Emma: The Monster Inside Me (HTTYD Fanfic, Book 3)

Chapter 6: The Heir

Guys, I updated kinda fast-ish for once, are you proud of me?? XD -Annee

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Emma:

I led my brother to our old house, winding through the trees to get there. It was only a couple minute walk from the center of town, but it was surrounded by forest. The hole in the roof was fixed by now and the house restructured, but I still left most of the belongings inside untouched, a time capsule to when our parents lived there. Blaze looked around.

"It's so strange to be back here," he murmured as he carefully looked through the belongings. He smiled as he picked up a stuffed Night Fury. "Do you remember this?"

I shook my head.

"It was your favorite toy when you were a baby. You never put it down--you were always holding it or sleeping with it. You, of course, couldn't really talk, but you called it Lee-Lee for some reason." Blaze smiled slightly at the memory, and my expression mirrored his. 

He placed the plushie in my hands as he looked through some other things and I studied the stuffed animal. I was likely too young when I had it to remember it now, but even still, something about it comforted me. Something about holding it in my hands made me feel like everything would be okay. Something about it brought me hope.

As I stared at the toy some more, hints of a memory played in my mind: I felt my mother's gentle arms around me as I lay on her lap. Her fingers softly brushed against my hairline soothingly as I hugged the stuffed Night Fury. I remembered her beautiful, calming voice as she sang me a lullaby.

"The sky is dark, and the hills are white,

As the Storm King speeds from the north tonight

And this is the song The Storm King sings,

As over the world his cloak he flings.

Sleep, sleep, little one, sleep

He rustles his wings and gruffly sings,

Sleep, little one, sleep," my mother sang soothingly. She tenderly brushed my hair away from my face and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"Wait, Mama, Lee-Lee needs a kiss too," I murmured tiredly. My mother smiled her warm, loving smile and kissed my plushie goodnight, making me giggle. 

"Goodnight, Sweet Emma. Mama loves you." 

"I wuv you, Mama."

Her voice made me feel safe, her motherly touch a great comfort. I didn't want to let go as the memory faded and tears brimmed my eyes. Blaze looked over at me.

"Emmy? What's wrong?"

I looked over at my brother and blinked the tears away, clearing my blurry vision. "I know I don't remember much about them, and I didn't know them for very long, but I still miss them so much."

Blaze wrapped his arms around me, kissing my forehead. "I know. So do I. But they're watching down on us from Valhalla. And you know what? I'm certain they're very proud of who you've grown up to be."

I took a deep breath. "Thank's, Blaze." I rested my head on his shoulder, hugging Lee-Lee to my chest. Several minutes later, I sat up, setting the plushie on my bed. Blaze continued to look through our parents' various possessions. 

Blaze looked at the bookshelf and pulled out the maroon book I had been looking at a few days prior.  Its title was in big gold letters across the front, though of course, I couldn't read very well and had never tried very hard to decipher it. 

"What's that?" I asked him.

"It's a book containing a list of chiefs, their wives, and their heirs," he said, opening the book and flipping through a few pages. He ran a finger down the list of names. "There are our parents' names: Crimson and Margaret Nightingale." His gaze diverted to the line below it. "It says, 'Heir: Emma Nightingale." 

At first, he seemed to think nothing of this, but then he re-read the names under 'Heir' a few lines above it and frowned. "In all the other places that it says "heir," it lists all (*A/N: The 666th word in this chapter is "all", Illuminati confirmed XD No? Oh... Okay... Sorry. Yes, I hate me too. *ahem* Read on. Lol.*) of the chief's children oldest to youngest, and in the order they were in line to claiming leadership of Dark Valley... but my name isn't in here at all... and I'm older than you. I never really stopped to think about it, but since I'm older, aren't I supposed to be chief? But that doesn't make sense, because...my name isn't in here at all. I'm not listed as one of Crimson and Margaret's children." Blaze raked a hand through his hair.

I frowned thoughtfully. "Maybe Parker will know something about this. Come on." I took the book from his hands and tucked it into my satchel as we made our way back to the Hall. We headed inside and I looked around for Parker, spotting him sitting at a table with a cup of tea. "There he is," I said, leading the way over to him.

"Hey, Chieftess. Blaze.," Parker greeted.

"Hey, Parker," I said, pulling the book from my satchel and setting it on the table. "We have a question."

"Shoot," Parker said.

Blaze opened the book and flipped to the page with my name on it. "I'm not listed in this book at all, why is that?" he asked.

Parker scanned the page for a moment to see what Blaze was talking about before looking between us. "I'm sorry... I thought you knew," he says.

(*Hey, guys! Comment right now why you think Blaze isn't listed as an heir! No peeking! :) *)

"Knew what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Parker took a deep breath. "Blaze is not listed as an heir because, in the eyes of our law, he is not one. His father was not the chief, his mother, your mother, was only the chief's wife and that labeled Blaze as an illegitimate heir."

I stared at him. "I don't understand, what are you saying?"

Parker sighed. "You and Blaze are only half-siblings. You have the same mother, but different fathers. Blaze's father's name was...I believe it was Daryn, while yours, Emma, was Crimson.  Daryn died after Blaze was born and Margaret married Crimson, giving birth to Emma later on. I'm sorry, Chieftess. Blaze is only your half-brother."

***

Many years ago... 

Everly once again played on the shoreline with her parents, running along the sand pale as bone and soft as flour. She giggled as her father chased her, finally scooping her up, making the young girl squeal and laugh.

Everly's mother smiled as she watched. "Alright, Daryn, we should probably head home. It'll be dark soon."

"Aw, Mama, do we have to go already?" Everly asked, her expression saddening. 

"Come on, Maggie, we could stay just a few more minutes, couldn't we?" Daryn asked his wife.

Everly's mother smiled. "I suppose."

"Yay!" Everly squealed in delight as her father set her back down, her purple eyes glowing. 

Daryn smiled. "Alright, Nova, let's look for a few more seashells to add to your collection."

Everly smiled, tucking a strand of purple-tinted hair behind her ear. "Thanks, Papa."

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Hey, guys!! What did you think of this chapter? Did you like it? Did it suck? Please let me know in the comments. As always, I love you guys! I'll update soon, I promise! If I start taking too long to update, you just gotta kinda go like "Annee, what the freaking frick are you doing with your life? Update already, it's been like 17 years since the last one!" Lol. See you next time.

Baii

--xoxAnnee