When Worlds Collide

Chapter Twenty-Eight

 Ember was outside the window across from Gale. He kept tapping on it, then looking at him expectantly.

"What?" Gale asked, although he wasn't sure the dragon would hear.

"He wants to go flying," a voice behind him said; Astrid had walked in. "He's been pretty restless lately, and he's definitely big enough for it now."

"Alright...he can fly...whenever he want's to...right?" Gale asked.

"Of course," she said thoughtfully. "I think he wants to go flying with you, though."

"What? No, I'm not...going on one of...those things. No matter...whose it is."

"Well, that's what happens when you have a dragon," Astrid said with a grin. She laughed at his expression. "C'mon, it's not that bad once you've tried it." He sighed, slowly standing. He reached for a stick that was leaning on the wall, using it as a crutch.

"Alright...fine." He huffed.

Ember came around to meet them as they walked outside. Astrid smiled and held her hand out to him, and he ran his nose across it before turning to Gale with a pleading expression.

"What? I already...agreed to it." Gale said, holding out his hand to the dragon. When Ember nestled his nose in it, Gale's face softened.

"Alright...it's not that bad." He said, stroking Ember's head.

Astrid whistled for Stormfly, and with her came Hiccup and Toothless. "What? Is he going flying?" Hiccup asked with a smirk. "I have to see this."

"Yeah, you...enjoy yourself." Gale said, smiling for the first time in a while. "So, how do you...do it?"

"You sit here," Astrid explained, gesturing to Ember's long neck. "It looks like it might hurt him, but he'll be fine. It might be uncomfortable, but after you get a saddle, it'll be better."

"Alright then." Gale said, slowly climbing onto Ember's neck and gripping the horns. Astrid climbed up on Stormfly. "And then you just go," she said simply, and both of the riders took off.

"Go?" Gale wondered out loud, and Ember shot into the air, almost knocking Gale off. Ember glided up alongside the other dragons. Gale looked the same as he had on the boneknapper.

"What? Are you scared?" Hiccup teased. Gale shot him a look and relaxed.

"Not scared, just...surprised." He said, and he held his hand to his throat. The cool air seemed to have cleared out the watery feeling. "There is a difference you know."

"There's Eret," Astrid said, pointing. "He's our newest rider, so he could help." At that moment, he looked up, so Astrid gestured for him to join them.

"Well, wha' are we doin' up here?" he said as Skullcrusher came closer.

"Well, Gale's learning how to fly," Hiccup said, gesturing. "I don't think he likes it that much."

"You could say that again." Gale muttered. Ember glanced up at him with an expression that could only be a smirk.

"You might want to watch out," Hiccup said. "Last time Toothless did that --"

"What? What do you mean?" Gale asked, suddenly a little more worried.

"It's a day I won't forget anytime soon," Astrid said with a grin. Wings were heard, and Clarisse came up to join them, laughing at Gale's reaction.

"So, Snare boy's scared?" She said with a smirk.

"Although he won't admit it," Hiccup grinned.