Hi readers, I'm back with YET another update to this story. I'm having a lot of fun writing this new fic. I hope you enjoy this next chapter, cheers!

Brothers

Chapter 5: The Gathering Storm

A day goes by. We are back in the cove, which by now has become our home. It doesn't have a flat screen T.V. or a soft warm bed…but I guess it has its charm, nevertheless. Toothless continues giving flying lessons to me, with each getting progressively harder than the last.

Not too long after the whole test run and near-death experience, his resolve to get me airborne is stronger than ever. I couldn't help but agree, especially today.

"At least I could flap my wings out there" suddenly he grabs me, rubbing my head whilst holding me, "h-hey!?"

"You have it down, and I believe you are ready, you just have to remember what I've taught you."

It began with the usual taking off and hovering techniques that I've learned so far, but soon enough we incorporated the gliding into the repertoire as well. Eventually, the teen Night Fury prances across the pond, checking on my progress and yelling instructions…smiling that his teachings is going well. He's just waiting to get all smug and critique on my mistakes…I know he is! I swear, he's enjoying this tutoring way too much!

"Careful there…keep those fins properly positioned!" And…there it is. I roll my eyes to him, but I listen closely anyways.

"N-now" he stops by the end of the pond, seeing me crossing over to the other side where he is, "lift your head and body upwards and flap those wings, do it, come on!"

I breathe in sharply, focusing once again on my training and his words. And just like he did during Hiccup's test flight, I climbed.

In a split second I realized what I was doing, and I look all around as the world below starts getting smaller! I can faintly hear the other Fury cheering me on, "go Flint, go!"

I-I'm doing it! I left the cove in a similar fashion as Toothless had when he first had the artificial tail fin attached, and I start seeing the silver clouds getting closer to me! I angle my wings to catch the wind, gliding through the formations, feeling satisfied over my performance.

I feel the cool wind blast against my black scales and my ears thrown back and forth against the air. I close my eyes, feeling so fulfilled and in the zone…never in my life I could have pictured myself doing this…I didn't think flying would be something I would grow to love! Even before this I felt like I was holding back a little, but now I let myself go…fully immersed in the experience.

I make a turn, deciding to head back to the cove, which I spot easily thanks to my dragon vision. I don't want to get carried away and end up getting lost. Gosh, I feel so alive right now, definitely beats flying in a plane…I am functioning like one now basically…heh.

Anyways, I didn't realize that when I pointed my nose downward that I'd gain incredible speed…that's when I know too late that I'm coming in too fast. I underestimated my abilities as a Night Fury and how fast they can go…I'm going to crash hard! Of all the things Toothless was teaching me, he didn't teach me HOW TO FREAKING LAND!

Before I can end up a pancake in a two-meter crater, I think about what Toothless told me to do the last time we were in the air. I move my bat-like wings upward like the spoilers on a plane and that alone seems to help a lot in slowing me down! Tooth, after looking up and finding me, however, is not as confident and begins getting nervous: he knows I'm just coming in too hot!

"T-tooth!" I crashed into the pond before he jumps in, diving under to grab me by the neck. Before I can drown, he drags me out and we both emerge from the freezing water. Once he drops me by the shore, I cough up a bit of water from the weight of his paw on my chest, "you alright!?" He panted.

"Th-that…was…amazing!" I exclaimed, laughing in response while the older Fury sighs a bit, "I assume it was, you seemed to be having the time of your life up there" he gave a soft smile in response, rubbing the top of my head with a paw.

I clutch my head, overly excited over it…there goes my baby dragon instincts…kicking into overdrive:

"I-I felt so in control, I felt like I could go anywhere and do anything! We should totally go flying together next time, that would be so awesome! I can already picture it, you, me, Hiccup…all three of us…flying through those very tall clouds in the sky! I felt all my stress and problems disappear!" I jumped around him like a child who just drank too much caffeine. He lightly pushed me off, though it was more playful than anything, "that's great, I'm so proud of you" he suddenly grabs me, putting his arm around my scaly shoulder. I can't help but give a genuine smile…like I just rode a bicycle without training wheels in front of my dad for the first time. It worked, it finally worked: everything paid off and I can tell the dragon is truly happy for me.

Once he moves away, he gives a playful grin, "we got to work on your landing a bit."

"Maybe if a certain somebody had taught me earlier…" I roll my eyes annoyingly back.

The rest of the day went by the usual way: Toothless and I would play fight, watch the sky change, talk…yadda yadda!

By the late afternoon, I got so bored that I pulled away, however. As a child dragon all the attributes associated with youth plagued me daily, even with the mind of a twenty-nine-year-old.

"I'm going to test my skills again" I say, spreading my wings.

"Alright, but try not to go too high, stay right above the tree line and come back in a few minutes" the adolescent Night Fury requested.

I nod, "will do."

I take off, flapping my wings to gain altitude once again. I do as he says, staying several meters above the evergreens of the forest. I fly around the perimeter for a few minutes, practicing my new flight skills for a while. Soon, however, I make my way back: my adult mind trying to keep the promise I made to my new friend.

We are friends, aren't we? It's just such a weird idea that someone could be friends with a dragon, let alone a feral animal…

Yet, Toothless is not some dumb animal, he is intelligent…so much so that he's equivalent to that of a human, so our relationship is like that between people. So…I guess we ARE friends by this point.

Anyhow, I approach the cove, being careful to watch my speed. Suddenly I hear voices down below…one belonging to Hiccup and the other…

My dragon ears can pick up the voice perfectly: another perk of being in this body I reckon.

Once I arrive, and unlike the last time today, I approach much more slowly. Despite this, I end up crashing into the ground…not as graceful as I imagined it would be. I fell flat on my belly…all the while cursing myself. I'm not exactly a credit to the Night Fury species right now.

Across from me, on the other side of the pond are Hiccup and Toothless. The Viking is back…about time, but then I catch a smell in the air and notice a third member in the party…

Curious, I make my way there, quietly of course and to my surprise it's a human girl! It's a female Viking: a blonde-haired teenager with a more menacing outfit to match. I knew I heard the voice of a girl among them…across from her Toothless is yelling or growling rather.

Hiccup and his new best friend notice me walking up beside the stranger, the former cringing upon noticing me. The other reptile is suddenly thrust into panic mode. I find the axe not too far away, smelling the weapon upon discovery...I guess my instincts are showing up again. That's when she hears me, quickly turning around!

"Ahh!"

My pupils shrink as I move rapidly backward in fear. "No wait, he's friendly!" Hiccup shouted, holding back Toothless who, unknown to me…knows just how dangerous this stranger can be now…having tried to slay him not a minute ago. I realized then…that she must have stumbled upon the cove without us knowing…I wasn't sure, it would have to wait until I ask the other dragon across from me.

"There's two of them!? Hiccup…" she keeps looking back between us, noting the very drastic size difference between the teen fury and me.

"Astrid" he trusts his dragon enough to leave his side and walk to me, "this…is WildWing, he won't hurt you." He placed his soft pink hands on my neck, scratching it before I purr in comfort…damn it Hiccup!

"See?"

All this human girl can do by this point is turn around and run.

"W-wait, Astrid!"

"That's right…run off!" The fury behind us snorted before walking away.

"We're dead…very much dead…" the boy Viking mutters to himself.

"Don't tell me you're just going to let her run off and tell the others!?" I asked Toothless, closely following behind him in a panic, "doesn't that worry you!?"

"Wolves will probably get to her first."

"Whoa, wait, where are you two going?" We suddenly hear from behind us. Hiccup gets on the bigger dragon, mounting him.

"We got'a get to her, bud, come on!"

Toothless sighs, annoyed that they must continue this game, "Flint, make sure you hide until we get back, in case more show up."

I stomp my front paw in response, "no way, I'm coming with you guys!"

I jump and start hovering getting the attention of Hiccup.

"W-wait…he can fly now?" He asked his dragon, who nods back.

To make a long story short: we picked up the fleeing Viking girl known as Astrid. Soon enough, with Tooth's own ways, we eventually won her over. Now, instead of me, she's riding behind Hiccup on the teenage Night Fury, marveling at the sky around her. I also take in the scenery…it's my first time flying during sunset, and I am flying on my own: right beside my fellow dragon friend.

I can feel my ears and frills gently moving with the wind, and my black hide against the rush of cold gusts as we glide over the sea. All around us, the colors quickly change from vanilla sky into a bluish hue. It's now nighttime and colorful lights soon dance across the sky above us, adding to the beauty of the scenery.

Flying beside Toothless helped me appreciate all the hard work we've done to get me in the sky, and the reptile agrees: a modest smile had crossed his muzzle upon seeing me gliding next to him.

"I would have never thought…such a place could be so beautiful…" my kid voice quavered with delight, "you were right…"

"Was I now?" He smirked as the teens behind him keep looking around at the view.

"You made me into a REAL Night Fury" I said, noting what he'd said earlier, days ago.

He rolled his eyes, "you were one from the start, and honestly there's still so much to know. You'll be an amazing Fury, just like me." He said confidently and encouragingly.

I look away, still smiling, but that smile soon disappeared as I realized what he said…a Fury from the start…no…but I guess since landing in this fantasy land I must agree somewhat.

Not long after, we make it to what appears to be another part of the island. I can see many lights dancing from the ground…they're structures! Those are buildings…it's a human village! This is the first time I've seen a human settlement since ending up in this world.

"W-what is this place?" I asked Toothless with extreme curiosity.

"That is Berk, where the Vikings live." He told me while Astrid brings herself closer to Hiccup, the boy blushes in response.

"It's nice…but won't they see us?"

"No Flint. Because of our appearance it would be very hard for them to ever spot us at night."

"I see…but…weren't you…"

Tooth nods, "I was caught in the middle of a bombing run the day I met Hiccup, he managed to shoot me down." He can't help but give a face of relief to me, "I'm just glad you weren't around for the raids."

"I suppose that IS a good thing" I finish.

We fly through the edge of the village undetected, passing by these large pillars that are lit up by fire…almost like they're lighthouses. Anyways, we start climbing higher again, Astrid noticing how fast I flapped my wings compared to the other dragon.

"Alright, I admit it, this is pretty cool. It's amazing…they're amazing." She complimented and I couldn't help but do a high-pitch warble to her in response, thanking her in dragon tongue.

"Go ahead and lay your palm on his head" Hiccup instructs Astrid who hesitates at first but she finally rests her hand on Tooth's head. She can't help but smile when the dragon purrs in response.

"Hey WildWing, come a bit closer, little bud" Hiccup asks of me before I do. As with the larger Night Fury, Astrid places her hand against the side of my face to which I react to in two ways: feeling satisfied and happy and feeling weird from it. Hiccup explains soon after how these moments help bond humans with dragons and I can't help but agree with the boy. Astrid is really starting to warm up to us and the physical contact is helping tremendously.

A minute later the humans are talking amongst one another as a dense layer of fog soon descends upon us. As soon as it does, the older Fury's eyes turn slit and his ears rise.

"Toothless…w-what's wrong-" suddenly I too feel something piercing the back of my mind, as if something's trying to invade the deepest part of my brain. I shake my head vigorously, but I soon find myself in a deep, inescapable, trance…finally giving in to the voice calling to me.

The next thing I know, Toothless and I, with the other two confused teens, are led into a strange place surrounded by hundreds of beasts. Many different species of dragons appear, all carrying food on them, all heading for the same direction. It isn't long before we show up at a hellish looking landscape, a volcanic island…Dragon Island.

Toothless leads me as I follow closely behind, still unable to control myself. Once inside, we find ourselves surrounded by thousands of dragons circling around a seemingly bottomless pit.

We land by a vacant cliff, looking all around us.

"What is this place…" the girl mutters silently, as not to catch the attention of the swarm.

"It-it's the nest…all this time…oh…my dad would give anything to be here right now…"

"Look!" Hiccup's new accomplice points to a bulky looking dragon: delivering a small sardine, regurgitating it before it falls from its mouth into the misty fog. Before the creature can return to its evening roost, something big shows up out of nowhere and devours the dragon in a single bite, sending us all into horror! It's enough of a shock to free both of us from our trance. My eyes widen when I witness the behemoth dragon showing itself to the hive.

This…this is the monster Toothless had told me about…the one the dragons try to contain…to save the world from total annihilation…

Hiccup, realizing the beast has sensed our presence, begins to tap the Night Fury below him, "guys…time to go!"

The "Queen" lurched forward in an attempt to catch us; however, before she can eat us, we take off in haste. We begin making our escape from this place while the swarm follows behind! I flap my small wings as fast as I can, we're heading down a corridor leading to the outside. Unfortunately, I start falling behind and Toothless stops and looks back, deathly worried for my safety. The beast is right behind us, she's climbed the interior, able to fit through its large walls!

"Come on Flint, just a bit further!"

"WildWing!" Hiccup exclaimed.

I push myself as hard as I can. I can see the light at the end of the caldera, where the others are eagerly waiting for me. Suddenly, I feel my mind freeze up as I cringe, stopping in my tracks…she's using her mind trick on me! Tooth senses this and begins heading for me. Then, an enormous paw closes in and grabs a hold of me…the Queen's muzzle shows up through the mist as her deep, loud, growls stun the group.

"No!" Hiccup and the Night Fury yell. The latter, right after, unleashes a bolt at the Queen, but she shields the blast with her free arm. Astrid begins noticing the fire building up inside the mouth of the monster, "Hiccup…"

The boy sees it too, and tries to pull on the dragon he's riding, "Toothless!"

"No! We're not leaving him, no way!" Toothless roared in defiance. The humans of course, did not understand what was said, but they understood his pain…desperation was setting in, however. There was no time to rescue me.

"We'll come back for him, I promise" Hiccup places his hand on the dragon's shoulder, knowing if they didn't leave right now the fire from the Queen would incinerate the humans.

"G-go!" I shouted with the last of my strength to them, "go!"

With a soft whine, the teen Fury turns around and speeds down the tunnel, just as the monster, still holding me, unleashes a stream of fire toward them. With my dragon friend's voice fading and through the loud hiss of the Queen's fire breath, I manage to hear: "I'll come back for you Flint, I promise!"

All I can do…is hope they made it, but it's hard to tell, for once the fire dissipates…nothing is there.

What I know for sure is that I'm now a prisoner…under custody of the dreaded Queen of dragons, completely at her mercy. She looks down at me with her multiple eyes and gives one big toothy smirk before taking me back into her chamber…

Oh no! Flint has been captured, what'll happen now? I guess we'll have to find out in the next chapter. I hope you all are enjoying this story so far. Until next time, take care!