The Friendship

Chapter Four | Hiccup Meets the Dragon Master

Chapter Four | Hiccup Meets the Dragon Master

This picture is just because I thought the kid's expression while watching Hiccup and Astrid kiss was hilarious! I laugh even when I watch it alone (which is most of the time). Enjoy!

~LITTLE HICCUP~

I stared straight back into the Night Fury's intense orb-like eyes. It took in a deep breath, the one that was going to make that killing blow. I closed my eyes, preparing for the dragon's fiery breath. I heard footsteps, running in my direction. Then fire being lighted. I braced, assuming it would be aimed towards me, but the Night Fury took some weight off my shoulders, though not all of it. The fire went out, and the sound of leaking gas replaced it. A lot of gas. The dragon screeched as the gas was alighted, and it banged into trees and other obstacles as it flew away clumsily.

When I finally opened my eyes, which were squeezed shut from fear, I was surprised by what I saw. A young man, probably in his early twenties, was panting slightly as he watched the beast leave. He turned around and his expression fell blank as his gaze rested on me. "Who—are you?" I asked shakily.

Once he composed himself, the young man walked over and gave him a hand, which Little Hiccup took to pull himself up to his feet. "Me? Well, my name is—Tuff—lout. Yes, I am Tufflout," he said with certainty. Tufflout. A proper Viking name. Not like Hiccup, the runt of the litter.

"Well, Tufflout, what are you doing in the woods?" I wondered politely, not trying to pry.

"I'm a nomad." Tufflout informed me. Wow, a nomad. He must have been everywhere!

"Would you like to stay at my village? I'm sure there is room for you," I asked Tufflout courteously.

He stumbled through his words. "I, uh—Yes!—I mean—that would be all right," Tufflout half-mumbled, glancing back at the bushes behind him.

"All right, then. Let's head back, shall we?" I said, turning back the way I had come. I tripped over a root and fell, landing on my hands and knees. Oh gods. I was being a fool in front of this guy. Tufflout had just saved me from a Night Fury. A Night Fury. The memories of that dragon came rushing back.

"Are you all right?" Tufflout asked me with concerned eyes, giving me his hand once again. "You don't look good."

I stood up, brushing the dirt off my pants. "No, no, I'm fine," I lied. "It's just—the—Night Fury—" I started to say, just before I dropped to the ground.

~HICCUP~

I jumped out with my fire sword, distracting Tiny Toothless with its flames. His head went wherever my sword did. I was the snake charmer and he was the cobra. I retracted the blade and switched it out for Hideous Zippleback gas. Lighting the gas, Tiny Toothless screeched, flying away from the threatening explosion. I watched the Night Fury go off to the cove. I turned around to look at – well, myself. This was not good.

"Who—are you?" Little Hiccup asked me. I stepped towards Little Hiccup and stuck out my right hand towards him before I answered, which my younger self used as leverage to pull himself back on his own feet, both of which were still real.

Oh, man. I didn't know what to say. "Me? Well, my name is—Tuff—" I started. I couldn't have said Tuffnut though. That would be too much of a coincidence. "—lout. Yes, I am Tufflout," I finished.

Little Hiccup seemed not to notice my nervousness. "Well, Tufflout, what are you doing in the forest?" he wondered. HI could tell he was trying to make this as casual as possible after I saved his life. Our life.

I thought of the many flights I took with Toothless to add on to the map of the archipelago. "I'm a nomad." It was close enough. Little Hiccup's expression told me he was impressed.

He asked, "Would you like to stay at my village? I'm sure there is room for you." I hoped that was his last question.

I glanced into the bushes, searching for Toothless. His eyes, a brighter green than the rest of the plant life, silently told Hiccup to go. He was right. If I stayed in the forest, that would arouse suspicion. It was best to follow. "I, uh—Yes!—I mean—that would be all right,"

"All right, then. Let's head back, shall we?" Little Hiccup said, tripping. He had started to go pale. I had known this would happen. He was going to have fainted sooner or later.

Still concerned though, I wondered, "Are you all right? You don't look good," as I gave him his other hand this time.

Not trying to seem weak, Little Hiccup lied weakly, "No, no, I'm fine. It's just—the—Night Fury—" before he ended up on the ground for the third time in the last twenty minutes.

I plucked Little Hiccup off the ground, grabbing him from under his arms, and leaned him gently against a large tree. I went back into the brush to Toothless, who was right where HI left him.

"I'm so sorry Hiccup, this is all my fault," Toothless admitted.

"No it's not, bud. You have a dragon cold, it can't be helped. The question now is, what do we do about it?" I mused.

"For starters, you're going to the village. I'll find a cave to sleep in at night. As for him," Toothless motioned with his head to Little Hiccup, "we need to make sure they—we—become friends. He already looks up to you, after you saved him, and told him you were a nomad. Nice improvisation by the way." He gave me a toothy grin for that.

"Gobber always told me I was a natural in the arts," I boasted sarcastically, bowing dramatically. Toothless swiped his tail along the ground, tripping me.

"Don't get carried off. When you return, I'll be close by."

My friend turned to go, but I stopped him, pulling the lever which locked his tail. "For when he comes back tomorrow," I said, and Toothless nodded in agreement. "Be safe!" I yelled after the dragon. Toothless was a big boy, but I was still worried for him. We were best friends after all.

I returned to the clearing where I last saw Little Hiccup. He was already awake, pushing himself to his feet. "Feeling better?" I asked cheerfully.

"Uh, yeah, a lot better," he said, his teenage voice cracking. "I'm Hiccup, by the way."

"Nice to meet you—Hiccup." It felt foreign on my tongue to call someone else by my name, even though it was me.

Stepping into stride with Little Hiccup, we walked in silence for a while. I watched as flocks of birds flitted from tree to tree, and their branches swayed in the wind. The friendly conifers slowly started to part.

Little Hiccup didn't notice, but I saw him observing me. He noticed my face and hair, my armor, the loops on my legs (for pulling my wings out) and the dagger on my arm, my hilt of my fire sword without a blade. He especially took interest in my prosthetic foot. In place of it wasn't a wooden peg leg, but a metal one, where I was able to use different "feet" for different reasons.

"You won't—tell anyone about what happened, right?" Little Hiccup asked fearfully.

I would never humiliate him. "Never," I promised him, smiling. Little Hiccup smiled back, teeth showing. I knew we were going to get along great. We were the same person after all. The forest slipped away, and in its place was the village. Even though I wasn't in my own time, it felt good to be home.

"Welcome to Berk, Tufflout."

~ ~ ~

My list of things to tell you:

1. Go read Curlyhorse's story, How To Train Your Dragon: The Next Heir. I love it but it makes me so sad. The dragons. :(

2. Do you like my name for the younger Toothless and Hiccup?

3. When this story is done, do you think I should let my mom read it? I'm kind of embarrassed about writing a HTTYD fanfic for some reason. No one understands except you guys. I know she wouldn't judge. It would be like two worlds colliding though. Wattpad plus Mom. Seems a little strange. Well, later gators! Remember to comment, vote, and share!