Here is Chapter 17 as promised. Sorry it's a little bit later, but it is here as promised. Enjoy it.
The Spiritual Moon Guide:
Toothless as a dragon was on his balcony whilst Hiccup, geared up in his green and gold travel clothes, attached supplies to his saddle. The Night Fury noticed how very quiet his spiritual brother was. Sharpshot and Smokey eyed him worriedly.
"Are you okay, Hiccup?".
"Course I'm fine," he focused on tightening the saddle strap. "Why wouldn't I be?".
"I know that you're scared,".
"Toothless, I'm fine,"
"No Hiccup. You're not," Toothless's sincerity paused Hiccup. "You've been very quiet all day since the meeting. I need to trust that you can be in good condition for this trip,".
"Toothless I don't care what might or what might not be wrong with me. The only thing I care about is us winning this war and finding the king of dragons. The mission comes first. You must promise me that no matter what happens you'll put the mission and Raya before me,".
"I cannot do that," Toothless embraced him with his front paws and wrapped him warmly. "You know I love you. You're the only one I'll ever call a brother,". Hiccup moved to tears and hugged him back. "And I will not lose you as well,". Sharpshot and Smokey joined in the affectionate hug. "I love all of you,". Their human trainer, rider and spiritual brother confessed.
Raya suited up in her original clothes: her yellow top, brown vest, bend boots and green jeans pulled on her red cape. She prepared her sword and backed a large rucksack with all her important items. She held up her mother's ring to her wet eyes and placed it carefully inside a ring box for safekeeping. "I will find out what happened to you, mother. I promise,".
"Is my little dew-drop ready?" her father entered the room.
"I am ba," Raya topped her head with her salakot. "It doesn't feel like three years since I was wearing these clothes searching for Sisu and the dragon gem pieces to save you,".
"And now you're off on a whole adventure. You know I envy you daughter. My whole life I always dreamed of leaving Kumandra and exploring the world. I once planned to run away before my father could label me chief,".
"What changed?".
"Meeting your mother. She gave me a purpose. She made me realise how more important it was to stay here for your people,".
"But now I have to leave for our people. I wish it hadn't of come to this,".
"So long as you all have each other, there is nothing you can't do. We will do all we can to counter Drago's forces until you all return,".
"I just hope it will be soon enough ba," she prayed.
"I hope so too," Benja embraced her tightly. "Wanted to do this before a proper one later,".
Sisu stared out at the lands of Kumandra from a high mountain. Her siblings joined her. "I wish I wasn't leaving,".
"Sisu, Toothless and your friends need you," Pengu said gently.
"But I don't want to leave you guys," she cried a little.
"Sisu, you have no choice," Jagan tearfully cupped her face. "We all have a role in this war. And your role is to help your team find this dragon to save Kumandra and all its peoples. And we know you're just the perfect dragon for the job,".
Sisu wanted to answer back but her family could see exactly what clouded her judgment. "You're afraid you'll let your team down," Amba acknowledged, earning a nod. "You won't Sisu. You'll protect them just as you did before,".
"Your magic will be a key aid for the mission," Pranee encouraged. She looked towards the setting sun. "We must go to Heart now. It will time very, very soon,".
Everyone was gathered on the mainland, just off Heart Island. The chiefs were there and so were the families of those who would be departing on their important quest. The royal family, Toothless and their friends awaited Sisu and her family in the gentle rain.
"Are you sure you guys wanna come? There'll be no turning back," Hiccup warned the team.
"We do this together," Tong patted his shoulder. "We saved Kumandra together. Now we save it again together,".
Absolutely. Meatlug growled in approval.
Hiccup giggled and tickled her nose. "It's too much for us to ask your help,".
No, it is not. Stormfly chirped. You saved us. Now let us help you save all of Dragonkind.
Besides you guys aren't going to make it without us. Hookfang reminded, earning a scratch on the snout from Boun.
Sisu and her siblings arrived and they nodded at their friends.
"Travel up the river and leave Kumandra past the horn," Chief Atitya told them. "My scouts have reported that there are some ships but not a whole legion. It's the only chance you've got. So don't miss it,".
"We've got this," Raya saluted. "It's time everyone,".
"Let's do this," Hiccup saluted.
"Let's do this!" they repeated.
"Goodbye Tuk-Tuk," Raya embraced her land steed and he started crying. "Don't cry you lovely pill-bug,".
"We'll be back soon," Hiccup promised, giving him one last treat. "I promise,".
Sharpshot and Smokey licked Tuk-Tuk's face to cheer him up before Toothless said, "I'll take care of them. I promise,".
You'd better.
"Be safe," Pengsaided. Hiccup approached him and he offered his hand which he took gently. "Tell me what is wrong now whilst we have,".
"Pengu, I'm afraid," he confessed.
"As you have every reason to be. But we will gladly fight these forces to ensure your safety above all of us. But do not think of that man. Think only of those who love you. But don't ever try to hide your fear. It only prolongs the pain,".
"I'll be alright, everyone," Boun gave each of his family members a big hug. His mother's was the tightest.
"Just come back," she begged. "You take care of him Hooky,".
"Mum his name's not Hooky!" The teen complained.
It's okay. Hookfang growled. I like it.
Tong kissed his wife and son goodbye whilst Noi once again shared a big hug with her mother. "You stay safe,".
"You know we'll keep her safe," Toothless promised. "Fly on me," he insisted.
"Tooth-tooth," the child toddled over to the Night Furr and hugged his head, pulling on his face a bit.
He got annoyed. "Oh, why did I say that?"
Hiccup laughed and picked the baby up to place on the saddle. The Ongis gave him cheesy smiles. "Sorry Ongis. Toothless doesn't trust you guys to behave whilst you're sitting on him,".
"That is correct," Toothless gave them the cold shoulder much to their chagrin.
"Be careful my babies," Renata cupped her sons' faces. "Just come back safe,".
"You know we will," Luong promised.
"Do you think Dad would be proud of us?" Phuoc asked.
"Very much," she sniffled before giving them another hug.
"Ba," Raya hugged him tightly in tears.
"Dew-drop. Just remember my love is always with you even when I am not,".
"Just be safe," she begged.
"You know I will," Benja kissed her head and then turned to Hiccup who was teary-eyed as well. He held his hands. "Hiccup, everything will be alright. I will find out about Gobber and do not worry about that monster either. He can never harm you. All will be well. Just take off each other," he begged.
"I will, ba," Hiccup hugged him tightly. "Thank you. For everything,".
Meatlug's saddle was strapped with supplies so Tong had to ride Hookfang with Boun so it wouldn't be too much weight for her. Barf and Belch would be carrying supplies as well with the Ongis riding them. Finally, Stormfly and another Deadly Nadder (of red and blue) named Ruby would be carrying Luong and Phuoc, both armed with their spears, bows and arrows.
Sisu would be carrying Raya and Hiccup who would be the lead flyer would be upon Toothless with Noi whilst Smokey and Sharpshowere t beside him. "Good luck dragon riders," Benja bid. "I pray you alto l return home safe and sound. That's all that matters to us,".
"We won't let you guys down," Hiccup promised.
"Good luck," Pengu bid. Sisu nuzzled his head and then nuzzled her other siblings.
"Make us proud Sisu," Jagan encouraged
"Toothless, look after her," Pranee begged.
"I will," Toothless promised. Sisu smiled at him and he smiled back, not noticing their riders were sending them secret smiles too. The sun disappeared and the sky was dark. Sisu summoned rainfall and the dragons flapped their wings and soared across the sky, their loved ones and friends watching behind them with hopeful eyes.
Hours passed and they saw Fang in the distance and only five miles ahead, the horn, their way out. As Toothless led the way, Noi fell asleep against Hiccup's chest and he kept a firm hold on her. The mainland started to disappear down below them and it meant the open sea was within reach.
"The ships!" Luong warned. Through spyglasses, ships of wood were within sight. No clouds were in the sky. Only Toothless would blend in and not the other dragons.
"It's up to you now, Smokey," Hiccup instructed.
With pleasure. Smokey shot ahead and within seconds, they were flying through a ginormous cloud of misty air.
Why does he get to barf out? Barf complained.
Because your breath is green and smelly. Belch complained.
Hey!
"Shut it you two," Toothless growled gently. "Keep up the good work, Smoky,".
"How are we supposed to see?" Boun complained.
"Just keep flying forward," Raya instructed. "Now hush everyone!".
In mere minutes, Smokey was beginning to run out of fire breath and his wings couldn't keep him up. He fell into Hiccup's hands. The cloud lasted for many minutes until it faded away and when their heads looked down, there were no ships.
They cheered. "We made it!" Sisu flew around in circles for joy that she completely forgot Raya was still on.
"Sisuuuuu!" she screamed, dangling by the stirrups. Whoopsps! Sorry," Sisu hoisted her back on.
"We made it," Tong breathed in relief. "No one suspects we've left and our mission can go underway,".
Raya took one last look back at their fading home. She worried for her ba. "Be safe ba," she prayed silently.
"Don't worry, babe. We'll be back soon," Hiccup promised.
"So, where do we head?" Sisu asked eagerly.
"We head to these outskirts of islands we've never been to," Hiccup poked to a group of islands on the map, much further than they had ever been. "It will take us about two nights to get there. In the meantime, we need to find a nice island to rest at,".
"Luckily I know just the one," Toothless sped ahead and the other dragons followed after him. Within a quarter of an hour, they saw a lonely island in the distance, covered in sandy beaches and towering cliffs with a small forest.
"We will rest here tonight," Hiccup announced. The dragons landed on the sand and fell onto their stomachs. The humans unstrapped the saddles and supplies so they could relax and shut their eyes. After catching fish, the team sat around a fire watching them cook above the flames. They fed their mounts with Meatlug eating rocks instead of fish like her other friends. Hiccup however didn't eat anything.
"You've hardly touched your food," Tong said.
"Hiccy?" Noi tapped his leg.
"I just can't stop thinking about Gobber," he confessed. "What he must be thinking or doing now. If Stoick finds out what he did, he'll kill him,".
Raya held his arm. "My father will not let that happen. He allowed us to escape. That's a debt ba will repay,".
"I just want to get some sleep. I'm gonna turn in early,". Hiccup kissed Raya's cheek before walking away with his dragons to roll out his mat. Raya watched with deep worry.
"Let him be alone for a while," Luong advised. "He's been through a lot and it's all so much to take in,".
"Things will seem better in the morning," Phuoc promised.
"Thanks, you two," Raya pecked her brotherly cousins 'goodnight' and went to roll out her own mattress. Soon the entire team were lying down on their mattresses, falling into a deep sleep for the long journey they would have tomorrow. There was no need to keep watch for they were far away from their enemies and dragons had better hearing when in sleep.
Hiccup!
Hiccup's eyes flashed open. He woke up panting. "Raya?" his love was beside him. "Toothless? Sharpshot? Smokey?" his dragons weren't beside him either. "Anyone?" he looked around. He was all alone. "No. No," he saw a trail of red leading away from the beach. He followed it and when he entered the forest, his heart dropped like e stone. All around him were bodies lying in pools of blood. Tong. Boun. Noi and the Ongis. Renata and the twins. Benja. Gobber. Toothless and his little dragons. Sisu and her siblings. And…
"No," Hiccup fell before Raya, cradling her. "No. Raya, you can't be. Please say something. Please…" he kissed her lips, praying she would wake up but she didn't.
"This is your doing," a cruel voice taunted. He looked ahead and saw Stoick, covered in blood with a blood-dripping axe marching towards him. "They died because of you. It is you who brought this upon them. You should have died all those years ago. They were better off without you. It's who you are Hiccup Haddock. A screw-up. A nobody. A person who always gets people killed. And now look at you. Cradling the body of the very person you love most. Well, guess what you can join her. And believe me,e I tell you this," he towered over his petrified disowned son. "No one will ever love or miss or remember you,".
The axe raised and…
"Ahh!" Hiccup woke up in shock. Absolute silence. No one was awake. He looked around and saw only his friends within sight. Even Raya wasn't beside him. He stood up and sprinted into the forest to the edge of a cliff and… "Ahhhhh!".
He screamed to the heavens, so loud that perhaps the gods of Asgard could hear him. Fear has taken hold of him like cold iron. He cried into the ground, his tears spilling on the earth. He had no courage at all anymore. He couldn't face anything.
"You are frightened, young one,". A kind voice spoke into his hollowed ears. A giant shadow loomed over him. His heart bounded against his rib cage. "Do not be afraid. I am a friend,".
Hiccup raised his head and before him was a magnificent dragon twenty times larger than Toothless with silver skin that shone bright like the full moon towering over the island. Two long, bent horns poked out of the sides of her face, her large white and blue wings grew along her back and a long feathery plume split at the tip. Claws, the length of spears grew out of her four powerful paws, feathers grew around her face and her eyes glowed the deepest pink she had ever seen. Her head leaned forward and he fell back in shock.
"Don't be afraid Hiccup, Hero and Rider of Dragon. I know you have suffered much pain and hardship your whole life. But you need to be strong,".
The compassion in her eyes touched Hiccup's heart and he stood up, gazing upwards at her glistening eyes. "Who…who are you? And how do you know me?".
"I am Luna Tenabris, the great Archdragon of the Moon. I have watched you all your life. And I have never watched a human with a heart so pure in this world than yours,". Luna leaned her head forward and Hiccup realised how kind and friendly she was. He reached forward a hand and felt Luna's soft nose touch his fingers. Seeing her so up close like this made his fears dissolve away as the terrible dreams they were.
"You're a beautiful dragon. I've never seen anything like you before. Where do you come from?".
"Another world parallel to your own," Her words made Hiccup pale white. "From a land of dragons and elves and humans and magic, all different from all that you have seen before,".
"How can there be other worlds? I thought there was just one,".
"There is so much you have learnt to learn about the extent of existence,".
"What does a great dragon-like yourself have in this world?".
"I am a Spirit. And I am here to guide you on your mission,".
Hiccup blinked. "Me? But why? Why would you help me? A human from another world?".
"As Spirits, we watch over all beings from the worlds we come from and the worlds that we don't. I have watched you risk your life to protect creatures who are different from you. You remind me of a human girl who looked past her kind's hatred to bring a dragon prince back to his home. You need help Hiccup,".
"How can I ask that of you?".
"You have earned it. And I know you need it," She gave forward and offered a white palm; Hiccup was hesitant. "I wish to show you the land I hail from,".
"But my friends. Raya…".
"We will be back before the sun rises. I have watched you for years and you have proven yourself worthy to see these worlds full of people as noble-hearted as you,".
Hiccup remained reluctant. His heart jumped to the sound of his name being cried out. He turned around and saw Raya panting for dear life as she rushed to him. He opened his arms and she embraced him.
"I'm okay, babe,".
"What were you thinking? Walking off like…" Raya realised Luna was there and drew out her sword. "Stay back!".
"It's alright Raya," Hiccup calmed her down. "She's not a threat,".
"He is right, Raya, daughter of Benja and Reina," Luna said calmly. "You need not be afraid,".
Raya lowered her blade. "How'd you know my name?".
"I have watched you your whole life. I have watched how you and Hiccup met and fell in love and brought peace back to your lands. And now I will serve as his spirit guide and your protector,".
"Babe, she's from another world," Hiccup said ecstatically.
Raya wouldn't believe it. "That's impossible,".
"Nothing's impossible princess," Luna said calmly. "I have come to you both because I must prepare you both for a vital quest
"We're already on a quest. To find the king of dragons of…uh…our world before our enemies find it first and use it to conquer our home," Raya explained.
"I'm talking about another mission. Once your war with your enemies ends, you two will be summoned to the land of Xadia,".
"What?!" they responded with different tones, Hiccup shocked, Raya outraged.
"Great dragon, it's not that we don't want to help," Raya said calmly, sheathing her sword again to ease the tension. "But for over six years, we have been fighting enemies and now we're trying to win a great war. Afterwards, we just want to live in peace and harmony for Hiccup and I are to be wed,".
"I know. I can tell by your glamorous rings of gold around your fingers. Congratulations by the way," Luna smiled. "I know how much of a shock this must be for you two, but you two and your dragons Toothless and Sisu have been chosen to help my world put an end to the threat of a dark force that will stop at nothing to destroy Xadia and all other worlds and lands. This means all worlds must play their role in vanquishing it for good. This is why I have appeared at this very moment to take you two to show my world,". She offered her giant paw again.
Raya and Hiccup walked off to talk. "It can't be true Hiccup," Raya was shaking from head to toe. "This isn't how it's supposed to be. I just want us to finish our mission, defeat our enemies, get married and have a peaceful life afterwards. How do we even know we can trust this Luna?".
Hiccup licked his lips and turned around to think for a second. "Raya, I know you won't want me to say this…" he kept his face down as he turned around again. "But we can't ignore it. This dragon is like no other we have ever seen. She knew exactly who we were without actually meeting us and she has offered us protection and guidance. Sometimes there are moments when we are chosen to do things we might not want to do because it is how fate plays out,".
"You think we should visit this world don't you,".
Hiccup couldn't deny his opinion nor did he want to upset her. He held out his hands and she clasped them. "I'm not asking you to trust this dragon. All I'm asking you is trust me on this. I wish I could ignore it but my instincts are telling me we need to listen to the dragon. Whatever dark force she is talking about, if it threatens our home it should concern us,".
Raya nodded. "You are right. But I don't want our wedding to wait. I want it to happen after our war with Drago and the Dragon Hunteisare finished,".
Hiccup nodded. "It must. I will not let anything get between us. I promise,".
"I trust you," Raya passionately kissed Hiccup and embraced him. They walked back towards Luna who offered her paw again. "We will let you show us your world. So long as you keep your word to be Hiccup's spirit guide,".
"I give you my word," Luna promised. "One day soon, your spirit guide will appear to you too, Raya. As will the others to those who are also chosen,".
"There are more?" Hiccup asked.
"Yes. From other worlds and lands, other spirit guides will appear to them and tell them of this great quest which will draw you all together. One day you will meet your future allies. But for now, let me take you to Xadia for a quick trip,".
The pair stood on her paw and she lifted them carefully towards her head. They sat between her horns and with a flap of mighty wings, she carried them high up in the air towards the full moon. Raya clung on tightly to Hiccup's back and he clung on tightly to Luna's left horn.
Looking ahead, the moon's bright glow nearly blinded them. But a swirling vortex of mystical blue appeared and whoosh!
So Hiccup and Raya have met Luna and she's going to show them Xadia. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter a lot. The next one might not come up till the very end of September or the beginning of October but I will get down to it as soon as I can.
