They, with the Dragon Wings • HTTYD

Chapter 20 | all roads lead to Rome

There it was, the city of Roma, complete with stone roads, community markets, temples of worship, fully aqueduct fixed bathhouses and houses atop houses. The city was massive compared to the much smaller island of Berk and their more village adjacent setup. Everything about this place felt completely alien to Hiccup. Sure the Vikings had some real impressive monuments and technology for their time, but they were rather nomadic and sea faring. Well... more dragon faring on Berk. So their settlements weren't anywhere near as massive as a city.

And the sheer drama of even entering the city... the citizens had moved off the roads to the sides and watched as the army marched through back to their barracks. And from all the pointing and chatter, Hiccup could tell he and his mother along with you, were the centre of attention. No doubt the Roman's had seen dragons before, they had dragons here. But never someone on the back of a tamed dragon walking with the army through the streets. Two foreigners dressed in what to them would be unusual armour, on dragon back with a hybrida? That was unusual. And clearly the army has bought you here on your own will, since it's want like you were locked up or shackled like a prisoner.

"Holy Thor... this place is massive..." Hiccup muttered.

"I know, it's easy to get lost if you don't know the place" you replied.

You'd been here a few times, mostly just passing through on your travels but you knew the basic layout of the place. Once you'd held up your end of the deal with the army of talking with their emperor, you'd have to stop at a few places before taking off across the sea to your island. Show the Vikings around, have them get some souvenirs to take back home and such.

"I don't think I've ever a settlement this big" Valka added.

"Me neither... imagine this place of everyone had a dragon..." Hiccup said.

"I think it'd be more crowed than a terrible terror nest, maybe for the best not EVERYONE has a pet dragon here"

That was true, the overcrowding would be insane. If Roma were to incorporate dragons, it'd be best if they were kept on the outskirts in the farmlands, they'd have plenty of room to free roam that way.

"Once we've talked with the big boss man in charge, I'll take you guys to a taberne. They serve food and wine, you can try some authentic food" you said.

"Hopefully they won't get too scared of the dragons and turn us away" Valka chuckled.

"No one can be scared of Toothless once they see his puppy dog eyes" Hiccup replied.

Maybe getting the general public seeing the cute and loyal side of dragons would get them to trust them more, Hiccup would do anything to bridge the gap between humans and dragons no matter the country.

"Well you'll definitely get the chance to sell the army on dragons at least, they'll definitely be wanting all your knowledge now they're back home" You said.

"I'm happy to give it to them, the more human-dragon peace the better" Hiccup replied.

That was something about him you'd grown to really love, the pacifist nature. He'd much rather talk something out than fight it out. While he did have it in him to protect if it came to it, if he could sort something out with no bloodshed he would. And when it came to dragons and animals in general, he wanted the best for them too. Not all animals were as smart as dragons were, and dragons while amazingly smart weren't on the same level as a human or hybrida was. To Hiccup, every being deserved a chance at life, and as the intelligent species of a human, he'd protect the lives of other beings.

Life was important to him. He had an insatiable lust for life, just like you did. There was a whole world out there, thousands of species to discover and lands to see. He wanted to see as many as he could before he was old and frail, pass on all that knowledge to the next generation to help them live better lives amongst the dragons and wildlife around them. All with as little bloodshed as possible, you appreciated that a lot.

And it was as you sat behind him on Toothless' saddle, arms around his waist to keep yourself from slipping, following the Roman army down the road toward their barracks to hold up your end of the deal, it dawned on you.

This is the life you wanted. Exploring, discovering, seeing the world, learning the wilderness... with Hiccup.

No one treated you more like a person, despite your wings, than Hiccup did.

No one shared your same yearning for knowledge and adventure, like Hiccup did.

No one wanted dragon-human peace as much as you did... expect for Hiccup.

It was him, you wanted him.

"Hey... Hiccup?" You muttered.

"Yeah?" He replied, looking over his shoulder back at you.

"Tonight before we sleep... I want to show you something. There's a little spot I've been to nearby I think you'd like"

A slight blush dusted his cheeks. The thought of the two of you alone under the stars in some picturesque little nook on the Roman coast... it made his heart race.

"Y-yeah sounds great! I'll meet you before I pass out tonight" he replied.

Things were going... well. Very well. Halfway through your trip, made some good allies, and no sign of the hunters after you... who knows maybe you'd come out of this trip with a lover to call your own too? You did wonder though... what was going on back on Berk?

How was the rest of the gang? Was Stoick doing well not knowing where in the world Hiccup was right now? Are the dragons doing well? Is Heather still hanging around? And if so... how's she going with Astrid?

Hopefully they were doing as well as you and Hiccup were, in all honesty you totally shipped it. Hiccup seemed to as well, nice to know he and Astrid could stay friends after their little fling ended. You hoped things on Berk were well, that the hunters simply saw you weren't there and left them alone. Although you did worry in the back of your mind for them... those hunters were lead by Dagur after all...