Sorry, I took a while writing this chapter! I had a bit of a writer's block with 50,000 Volts and I focused a lot of my time on getting the next chapter of that story out.
A note: I can't believe this story has reached 10,000 views! It's only been 3 months, but we've come a long way!
Anyways, I hope you enjoy this next segment!
…
Brothers
Chapter 17: Gift of the Night Fury, Part 1
As winter progressed, Toothless guided me through the season and the bright and lively nature of the Vikings kept my spirits up.
It's another cold morning; however, unlike most days where it's cloudy and gloomy…today the sun managed to break through the dominant clouds to lighten the earth below. I woke up just as the light touched my ebony skin. Hiccup is still in deep sleep and his Night Fury is nowhere to be found. I get up, stretch, and decide to start my day by looking for my fellow dragon.
I silently exit the home, being met with snow and ice all over the ground. I decide to head down toward the main square…not realizing that ice had formed on the side by the house!
"A-ahh!"
I consequently slip and fall on my belly, cursing softly under my breath afterward. Immediately after I heard someone laughing from above. I turn my head to see…on top of the house is Toothless!
"How did you not see that, bud?"
I growl back, recovering back on all fours, "you keep forgetting I'm not used to this climate."
Still on the roof, he gave an innocent smile, though hidden underneath is that smug grin I've come to know he has on occasion.
"I'm just messing with you, come up here, Flint!" He requested before I decide to yield, flying up to him. Once on the roof, I roost before he suddenly placed a wing around me. He whispered in my dragon ear, "I heard that the Vikings are preparing for some type of gathering."
"Oh, yea…" I pull away slightly, raising a scaly brow to him, "like what, detective?"
The dragon didn't know what 'detective' meant but he proceeded to explain regardless, "it's some type of gathering with lots of food…and games!"
I placed a claw to my chin, pondering a second at what he said, "you mean…like it's a holiday?"
"H-what?" He tilted his head in a questioning manner…like a dog not having followed what its human had just said. I move away so that we're both facing each other, "it's a time when humans celebrate, have fun, and rest from their usual routines. It's usually a very special time of the year."
"Oh!" He smiled happily in response, tail wagging back and forth excitedly, "I guess it's a good thing I have you around to explain all this to me and the other dragons!"
"I guess" I shrugged.
"Gosh, Hiccup isn't awake yet? I'm so excited for today! I want to go flying so bad!" The teen Night Fury grumbled slightly in annoyance.
"Well, it's the only thing to do around here…" I scoffed playfully.
Sure enough, he starts jumping to get Hiccup to wake up, "come on, bud! Wake up in there!"
I can't help but chuckle at the scene in front of me, "alright, I'm stepping away" I rolled my eyes in response. Before anything else happens, Hiccup comes out, wearing his helmet, and Toothless glances over with child-like glee and impatience. The boy looks up at us in response. We're both looking down from the edge and I couldn't help but point at the adolescent dragon next to me, "he did it!"
"Hey!" Toothless snapped back at me, much to my amusement.
"Well good morning to the both of you! WildWing, just for the record I know that was you jumping up there" Hiccup chuckled.
My ears pull back as my side frills too, I look over to see Toothless covering his face with a paw, "now just wait a minute, that wasn't me!" I shouted down, trying my best to defend myself.
"I'm just teasing, buddy."
I mock him in a high-pitch warble that only Tooth next to me understands. Sure enough, the human below imitates me as Toothless decides to join for the hell of it. The both of us decide to jump down and meet up with the Viking. Haddock smiled sheepishly in response, "you two always have to wake me up so early to fly-" he doesn't finish his sentence, for his prosthetic leg hits the ice and Hiccup slides across in response as I had. Toothless, thankfully, is there to save him.
"Careful there, Hicc!" The Night Fury cried out.
"I guess I'm not the only one on thin ice, get it? I-I made a pun there…no one seems to…never mind…" I crossed my arms silently.
"Thanks bud," Hiccup said, "come on you two, let's go flying." As soon as he said that his dragon humorously breathed right into his face before the boy recoiled in disgust. I can't help but cover my muzzle with a paw to hold in my laughter.
"Ah, Toothless…" Haddock laughed after.
…
Not very long after, we're once again above the clouds. Like all the times before, we had practiced some maneuvers that Hiccup had thought up for fun…or for perhaps for times when needed…
To start, Tooth and I circled one another as we climbed to pass the cloud layer above Berk. The weather always seemed to be fair whenever we were in the sky, I guess it's because we usually climbed so high that we didn't usually run into weather problems. Despite the colder air, the rush I always got from flying with these two kept me going for hours!
"Come on, let's see what you guys have in you today!"
This makes the teenage Night Fury grin mischievously before suddenly diving down as I follow behind shortly afterward. We descend rapidly as the air screams all around us, the wind aiding in our descent. We fall right next to a tall, weather-beaten, peak; just before either of us could slam into the blue ocean water, we open our wings almost in synch: gliding through the same obstacles we had done in the past. Only this time Hiccup had something up his green sleeve. He spoke into Tooth's left ear, raising his attention, "you ready, bud?"
I am behind them when I notice the red tail fin change directions for a fixed glide. Toothless doesn't expect it and grimaces slightly when Haddock stands up on his back. The boy quickly performs his stunt: we see a rock formation, the same one Hiccup jumped across during his demonstration weeks ago for the other riders.
I figured out what he was about to do by this point. Sure enough, the human jumps just as I gain speed to be beside the boy just in case. I decided to make this fun and join in, jumping down to the icy surface, and I end up sliding across it like an ice-skater. Haddock looks over to see me right beside him during the entirety of the stunt, but it doesn't last long for we reach the edge and jump! I spread my wings to resume flying as the young Viking rejoins Toothless. "Whoa! We did it!" He happily exclaimed before Tooth and I roared in addition to his cheers.
Hiccup sure is different when he's in the sky: in stark contrast to his usual awkward demeanor on the ground.
A minute goes by before the larger dragon gives a side-eye to me, "how are you holding up back there, Flint?" He asked in a questioning tone.
"Could be worse, I could be walking right now" I sarcastically jeered back at him.
"I guess you don't miss that part of being human, huh?" He asked sincerely.
"If I wanted to fly as a human, I would take a plane and sleep in it" I retorted.
"That doesn't sound like much fun like we're having!" Toothless roared.
"Boy…you two are quite spicy today" we look over to the human who shrugs. Before we can say or do anything else, our attention is brought elsewhere.
Suddenly, right in front of us and coming in at ridiculous speeds is a swarm of dragons from Berk! We don't have time to dwell on their sudden appearance for it seems like many could accidentally run into us in mid-air!
"Watch out!" Hiccup exclaimed before we start dodging the dragons.
"What is going on!?" I shouted, looking around.
Toothless shakes his head in confusion, "I don't know, could it be…the Queen's doing?"
"No! It can't be!"
"Maybe you're right…that's not the way to her…maybe it's…"
Before the Fury can finish, Hiccup's helmet is struck by a Nadder's wing, causing it to fall towards the sea!
"I got it!" I swoop down, but Toothless notices a Gronckle blindly rushing in my path, "wait, Flint!"
It's too late, I am struck head-on by the winged beast. I winced in pain from getting hit and I start falling toward the earth consequently afterward. I try to regain control, but my wings are all over the place and I start yelling in panic as a result.
"WildWing, hold on, we're coming!"
The "older" Night Fury makes a quick dive down and manages to grab me just short of hitting the water. Although I am saved, the helmet is now gone. Toothless scans the surface to find it as Hiccup looks down at me, "you alright, little bud?" He asked worryingly before I nodded back. Soon after, the human looks up to his dragon, "come on, Toothless. We'll get it later, bud. We've got to find out what's happening back home!"
HiccTooth both find a small patch of land to set me on, so we can resume flying back toward Berk.
"S-sorry…" I said in shame, frills against my sides.
"You got to be more careful, remember you're just a hatchling-" he stopped himself as I looked up, "oh right, sorry…" Toothless muttered, remembering that I'm an adult in this body.
"It's alright you goof, I get what you mean. You can say it, that was reckless of me either way. Hiccup is right though, let's go see what's going on."
He nodded before we took off for the village. It wouldn't be long before we returned to find it in a state of chaos…
…
The scene at Berk wasn't any better, every dragon in the vicinity…including the dragons belonging to the human teens, all had an urgency to flee…and consequently abandoned the humans to join the growing "migration" in the sky. Astrid tried chasing after her bird-dragon, but they flew away just as we had arrived…she had been powerless to stop her best friend from leaving, much to her dismay.
"Hiccup!? What's happening? Where are they going!?"
Sure enough, it wasn't just Astrid who was asking Hiccup the question. Soon, the whole village surrounded the boy Viking. As they closed in on him, the Chief of Berk shouted at them all, getting in their way, "give him a chance to speak!" Stoick lowered his voice and his demeanor right after, "Hiccup…where are all the dragons going?"
His son only shook his head in retaliation, for he is just as lost as everyone else. Stormfly had returned briefly…why…I wasn't sure, but I ran up to her as Toothless beckoned her to stay.
Could this be the migration that Toothless had talked about regarding the moon? Was he right this whole time about it? How can it be even possible…maybe…maybe this is how dragons ended up disappearing from our world? Is this the end? It can't be…we can't leave everyone like this! It isn't fair! There must be something we can do to stop this nonsense, I thought in despair. I stopped next to the Night Fury, looking up to meet the Nadder, "where is everyone going, storm?" Toothless asked, demanding an explanation.
She merely squawked at us, "come with us!"
I stomped my front foot down in defense, "And leave Hiccup and the others!?"
"You birdbrain, I can't fly without them!" The Night Fury added.
Stormfly remembered this fact and very soon after nodded in response, "we will return soon."
And just like that, she and the others were gone…
Toothless looks down at me as we exchanged looks. Stormfly had dodged his questions and we didn't know why…the dragon had suspected that they needed a secluded place…away from humans…in him, he felt there was a logical reason for their sudden departure. I shook my head in disbelief; however, soon I spread my wings, "Queen…" I muttered.
"Flint…no…"
"I must know! I promise I'll be back, you have my word!"
As I get off the ground to hover in mid-air, the teen dragon's ears and ear fins pull back, "what if…she's behind this!?"
"Then I'll end this if that's why I'm in this world. Stay with Hiccup please, I'll come back."
I said nothing more, I flew off as Hiccup and the others witnessed my exit.
"Now where is HE going!?"
"WildWing!?" Hiccup yelled in anguish just as his dragon walked up to him, nudging him with concern.
I made my way to the others and followed the swarm of dragons from afar. After a while, I can see a small stretch of land appear in the vast open ocean, one that I had never seen before thus far! The swarm began landing there in large numbers while some circled the skies above as if to patrol.
By the looks of things: the Queen had nothing to do with any of this, but to be sure I will confront her later about it.
By the time all the dragons found a spot to rest, I landed on a plateau overlooking them all. Something of note: my landings had improved considerably and now I was able to land without much trouble. Though often now I would find myself wobbling when touching the ground, it still felt great to know I've come a long way since being in the cove.
Anyways, I saw the creatures gathering sticks, straws, anything they could use to roost. As time passed by, I realized just what they were doing…especially when I started seeing small spherical objects within the nests. They are using this island to lay their eggs!
That's it! Eureka!
Sure enough, I ran into the Deadly Nadder, who is with Hookfang; Barf and Belch were not too far away.
"You know, you could have just told us!" I said, approaching the two.
"We felt it would be safer to lay the young here." Hookfang replied.
"Vikings tend to break stuff" Belch muttered as Barf laughed in addition, "we were kind of worried they would try to cook the eggs!"
"You're still scared that the humans might do wrong?" I asked sincerely before Hook snarked, "you have no idea what is going on, do you…and you call yourself a dragon?"
I narrowed my eyes to him; I kept a fierce glare…as his yellow orbs started to match my intensity. Inside I wished I could tell him…but imagine telling this Nightmare I was human…oh boy…and I thought Toothless gave me a hard time when I told him the truth.
Stormfly nudged me, beckoning me to follow her away so we can talk in private and defuse the situation.
"Is this what dragons usually do?" I whispered as softly as I could.
"Oh…right…you're a human, I…forgot, I'm sorry" she chirped just as quietly.
"Yea…you could have told Toothless and me back at the village" I grunted.
"I'm sorry, we thought you both knew. Tooth is a Night Fury…I suppose he doesn't have a mate, otherwise, he would have followed us."
Soon enough, the Deadly Nadder explains the traditions the dragons that lived on Dragon Island used to do. During mating periods, the Queen allowed dragons to leave the nest in search of a private roost to raise their young. The volcano, with the Queen in it, was just too dangerous for such a task. It was also not too far from the island, so the Queen's influence still gripped them. Now that they were free, basic instinct brought them back to this secluded island where no humans could, or will ever, find them.
"If that's the case…I'll go tell the others…somehow…" I rubbed a claw against my cheek in thought.
"How will you tell them, though? Your fellow humans wouldn't be able to understand you?"
"Touché" I nodded, "at least I can tell Toothless…tell him everything's alright." I roll my head to the side in a cute manner, "how long does this take anyway?"
"A few days…" she answered back with a happy squawk.
"A-alright then…" I grunted, "I'll return to them."
"Return safely, Flint" Stormfly finished. I nodded back confidently, "hey, you're talking to a Night Fury here" I grinned quite impishly and jokingly. Oh goodness...I think Toothless's cocky nature is rubbing off on me! Even so, Stormfly chuckled at this as I thought she would. Before I left, however, the Monstrous Nightmare walked over to me…asking the Nadder to step away as she complies.
"Listen here…Flint" he began with a squint of an eye, "I would respect you a lot more if you just told me…why are your mannerisms so strange for a dragon?"
I jumped slightly at this, my eyes darted back and forth in rising fear to his question. He waited for a response. Finally, however, I growled back at him in defiance, "I don't have time for this" I jumped in the air to hover, saying goodbye to the others as they, except for Hookfang, returned the gesture.
I left the small island to return to the human settlement, but not before heading to Helheim's Gate to see the Ex-Queen…
By now she had been freed from the rubble, but her body is still damaged and weak from the battle weeks ago. Some dragons had eventually offered their services to her…I guess some didn't feel safe with the humans on Berk. In return, the Queen had allowed them to stay, and she would help them get settled. In return, they helped sustain her with food and water as a sign of good gesture. A small community is being made here.
From my observations, I can see that the Ex-Queen remained in a fugue state most of the time, almost as if she was meditating.
Once I arrived and landed on the charred sands, she sensed my arrival.
Mr. Callahan….
Her voice rumbled in my mind. I stepped closer to her unmoving form, "I see you're not interfering with the dragon migration" I muttered.
Indeed, you are correct. Dragons of all backgrounds require space and isolation to raise their young. Even under my rule, I allowed them to travel to repopulate their species.
"I see…" I warbled softly, looking down…I don't want to think about how sadistic that must have been for her to let them repopulate so she could eat them later…
You need not worry about that anymore, Flint. These dragons and any other creature that visit these grounds will be met with the utmost hospitality.
"I hope that's a promise…otherwise…" I growled. I decide to drop it, however, looking back at her, "I'm counting on you."
Callahan…ask me this…do you believe dragons are extinct in your time?
I shrugged, sitting down on the black sand to rest, "I'd like to think I'm from another dimension…your kind is only seen in our stories and myths. I'd like to think dragons somehow exist but who knows? It's so far in the future that it's a trivial question for the both of us."
I suppose you are correct. I've been leaning on that possibility…that we are somehow still existing in your era…
"How are you feeling?" I asked genuinely. She shrugged very lightly, learning the gesture from my mind.
I am recovering and I am eternally grateful, I mean that wholeheartedly. Now I am dedicating my time to finding answers…holding what knowledge I've learned over the years to give to the younger dragons.
"Like a library?" I chuckled at that.
I suppose…I've dug deep in your mind many times and saw how humans keep knowledge of their history and discoveries to share with others…I assume that is my new purpose: to be a compendium of knowledge that can help dragons. These new members on the island required help in finding fish, so I aided them with my knowledge.
"That's great" I smiled softly at her.
I only wish I saw just how WRONG I was from the start…cursed myself for everything I had done…
"Just be fortunate that you see that now instead of never having had the chance to…" I curled my tail against my legs for the time being.
I promise you Mr. Callahan…I will do what I can…
I reflected momentarily on her statement. No lies or ill malice were hidden beneath her words. I, and the others, had saved her. Now that she was free, the Ex-Queen started sharing her meals with the dragons who stayed with her. They began to approach her from all over for advice and it wouldn't be long before Dragon Island became "alive" once more; however, instead of a totalitarian regime, there was a more "democratic" state of living under the Queen. She grabbed the concept from my mind…the concept of equality and liberty…and now she felt it would be best to test this system with her new followers.
Anyway, I bid goodbye and headed off to Berk once night had fallen. While I was gone, the Vikings were all sulking over the "loss" of their dragon companions, but Astrid came up with an idea to lift their spirits for Snoggletog. I arrived right around the time the Viking Girl had offered her notion.
I saw the group together, minus Fishlegs, and by himself, on a cliff, is Toothless. From my vantage point, he appeared restless…as if the Fury longed to be somewhere...
I swoop down as the others noticed my arrival:
"Hey look! Wild is back!" Astrid called out.
"Little Toothless!" One of the twins muttered as the other punched them, "I came up with that one!"
"No me!"
"Where were you little bud?" Hiccup asked, running up to me.
They soon surrounded me, and I can't do much but warble at them. After petting me and making sure I was okay, they broke away and I saw Toothless in my sights again. I decided to go to him as the others noticed my intentions, "ma-maybe he has something for Toothless?" Astrid pondered.
"I'm not sure…today has been a strange day, to say the least…" Haddock replied.
I padded over to the uneasy dragon, "Toothless?"
"Flint, you're back," he said, almost excitedly, but his anxiety overshadowed his joy. There was an unnerving glint in his eyes…it felt more like he was mad at us for losing something…
Even so, I explain everything to him: about the island, the eggs, everything…and he seemed relieved; however, he soon told me something that had plagued him all day now, "Flint, I-I need to find Hiccup…Hiccup's helmet…" he croaked.
I pull back for a moment. It took me a second to think about what he said, but then I remember what happened earlier today, "wait, Hiccup?" I sputtered.
The teen nodded, pleased that I had guessed correctly, "I have to bring it back for him."
"I-I mean…I guess?" I shrugged, "can't he just get another one?"
"No" Toothless snapped back at me, "this one is special…I know it…I know he loves that helmet. I must get it back for him…somehow…"
"Toothless" I nudge his shoulder to try and reason with him, "didn't it drop in the ocean, though?"
He nodded, but remained defiant, "I can smell it, it has Hiccup's scent all over it…I can find it."
"Despite the odds, maybe I can try and get it?" I suggested.
"You've been out there by yourself long enough, Flint, don't tire yourself out…" he nudged me back.
"Now hold on just one second, dragon" I retorted in a slightly harsh tone, becoming slightly offended by his remark, "don't forget, I'm not a child…"
"But you are STILL inexperienced in your dragon body" he interrupted me with a slight growl, trying to reason with me, "…and you have NO IDEA just how limited you actually are at your current physical age, take my word for it."
I stopped myself…maybe he's right…I mean…he WAS a hatchling…lived as one. I won't lie, I do feel tired from the day trip…if I'm not careful I could end up in trouble as he said. I can't let my arrogance of being older blind me…
"Okay," I simply said, nodding. I take one deep sigh, "so then…what are we going to do?"
"I'll figure something out…" the larger Night Fury replied softly, looking back up at the starry night in silence.
…
The next morning, Toothless and I are gathered by Hiccup outside the home. The teen dragon and his ears perk up when he notices the device Haddock holds in his frail arms. I squint my eyes, knowing immediately what it is…it's a new tailfin!
Toothless runs up to his best friend as I watch from a few meters away. I reckon it's an upgrade to the dragon's red prosthetic fin…it must be…it looks fancier.
The reptile sniffs the new fin with great curiosity before the boy tries to anchor it against the Fury's tail. At first, the dragon is unsure whether he wants it attached and it soon turns into a playful fit to avoid Hiccup's advances. I chuckle in the background, sitting on my legs witnessing it all. Horrendous III groans in response to his friend's insistence, "come on bud, let me get this on you." Finally, Toothless lets him: inspecting the new object on his tail, "it's not red like the old one!" He protested in deep warbles as I roll my eyes at him, "so what?"
He turns to me with a grunt, "I LOVE the red one!"
"At least wear it for a while, jeez…" I chuckled at the end. I trotted toward them: ending up beside my dragon brother, "maybe it works better than the old one, it's a new one after all…maybe you'll fly better."
"I fly good enough as it is!" Toothless retorted.
"You're going to love this" Hiccup smiled. As soon as the new device locks on to the dragon's tail, the latter finds the new feeling quite odd. Very soon in response, he starts squirming like a cat in panic mode. His long tail swerves around, almost hitting Hiccup in the process.
We both try to calm him and explain, but soon enough I'm hit by his new fin accidentally. Although, if I'm being honest…it was a light smack on the face, and I soon recovered. Toothless apologized in the middle of his frenzy and not too long after he flicks his tail to forcefully get rid of it. Unbeknownst to the Night Fury, the fin opens on its own without the need for Hiccup's stirrup and harness.
Toothless pulls back in utter surprise and I too look toward it in confusion behind him. The two of us examine the fin more closely: some gears turn, allowing Toothless to move the fin at will!
That's when he and I realized right then and there: perhaps with this new technology, Toothless can fly on his own now? Consequently, the adolescent dragon looks over to Hiccup, eyes slightly oval in surprise, shock, and realization. Hiccup gave his signature awkward grin. I nodded softly, "t-this is great! This means…" I stopped myself, pondering for a second.
I wonder why Hiccup's inventions never achieved world fame…his creations are astounding! Perhaps they were never published, or the works were lost to time? Who knows…I hope it's none of those things…I'll help publish them if I must…somehow dang it!
I shake my head out of my trance once I notice Toothless launching in the air. The sudden action catches me off guard and I snap my head up to see him flying away on his own, much to Hiccup's dismay.
I look back to the kid with a questioning chirp, "what happened!?"
He looks down at me with a worrisome expression. M-maybe he's giving the fin a try? No…wait…could it be he's heading for…
Suddenly, I take to the skies in order to make my way to Toothless: who's flying perfectly without the need for other equipment.
From a glance, it's an amazing sight to behold…for the first time…I saw him flying on his own and it almost feels like a dream. It's like looking in the third person and visualizing what I look like whenever I fly. My baby side just couldn't stop getting excited over it…
Focus Flint…focus!
Unfortunately, despite my attempts: Toothless is a lot faster than me, so I try calling out to him as we climb higher into the sky, "Tooth, what's wrong?"
"Stay with Hiccup" he roared loudly as I slowed down, "I'm going to get his helmet back! Please, do what I say!" His voice echoed, eventually silenced by the wind.
I-I suppose I ought to let him go…but I don't know I should join him…nevertheless, I'll listen.
I look down to see the young boy still in shock over what happened, and I decide to swoop down to comfort him. We both look up to see the Night Fury disappear over the horizon as fear and uncertainty overwhelmed us both.
All we can do is pray for his safe return…
…
Alrighty! That's the end of Part 1, I hope you enjoyed that latest addition to the story! Let me know what you thought of it, I'll see you all next time, cheers!
