How To Train Your Dragon: The Rising Fire Flame

Chapter 2 - Here To Stay

"Hiccup!"

I begin to stir in my sleep, "Hiccup!" The mysterious voice rises slightly. A hand shakes my unoccupied shoulder. My heavy eyelids flutter open, but when I open my eyes fully, I am immediately blinded by the early morning light. I squint my eyes to see a blurry figure standing over me. Am I hallucinating? I did just wake up so it's a possibility! I sit up slightly, turning to look at Astrid who still sleeps silently on my shoulder. She's so beautiful. Her silky loose blonde hair glistens in the bright sunlight. Her peaceful face. Her calm breathing. My arm around her tightens. So beautiful.

"Hiccup!" I look up, still blinded by the sun. I yawn deeply, closing my heavy eyes. The figure moves in front of the sun, blocking the sun. I blink several times clearing my vision and it wasn't a hallucination... The figure becomes unclouded. He stands with his hands on his hips. I jump vigorously, nudging Toothless quite hard behind me.

"Err... Dad?" My stomach ties into several knots, unable to move. I rid my eyes of sleep. I scratch the back of my head, "err... Hi dad!" I say feeling guilty. I look down at Astrid. She makes the first signs of consciousness. I stare back at my father, smiling, hoping I'm not in trouble. I haven't said hi to him yet, but I knew he was too busy being chief.

"Son," he finally says- smiling wide. I scratch my cheek, feeling out of place,

"How did you-"

"Gobber," he answers, cutting me off. "He told me you got back yesterday," he steps closer. Tension grew in his eyes. We're dead, I think. I've got Astrid into trouble. Help me, Thor. I avoid his eyes. "Aww, son!" He smiles wider, teasing me. He nods towards Astrid. I blush.

"Dad, I was going to say hi later!" I say quickly, trying to ease the tension.

"It's okay I just wanted to find you."

I hear Astrid yawn on my shoulder. Her eyes flutter open, "good morning, Hiccup!" She whispers, kissing me on the cheek.

"Good morning," I whisper shyly. I nudge my shoulder a bit and Astrid looks up to see my father.

"Good morning, Astrid!" He laughs out loud. She jumps and stands up, shocked and embarrassed.

"Hi cheif! Her voice hushed.

I stand up and stretch. I greet my father properly, I hold my hand out to shake his but instead, he pulls me into a very tight hug.

"Dad can't breathe."

"Oh, right!" He says letting go.

I look at Astrid, she stuffs the now folded blanket into the bag attached to Toothless. This is so awkward and I bet she feels the awkwardness to. She rests her back on Stormfly, looking back at my father and myself with a shy smile. I hold a finger up to my father as if to say hold on. I walk up to her tangling my fingers into hers, "how about you go on home and freshen up, feed Stormfly and I'll see you in the Great Hall?" I ask sweetly. "I'm sorry about..." I nudge my head backwards implying my dad.

"It's okay!" She grins, "I'll see you in the Great Hall!" She nods her head to my father politely. She embraces me,

"See you in a little while."

She mounts Stormfly and takes off.

I wish my father hadn't come to the Cove. I planned to tell Astrid everything about my trip, before anyone else. There's no such things as perfect moments, are there? They're always disrupted.

"Right!" My father claps his hands, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Can I have a ride back?"

"Sure," I say mounting Toothless. My father follows me, "erm.. Dad?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry I didn't say hi as soon as I arrived." He taps my arm quite hard. I place my feet into place in the petals and pat Toothless' head, he awaits instructions.

"Oh! Son," Stoick places his hands on my shoulders, "it's good to have you back!"

"Thanks, dad!"

And we take off.

I open the large doors to the Great Hall, leaving my father and Toothless at home.

"IT'S HICCUP!" Someone shouts over the breakfast tables. I'm immediately bombarded by a large group of people. I can't move.

"What did you find?"

"Is there any new dragons out there?"

"When did you get back?"

"You look diff'rent!"

"Can you tell us what you've found?"

I hold my hands up, "woah, woah! Guys I'll answer all your questions later!" Faces turned dramatically from excitement to disappointment. The crowd go back to their tables and return to how they were before I came in. I feel bad not answering their questions, they will be truly enlightened; but my dad has irritated me. On the journey home he just wouldn't shut up. So, I just told him everything. I showed him my new hand drawn map of the developing world. (The map from HTTYD2 but not as big!) He asked so many inappropriate questions and I had no choice but to answer them.

I rub my swore throat. I let him study the map and my book full of notes and drawings back at home to give me some peace. It has just put me in a mood- why is my father so impatient? All I can think about right now is food.

My stomach keeps demanding food. I clutch my stomach as it demonstrates a whale's mating call. I stack my plate high with bread, chicken and an apple. I've missed the traditional Berk baked bread! I sit alone on the table, myself and the gang always sit at. It's good to be alone though, especially giving my voice a break!

"Hey, Hiccup! Ruffnut says in her creepy voice joining me on the table. Her plate stacked with chicken legs- her favourite! Tuffnut follows and sits next to his slightly older sister,

"Hello, fishbone!" He laughs meanly.

Ruff nudges him. Hard. "He doesn't look like a fishbone anymore!" She rests her massive head on her hand, admiring me. I avoid eye contact. I continue eating not saying anything.

"Shut up!" Tuff spits. In response Ruff delivered a painful looking head but! I cringe slightly. Oww! That must have hurt a lot! I think.

Then, Snotlout makes an appearance together with Fishlegs. I greet them politely, "hi guys!"

"Hey," Fishlegs says sitting next to me. On the other hand, Snotlout stays silent and stuffs his face full of food.

When Astrid finally arrives, I jump up leaving mid-conversation with the gang, "hello m'lady!" I say, considering whether I should hug her; or would she find it to uncomfortable? "I'm sorry about my dad!" I say, deciding that I shouldn't hug her right now.

"Oh it's fine! How was the journey back?" We walk towards the table,

"He didn't shut up!" I say laughing. She laughs too. I accompany her to the table and insist that I get her breakfast.

"Thank you!" She says as I place her favourite foods in front of her. I sit down next to her. Our arms touch. I naturally rest my arm around her waist. The closeness sends a bold of lightning up my spine. It's as if the last piece of me connects and finishes the complex puzzle. I am not complete when she is not around me. I squeeze her gently. But I can tell that she feels a little uncomfortable at the gesture. Fearless Astrid, scared of showing affection because she believes that affection portrays weakness and vulnerability. However, she doesn't move my hand. She just continues to eat and talks to Ruffnut and Fishlegs. Snotlout and Tuff argue about something I'd rather not got involved with. I sip some Yak milk, finishing the last drop in my cup. Mmm...

"You two are so adorable!" Ruffnut says sweetly, again resting her head in her hand, smiling wide.

"Er, no they're not! They're disgusting!" Tuff interrupts, automatically ending the argument with Snotlout.

"No, it's cute!" Ruffnut says sternly, hitting her brother around the face hard enough to make him fall to the floor.

"Wow! Ruff! Violence isn't the answer!" I laugh.

"It is with my brother Haddock!" She shouts over her brother whining, "Oh, shut up!"

"You go girl!" Astrid cheers, finally finishing her meal. I kiss her cheek.

"Aww you two!" Fishlegs says in a high pitched voice. My cheeks heat up, and I see Astrid's cheeks rosen. I wriggle closer to her side.

"Come on guys! We had enough of you two yesterday!" Snotlout laughs. Ruff connects her fist with his shoulder.

"Just because you're jealous!" She mocks.

"No! You are!" Tuffnut bashes his head with his sister and they collide and stumble to the floor to wrestle... Again.

"Ruff is jealous!" Snotlout whispers to us. I laugh. I'm sure all of them are jealous! I'm with Astrid Hofferson! My attention swoops to Astrid's face, she's frowning slightly.

"What's wrong?" I whisper tenderly into her ear.

"Nothing!" Her face bursts into a smile, "hey guys!" She says louder addressing the rest of the gang. They all stare at her, even the twins half way through finishing each other off. "Shall we introduce Hiccup to..." She trails off and coughs- implying something. I take my arm away from her, curious.

"Yeah!" Fishlegs says hyperactivly. Astrid grabs my hand and carelessly drags me out of the Great Hall. The rest of the gang cheer and run as fast as they can down the stairs to the plaza.

"HOOKFANG!"

"STORMFLY!"

"MEATLUG!"

"BARF!"

"What's happening?" Tuffnut says in a dumb voice, "why are we calling our dragons?" He pauses with an intense look in his eyes, "wait! I know what we're doing!" He slaps himself. "Dragon ra-"

"Shut up, Tuff!" Astrid shouts! "Call for Toothless! You're going to need him!" She winks. "Snotlout, get Gobber!" She instructs shooing him away. "Fly to the academy!"

I stand stroking Toothless' nose at the Academy as no one has told me what we're doing. "Here!" Astrid taps me on the back, she holds three cups of something I can't identify, "close your eyes!" She says softly and I obediently close my eyes. Her fingers brush across my cheeks.

"What is it?"

"Paint."

She paints four lines in total across my face. I open my eyes to see Astrid's face creatively decorated in a ablaze orange and a mellow blue. Wow!

"Care to enlighten me about what we're doing!" I ask.

"Nope!" She smirks, "take this!" She hands me the red paint, "paint some patterns on Toothless." She runs to Stormfly before I can question her.

"Alight Bud! Where do you want the paint?" I ask. He holds up his wings and bucks his head. I artistically paint basic but effective colours on his forehead and wings.

"Err Hiccup! Just cover him in paint!" Snotlout calls from a few yards away. I sigh. I paint around his legs and feet and his tail. There, that should do it! I think dropping the paint, not caring if it goes everywhere.

"Gather 'round," Gobber conveys. We waves us into a semicircle, "for Hiccup's benefit, I'll run throw the instructions."

"Argh!" Tuff says flopping onto his back.

"Meh!" Gobber says ignoring Tuff. I listen carefully. "Dragon Racing!" Ooo... Sounds good already! "All the dragons will line up behind the starting line 'til I blow the horn. You'll do 10 laps in total, 'round the village seeking out the sheeps' with painted targets on them," He pauses to breathe. "Your job is to find the sheep, hold on to it 'til you come back here and throw them into those nets with your dragons' face on it." He points to the 5 large nets behind him. "But remember, you can snatch the sheep off each other as you fly around the course," his face pops as he remembers something, "don't worry Hiccup the course is clear. Follow the weather vanes. You need to be quick and light on your feet. But keep it clean. We don't want another rider getting injured!" Gobber stares at Fishlegs in particular. "Each white sheep is worth 3 points. The black sheep that signalizes the final lap is worth 10 points and that will be catapulted so be aware!" He inhales deeply. "The rider or riders with the most points wins."

Sounds easy, I think feeling overly confident, "do you understand, Hiccup?"

"Yeah!"

"Okay, good! Ready!" All the dragons line up.

"we can do this, Bud!" I whisper into Toothless' ear.

"Hey, Hiccup!" I stare at Snotlout, "get ready to lose!" He laughs. I give him evils. As if Hiccup Horrendous the third will lose to his petty cousin.

"Get ready!" Gobber stands on a platform in front of a huge horn. I push on the petals and inflate Toothless' tail.

The horn sounds.

Toothless storms away from the start line at the academy. I keep my eyes peeled to the ground.

There!

I lead Toothless to the ground just outside the Great Hall. Toothless grabs the brightly coloured sheep from the terrified pack. Then, the Night Fury reaches great speed.

BASH! Stormfly swoops in from above, snatching the sheep from Toothless' grip. "Ha ha!" Astrid sticks her tongue out. She leads Stormfly away. I smile.

"We can do this Bud!" I step on the petals harder.

Now, underneath of Stormfly I grab the sheep and hold it on my lap, "GO!" I shout. Toothless reaches even greater speed. "Thank you!" I call out smiling at a really shocked Astrid.

I cross the line, throwing the sheep into my net.

"3 points to Hiccup!" Gobber shouts to the growing crowd.

The next two laps go to Astrid.

Then, Fishlegs.

Fifth lap goes to me!

Then Ruff and Tuff because Snotlout threw it to Ruff.

Then Astrid again.

"Another 3 points to Hiccup!"

A louder horn sounds. "Last lap!" We race across the line. There! I see a loaded catapult and the sleep is released! "Go Toothless!" I laugh! This is really fun.

To my disappointment, Meatlug catches the jet black sheep- coming out of no where.

"Woo!" He cheers.

"Err don't cheer too soon!" Tuffnut mocks snatching it from Meatlug's grip. Toothless and I hold back waiting for the right moment to pounce.

"Ha ha! Yeah the black sheep!" Ruff calls, trying to take it for her brother. Barf and Belch race off. And Stormfly flies closely behind them. Astrid jumps up onto her feet. Surfing through the air. I watch her closely hoping she's careful. She jumps onto Barf and Belch's tail and runs along their body, taking the sheep and front flips off to land on Stormfly's back. Impressive.

But not as impressive as this! I change all the petals and detach myself from the saddle. I maneuver my foot so Toothless' tail is automatic.

We venture up. We can do this, we've only done this once before... Okay, it didn't go too well. I ended up with a dislocated shoulder and had to get help from the nearest tribe as an emergency. I have all faith in my Bud this time. We glide in the clouds, only hearing echoes and whispers from the cheering crowd. I fill my lungs with air. I stand on my saddle. Toothless still glides above the clouds. He gives a growl, I look down. When should I jump?

Now.

I jump- falling and falling.

Toothless not far behind me- protecting me if anything goes wrong. I pull out a piece of leather, releasing wings. I rush up with the wind and a quiet scream escapes my lips. I fly uneasily beside my best friends.

When I reach the same height as the other dragons. We sneak up on Stormfly and Astrid. I signalize Toothless to burrow underneath. I hear the other riders cheering and gasping behind me. I fly above Astrid, unsteadily. I smile when she sees me. I take the sheep out of her grasp. Toothless catches me before I can fall to my death.

"Hiccup!" Astrid says shocked.

"Sorry!" I shout, smiling.

I reattach my feet to the petals and Toothless reaches his optimum speed. At this speed the air slaps me fierce in the face. The crowd roar. We cross the line, slamming the sheep into our net.

"HICCUP TAKES THE GAME!" My father cheers loudly.

"Yes! Well done, Bud!" I pat Toothless on the head. I throw my arms in the air! "YES!" I jump off Toothless, landing perfectly onto my feet. I raise my arms again and stand directly in front of the crowd. They jump, scream and chant my name. I reckon most of the village has turned out. I throw a punch into the air. This is great!

A burst of pain explodes on my shoulder. Ow! I turn the see a not so happy Astrid. "Hey!" I hold my shoulder.

"You cheated!" She says, but I could tell there is a smile trying to force its way out of her mouth. She holds up my arms and the 'wings' spread out.

"I don't remember hearing that in the instructions m'lady," I laugh. I fold and tuck them away back into my armour. She growls.

"Okay, well they are impressive!" She smiles. There it is! I embrace her. "Well done! You knocked me right off the leader board!" Astrid whispers into my neck.

The rest of the gang come running and ask my about my wings. But all I say that the suit is just a prototype. (Not as good as his fly suit in HTTYD2! He hasn't got his back fin yet!)

The atmosphere grows across the academy, I see smiles everywhere I look, even on my father's face.

Venturing to the edge of the world was an amazing experience, especially when you travel over seas and islands on the back of your best friend. I wouldn't change anything, but coming back to Berk has taught me something. As I look around to every smiling face, I've never realized how much I've genuinely missed home.

Home.

I look at Astrid, that beautiful smile printed on her face. I don't want to leave her alone, I look at Toothless, he to looks happy. Even if the younger children are climbing all over him. I didn't just come home to be home. I came home for friendship, family and tribe. As much as I would love to share my discoveries with everyone on the island. I just want to be home. This life is the definition of perfect. But this perfect moment will eventually die because time is our greatest enemy. Maybe perfect times do exist! But you have to hold on tight with both hands.

I'm home to be surrounded by people I love; my dad, Astrid and the gang. I couldn't imagine another life. I hold my arms up, spinning around to address the chanting crowd. "Hiccup! Hiccup! Hiccup!" I feel like Odin of Asgard. My smile widens when Toothless bucks his head against my arm. I hug him tightly. And I knew from that small moment, I don't want to leave any time soon- I'm here to stay.

There it is! I hope that was okay! I will probably update every week. I love reading comments so leave a little one;) things will start to get dark and mysterious so stay tuned!;) if you have any ideas, again leave a comment!

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