A.N: The long awaited arrival of the eleventh chapter! I do apologize for the long wait! I do hope none of you have given up on me! :D Please enjoy!
"Oh, and all the things you've dreamed of,
The visions that you saw.
Well the time is drawing near now,
It's yours to claim it all."
Excitement coursed through my veins as I raced out of the Meade Hall, I had just broken away from the group that had gathered around me to ask me questions, or at least stare in awe at me. It was awkward and awesome at the same time. Sneaking my way down the back way, heading outside the village in order to keep from being swarmed again.
'That seems to be happening to me a lot these days.' Peeking around the corner, I made a break for the back of the Blacksmith's shop. I had brought Toothless' flying contraption back to the shop so that I could make some of the final modifications. I was getting closer I knew it! Just a few more tweaks and it will be ready.
Smiling to myself, mostly out of anticipation of actually getting Toothless airborne again, that sensation of flying that I'd had with him was…amazing I dream about it sometimes…what would it be like to actually fly, soar where no man has been yet. To feel that freedom that only birds and anything else with wings can feel.
My eyes look up at the star spotted sky, my thoughts going back to when I had first applied the tail fin. Not a choice position to be…on his tail, but the wind swirling all around me, the weightlessness that I felt, it was incredible! I only had a taste and I can't wait to experience it again, then a scowl pulled at my lips and I rubbed my arms with my hands, 'What must Toothless feel like, to have that taken away from him…' Guilt swirled in my stomach and determination fueled me again.
'I'm getting closer Toothless, it won't be long now.'
-Break-
Taking a deep breath, I pressed my back to the rock as a deep sigh escaped my lips. It was definitely getting closer, it was staying open and allowed us the ability to glide without falling; now I just needed to figure out how to it get to adjust so we could bank, turn and flip.
Eying the piece, I took my little tool kit; that I'd made so that I can work on it out here instead of lugging it back and forth, and pulled out a hammer and a couple other tools to work with. It seemed that it just needed a little more work. Movement in the corner of my eyes caught my attention as Toothless had come down and laid beside me. Sighing I moved so that I was in front of him and leaned down against the warmed scaled body that I'd become accustomed too.
"Well it seems that it won't be long now bud!" I grinned at him. "Just gotta do a little more adjustment, and then soon we'll be airborne!"
He huffed, shook his head and nudged my arm with his tail. I scowled at the dragon as he nudged my arm again.
"Okay, okay I know I keep saying that, but this time…it's for certain. You noticed how we glided instead if falling? It has to do with all the modifications that I'm working on!"
Toothless made a groaning noise and flicked his wings slightly knocking me in the back of the head, and snorted. Thinning my lips as I rubbed the back of my head and I glared at the dragon. I could swear the dragon looked at me as if he were giving me a 'come on' look.
"Yes, yes I know gliding and flying are both very different, but it's close…" I looked down at the contraption, chewed on my lower lip as I idly swung the hammer. "I'm trying Toothless; it's not like…HEY!" Toothless launched himself out from behind me and started to stalk and watch something. "Toothless? What...are you doing?" I stood up and he launched himself further away from me. Pursing my lips, I watched him as he continued watching something.
I twirled the hammer, again and watched him follow the light as if he was stalking prey. A chuckle escaped my lips as I smiled, watching him. I slowly walked behind him making sure to angle the hammer so that it reflected the light and moved it along the ground. Toothless followed it like a cat follows a piece of string.
Biting my lip, I crouched behind a nearby rock and flashed it behind him so that he would spin around and try to bat at the circle of light that somehow eluded him. Wiggling it around I watched as he pounced on it again, then slowly opened his paws seeing if he still had it, I chocked back a laugh as he noticed it flashing ahead of him. He launched him self at it again.
Finally, I couldn't hold it back anymore, I started to laugh. Dropping the hammer, I grabbed my ribs and started laughing. That was just something that I never expected from a Night Fury. Even though he'd done things that I never would have expected from a Night Fury, this was the last, and it was just to hilarious not to laugh at. It was something a pet cat would do or a dog even! Not something, you'd expect a big dragon to do!
When I'd finally caught my breath I realized that the dragon I'd been laughing at was staring at me, looking very not amused. His tail was slowly flipping back and forth, as a pensive cat would do, we stared at each other for while before I got the sudden urge that I should be running. Forcing a nervous smile and chuckle through my lips, I slowly started to back up.
"Come on Toothless, if you were in my shoes you would've laughed too…come on bud, have a sense of humor!"
He snorted at me, and that's when I turned to run, but he was faster. Wrapping his tail around my feet, he picked me up and held me upside down. That was when my heart started beating slightly faster, nervousness flowing through me like bad fish. I should have known that he wouldn't have taken lightly to being laughed at. I've never known such a prideful creature as him.
"Uh…Toothless? You know I was just kidding right? "
His facial expression never changed, he just shook his scaly head at me and started walking with me dangling from his tail.
"Whoa! Hey Toothless, what're you doing? Ah!"
I felt myself sway as he leaped through the trees that were in the valley, walking higher and higher. I swallowed as the ground got farther away from me.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait! Toothless! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Don't…"
Before I could finish, he dropped me on an over hanging branch, which I clung to for dear life. Panting, I watched as he leapt down. "Toothless, this is hardly fair! You're taking this way to personally!" I saw a set of green eyes peer up at me, then I saw him start laughing….or what sounded as close to laughing as a dragon can emit.
"Oh, yes! Ha, ha! Laugh at the frightened human! Brrr." A shiver coursed through me as the wind turned cold. I could feel goose bumps crawl across my now cooling skin. 'Oh, man…how am I gonna get out of this…' I looked around for the nearest branch that I could use to get down. Spotting one, I slowly scooted backward enough so that I could reach my hand down and grasped a hold of it.
Hoisting my self-over to it, I shivered again as the wind brushed up against me. Sitting up, I rubbed my hands on my arms trying to warm myself up enough to keep moving to get down. My eyes scanned for another sturdy branch, and groaned when I found only flimsy ones. Pressing my back to the tree, I curled my legs up to my chest; if I couldn't get down, I would have to find somewhere to sit without the fear of falling down.
Looking around I found a split in the tree where I could sit down. Inching forward, I breathed on my cold fingers and rubbed my palms together. I didn't realize how cold it got up here, looking up and noticed the clouds that covered the sky. 'Of course, why not! I'm stuck in a tree when it's about to rain. What else can go wrong?' I growled at my luck as I crept toward that split, jumping toward it, that was when I was snatched out of the air, by the same tail that put me up there.
I was placed on his back to which I clung, whether for the warmth, or to keep myself from falling I didn't know, it might have been for both. A shudder ran through me one last time, before the warmth surrounded me. When we stopped, I slowly opened my eyes to look at the reptile that was looking at me. I let a deep sigh escape my lips as he crooned at me. I slowly sat up and slipped off his back, his tail pulled me back to him and motioned with his head for me to look. Tilting my head, I noticed a fire that he must have made while I was trapped.
Purring, he nudged me toward it then lay down behind me. Rubbing my arms, I sat in front of him, feeling the warmth of the fire lick my skin. Smiling, I leaned back against him. I heard a whimper escape his throat and I looked back at the dragon who was looking back at me apologetically. That look tugged a smile from my lips, and I reached out and pet him on the top of his head, behind his ear. For some reason I found I couldn't really stay mad at him.
"Ah, don't worry about it bud. You got me back down, and even made me a fire." I looked at him, "All though you're going to have learn to be a little more controlled with your temper." I rubbed behind his ear again and he laid his head on my lap, crooning. "I can understand though, not liking to be laughed at for doing something that's….unusual to everyone else." I stopped petting him as the thoughts of the other children flooded my head, how they'd mocked me for being different.
I felt his head move from my lap, and his eyes on me. Then his tongue flicked on my cheek. I softly laughed as I looked back at the concerned dragon. I grinned as I pet him again. "That was before though bud! No one laughs at me now! It's all thanks to you buddy!" I started scratching his head, and he started purring. He nudged his head further into my abdomen causing me to be pushed against his heated body.
Closing my eyes, I felt content to just lay there against him, completely at ease. Listening to him breathe; feeling the heated fire at my front and his heat at my back. Nothing else mattered, everything was peaceful here. I'd never felt so…so at ease. Opening my eyes, I stared at the fire that danced in front of me. The flames licked and burned the wood beneath it, for some reason it got me thinking about my father.
What would he say if he found out, I was aiding a dragon, not just any dragon…a Night Fury. Pulling my knees to my chest I let out a sigh that seemed to alert Toothless to my uneasiness. His fluorescent green eyes stared at me when I did this. What was I doing, I got so caught up in helping Toothless that I had completely forgotten how this might affect my father…what if he found out, what if Gobber found out, they'd think I was mad, or crazy…they'd realize that I really am…different.
Placing my head in my arms, I groaned softly. It's not really like I can turn back now and I wasn't thinking about giving up on Toothless…it's just…I'd never given any thought to how others would react to him. It's not as if I could keep him hidden forever, what with all this new found fame in my village someone is bound to realize it and follow me, and then what?
I felt a nudge against my elbow and heard a soft crooning noise. I slowly lifted my head and looked at those expressive green eyes, which looked filled with so much concern. I'd never felt so conflicted in my entire life! I couldn't help the tears that fell down my face, I wanted to help Toothless, but I didn't want to let my village down…let my father down. There was nothing I wanted more then for him to be proud of me, and not think of me as a disappointment.
My body shook, and I fell against Toothless' neck. He let out a groan of confusion as I did this. I knew he didn't understand what was going on, what I was doing but I didn't know what else to do. It was then that I felt his arm wrap around me, like a comforting embrace. His head resting gently on the top of mine, purring softly.
"What am I gonna do bud?" I knew he couldn't answer me, but I had to ask. Then I felt the dragon pull his head off mine and that was when I felt his tongue lick my cheek, his version of wiping away the tears I guess. Opening my eyes, I looked up at the dragon, whose green eyes never looked so compassionate, as if he could feel my pain and was trying to console me. I couldn't help but softly laugh as I used my sleeve to wipe the tears from my face.
"Thanks Toothless. I know no matter what, I'll have you by my side." I'd never been more grateful to him. Most of the time I'd have to console myself, but now…I didn't feel like I was so alone anymore. For some reason I knew that Toothless understood me when no one else did. Feeling slightly exhausted, I rested against him again closing my eyes, feeling at ease again. He just had a way of making me feel that way.
-Break-
The next morning was training again, and I was less then enthusiastic about it. I hadn't gotten much sleep last night due to the conflict that continued to rage inside of me. Today we were training with the Terrible Terror and Gobber had us all lined up with shields in front of the door waiting for him to open the door.
I just wanted to get outta here, so that I could go because I wanted to finish the final adjustments to the device that would help Toothless fly again. Running my tongue along my lips, my attention was brought back when Gobbers voice brought me back to Earth.
"Meet, th' Terrible Terror!"
As he pulled the leaver, we all swallowed as the wooden lock was lifted, but instead of the whole door opening, like we were expecting, it just lifted it a couple feet from the ground, and something popped out of the little door etched in the bottom. Out of habit I flinched, but then noticed that it was a small dragon, no taller then the top of my foot.
Apparently, the rest of the group found it unintimidating because I heard Snotlout snort in disbelief and Ruffnut just groan in what sounded like disappointment. In my experiences with Toothless I learned not to be deceived by appearances and wisely stepped out of the way, holding my shield out in front of me just as Tuffnut decided to open his big mouth.
"Ha! That's like the size of my-"
He didn't get to finish because at that moment it launched itself at his face, chomping down on his nose. The rest of us wisely ducked out of the way, then we looked at each other wondering how we should get the dragon off his face before it ate his nose. I know Ruffnut had to be thinking about just reaching in and pulling, but that would risk tearing part of his nose and Thor knows I didn't want that so how are we suppose to…
Then my eyes glanced down as the sun glinted off the metal piece in the middle of the shield. That's when it hit me, of course! A smile flitted to my lips as I hunched down and reflected the sun so that it would catch the Terror's attention. Luckily for me, it did, and he; just like Toothless, followed it. Tuffnut instantly grabbed his face and rolled away screaming that he was very hurt.
Wiggling the light so that the Terror followed it, unknowingly following it straight to its cage. As soon as he scurried under the door, I placed my foot against the door to keep it from coming out again. Biting my lip, I looked up to see the others staring at me again. There was one set of eyes that I noticed in particular, Astrids'. There was so much anger in them that it took me a back a bit. Thinning her lips she chucked her shield at my feet and stormed out while everyone else surrounded me.
'That's not exactly the look I was hoping to get from her. The one person I thought this would impress I've only managed to tick off…great. Now she can't stand me! Maybe I should just back off.'
I felt a few slaps on the back, and few amazed words but brushed them off as I felt compelled to chase her. Running toward where she stalked off too. The only problem with that was when I got to the entrance she was already gone. Sighing, I looked at the ground. I'd managed to impress everyone but her, I wonder why she got so angry it's not like I'd meant to get better…in all reality I didn't I just had a small ace up my sleeve.
Shaking my head, I'd made the solemn vow that I would try my best to not try my best anymore. Astrid had to be at the top, and if that's what it took to make her happy then that's what I'll do, besides she handled all the glory and praises better then I did anyway…she deserved it too.
Speaking of people deserving things, I think that it's time that Toothless finally got what he deserves. Running to the shop, I'd amazingly managed to slip in without getting stopped. Grabbing the device that, I felt, was more then ready…I still would have to do some more testing, but I knew it was ready. Excitement coursed through me like the day I'd finished the tail fin…only multiplied by like ten. Eagerly slipping into my vest I used the back to sneak out and made a bee line for the forest.
It wasn't a route that I normally took, but I still had a pathway to Toothless, I figured that it was easier then going from the shop, to my house then straight to Toothless Hideaway. So weeding my way through the brush, I hadn't gotten more then halfway there when heard a voice followed by a light thudding sound, like something was being chucked. Getting closer I crouched down and pulled back a bush and saw a flash of blond.
'Astrid? So this is where she went.'
"Where does HE get off? 'He's better then you ever were' No one is better then I am! No ONE!" With each grunt of effort she chucked the axe into a nearby tree. I started to feel bad for the tree, she really was upset about my sudden successes.
"I am the BEST! I HAVE to be the best!" This really meant a lot to her, biting my lip, I knew that this was something I had to give her. She was gonna win the privilege of killing the Monstrous Nightmare. After solidifying my silent promise to her, I tried to sneak while her back was turned to keep the other promise that I'd made, but no further had I gotten from behind the bush that she swiftly and gracefully flipped around, summer salted and poised read to throw her axe again when we both froze and our eyes met.
'Oh man, if I could be invisible right now, that would be…more then amazing!' My heart jumping into my throat as she saw it was me and gave me once over and then gave me a curious look. Not wanting to risk a barrage of questions, I ran as fast as I could away from her.
"Stop right there! Hiccup, come back here!" I started to sprint as I heard her call out to me.
'Sorry Astrid! Not right now!'
I ducked back into the brush and where I knew the cover of the trees hid me. After not hearing her footsteps behind me I started to slow. Pausing to catch my breath, I pressed my back to a nearby tree.
"Hiccup!" Squeezing my eyes shut, I got up and started moving again. I knew it wasn't safe here, I knew that she'd give up eventually. I knew that she had better things to do then hunt the forest for me. Sneaking down to the lake, I set the flying contraption down, picked up my fishing pole, and began to catch fish for Toothless, I'm more then sure he was hungry now.
-Break-
My hands were shaking so bad from the adrenaline that rushed through me. This was it, the final test to make sure that I could finally get Toothless air borne. Grinning to my self as I attached the last strap I stood up and looked at Toothless and the look he had matched my anticipation, probably more due to the fact that we had one final test before we could actually fly.
"Okay bud, this is it. The final step before we actually take to the skies." He shook his head and licked my face, before leaping around in excitement. Laughing I tried to catch up with the ecstatic dragon. "Toothless calm down and let me WHOA!" Grabbing me around the waist with his tail, he practically threw me on his back.
I couldn't blame him, I was ready for this too. "All right buddy, remember what we're doing!" I patted the left side of his neck and groaning he took off. Grabbing a hold of the handle, I pressed my self to his back letting him spread his wings and get lift. After I didn't feel him running anymore, I flicked my ankle and heard the tail fin pop out, and just like when I first attached it, he shot upward.
As we neared the top, my heart hammered into my chest hoping upon hope that he'd make it. As we cleared it I couldn't help but whoop as we glided above the trees. At the moment we were merely gliding, but getting this far was an accomplishment and I couldn't wait to get farther, but I had to test to make sure that the tail fin was functioning properly, which meant I had to figure out what flick of the tail did what.
Looking for a good place to land, My heart leaped as I found the perfect spot. A ledge that over hung the ocean and lead out into a beautiful sunset. Grinning I tilted the dragon to the left and brought him down on it. Twitching my foot again, I closed the flap and we landed. I heard a slight whimper from the dragon as he hit the ground. Jumping off him, I reached into the pack I'd brought and pulled out a steak, a hammer and rope.
Hissing, he reared back at the sight of the rope. I glanced back at the offended dragon. Sighing, I dropped the items I'd held and walked over to him. Growling, his green eyes asking me what I was doing.
"Come on Toothless, we need to fully test it first. Without knowing what each flick of my ankle does I don't know what'll happen…" I slowly reached my hand out to touch him. He backed away from me and for the first time in awhile, he bared his teeth at me. I slowly crouched down in front of him and held my hand where it was. "I won't tie you up in it bud, I promise. I just want to try to get you flying again…please boy. You're gonna have to trust me. Trust me…Toothless."
I held my hand out to the skeptical dragon, not saying anything, just holding my hand out waiting for him to growl at me and bound away, now that he was out of the valley he didn't really need me anymore so he was definitely free to leave. It was that or lean against my hand and show me that he trusted me. Heart pounding in my chest as his anger slowly disappeared and he seemed to loosen up a little before slowly walking forward, but instead of leaning against my hand he walked right by me, picked up the rope and brought it over to me where he then dropped it in my hand. Snorting at me as he tapped the steak into the ground, and he embeds it before I could say anything. Staring awestruck at the dragon that was now looking at me, obviously waiting for me to do something.
"Toothless, I…I don't know what to…" Huffing again he jerked his head toward the steak and turned his back to me then slowly tilted his head to look back at me as if to say, 'waiting on you now'. Grinning I ran beside him and tied the rope to the steak, then around the metal clasp on his collar then without another word from him I leaped on his back and he crouched, readying himself, waiting for my command.
-Break-
After what seemed like hours, we'd finally figured out what we needed to go up, down, left, right and what angle to turn for a soft landing. We were testing them all out again when after we took off, the wind started blowing stronger then it was before, and after all the use we'd put it through I heard the rope snap and without the rope holding us there, we both flew back into the woods.
I felt us go through a couple of branches before I was knocked off and fell to the ground, hard. Groaning, I tried to stand up, but before I could move I felt my waist get yanked up. I let out a slight gasp if surprise, knowing I wasn't gonna like what I saw, but I looked anyway.
"Oh, man…" I was right, one of the metal clasps had been bent all the way forward closing it in on the one attached to my vest, reaching up I tugged on it one way, then another, solidifying my belief. "Oh, great…" Standing up I dusted the dirt and twigs off my vest and felt a sharp pain shoot up my left arm.
"Argh!" Grabbing where the pain came from, I felt a wet substance on my hand pulling it back I groaned as I saw my own blood on my fingers. "My luck…this just keeps getting better and better." I checked myself for more injures, and, of course, I had several scrapes and bruises on my legs, arms, and one on my face. Nothing to worry about though, all though I knew I had to get them taken care of immediately. Knowing I wasn't the only one who was hurt I looked over at Toothless, noticing some scrapes on him as well, I'd have to tend to him too.
Then a thought hit me like cold water, all of my tools were back in the village. How was I gonna do this? I couldn't exactly drag a dragon into the village! Cursing my luck I slumped against Toothless who sniffed at me, noticing the cut on my arm and my green shirt that now had blood stains on it.
"Oh don't worry I'm fine Toothless…I'm just worried about how we're gonna fix this problem." I tugged at the chain that showed we were attached. He nodded like he understood that this wasn't a good thing. Sighing, I rubbed my hand down my face and went over how we were gonna do this. Placing my folded hands over my lips I sat there considering out options. Closing my eyes, I wrestled with just taking my vest off, but Toothless couldn't walk around with a vest dangling by his legs, no I would have to do something that is probably the worst idea I've ever had.
Swallowing I stood and looked at him, "Okay Toothless we are going to my village, but you HAVE to follow me and move when I say you can okay…I know you don't like taking orders, but if someone finds me attached to you…it won't be too good. Please, please, PLEASE follow me." I looked in his eyes to see an okay, lightly licking my face he then nudged my arm. Taking a deep breath, I nodded still feeling slightly ill.
"We'll go after the sun goes down, that's when everyone goes inside the Meade Hall for dinner, hardly anyone will be there."
Wait we did, I was hardly looking forward to sneaking Toothless into a village of dragon hating people who will kill on sight. Not to mention when the see me attached to him, they aren't very forgiving. Still, I had to detach myself from him, so on shaky legs I hopped on him after dark fell, and we took off. Navigating him to just outside of the village. Leaping off him, I walked in front of him and pressed my back to the nearest houses' wall. Heart pounding so hard in my chest I could swear the entire village could hear it.
Inching forward, I peeked around the corner and noticed a guard coming up on my left. Toothless nudged my back, probably to get me moving, or wondering why I'd stopped, either way it pushed me into the sight of the guard. Reacting quickly I leaned against the house and waved to him, he smiled at me and nodded.
"Hiccup." Then went on his way, I waited until he was well a ways away before I started moving. Relief washed over me as I saw the shop was empty, that meant that Gobber wasn't working late today, but as I moved to walk toward the shop I came to an abrupt halt when the leather strap became taut and refused to move. So I quickly spun around to see Toothless eying the guard a couple yards away.
Grabbing the rope, I furiously yanked on it glaring at the dragon as he turned to face me. "Focus Toothless!" I hissed. "Come on." I quietly crept toward the shop and was once again relieved when we got in with out further incident. Now all I had to was to find a tool flat enough to wedge under the hook to try and pry it loose.
As I found one, I heard a loud crash and turned around to see Toothless had chucked a basket into the corner of useless tools. "Toothless!" I hissed again, that dragon was gonna give me a heart attack, I suppose I wasn't going to stop freaking out until we got safely out of the village. Something about being in dragon hating village attached to a dragon seems to unnerve one. Sighing I stalked over to the dragon and found his collar and wedged the tool under it grumbling lightly under my breath.
"You're just not gonna rest until I have a heart attack, making all this noise you can ever since we came here, after I strictly told you not to. Do you ever listen to me? I swear you're like a petulant child." He snorted and laid down, turning away from me. I could hardly feel bad, he could have called attention to us.
"Hiccup?" Like that.
I froze as I recognized the smooth voice that broke through my rant, 'Oh no…Astrid!' Toothless seemed to recognize me fear, and he nudged me toward the window.
"Are you in there?"
Oh, gods her voice was closer this time, working on pure instinct I launched myself out of the window and immediately slammed the doors shut behind me. Heart pounding in my chest, I forced my best smile.
"Hey Astrid, hi Astrid, hey Astrid, hi…Astrid!" She crossed her arms, looked at me, quirking a brow at my appearence and held a look as if I had just sprouted wings, and spoke a different language. Then shaking the look off she glared at me, jabbing her finger at me.
"Normally I don't care what people do, but you've been acting weird."
"Weird, who me? Nah…I haven't been…oof!" before I could finish I felt a sharp tug yank me back, forcing smile on my face I chuckled sheepishly trying to make it look like it was something that I'd meant to do. Pulling back she recoiled and wrinkled her perfect nose at me, before clearing her throat and putting a placid look on her porcelain face.
"Well, weirder!"
I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything I felt another tug and that's, with horror, I noticed that my feet had left the ground and the force with which Toothless was tugging caused me to lift off the ground a good couple of feet. The look on Astrids' face was nothing more then shock and maybe fear. That was the last that I saw of her as I was yanked full force through the window, and luckily enough Toothless caught me and threw me on his back that gave me whiplash, but I knew we had to move so in the next second we were well away from the shop and gliding again.
I didn't think that I was ever going to swallow my heart again. Pressing my face against Toothless' neck I tried to calm my self down. I brought my focus back to flick my foot so that I could let us land. When we did, I slid off Toothless and collapsed. I still hadn't gotten my legs to quit shaking. Astrid probably doesn't know what to think. The look on her face was, horror. Groaning I didn't exactly know how I was going to end up explaining this one to her.
"Oh, man I am in so much trouble now."