Well here we are at chapter 9. Surprised myself at how far I got with this story, and yet I'm not at the main parts yet. But for now here's the last chapter before Christmas, well I should say Snoggletog since we're all HTTYD fans. I say last chapter before then is because I'll be concentrating on work till the new year. And I'll let you lads and lasses in on a little secret, as well as the festive season, it's also my Birthday on Thursday. If that clue still baffles you here's another, the guy who was born on the same day as me (I said day not year, I'm not that old :P) was rumoured to turn water into wine. And with that I bid you all a happy holidays for whichever religion you're with.
Chapter 9 I think we just bonded
Hiccup POV
"so Gobber I was looking through the dragon manual last night and it didn't mention much about Night furies in it" I ask him as we were getting the arena set up for todays lesson, which involved a maze.
Which meant big wooden walls that required two men to lift.
Or in this case one and a half.
Okay okay one and a quarter men in my case.
Gobber only looked at me as we were lifting up one of the walls into the arena.
"ay lad no one has ever seen a Night fury an lived ta tell the tale, now shut up an give me a hand wit these damned thing!" Gobber replied looking a little frustrated non of the remaining men on the island could help.
Alfsted for one since he was in charge until Stoick was back.
Well better choice than my uncle Spitelout who when was last put in charge tried to solve the food problem by plant fish into the ground and waiting for them to grow.
Seriously? I think Gothi, our high elder and healer, should check his head to see if any things in there.
But anyway back to the matter at hand as I struggle to lift my end of the wall up, but just about get there.
"so...nothing on Night furies...whatsoever?...not even in Borks notes?" I ask trying to hold my own as the weight of the wall is quite heavy, can't believe I've done this all morning.
Gobber, who had no problem lifting his end of the wall, just shrugged and answered my question "no lad, Bork never saw a Night fury ever in his life, most likely cause the book was last updated by me an that update was the Night fury itself over four winters ago"
'so not even Bork the Bold never saw one either, interesting' I thought to myself as we placed the last wall into place.
And just in time too, as I look towards the gate of the ring to see the others entering in.
Including a smiling Astrid who walk towards me.
"hey babe" she says before coming up to hug me.
Too bad I was a bit sweaty.
"ew Hiccup why you all wet?" she ask's wiping my sweat of her arms.
I just gave a dull look and gestured to the walls, which she looked.
"okay point taken" she said as she shrugged.
I look to my left and my right making sure no one can hear us as I gesture her closer to me "just to let you know this challenge involves the Nadder" I whisper to her, It's not technically cheating but I'd rather have her be prepared, kind of like our training days.
She smiled and nodded in response understanding what I mean.
"right ye lot! Today, as ye'll have noticed the walls in ere, well ye'll see soon enough" Gobber shouts as he holds one of the levers from above the ring.
Oh Thors thundery shite!
He's about to open up the Nadder cell.
And I'm still in the ring!
I quickly go to pick up my practise swords (I was training early that morning) from the wall and rush to gate before it shut.
At least the gods were on my side again as the gates slam shut as I exited.
Catching my breath as I slowly walk towards Gobber giving him a glare to which he looks back.
"what?" he questions shrugging.
"really? you could have warned me!" I shouted.
"meh, more fun this way, plus I kept ye on ya feet" Gobber replied back to which I gave up and looked towards the others in the ring running away from the Nadder released.
I got to say, that Nadder's does look beautiful, with its blue and yellow scales.
I think it reminds me of a certain blond-haired, blue-eyed girlfriend of mine.
Strange how I just complimented a dragon, our sworn enemy.
I shook that thought at the back of my head as I hear Gobber shout out todays lesson plan.
"now today we learn abou speed. The Deadly Nadder is fast and agile on its feet, you need to be more faster and agile to survive" Gobber shouts out as Fishlegs runs into view.
"you know I beginning to question your teaching methods" Fishlegs shouts back.
"trust me Legs try working in the forge with him, I still back away from him when he holds his hammer!" I shout back at Fishlegs who looked confused but ran off when the Nadder came close.
Gobber however looked at me "yer not gonna let that one slide arn't ya?" he said in a deadpanned voice.
I glared at him again "when your own method of teaching me safety in the forge by loosening your hammer-head and letting it fly out of its handle and towards my head, then no".
Rubbing my head I look towards the ring where the teens were trying to dodge the spines "remember the Nadders spine are poisonous and could kill you within minutes" I shouted out remembering the Information in the manual on Nadders.
"and why should we listen to you useless?" shouted Snotlout as a spine flies past him.
"it's in the book stupid!" I hear Astrid shout back at him getting annoyed with him already.
Nothing new really.
"look fer the blind spot, all dragons have one, find it and stay in it" Gobber shouts out just as the twins come face to face with the Nadder.
Luckily found its blind spot.
Unluckily they're the twins so a fight usually broke out between them.
"ugh don't you ever bathe?" I hear Ruffnut shout to her brother while both try to stay i the Nadders blind spot.
"well if you don't like it then why don't you get your own blind spot" Tuffnut shouts back at her.
They clash their helmets together causing the horns to tangle with the others "how about I give you a blind spot instead!?" Ruffnut shouts back glaring at Tuffnut before both turn and look at the dragon in front of them as it starts to blow fire in their direction causing them to run out-of-the-way.
"blind spot yes..." I said face palming myself.
"deaf spot? mmm not so much" Gobber finished before laughing.
I remove my hand just in time to see Astrid hiding behind one of the walls in front of the Nadder, going unnoticed.
Until of course Snotlout and crew rushed to the same wall knock Astrid forward exposing herself to the dragon which spotted her straight away.
"stand back babe let me handle this" Snotlout shouts as he barges Astrid out-of-the-way and throws his hammer at the Nadder, missing completely, making the dragon laugh.
I didn't know dragons could laugh.
Snotlout however shrugs "what? the sun was in my eye's Astrid. What you want me to do, block out the sun? I could do that if you want me to" he says to Astrid who by this point is getting annoyed with him.
"yeah Snotlout could block out the sun..." I whisper to Gobber before smirking "with his fat head" causing Gobber to laugh.
And then it happened.
Ugthug and Samson ran away bashing right into Fishlegs causing him to knock into Astrid and the twins as they all his against the wall, making a lot of noise which caught the attention of the Nadder as the others run out of the ring.
Astrid, Fishlegs and the twins however were still dazed and defenseless.
I sigh to myself thinking this is absolutely stupid.
But I can't let them get killed.
And with that I run out, swords in hand, towards the ring gate.
I need to get the Nadders attention while the others recover.
Okay I seem to have a stupid crazy moment coming again, good thing no one's writing all the time I did that.
(A/N Oh Hiccup, you have no idea :P)
"hey! Over here! A talking fish bone!" I shout out.
seriously? this is stupid and crazy even for me?
But it worked, the Nadders facing me.
Nadder POV
What a bloody day, I was hoping to preen my scales today, instead I playing chase the Viking again.
Then two identical humans arguing in front of me, yeah like that'll not ge my attention.
Followed by a complete idiot throwing a blunt weapon at me, and missed. Okay I laughed at that one.
Although the Human net to him was kind of pretty with those blue eye's the same colour as my scales. Well not as pretty as me.
And now I have another human shouting at me as I was walking towards some of the dazed humans, hoping to scare them a bit so they leave me alone.
But this human, thin, very thin.
Most humans around here are big and fat, I don't know why they're complaining about the raiders stealing food.
But this human, this human fascinates me.
I decide to investigate further.
Then I notice he's holding two sharp sticks, ok what are they called? Oh yeah swords.
But the strange thing is, looking at his stance, he's not on the attack if it goes by how we dragons stand.
More of defense.
Very curious, not seen that before in a human.
I look up towards the humans head, or more precisely, the eye's.
Greens eye's.
Just like the one's Gronkle told me about after her conflict.
Just like the Night furies.
Of course for me I wouldn't know being stuck in that cell for most of my life.
But I can't stop looking at his eye's.
They're amazing.
Then I see him turn his eye's towards my cell, I then realise he wants me to go back in there.
I wonder if...
*Whack!*
Astrid POV
I can't believe it he saved me again.
Looking around I realised he saved us.
That stupid boyfriend of mine.
But what I saw was the Nadder heading towards Hiccup, but not attacking.
By the way it walked, I'm guessing it was curious.
That is a crazy thought.
But thinking back to the Night fury and the Gronkle, they were curious too.
Now I'm curious.
But that'll have to wait as I see Snotface throw a shield at the dragon, with a lot of force before he decided to run out of the ring leaving Hiccup with the nadder again.
Really he did all that to make the Nadder angry.
He was going to try to get Hiccup killed!
Hiccup POV
Oh gods that idiot cousin, was he trying to get me killed?
Of course he was, he wants to be chief, he always wanted to.
But I'll get to him later, first I needed to stop this Nadder from getting too angry.
Too much thoughts in my head.
I can't deal with all this.
And I feel it.
Anger.
Raging anger I never felt before.
Gobber always said that if I feel like that, just let it out.
And that's exactly what I did.
"GET BACK IN YOUR CELL! NOW!" I shouted with so much force the Nadder even flinched before running back to its cell.
That's one problem sorted out, now the next as I turn towards the stunned Snotlout and his crew before Astrid could get to them first.
Who at them moment was stunned by my shouting too.
"IS THIS SOME KIND OF A JOKE TO YOU!? THEY COULD OF BEEN KILLED!" I shouted at them pointing towards Astrid, Fishlegs and the twins, who were all watching me, mouths wide open in shock.
"I COULD OF BEEN KILLED! LEARN TO RESPECT YOUR FELLOW VIKINGS OR JUMP OFF A CLIFF!" I finally shouted throwing one of my swords to the lever of the Nadders cell, locking it up.
Taking a deep breath, I walk towards my sword and pull it out before leaving the stunned teens in the ring.
Later on at Hiccups house
After that little explosion in the ring I decided to head home to calm myself by drawing, it always calms me down.
The feelings I put into each sketch makes me feel like no one can judge me, after all, the only other things near me with a face are inanimate and can't hurt me.
After what seemed like forever I decided to look down at what I drew, and something that I wasn't expecting.
It was the Night fury.
Looking down at it sparked my curiosity to find out more.
I have to find out more.
But I can't go empty-handed, maybe something like a peace-offering.
But what do you give the unholy offspring of lightning and death itself?
Remembering back to when I last saw it, dunking its head in the lake.
It looked weak.
It looked hungry.
And then it hit me.
A fish!
With that thought in my mind I decide to grab a fish from the barrel downstairs and my dagger just in case.
I open the front door and run out towards the forest.
Astrid POV
After giving Snotface the beating of a lifetime for his stupid action, I decide to let Hiccup cool off before seeing him.
I've never ever seen him that mad before ever.
it kind of scared me to think how angry he could get if pushed too far.
Gods help the next person who pisses him off like that.
As I was about to go to Hiccups house, thinking he would be in there, I see him running out towards the forest.
With a fish in his hand?
Wait...he wouldn't? Would he?
After seeing him with the fish I decide I'd best bring one too, just in case, as I follow him to the cove.
Later at the cove
Upon getting there I look around for that boy of mine.
Finally spotting him, I also see the Night fury in front of him, looking curious at him.
Or more precisely what was in his jacket.
Hiccup spots this and produces his dagger.
But shocks me when he drops it on the ground before kicking it into the lake.
Stupid boy, he's going to get himself killed!
But before I could get my axe ready I look at the Night fury strangely.
It's not attacking.
In fact it's eye's have gone from narrow slits to fully round as it looks at the fish.
Looks kind of cute that way.
Wait did I just say cute?
'Keep it together Hofferson' I think to myself while watching the scene play out.
"huh? Toothless? I could have sworn you had..." I hear Hiccup say as the dragon opened its mouth revealing just gums.
Suddenly sharp teeth pop out from its gums and took the fish out of Hiccups hands leaving him stunned "..teeth?" he finally finished off.
Now the Night fury was purring?
I didn't know dragons could purr?
But then I was shocked to find out dragons can laugh too.
"err, err sorry that's all the fish I had" I hear Hiccup say to the dragon as he back away only to be stopped by a rock.
Again fearing for Hiccup as I get my axe only to stop watching the dragon doing spasm movements with its throat before regurgitating half the fish it just ate into Hiccups lap.
I watch as the dragon decide to sit on hind legs like we would when we're sitting down.
It kept looking down at the half eaten fish then at Hiccup over and over again until I realise what it wanted him to do.
unfortunately Hiccup knew too.
'oh babe don't do it, please don't eat the...' I think to myself.
Too late, he took a bite out of the fish.
I copied Hiccups disgusted look as he swallowed it.
Remind myself to not kiss him till he washes his mouth out.
Hiccup after nearly throwing up the fish he just swallowed gives the Night fury a toothy smile.
Strangely enough, the Night fury copied him giving Hiccup a toothless smile.
Now what's Hiccup doing now?
Is he trying to touch the dragon?
panicking, hoping he doesn't lose his hand, I grip hold of my axe handle just to be ready.
But the dragon sensed this too and its eye's went back to narrow slits and growling before running off to the other side of the cove to what looks like a scorched patch of ground.
I wonder how that happened?
I got my answer when the dragon blasted the ground before laying on it.
You'd of thought at this point Hiccup would have decided to leave.
Well...you'd be wrong as I watch him head towards the beast.
I watch him as he sits down on the ground next to it watching it curiously.
The dragon however didn't want to be seen so hides it face with its tail.
I wonder what's going through my boyfriend's head at the moment?
Hiccup POV
Well I'm still alive so I don't think it wants to hurt me.
But I still want to look at its tail fin, I feel kind of guilty that it was me who ripped it off.
However as I was about to touch it, the dragon closes its other tail fin and looks at me.
i think I'll leave it alone.
But I'm not leaving yet so decide to walk back to my usual spot near the lake, a spot where I usually sit when I want to think about things or want to draw what's on my mind.
And my mind was on Toothless.
Toothless? Did I just name that Night fury Toothless?
Wierd but kind of suits him.
Okay now I'm freaking myself out now.
Not only have I named the Night fury Toothless but now I think it's a boy dragon too.
This day just keeps getting weirder and weirder.
then something suddenly grabs hold of my shoulders making me jump.
"ah!" I scream before turning around at who my attacker was, only to be confronted by ocean blue eye's.
"surprised babe?" Astrid asks me as I calm down and smile before wondering what she was doing here.
"a little milady, what brings you here?" I reply back as I ask her a question too.
"same as you Hiccup, curiosity" she replies back before looking at the Night fury.
I look at Toothless and back at Astrid who smiled at me before sitting in my lap, looking at the ground at what I've drawn.
It was Toothless.
"you know babe, you never cease to amaze me with how well you can draw just by looking once" she says to me while still watching me work the finally detail of the Night furies eye's.
Unbeknownst to us that a curious Night fury was behind us looking at me draw too.
But as I turn around he was gone, then I heard something snap as I look around to where the noise came from only to be surprised.
The dragon was holding a small tree in his mouth as he dragged the end of it into the ground, like it was drawing.
Astrid backed away as Toothless drew around me, smacking me with the leaf end of the tree several times before finally stopping to admire his work.
I looked down at it too, seems strange someone copying what I was doing.
Especially a dragon.
I best move so I can see it from a better view.
But as I step on one line he growls at me as his pupils narrow, he looks like he's about to strike.
I remove my foot from the line, he stop growling and his pupils dilate again.
Now curiosity gets the better of me again.
Foot on line, angry Night fury
Foot off line, calm Night fury
Foot on line, angry Night fury
Foot off line, calm Night fury
Smiling at what I found out, I start stepping over the lines as start to move around the drawing in a sort of dance.
'This is kind of fun' I think to myself as I make my way towards one of the edges of the drawing until.
*thud*
I hit something hard, scaly and warm, looking up I see the Night fury looking at me.
I turn around as it stands on all four legs again still looking at me.
I go to touch him again but he growls a little at me.
I look at Astrid who looks both curious and worried.
I take my chance.
I look away out of respect as I lift my right arm out open palmed, waiting for the enviable.
Suddenly a kind of shock goes through my body, but it felt right for some reason.
Next I feel warm vibrating scales on the palm of my hand. Turning around to look at the source only to see something amazing.
The Night fury let me touch him.
But not for long as he, and the strangest thing about that is I felt he is a 'he', opens his eye's which were dilated before narrowing and running off again.
"wow" was all I could say.
"Hiccup?" Astrid said as she got close to me "what just happened?" she asked me as I turned around to her.
"I don't know if this sounds strange or not but..." I paused looking down at my right hand "but I think I just bonded with him".
Astrid looked confused "him?" she asked.
I responded by point at the black figure sleeping upside down in a nearby tree.
"How do you know it's a he Hiccup, did you check under its tail for a..." I stopped her there knowing where she was going with this.
"no Astrid! That kind of disturbing that!" I said as she just laughed.
But it wasn't that just laughed, I could hear a low growling noise that sounded like laughter coming in the direction of the black figure in the tree.
"okay this day getting way too interesting now, lets just head back home before we're missed" I say to Astrid breaking the silence of the cove.
Shaking her head she nods as we both head out of the cove but not before dropping the fish she had in her hand onto the floor.
"what? It was my peace-offering to him, you just got there first" she said with a smirk.
I give her a half-smile "you know you're picking up some of my traits milady" I say to her as she gives me a deadpan look.
"gee Hiccup I never noticed" she said sarcastically before she started laughing.
Yep I'm rubbing off on her.
"right let's go babe, Gobber wants us all at the north side watch tower tonight" she says to me as she takes my hand and we walk out of the cove and through the forest toward the village.
Later that night, Northern watch tower Normal POV
Hiccup and Astrid make it up the tower just in time for Gobber to finish off with his story of how he lost his arm and leg.
"Ah so nice of ye two lovebirds ta join us, now where was I?" Gobber said as Hiccup and Astrid sat down in the empty seats grabbing hold of some of the cooked fish from the fire in the centre.
"oh oh, you were at the part where you confront the Nightmare" Fishleg informed him.
"ah yes thank Fishlegs, anyway, with one twist, he took my hand and swallowed it whole. And I saw the look on his face. I was delicious! He must have passed the word, because it wasn't a month before another one of them took my leg!" Gobber finished with showing the teens his wooden leg.
Most awed at the sight of it. It's not hard to tell that its like a badge of honor to lose a limb while fighting so most were impressed.
"wow" Fishlegs said after looking at the leg "Isn't it weird to think that your hand was inside a dragon? Like if your mind was still in control of it, you could have killed that dragon from the inside, by... crushing its heart, or something".
Snotlout was angry, not by Gobber losing limbs but because he got a black eye and a fat lip by Astrid that morning but covered it up to avoid embarrassment "I swear, I'm so angry right now! I'll avenge your beautiful hand and your beautiful foot. I'll chop off the legs of every dragon I fight... with my face!" he say while biting his cooked chicken.
His gang looked impressed, the others, not so much they knew he was being a kiss ass.
Gobber took no notice as he ripped off the wings off his chicken before speaking "Uh-uh-uh, no. It's the wings an the tails you really want. If it can't fly, it can't get away. A downed dragon... is a dead dragon" he said before eating the chicken wings he ripped off.
Everyone look fascinated except for Hiccup and Astrid who looked at each other before getting up, bidding everyone goodnight and heading down the tower.
They bother had the same thought.
Toothless!
"Astrid, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Hiccup asked her hoping she had the same idea.
Thankfully she did "yeah, we need to get him back in the air as soon as we can, but how?" she say's hoping for some answer to come to her.
Luckily Hiccup had the answer as he takes out his sketchbook and looks at the drawing of toothless' tail fin before smiling "I tell you how milady, we're going to make a new tail fin for him" he said with a determined smile on his face.
Astrid smiles at him as he runs to the forge "now there's my crazily smart boyfriend" she says to herself as she runs after him.
She know when he's determined about something he'll do it till it works.