Dragon Down

Jaiden's POV

After dodging and avoiding people, wheeling my bola launcher out, I made my way to a clear cliff away from all the action of the dragons and warriors.

I set up the bola launcher, waiting for the perfect opportunity to hit the Night Fury. I'd briefly seen its shadow once. I hadn't seen it directly, but I'd seen its silhouette against a fire. I think it was a black dragon since it blended in with night and seemed to come on darker nights when the moon wasn't full. It stayed away from any light sources and I think that was why we could never see it.

I listened to all the noises of the dragons and warriors and then blocked them out. I needed to focus.

In front of me was a single inactive catapult. Otherwise there was only clear skies. Clear skies that were starting to lighten as dawn approached.

I got ready as I suddenly heard the Night Fury's whistle nearby. The catapult in front of me exploded and I saw the silhouette again. I quickly aimed and launched, being thrown backwards by the force. I heard an angry screech and I scrambled to look. A dark silhouette flew through the sky to the forest; the Petalburg Forest.

"I hit it!" I exclaimed, "Come on, did anyone see that? I hit it!"

I paused as I heard a crunch and looked to see a Monstrous Nightmare had crushed my bola launcher and was now looking at me like prey.

"Except you," I said, before I ran away, screaming and dodging pellets of fire.

I hid behind a pole and waited while the fire went around me. I tried to peek around the corner to see, only for Allen to come and jumped and tackle the dragon down. I watched as Allen and the dragon fought and he eventually kicked the dragon and it flew away.

I could feel Allen's almost burning gaze as the pole, which turned out to actually be a torch of fire to light the sky, burnt down and the top rolled through the village. I winced as I watched it, Allen's gaze burning worse than I could imagine any fire.

"Sorry…Dad," I said slowly.

Yes, Allen the Great was my biological father, though I think he would've preferred me to be adopted. I was so weak and helpless.

He didn't say anything though and let me guiltily watch as all the dragons fled against the lightening sky with their haul for this round.

I bounced nervously, feeling the need to explain why I did what I did. "I hit a Night Fury."

Allen just grabbed my collar and started dragging me through the village, a deep frown on his face.

"No, I actually hit it!" I protested, "Let me go, we gotta find it before it gets out and-"

"Stop!" he yelled, letting me go and rounding on me angrily. He sighed. "Just stop." He looked angry again. "Every time you step outside, disaster happens!"

I winced slightly at that. Most people saw me as an unlucky charm or something. It wasn't my fault that everything bad happened to be associated in some way to me.

"Can't you see that I have bigger things to do?" he demanded, "Winter is coming! We have an entire village to feed."

"Don't you think the village could do with a little less feeding?" I asked.

Some gasped around me as if I were serious, but I was only joking.

Allen sighed. "Why can't you follow the simplest orders?"

"I can't stop myself!" I exclaimed. I coughed. "I mean, I see a dragon and I have to just…kill it! It's…Who I am, dad."

Allen rubbed his head. "You're many things, Jaiden, but a dragon killer is not one of them. Get back to the house." He looked at Paul and Reggie. "Make sure he gets there."

Paul and Reggie nodded. Reggie placed all the axes into the workshop and came back while Paul cuffed me over the head.

I grumbled and started walking home.

"I've never seen anyone mess up that badly," Gary said, "That helped!"

"Thank you, I was trying," I said sarcastically.

Paul just pushed Gary backwards so he fell over and Leaf sniggered at him.

I hated this. I wanted Mina back. Either that or to be accepted by someone else.

Because at the moment, I was just a nuisance and no one listened to me.

I had been traipsing through the forest for hours now. I couldn't believe that I couldn't find this dragon. After everything I did to get it down and the humiliation I went through. It had probably found a way to break free.

I blinked as I saw a patch of dirt. It was different from the rest. It was a huge ditch. Trees and branches were broken. Like something large had skidded through…

I followed the ditch and peeked over the hill and paused, ducking back down again. I gulped heavily and peeked up again.

Right there was the dragon. It was sleek and black, which explained why you couldn't see it in the darkness of night.

I tumbled down and hide behind the rock, getting my dagger out. I moved closer, holding out my dagger and then laughed slightly.

"Oh my gosh, I actually did it," I said in disbelief, "Oh, this fixes everything. Yes! I have brought down this mighty beast!"

I placed a foot on the dragon and then jumped away when it groaned and moved. I breathed heavily and peered around its wing to see its bright green eye was staring straight back into mine.

I pointed the dagger to its chest, pausing to look at its face when I heard it groan sadly. I composed myself slowly, calming my breathing as I remembered it couldn't do anything to me while it was tied up.

"I'm going to kill you, dragon," I said, adjusting my dagger, "I'm going to cut out your heart and take it my father."

There was a loud snort, but I ignored it.

"I'm a warrior," I said, turning to yell at it, "I am a warrior!"

It let out another groan.

"This is for Mina!" I exclaimed, bringing the dagger above me head.

It stared at me intently, fearfully and I grimaced slightly. I turned away and winced as it let out a defeated sad groan. I looked to see it turn away and my hands and arms went weak.

I couldn't kill it. Not went it looked so frightened and defeated. It reminded me of the look Mina had given me that night and the look I'd seen reflecting back at me in the mirror after I thought of the possibility of her being dead. I knew the fear this dragon was going through.

I sighed and looked at my dagger. Checking to make sure no-one else was around I knelt by the dragon's side and sliced the bola ropes away.

I gasped in fear as the dragon sprung up suddenly, free from his ropes, and placed a clawed hand as my throat, pinning me back against the rock.

It stared at me and I wriggled to get away, finding I was stuck. It did nothing for a while I looked at it in wonder. I had never seen a dragon this close. It was rather amazing.

That amazement soon disappeared when the dragon reared back, opening his mouth…

…To roar at me loudly enough that I thought my eardrums were bursting.

I blinked as it took off through the forest, screeching as it went. I slowly stood up, breathing heavily as I turned to go home. But my body felt weak and with a groan I felt myself falling as everything went black.

Later than night, I found my father waiting for my by the kitchen table. I winced slightly as I shut the door. I had been hoping that I could sneak in without him noticing, but he'd already seen me.

"I need to speak with you, son," he said.

I winced and then sighed. "Yeah, I need to talk to you too."

He took a deep breath. "I'm going on a raid in the morning. Paul and Reggie will be training some new recruits."

I didn't like where this was heading. I opened my mouth to cut in, but he didn't let me speak.

"You get what you wanted; you're in with the others in dragon training," He said.

"Aw man, I should've gone first," I said, "You see…Well, I'm not really dragon fighting material and I might be better off in the workshop."

"You'll need this," dad said, heaving an axe into my arms.

"I don't want to fight dragons," I said weakly.

Dad laughed as if I was telling a joke. "Oh, yes you do. You've talked about it for ages."

"No, I can't kill dragons," I protested.

He didn't understand.

"But you will," he said.

It wasn't about my strength.

"No, I'm pretty sure I won't," I said.

If I couldn't kill that dragon in the woods, then I was sure I couldn't kill any other dragons.

"It's time, Jaiden," he said, his voice lowering seriously.

"Can you not hear me?" I exclaimed, exasperated.

"This is serious!" He exclaimed, "When you carry that axe, you carry all the warriors with you. It means you walk like one." He straightened my posture. "You talk like one." He lifted my hands so I was holding the axe right. "You think like one." He tapped my head. "No more…This." He swept his hands over me.

I sighed and rolled my eyes, pretending it didn't hurt slightly. "You just gestured to all of me."

"Deal?" He asked.

"I feel this is very one sided," I said.

"Deal?" He demanded more forcefully.

I sighed. I'd hate myself for this, but…

"Deal," I replied.

"Good," he said, grabbing his bag, "Train hard. Stay out of trouble and for goodness sake listen to Reggie and Paul."

I rolled my eyes again.

"I'll be back," he said. "Probably."

"Well, I'll be here…maybe," I replied.

If I didn't get eaten first.

Me: I absolutely love it when Hiccup passes out in the movie. It was so funny the first time I watched.

Jaiden: *rolls eyes* So you made that me?

Me: *giggles* I just love to torture you. Sorry Jaiden, you're amusing.