Before we get started, I need to think about a schedule, looking at my future for school, I can probably write a lot during most weekends, so my idea is I'm gonna attempt a Monday and Friday release dates. So I'll try to write to at least two chapters ahead of the latest public chapter and go for one release every Monday (because some of us all need a Monday pick me up) and one release Friday. If I miss one, which shouldn't happen if I follow myself, then I'll just skip to the next release day. I can't guarantee I'll pull this off, but this seems like a legitimate way to keep the drought from school away, hopefully a little bit. I will however try to guarantee a monthly release still if not a weekly basis, but I'd like to do sooner releases. So that's my schedule: Attempt releases on Monday and Friday, try to make sure at least once a week releases, and guarantee at least once a month releases if anything.

Also, before we get started, recently the paper weight that is my laptop decided it was a good idea to break the plastic border holding it together, so I have to get that fixed, lets hope for the best

Now let's get on with my cruel nature of story writing shall we

Chapter 8: A True Monster?

I was bit by a dragon, saying it only happened once is weird enough, seeing it cover me with a wing it's even stranger, unbelievable even, especially after it attacked me. What is the oddest thing is its nonthreatening movements, it's not even bothering to do more than stare at me now. After I saw its eyes, I can't believe it. I need to find my axe, but I can't move, whether out of fear or shock, I don't know. It then scratches marks into the ground.

Please don't be mad.

WHAT THE HEL? How did it…this was the escaped 'Hiccup' dragon? I mean I expected it to be, but it could still write? After all this time as a dragon.

I swear Astrid, I didn't mean it, I'm sorry.

It still knows my name, I guess that's probably the least of a surprise, but just scratching my name makes me only more overwhelmed. What if it still is Hiccup? No, that can't be, it escaped with that other dragon, and attacked me.

Please Astrid, don't get mad…or scream. It keeps scratching, and now I'm only more confused.

"You can't still be…" I start slow, shocked.

I'm still me. I glare at him, still freaking out, unable to do anything.

"Who…are you?"

Inventor, failed Viking…mess up…Hiccup. He grunts oddly, I flinch back. Sorry, it's just ironic.

What in Hel was that?

Sorry about biting you, I never meant to hurt you…I just…I had no control. He continue.

"Where's Fishlegs?" I must be going crazy, actually allowing myself to talk with this thing.

He went back to the village last night, you've been here all night, I know it sounds bad, but we couldn't risk questions, and you healed well enough after the bite.

He looks into my eyes and scratches in the dirt: Please don't cry out to the village, not yet at the least, the other dragon will kill too many people and we'll both end up dead.

"Why should I care about your life?" I rebuke harshly.

Would it matter if most of the remaining village dies? Do we really want to die knowing we got everyone else killed?

"They would take you down before then." I phrase nearly as a question

No small group can face a real Night Fury and live. He shakes his head. You remember facing me in the kill ring? How I was doing well at the start? Its hundreds of times more with an experienced Night Fury. And he doesn't even want to attack, he doesn't want to risk engagement.

"I…I…wait, the other one is still here?" I whisper nervously

Yes, I've rather he not die…I don't care if you believe me or not, but dragons don't want to fight or raid us. But at least believe me when I say he doesn't want to die, nor kill, and neither do I.

I have nothing to refute it…he has a point, no small group could take out a Fury, and even a large group would be decimated, but can I really trust a beast.

Maybe you'll hate me for this, but they aren't as different as we thought, it's strange, but they don't attack us cause they want to, heck, I've actually befriended that Night Fury.

"Says the beast." I reply harshly and my arm pulsates in pain again.

For once Astrid, could you ever not be so stubborn, this one time. What the Hel?

"Did you hear that?"

Hear what?

"I swear someone said my name"

Maybe she's losing it. I hear.

"Who's there? Who's losing it?" I yell out loud

Oh Thor… I hear the voice again. Astrid, can you hear this.

"Whoever that is? Yeah" I search around the cove.

Astrid, look behind you, I turn to see the dragon again. I'm speaking to you, somehow…

I scream, I can understand him.

Shush the Night Fury screeches, and the voice and roar mingle, and yet I still understand. Looks like I wasted time writing in the dirt. It says sarcastically.

"Oh Gods, Oh Odin, this…this can't be happening." For the first time in my life I start hyperventilating.

Astrid…Astrid, please calm down. That doesn't help, I fall to my knees, looking to the ground, still feeling shocked. "I…What…what…it…"

And then my face is drenched, that gets my attention, and I glare at it for a second.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" I yell at it.

What do you…oh…I'm very sorry about the bite, but it's not like…oh Thor…what if you become a dragon too?

I stare back in even more shock at what that means. I look back on my arm seeing a rather large black blemish, I rub at it only to feel pain. "Ahh" The dragon looks at my arm, and then back at me.

We can't risk you transforming in the village, that's like the mark I got, I…I'm so sorry, but,

"You're SORRY!? YOU BASTARD DRAGON, I'LL KILL YOU" I search for my axe, or dagger, or any weapon.

Please Astrid, we were afraid you'd kill me, so Fishlegs took your weapons back to your house, I told him I'd protect you.

"…THEN I'LL…" I trail off before being tackled.

I don't want to have to hold you down till Fishlegs gets back, but to prevent you from killing yourself or anyone else, I will. Nor do I want to see you captured like I was. Please, just try to stay calm.

"I…I…" I break down, 'Hiccup' lets me go and I roll over and weep, for myself, and for the past weeks.

I hear a rustling going on behind me but I pay it no mind, I'm too wasted on this tragedy.

Where were you, and why do you have another one?

Don't hurt her, I'll explain.

"I bit her, I didn't want to…but…" I tried to continue, but I was choking up a little. I remember everything vividly, but I felt so powerless…I…

"You bit her? Why not just kill her?" He glares.

"I didn't mean to, I only want to stop her from attacking, stun and tackle her, to calm her down…but I…lost it" I start to stutter heavily. "I…I…harmed her…and now…she's going to become a Night Fury"

"Huh?"

"US! A NIGHT FURY…A…A DARK ONE" I yell stuttering, at the other dragon.

"You're sounding crazy again." He looks at me, giving me and Astrid odd looks.

I explain how the mark on Astrid is the same type of mark that I had when he bit me-

"I still don't recall biting you by the way" he interrupts.

"Well you did, anyway, she also can understand me, maybe even all-"

"Really?" He wonders pessimistically.

"Astrid…" I say, hoping to sound sympathetic.

"Just leave me alone." I hear her sob.

"That doesn't really prove she can hear us" He answers back at me.

"Please, Astrid?"

"Stop talking, please…just…leave me along" I hear her sob.

Toothless shakes his head, and I give up on convincing him about Astrid, he'll see soon enough. And then it strikes me, I learned a few days ago that Toothless can't fly, his tail is damaged. "Wait…Aren't you trapped here now?"

"If you help, I've got I covered." I stare back unconvinced, but let it slide for now.

"Anyway, I'm gonna shelter her, at least until she transforms, and if she doesn't by the end of the day, then I believe we're in the clear." I am however convinced that marks and being able to understand us means she'll transform.

"I bet a hundred fish nothing happens."

"I'm not gonna bother holding you to that." I tell him looking back to Astrid, her sobbing getting a bit louder.

I lay beside Astrid, and cover her under my wing, I can no longer really fear her. I do however sympathize her, maybe I can help her through this, at least until we find a 'cure'…if we ever do.

I can't believe it. Out of every impossible thing to happen to anyone, it had to happen to me. Why me? Why couldn't I have been struck by Thor, or drowned by Njörðr? Why did it have to be Loki's torture?

I'm still sobbing on the ground, and I come to blame the Night Fury, he attacked me. Rage grows within me, raising above the ground, to find I'm back in a shadow, unable to see the light. I look to the side to see green watching me back. I flinch back, nearly forgetting my anger, so when it comes back, I realize how much of a waste it is, this thing won't kill me, and last time I got angry it sat on me until I stopped. I go back into a fit of sobs, feeling pain coming from my arm.

I look back to it after reigning in control, to find the mark had grown.

I'm so sorry Astrid, I didn't mean it. I stare back at the origin.

You might not believe me still, but I am really me, you saw me transform. And because I bit you, I'll help you get through it, Odin knows I almost didn't, and when you're ready, we can search for a way to fix this. Trust me on that.

"I've so lost it…" I mumble. "What about your dragon friend? What happens to the one who caused this, when we are cured?" I say bluntly

I don't know. He tells me, shameful. I don't want him dead, he's been really kind, a good friend, I might have killed myself last week if he wasn't around.

"BUT HE BIT YOU! WE'RE NO LONGER VIKINGS BECAUSE OF HIM!" I yell, frustrated at his traitorous words, if he even were a Viking anymore. My arm pulsates worse, and the mark starts growing slowly.

I don't think it was his fault, there is something else going on here. He stares out of his wing cocoon.

I get angry and shove my way out of his wing, only to find its nearly mid-day.

With what happened to me, I honestly don't give you more than half an hour…if my bite is to…I'm…sorry…I never meant to…I just…I couldn't bare for you to kill Fishlegs…but I never wanted to hurt you too. He stutters and my arm pulsates again. Focusing on it really hurts.

This is gonna sound strange… He started to choke a bit …but you might…prefer…to take off…your clothes…at some point. His stuttering was extremely heavy, and nervousness was apparent in his voice Clothes don't really…uh…fit dragons well…and I think you would rather protect…your clothes from damage…if you can. Now that's a creepy dragon, though still hasn't gotten over human decency? His embarrassment is something I can't ignore, but I'm getting frustrated with the dragon. If you'd like…I mean, I could…um turn around…or you could hide behind a bush…I uh…um…I don't want to spoil your decency…I mean…

"Just shut up, I'll undress behind a bush then, but you turn around" I reply harshly, seeing as if this is true, and after witnessing Hiccup's, I have near no doubt I'm 'infected', and I don't want to destroy the clothes I own…but what happens if we do find a solution? I wouldn't want Hiccup of all people to see me bare, and I really don't want to be bush hopping or trudging through grit without some layers. Maybe hiding my clothes are the only way.

I feel the pained arm heat up severely, then a stabbing pain spreading through my body. I go behind a bush, which was behind a rock, suspecting this is what happened with Hiccup, then yell "Turn around."

You'll feel a lot of pain, you might want to relax. And that gives me an idea…what if I try to prevent it.

"I'm not gonna change." I mumble to myself "I'm gonna stay." As the pain increases and I strip my clothing through it, only in case I fail.

"AHHH!" After getting all my clothes off, fighting the infection. I scream and yell in pain.

Please, try to relax, fighting it only makes it worse…trust me.

I still fight with all my might, and only feel more pain as I see the bite smudge across my arm spread beyond to my shoulder, feeling it crossing my back, on my face, and down my side. It starts to cover me. "AAAAAHHHHHHH!" I howl in pain.

Astrid! The only thing you can do is let it go, it'll be faster…and less painful. We can fix this afterwards, you can't stop it. He proclaims as my continued howls turn into growls. I don't even recognize my own voice.

"Noooooooo!" As it covers the rest of my body and mutates the remaining Viking parts, causing my overall body to grow much beyond what it was. I've lost all my skin, all my hair…all my humanity, I'm no longer human, walking on four legs instead of two. Two wings separate from my body, pain in my back feeling them grow in, pain in my face as it shifts, even my lower back as a tail is produced. I'm not a dragon…I can't be.

I growl in the remaining agony. I can't be a dragon. "No…I…I can't be…"

"Astrid, is it…uh…over? I mean…I don't want to seem…indecent…or rude…but I don't want to be facing this wall all night."

"No. Don't look at me…I'm a monster." I go back to sobbing.

So that end might be a little weird, I was having an odd time with the 'bare' stuff, mostly cause that is probably me writing an truly 'indecent' scene for the first time, and this probably does make me sound like a sissy, but I'm purposely avoiding M rated stuff. I feel stories which go that route are much less professional. I shouldn't have to go in depth, or describe everything, as it does not pertain to plot, character arcs, or when it comes up, occasional fluff (some people consider parts of it fluff, I consider it filler, which I avoid, or try to, the dialogue for me feels like I fail occasionally at that) So this is me telling you now, I will never write for an M rating here, it just seems wrong to me and nor will anything I ever write be rated M.

I'm just saying that to make sure you get that in later stuff (here and other fanfics), I will not write for M ratings. Better to get it out of the way now for people who like reading my stuff. (This chapter gave me a really weak excuse to say that, so I did)

So now to a quick thing, turns out I was about 1.1k off the amount of total words last AN, and probably about 0.5k to 0.7k off the story words, so not too bad when I didn't check beforehand, though I am not gonna however correct any ANs, they are like journal entries, they describe what is going on in my head at the time. And I like it like that.

Also passed about 3.3k views, so thanks guys for that. As for new reviews, already replied, but I'll just say, anything a review says (probably even flames, but please don't) is helpful, even mean negative reviews can be helpful (please don't be mean though, it's easier and better to improve if you are critical and nice).

"A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer." (Bruce Lee) While we aren't doing questions, the idea still kind of stands.

Another thing, I actually kind of like torturing Astrid, not in like a sadistic way, hell, I know she doesn't really deserve that (well not entirely), but because I feel someone who seems strong externally breaking down and acting human just feels like a greater character arc and more helpful to plot then how her side characterness in the movies was (somewhat understandable in the original movie, she barely had a role until the end and even then, but she was barely used for more than filler stuff in the second movie, and that, to me, felt highly wasted, I mean most characters were honestly not done efficiently, but hers was probably the most wasted) Another thing is I do plan to do a Hiccstrid kind of pairing (I was first on fence, but then a friend convinced me otherwise after he started reading some of it and I discussed it with him, so thanks mike) but it'll be slow, and when it does come up, fluffy and careful, when I do that, I thinking it through and making it as good as it can be. I will probably not be marking this fanfic for that, and as I said, no M rating, so not a problem.

Now, thank you, my pocket monsters, for doing my battling for me, I shall throw you back into battle soon enough. Anyway, in all seriousness, fav and/or follow if you like this story, and review for some reason, praise or critique, it just helps to know that I can improve, or even that I'm already doing great.