Byyyy the way- for any Portal/Portal 2 fans out there- yes, that is where I got my idea for Toothless' "I used to want you dead but now I only want you gone" thing. I thought it'd be completely wrong for Toothless to forgive him and act like nothing happened, but I thought this way everyone would be happy. Hate in moderation. Don't own Portal or Portal 2 or that song, by the way. I think the name of it is "Want You Gone," But I don't remember. I know it's by Jonathan Coulton though.
When he'd finished breakfast, Hiccup decided to make a little detour while Astrid and Fishlegs were in charge of class. After all, how much trouble could the children possibly get into while listening to Fishlegs go on and on about the Gronckle's nature? He made his way to the dragon nip patch where he'd asked Astrid to take the Monstrous Nightmare from the Isle of Night, and found that he was, sure enough, still rolling around blissfully in the grass- though he did look like he'd lost some weight. "Hey buddy, how's that dragon nip treatin ya?" He asked, approaching the dragon, who snapped to attention at the sound of Hiccup's voice.
"This is most excellent, I don't know how I can ever repay you for all this-" He began rolling anew, "My only complaint is that there's no food here."
"Well, this is an island, it's not hard to find water to fish in," The boy pointed out, taking a seat.
"But I might lose my way back!" The dragon reminded.
Hiccup blinked, trying to figure out why this would be such a problem. If nothing else, he could always just go looking for Hiccup to ask for directions- the town of Berk itself was not hard to find by any means, especially from the air. Shaking the thoughts out of his mind, he said, "Well never mind that now, I have a favor to ask you. If you help me, I'll show you the way to easy food and back, and you can ask me any time you get lost."
The Monstrous Nightmare perked at this, "I'm listening,"
"Alright, well, first of all, do you know what the dragons did with the Outcasts?" He questioned.
"Brought them back to their island, of course," The Nightmare replied, "Despite what you humans think of us, we're not the bloodthirsty monsters you mark us for. No dragon in their right mind would go out of their way to kill a human."
Hiccup smiled a bit at this, "Right, I know. I know dragons aren't like most people think they are, but... I just needed to know where they are. The problem is, the Outcasts are familiar with our dragons. If they see one of ours land, they'll launch an attack... But you are a wild dragon initially from Outcast Island in the first place, so you might not raise suspicions. Just stay with them for a few days, let the other dragons know that Night Furies are going to attack the island either tomorrow night or the night after, ward them so they can stay out of the way. We won't be aiming for them, but the Outcasts might try to use them as shields. They're not above that."
The Nightmare eyed him curiously, "Just what is it you're planning, boy?"
"Something crazy, stupid, and dangerous. If anything goes wrong, even a little bit, it could mean the destruction of this entire island, or worse, the human race as we know it. And they probably won't stop with just the humans, either." Hiccup heaved a sigh and got to his feet.
"And if it goes well? What's in it for you, then?" The Nightmare questioned.
With a small, forced smile, Hiccup replied, "Well, it's the same outcome if we don't do anything at all... I've seen what enraged Night Furies are capable of, and I don't know how far they'll go to get their revenge... So can I count on you to give them that message?"
"I don't see why you should care," The Nightmare murmured thoughtfully.
"Because I don't like senseless violence, either," The boy said, "And because when our raid is over, I'm going to need you to get every last detail of their plan of attack. Our plan is to frame the wild Night Furies by attacking with only Night Furies. Their attacks are fast, accurate, and distinctive. It'd be hard for them to tell where the shots are even coming from in the chaos, so if they assume it was the Night Furies, they'll launch another attack on the Isle of Night. We'll need every single detail of what that plan is so we can intercept them, saving the day for the Night Furies, who will hopefully, in return, not kill us."
"Well, it sounds interesting enough... And I must say, you do know how to make a deal appetizing. Very well, I will help you again, but do not forget our deal." With this, the Nightmare took off, fumbling for a moment as he struggled to remember how to fly in his dragon-nip fogged state of mind, before he finally managed to level out.
After watching the dragon leave, Hiccup heaved a sigh, "Alright... Two nights... We can do this." With this bit of self-encouragement, he raced off to the training arena where several very impatient teens, and even more impatient children, were listening to Fishlegs babble on about Meatlug's parenting skills. "Ah, Fishlegs? Maybe you could stick to what applies to all Gronckles, not just Meatlug?" Hiccup suggested as he entered the arena.
Sky and Toothless raced to greet him, "Please shut him up, he won't stop going on about her- even Meatlug's embarrassed by it!" Toothless begged, nuzzling Hiccup. He paused for a second, then went around behind him, sniffing his behind.
"Toothless!" Hiccup tried to bat the dragon away, blushing furiously and attracting the attention of everyone in the room, but instead of stopping, Toothless rubbed his face against Hiccup's butt, making the situation even more awkward. "Toothless, cut it out!" Hiccup demanded, turning around and taking a few steps back.
"You smell like dragon nip." Toothless accused, padding closer.
"Ah, right, he- he probably smells dragon nip on my pants..." Hiccup translated in a way that made it sound like he'd figured it out himself, "I was, ah, checking on a guest of ours who's been rolling around in the stuff for days. Must've rubbed off on me when I sat down. Moving on! Nothing to see here!" He managed to get his back against the wall of the arena, preventing any further butt-sniffing embarrassment, and Astrid sidled over to him while Fishlegs began rambling again.
In a low voice she asked, "Well? What did he say?"
"He said he'd do it. We've got two days to launch our attack." Hiccup replied, "He said all the Outcasts should be safe on Outcast Island, and..." He averted his gaze, "My father's in on this plan, too. He made me tell him everything last night."
Astrid winced, knowing how well Stoick took news like this, "How did it go?"
"Surprisingly well, actually," Hiccup replied, his spirits lifting again, "I mean he was skeptical at first, but then he asked me to ask Toothless what he thought of the plan and, well, after he saw the two of us talking, I think he was able to accept it. He told me not to tell anyone else I can do it, though... But I guess that really depends on how well Fishlegs does keeping his mouth shut. So far, not so good."
"I'm really sorry about that," Astrid said reassuringly.
"Well, it all worked out for the best. In the meantime..." He turned to look at Sky and Toothless, who had followed him, "What are we gonna do with you?"
Astrid gasped. "Oh my gods! Your eye!" She was clearly trying to keep her voice down, but wasn't doing a very good job at it, "I hadn't seen it up close before... Oh, you poor thing!" She knelt down to examine the wound, at which Sky growled and backed away.
"Just remember he's still a wild dragon, Astrid. I don't think he really wants us touching him more than we have to..." He moved to examine the wound before adding, "But we really should put together an ointment to keep it from getting infected, at least."
"I'm fine," Sky mumbled, lowering his head shamefully, "I got what I deserved."
"And there's that Night Fury pride thing..." He straightened up again and looked to Astrid, "Anyway, I'm going to have to make him a new tail fin before we go-"
"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" Astrid prodded, "I mean, he tried to run the last time, right?"
Hiccup gestured to the dragon, "Seriously, Astrid? I think he may have learned his lesson... I wasn't so sure about it either, but, well... Toothless knows him better than any of us, and if he says it's okay, then it's okay with me."
"You could just wait to give it to me until we're ready to go. If it's like the last one, it's not hard to get a hang of using it, so I'll be alright," Sky surprised everyone by suggesting this himself, "Or... Or make me one like Toothless', one that I'd need a rider to use."
"But then we'd need to find you a rider in time. It takes too long to learn the controls, I know from experience." Hiccup murmured, "But the fact that you're suggesting it at all is an amazing improvement, Sky. I'm impressed, but I think, just to be sure, we will do that. Just wait until it's time to go, if you think you'll be alright with it."
The sapphire dragon bowed his head respectfully, and then Toothless did something perhaps even more surprising. He wandered over to Sky and licked the gash his forehead, far too high up for Sky to reach with his own tongue... And Sky allowed it. "There." Toothless said when he'd finished, stepping back to admire his handiwork, "That should help. You weren't able to reach that one, were you?"
"No, I wasn't... Thank you." Sky uttered submissively, while the humans just stared on in awe.
"Good. Don't get used to it. That was just a reward for good behavior." With this said, the smaller Night Fury turned tail and stalked off.
"Oh, good, I thought Toothless was coming down with something for a second there." Hiccup muttered.
"What just happened?" Astrid wondered aloud, looking back and forth between the two Night Furies.
Hiccup shrugged, "Toothless rewarded him for good behavior, apparently. I think he heard us talking about making an ointment and decided to do something about it himself, since Sky can't reach up there."
"Weird." The girl commented, folding her arms across her chest.
"Tell me about it." Hiccup agreed, then, suddenly, he noticed something. "Where's Koda?"
"Oh, she's..." Astrid pointed to Sissel, who was rocking Sky as a normal child might rock a doll in her arms, trying to force-feed the poor thing eel.
Hiccup winced, "Poor Koda..." He then turned back to Astrid and asked, "Anyway, you think you can take care of things here? I want to get Sky's tail done, I'm hoping to get this over with tomorrow night."
"Tomorrow?!" Astrid was taken aback by this, "That's way too soon, Hiccup!"
"We're running out of time!" The boy reminded as patiently as he could, "We're running out of time, and things with the dragons here on Berk are getting completely out-of-hand. I say we just get this over with before anything else has a chance to go wrong."
Astrid eyed him, almost as if sizing him up, before finally saying, "I hope you know what you're doing."
"I hope so, too." Hiccup agreed, and, with this, he turned to Sky, "I should probably take you with just in case trouble starts..." He then remembered Toothless' jealousy issues and glanced over his shoulder, "Toothless? You comin', bud?"
Toothless looked at Hiccup, then Sky, then trailed his gaze over to Koda, "Will she be alright by herself?"
"No! I assure you I will not be alright in the slight-aaaugh! YUCK! PTOO!" Koda had tried to ask for help, but unfortunately, in opening her mouth, Sissel was able to slip the eel's head into her mouth.
"I sympathize, Koda," Hiccup mumbled under his breath, "I can't get to her without making a scene, Astrid, could you bring her by the smithy when class lets out?" Astrid nodded curtly, and Hiccup led the Night Furies out of the arena.
Most of the way to the smithy, they heard Koda begging for help, then screaming in terror as more eel was fed to her, "Poor thing," Toothless muttered to himself.
"She'll live," Hiccup decided as they finally made it to the stall, "Actually, Sky, if you want, you can go back to the stables and rest for a while. I know it was a long night for you, and tomorrow won't be much better."
Sky hesitated. It was obvious he was tired, but... "Go ahead, it's fine. Rest will help you heal." Toothless stated, and at this, Sky murmured a thank you before rushing off. Toothless blinked, surprised, "Hiccup, did you see that?! He was waiting for me to tell him it was okay!"
"Yeah?" Hiccup, who was already busily working, was trying his best to sound interested in the conversation. It wasn't that he didn't care, he was just busy.
"Yeah, and earlier, at breakfast, he was missing, and when I asked where he was, he came running out and said he was waiting for me, and "Alpha always eats first." It's just like he would act with dad back home! Toothless enthused, forcing his way into the stall, knocking things over in the process.
"Well I imagine he's grateful for last night," Hiccup pointed out, far less enthusiastic about all this than Toothless was, He knew it was probably hurting Toothless' feelings, and he felt bad for that, but, "I'm sorry, buddy, it's not that I don't care- I'm happy for you, I really am, but I need to concentrate here."
Toothless pawed at the ground, "I understand,"
Hiccup was unconvinced. He suddenly dropped everything and turned to look at his dragon. Kneeling to Toothless' level, he grabbed the sides of the Night Fury's face and said, "You do a much better job filling the role of alpha than your father, and I'm really, really proud of how you're handling yourself. You have no idea how grateful I am, and lucky I have you... I'm sorry I'm being distant, I'm just really stressed about everything that's going on and I want it to go perfectly, so... I promise, when all this is over, we'll go do something fun together, just the two of us- like a vacation. We can go check on those frozen Vikings."
"Maybe the Ice Gronckle froze some fish?" Toothless murmured, his ears perking a bit at his own suggestion, "Frozen cod... Icelandic Cod on Ice... Wonder what that would be like?"
"Yeah, see? That's the spirit," Hiccup grinned and scratched the back of Toothless' head, "Okay? It's a promise, when all this is over, we'll have some time together, just you and me, and we can talk as much as you want."
"Alright," Toothless agreed, seeming satisfied with this. He backed out of the stall, then paused just as Hiccup turned around to get back to work. "Hey, Hiccup?"
"Yeah, buddy?"
"I'd prefer going back to the cove."
Hiccup smiled to himself and said, "Wherever you want, Toothless."