Zephyr - The head strong, inventive, warrior with a habit of journelling absolutely everything.
Nuffink - The awkward, yet feisty bookworm with an instinct to protect his sister, regardless of the cost.
Young Zephyr just can't contain her curiosity...
The riders and the Haddock children were all gathered in the clubhouse. Hiccup was stood at the center table, flicking through some blueprints. Nuffink was still finishing the Yak Chops Heather had made for him and his sister. Zeph had barely touched hers and was now writing in her journal as she often did.
"What are you working on?" Astrid asked her auburn-haired friend as she hopped up on the table.
"The Dragon Blade." Hiccup admitted. "It's not staying alight for a long enough period but I can't possibly make the handle any bigger. If the Nightmare gel runs out during an ambush..."
"What if you found a way to carry more canisters?" Zeph suggested. The teens all spun to her as Nuffink nudged her leg in warning. "Sorry, I couldn't help overhearing."
"No. No, that's actually a really good idea. I can't believe I didn't think of that." Hiccup thought.
"Daddy's girl," Nuffink whispered tauntingly.
"At least I'm not a Mama's boy." She teased, sticking her tongue out at her brother as she hopped off the ground and sauntered towards her Father's teenage self. "May I?" She held out her hand and Hiccup handed her the charcoal pencil. She examined the blade that Hiccup had laid on the table. It was different than she remembered. Of course, Zephyr being the more practical of the Haddock children had memorized her father's blueprints by now. She quickly began sketching.
"Another lefty, huh?" Astrid wondered.
"Yeah, I get it from my dad," Zeph confirmed as she finished her exact replica sketch of the Dragon Blade blueprints from her father's den on New Berk.
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"Wow!" Hiccup gasped. "This is incredible." He examined the piece. "Retractable Blade, back up canisters... Oh, I have to get started on this right away!" Hiccup cheered as he raced towards the forge outside his hut.
"Hey, wait for me!" Fishlegs called as he followed close behind. Zephyr rolled her eyes before attempting to join them, only to be halted by her brother.
"I'll be careful." She assured as she placed a friendly kiss on his cheek before racing after her father. "Let's go girl." She called to her dragon.
"So, Nuff?" Ruffnut greeted. "You wouldn't happen to be a Thorston would you?"
"Not even slightly." He confirmed.
"Well, you are now. You shall be an honorary nut!" Tuff cheered. "Come Nuffnut! We have much to discuss." The Thorston's led the young blonde out of the clubhouse and towards the arena. Astrid followed if only to keep them out of trouble.
***
"Wow, Zeph you really know your stuff." Hiccup noted as she worked her way around the forge.
"I learned from the best." She admitted as she began to pound a long strip of metal.
*BANG*
The auburn-haired Haddocks instinctively turned towards the loud noise to see smoke ascending from the arena.
"Not again." They both sighed simultaneously. They both raced to their dragons and took off towards the scene.
They coughed and waved their hands through the thick veil of smoke.
"Ruff! Tuff!" Hiccup scowled. "I thought we talk about this?!"
Zephyr made her way to her brother.
"Nuffink! What were you thinking?!" She threw her fist into his upper arm.
"We were just having fun." He smirked at the twins.
"Yeah, we were!" Tuff cheered as he raced towards the young blonde.
"Uh, Tuff, maybe you shouldn't. He's not wearing a helmet!!!" Hiccup shouted in warning as the two male blonde's butted heads.
"Ooo, that had to hurt." Fishlegs winced.
"You would think." Zeph rolled her eyes as she pulled a piece of cloth from her saddlebag to cover the fresh wound on her brother's forehead.
"Nah, I'm okay," Nuff assured.
"Huh, kid can take a hit," Astrid smirked.
"So, I guess when you said we had to be careful, you just meant me huh?" Zephyr frowned.
"Older brothers tend to ignore their own advice," Heather explained.
"Actually. I'm the oldest." Zeph corrected. "I'm just small. I was born nearly two months early."
"Well, it's nice to know I'm not the only one." Hiccup chuckled. "So, how old are you, exactly?"
"Sixteen." Zeph raised her hand.
"Fourteen." Nuff did the same.
"Where are your parents?" Fishlegs wondered. The Haddock children shared a glance.
"Uh, guys. This may have to wait." Heather announced. Zephyr and Nuffink let out a sigh of relief. It was short-lived as Heather pointed out to sea. Zeph and Hiccup both pulled a spyglass from their saddlebags to take a closer look.
"Wow, okay. I think we've stumbled onto a female version of Hiccup." Fishlegs noted.
"Nah, she looks more like Astrid." Snotlout stated, the remaining riders all gazed at him. in confusion. "Oh, come on. The face and the outfit, even the kransen. I can't be the only one that sees that."
"Viggo." Hiccup declared as the insignia on the ship finally came into view. "An ambush. Perfect."
"Wait, Viggo?" Zeph thought. She remembered that name, from her father's stories. He would often cite the tales of his adventures on Dragon's Edge as bedtime stories for the young Haddock's when they were little. Well, littler. "Viggo Grimborn? The dragon hunter?"
"You know him?" Astrid wondered.
"He's an old enemy of our parents," Nuff explained, attempting to save his sister from the hole she was digging herself into.
"Everyone to your dragons!" Hiccup ordered. "Zeph, Nuff. You stay here."
"We can help." Zeph offered.
"Not a chance." Hiccup declined. "It's too dangerous and we haven't had time to work with Dart and Pouncer yet."
"Hiccup, maybe they have a point. Viggo will never be expecting three Night Furies. It would give us a huge advantage." Astrid explained.
"Look, while I can't deny that it would up our chances significantly, we can't risk it." Hiccup rambled. "I'm sorry, but you two have to stay here. You're not ready for this. I'm putting my foot down."
"Oh, that was a bad idea." Nuff planted his palm over his face.
Zeph sauntered towards Toothless and traced a finger across the top of his head until she found a pressure point on the back of his neck. She pressed down on it until the small spines on his back split into two. She then waltzed back towards her own dragon and did the same. Nuffink followed suit.
"Woah! What was that?"
"It helps with maneuverability," Zephyr explained as she hopped onto Dart's back. "You can thank me later. Let's go girl."
"Come on, Bud," Nuffink called to Pouncer as he hopped on his back.
"Hiccup, never put your foot down. It doesn't work." Astrid advised with a chuckle. "You should know that by now."
