Author's Note: We're now nine parts into the movie. I am keeping the chapters at these lengths, because then I would have more to write for the story. This chapter reflects on Bright's friendship with Hiccup, and Hiccup's burden as the village "hero".

Severon-The-Dragon: The reason for Bright understanding Norse is his way to use body language, like how Toothless understands most of what Hiccup tells him to do. Really? Have you posted it somewhere (your story) or did you thought of it as something that should not have been read by others? (AKA; was it a personal project for yourself?)

Chapter 12: Friendship and Burden

Bright was snickering while Hiccup glared at him while his hair was still messy. "Could you please stop laughing now, Bright?" Hiccup grumbled in annoyance. "It makes me feel uncomfortable."

After a while, Bright stopped himself. He wiped his eyes from tears. "Man, Hiccup. That was some sweet maneuvers you two made back there…well, except Toothless's little show."

Hiccup groaned, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Stop teasing me, would you?"

"He's right, bro," Luna said, feasting on some fish. "All you are making him is being awkward and uncomfortable around you."

"Yep, she's got a point," Toothless added.

"Don't forget you started it, Tooth," Bright reminded the Night Fury, who grumbled.

"I thought you stopped with it!"

"The teasing? Nah. I love teasing my friends who I am hanging around with. Although our parents scold me for it…back in the Nest."

That got Toothless's to eye him in interest. "What nest?"

"A nest full of dragons, under the Alpha Scales, who took me in as their own hatchling after I was taken from my original home," Bright explained.

"We don't talk about it, though," Luna pointed out, eating a whole fish.

"What are you three talking about?" Hiccup asked, curiosity getting out of him.

"Nothing you should worry about," Bright replied.

Hiccup shrugged, cooking his fish over a fire, as Toothless suddenly regurgitates a fish head. Hiccup forced himself to smirk with politeness. "Uh…no thanks, Toothless."

Toothless shrugged.

Hiccup gestured to the fish on his stick. "I'm good."

"Why do humans cook their fish?" Toothless asked Bright. "Why do they not eat it raw?"

"It's because it tastes better when cooked," Bright answered. "Trust me, even my family questioned me about this when they noticed me cooking a fish over a fire back home."

Soon, several Terrible Terrors landed like seagulls, hissing and nipping at each other as they approached Toothless and Luna's pile of fish. One of them grabbed the regurgitated fish head and dragged it away. Another attempted to steal it from him. They face off and last fire balls at each other to settle the fight.

"Give us your food!" One Terror demanded Bright. "We're hungry!"

"No," Luna growled angrily, paws pulling her fish pile in protectively.

Toothless and Hiccup watched, amused. That is until…Toothless spotted one of his fish leaving the pile. A stealthy Terrible Terror was exposed as the thief. They tugged on the fish, and it snapped back at Toothless's mouth. He swallowed it back tauntingly.

Irate, the Terrible Terror pawed the ground and blast Toothless. He opened his mouth, the gas hiss came, and Toothless fired a tiny flame straight into its mouth, causing the gas to backfire into the little dragon. It coughed up smoke and staggered away, looking ill.

Hiccup laughed. "Not so fireproof on the inside, are you?" He threw the hapless Terror his freshly cooked fish. "Here you go."

"Hiccup!" Toothless gasped.

Bright smiled, doing the same while Luna protested. "Here," he said, throwing a fish to the other Terrors, who immediately took the fish and bit them, eating.

Soon after, the appreciative Terrible Terrors gulped their meals down and approached the humans cautiously. They curled up next to the boys. Hiccup was amazed.

"Everything we know about you guys is wrong," Hiccup whispered.

Bright's smile grew. They patted the Terrors gently, sending them into an immediate, blissful sleep.

…

Hiccup was lost in his thoughts inside the Blacksmith Stall. Bright was back at the Haddock house, sleeping after a long day with him. Hiccup laid his head on a desk full of Toothless drawings. Burdened with the weight of the world. Suddenly, Stoick came in the doorway. Hiccup jumped and quickly covered his desk. "Dad! You're back!"

He skirted the bench, blocking Stoick's view of Toothless, the prosthetic fin, and other drawings.

"Gobber's not here, so…" Hiccup started.

"I know," Stoick interrupted. "I came looking for you and this Bright kid. So, where is Bright?"

"He's sleeping in my room at the house," Hiccup replied. "And, you did?"

"You've been keeping secrets," Stoick said sternly.

Hiccup's legs gave out. He slides, dragging the table's content with him. "I…have?"

"Just how long did you think you could hide it from me?" Stoick asked.

"I don't know what you're…" Hiccup said in vain.

"Nothing happens on this island, without me hearing about it."

"Oh?"

"So," Stoick continued. "Let's talk about that dragon."

Blood drained from Hiccup's face. "Oh gods. Dad, I'm sorry. I was going to tell you. I just didn't know how—"

Stoick laughed, his laughter booming. Hiccup stared, baffled.

"You're…not upset?" Hiccup asked, confused.

"What?!" Stoick laughed. "I was hoping for this!"

"Uh…you were?"

"And believe me, it only gets better!" Stoick said. "Just wait 'til you spill a Nadder's guts for the first time. I knew that Bright helped you with your training against dragons!" His laughter continued.

Hiccup's elated expression sunk in.

"And mount your first Gronckle's head on a spear," Stoick continued. "What a feeling!" He laughed, and smacked Hiccup on the shoulder, sending him into a wall. "You really had me there, son. All those years of the worst Viking Berk has ever seen! Odin, it was rough. I almost gave up on you!"

Hiccup got back up, grimacing in the irony of it all.

"And all the while, you were holding out on me!" Stoick continued once more. "Thor almighty!" He grabbed a stool and sat down. His massive frame nearly fills the tiny room. He sounded relieved in the next words, "Ahhhh…with you doing so well in the ring, we finally have something to talk about."

Pregnant pause. Hiccup averted his eyes nervously. Stoick adjusted, awkwardly clearing his throat.

"Oh," Stoick realized. "I…brought you something." He presented a horned helmet to Hiccup. "To keep you safe in the ring." His son accepted it, looking it over. "Your mother would've wanted you to have it." He felt a heartbeat. "It's half of her breast plate." He tapped his own helmet and smiled. "Matching set. Keep her close, y'know?"

Hiccup eyed the mismatched helmets, grimacing.

"Wear it proudly," Stoick told him. "You deserve it. You've held up your end of the deal." He beamed with pride.

Hiccup squirmed, and he forced a yawn. "I should really go to bed. Bright might want me close by."

"Yes," they said, talking over each other. "Good! Okay. See you back at the house. We should do this again. I'm great. Thanks for stopping, glad I stopped by. And for the…uh…like the hat. Breast hat."

"Well…uh," Stoick cleared his throat. "Good night."

He left the room awkwardly, leaving Hiccup looking more burdened than ever.

"Oh god…what would Bright think…?" Hiccup mumbled to himself.