How to Train Your Dragonblood

Flower Power

When Jay walked into the blacksmith's shop he looked at the clock. Since he had left Kai slightly earlier than usual, he had a few hours to himself but he didn't know what to do with that time. He sighed and finally looked himself over. First, he would need to get out of these clothes. The once blue fabric was now hidden under layer upon layer of mud. After getting changed and having a quick shower, he sat down on the soft couch, thinking of what to do next.

His brain and bruises acted as one and he came up with a brilliant idea.

He really needed to figure out a way to stop falling off when they were flying and how to properly control Kai's prothetic tailfin. A light bulb turned on over his head and he ran around the workshop. First, he needed to figure out a way to keep from falling off Kai's back as he feared that one of them could be very hurt if it continued happening. He gathered all the materials he thought he'd need and began working. As he worked to modify the saddle and tailfin, he took some inspiration from horse saddles.

He was particularly interested in how the riders steered the horses and stayed on their backs.

Eventually, the whole thing evolved to include a series of gears, pulleys, and cables controlled by a foot pedal mounted on a saddle from which Jay could sit and control the pedal. He had also constructed a leather flying harness that attached to Kai's saddle so he didn't fall off anymore. After he was sure it finished, Jay had to find a place to store it all until he saw Kai again. He quickly stuffed it all into a large, empty chest that he knew neither Ed nor Edna ever opened or even noticed.

Once he had hidden all of the evidence he tossed a small blue tarp over the chest to hide it for good measure.

The next time he would go to see Kai he could test it and he hoped Kai liked it.

"I hope this works."

"What do you want to use, Jay?" A voice suddenly asked and he nearly jumped out of his own skin, turning to see Ed standing in the doorway right behind him.

"Ed, please don't sneak up on me like that!" He exclaimed as the silver-haired man rolled his eyes.

"Just what exactly are you doing up so late, and here of all places?" He asked and Jay tensed, before mentally cursing. He really needed to start thinking of good excuses before people asked him any more questions.

"Um... well with winter on the way and... I thought it would be... best to make sure all our armors kept us warm." He stuttered, lying through his teeth, but luckily Ed didn't seem to notice.

"Yes... wouldn't want a repeat of last year."

"You don't have to bring that up every five seconds!"

"Yes, but I still can't believe you put a steel helmet through a washing machine." He chuckled and Jay facepalmed. That was by far the most embarrassing moment of his life. Ed sighed as he stopped laughing, before looking at his watch.

"You should be getting home sonny-boy, it may be a later class, but you'll be sleeping till wee hours of the afternoon staying up this late at night."

"Late class?"

"Yes Jay, as in a class we have in the afternoon instead of the morning." He replied and Jay grinned. The later start meant he would probably get to see Kai earlier.

"That's great!"

"Yes, maybe you'll be on time for once, now go to bed!" He ordered kindly and Jay quickly ran out of the store. When he did get home, Jay was too lazy to change into his pajamas' so he collapsed on the bed before crawling under the blankets, welcoming the warmth they supplied. As he started drifting off to sleep Jay started to wonder if Kai got cold at night. He thought he'd ask him tomorrow, but for now, the teen could barely keep his tired eyes open...