So, relatively short chapter today. I've been kinda busy, so I didn't have much time to write. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy some silliness.

Enjoy!

The Adventurous Adventures of Hiccup and Wrenlou

A Blacksmith's apprentice, Part VI

"Hey Hiccup, what are you doing here?" Wrenlou asked as he slipped onto the bench across from Hiccup.

"Working," Hiccup replied as he gathered his papers, "on my third test."

"Isn't that something you should be doing in the forge?" Wrenlou asked and he pulled one of the sheets of paper closer to look at it.

"Don't you have your own thing to do?" Hiccup reflected the question as he pulled the paper back, "your own third test or something?"

"She said she'd tell me tomorrow," Wrenlou said and he rested his head on his hands, "what are you making?"

"I have to make a weapon, from that metal," Hiccup said not looking up, "I'm simply designing one."

"Simply?" Wrenlou asked, looking at the papers that covered the table, "there must be an entire forest worth of papers here!"

Hiccup looked up a little and Wrenlou smiled. Hiccup sighed and put his pencil down. "If you need anything, just say it," he said, "if not, I really want to work in peace..."

"Okay..." Wrenlou mumbled, "I get it... I'll go..."

"Wait," Hiccup said, just as Wrenlou stood up, "something's wrong, isn't there? What is it?"

"It's just... it's that third test," Wrenlou said, "she said that more than half fail it, and that's the people who've had years of apprentice ship already. She'll tell me tomorrow because she wanted me to think about it today. If I really want to do it."

"Will you?" Hiccup asked.

"I've been dreaming of doing this since I was ten years old," Wrenlou said, "and I never doubted it. But now... I don't know... what if I fail."

"You're starting to sound like me," Hiccup said while he wiped his papers into a stack, "I thought I was the insecure one."

Wrenlou smiled weakly and watched how Hiccup dug through the stack of papers.

"Want to take a break?" he suddenly asked, and Hiccup looked up.

"What?"

"I asked if you wanted to take a break," Wrenlou asked again, "not just a "I will have lunch for an hour break", but a "get away from the city for a few hours break". I wanted to do that anyway, if you want to come that's fine. Unless you're too busy."

"I don't know..." Hiccup said, "I have a lot of work here..."

"Just for a few hours," Wrenlou assured him, "it might help clear your head, make room for new ideas."

Hiccup smiled. "Okay then," he said, "I'll just dump these in my room, okay? And find you on the plaza?"

"Sure," Wrenlou said, "and thanks."

"Why?" Hiccup asked as he stopped with his arms full of paper.

Wrenlou shrugged. "For making time."

Hiccup just smiled and quickly left. About five minutes later he was back, riding Toothless towards Wrenlou and Snowflake. They took off without a word, Snowflake going first.

"Where are we going?" Hiccup asked after they had flown for a while.

"There's a cliff not too far away," Wrenlou answered, "it has a great view, and a rope swing. I think that will help taking our mind of things."

"A rope swing?" Hiccup asked curiously, "what's that?"

"You don't know?" Wrenlou asked surprised, "you honestly don't know?"

Hiccup shrugged a little, then shook his head no.

"Berkians are boring..." Wrenlou mumbled, "don't even know rope swings..."

"So what is it?" Hiccup asked.

"You'll see in a moment," Wrenlou said and he pointed down, "there. We're here."

They landed on the rock, and Hiccup immediately noticed the view. The cliff wasn't that high above the water, but it looked out over the ocean, and the many small islands that speckled this part of the sea. The cliff itself was void from trees, except for one, practically balancing on the edge. It wasn't a palm tree, like all the others he had seen so far. It was high, towering over them. When he dismounted and walked closer he saw that there was a rope tied around one of it's branches, just hanging there, swaying a little in the soft breeze.

"Is that..." he started and he pointed at the rope.

"That, my friend, would be a rope swing," Wrenlou said with a smile and he kicked his boots off.

"What are you doing?" Hiccup asked when Wrenlou also pulled his shirt over his head.

"Watch and learn," Wrenlou said with a grin.

He walked backwards, away from the edge and still holding the rope. When he could go no further and the rope was tight he looked at Hiccup again.

"So what's ne..." Hiccup started, but he gasped as Wrenlou jumped onto the knot at the base of the rope.

He watched with wide eyes how Wrenlou swung above the water, then let go, falling into the ocean below. The rope swung back towards Hiccup and it almost hit him, but he managed to grab it before it did. Below him Wrenlou surfaced, looking up at him while he swam to shore.

"You try it," Wrenlou said as soon as he had made it back to the top of the cliff, "it's fun."

"Isn't it dangerous..." Hiccup asked, already imagining how he would break his legs and his arms and everything else.

"Only if you manage to land on your head," Wrenlou assured him, "the water is deep here, there's no hidden rocks under the surface. Which is why they made it here. It's safe, really."

"I don't know..." Hiccup said, still not sure.

"Come on," Wrenlou pushed, "it's fun! I promise you won't die."

Hiccup chuckled a little, then nodded. He took his boots off, then his shirt.

"Are you sure it's safe?" he asked again when he took the rope and walked back until it was tight.

Wrenlou nodded. "As safe as can be. Okay, remember to let go before you swing back. And don't let go late, you might hit the side of the cliff. Basically just jump, hold on until the highest point, and then let go. Okay?"

Hiccup nodded and Wrenlou stepped back. Hiccup took a deep breath and glanced at Toothless. The dragon was watching everything with a curious look on his face.

"Okay..." he mumbled softly, "I can do this..."

He took another deep breath and jumped on the knot at the end of the rope, as Wrenlou had done. The rope swung forward, his weight carrying it far out over the water and he let go just before it swung back. He held his breath as he hit the clear ocean, and for a moment he floated between many coloured fish. After he resurfaced he took a big breath of air, and he was smiling widely while he swam back to the shore.

"That was awesome!" he exclaimed when he had made his way back to the top, "I wanna go again!"

"I first," Wrenlou said and before Hiccup could protest he had already jumped.

Hiccup didn't wait this time. As soon as the rope came back he grabbed it, pulled it back and jumped after Wrenlou. It continued like that for a while, eventually ending in a competition to see who could do the most flips before hitting the water. After they had given up, they just lay on the warm rock, letting the sun's rays dry them.

"Do they have rope swings in Light City?" Hiccup asked.

"Yep," Wrenlou said, "why?"

"Well that explains why you won," Hiccup said, looking at his friend, "you had time to practice."

"You didn't do so bad yourself," Wrenlou said, "really."

Hiccup didn't answer and silence fell between them. The sun was getting lower in the sky, almost touching the ocean and some clouds had already started to get orange and red.

"Have you decided yet?" Hiccup asked suddenly, "if you'll do it?"

"The test?" Wrenlou asked, and when Hiccup nodded, he sighed. "I don't know... the odds are against me. Big even told me I would most likely fail."

"If I would have given up every time the odds were against me I wouldn't even have met Toothless," Hiccup said, "I would have given up a long, long time ago. You've wanted this all your life, are you really willing to just give up now?"

"No..." Wrenlou started, "but..."

"But nothing," Hiccup interrupted him, "I think you should do it. You've come this far, you can't give up. I was full of doubts about doing the tests, but I'm doing them, aren't I? I even concurred a volcano and an angry dragon that nearly killed me to succeed! You can't give up."

Wrenlou smiled a little. "Sometimes you just find an obstacle you can't beat," he said softly.

"That's bullshit and you know it," Hiccup said, poking Wrenlou's arm, "do the damn test and show them they're wrong about you. Pass that damn thing with flying colours. That's what you would say to me right? You're always telling me that I can do it. Why don't you believe it when it's about yourself?"

"It's easier to believe in someone else," Wrenlou said, "but you're right... I should just do the test. Show them I'm not afraid of a challenge."

Hiccup nodded. "Exactly."

"Thanks Hiccup," Wrenlou said with a smile.

"I think they did it on purpose," Hiccup said, "telling you you'd fail anyway. Maybe it's their way of selecting the absolute best ones."

"You could be right..." Wrenlou mumbled, then he quickly changed the subject, "what about your test?"

"Making the weapon?" Hiccup asked, "that's easy. I have to make a weapon, any weapon I like. So I'm designing one right now. I just hope I can get it to work in a week."

"Why would it not?" Wrenlou asked and he stood up, "it's just a weapon right? Make a sword and be done with it?"

"You know me," Hiccup said with a faint smile, "it's never simple. I've been working on this particular design for a few months now. I just figured now is as good a time as any to finally make it."

"That's true," Wrenlou said and he pulled his shirt over his head, "come on, we have to go. It's getting dark."

"I guess that was a little more than a few hours?" Hiccup asked, hurriedly putting his own shirt on.

"Yeah..." Wrenlou said, "sorry about waisting half your day..."

"It's okay," Hiccup said, "I wanted to start on the first pieces tomorrow anyway. I think I finished the design. I should just make it and see if it works. Don't worry, I have a back up plan in case it doesn't," he added when he saw Wrenlou's face, "there's no way I'll fail."

Wrenlou smiled as he climbed onto Snowflake's back. Hiccup followed, mounting Toothless with a fluent jump and clicking his prosthetic in the right position.

"To us then," Wrenlou said before he took off, "and that we'll succeed in our endeavours."

Hiccup nodded and watched how Snowflake shot into the sky. Toothless followed and caught up with the white dragon in a matter of seconds. Hiccup looked back and saw the tree and the cliff get smaller and smaller, until they disappeared from sight. By that time the city was already coming back into view, and he sighed. He wasn't sure that his design would would, he wasn't sure at all. But he had to give it a try.