Hey everyone! I'm back with a new addition to the story, a continuation of the HTTYD holiday short. I hope you enjoy.

Brothers

Chapter 18: Gift of the Night Fury, Part 2

Not even a minute passed by before Hiccup finally muttered words in my direction; his eyes finally locked on my small form. He shuddered in dismay, and with a stutter he asked quietly, "Wild…w-where is Toothless going…"

I look away, surrendering myself to my inner thoughts: I wish I could tell Hiccup…talk to him…but I can't…and I can't even write to him, English is useless here…it doesn't exist as a language yet. I might as well write a damn book and burn it right after! Plus, it's not like I can understand Norse handwriting either! Wait…but…I can draw, even if it's absolutely abysmal Hiccup might be able to understand me that way!

Sure enough, I start making lines in the snow, catching his attention, "bud…what are you-"

He stops, scanning my poorly drawn art piece: it's supposed to be Toothless with his helmet, of course my renditions of Night Furies are dreadful. Nevertheless, it took Haddock a few moments to understand what I was trying to tell him.

"Little bud…"

I grunt softly, almost too aggressively though it was more out of desperation. I point my paw to the drawing of my "brother" and the helmet, and I did so back and forth until he finally got the message.

Hiccup's bemused expression and his half-step back in the opposite direction seemed to tell me that he realized two things: one, that Toothless left to retrieve his helmet, and two, that I had communicated perfectly with him unlike the other dragons. His face says it all: a mixture of concern yet excitement had flooded his fragile disposition.

"T-Toothless…w-went looking for the helmet?" He whispered, almost silently to himself I might add. His mouth is gaped and all I can do is nod aggressively back to him.

Hiccup figured that Night Furies can communicate with humans on a level that other dragons probably couldn't, at least so far. Toothless and WildWing have shown to be able to communicate to some extent, Hiccup thought and knew that fact.

Still, he didn't ponder much on the prospect for very long, for his thoughts went directly to his best friend: Toothless. He wished he could somehow make it to the Night Fury, maybe if Wild would let me ride on his back, he thought silently to himself, the baby Fury isn't very big but is not too small…no…I can't do that to him.

I raise an eyebrow, tilting my small head toward him to try and snap Haddock out of his trance. Ultimately, the teen Viking couldn't help himself, "little bud…w-would you mind if I...ride you?"

I flinched slightly, r-ride me, is he crazy!? I'm too small for him…aren't I? Maybe not, I mean If push comes to shove…I may need to let him on my back…but I rather not. I still don't know how I feel about the whole idea, I'm not a horse…damn it!

The brown-haired Viking seemed a bit disappointed by my reaction, and consequently he looks away in discontent. I look away also, holding onto the fact that I was ordered by the larger dragon to stay with Hiccup on the island. He told me to stay put, but what if something happens to Toothless?

Regardless, I'm staying with the kid…I just hope he doesn't get any bright ideas…and gets himself in trouble looking for his dragon. Haddock made an effort to compose himself, seeming to understand my frustration about him riding on my back. The boy nodded softly, "well…as long as Toothless gets back soon I guess I shouldn't worry too much about it, I suppose." Suddenly, he walked over, crouched down, and rubbed the back of my ear fins…much to my delight.

"Wild…"

I purred as he continued petting me, "…where did you learn to communicate so well?"

I froze in place, opening an eye to this…not knowing how to react. Should I tell him like I did with Toothless and Stormfly?

Maybe I should, but the thought is soon thrown away once Haddock rubs my head, "it's alright, little bud, it's great nonetheless!"

He starts heading back into the house before I decide to follow him. I look back momentarily, however, toward the direction Toothless had flown away from and a trickle of worry washed over me. Ultimately, though, I shake my head and entered the dwelling in silence.

Three days had passed by. Toothless and the other dragons still had not returned.

It's the morning and I was, yet again, among the first to wake up. Not too long after I woke up, Hiccup woke up from his slumber because of loud banging on the ceiling. My ears flicked in slight annoyance as the boy sat up in his bed. The both of us exchanged glances:

"Could it be…" my pupils became slightly oval.

"T-Toothless. He's back!" Hiccup's expression perked up as he got out of bed and ran downstairs, with me following close behind.

Once outside, Haddock turned a corner, expecting to find his best friend on the roof, ready to greet him with a puckish, deep, warble. Unfortunately, that was not the case, for the same ice patch on the ground caused him to slip and fall on his back! I had just arrived when this happened and winced from witnessing the accident…ouch!

After it happened, we both look up to see that it's not Toothless at all up there…but Stoick the Vast. As I help his son recover from his fall, the towering Cheifton of Berk looks down to us and gives a hefty greeting.

"H-hey, Dad."

"I was looking for 'ya helmet" the father said, it appeared he had been decorating for the festivities.

"My…helmet…" the young Viking replied, almost quietly to himself. His thoughts went to Toothless who had left in search for it…it's been days since the dragon departed. Did the boy think I lied to him…no, I doubt it?

Nevertheless, both humans were equally concerned for the Night Fury. The other dragons must be still incubating their offspring on the secluded island.

"Odin needs a place to put your goodies!" Stoick returned in his usual booming voice. He climbs down the ladder as Hiccup chuckles nervously, "…right…" he muttered, looking away…catching the attention of his father who is approaching us. I, meanwhile, sit, watching the scene play out in front of me.

"Hold on. What is the matter?" The adult could tell something was wrong…it's obvious what it is though.

"Well…" Haddock looks away, "dad…it's been a few days…Toothless hasn't…come back yet."

"I'm sure he's with the others" Stoick tried to reassure the boy with a pat on the shoulder. Haddock, however, wasn't as assured, "if only I were THAT sure" he scoffed under his breath, which only made the seasoned Viking next to him sigh.

"Look, I know what it's like to miss someone you love this time of year…"

I look away after letting those words sink in…I was supposed to be with family by this point…enjoying our brief company again. Gosh, what could they be thinking right about now? What must they be saying in their heads: Flint has disappeared, my son…my friend…he's gone…and we don't know where he has gone to…

I look back to the duo across from me, my green eyes filling with small tears. Soon enough, though, I wipe them clean with a brush of my scaly arm.

"Hiccup…what do we do when they can't be here for the holiday? We celebrate them."

Those words vibrated in my dragon ears and ear fins, and in my mind: maybe…maybe Stoick the Vast is on to something here. If I never return home…at least I left on good and happy terms with everyone. Sophia, however, was a different story, I felt.

Before I can think more about those times, my reptilian eye catches sight of the Cheifton playfully pushing the boy away, snapping me out of my momentary trance, "good then, find that helmet" Stoick instructed pleasantly, "we've had enough disappointment…"

Having finished, Vast walks off…leaving both of us alone…to which we glance momentarily at one another. I look away, beginning to head into town before Hiccup walks up and stops me, "h-hey, Wild…d-do you mind if you follow me to the forge?"

I shrug, deciding to drop my intended destination.

We arrived at the forge; Hiccup led me to his workstation where he has me sit on the counter across from him. I can see tools and other devices scattered around, but what piqued my interest was his drawings. He grabbed a blank sheet of paper and suddenly handed it to me.

"I would like you to show me your communication skills if you don't mind?" Horrendous III asked, glancing at me with a questioning, beckoning eye, "I know you can write, and I want to see…please."

I raise an eyebrow momentarily; I wonder what got him so interested in knowing now and not earlier? Maybe he just wanted to get his mind off Toothless…or maybe he wanted answers to his whereabouts…despite the fact I had NO IDEA where the dragon currently was. Even then, I nodded back to him...something in me wanted me to...

"You wouldn't happen to know Norse…would you?" Hiccup asked that so casually, but I guess his knowledge of the dragon world is still new (I mean, mine is too honestly) and he assumed dragons had a culture like humans because of me…

Unfortunately for him, I shook my head immediately in return. Despite this, he seemed amazed and thrilled that I even knew exactly what he was talking about.

"WildWing, I remember seeing your writing in the sand back in the cove, I would love to see your language."

My eyes widened, of course…like Toothless, Hiccup must have figured I had been with humans before us meeting, and us "dragons" had our own written language.

I sighed, figuring I should spend time sharing it with him.

Thus, he handed me a primitive pencil and I went right to work. I started writing a short paragraph, using my teeth to do so. It's a similar method Toothless employed when he drew in the sand inside the cove.

Despite Hiccup having no idea what it all meant, my sentences had me explaining who I was, where I'm from, and what I am now. The handwriting is VERY sloppy thanks to me using my mouth and it took a while to write everything down for him. Haddock, just as he had weeks ago, is ridden with curiosity.

Hiccup tried his best to analyze every letter and phrase, but most were unintelligible to him; however, some letters were like Berk's version of Norse. For example, the letter 'B' 'I' 'K', and 'R' were similar. To him, the boy figured my language is based on a few from the archipelago or the "continent." It seemed the most logical explanation for him after all.

"So…um…" he began, "what does it say?" He looked over at me. I dropped the pencil from my mouth and gave him a 'are you serious' look.

"Man…if only I could understand you…oh well…" he sighed softly in defeat.

The feeling's mutual, I thought solemnly.

I look toward some of his notes that were, of course, written in his language. Something in me wanted to tell him…I wanted to learn Norse, so I can communicate with him. How could he, though? How exactly do you teach a dragon, who has no thumbs and no speaking ability?

Even so, I pointed to the papers and then toward myself. After several attempts, I decided to demonstrate to him. I tried imitating a random letter from his notes and then gestured again.

Finally, he catches on…

"Wait…are you…do you…want to learn…"

Before he can even finish, I moved in and nodded furiously, smiling quite gleefully in return.

"T-that would be interesting, you've shown you can write…even if I'm not entirely sure how you're able to…"

I smiled again, though inside this time, maybe if you teach me, I can tell you, I thought. Heck, I could maybe even teach Toothless!

"Alright, Wild, I'll do my best to teach you our language…or try to at least" he shrugged at that last part. I couldn't help but jump toward him and lick his face repeatedly as if I were Toothless. He seemed to laugh in response, pulling me away soon after as he held me like a puppy.

Speaking of which, Toothless still had not returned, even by the afternoon.

Hiccup and I eventually quitted the forge, for the Viking needed to get some preparations done for Snoggletog. It's weird, the whole atmosphere of Berk: it's clear to me that this holiday is very similar to Christmas in my time. It was supposed to be the first one with humans and dragons together, but it's like the time before dragons were integrated into this society…only now I'm the only dragon in Berk…or so I thought…

Sure enough, during the middle of our time decorating the town, I catch a familiar scent and my dragon mind knows exactly who's here with me. Just before this revelation we had run into none-other-than Fishlegs, who's carrying a large basket of fish.

A few days prior, I thought I had smelled Meatlug in the village, but I assumed the scent came from her rider…

Fish's reaction to us finding him brings me into a state of suspicion, especially when Fishlegs starts darting his eyes back and forth. It's a few awkward moments, but Hiccup, carrying a pole, takes note of the large quantity of food in his friend's possession. As he does, I sit on my hind legs and cross my arms, observing the teenager in front of us…knowing that something weird is going on right now…

"Fishlegs…that's quite a lot of fish, you must be REALLY hungry, there's enough food there to feed a dragon."

As soon as Hiccup had said that 'Legs' went on the defensive by laughing nervously, "r-right…dragon…h-ha!"

Right around this time, Meatlug's scent had begun to resurface…only this time it didn't come from the teenager…and consequently, I begin following the trail. My investigation drew Fishleg's attention and he got even more nervous than before.

"H-hey, little guy…w-where are you going!?"

Hiccup raises an eyebrow, wondering what on Midgard was going on, but he started following from behind anyways, having set the pole down beside him first.

My nose is pointed down toward the ground like a dog as I followed the strong draconic scent to a row of buildings where I stopped: for the trail ends here.

"H-hey, w-wait!" Fish rushed down the steps toward me as Hiccup arrived right behind. I squint my eye…using both my paws to open the wooden doors.

"D-don't!"

As soon as it's opened, my eyes turned oval, and my ears and side frills pull back in shock! Across from me is none other than…Meatlug! For apparently no reason, she rushed toward me, and for a split second, I noticed that the Gronckle had been chained to the wall. Using my quick dragon reflexes, I sidestepped as the dragon freed herself and flew out of the building in a hurry!

It made sense now: Fishlegs somehow kept her hidden, now she began flying away…presumably to meet with the others.

Hiccup, Fishlegs, and I look on as 'Legs' yelled for his dragon to return, "Meatlug, please no…come back!"

Haddock came running up to me, confusion flooding his face, "F-Fishlegs, what were you thinking!?"

"I-I didn't know what else to do…I didn't want her to leave too!" He tried defending himself. Hiccup looked on, cursing slightly under his breath, "we should follow her, maybe she's heading to the others!"

As a million thoughts went through my head, I didn't think of the ramifications and an opportunity arose from all this. 'Hicc' might as well should know about the dragons…and tell everyone else…I feel stupid for not telling him earlier…either way…we better do this.

"Get on" I chimed in. It took the boy a moment to register my motions but sure enough, he realized what I was trying to get him to do, "y-you got it, Wild!"

Quickly, though carefully, Hiccup sat on my back. I nodded back to the Viking before he does the same. I gulped nervously…since this is my first time having somebody riding me. I can't BELIEVE I'm about to do this with Hiccup…would it even work? I assume it will, Hiccup doesn't weigh too much, so it's not like I'm being crushed or anything…but having to travel a long distance with him: that's another story. Even so, I decided to give it a try…despite my initial protests days before. My wings unfurl before I finally jump and take off.

I carry myself through Berk, heading for Meatlug, who's much slower compared to a Night Fury. The 'chase' was on, I followed her through the village, swooping down to the ground…close enough that it catches Astrid off guard!

"W-what!?" She exclaimed, ducking to avoid collision right as we passed over her, "Hiccup!?"

"H-hi Astrid" the boy grinned nervously, not having enough time to say anything else. The blonde-haired girl is left in a state of confusion. Fishlegs arrives next to her, "Meatlug!? What about presents!?" He exclaimed disapprovingly.

I followed the Gronckle female through the Archipelago, asked them where they were headed, and it turns out I was right. Meatlug told me that she left in search of food to feed her newborns.

"W-where is she taking us, little bud?" Hiccup anxiously lowered his head to the side of my face. The human had to be careful, for there was NOTHING that he was holding onto besides my body…he could fall right off me! Therefore, I tried my best not to go too fast or make sharp turns or dives for his sake.

My ear twitched as I heard his voice behind me, I grunted in dragon tongue and he shook his head in response, "well, that explains everything" the boy sarcastically mutters. What I did in return is make a slight dive to which he quickly grabbed on to me again. I couldn't help but laugh at my puckish play there, it was just enough to get him to react. Gosh…I AM becoming a bit like Toothless, aren't I? I've been hanging around that dragon too much.

Anyways, we see the same atoll that I found the dragons roosting on. Meatlug landed not too far away as I landed close by. Haddock dismounted and ran up to the female dragon, but his attention is soon drawn toward the landscape in front of us. I examine the reptiles all around: the eggs have hatched by now and baby dragons were all over the place, being fed, playing with their newborn siblings, etc. A short sigh escaped my small muzzle, I guess that means I won't be the only baby dragon in the village now.

Horrendous III found a natural spring where a Gronckle had placed their eggs inside. As they sink into the watery depths the shells explode and little 'Gronc' babies are born as a result!

A hatchling climbed out and is soon greeted by an excited Hiccup, who had kneeled. I walked over to him, sniffing the newborn in curiosity. Right after, the baby joins their family as the two of us see one egg nearby. Haddock stands up and goes to grab it, just as it started hatching. Having seen what happened to the others in the pool, dread filled me. I rushed toward the boy, "H-don't!" I roared just as the explosion sent him toward me. We both recovered, the human looking down at me with a sheepish grin, "s-sorry…" he mumbled before getting off me. I shook myself vigorously as I hear Haddock point out, "I'm glad those don't hatch on Berk…" I looked up at him, nodding silently.

Yea…it's a good thing they don't…oh…wait…Meatlug told me…which means, her young must be still on Berk! Oh goodness…I really hope those eggs didn't hatch yet…otherwise. I decide to drop it, focusing on the scene in front of me instead.

It isn't long before Hiccup ran into Hookfang, Barf and Belch, and Stormfly together at the same place I saw them days ago. Now, however, some of the younglings had gathered around them. The dragons looked toward us and greeted us, even Hookfang but even his greeting is more of a snort than anything. That action was directed toward me, but I decided to ignore it for now for my sake.

Anyway, Hiccup now knew that all the dragons were here…except for one…Toothless. He knew I had told him about his whereabouts, but it still made the boy feel down from not finding his dragon on the island. Nevertheless, he composed himself and bid farewell: figuring he and I should return home.

He walked to me and scratched the back of my ear fins, much to the delight of my dragon mind, "t-thank you, little guy...for doing this for me."

I shrugged, figuring it was the right thing. In Hiccup's mind, however, it was my gift to him for Snoggletog.

The Viking got on my back again and waved at everyone watching us:

"Well see you all on Berk when you're good and ready, okay?"

I look down to see Storm squawk at us, "wait, we'll return with you!" Suddenly, she flew up…joined right after by Hookfang and the others.

Hiccup chuckled to himself in response, "I think I just started the return migration…"

Sure enough, hundreds of hatchlings join in, overly eager to be in the air with us despite having just hatched. I can't help but snicker lightly as Haddock behind me shrugs, "well...if you insist…"

The babies try their hand at flight, but similar to how I was when I first ended up here, their attempts had failed. The boy thinks to himself, coming up with an idea, "you mind helping me here, little bud?"

I look back at him, nodding in return.

It takes a few hours, but Hiccup had repurposed a damaged Viking longboat to carry the young on. The Viking teenager, now on the Monstrous Nightmare, leads the adults while I watch over the babies on the 'flying boat.' I end up on the wooden head overlooking Berk and its cheering citizens while I pant happily to them.

Once the boat is on the ground, the dragons carrying the ropes dropped them and the new baby dragons emerge from the deck to meet their Viking counterparts for the first time. In my mind, they are the first of their kind to be born into a world where Vikings and Dragons co-exist. I led the small creatures to some of the child Vikings to help them bond. The other dragons reunited with their riders and Meatlug had found her young: which had hatched on Berk. As she said, they were laid in the building she was kept in, and now they see their mother for the first time.

All in all, it's a big, heartfelt, welcome and everyone feels joy for meeting their reptilian friends again…especially on the eve of the celebrations.

Stoick takes this time to gather everyone, including the dragons and their young, to the mead hall. Speaking of which, once we are all inside the Great Hall it is lavishly decorated with lit lanterns, food and beer-covered tables, and other ornaments.

The atmosphere is uplifting and jubilant…what you would come to expect from such a holiday. I scanned the scene in front of me: everyone had their dragon…but…the question remained: where was Hiccup's?

I walked beside the boy, noticing the faint look of sorrow on his face. Even after everything, Toothless still had not returned…

Astrid, just as I had, noticed the look on Hiccup's face and walked up to him, "Hiccup…I know this must be really hard for you, seeing everyone with their dragons…"

As she sympathetically comforts him, my black nose suddenly tingles just before my ears rise all the way up as my side frills move in conjunction. The scent is too familiar to ignore…and my reptilian mind already knows…

Sure enough, Astrid and I catch sight of a dragon, dressed in black, silently entering through the large doors. My eyes widened upon catching sight of them, excitement grew inside me…and a happy warble escaped my throat. It's Toothless!

The Night Fury looks around, trying to spot us, and finally catches sight of us. As the teenage Fury moved in and padded alongside my line of sight, Hofferson gave a light, smug, grin…deciding to playfully rub it in Hiccup's face. The boy rolls his eyes but before he can retort at Astrid's sudden mood change, she excitedly pushes him toward his dragon and the two finally reunite!

Their eyes lock on one another, and their unbroken eye contact is soon ended, though happily, by an embrace by Hiccup in a sincere gesture. It's an emotional reunion, to say the least. I trotted over to greet the returning dragon before I notice the object in his mouth…could it be?

"Toothless, it's been too long, bud, I'm so glad you're alright!" Hiccup squints his eyes and sees the horn protruding from the beast's mouth, "…is that-"

Suddenly, the Fury rests the salivated Helmet on Hiccup's head as the slobber runs down his face and hair. The boy, despite this, is overjoyed to see his best friend back. WildWing was right, Toothless DID leave to find it, Hiccup thought to himself.

He and Toothless gaze at one another, the former placing a soft hand on the side of the dragon's face, "buddy, thank you. You are amazing." In a similar fashion to how I hugged the adolescent Night Fury on the cliff after he found out the truth about me, Hiccup embraced his dragon in the same heartwarming fashion.

At first, when Tooth gave an awkward glance toward me, I gave him a reassuring nod. I stand on my legs and give a 'hug' gesture back to help him. Initially, he is holding back a little, but the larger Fury does finally hug his rider back before I smile and nod quietly. Astrid kneels toward me and giggles a bit, "didn't take you for a trainer, Peanut." I give an impish shrug back to her as everyone cheers and that's the moment the festivities REALLY began!

Things got crazy, and I mean…crazy! Snoggletog went into full swing! The holiday is a rowdier version of Christmas with everyone dancing to folk tunes and drinking heavy liquor to wash their excitement down. As the night progressed, everyone was dancing to the tunes, including myself. It's been a while since I've listened to music, so this will have to do. It does have a certain charm to it, however, if I must say so. I ate, I drank (only water of course) and I sang, singing along to the Viking songs in gibberish…since I didn't know the words. Toothless couldn't help but join in…along with Stormfly.

As things began to wind down, we talked…and talked…and talked. I told the Fury everything that he had missed…including my time showing Hiccup my language. He seemed pretty interested in the subject and requested to see the lessons in a future time. I couldn't help but say yes to him. Sure enough, sleepiness began to overtake me, but it wasn't just me. Toothless, by this time, decided to take me back to the house on his back and I soon passed out before we got there. The dragon couldn't help but look up and smile in response.

He felt as though he was gone for far too long, but he was back…and that's all that mattered. The dragon is back, so was everyone else…and things were far better now than it was before. Snoggletog had been worth it for everyone.

The Night Fury rested me on the bed made for me by Hiccup and rested the blankets over me. With a soft muttering of his black lips, he breathed comforting words in my small ears:

"Goodnight, Flint."

Toothless went over to his bed and tried to fall asleep, but a thought prevented him from doing so. The reptile looked over to his new tail fin and thought to himself for a moment before looking over to my sleeping form.

He wanted to know something…wanted to see someone…share something with me…take me with him…

But for now, he decided to let it go…he'll wait for a few hours…figuring the both of us will need the sleep. Tomorrow morning, before sunrise…Toothless is going to give me his gift to me.

Alrighty! That's the end of the chapter! There is a bit more to this short, so it's not done just yet. The next chapter will be the epilogue to GOTNF. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and how the story is coming along.

A note: some of you might be thinking…how in the heck was Hiccup able to ride Flint if he's small? Well technically he's the size of the NightLights from Homecoming, and in the game "School of Dragons" riders are shown being able to ride the baby dragons without much trouble, despite it being non-canon. I figured it would work well in this situation, regardless.

Anyways, I hope you all take care and I'll see you next time!