Author's Notes: We're about to reach the climax of this second volume of the story. I can't believe to how fast that went, even if I took a month's break from the fanfiction. I hope you guys enjoy the fifth chapter of "Origin of Bright".

Chapter 21: A Long Journey Begins

Bright stood in the village plaza with Luna. He was looking as tired as ever, his drowsy expression was noticeable from the teens he was with.

Hiccup looked at him with a worried look on his face. "Are you sure you've been sleeping tonight, Bright?" he asked. "You look as though…"

"I'm fine," Bright interrupted.

Toothless was staring unconvinced at him. "Are you certain? You don't look well."

Bright rolled his eyes at the Night Fury. "Thanks for stating the obvious, Toothless."

Hiccup sighed. He turned to Astrid, who stood next to Stormfly, as she stood next to the teens. He looked back at Bright. "Well, as long as you are good enough to do our daily routines, I shouldn't be judging you, Bright."

"Yeah," Astrid agreed. "It's better not to judge, Hiccup. He looks like he's been…"

"Having a tough day," Tuffnut cut in. "Don't worry, I get those all the time."

Astrid looked at him. "No, that wasn't…"

"He looks mummified," Ruffnut interrupted, joining her twin in the conversation.

"A mummified Dragon Rider," Tuffnut mused. "Who would have thought that could happen?"

Hiccup rolled his eyes in exaggeration. "Guys, Bright has just not been sleeping well."

Fishlegs nodded in agreement. "He does seem a little…unrest, to put it mildly."

Bright sighed, getting a feeling of annoyance from the talk. "Can't we talk about something else, guys?"

Hiccup agreed with a nod, changing the subject. "Okay. So, tell us what your father had told you."

Bright smiled, happily explaining upon the changed conversation. "My father, Flashwing, told me yesterday night that he had found me at the Arctic Scar tribe's island, far to the North of the Barbaric Archipelago." A pause. "As I heard him explain to me, I was taken from my human parents by accident. So what we need to do is quite simple."

Snotlout smiled. "We find your tribe, and be rid of you."

Astrid scowled at him. "That's rude, Snotlout."

"I was only kidding, okay?" Snotlout shrugged in his defense. "You know that, Astrid."

Astrid shook her head.

"So," Hiccup asked, staring at Bright, "how are we going to find your tribe's island?"

"What's it called?" Toothless added.

Bright blinked, rubbing his chin in a deep, thoughtful way before replying, "I think it was called the Fría Island, from what my father told me."

Hiccup smiled. "Okay, then let's get everything ready for the journey."

Bright looked uncertain at him. "Are you sure we should go there?" he asked, worried. "I don't think I want to see them just yet…my human parents."

Hiccup placed a hand on Bright's shoulder. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine."

"Unless Hiccup screws it up, that is, with his attitude," Toothless added jokingly.

Luna chuckled, her throat rumbling something audible for the teens to hear.

"What did he say?" Hiccup asked Bright in confusion.

Bright laughed. "I think he meant to offend you with your attitude, Hicc."

Hiccup blinked. He turned to Toothless with a frown. "Thanks for that, Toothless."

In answer, the Night Fury made a rumbling, laughable sound.

Hiccup shook his head fondly at his dragon, and then he turned to the teens. "All right, it's best to get your stuff ready and packed. This will be a long trip for us."

"I hope we can return in one piece…" Fishlegs mumbled, as his Gronckle, Meatlug, nuzzled him comfortably.

…

Bright was packing some items in his bag, as Luna watched him from the sidelines. They were in their current residence of Berk, and Bright was getting everything ready for the long journey to Fría Island.

"You know you don't have to look for them, brother," Luna told him.

"I have to, sis," Bright replied. "Because I want to know where my human parents are, and how I was taken to the Nest by our father. If I may be frank, Luna, I think father took me for selfish action."

Luna blinked, her white scales shimmering in the sunlight that came through the window. "You know that's not true, Bright. Father had a reason for it."

"Then what was the reason, sis?" Bright questioned, looking at her. "That I shouldn't be able to locate my true parents and forever be forgotten by them?" A short pause, before he continued. "That's not me, Luna, and you know it."

Luna nodded at last. "And I respect your choices, even if they are not exactly the brightest of choices to make."

Bright smiled at her, walking up and hugged her around the neck. "Thanks, sis. I appreciate your help."

"Isn't that what siblings are for?" Luna asked with a smile.

Bright chuckled. Soon he heard footsteps coming from the staircase, and he looked over to see Hiccup, leaning on the wall.

"We are ready to go, Bright," Hiccup informed. "We are just waiting for you."

"All right, Hicc," Bright nodded. "I'm just getting the last pieces of my things packed."

Hiccup then said, "You know, I never really thought that we, of all people, would have been friends since we first met each other back then."

Bright blinked. He turned his confused eyes over to Hiccup.

"When I first saw you," Hiccup continued, "I was unsure what to do. Make friends with someone who seemed to know a lot about dragons…or ignore him." He looked at Bright with a smile, saying, "I'm really glad I made the right choice in befriending you, Bright."

Bright smiled, stripped his bag over his shoulders, and walked over to Hiccup. "I'm happy, too, Hicc. You were the second human friend I ever made, too. Let's hope we are never set apart from each other."

"Agreed," Hiccup nodded.

Bright walked down the staircase, with Hiccup and Luna following behind him. They walked over to the door, with Bright exiting the house first, followed by his friend and sister.

"Okay," said Hiccup as they were gathered with their friends and their dragons. "Is everyone ready for the journey to Fría Island?"

"Born ready!" Tuffnut replied.

"I hope we don't get into anything dangerous," Fishlegs said.

"Don't worry, 'Legs," Hiccup smiled reassuringly. "We won't."

Fishlegs breathed a sigh of relief.

"Get on your dragons, and let us start the journey," Bright finished, getting on Luna while his friends got onto their dragons.

Luna spread her wings, beside Toothless, as they ascended to the sky and began their journey.