Authors Note: Hey! Again! :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Chapter 8: See You Tomorrow
(Hiccup POV)
"Today is about teamwork." Gobber says and the doors to the cage explode open green gas spilling out everywhere. The gas thickens and spreads out to us. I grip my bucket tighter searching for the dragon through my now clouded vision.
Were paired into teams of two, me and Fishlegs, Elsa and Ruffnut and Snotlout and Tuffnut. The eel from a few days ago with Toothless is slung over my shoulder but I ignore it focusing on the Zippleback stalking us.
Gobber continues, "A wet dragon head can't light it's fire, the Hideous Zippleback is extra tricky, one head breathes gas the other lights it." My muscles tense."Your job, is to know which is which." He finishes.
Fishlegs whimpers next to me and begins to spit out information, trying to calm himself by knowing how he'll die? I'm not sure why. "Razor sharp teeth, and ignites venom from pregitgestoin, prefurs ambush attack, crushing it's victoms-"
"Will you please stop that!" I hiss. The Zippleback can hunt us if we talk, not like it can't if we don't it's just we'll be louder.
Snotlout and Tuffnut voices ring through the arena, "If that dragon shows either of its faces- THERE!" Snotlout yells. Water splashes and I look around hopefully. Maybe they got it-
"HEY!" Elsa yells.
Nope.
"It's us idiots."Ruffnut says somewhere nearby.
"Oh," Tuffnut chuckles. "Your heads are getting bigger we thought you were a dragon." Tuffnut says and Snotlout laughs and quickly covers up as he sees both girls plant withering glares.
"Not like there's anything wrong with a dragonesque figure-" Elsa throws something at Snotlout and it smacks him in the jaw causing the Jorgenson to tumble backwards. Ruffnut smashes her water bucket over Tuffnut's head and he falls on his back disappearing in the fog.
Something reaches out and Tuffnut is ripped into the remaining gas. Ruffnut starts to move to the fog to case after her brother but Elsa holds out her hand preventing the girl from moving forward. The tips of her hair are covered in small icicles.
What…?
Is she seriously that cold? Focus Hiccup.
"Wait." Elsa commands.
A tail swipes out and Ruffnut and Elsa are flung to their backs. Tuffnut bursts out of the gas and breaks into a run holding his bleeding nose, "Oh I am hurt! I am VERY much hurt!" He yells and races off. Fishlegs let out a squeal of fear.
"Chances of survival are dwindling into single digits now." He says.
I grind my teeth to withhold a sarcastic comment to that and leap back as one of the heads emerges from the gas towards Fishlegs. He yelps, jumps and throws his bucket forward towards the head. .It smacks the dragon in the face and it stares at him and lets out a growl that sounds unmistakably like a laugh before opening it's mouth and revealing gas.
"Oh, wrong head." Fishlegs says, sounding unconcerned for a moment. My hold tightens on the bucket. The Zippleback head spits out more gas at Fishlegs and he squeals, throws his bucket towards open air and runs.
Both heads are visible now and I watch as the other head twists as sparks jumps from it's mouth. Both heads raise up to their full height. Towering over me by at least seven feet.
"Now Hiccup!" Gobber shouts. I toss the bucket up and the it misses by at least three feet and lands in a puddle on my feet splashing me. Yay.
"Ah come on." I groan looking down at the water in frustration. It just sits there like water does. The Zippleback growls and I jump backwards slipping on the water, landing on my elbows. I sit up the Zippleback cringes and I realize something, it is afraid.
It's afraid of the eel that I had around my shoulder. Taking a chance, I raise both my hands and look at the dragon, "Back, back." I tell it.
The dragon backs away and I continue to push it backwards without even touching it. "Now don't you make me tell you again." I say. The dragon backs into the cage and I slowly lift up my vest and remove the same eel from a few days ago with Toothless.
I toss it onto the ground and the Zippleback backs away. "Now think about what you've done." I say biting my lip. I turn and grab both of the heavy doors and shove them closed. I wipe the eel slime off of me on my vest before looking up.
Everyone is staring open mouthed, and frozen in place. Elsa's clothing is covered in a layer of frost but my attention is cut off from staring at that as Fishlegs drops his bucket onto the floor and I look at them. "So are we done?" I ask. "'Cause I have some things I need to-yup see you tomorrow!" I call and race from the arena.
000o000
I walk into the forge later and pull out a bucket of scrap leather. Toothless is going to need someone to control the tailfin and I guess I have unintentionally dubbed myself said person.
I grab a long iron rod and begin to work on a saddle, pulling and stretching the leather to get it to wrap around the frame right. I haven't made very many saddles but I have made a few and no the basics. I brush off several loose strings and lift up the saddle, smiling for the first time in a while.
000o000
Less than an hour later, I lift up the saddle, smiling widely. Toothless sniffs the saddle looks up at me and nods his head before he crouches down eyes wide. He lets out a dragon laugh before he takes off running. "Hey-what?! Toothless!"
I learn that Night Fury's are just as fast on the ground as they are in the sky. After I'm panting, gasping for breath and seeing red spots in my vision, Toothless finally stops. He looks over at me and I shoot him a half glare. He pads over to me looking accomplished and smug.
"Ready to cooperate?" I ask. He grumpily walks over to me, not slipping on the ice again. I put the saddle on him and check the straps before taking it off again. "It works." I declare.
I grab the extra rope I brought with me and tie it to my foot and the tailfin before moving back towards Toothless. I hop slightly on one foot as I tie it to my left and Toothless snickers. "Ha, very-Ah!" I yelp as I trip and start to crash towards the ground, I brace myself for impact but hit Toothless's neck instead.
"Thanks bud," I mutter and get to my feet swinging onto his back, "Ready when you are." I tell him.
Toothless jumps into the air and I can feel his powerful muscles working. I hold the rope in hand and Toothless glides over to the lake. After a moment, Toothless turns and I tug on the rope right to try and match it.
I'm flung off the saddle and smash into the pond, Toothless doing the same a few seconds later. Left. Left would have been better.
000o000
In the forge that night, I tug on the leather straps I have attached to my belt and then to the saddle. I tug on it a few more times and nothing happens. Nodding in small satisfaction I turn and look around me at all of the scraps still waiting to be used. I look down at myself and toss off my vest starting on a flight outfit.
When I finish I shove the saddle and the vest under my desk before collapsing in the chair, nodding off. Sleep has never sounded more inviting.
000o000
The next day in the sky again, I've decided I am a terrible co-pilot. I tug at the rope with my foot and its working about as good as yesterday, so crash landing in store. Yay!
We make it out of the cove before crashing, I'm thrown from Toothless's saddle and stumble forward before I turn around weaving through the grass looking for Toothless.
After a few seconds, I break into a flattened area where Toothless is rolling around purring like a happy kitten. I stare at the dragon the rope sparkling in the sun and hopelessly knotted from all the rolling Toothless is doing. I rip a piece off of the grass and sniff it. It smells similar to catnip. Gobber used to have a cat in the forge, Square, he was mean, moody and always smelled like mud. When I was younger Gobber let me play with Square after he was knocked into a pretty good haze from catnip. He died from old age when I was about twelve.
I look up and smirk as Toothless kicks his legs slightly, actually, Dragonnip
"Toothless?" I ask. He stops rolling and looks up at me looking dazed and disoriented. I laugh openly the sound startling me slightly before I put my hand on the side of his head and start to lead the disoriented dragon back to the cove.
000o000
The Gronckle smashes into Snotlout throwing him flying several feet before charging at me.
I drop my shield and mace I'd borrowed grabbing the grass from off my belt and hold it up to the dragon. It stops mid flight falling to the ground a blissful expression across its face. I stare at it for a moment before scratching its nose and leading it over to the right. The dragon complies with a happy moan.
000o000
As I leave the arena that day and the other teens chase after me, "I've never seen a Gronckle act like that before." Snotlout says.
"I know it was awesome!" Fishlegs says. I look up and see that if I want to work with Toothless's tail fin I needed to leave right now. Besides, if I stay with them, the question on why I'm getting so good is bound to emerge and I really don't want to answer that.
I back up, "I-I left my axe in the ring." I lie and I look at them,"You guys go on ahead." I say, I turn around and almost smash into Elsa she leaps out of the way and flashes me a half smile, "I'll catch up with you." I call and race off to the forest around the arena.
Later that day I stratch at Toothless's neck and he purrs happily. I smile softly and rub harder before moving my hand under his chin, his eyes roll back before he falls to the ground asleep. A happy breath escapes his lips and I stare at him in surprise and shock for a moment before looking at my fingers.
Whoa.
000o000
In dragon training the next day I hold a mace in hand. Elsa throws her axe shield at the Snow Wraith in front of us and it bounces off its horn and she dives to the side. The Wraith races up to me and I freeze. Fingers crossed this works...
I drop the mace as Elsa comes running forward sword in hand, looking composed and angrily furious at the same time. I reach out and scratch the Snow Wraith along the neck and under the jaw and it falls to the ground unconscious.
Elsa stops and her sword lowers in surprise as she gives a grunt of confusion.
000o000
In the Great Hall a few days later, I walk over to an empty table and swing my legs over to the bench and sit when I'm surrounded by a mass of people all begging to know how I'm doing so good.
00o000
In the cove a few days later I mess around with a hammer bordely until I hear a grunt. Toothless dives past me a blur of black and I lean back in shock slightly watching as he lands on a small speck of light.
I snicker softly.
He's chasing the light.
I lift the hammer to the sun and start to lead Toothless around the cove laughing hysterically.
000o000
"Meet the Terrible Terror." Gobber says and pulls up a latch, a small green dragon crawls out and looks at us and licks its eye. It's about the size of a large cat with small wings and looks ready to claw off your face in a moment. Tuffnut laughs and turns to Elsa and Ruffnut at his side.
"Ha! It's like the size of my-" Tuffnut starts and the dragon growls before it jumps onto his face wrestling with his nose. "Ow! Get it off!" Tuffnut shouts tugging at the dragon's body. I angle shield to the sun the light catches the Terrors eye. It jumps off of Tuffnut's face.
"OH! I AM HURT! I AM VERY MUCH HURT!" He yells and jumps behind his sister. Point very much taken.
I manage to get the Terror into the cage and lift up a foot to stop the door from swinging back and forth. I look back as Tuffnut speaks looking at Snotlout "Wow he's better that you ever were." Tuffnut says.
Elsa and Ruffnut snicker at that and Snotlout grabs the front of Tuffnut's shirt curling his fist.
000o000
I hold the saddle in my hand I had started taking it back and forth to Toothless and back to the forge. It's snowing softly not enough to affect the test flights just snowing. I'm already in my flight vest deciding that I didn't want to have to waste the time getting into it later. I walk through the forest when I hear the distinct sound of metal hitting wood as though someone was cutting down a tree, and shouts of frustration.
Someone venting off anger at the trees. I'll leave them to that, the forest can be very understanding.
A whirring noise feels the air and breaks my thoughts, I duck instinctively and something shiney flies over my head landing on a tree behind me. I look straight and see Elsa rolling to her feet she looks at me surprise written across her face. I glance back and see her sword on the tree, if I hadn't ducked she would have taken my head off.
Elsa stares at the saddle in my arms and then at my flight vest. Her eyes widen, not angry just surprise, before waiting for her reaction I take off through the trees and don't stop running until I reach the cove.
When I reach the cove and regain my breath, I put the saddle on Toothless and then I add to the stirrups I had already been working on. With the rope in hand I work the it through all of the gears. I sit back and look at. Yup that should work.
000o000
A few hours later I lead Toothless onto a hill, I had found it a few years ago when I like Elsa was, was letting the forest know of my frustration. It is always windy here and it could be helpful or extremely annoying. The wind is causing the snowflakes to bite at my face and any unprotected part of me.
I grab the rope I have around my shoulders and I tie it to Toothless then to the stump on the hill. Toothless shakes his head. Yeah, I have to agree with him on that.
I whack him on the ear, "Hey, this will probably work." Toothless glares at me and I bit my inner lip, "Or you could hope for our deaths, that works to." I mutter. Toothless whacks the back of my head with his tailfin. I yelp and rub the injured area looking up at him with a plant withering glare.
He sends me a smug look. I pull my notebook out ripping out a page.
I climb on his back and pat his side softly a silent wording for, ready. Toothless jumps up and the wind blows in my face, my bangs flying away from it. Focus at the task at hand. A voice mutters in my head, I push down on the stirrup and look back watching how it affects Toothless's flight, writing down the position, after repeating this several times there's a horrible snapping noise.
This is eminent.
Toothless flies through the air, smashing into a tree then the ground. Toothless lands on his back I land on my stomach. Toothless rolls over and I move with him. I look up in surprise and then groan my eyebrows knit together in confusion and I look up before tugging on the stuck latch. "Oh great."
000o000
In the Village later that night I lean against a house as casually as possible waiting for a sentry to pass. Toothless is by my side and trying to sniff everything at once. My jaw is clenched tightly and my fingers curled into fists. Someone sees Toothless and this is all over.
Footsteps get closer and I shove Toothless back looking at the man as he passes, torch in hand.
"Hiccup." He says with a dip his head and I wave softly before I start to walk forward and Toothless looks a the sentry I grab the strap and pull him right towards the forge. "It's this way." I hiss. Toothless head jerks to the left and he follows after me.
We reach the forge a few seconds later and I grab the first dagger I see. A crash sounds behind me and I look back at Toothless, "Be quiet!" I hiss. Toothless lifts up his head and I walk over to him and start to try and pry the latch open.
"Hiccup?" A voice calls I snap my head up, my eyes scan around us for another second. They cannot see Toothless!
"Hiccup?" Elsa asks and I freeze Toothless lifting up his head to the window, "Are you in there?" Elsa asks.
We are so dead!
Toothless and I share a panicked look and I shove the dagger onto my belt before I race forward and grab and apron throwing it over my flight vest and tug Toothless with me as I leap out the window pulling the shutters closed behind me.
"Hey Elsa, hey, Elsa hi." I stutter and she stares at me narrowing her eyes.
"I normally don't get what people do but you're acting weird." Elsa says and Toothless tugs on the strap and I jerk backwards with a grunt and laugh awkwardly. Toothless tugs again, more persistent. I would have groaned but Elsa in front of me withholds the sound. Toothless tugs on the strap again and I'm dragged back.
"Well weirder." Elsa adds and I smile weakly before Toothless pulls me up and through the window. I land on his back and shove my foot onto the stirrup.
"Go!" I hiss we take off into the sky away from the village heading towards the cove.
That. Was. Close.
000o000
(Elsa POV)
After failing to track down Hiccup, I head home shoving open the door. The final session for Dragon Training is tomorrow before the winner is chosen. It's most likely going to be Hiccup and I can't honestly say that I'm mad about that.
It's honestly relieving. If I don't have to fight it than the chances of my powers coming out are slim. I just wanna know how he's been getting so good. I push open the door to my house and stifle a yawn closing it behind me.
"Elsa," Ingrid says calmly and I jerk my head up towards my aunt. She's sitting next to the fire her back to me. Anna isn't in the room so she's probably asleep.
"Yes Ingrid?" I ask and move in front of her. She gestures for me to sit on the opposite side of the fire and removes the long metal rod she was using to poke at the ashes setting it on the rim of the flames.
"How was dragon training?" She asks calmly. I stare at her in confusion before letting out a sigh.
"What is it?" I ask clasping my hands together letting my fingers wrap around the edges of the gloves.
"Hiccup, has been surpassing you, Elsa. When I put you in dragon training I thought you would succeed that useless runt." Ingrid says scowling at the embers angrily.
"Hiccup isn't useless he just has this…way with the dragons." I say no better words coming into my head.
Ingrid shifts her scowl to me, "Elsa Astrid Arendelle, you will win that competition tomorrow. That is an order young lady." I cringe slightly at her words. Rarely do I ever get called my full name, and when she adds the middle I know I'm nearing death. My brain finally wraps around her words.
"Ingrid," I say and look up at her, "Don't you see, I can't." I say and her glare remains firmly locked onto me.
"If you don't I think that it's time the village new about your little secret right? What you did to Anna." Ingrid says and hisses the last part in my ear.
I still.
She wouldn't...she can't!
Ingrid walks past me, "You're like a daughter to me, Elsa, I would hate for something to happen to you but it's time that the Arendelle family honour was restored wouldn't you say?" She asks rhetorically. She leaves the room and shuts the door behind her.
I blink several times staring at the flames my eyes aching. Tomorrow there isn't any training but the day after that...I close my eyes and take in a breath everything settling in.
I win, or it's over.
Authors Note: :) Please review!