Dragon Friend (sequel to the dragon boy) Chapter 15 - Preparing to Fight
frostcup fanfic
Authors note: okay I have to be quick so I cat say much (sorry) but here it is^^ I hope you enjoy it please review and I will be back tommorow with more.
Two seconds.
That was all they saw of the several thousand strong army.
After that, Jack blew them back, so that they landed on the ice that seperated them and the sanctuary.
Hiccup looked across. Jack was a kid again, lying on his stomach. to stare once again at the army. A cold, somewhat fearful, look in his eye.
Hiccup scrambled to join him, when a collision sounded, like a dull explosion. The ice shook beneath him, knocking him over. More dull thuds sounded from either side. What was-
"Hiccup!"
He heard the shout, and saw the ice- a massve chunk of it, as big as Cloudjumper, headed straight for him. He flinched, raising his arms.
But the crushing impact didn't come.
Jack, as a dragon, stood over him, panting with shock, and effort. He'd knocked the giant icicle away from him, though he'd just about had a heart attack because of it.
Looking down, Hiccup could see it bouncing off the mountainside, towards the floor. He'd saved his life- again. He doubted they'd ever be even.
"The nest. They're destroying the nest!" The furious words came from Valka. Hiccup had never seen her look so angry. She turned, and strode off, heading towards Cloudjumper.
"Mom, wait!" She looked down at him, the fury dimming slightly. "We need to think this through." He told her, and she nodded, realising that was the best way forwards. She looked to Hiccup for ideas.
What! He didn't mean he had a plan! He meant for her to think of one! He didn't have the faintest idea what to do. He'd never faced anything on this scale before. This was war- a battlefield! He sorted out peace. War was his dad's area of expertise. He'd accompliced a great deal many things at Berk, but, here... he was at a loss of what to do.
A white blur flew by overhead, heading deeper into the sanctuary. Jack's call echoed, loud and clear, in his head.
'I'll help the others escape! You two rally the ones that want to fight!' He yelled, as he flew off.
Hiccup nodded, determination hardening within him.
"Come on, we need to rally the dragons." He told his mother. She also nodded, that same determination present in her eyes. She took flight, leading Cloudjumper into the sanctuary. Hiccup mounted Toothless, then followed.
Somewhere far ahead, he heard Jack shouting to the panicking dragons of the sanctuary.
"The nest is under attack! All those who want to evacuate, follow me! Anyone who wants to defend the nest, await orders from the Four Wings." By the time Hiccup had arrived, the nest was in complete disarray.
Dragons everywhere, flying round, madly, trying to decide what to do. He saw Jack had created a huge ice bowl, with claw holes, for the older dragons to carry the young ones in. The children were blissfully unaware of the impending battle, and skidded and slided about within the domed shape of the carrier, having the time of their lives.
Many of the dragons were leaving choosing to abandon the nest, rather than fight for it. The same thing happened at theRed Death's nest, when the Vikings besieged it, Hiccup remembered. When it came to a choice between their home and their lives, most of them took their latter.
A few of the dragons though, a few of hundred, were willing to fight for their home. They weren't many, but Hiccup had seen dragons accomplish astonishing feats, when they were trying to defend their own.
Amidst the chaos, Hiccup found he had no idea what to do.
Cloudjumper was rallying the dragons, preparing to lead them into battle. The Stormcutter not wavering, in spite of the fearsome task ahead. He was sorting out the battle plan and dragons well, but the young Viking and his Night Fury found they had nothing to do with him on top of everything. The Cloudjumper often believed himself to be the Alpha's right hand dragon. Whether or not that eas true, he was somewhat of a natural leader. Situations like this brought out the best in dragons like that, he was handling the disorganised dragons with ease. Hiccup, however, could only stand, and watch the organised chaos of the nest.
At a loss of what to do, he felt through their bond for Jack. He had no idea what he expecting the Sky Dragon to do, but he was in need of the reassurance of a friend.
He reached Jack's mind, and was surprised to see it full of restrained fear, which his friend fought to hold back. Of course, Hiccup thought, how could he have been so stupid?
Jack was thinking back to around five years ago, when he'd discovered a massacre on a silent battlefield, and lost everything. His best friends Tooth, Bunny, North and Sandy must have perished in a battle such as this, and Jack couldn't help but think of his lost friends. He was afraid. Afraid of history repeating itself. Of perishing himself, as they had done, in the midst of battle. He was reliving the nightmare of imagining what his friends must have gone through, only this time it was real.
He was absolutely terrified, but holding back the fear was stubborn determination. The knowledge that he hadn't been there in that battle- no matter how little a difference he would have likely made to it- haunted him. There was a chance, however slim, that he could have saved them that day. But he didn't.
This was his chance to put things right. Another battle was finally here, and he was not about to exclude himself from it, because, this time, he was here. This time, he could made a difference. At last he had a chance to redeem himself, and he was not going to turn it down. He wasnt going to abandon the dragons of the nest, like he felt he had his friends.
Even if it took him to his dying breath, he would save those dragons. Because, for him, this was that same battle. The same one that happened all those years ago, and ended in massacre. Only, this time, he could make a difference; and he was not about to let the same thing happen again.
Never again.
Hiccup saw all of this, in the internal battle within his friend. The fight to hold back the fear. Hiccup felt selfish. Jack had fought three times before, each one taking him closer and closer to the brink of death- he had every right to fear this battle.
Next to him, Hiccup didn't really feel he had a right to be scared. He couldn't afford to be. He had to stay strong... for him.
He'd come to his friend seeking reassurance, but it seemed he was going to be the one to give it.
'Jack...' He started. The Sky Dragon attempted to calm his shaky thoughts- he might have took a deep breath, Hiccup wasn't sure, but he knew he was there. 'It's not going to happen again.' Hiccup told him. Jack had told himself that dozens of times, but hearing it come from Hiccup made it ten times more reassuring. A slight calm came across his mind.
Hiccup didn't say anything else, but let his mind linger, almost as though he was holding his hand. The knowledge that he was there for him, and would continue to be there for him, eased his mind far better than any words could have.
A roar could be heard. Hiccup realised it came from his ears- when their minds merged like this, it became hard to tell which sounds he was hearing, and which sounds were from Jack's head.
It was a call to arms.
He had to go, now. Him and Toothless had to protect the dragons.
Before he left, though, he spoke to his Sky Dragon once more.
'You don't have to do this, you know.' He told him, he'd already been willing to give his life for something far too many times. Hiccup quietly thought that this was one too many, but he knew no amount of persuasion could deter him.
'I know...' He replied. 'But I'm not to going sit around, and let you and Mr Stormseeker have all the fun... Besides, I'd like to see those upstart half wings try to best me in battle.' He said, recovering some of his typical Jack bravado. Hiccup grinned, he'd be okay.
Toothless called to him, impatiently.
"I know, bud, I'm coming." He told the Night Fury, as he climbed into the saddle.
"Toothless. Lets go kick some tail." He said. The dragon growled in agreement, and pumped his wings hard. Together they flew to the assault on the nest.
The Alpha was alone in the cavern.
Any dragons long since flown, or else fighting to defend their home. He knew that he must join them soon, and was stood, ready to make his entrance to the battle. But he didn't move to enter the fight, yet.
He turned to looked behind him.
'I know you are there, young one.' He said. Surely enough, a dragon of scales an identical colour to his was stood there, on a ledge, nearby.
Neither of them said anything.
They both knew that there was a challenger out there, looking to take the position of Alpha. Just like they both knew that the beast was under the control of the dragon enslaving Drago, and that the dragon was potentially bigger, and stronger, than the Alpha. But they both knew the Alpha had to win, because they knew that the lives of thousands, if not millions, of dragons and humans depended on it.
They both knew it was an unlikely victory, the odds were stacked against them. But they both knew that the Alpha was not about to surrender easily, and would fight fiercely to keep safe the dragons he protected. But they both knew there was a chance the Alpha might not survive the fight.
They both knew it, and they each knew that the other knew. So there was nothing to be said about it.
Jack had so much he wanted to say to the great Alpha, but he didn't know how to put it, or where to begin. So he didn't speak.
Instead, he rose up onto his hind legs, spreading his wings, and holding his head high.
He held the powerful pose. It was an action that meant a great deal of things. It was a blessing- wishing the Alpha luck in the fight ahead. A sign of respect- as he knew he might never see the great dragon again. A sign of allegiance- that he will for the Alpha and, for all the dragons under his care. But, more than that, it was a symbol of power.
The wide spread wings represented the dragon in him- strong and skilled in the air- and the two legs he stood on represented his connection to humans- intelligent and loyal.
It was the symbol of the Sky Dragons.
He had never before committed himself to it, and, even now, the action was incomplete. He still needed to show his power over the elements, of which all Sky Dragons were able to control.
He hadn't completed the act yet, but still, he hesitated. He was surprised he had even done this much. Because completing the symbol, meant accepting who he was. It meant accepting he was the last of the Sky Dragons, and accepting he was alone.
He'd let go of the past- and realised that he had Hiccup there for him, always- but he had never accepted that all the Sky Dragons, except him, were gone. He still searched for them, expecting to find them, but deep down, he knew they weren't there. He had just been denying it so strongly, he had almost fooled himself into believing they were still out there. But they weren't.
Completing that symbol would show him as the last of the Sky Dragons, acting on their behalf- on the behalf of an entire species! He didn't think he was ready to accept that, yet.
A part of him still didn't even completely accept that he was a dragon, at all. He wanted to believe that he was human. He loved the incredible creatures, with all their talking, and naming, and building, and their stubbornness to overcome any obstacle- even the simple fact of nature that they couldn't fly.
He so badly wanted to be one of them, but then, a part of him realised, his desire to be one of them wasn't just because of his love of them. It was because he didn't want to be alone.
He didn't want to be the last of his species. There were millions of humans in the world, and only one of him. If he was one of them, he'd never have to be lonely again. So he'd stubbornly held on to the futile wish and kept himself in denial about his true heritage. He didn't want to stop dreaming. It was far easier, and less painful to pretend.
All this raced through his mind, as he stood, half poised in the symbol of Sky Dragons- hesitating, and unsure, as to why he should complete it.
Then he felt a strong, steadying mind reach out to his own. Just enough for the Alpha to grab his attention.
Jack looked at the Alpha, who had come to mean so much to him in the course of just a few hours. In his eyes, he saw calm, steady determination, and reassurance.
"You can do this, young one. You are ready." The Alpha was telling him.
He didn't actually project the words into his mind, but they were all the more powerful because of it. A steely look of determination appeared in Jack's eyes.
Yes, he was the last of Sky Dragons, but he wasn't alone. He wasn't a human, but they were a part of him. He was a Sky Dragon, and he wasn't afraid of that fact, anymore.
He was ready.
The final act to complete his acceptance, and the symbol of the Sky Dragons- to fire a blast of his element, up into the air. Normally, it would be a rallying cry. A sign, to gather all the Sky Dragons, in times of great need. But he was the last. There was no others to call.
The symbol had changed. It was now a symbol of warning, and a symbol of hope. Let all those who see it on the battlefield be afraid, and be emboldened. Because the Sky Dragons were here... and he was going to defend his own.
Wow, Jack thought, he'd been spending way too much time with Cloudjumper.
He held his head that bit higher, and tilted it to the heavens. He saw pride, admiration, and the hardened look of a dragon about to enter battle, in the Alpha's eyes. He was about to join the fight, and Jack would be the one to announce his entrance. Together, they would terrify the enemy, and bring confidence to their friends. That same hard look appeared in Jack's eyes.
It was time to fight.
Taking a swift, deep breath, he roared up at the sky, drawing the attention of dragons all around. At the same time, he issued a blast of ice from his throat.
It shot up into the sky, and exploded into a mist of fine ice shards, which he swirled, and bent. The misty shape appeared to be random, patternless. A pointless swirl of interlocked curves, that took on the vague shape of a sphere. But it was far more than that.
Dragons would recognise it from tales of their ancestors, and humans would recognise it from the stories, and myths, of their childhood- once discounted as legends. But now, the stories were proven true by that glittering ball of misty ice that appeared in the air.
The Sky Dragons were real, and coming to defend this nest.