until a patch of land appears on the horizon. Toothless moans in protest as we approach the Eel Island; home of the Typhoomerangs. We fly across the Island the dragons squawking in fear.
"It's okay Stormfly we'll only be here a bit…"
"There!" Fishlegs cries, pointing downward at a mammoth sized scorch mark littered on the dusty earth.
We land on the soft grass and surround the still smouldering mark.
"I want a Typhoomerang SO BAD!" Tuff yells, grinning and swaying like a drunk Viking.
"Much like the rings inside a tree, the scorch mark can tell you the age and thus the size of the Typhoomerang in question." Fishlegs explains, crouching down on the ground next to the mark.
"It's still warm," I add, my fingers sliding across the patch of burned and crispy grass.
"Which means it wasn't here too long ago," Astrid says, nervousness appearing in her voice as she glances across at Stormfly.
"And if you look at the mark, you can tell which way it came from and which way it was headed." Fishlegs continues ignoring me and Astrid's anxious inputs.
"I know which way it's headed without all that stupid stuff." Snotlout declares.
"Oh really?" Astrid asks sarcastically, "Where's it going?"
"It's not…" Snotlout starts dramatically, pointing upward, "It's coming, at us- RIGHT NOW!"
We all start and twist out heads round to where Snotlout is pointing as a distinctive Typhoomerang roar shakes the ground. "So, uh… anything else we needed to learn?" I ask as we all stand up and race to our patient dragons.
"Nope!" Ruff yells.
"We're good!" Tuff adds.
We immediately take off into the sky, leaving the Eel eating dragon behind us. The moon shines brightly, turning the sea below to liquid silver. I sigh, my eyes drooping heavily- what a night! Astrid sails up beside me.
"You look like you're ready to drop down dead!" She exclaims.
I breathe a laugh, "I think I am." She leans across and takes my hand. "This is so cool! I never thought I'd be this much of a rebel. Uncle Finn always taught me to go by the rules." She frowns and stares off into the air, her eyes doubting herself.
"We are following the rules," I say. "Our rules. The rules we know are right."
She smiles, "Yeah I know… I just miss him sometimes. With my dad…" Her breath hitches in her throat, "Leaving at such an early age… Uncle Finn has always been like a dad to me. I just wish he was here now…To see me and be proud of me…"
I squeeze her hand, knowing exactly what it feels like to lose a parent so little. "I wish I had my mum." I state.
"They're both there," She leans back on Stormfly and looks up at the sky, "in the stars; looking down on us, watching us, guiding us."
I lean back on Toothless' shiny scales and smile, "Yeah… They are…"
"Hey Hiccup!" Tuff shouts suddenly.
I sigh, "Yes Tuffnut?"
"When did your dad join dragon flight club?" I frown at the oddness of this question and sit up in Toothless' saddle..
"He…didn't…" I say.
"Oh… weird… 'Cause he's right there." I follow his hand downward and almost jump out Toothess' saddle.
My dad, sitting proudly on Thornado, flies just below us. "What the…? Aw! Quick!" I call out, "Evasive cloud manoeuvres!"
The gang instantly spreads out and soars into the dark, shadowy clouds. I shiver as the water vapour bites at my skin. "We have to stay up here in the clouds until we're right over town!" I call out, my voice getting sucked up by the clouds and wind.
Astrid's form appears next to me and I can see the faint outline of Meatlug and the scarlet of Snotlout in front of me. I frown, where are the twins?
"Hiccup!" Astrid whispers, urgently looking down. I follow her eye sight to the legs and belly of Barf and Belch. Why on Earth are they upside-down? "What are you two doing?" Astrid voices my thoughts.
"We can't see in the clouds!" Tuff explains, acting as if we're the dumb ones.
"Yeah! It's too cloudy!" Ruff says stating the obvious.
"Oh for the love of Thor… Uh, you guys, if your heads are out of the clouds, my dad can see you."
"Er…not going to disagree with you there." Tuffs voice floats upward, rather anxious], from below.
I groan, "All right, guys, split up, head home, and please keep the dragons out of sight." I beg, the twins springing instantly to mind.
Toothless and I spring off through the foggy clouds and in the distance I hear a faint, "YOU CAN'T ALL GET AWAY!" I wince… Oh Thor we are in BIG trouble! I steer Toothless right through the window and jump off, sliding straight into bed. "This never happened!" I say as Toothless curls up on his rock bed.
I close my eyes, listening to the pounding off my heart and the thundering of blood rushing through my ears. My veins crackle with nervous adrenaline. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself, praying to Odin that the other gang members made it back before my dad caught them.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Astrid's POV:
"Did they catch any of you!?" Luce yells, practically hanging off the bed in excitement.
"Well… I'm afraid when we went down to the academy to meet up the next evening; a certain someone had been caught out…" Hiccup says sadly.
"Who!?"
"Guess."
"Erm… you!?"
"Me! Of course not! I'm WAY too smart for anyone to catch me." Hiccup jokes.
"Pah! As if!" I say.
"Was it you mummy?" Luce asks timidly.
"Nope!"
"Erm… Uncle Tuffnut and Aunty Ruffnut..."
"Unfortunately not… no someone else payed for, what I suppose, was their mistake."
Luce titters, "Life is so unfair!" I almost burst out laughing at the serious expression on her tiny little freckled face but I hold it in.
"LOUD Uncle Snotlout?"
"Wrong again little Princess." Hiccup smiles.
"Aw! Uncle Fishlegs then!"
"Yup! The next day when we arrived in the academy…"
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Hiccup's POV:
"He put the screws to me: I thought I was gonna crack, especially when the lights went out.
But I held firm, because I know the first rule of dragon flight club - is there is no dragon flight club." Fishlegs says satisfied.
I feel a burst of pride and positively ignore Tuff's comment: ("Aw great not that again!")
"You did great Fishlegs," I say smiling, thanking the Gods that Snotlout wasn't here to ruin Fishlegs' moment of pride.
"So what are we doing tonight?" Ruff asks.
"Nothing." I state.
"That doesn't sound fun at all!" Tuff moans. Ruff sighs and leans on the balls of her hand from atop the wooden jumping stands next to him.
"Look," I start, "My dad is onto us: It's important that we lay low until this blows over, we need to be invisible."
Before I'd even pronounced the 'ble' or invisible a burst of fire and dragon and Viking shoots into the arena. "HEY! HEY! YOU GUYS!"
I face palm. "Snotlout! What did I tell you? NO DRAGONS!"
"Yeah! Even I knew that!" Tuff nods his head contentedly.
I sigh. "What's so important anyway?"
"Let's just say I may have saved this entire island!" He inspects his fingernails and pauses for dramatic effect. I raise my eyes-brows. "Alvin and the Outcasts are attacking as we speak."
My eyes widen, "Alvin!"
"So what do we do now?" Astrid asks.
"Aw man! Come on we need to go and get my dad!" I rush to the doors.
"What about being invisible!" Ruff calls after me.
"Just… forget I ever said that!" I call back as we run into the village, Snotlout riding annoyingly above us.
"Aw great!" Ruff and Tuff say, clashing together their heads.
We grab our dragons and I tumble through the front doors, rush over to my dad and shake him by the shoulder, "Dad! Dad, wake up! Dad!"
His eyes fly open, I grunt as he grabs the front of my shirt, lifts me up and swings his axe toward me with an "ARRRGGHHH!"
"DAD! IT'S ME! Please don't chop me…"
"Hiccup!? What did I tell you about sneaking up on me while I'm asleep?"
"Okay! It's not fun for me either!" I grumble. "But this is an emergency! The Outcasts are sailing towards Berk."
His eyes narrow, "And how would you know that?"
"Do I really need to answer that question?" I say, scratching the back of my neck.
"I told you no flying Hiccup!" He starts angrily.
I wince, "Yeah, by the way I've been thinking about that: Doesn't a ban on dragon flying pertain to all dragons, even, oh, let's say a Thunderdrum?"
He stutters as a guilty look crosses his face (jackpot!), "Look… we'll talk about this later." He starts toward the door, "Wake the others: We'll need the full academy." He swings the door open as he comes face to face with Fishlegs and Meatlug.
"Hey chief!"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Astrid's POV:
Lucy giggles for the millionth time that night, sending warm buzzes down my spine. "Then what?"
"We went down and tore those Outcasts apart!" Hiccup says a young sparkle in his eye. "We worked as a team and in the end everything turned out okay. I understood why Grandpa did what he did and he understood why I went behind his back." Hiccup smiles.
"Now I think it's time for you to go to bed missy."
"But I'm not tired!" She protests, yawning.
"Oh I think you are!" I say leaning forward and tucking her in with a kiss on her forehead. She grins cheekily as Hiccup kisses her hair and blows the lantern out.
"Night, night mummy and daddy."
"Night baby girl." Hiccup whispers back.
"See you in the morning my little warrior."
Lucy reminds me so much of when I was little… I probably unconsciously made her reflect me so much…XD Anywho how was this chapter? Have you guys liked the fact I wrote one of the episodes as a story? Has it turned out good or bad? Let me know if you found it a bit boring. That was the main thing I was worried about. Anyway we get back on track next chapter with the story:)
See you, hopefully, fingers crossed, next week;)